bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
High throughput screening of mesenchymal stromal cell morphological response to inflammatory signals for bioreactor-based manufacturing of extracellular vesicles that modulate microglia
Authors: Larey Andrew M. , Spoerer Thomas M. , Daga Kanupriya R. , Morfin Maria G. , Hynds Hannah M. , Carpenter Jana , Hines Kelly M. , Marklein Ross A.
Published: November 2023

Due to their immunomodulatory function, mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are a promising therapeutic with the potential to treat neuroinflammation associated with neurodegenerative diseases. This function can be mediated by secreted extracellular vesicles (MSC-EVs). Despite established safety, MSC clinical translation has been unsuccessful due to inconsistent clinical outcomes resulting from functional heterogeneity. Current approaches to mitigate functional heterogeneity include ‘priming’ MSCs with inflammatory signals to enhance function. However, comprehensive evaluation of priming and its effects on MSC-EV function has not been performed. Clinical translation of MSC-EV therapies requires significant manufacturing scale-up, yet few studies have investigated the effects of priming in bioreactors. As MSC morphology has been shown to predict their immunomodulatory function, we screened MSC morphological response to an array of priming signals and evaluated MSC-EV identity and potency in response to priming in flasks and bioreactors. We identified unique priming conditions corresponding to distinct morphologies. These conditions demonstrated a range of MSC-EV preparation quality and lipidome, allowing us to discover a novel MSC-EV manufacturing condition, as well as gain insight into potential mechanisms of MSC-EV microglia modulation. Our novel screening approach and application of priming to MSC-EV bioreactor manufacturing informs refinement of larger-scale manufacturing and enhancement of MSC-EV function.

Graphical Abstract

Highlights

MSCs morphologically respond to inflammatory priming conditions.

Priming ‘hits’ identified from morphological screen increase MSC-EV production.

Priming MSCs in bioreactors enhances MSC-EV modulation of microglia.

Changes in MSC-EV production and potency reflected by lipid content.

First demonstration of effects of priming on MSC production of EVs in a bioreactor.
A mouse model of ZTTK syndrome reveals indispensable SON functions in organ development and hematopoiesis
Authors: Vukadin Lana , Park Bohye , Mohamed Mostafa , Li Huashi , Elkholy Amr , Torrelli-Diljohn Alex , Kim Jung-Hyun , Jeong Kyuho , Murphy James M , Harvey Caitlin A. , Dunlap Sophia , Gehrs Leah , Lee Hanna , Kim Hyung-Gyoon , Lee Seth N. , Stanford Denise , Barrington Robert A. , Foote Jeremy B. , Sorace Anna G. , Welner Robert S. , Hildreth Blake E. , Lim Ssang-Taek Steve , Ahn Eun-Young Erin
Published: November 2023

Rare diseases are underrepresented in biomedical research, leading to insufficient awareness. Zhu-Tokita-Takenouchi-Kim (ZTTK) syndrome is a rare disease caused by genetic alterations that result in heterozygous loss-of-function of SON. While ZTTK syndrome patients suffer from numerous symptoms, the lack of model organisms hamper our understanding of both SON and this complex syndrome. Here, we developedSonhaploinsufficiency (Son+/−) mice as a model of ZTTK syndrome and identified the indispensable roles ofSonin organ development and hematopoiesis.Son+/−mice recapitulated clinical symptoms of ZTTK syndrome, including growth retardation, cognitive impairment, skeletal abnormalities, and kidney agenesis. Furthermore, we identified hematopoietic abnormalities inSon+/−mice, similar to those observed in human patients. Surface marker analyses and single-cell transcriptome profiling of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells revealed thatSonhaploinsufficiency inclines cell fate toward the myeloid lineage but compromises lymphoid lineage development by reducing key genes required for lymphoid and B cell lineage specification. Additionally,Sonhaploinsufficiency causes inappropriate activation of erythroid genes and impaired erythroid maturation. These findings highlight the importance of the full gene dosage ofSonin organ development and hematopoiesis. Our model serves as an invaluable research tool for this rare disease and related disorders associated with SON dysfunction.
An integrated transcriptomic cell atlas of human endoderm-derived organoids
Authors: Xu Quan , Halle Lennard , Hediyeh-zadeh Soroor , Kuijs Merel , Kilik Umut , Yu Qianhui , Frum Tristan , Adam Lukas , Parikh Shrey , Gander Manuel , Kfuri-Rubens Raphael , Klein Dominik , He Zhisong , Fleck Jonas Simon , Oost Koen , Kahnwald Maurice , Barbiero Silvia , Mitrofanova Olga , Maciag Grzegorz , Jensen Kim B. , Lutolf Matthias , Liberali Prisca , Beumer Joep , Spence Jason R. , Treutlein Barbara , Theis Fabian J. , Camp J. Gray
Published: November 2023

Human stem cells can generate complex, multicellular epithelial tissues of endodermal originin vitrothat recapitulate aspects of developing and adult human physiology. These tissues, also called organoids, can be derived from pluripotent stem cells or tissue-resident fetal and adult stem cells. However, it has remained difficult to understand the precision and accuracy of organoid cell states through comparison with primary counterparts, and to comprehensively assess the similarity and differences between organoid protocols. Advances in computational single-cell biology now allow the integration of datasets with high technical variability. Here, we integrate single-cell transcriptomes from 218 samples covering organoids of diverse endoderm-derived tissues including lung, pancreas, intestine, liver, biliary system, stomach, and prostate to establish an initial version of a human endoderm organoid cell atlas (HEOCA). The integration includes nearly one million cells across diverse conditions, data sources and protocols. We align and compare cell types and states between organoid models, and harmonize cell type annotations by mapping the atlas to primary tissue counterparts. To demonstrate utility of the atlas, we focus on intestine and lung, and clarify ontogenic cell states that can be modeledin vitro. We further provide examples of mapping novel data from new organoid protocols to expand the atlas, and showcase how integrating organoid models of disease into the HEOCA identifies altered cell proportions and states between healthy and disease conditions. The atlas makes diverse datasets centrally available, and will be valuable to assess organoid fidelity, characterize perturbed and diseased states, and streamline protocol development.
Social determinants of adherence to social distancing measures among adults during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Ghasemi Marzieh , Karimi-Shahanjarini Akram , Afshari Maryam , Tapak Leili
Published: November 2023

Purpose

Understanding the factors that influence individuals’ adherence to social distancing is critical to effective policymaking in respiratory pandemics such as COVID-19. This study aims to explore the role of social factors in relation to social distancing measures.

Design/methodology/approach

Stratified convenience sampling was used in this survey research, involving 450 adults residing in both rural and urban areas of Aligodarz County, Lorestan, Iran.

Findings

The findings showed that approximately 14% of participants did not adhere to any of the assessed social distancing behaviors, while only around 30% adhered to all four assessed behaviors. On average, participants reported having 5.13 (SD = 3.60) close physical contact within the 24 h prior to completing the questionnaire. Bridging social capital and gender emerged as the most frequently observed predictors across the assessed social distancing measures. Additionally, age, employment status and residential setting were identified as influential factors for some of the evaluated measures.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the field by highlighting that the likelihood of non-adherence to social distancing measures tends to increase among male participants, those aged above 60, employed individuals, urban residents and those with a higher level of bridging social capital.
Reviewing the contribution of retrofitting for climate resilience in residential buildings
Authors: Hulathdoowage Nimasha Dilukshi , Karunasena Gayani , Udawatta Nilupa , Liu Chunlu
Published: November 2023

Purpose

Over the years, the significance of retrofitting has gained much attention with the unveiling of its different applications, such as energy retrofit and deep retrofit, to enhance the climate-resilience of buildings. However, no single study comprehensively assesses the climate-resilience of retrofitting. The purpose of this study is to address this gap via a systematic literature review.

Design/methodology/approach

Quality journal studies were selected using the PRISMA method and analysed manually and using scientometrics. Three dimensions of climate-resilience, such as robustness, withstanding and recovery, were used to evaluate the contribution of retrofit measures for achieving climate-resilient houses across four climate zones: tropical, arid, temperate and cold.

Findings

Most passive measures can enhance the robustness of residential buildings but cannot verify for withstanding against immediate shocks and timely recovery. However, some passive measures, such as night-time ventilation, show excellent performance over all four climate zones. Active measures such as heating, ventilation and air conditioning and mechanical ventilation with heat recovery, can ensure climate-resilience in all three dimensions in the short-term but contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, further exacerbating the long-term climate. Integrating renewable energy sources can defeat this issue. Thus, all three retrofit strategies should appropriately be adopted together to achieve climate-resilient houses.

Research limitations/implications

Since the research is limited to secondary data, retrofit measures recommended in this research should be further investigated before application.

Originality/value

This review contributes to the knowledge domain of retrofitting by assessing the contribution of different retrofit measures to climate-resilience.
A multi-voiced account of family entrepreneuring research: expanding the agenda of family entrepreneurship
Authors: Al-Dajani Haya , Bang Nupur Pavan , Basco Rodrigo , Calabrò Andrea , Cheng Jeremy Chi Yeung , Clinton Eric , Daspit Joshua J. , De Massis Alfredo , Discua Cruz Allan , Garcia-Lorenzo Lucia , Gartner William B. , Germain Olivier , Gherardi Silvia , Helin Jenny , Imas Miguel , Jack Sarah , McAdam Maura , Radu-Lefebvre Miruna , Rovelli Paola , Tillmar Malin , Torchia Mariateresa , Verduijn Karen , Welter Friederike
Published: November 2023

Purpose

This conceptual, multi-voiced paper aims to collectively explore and theorize family entrepreneuring, which is a research stream dedicated to investigating the emergence and becoming of entrepreneurial phenomena in business families and family firms.

Design/methodology/approach

Because of the novelty of this research stream, the authors asked 20 scholars in entrepreneurship and family business to reflect on topics, methods and issues that should be addressed to move this field forward.

Findings

Authors highlight key challenges and point to new research directions for understanding family entrepreneuring in relation to issues such as agency, processualism and context.

Originality/value

This study offers a compilation of multiple perspectives and leverage recent developments in the fields of entrepreneurship and family business to advance research on family entrepreneuring.
CSR commitment and consumer situational scepticism of luxury brands: antecedents, moderator and outcomes
Authors: Teah Kevin , Phau Ian , Sung Billy
Published: November 2023

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the moderating role of corporate social responsibility (CSR) commitment in the relationships between antecedents and outcomes of consumer situational scepticism towards luxury brands.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used a questionnaire administered through a consumer panel, using established scales. A 2 (fictional, non-fictional) × 2 (low commitment, high commitment) factorial experimental design with four cells was implemented.

Findings

The results revealed that values-driven motives were associated with lower consumer situational scepticism, whereas egoistic-driven motives were linked to higher levels of consumer situational scepticism, regardless of the CSR commitment level of the luxury brand. However, the impact of strategic-driven motives and stakeholder-driven motives on consumer situational scepticism was only significant within the low commitment condition. Consumer situational scepticism was found to lead to lower brand resonance and resilience to negative information in both low and high commitment conditions.

Originality/value

This study contributes new knowledge by highlighting the crucial role of motives in shaping consumer perceptions, including scepticism, brand resonance and resilience to negative information, ultimately influencing consumer advocacy. The study further demonstrates that high commitment weakens the relationship between strategic-driven and stakeholder-driven motives and consumer scepticism. Moreover, high commitment also weakens the relationship between scepticism and the key outcomes examined in the study.
The impact of boundary conditions on the relationship between value creation and value appropriation in buyer-supplier relationships
Authors: Huang Ming-Chang , Lin Ting-Chuan , Lin Ping-Hsin , Chiu Ya-Ping , Chung Chi-Hung
Published: November 2023

Purpose

This study aims to investigate whether higher value creation leads to higher value appropriation and to identify the boundary conditions in a buyer–supplier relationship that can explain why a particular supplier can appropriate higher value than others.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses questionnaire surveys. The sample of the survey has 150 publicly-listed supplier firms in Taiwan. The unit of analysis is the buyer–supplier relationship.

Findings

In the buyer–supplier relationship, suppliers’ bargaining power, partnership and a supplier’s original brand manufacturing (OBM) business can strengthen the positive relationship between value creation and value appropriation.

Research limitations/implications

This study adopts the unilateral viewpoint of suppliers; however, some constructs might require dyadic evaluation. This study only explores the spillover effect of OBM business on the relationship between value creation and appropriation.

Practical implications

The spillover effect of a supplier’s OBM business in a buyer–supplier relationship allows the buyer to share more common benefits and the supplier to capture more private benefits as compensation. By broadening its customer base, a supplier can increase its bargaining power. A supplier can also maintain a strategic partnership with each essential buyer.

Originality/value

To avoid the dark-side effect of partnership, the model provides the contingency that a supplier can capture more value from a buyer–supplier relationship.
Role of gender in white-collar crime: an examination of the emancipation and focal concerns hypotheses
Authors: Gupta Chander Mohan , Gottschalk Petter , Kamaei Maryam
Published: November 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to understand the involvement of women in white-collar crime (WCC) also referred to as pink-collar crimes. WCC is present around the globe and has created a word for itself.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is designed by studying the WCC in the area of Iran, Portugal, Norway, India and the USA.

Findings

The paper attempts to move beyond the traditional perspectives of emancipation versus focal concern, which argue that less inequality will increase women involvement in WCC versus women socializing into accepting responsibilities for social concerns by caring for others.

Research limitations/implications

As the data is restricted, this study is based on the limited data available on the internet.

Originality/value

This paper is an original work of the authors.
The mediating effect of psychological distress and bullying victimization on the relationship between alexithymia and fibromyalgia among school adolescents
Authors: Alslman Eman , Thultheen Imad , Hamaideh Shaher H. , Nofal Basema , Hamdan-Mansour Renad , Hamdan Mansour Ayman
Published: November 2023

Purpose

This study aims to test the mediating effect of psychological distress and bullying victimization on the relationship between alexithymia and fibromyalgia (FM) among school adolescents.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used cross-sectional, correlational design. Data was collected using self-administered questionnaire. The sample consisted of 1,000 school adolescents at Grade 9–12 who were recruited randomly using multistrategic sampling technique.

Findings

The analysis showed that alexithymia was a significant predictor of FM (odds ratio [OR] = 1.065). Psychological distress was also a significant predictor of FM; however, its mediating effect resulted in drop of OR to 1.041. The joined effect of bulling victimization and psychological distress found to be significant although OR dropped from 1.065 to 1.039.

Research limitations/implications

The study highlights the significant role of school health nurses and mental health counselors to early detect and direct mental health interventions toward significant psychological problems among school adolescents.

Originality/value

I affirm this information has not been published or submitted for publication elsewhere. All authors approve the content of the manuscript and have contributed significantly to research involved/ the writing of the manuscript. The authors affirm their commitment to transfer copyright ownership to your journal if the manuscript is accepted for publication. The authors also affirm they will obtain any other copyright permission if deemed necessary within 30 days of acceptance for publication. All identifying information regarding the study participants has been omitted and this study was approved by the IRB at School of Nursing of the University of Jordan. The research conforms to the provisions of the Declaration of Helsinki in 1995 (as revised in Brazil, 2013). All participants gave informed consent for the research, and that their anonymity was preserved. None of the authors has financial or personal matters that may pose a conflict of interest.
American option evaluations using higher moments
Authors: Gaillardetz Patrice , Hachem Saeb
Published: November 2023

Purpose

By using higher moments, this paper extends the quadratic local risk-minimizing approach in a general discrete incomplete financial market. The local optimization subproblems are convex or nonconvex, depending on the moment variants used in the modeling. Inspired by Lai et al. (2006), the authors propose a new multiobjective approach for the combination of moments that is transformed into a multigoal programming problem.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors evaluate financial derivatives with American features using local risk-minimizing strategies. The financial structure is in line with Schweizer (1988): the market is discrete, self-financing is not guaranteed, but deviations are controlled and reduced by minimizing the second moment. As for the quadratic approach, the algorithm proceeds backwardly.

Findings

In the context of evaluating American option, a transposition of this multigoal programming leads not only to nonconvex optimization subproblems but also to the undesirable fact that local zero deviations from self-financing are penalized. The analysis shows that issuers should consider some higher moments when evaluating contingent claims because they help reshape the distribution of global cumulative deviations from self-financing.

Practical implications

A detailed numerical analysis that compares all the moments or some combinations of them is performed.

Originality/value

The quadratic approach is extended by exploring other higher moments, positive combinations of moments and variants to enforce asymmetry. This study also investigates the impact of two types of exercise decisions and multiple assets.
Validation and cross‐cultural adaptation of the Italian version of the paediatric eating assessment tool (I‐PEDI‐EAT‐10) in genetic syndromes
Authors: Onesimo Roberta , Sforza Elisabetta , Triumbari Elizabeth Katherine Anna , Proli Francesco , Leoni Chiara , Giorgio Valentina , Rigante Donato , Trevisan Valentina , De Rose Cristina , Kuczynska Eliza Maria , Cerchiari Antonella , Pane Marika , Mercuri Eugenio , Belafsky Peter , Zampino Giuseppe
Published: November 2023

Background

The Pediatric Eating Assessment Tool (PEDI‐EAT‐10) is a reliable and valid tool for rapid identification of dysphagia in patients aged 18 months to 18 years.

Aims

To translate and adapt the PEDI‐EAT‐10 into the Italian language and evaluate its validity and reliability.

Methods & Procedures

The translation and cross‐cultural adaptation of the tool consisted of five stages: initial translation, synthesis of the translations, back translation, expert committee evaluation and test of the prefinal version. The internal consistency of the translated tool was analysed in a clinical group composed of 200 patients with special healthcare needs aged between 18 months and 18 years. They were consecutively enrolled at the Rare Disease Unit, Paediatrics Department, Fondazione Policlinico Agostino Gemelli‐IRCCS, Rome. For test–retest reliability, 50 caregivers filled in the PEDI‐EAT‐10 questionnaire for a second time after a 2‐week period. Construct validity was established by comparing data obtained from patients with data from healthy participants (n = 200). The study was approved by the local ethics committee.

Outcomes & Results

Psychometric data obtained from patients (104 M; mean age = 8.08 ± 4.85 years; median age = 7 years) showed satisfactory internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.89) and test–retest reliability (Pearson r = 0.99; Spearman r = 0.96). A total of 30% of children were classified as having a high risk of penetration/aspiration. The Italian PEDI‐EAT‐10 mean total score of the clinical group was significantly different from that resulting from healthy participants.

Conclusions & Implications

The PEDI‐EAT‐10 was successfully translated into Italian, validated and found to be a reliable one‐page rapid screening tool to identify dysphagia in children and adolescents with special needs.

What this paper adds

What is already known on the subject

The PEDI‐EAT‐10 is a valid and reliable quick discriminative paediatric tool for identifying penetration/aspiration risks.

What this paper adds to the existing knowledge

In the present study we successfully translated and adapted the PEDI‐EAT‐10 into the Italian language.

What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work?

This translation and adaptation increase access to valid feeding and swallowing assessment for children of Italian‐speaking families. In addition, the I‐PEDI‐EAT‐10 can suggest further assessment of patients’ swallowing abilities.
Ecological effects of a declining red wolf population
Authors: Murray A. , Sutherland R. , Kays R.
Published: November 2023

Carnivores, especially wolves (Canis sp.), have profound impacts on their ecosystems, affecting the abundance and behavior of prey and competitors, but this has not been examined in detail for red wolves (C. rufus). We studied a population of red wolves that was reintroduced to eastern North Carolina in 1987 and initially thrived, peaking at 120 animals. Due to an increase in anthropogenic mortality and a decline in government support, the population experienced a crash starting in 2014. We evaluated changes in the relative abundance of prey and competitor species during the red wolf decline with 25 camera traps run primarily on National Wildlife Refuges from 2015 to 2021. If red wolves were having an ecological effect on the mammal community, we expected this effect would decline as the wolf population waned, resulting in increased prey and competitor populations. Supporting this, we found that relative abundance increased for most prey and competitor species including American black bear (Ursus americanus), bobcat (Lynx rufus), Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana) and Northern raccoon (Procyon lotor). For all species, this increase was most notable after spring 2018, the second year with low red wolf reproduction. For some species, the increase was dramatic; the detection rate for raccoon, bear and bobcat doubled from the spring of 2018 to the spring of 2021. White‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) showed a general increase in relative abundance but remained prevalent even at their lowest detection rates. Our results lend correlational support to the hypothesis that red wolves had a strong effect on their ecosystems by suppressing prey and competitor populations when they were at their peak. This study adds to the growing body of evidence that reintroductions of large predators have ecological impacts, with the caveat that these impacts can decline rapidly if the predators dwindle back to critically low numbers.
Cognitive and sensory capacity each contribute to the canine spatial bias
Authors: Iotchev Ivaylo Borislavov , Bognár Zsófia , Bel Rhali Soufiane , Kubinyi Enikő
Published: November 2023

Dogs interpret cues as being about location, which human infants would relate to objects. This spatial bias could shed light on the evolution of object‐centered thought, however, research needs to rule out that this is not a by‐product of dogs' weaker (compared to humans) visual capacities. In this study, we used a data set in which dogs were tested in two types of learning tasks (discrimination and reversal learning) with two types of rewarded cues (location and object features). In both tasks, dogs displayed spatial bias, that is, faster learning when the rewarded cue was a location. We investigated how sensory and cognitive capacity each contributes to this spatial bias. To this end, an estimate for general cognitive ability (g) was obtained from a battery of tests for some of the dogs. Cephalic index, a feature targeted in breeding and linked to differences in visual capacity, correlated negatively with the expression of spatial bias only in the easier discrimination learning task, while a negative correlation between g factor and spatial bias scores emerged in the more difficult reversal learning task. We conclude that dogs' spatial bias cannot be reduced to a sensory limitation and is easier to overcome with greater cognitive capacity.
From Programmatic Reform to Social Science Research: The National Tax Association and the Promise and Perils of Disciplinary Encounters
Authors: Mehrotra Ajay K. , Thorndike Joseph J.
Published: November 2023

This article uses the history of the National Tax Association (NTA), the leading twentieth-century organization of tax professionals, to strengthen our empirical understanding of the disciplinary encounter between law and the social sciences. Building on existing sociolegal scholarship, this article explores how the NTA embodied tax law's ambivalent historical interaction with public economics. Since its founding in 1907, the NTA has changed dramatically from an eclectic and catholic organization of tax professionals with a high public profile to an insular, scholarly association of mainly academic public finance economists. Using a mix of quantitative and qualitative historical evidence, we contend that the transformation in the NTA's mission and output can be explained by the increasing professionalization and specialization of tax knowledge, and by the dominant role that public economics has played in shaping that knowledge. This increasing specialization allowed the NTA to secure its position as a bastion of scholarly tax research. But that achievement came at a cost to the organization's broader civic mission. This article is thus a historical account of how two competing professional disciplines—tax law and public economics—have interacted within a particular organizational field, namely the research and analysis of tax law and policy.
Representation through Participation: A Multilevel Analysis of Jury Deliberations
Authors: Cornwell Erin York , Hans Valerie P.
Published: November 2023

Fully participatory jury deliberations figure prominently in the idealized view of the American jury system, where balanced participation among diverse jurors leads to more accurate fact-finding and instills public confidence in the legal system. However, research more than 50 years ago indicated that jury-room interactions are shaped by social status, with upper-class men participating more than their lower-class and female counterparts. The effects of social status on juror participation have been examined only sporadically since then, and rarely with actual jurors. We utilize data from 2,189 criminal jurors serving on 302 juries in four jurisdictions to consider whether—and in what conditions—participation in jury deliberations differs across social groups. Our results indicate the continuing importance of social status in structuring jury-room interactions, but also reveal some surprising patterns with respect to race and gender that depart from earlier research. We also find that contextual factors including location, case characteristics, and faction size shape the relationship between social status and participation. We conclude with a critical discussion of our results and urge other researchers to take into account contextual factors when examining how individual juror characteristics shape what happens inside the jury room.
Long‐term cognitive impairment after probable delirium in long‐term care residents: A population‐based retrospective cohort study
Authors: Webber Colleen , Milani Christina , Pugliese Michael , Lawlor Peter G. , Bush Shirley H. , Watt Christine , Casey Genevieve , Knoefel Frank , Thavorn Kednapa , Momoli Franco , Tanuseputro Peter
Published: November 2023

Background

The impact of delirium on cognition has not been well‐studied in long‐term care (LTC) residents. This study examined changes in cognition 1 year after a probable delirium episode among LTC residents, compared to LTC residents without probable delirium. We also evaluated whether the relationship between probable delirium and cognitive change differed according to a diagnosis of dementia.

Methods

We conducted a population‐based retrospective cohort study using linked health administrative data. The study population included adults aged 65+ residing in LTC in Ontario, Canada and assessed via the Resident Assessment Instrument‐Minimum Dataset between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2018. Probable delirium was ascertained via the delirium Clinical Assessment Protocol on the index assessment. Cognition was measured quarterly using the Cognitive Performance Scale (range 0–6, higher values indicate greater impairment). Cognitive decline up to 1 year after index was evaluated using multivariable proportional odds regression models.

Results

Of 92,005 LTC residents, 2816 (3.1%) had probable delirium at index. Residents with probable delirium had an increased odds of cognitive decline compared to those without probable delirium, with adjusted odds ratios of 1.64 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.35–1.99), 1.56 (95% CI 1.34–1.85), 1.57 (95% CI 1.32–1.86) and 1.50 (95% CI 1.25–1.80) after 1–3, 4–6, 7–9, and 10–12 months of follow‐up. Residents with probable delirium and a comorbid dementia diagnosis had the highest adjusted odds of cognitive decline (adjusted odds ratio 5.57, 95% CI 4.79–6.48) compared to those without probable delirium or dementia. Residents with probable delirium were also more likely to die within 1 year than those without probable delirium (52.5% vs. 23.4%).

Conclusions

Probable delirium is associated with increased mortality and worsened cognition in LTC residents that is sustained months after the probable delirium episode. Efforts to prevent delirium in this population may help limit these adverse effects.
The Relation between Motivation and Goal Attainment: A Correlational Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Lee Ahlam
Published: November 2023

This meta‐analysis investigated the strengths of the relationship between various types of motivations and accompanying future outcomes that individuals intend to change, based upon 337 effect sizes from 62 studies. Considerable variation exists within and between the effect sizes of the 14 types of motivations, ranging from a small negative effect size, r = −.13, I2 = 93.85% (k = 13), to a medium positive effect size, r = .38, I2 = 0.0% (k = 3). The following factors moderated some of the 14 summary effect sizes: (a) the type of assessment data (self‐report vs. physical data); (b) the type of future outcomes (physical behavior, psychological state, and intellectual ability); (c) the use of a motivational intervention; (d) the use of a longitudinal design; and (e) the time period between the point that measured motivation and future outcomes. The moderating effects suggest that the effect size of motivations may fluctuate across various domains, while future outcomes may be almost unaffected or even affected negatively by particular types of motivations, although certain other types of motivations play positive roles.
Do Physical Attractiveness and Personality Traits Predict Romantic Partner Evaluations? A Speed‐Dating Study in Japan1,2
Authors: Kito Mie , Souma Toshihiko , Nishimura Takashi , Yamada Junko , Kanemasa Yuji , Taniguchi Junichi , Kawamoto Taishi
Published: November 2023

The speed‐dating procedure allows researchers to closely investigate relationship‐initiation situations. Although previous speed‐dating studies identified physical attractiveness, earning prospects, and reciprocity as predictors of romantic attraction, few such studies have been conducted outside Europe or North America. The current speed‐dating study examined what factors would predict attraction ratings by potential partners among the Japanese—an understudied sample. Participants included 27 men and 28 women who first completed a questionnaire to measure individual attributes. During each speed‐dating session, 12–15 men and women talked for 3 minutes and evaluated each opposite‐gender participant on attraction and dating intentions. Results of the social relations model showed that men evaluated women who were more physically attractive and achieved higher education as more attractive. These results imply that men tend to generalize their first impressions of women's physical attractiveness to other aspects of the partner, and that Japanese men may consider dual income as a necessity for marriage.
Imagine, predict or perform? Reclaiming the future in sociology beyond scientism and catastrophism
Authors: Maccarini Andrea M.
Published: November 2023

In this article I examine and criticize some mainstream views of the future within scholarly debates, mainly in social science. The goal is to review the strategies sociology is following to include the future as a theme of its own reflections. Such strategies also reveal relevant aspects of the society in which they are developed. The main argument revolves around some tensions concerning the relationship of contemporary societies to their future. The key points can be summarized as follows: in contemporary complex societies, where change is believed to be the only constant, social science seems to have abandoned the future as a theme of its reflections, while at the same time prediction and forecast are increasingly necessary. Future studies are, therefore, mainly an enterprise for managers and engineers, taking place in either government or corporate environments and far from the academy. Why is this happening? And is it necessarily so? What does sociology know about "the future(s)? Could prediction still be the form of the argument sociology can make about the future? And if this cannot be, then what exactly is its possible contribution – if any? Are these embarrassing questions a reflection of the way things really are, or of a wrong attitude sociology has taken to future studies? The main thesis is that insofar as sociology still occupies the field of future studies, it is undergoing a process of hybridization, which leads to mix its representational and performative function in a new way, and that can possibly escape confusion with old and new forms of utopian thinking. Such a thesis is illustrated introducing one particular analytic tool deployed in social scientific oriented future studies, namely scenarios, and comparing its inherent logic with that of the morphogenetic approach to sociological research. I attempt to examine the rationale of such a tool, and how it can serve the purpose of sociological analysis, constituting some kind of reflexive morphogenesis of sociological theory of the future
Measuring the Relevance of Factors on Cross-Sectional Returns with Decision Trees
Authors: Reiter Paul Felix
Published: November 2023

This study is concerned with new ways to identify and analyse the factors on cross-sectional returns in financial markets with respect to their time-variability. Therefore, classification and regression trees and conventional regression models are applied. This study uses data on the S&P 500 from 1999 to 2019. Empirical findings show high time variability of factors on cross-sectional returns. The high level of time-variability is not dependent on the applied model. It is also shown that CARTs and conventional regression models have low power when it comes to identifying the factors on cross-sectional returns or predicting the returns themself.
Weakly Nonlinear Surface Wave Prediction Using a Data-Driven Method With the Help of Physical Understanding
Authors: Chen Jialun , Milne Ian A. , Gunawan David , Taylor Paul H. , Zhao Wenhua
Published: November 2023

Accurate surface wave prediction can potentially improve the safety and efficiency of various offshore operations, such as heavy lifts and active control of wave energy converters and floating wind turbines. Prediction of surface waves, even if only for a few periods in advance, is of value for decision-making. This study aims to predict weakly nonlinear surface waves (up to the second-order) in real-time using a data-driven model based on artificial neural networks (ANNs), where the application of physics is investigated to aid the development of a data-driven model. Based on numerically synthesized nonlinear wave records calculated using exact second-order theory, ANN models were trained to separate the nonlinear bound components at an up-wave location, propagate the linear waves, and reintroduce the nonlinear components as a correction to the prediction at a down-wave location. Our findings indicate that the optimal approach is to predict each stage separately following the basic physical structure of weakly nonlinear water waves using a series of ANN rather than direct prediction in a single step using ANN. Furthermore, we examined the generalization of the models across different sea states and investigated the impact of the second-order bound waves on prediction accuracy.
The Application of a Non-Intrusive Methodology to Estimate Particle Egress Rate and Advective Heat Losses of a Falling Particle Receiver During On-Sun Tests
Authors: Ortega Jesus D. , Ho Clifford K. , Anaya Guillermo , Vorobieff Peter , Mohan Gowtham
Published: November 2023

The direct measurement of particle temperatures and advective losses from solid particle receiver has been a topic of necessary interest to de-risk the technology and improve its performance. Due to the flow's transient and stochastic nature, it has presented a challenge to traditional thermometry and metrology methods. In this work, a simplified quantitative non-intrusive imaging methodology previously developed is applied to Sandia's falling particle receiver during on-sun tests to collect image sets, which could help estimate the average particle temperature and particle egress rate from the system. Further additions to the technique are presented to permit the estimation of the plume (air and particles) egress rate and total advective heat losses during on-sun operation. The falling particle receiver testing campaign in 2020 and 2021 allowed the team to capture multiple flow configurations and environmental conditions used to build a large database of data captures with different characteristics. Finally, the results captured were used to complete a regression study to gain further insight into the factors which impact the particle egress and the receiver's efficiency. Particle temperature, receiver flow configuration, and wind speed were found to be the most impactful factors in the study.
Enhancing the Design Space of Bistable Laminates by Tailoring the Attachment Boundary Conditions
Authors: Mukherjee Aghna , Vogel Tom , Ermanni Paolo
Published: November 2023

Bistable and multistable laminates are structural elements with more than one stable equilibrium configuration. The bistability makes them very interesting for the design of compliant mechanisms. However, these laminates are extremely sensitive to boundary conditions and attachment methods. It has been shown prior in the literature that restrictive boundary conditions can lead to the loss of bistability or unwanted deformation modes. This article develops attachment concepts that leverage the structural behavior changes caused by boundary conditions to expand the design space of bistable elements for structural applications. A systematic means of using the boundary conditions to improve the stability margins and load introduction of bistable tape springs is demonstrated. The stability margins and the achievable angles have been quantified using an analytical model previously developed by Guest and Pellegrino. Subsequently, high-fidelity finite element (FE) simulations are done in abaqus™ to determine the limits of the proposed method in terms of localization effects. Based on the analytical model and simulation outcomes, layup, size, and attachment points are determined, and two prototypes are fabricated, illustrating the effectiveness of the proposed method in expanding the design space of traditional bistable tape springs.
Sex-Related Differences in Shoulder Complex Joint Dynamics Variability During Pediatric Manual Wheelchair Propulsion
Authors: Leonardis Joshua M. , Schnorenberg Alyssa J. , Vogel Lawrence C. , Harris Gerald F. , Slavens Brooke A.
Published: November 2023

More than 80% of adult manual wheelchair users with spinal cord injuries will experience shoulder pain. Females and those with decreased shoulder dynamics variability are more likely to experience pain in adulthood. Sex-related differences in shoulder dynamics variability during pediatric manual wheelchair propulsion may influence the lifetime risk of pain. We evaluated the influence of sex on 3-dimensional shoulder complex joint dynamics variability in 25 (12 females and 13 males) pediatric manual wheelchair users with spinal cord injury. Within-subject variability was quantified using the coefficient of variation. Permutation tests evaluated sex-related differences in variability using an adjusted critical alpha of P = .001. No sex-related differences in sternoclavicular or acromioclavicular joint kinematics or glenohumeral joint dynamics variability were observed (all P ≥ .042). Variability in motion, forces, and moments are considered important components of healthy joint function, as reduced variability may increase the likelihood of repetitive strain injury and pain. While further work is needed to generalize our results to other manual wheelchair user populations across the life span, our findings suggest that sex does not influence joint dynamics variability in pediatric manual wheelchair users with spinal cord injury.
The Combined Influence of Infant Carrying Method and Motherhood on Gait Mechanics
Authors: Havens Kathryn L. , Goldrod Sarah , Mannen Erin M.
Published: November 2023

Postpartum mothers are susceptible to lumbopelvic pain which may be exacerbated by loading, like carrying their infant in arms and with baby carriers. Nulliparous women carrying infant mannequins may biomechanically mimic mother–infant dyad, but this has not been studied. The purpose of our study was to investigate biomechanical differences of 10 mothers carrying their infants and 10 nulliparous women carrying infant mannequins under 3 gait conditions: carrying nothing, carrying in arms, and carrying in a baby carrier (babywearing). Spatiotemporal gait parameters, peak ground reaction forces and impulses, and lower extremity and trunk kinematics were collected using motion capture and force plates and compared using a mixed 2 × 3 (parity × condition) analysis of variance (α ≤ .05). The largest differences occurred between carrying conditions: carrying in arms or babywearing increased vertical and anteroposterior ground reaction forces, trunk extension, ankle dorsiflexion, and hip and knee flexion. Kinematic differences were identified between arms and babywearing conditions. Together this suggests alterations in joint loading for both groups. Our study also contributes a novel understanding of postpartum health by demonstrating alterations in step time, anterior forces, and ankle and knee mechanics, suggesting that during gait, mothers carrying their own infants choose different propulsive strategies than nulliparous women carrying mannequins.
Alcanivorax
bacteria as important polypropylene degraders in mesopelagic environments
Authors: Koike Hiroki , Miyamoto Kenji , Teramoto Maki
Published: November 2023

Plastics are causing serious problems in the sea and settling even to abyssal depths. Polypropylene (PP) is the second most common plastic product and thus would constitute a large fraction of plastics in the sea. The biodegradation of PP has not been clearly shown. In this study,
Alcanivorax
bacteria (mainly
Alcanivorax borkumensis
) were indicated to be enriched most abundantly on liquid PP and on its structurally similar branched alkane, pristane, in mesopelagic water. An
Alcanivorax
isolate probably of
A. borkumensis
showed the highest liquid PP-degrading activity among the isolates. These results indicate that
Alcanivorax
bacteria could be major degraders of PP in mesopelagic environments.
Alcanivorax
bacteria did not use liquid PP as the sole carbon and energy source. Short PP was preferentially degraded, and PP of all lengths appeared to be degraded. Liquid PP was degraded more efficiently at 10°C than at 20°C, and correspondingly, higher concentrations of another carbon source were required at 10°C. Regarding the degradation of solid PP, an initial degradation sign, oxidation, was detected, but a weight loss of at least 1% was not detected. By using this study as a model, various PP-degrading microbes would start to be clarified.

IMPORTANCE

PP biodegradation has not been clearly shown (it has been uncertain whether the PP structure is actually biodegraded or not). This is the first report on the obvious biodegradation of PP. At the same time, this study shows that
Alcanivorax
bacteria could be major degraders of PP in mesopelagic environments. Moreover, PP biodegradation has been investigated by using solid PP as the sole carbon source. However, this study shows that PP would not be used as a sole carbon and energy source. Our data thus provide very important and key knowledge for PP bioremediation.