bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Corporate social responsibility disclosure and corporate social irresponsibility in emerging economies: Does institutional quality matter?
Authors: Gerged Ali Meftah , Kehbuma Kadmia M. , Beddewela Eshani S.
Published: April 2024

The Panama Papers (2016), Paradise Leaks (2017), and Pandora Papers (2021) have revealed the extensive practice of corporate tax avoidance. Yet, the tax behavior of companies claiming to be “socially responsible” has been less examined. This study examines the association between corporate social responsibility disclosure (CSRD) and tax avoidance, particularly in developing economies, focusing on Sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA). By analyzing data from 600 firm‐year observations across 13 SSA countries using panel quantile regression, we found a negative relationship between CSRD, which includes ethical, social, and environmental dimensions, and tax avoidance. This aligns with legitimacy theory, indicating that firms are increasingly adopting CSR transparency to meet societal expectations and gain stakeholder trust, avoiding socially irresponsible behaviors. Furthermore, the quality of national governance significantly moderates the CSRD–tax avoidance relationship, supporting the concept of institutional isomorphism. This evidence is valuable for professionals and policymakers and encourages further research to deepen and broaden these findings.
Quantification of sediment fluxes and intermittencies from Oligo–Miocene megafan deposits in the Swiss Molasse basin
Authors: Garefalakis Philippos , do Prado Ariel Henrique , Whittaker Alexander C. , Mair David , Schlunegger Fritz
Published: April 2024

The conglomerates preserved in alluvial fans in the Swiss Molasse basin provide crucial insights into the sedimentary dynamics of these routing systems. In particular, the architectural trends and grain sizes of such deposits reveal information on the sediment fluxes and record variations in the intermittency — a proxy for the fan's activity — that indicate on the relative importance of tectonic or climatic controls on sediment production and transport. Here, we calculated intermittencies from sediment transport dynamics using the ratio between the long‐term average and the short‐term instantaneous unit sediment fluxes during bankfull discharge conditions. For this, we collected grain size data from three palaeo‐fan systems that were active through Oligo–Miocene times and that reveal preserved proximal–distal relationships. The three fan systems, which we term the western, central and eastern fans, show significant differences in their long‐term sediment budget but equivalent magnitudes of the sediment transport dynamics expressed through the intermittency factor. The eastern fan records a low long‐term sediment flux (5.7 km2 Myr−1), which needed the fan to be active during ca. 8 h yr−1 (intermittency factor of 0.89 × 10−3). The western fan reveals a higher long‐term sediment flux (16.2 km2 Myr−1), which could have accumulated during ca. 16 h yr−1 (intermittency factor of 1.83 × 10−3), thereby reflecting a more active system. The central fan records the largest long‐term sediment flux (40.3 km2 Myr−1), where ca. 57 h yr−1 of sediment transport would be required to deposit the supplied material (intermittency factor of 6.53 × 10−3), thus representing the most active system. By relating these characteristics to the regional exhumation history, we consider that the central fan mainly recorded the transient response of the Alpine surface to the break‐off of the European mantle lithosphere slab. Contrarily, the western and eastern fans were formed during the Alpine evolution when steady‐state conditions between uplift and erosion were reached and when sediment fluxes to the basin were lower. Despite differences in the tecto‐geomorphic and climatic boundary conditions, our data suggest that these Oligo–Miocene megafans could accomplish their mean annual sediment transport work within a few hours or days per year.
An updated systematic review of correlates of children's physical activity and sedentary time in early childhood education services
Authors: Tonge Karen L. , Mavilidi Myrto , Jones Rachel A.
Published: April 2024

Background

Early childhood education services (ECE) continue to be a key setting to promote physical activity and limit sedentary behaviour. Thus, the aim of this study was to (1) provide an updated systematic review of correlates of physical activity and sedentary behaviour among children in ECE settings and (2) discuss changes in physical activity and sedentary behaviour correlates among children in ECEC settings over time.

Methods

A systematic search of eight databases identified 40 studies published between 2015 and 2023 that met the inclusion criteria. The variables were categorized into four domains (child, educator, physical environmental and organizational). Fifty‐eight variables were identified.

Results

For data from 2015 to 2023, strong associations were identified in all domains (child, educator, physical environmental and organizational) for physical activity, yet no strong associations for sedentary behaviour were identified. Aggregated data (i.e., combining data from previous review and this review) showed strong associations with children's physical activity and age, motor coordination and sex (child), educator behaviour and presence (educator), presence and size of outdoor environments (physical environmental) and active opportunities and service quality (organizational). For sedentary behaviour, sex, outdoor environments and active opportunities were strongly associated in the combined data.

Conclusion

The correlates of physical activity and sedentary behaviour in ECE settings continue to be multi‐dimensional and span different domains. Variables such as educator behaviours and intentionality, provision of active opportunities, use of outdoor space and service quality should be the key focus area for improving physical activity and sedentary behaviour levels of young children.
Leveraging an intensive time series of young children's movement to capture impulsive and inattentive behaviors in a preschool setting
Authors: Koepp Andrew E. , Gershoff Elizabeth T.
Published: April 2024

Studying within‐person variability in children's behavior is frequently hindered by challenges collecting repeated observations. This study used wearable accelerometers to collect an intensive time series (2.7 million observations) of young children's movement at school (N = 62, Mage = 4.5 years, 54% male, 74% Non‐Hispanic White) in 2021. Machine learning analyses indicated that children's typical forward acceleration was strongly correlated with lower teacher‐reported inhibitory control and attention (r = −.69). Using forward movement intensity as a proxy for impulsivity, we partitioned the intensive time series and found that (1) children modulated their behavior across periods of the school day, (2) children's impulsivity increased across the school week, and (3) children with greater impulsivity showed greater variability in behavior across days.
GLS‐PIA: n‐Dimensional Spherical B‐Spline Curve Fitting based on Geodesic Least Square with Adaptive Knot Placement
Authors: Zhao Yuming , Wu Zhongke , Wang Xingce
Published: April 2024

Due to the widespread applications of curves on n‐dimensional spheres, fitting curves on n‐dimensional spheres has received increasing attention in recent years. However, due to the non‐Euclidean nature of spheres, curve fitting methods on n‐dimensional spheres often struggle to balance fitting accuracy and curve fairness. In this paper, we propose a new fitting framework, GLS‐PIA, for parameterized point sets on n‐dimensional spheres to address the challenge. Meanwhile, we provide the proof of the method. Firstly, we propose a progressive iterative approximation method based on geodesic least squares which can directly optimize the geodesic least squares loss on the n‐sphere, improving the accuracy of the fitting. Additionally, we use an error allocation method based on contribution coefficients to ensure the fairness of the fitting curve. Secondly, we propose an adaptive knot placement method based on geodesic difference to estimate a more reasonable distribution of control points in the parameter domain, placing more control points in areas with greater detail. This enables B‐spline curves to capture more details with a limited number of control points. Experimental results demonstrate that our framework achieves outstanding performance, especially in handling imbalanced data points. (In this paper, “sphere” refers to n‐sphere (n≥ 2) unless otherwise specified.)
Left ventricular diastolic function in atrial fibrillation: Methodological implications and clinical considerations
Authors: Palmiero Pasquale , Caretto Pierpaolo , Zito Annapaola , Ciccone Marco Matteo , Pelliccia Francesco , Maiello Maria ,   the I.C.S.C.U. (Italian Chapter of International Society Cardiovascular Ultrasound)
Published: April 2024

The assessment of LVDD is routinely included in echocardiographic evaluation because it correlates with cardiac disease progression and its prognostic value. Classic parameters used for assessing LV diastolic function correlate well with invasive measurements which remains the gold standard. Nevertheless, no one echocardiographic parameter alone can completely evaluate LVDD. LV diastolic function evaluation in atrial fibrillation is still challenging, since the E/A ratio, one of the most used parameters in echocardiographic evaluation, cannot be feasible. This is not a good reason to give up measurement. In this review, we analyze the different methods for estimating LV diastolic function in atrial fibrillation, including measurement not dependent on atrial systole and some novel methods that are promising, but not ever available during clinical practice highlighting that this assessment is mandatory for a complete clinical evaluation of the patients.
Arthropods in the spotlight – identifying predators of vineyard pest insects with infrared photography
Authors: Reiff Jo Marie , Theiss Konrad , Hoffmann Christoph , Entling Martin H.
Published: April 2024

Grape berry moths, particularly Lobesia botrana Denis & Schiffermüller (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), and vinegar flies, such as Drosophila melanogaster Meigen and Drosophila suzukii Matsumura (Diptera: Drosophilidae), are important vineyard pests, causing severe quality loss of grapes. Several arthropod taxa may be involved in the natural control of these pests. However, the role of arthropod predators in the natural control of vineyard pests remains unclear. We investigated 32 vineyards in the Palatinate region, southwest Germany, under organic and conventional management, which in both cases received either full or reduced fungicide applications (2 × 2 design). Predation of L. botrana eggs and pupae and D. melanogaster pupae on sentinel cards exposed in the vineyards was observed with infrared cameras. In total, nine predator taxa could be identified. The most dominant predator was the European earwig, Forficula auricularia L. (Dermaptera: Forficulidae), with 90% of all predation events. We conclude that F. auricularia is likely a key predator of vineyard pests, and that special attention should be paid to maintain it at high population densities.
Dopaminergic lesions of the anterior cingulate cortex of rats increase vulnerability to salient distractors
Authors: Clement Madison K. , Pimentel Cynthia S. , McGaughy Jill A.
Published: April 2024

The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) has been shown to be critical to many aspects of executive function including filtering irrelevant information, updating response contingencies when reinforcement contingencies change and stabilizing task sets. Nonspecific lesions to this region in rats produce a vulnerability to distractors that have gained salience through prior associations with reinforcement. These lesions also exacerbate cognitive fatigue in tests of sustained attention but do not produce global attentional impairments nor do they produce distractibility to novel distractors that do not have a prior association with reinforcement. To determine the neurochemical basis of these cognitive impairments, dopaminergically selective lesions of the ACC were made in both male and female Long‐Evans, hooded rats prior to assessment in two attentional tasks. Dopaminergic lesions of the ACC increase the vulnerability of subjects to previously reinforced distractors and impede formation of an attentional set. Lesioned rats were not more susceptible to the effects of novel, irrelevant stimuli in a test of sustained attention as has been previously shown. Additionally, the effects of dopaminergic lesions were found to differ based on sex. Lesioned female, but not male, rats were more vulnerable than sham‐lesioned females to the effects of prolonged testing and the removal of reinforcement during a test of sustained attention. Together, these data support the hypothesis that dopamine in the ACC is critical to filtering distractors whose salience has been gained through reinforcement.
Telemedicine in HIV health care during the COVID‐19 pandemic: An implementation research study in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Authors: Bullo Manuela , Kierszenowicz Tomas , Acosta Maria Cecilia , Rolon Maria Jose , Cecchini Diego , Rodriguez Claudia , Scapellato Pablo , Bottaro Edgardo , Losso Marcelo H.
Published: April 2024

Background

From October 2020 to October 2022, we conducted an implementation study to offer telemedicine (TM) across four HIV units of general public hospitals in Buenos Aires. The intervention used TM to provide a continuum of care to patients with HIV.

Methods and Setting

We used the RE‐AIM framework to evaluate the strategy. The study started during a COVID‐19 outbreak with strict lockdown policies and continued until return to normal practices. Implementation facilitation served as the core implementation strategy.

Results

We reached 4118 patients (58% of eligible individuals), and the main perceived benefits were the ability to avoid exposure to infectious diseases and reduced travel time and cost. After a median of 515 days of follow‐up, 95.7% of participants with HIV were receiving antiretroviral therapy, and 87.8% were virally suppressed, with a median CD4+ count of 648 cells/μL. In total, 36.6% reported clinical events, and 20.4% presented with COVID‐19 infection. The proportion of physicians adopting TM was 69.37%. After enrolment, 2406 of 5640 (43%) follow‐up visits were conducted via TM. By the end of the study, 26.29% of appointments offered in the four centres were through TM, whereas 73.71% were in‐person appointments.

Conclusion

It was feasible to implement TM in the four centres in the public health sector in Buenos Aires, Argentina. It was acceptable for both patients and healthcare workers, and effectively reached a large proportion of the population served in these clinics. Both healthcare workers and patients consider it a model of care that will continue to be offered in the future.
Gout and its management
Authors: Dalbeth Nicola , Te Karu Leanne , Stamp Lisa K.
Published: April 2024

Gout is a common and treatable chronic disease of monosodium urate crystal deposition. It is experienced as extremely painful episodes of joint inflammation that impact all aspects of the person's life. This Clinical Perspectives article provides an update on gout diagnosis, medications and strategies to improve the quality of gout care.
RETRACTED: The effect of preoperative mechanical bowel preparation in paediatric bowel surgery on postoperative wound related complications: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Chen Meixue , Lin Jin , Miao Dongrong , Yang Xin , Feng Mei , Liu Manli , Xu Lianqing , Lin Qingran
Published: April 2024

Mechanical bowel preparation (MBP), a routine nursing procedure before paediatric bowel surgery, is widely should in clinical practice, but its necessity remains controversial. In a systematic review and meta‐analysis, we evaluated the effect of preoperative MBP in paediatric bowel surgery on postoperative wound‐related complications in order to analyse the clinical application value of MBP in paediatric bowel surgery. As of November 2023, we searched four online databases: the Cochrane Library, Embase, PubMed, and Web of Science. Two investigators screened the collected studies against inclusion and exclusion criteria, and ROBINS‐I was used to evaluate the quality of studies. Using RevMan5.3, a meta‐analysis of the collected data was performed, and a fixed‐effect model or a random‐effect model was used to analyse OR, 95% CI, SMD, and MD. A total of 11 studies with 2556 patients were included. Most of studies had moderate‐to‐severe quality bias. The results of meta‐analysis showed no statistically significant difference in the incidence of complications related to postoperative infections in children with MBP before bowel surgery versus those with No MBP, wound infection (OR 1.11, 95% CI:0.76 ~ 1.61, p = 0.59, I2 = 5%), intra‐abdominal infection (OR 1.26, 95% CI:0.58 ~ 2.77, p = 0.56, I2 = 9%). There was no significant difference in the risk of postoperative bowel anastomotic leak (OR 1.07, 95% CI:0.68 ~ 1.68, p = 0.78, I2 = 12%), and anastomotic dehiscence (OR 1.67, 95% CI:0.13 ~ 22.20, p = 0.70, I2 = 73%). Patients' intestinal obstruction did not show an advantage of undergoing MBP preoperatively, with an incidence of intestinal obstruction (OR 1.95, 95% CI:0.55 ~ 6.93, p = 0.30, I2 = 0%). Based on existing evidence that preoperative MBP in paediatric bowel surgery did not reduce the risk of postoperative wound complications, we cautiously assume that MBP before surgery is unnecessary for children undergoing elective bowel surgery. However, due to the limited number of study participants selected for this study and the overall low quality of evidence, the results need to be interpreted with caution. It is suggested that more high quality, large‐sample, multicenter clinical trials are required to validate our findings.
A real‐time signal processing software package for the electrophysiology laboratory
Authors: Tiver Kathryn D. , Strong Campbell , Dharmaprani Dhani , Chapman Darius , Jenkins Evan , Shahrbabaki Sobhan Salari , Ganesan Anand N.
Published: April 2024

Background

Real‐time signal processing has to date been difficult to implement in the clinical electrophysiology laboratory. To date, no open access software solutions are available in electrophysiology (EP) laboratories to facilitate real‐time intraprocedural signal analysis. We aimed to develop an open access, scalable Python plug‐in to allow real‐time signal processing during human EP procedures.

Methods and Results

A Python‐based plug in for the widely available EnsiteX mapping system was developed. This plug‐in utilized the LiveSync feature of the system to allow real‐time signal analysis. An open access library was developed to allow end‐users to implement real‐time signal analysis using this platform, implemented in the Python programming language https://github.com/anand9176/WaveWatch5000Public.

Conclusion

We have developed and demonstrated the feasibility of a readily scalable and open‐access Python‐based plug in to an electroanatomic mapping system (EnSiteX) to allow real‐time processing and display of electrogram (EGM) based information for the procedural electrophysiologist to view intraprocedurally in the electrophysiology laboratory. The availability, to the clinician, of traditional and novel EGM‐based metrics at the time of intervention, such as atrial fibrillation ablation, allows for key mechanistic insights into critical unresolved questions regarding arrhythmia mechanism.
Hidden in the depths, discovery of a new spiny sucker eel of the genus Lipogenys Goode and Bean 1895 (Teleostei, Notacanthiformes, Notacanthidae) in the eastern North Atlantic Ocean
Authors: Gomes Pedro , Silva Helena , Churro Catarina
Published: April 2024

This study describes Lipogenys hyalinumvelum, a new species of the genus Lipogenys found on the Portuguese coast on the northeastern Atlantic during a crustacean survey. Information on the classification history and known distribution of the genus Lipogenys is provided. Dichotomous keys to the genera of Notacanthidae and the species of Lipogenys, based on morphology, are provided. The specimens were analysed using both morphological and molecular methods, including DNA sequencing of the COI and 16S genes. The distinct genetic characteristics support the recognition of the present specimens as a new species. The hyaline color of the flap at the posterior edge of the operculum is a characteristic that differentiates L. hyalinumvelum from Lipogenys gillii and provides the etymology of the species name.
Black and Latiné parents' perspectives on supporting their children's emotional and physical health
Authors: Cooper Daniel K. , Alonzo Jayxa K. , Goldson Tracey , Jordan Isabel R. , Jatoi Fatima , Mallozzi Isabella , Lupini Francesca
Published: April 2024

Informed by integrative models of cultural resilience, the purpose of this study was to (a) explore how parents are promoting their children's emotional and physical health, with a focus on race and ethnic‐racial socialization strategies, and (b) identify the barriers and challenges parents are experiencing in supporting their children's health. Ethnically racially matched qualitative interviews were conducted with 33 parents (82% women, 64% Black, 36% Latiné). Results of thematic analysis revealed three overarching themes: (a) Strategies for Promoting Children's Physical and Emotional Health, (b) Challenges Promoting Children's Physical and Emotional Health, and (c) Impact of Racism on Parenting and Children's Health. Most parents believed that racism had an impact on their parenting decisions and their children's health; however, there were some differences in ethnic–racial socialization practices between Black and Latiné parents. Findings have implications for culturally relevant parenting approaches to support children's emotional and physical health.
Validating the OCS‐Plus against a clinical standard: A brief report
Authors: Roberts Rebecca , Vohora Reena , Webb Sam S. , Demeyere Nele
Published: April 2024

This research aimed to determine the sensitivity and clinical validity of the OCS‐Plus, a stroke‐specific tablet‐based cognitive screening tool, in comparison with the MoCA, a routinely used screening tool, after stroke. Eighty‐six patients were recruited from Oxfordshire stroke wards over a 22‐month period and completed both screens. Overall, we found that the OCS‐Plus has good convergent validity and excellent sensitivity when compared with the MoCA. The OCS‐Plus is therefore of potential benefit to those seeking a sensitive screening tool.
Self‐crossing hyaluronic acid filler with combination use of polydioxanone thread in minipig model
Authors: Yi Kyu‐Ho , Kim Soo‐Bin , Hu Hyewon , Bae Hyungkyu , Park Hyun‐Jun , Yoon Jeung‐Hyun , Kim Hee‐Jin
Published: April 2024

Introduction

The advances of self‐crossing hyaluronic acid (SC‐HA) fillers combination use with polydioxanone thread in minipigs were examined for compatibility, effectiveness, and immune response.

Materials and Methods

A 12‐week experiment was conducted using 6 minipigs (3 male and 3 female each) to evaluate the effects of SC‐HA filler. The molecular weight of SC‐HA filler was fixed at 200 kDa and alternative storage modulus of G80, G250, and G500 were examined. The procedure involved injecting SC‐HA filler and polydioxanone threads into the skin tissue of anesthetized minipigs, and tissue sampling after 1 month (three minipigs), and 3 months (three minipigs) for histological staining and analysis. The immune reaction was observed during the experiment.

Results

The practitioner reported it was easy to inject the SC‐HA filler in combination with polydioxanone threads. All four storage modulus of SC‐HA fillers were injectable within the polydioxanone thread containing cannula. Also, during the procedure, there were no immune responses at the treated sites. The results of the histological tissue examination confirmed that there was no chemical interaction between SC‐HA filler and the existing polydioxanone thread, and it was observed that SC‐HA filler was more uniformly distributed within the tissue with lower storage modulus, resulting in a higher production of collagen in the surrounding filler. When combined with scaffold polydioxanone thread, the scaffold polydioxanone thread helped spread the filler evenly, resulting in a more evenly distributed collagen around the filler.

Conclusion

Today, the combination therapy of filler and polydioxanone thread in one procedure is challenging due to the high viscosity of conventional fillers. However, this study confirmed that combination therapy of filler and polydioxanone thread is possible with SC‐HA fillers. Additionally, it was found that polydioxanone thread does not seem to interfere with the crosslinking reaction of SC‐HA filler, and if used with a higher pH of polydioxanone, it may enhance the cross‐linking reaction and achieve a higher viscosity value. Finally, the study resulted in the idea of concrete as SC‐HA filler and reinforcing rod for polydioxanone thread.
Pareto‐efficient risk sharing in centralized insurance markets with application to flood risk
Authors: Boonen Tim J. , Chong Wing Fung , Ghossoub Mario
Published: April 2024

Centralized insurance can be found in both the private and public sectors. This paper provides a microeconomic study of the risk‐sharing mechanisms in these markets, where multiple policyholders interact with a centralized monopolistic insurer. With minimal assumptions on the risk preferences of the market participants, we characterize Pareto optimality in terms of the agents' risk positions and their assessment of the likelihoods associated with their loss tail events. We relate Pareto efficiency in this market to a naturally associated cooperative game. Based on our theoretical results, we then consider a model of flood insurance coverage via an illustrative example. The lessons drawn from our theoretical results and this example lead to important policy implications for the existing National Flood Insurance Program in the United States.
Spectrum of sleep‐disordered breathing and quality of sleep in adolescent and adult patients with spinal muscular atrophy
Authors: Crescimanno Grazia , Lupica Antonino , Tommasello Vito , Di Stefano Vincenzo , Brighina Filippo , Marrone Oreste
Published: April 2024

Sleep‐disordered breathing is common among children with spinal muscular atrophy, but has been hardly studied among adult subjects. Little is known about sleep quality in spinal muscular atrophy. The aims of this study were to evaluate occurrence and characteristics of sleep‐disordered breathing and subjective sleep quality among adolescent and adult patients with spinal muscular atrophy type 2 or 3. Twenty patients aged 33.9 ± 15.2 years were studied. They underwent nocturnal cardiorespiratory monitoring, lung and muscular function evaluation, and were administered the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index questionnaire. Nineteen patients showed sleep‐disordered breathing, with obstructive events in seven subjects and non‐obstructive events in the remaining 12. In the latter group, 10 patients showed pseudo‐obstructive hypopneas. Patients with non‐obstructive sleep‐disordered breathing were younger (p = 0.042), had a lower body mass index (p = 0.0001), were more often affected by spinal muscular atrophy type 2 (p = 0.001), and showed worse impairment of respiratory function than patients with obstructive sleep‐disordered breathing. Ten patients were classified as poor sleepers and 10 patients good sleepers. In the whole sample, sniff nasal inspiratory pressure proved to be the only independent predictor of sleep quality (p = 0.009). In conclusion, sleep‐disordered breathing is common even among adult patients with spinal muscular atrophy type 2 and 3, and may show either obstructive or different types on non‐obstructive features. A worse respiratory muscle function is associated to non‐obstructive sleep‐disordered breathing and poorer sleep quality. Sleep quality should receive greater attention especially in patients with spinal muscular atrophy type 2, who have a poorer respiratory muscle function, as it could affect their quality of life.
Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of dextroketamine alone or combined with midazolam in Caiman crocodilus
Authors: Hirano Líria Queiroz Luz , de Oliveira Adrielly Lorena Rodrigues , de Barros Rafael Ferraz , Veloso Danillo Fabrini Maciel Costa , Lima Eliana Martins , Santos André Luiz Quagliatto , Moreno Juan Carlos Duque
Published: April 2024

Pharmacokinetics studies of anesthetic agents are important for understanding of the pharmacology and metabolism of anesthetic agents in reptilians. This study was designed to examine the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of intravenous dextroketamine alone or combined with midazolam in Caiman crocodilus. Eight caimans were anesthetized with dextroketamine (10 mg/kg; group D) or dextroketamine and midazolam (10 and 0.5 mg/kg respectively; group DM) into the occipital venous sinus. The pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by HPLC using a non‐compartmental modeling. Serial blood samples were collected at baseline and within 15 and 30 min, and 11.5, 2, 4, 8, 12, 24 and 48 h of drug administration. Sedation status over time differed between groups. All animals in group D (8/8; 100%) showed signs of light sedation at t10. Half (4/8; 50%) of these caimans did not progress to deeper levels of sedation. In spite of light sedation at t10, animals in group DM were deeply sedated within 13.13 ± 7.04 min of anesthetic agent injection. The area under the plasma concentration–time curve (AUC0–48) and half‐life of dextroketamine changed significantly after combination with midazolam. Even without significant changes in clearance, the almost two‐fold increase in the half‐life of dextroketamine suggests a slower rate of elimination.
Why there are no Frankfurt‐style omission cases
Authors: Metz Joseph
Published: April 2024

Frankfurt‐style action cases have been immensely influential in the free will and moral responsibility literatures because they arguably show that an agent can be morally responsible for a behavior despite lacking the ability to do otherwise. However, even among the philosophers who accept Frankfurt‐style action cases, there remains significant disagreement about whether also to accept Frankfurt‐style omission cases – cases in which an agent omits to do something, is unable to do otherwise, and is allegedly morally responsible for that omission. Settling this debate about Frankfurt‐style omission cases is significant because the resolution entails an important fact about moral responsibility: whether there is there a moral asymmetry between actions and omissions with respect to the ability to do otherwise. My proposal is that both Frankfurt‐style action cases and omission cases involve the same type of causal structure: causal preemption. However, the preemptor and the preemptee differ. In action cases, the Frankfurted agent preempts the neuroscientist and is causally and morally responsibility for the effect. In omission cases, Frankfurted agent is neither causally nor morally responsible for the effect. Instead, the neuroscientist preempts the Frankfurted agent. Thus, there are no Frankfurt‐style omission cases.
Phenotypic selection patterns in a hybrid zone between two Calceolaria species with contrasting pollinators: insights from field surveys and fitness assessments
Authors: Estévez Manso Galán Lucía , Antonetti Marco , Ibañez Ana C. , Sérsic Alicia N. , Cocucci Andrea A.
Published: April 2024

Hybrid zones provide natural experimental settings to test hypotheses about species divergence. We concentrated on a hybrid swarm in which oil‐collecting bees and flower‐pecking birds act as pollinators of two Calceolaria species. We asked whether both pollinators contributed to flower divergence by differentially promoting prezygotic fitness at the phenotypic extremes that represent parentals.

We studied pollinator‐mediated selection on phenotypic traits critical in plant–pollinator mechanical interaction, namely plant height, reward‐to‐stigma distance, and flower shape. We utilised the quantity and quality of pollen deposited as fitness measures and distinguished between the contribution of the two pollinator types.

Results showed uni‐ and bivariate disruptive selection for most traits through pollen grains deposited by both pollinators. Bird‐mediated fitness favoured low plants with a long reward‐to‐stigma distance and a straight corolla, while bee‐mediated fitness favoured tall plants with a short reward‐to‐stigma distance and curved corolla. In addition, stabilising selection at one end of the phenotypic range showed a bird‐mediated reproductive asymmetry within the swarm. The disruptive pattern was countered, albeit weakly, by hybrids receiving higher‐quality pollen on the stigmas.

Results suggest that pollinator‐mediated selection promotes divergence of integrated flower phenotypes mechanically adjusted either to bees or birds underscoring the importance of pollinator specialisation in diversification.
Gustatory dysfunction and long COVID in Chinese patients with COVID‐19: A 6‐month follow‐up study
Authors: Wei Jie , Lu Chenghui , Ding Yan , Lu Yongjian , Yang Xin , Zhang Xi , Tang Guoyao
Published: April 2024

Aims

To evaluate long COVID of gustatory dysfunction and the associated risk factors regarding onset and recovery in Chinese patients.

Methods

We conducted a cross‐sectional study of patients with SARS‐CoV‐2 Omicron infection at Changxing Mobile Cabin Hospital in Shanghai, China, from March to May 2022. A prospective follow‐up of patients with gustatory dysfunction was conducted at 6 months after discharge.

Results

In total, 18.48% (241/1304) reported gustatory dysfunction. The 6‐month follow‐up response rate was 89.63% (216/241) and 74.02% recovered their taste sense within 1–3 weeks. A total of 20.37% of patients (44/216) presented with long COVID. Symptoms persisted for 12 patients (5.56%) after 6 months. Having multiple taste impairments (OR, 2.364; 95% CI, 1.286–4.348; p = 0.006) was associated with a higher risk of gustatory dysfunction with long COVID. Having received a COVID‐19 vaccine booster was positively associated with taste sensation recovery (HR, 1.344; 95% CI, 1.012–1.785; p = 0.041).

Conclusions

About 20.37% of patients with COVID‐19 might develop long COVID of gustatory dysfunction and 5.56% with persisting changes in their sense of taste. Most patients recovered taste sensations within 1–3 weeks after COVID‐19 symptom onset and receiving a booster shot of the COVID‐19 vaccine presented a protective effect on the taste sensation recovery.
Clinicopathological importance of Bcl‐2 and p53 in postmenopausal triple‐negative breast carcinoma and association with age
Authors: Ito Kei , Honma Naoko , Ogata Hideaki , Yamada Akimitsu , Miyashita Mika , Arai Tomio , Sasaki Eiichi , Shibuya Kazutoshi , Mikami Tetuo , Sawaki Masataka
Published: April 2024

Appropriate biomarkers are required to predict the clinical outcome of triple‐negative breast cancer (TNBC). In this study, we focused on the clinical importance of two representative tumor‐associated proteins, Bcl‐2 and p53. Bcl‐2 expression is usually related to estrogen receptor expression and a favorable outcome in breast cancer. TNBC has been reported to show a high frequency of p53 positivity suggesting TP53 mutations. The expressions of Bcl‐2 and p53 were immunohistochemically examined in TNBC involving two age groups of postmenopausal women (≥75 y/o, n = 75; 55–64 y/o, n = 47), who underwent surgery without neoadjuvant therapy. We examined their associations with each other, or with clinicopathological factors including the outcome. Bcl‐2 expression was inversely correlated with androgen receptor, apocrine morphology, and p53 expressions, and was an independent predictor of a poor outcome in total or in younger women. p53 positivity was associated with a more favorable outcome than p53 negativity in the younger group. In combined analyzes, none of the twenty Bcl‐2‐negative/p53‐positive cases in the younger group exhibited recurrence, resulting in the independent favorable predictive value of Bcl‐2‐negative/p53‐positive. The anti‐apoptotic nature of Bcl‐2 may be apparent in TNBC. The excellent outcome of Bcl‐2‐negative/p53‐positive cases in the younger group warrants further combined investigation of Bcl‐2/p53 in TNBC.
Minimax estimation of functional principal components from noisy discretized functional data
Authors: Belhakem Ryad , Picard Franck , Rivoirard Vincent , Roche Angelina
Published: April 2024

Functional Principal Component Analysis is a reference method for dimension reduction of curve data. Its theoretical properties are now well understood in the simplified case where the sample curves are fully observed without noise. However, functional data are noisy and necessarily observed on a finite discretization grid. Common practice consists in smoothing the data and then to compute the functional estimates, but the impact of this denoising step on the procedure's statistical performance are rarely considered. Here we prove new convergence rates for functional principal component estimators. We introduce a double asymptotic framework: one corresponding to the sampling size and a second to the size of the grid. We prove that estimates based on projection onto histograms show optimal rates in a minimax sense. Theoretical results are illustrated on simulated data and the method is applied to the visualization of genomic data.
Eocene (48.7 Ma) eclogite at Chepelare, Central Rhodopes, Bulgaria: A key to the tectonics of the Rhodopes
Authors: Froitzheim Nikolaus , Fassmer Kathrin , Janák Marian , Georgiev Neven , Kurylo Sergii , Fonseca Raúl O. C. , Münker Carsten
Published: April 2024

The presence of an Eocene subduction event, in addition to Jurassic and Cretaceous ones, in the Rhodopes of Greece and Bulgaria is controversial. We report the first dating of an eclogite from the Lower Allochthon of the Rhodopes. The eclogite is a mafic lens enclosed in orthogneiss of the Arda‐2 Unit at Chepelare, Central Rhodopes. It was metamorphosed under conditions of ca. 25 kbar, 700–750°C. Garnet grains have outward‐increasing Mg contents and omphacite inclusions with the highest jadeite contents in their rims, indicating garnet growth under increasing pressure. Lu–Hf geochronology yielded an age of 48.7 ± 1.5 Ma. The age is linked to a late stage of garnet growth close to peak pressure, i.e. to subduction.
Optimizing Palm Oil Biomass Supply Chain Logistics through Multi-Objective Location-Routing Model
Authors: Fong Yeng Foo , Zainuddin Zaitul Marlizawati , See Pheng Hang
Published: April 2024

Malaysia can convert agricultural wastes (biomass) into biofuel to reduce fossil fuel dependency and solve the disposal problem. As one of the largest palm oil producers, Malaysia has an abundance of palm oil biomass, but the biomass has high humidity, low energy density, and is scattered geographically. Establishing collection facilities with pretreatment operations is suggested to collect the biomass and improve its quality. Nevertheless, the facility placement and vehicle routing decisions significantly affect the total cost and operational efficiency. Hence, this study develops a model to address the location-routing problem and quantifies the pretreatment operation to customize the process in the biomass supply chain. This research also addresses sustainability from all dimensions through multi-objective optimization. The model minimizes costs, reduces negative social impacts by considering population densities, and measures environmental performance through CO2 emissions. The study first optimized each objective function separately and then conducted a multi-objective optimization using a weighted sum approach. Optimizing each objective function individually will achieve the best outcome for each dimension, but enhancing one objective would impair the others. However, multi-objective optimization shows some compensation for the performances where economic, social, and environmental indicator values decreased by 0.36%, 6.58%, and 15.28%, respectively. The results demonstrate that the model adjusts the locational and routing decisions based on different goals.
Wound-healing properties of Stryphnodendron adstringens (barbatimão) in skin and mucosa injuries: a scoping review protocol
Authors: Costa Drigo Rayane Teresa da Silva , Becker Adriana Caroci , Riesco Maria Luiza Gonzalez , Mascarenhas Victor Hugo Alves , Nick Jan M.
Published: April 2024

Objective:

This review will map the literature on the types of research and methods used to investigate the wound-healing properties of Stryphnodendron adstringens (barbatimão) in skin and mucosa injuries.

Introduction:

Barbatimão is a Brazilian native plant and its wound-healing properties have been described in literature since the colonial period. It is one of the 71 plants included in the Brazilian health system’s national list of medicinal plants of interest. However, existing literature reviews on the subject are limited, not comprehensive, lack a search strategy, and lack peer review.

Inclusion criteria:

This scoping review will include all types of published and unpublished sources that investigate the wound-healing properties of barbatimão to treat any type of skin or mucosa injury in humans, animals, or in vitro, in any context.

Methods:

A scoping review will be conducted following JBI methodology. The main databases to be searched will include Embase (EBSCOhost), CINAHL (EBSCOhost), Scopus, PubMed (EBSCOhost), ScienceDirect, Lilacs, SciELO, CUIDEN, MOSAICO, Web of Science, Epistemonikos, and Google Scholar. Unpublished studies will also be considered. Two independent reviewers will examine titles and abstracts and select and read full-text sources for possible inclusion. Subsequently, the reviewers will extract and synthesize the data, which will be presented as a map, diagram, or table, according to the review objectives.

Review registration:

Open Science Framework osf.io/w57m4
Nitrergic inhibition of sympathetic arteriolar constrictions in the female rodent urethra
Authors: Hashitani Hikaru , Mitsui Retsu , Hirai Yuuna , Tanaka Hidekazu , Miwa‐Nishimura Kyoko
Published: April 2024

During the urine storage phase, tonically contracting urethral musculature would have a higher energy consumption than bladder muscle that develops phasic contractions. However, ischaemic dysfunction is less prevalent in the urethra than in the bladder, suggesting that urethral vasculature has intrinsic properties ensuring an adequate blood supply. Diameter changes in rat or mouse urethral arterioles were measured using a video‐tracking system. Intercellular Ca2+ dynamics in arteriolar smooth muscle (SMCs) and endothelial cells were visualised using NG2‐ and parvalbumin‐GCaMP6 mice, respectively. Fluorescence immunohistochemistry was used to visualise the perivascular innervation. In rat urethral arterioles, sympathetic vasoconstrictions were predominantly suppressed by α,β‐methylene ATP (10 μM) but not prazosin (1 μM). Tadalafil (100 nM), a PDE5 inhibitor, diminished the vasoconstrictions in a manner reversed by N‐ω‐propyl‐l‐arginine hydrochloride (l‐NPA, 1 μM), a neuronal NO synthesis (nNOS) inhibitor. Vesicular acetylcholine transporter immunoreactive perivascular nerve fibres co‐expressing nNOS were intertwined with tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactive sympathetic nerve fibres. In phenylephrine (1 μM) pre‐constricted rat or mouse urethral arterioles, nerve‐evoked vasodilatations or transient SMC Ca2+ reductions were largely diminished by l‐nitroarginine (l‐NA, 10 μM), a broad‐spectrum NOS inhibitor, but not by l‐NPA. The CGRP receptor antagonist BIBN‐4096 (1 μM) shortened the vasodilatory responses, while atropine (1 μM) abolished the l‐NA‐resistant transient vasodilatory responses. Nerve‐evoked endothelial Ca2+ transients were abolished by atropine plus guanethidine (10 μM), indicating its neurotransmitter origin and absence of non‐adrenergic non‐cholinergic endothelial NO release. In urethral arterioles, NO released from parasympathetic nerves counteracts sympathetic vasoconstrictions pre‐ and post‐synaptically to restrict arteriolar contractility.

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Key points

Despite a higher energy consumption of the urethral musculature than the bladder detrusor muscle, ischaemic dysfunction of the urethra is less prevalent than that of the bladder.

In the urethral arterioles, sympathetic vasoconstrictions are predominately mediated by ATP, not noradrenaline.

NO released from parasympathetic nerves counteracts sympathetic vasoconstrictions by its pre‐synaptic inhibition of sympathetic transmission as well as post‐synaptic arteriolar smooth muscle relaxation.

Acetylcholine released from parasympathetic nerves contributes to endothelium‐dependent, transient vasodilatations, while CGRP released from sensory nerves prolongs NO‐mediated vasodilatations.

PDE5 inhibitors could be beneficial to maintain and/or improve urethral blood supply and in turn the volume and contractility of urethral musculature.
Influence of Porous Inserts and Compact Resonators on Onset of Taconis Oscillations
Authors: Matveev Konstantin I.
Published: April 2024

Taconis oscillations represent excitation of acoustic modes due to large thermal gradients inside narrow tubes penetrating cryogenic vessels from a warm ambient environment. These oscillations are usually harmful, as they may drastically increase heat leakage into cryogenic vessels and result in strong vibrations of measuring instruments. Placing a porous material inside a tube with a goal to increase acoustic damping or attaching a small resonator to the main tube are some of the possible ways to suppress or mitigate Taconis effects. However, when the porous inserts are positioned in locations with large temperature gradients or the resonator parameters are selected incorrectly, these components may augment thermal-to-acoustic energy conversion and enhance Taconis oscillations. A low-amplitude thermoacoustic model has been extended and applied in this study to determine the effects of the insert location and pore radius, as well as the resonator dimensions, on the onset of Taconis phenomena in a hydrogen-filled tube of relevance to lines used in cryogenic hydrogen storage tanks. The presented findings can assist cryogenic specialists interested in suppressing or exciting Taconis oscillations.