bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Logarithmic Corrections to Kerr Thermodynamics
Authors: Kapec Daniel , Sheta Ahmed , Strominger Andrew , Toldo Chiara
Published: July 2024

Recent work has shown that loop corrections from massless particles generate 32logTHawking corrections to black hole entropy which dominate the thermodynamics of cold near-extreme charged black holes. Here we adapt this analysis to near-extreme Kerr black holes. Like AdS2×S2, the near-horizon extreme Kerr (NHEK) metric has a family of normalizable zero modes corresponding to reparametrizations of boundary time. The path integral over these zero modes leads to an infrared divergence in the one-loop approximation to the Euclidean NHEK partition function. We regulate this divergence by retaining the leading finite temperature correction in the NHEK scaling limit. This “not-NHEK” geometry lifts the eigenvalues of the zero modes, rendering the path integral infrared finite. The quantum-corrected near-extremal entropy exhibits 32logTHawking behavior characteristic of the Schwarzian model and predicts a lifting of the ground state degeneracy for the extremal Kerr black hole.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Cyclic Products of Higher-Genus Szegö Kernels, Modular Tensors, and Polylogarithms
Authors: D’Hoker Eric , Hidding Martijn , Schlotterer Oliver
Published: July 2024

A wealth of information on multiloop string amplitudes is encoded in fermionic two-point functions known as Szegö kernels. Here we show that cyclic products of any number of Szegö kernels on a Riemann surface of arbitrary genus may be decomposed into linear combinations of modular tensors on moduli space that carry all the dependence on the spin structure δ. The δ-independent coefficients in these combinations carry all the dependence on the marked points and are composed of the integration kernels of higher-genus polylogarithms. We determine the antiholomorphic moduli derivatives of the δ-dependent modular tensors.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Constructibility of AdS Supergluon Amplitudes
Authors: Cao Qu , He Song , Tang Yichao
Published: July 2024

We prove that all tree-level n-point supergluon (scalar) amplitudes in AdS5 can be recursively constructed, using factorization and flat-space limit. Our method is greatly facilitated by a natural R-symmetry basis for planar color-ordered amplitudes, which reduces the latter to “partial amplitudes” with simpler pole structures and factorization properties. Given the n-point scalar amplitude, we first extract spinning amplitudes with n−2 scalars and one gluon by imposing “gauge invariance,” and then use a special “no-gluon kinematics” to determine the (n+1)-point scalar amplitude completely (which in turn contains the n-point single-gluon amplitude). Explicit results of up to 8-point scalar amplitudes and up to 6-point single-gluon amplitudes are included as Supplemental Material.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Quasiclassical Gluon Fields and Low’s Soft Theorem at Small Momentum-Fraction
x
Authors: Li Ming
Published: July 2024

In the high-energy limit, soft gluons can be approximately described by quasiclassical gluon fields. It is well known that the gluon field is a pure gauge field on the transverse plane at eikonal order. We derived the complete next-to-eikonal order solutions of the classical Yang-Mills equations for soft gluons in the dense nuclear regime. Utilizing these solutions, it is shown that Low’s soft theorem at small x can be obtained by considering off-diagonal matrix elements of quasiclassical chromoelectric field between single-gluon states in the dilute regime. We further propose on extending Low’s soft theorem at small x to incorporate the effects of gluon saturation in the dense regime.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Entropic uncertainty principle for mixed states
Authors: Rotundo Antonio F. , Schwonnek René
Published: July 2024

The entropic uncertainty principle in the form proven by Maassen and Uffink yields a fundamental inequality that is prominently used in many places all over the field of quantum information theory. In this paper, we provide a family of versatile generalizations of this relation. Our proof methods build on a deep connection between entropic uncertainties and interpolation inequalities for the doubly stochastic map that links probability distributions in two measurement bases. In contrast to the original relation, our generalization also incorporates the von Neumann entropy of the underlying quantum state. These results can be directly used to bound the extractable randomness of a source-independent quantum random number generator in the presence of fully quantum attacks, to certify entanglement between trusted parties, or to bound the entanglement of a system with an untrusted environment.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Rerefinement of the crystal structure of BiF5
Authors: Wassermann Tobias Burghardt , Kraus Florian
Published: July 2024

The crystal structure of bismuth pentafluoride, BiF5, was rerefined from single-crystal data. BiF5 crystallizes in the α-UF5 structure type in the form of colorless needles. In comparison with the previously reported crystal-structure model [Hebecker (1971). Z. Anorg. Allg. Chem.
384, 111–114], the lattice parameters and fractional atomic coordinates were determined to much higher precision and all atoms were refined anisotropically, leading to a significantly improved structure model. The Bi atom (site symmetry 4/m..) is surrounded by six F atoms in a distorted octahedral coordination environment. The [BiF6] octahedra are corner-linked to form infinite straight chains extending parallel to [001]. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations at the PBE0/TZVP level of theory were performed on the crystal structure of BiF5 to calculate its IR and Raman spectra. These are compared with experimental data.
Crystal structure of the 1:1 co-crystal 4-(dimethylamino)pyridin-1-ium 8-hydroxyquinoline-5-sulfonate–N,N-dimethylpyridin-4-amine
Authors: Isobe Mami , Kashiwagi Yukiyasu , Kubono Koji
Published: July 2024

The asymmetric unit of the title compound is composed of two independent ion pairs of 4-(dimethylamino)pyridin-1-ium 8-hydroxyquinoline-5-sulfonate (HDMAP+·HqSA−, C7H11N2
+·C9H6NO4S−) and neutral N,N-dimethylpyridin-4-amine molecules (DMAP, C7H10N2), co-crystallized as a 1:1:1 HDMAP+:HqSA−:DMAP adduct in the monoclinic system, space group Pc. The compound has a layered structure, including cation layers of HDMAP+ with DMAP and anion layers of HqSA− in the crystal. In the cation layer, there are intermolecular N—H...N hydrogen bonds between the protonated HDMAP+ molecule and the neutral DMAP molecule. In the anion layer, each HqSA− is surrounded by other six HqSA−, where the planar network structure is formed by intermolecular O—H...O and C—H...O hydrogen bonds. The cation and anion layers are linked by intermolecular C—H...O hydrogen bonds and C—H...π interactions.
Fostering pro-environmental behavior of university students through goal framing theory: the mediating role of environmental knowledge
Authors: Bonhi Tasmeem Chowdhury , Karim Rashed Al , Sharmin Shazia , Jahan Nusrat , Chowdhury Faria
Published: July 2024

Purpose

This study aims to examine the associations between the three goals (hedonic, gain and normative) and university students’ proenvironmental behavior. After that, the authors investigate how environmental knowledge acts as a mediator between three goals (hedonic, gain and normative) and proenvironmental behavior.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used the quantitative approach adopting the goal framing theory (GFT) as the theoretical framework, for analyzing behavior of university students toward environment including both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. The data was gathered through the distribution of a structured questionnaire to private universities in Chattogram and structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data.

Findings

Hedonic and gain goals have positive effects on students’ proenvironmental behavior while the normative goal has insignificant association. In addition, all the three goals are significantly linked with students’ environmental knowledge. Besides, environmental knowledge significantly mediates the association between three goals and proenvironmental behavior.

Practical implications

The findings can provide valuable insights for integrating sustainability and environmental education into the formulation and planning of curricular and extra-curricular activities, with an emphasis on students’ intrinsic motivation.

Originality/value

The mediating role of environmental knowledge between three goals and proenvironmental behavior is the unique contribution of this study.
How consumers' privacy perceptions influenced mobile payment acceptance during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Wei Yuling , Gáti Mirkó , Simay Attila Endre
Published: July 2024

Purpose

Our research investigated how the perceived effectiveness of privacy, perceived privacy risk, and perceived security influenced consumers' behavioral intention to use mobile payment applications during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

We applied a quantitative method using a cross-sectional online survey conducted over three years. We collected a sample of 1,471 survey responses focused on ages 18–39. Using descriptive statistics, confirmatory factor analysis, and structural equation modeling, we tested our hypotheses with SPSS 27 and AMOS 27.

Findings

Results of the study indicate that the perceived effectiveness of privacy positively influences perceived privacy risk, perceived security, and behavioral intention. Moreover, perceived privacy risk has a positive effect on perceived security. We found no significant relationship between perceived privacy risk and behavioral intention, although perceived security has a positive effect on behavioral intention. Further mediation analyses showed that perceived privacy risk and perceived security mediate the relationship between the perceived effectiveness of privacy and behavioral intention.

Originality/value

This research sheds new light on the role of perceived privacy effectiveness in mobile payment adoption in Hungary, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our research also explains why and how perceived privacy effectiveness influences consumers' perceived privacy risk, perceived security, and behavioral intention.
The effects of individual and cultural factors on digital inclusion in European countries: a two-level regression analysis
Authors: Rantanen Teemu , Toikko Timo
Published: July 2024

Purpose

With digitisation, a new kind of inequality has emerged in society between people and groups of people. A lack of digital inclusion creates challenges for the economic and social development of society and citizen participation. This study analyses how the country-level cultural factors defined by Hofstede are associated with citizens' digital skills and internet usage and how they moderate the effects of age, gender, educational level and income level.

Design/methodology/approach

This comparative cross-sectional study examines digital inclusion in 22 European countries. Data from the European Social Survey (N = 37,602) are analysed using a two-level regression analysis.

Findings

The study found significant effects of demographic and socio-economic factors and country-level indulgence on digital skills and internet usage. In addition, the study shows that a high value on the indulgence index moderates the negative effect of age.

Originality/value

The digital divide has been studied widely with regard to individual-level influencing factors and international comparisons. The significance of Hofstede’s cultural dimensions in terms of digitisation and digital divides has also been confirmed in previous studies. However, there is a lack of analysis combining the effects of country-level culture and individual-level demographic and socio-economic factors on citizens' digital skills and internet usage. Generally, the research emphasises the significance of national culture in digital inclusion and especially in supporting the digital inclusion of older adults.
How do stock markets react to dividend announcements during the COVID-19 pandemic? Evidence from the GCC markets
Authors: Al-Khasawneh Jamal Ali , Ali Heba , Hassanein Ahmed
Published: July 2024

Purpose

This study aims to investigate how stock markets responded to corporate dividend policy changes during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Likewise, it explores how efficiently market prices incorporate the news by examining the speed of stock price adjustment to various dividend announcements.

Design/methodology/approach

The sample includes 741 dividend announcements from 2017 to 2021 made by 326 firms listed in the stock markets of the GCC countries. A series of regression analyses examine how dividend announcements influence the market reaction during the COVID-19 pandemic, controlling for other well-documented firm characteristics.

Findings

This study reveals an adverse stock price reaction to all the dividend announcements in most GCC markets. The findings also show strong asymmetric effects of COVID-19 on how the markets react to different dividend changes. Likewise, the authors show that investors tend to underreact to the good news of dividend increases amid hard times of crises due to prevailing uncertainty and bearish sentiment. Besides, regression results reveal that firms with dividend reductions during the pandemic experience less adverse market reactions than dividend-decreasing firms prepandemic.

Practical implications

For firms, the findings confirm the role that corporate dividend policy can play in conveying signals to investors, especially during hard times of crises and turbulences, thereby affecting their share price. For policymakers, the results substantially affect market efficiency and firm valuation in the GCC markets.

Originality/value

This study is not only one of the first few attempts to scrutinize how the pandemic has affected the market reaction to changes in corporate dividend policies but also, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, it is the first to examine how corporate dividend policy could affect stock markets during COVID-19 in the context of GCC markets.
Path optimization of underwater vehicles in multi-obstacle environment based on energy constraint strategy
Authors: Yuan Chang , Wu Xinyu , Zeng Donghai , Li Baoren
Published: July 2024

Purpose

To solve the problem that the underwater vehicles is difficult to turn and exit in a small range in the face of complex marine environment such as concave and ring under the limitation of its limitation of its shape and maximum steering angle, this paper aims to propose an improved ant colony algorithm based on trap filling strategy and energy consumption constraint strategy.

Design/methodology/approach

Firstly, on the basis of searching the global path, the disturbed terrain was pre-filled in the complex marine environments. Based on the energy constraint strategy, the ant colony algorithm was improved to make the search path of the underwater vehicle meet the requirements of the lowest energy consumption and the shortest path in the complex obstacle environment.

Findings

The simulation results showed that the modified grid environment diagram effectively reduced the redundancy search and improved the optimization efficiency. Aiming at the problem of “the shortest distance is not the lowest energy consumption” in the traditional path optimization algorithm, the energy consumption level was reduced by 26.41% after increasing the energy consumption constraint, although the path length and the number of inflection points were slightly higher than the shortest path constraint, which was more conducive to the navigation of underwater vehicles.

Originality/value

The method proposed in this paper is not only suitable for trajectory planning of underwater robots but also suitable for trajectory planning of land robots.
Professional identity of public librarians, archivists and museum professionals in five European countries
Authors: Khosrowjerdi Mahmood , Johnston Jamie , Rydbeck Kerstin , Vårheim Andreas , Huvila Isto , Tóth Máté , Pálsdóttir Ágústa , Mierzecka Anna
Published: July 2024

Purpose

The purpose is to investigate the professional identity of public library, archive and museum (LAM) professionals in Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Norway and Sweden.

Design/methodology/approach

The data have been gathered through the administration of three questionnaires. A comprehensive analysis is conducted to explore the variations in the professionals’ perceptions of their professional proximities to the other LAM professions and other related professions, considering demographic factors such as age, education, gender and immigrant background of participants.

Findings

Through a lens of micro- and macro-professional identities, the findings underscore both clearly perceived role separation between the LAM professions and notable points of convergence, suggesting opportunities for collaborative efforts. The implications of these discoveries are discussed, offering a foundation for future research endeavors.

Originality/value

The study highlights the professions perceived to have the most and least similarity to LAMs based on questionnaire responses, providing valuable insights into the interplay between various professional domains.
Engaging leadership in health care during the COVID-19 pandemic and followers’ engagement and quality of care
Authors: Oprea Bogdan , Ionescu-Avram Daniela , Armas Iuliana , Avram Eugen
Published: July 2024

Purpose

Investigating the role of leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic in maintaining the well-being and performance of the medical personnel, as frontline workers, is of major importance. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between engaging leadership in health care during COVID-19 pandemic and followers’ work engagement and performance and to test the mediating role of followers’ basic psychological need satisfaction in these relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample consisting of 200 health-care employees. Data were collected starting with May 2020 and ending with November 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants reported on the engaging leadership of their direct supervisor and on their own psychological need satisfaction, work meaningfulness, work engagement and quality of care.

Findings

The positive association between engaging leadership and followers’ work engagement was fully mediated by followers’ basic needs satisfaction. The relationship between engaging leadership and followers’ quality of patient care was not supported. Work meaningfulness did not mediate the link between engaging leadership and followers’ engagement.

Practical implications

By meeting followers’ needs for autonomy, competence and relatedness, engaging leaders can stimulate followers’ work engagement during outbreaks and other similar crises. Managers in health care may maintain a high level of followers’ work engagement during crises if they adopt an engaging leadership style.

Originality/value

The study investigated for the first time the role of meeting the psychological needs of health-care workers by leaders during a health-care crisis.
Recording and researching doctoral supervision meetings: reconceptualising authenticity in supervision research
Authors: Lu Bing , Henderson Emily F.
Published: July 2024

Purpose

This paper contends that data generated by research on supervision are often taken as authentic data. Through an examination of studies that use audio/visual recordings to investigate supervision, the paper both promotes and problematises the recording of supervision meetings as a useful technique for doctoral supervision research. This paper aims to encourage a critical evaluation of methodological choices in research on supervision, and both promotes and problematises the practice of recording supervision meetings to enhance nuance in research on supervision practices.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper reviews how prior studies have adopted different research methods to construct the space of supervision, and how the chosen methods have been justified. The paper draws on data from an empirical study which included interviews with supervisors in China, based on recordings of their supervision meetings.

Findings

Presenting a single case with one participant to explore the recording and interview process in detail, this study demonstrates how hearing the supervision meeting can present a multi-faceted picture of supervision practice. This multi-faceted picture underpins the alternative understanding of authentic data that this study unpacks.

Originality/value

Drawing on the tradition of poststructuralist critiques of traditional research methodology, this study is presented as a methodological paper, with a core aim of interrogating and problematising methodological decisions taken in studies of doctoral supervision. This study reviews research methods that were used in prior studies on supervision, investigating how the chosen methods were justified and how these methods affect the resultant construction of supervision.
Species richness and evenness of European bird communities show differentiated responses to measures of productivity
Authors: Sandal Lisa , Sæther Bernt‐Erik , Freckleton Robert P. , Noble David G. , Schwarz Johannes , Leivits Agu , Grøtan Vidar
Published: July 2024

Understanding patterns of species diversity is crucial for ecological research and conservation, and this understanding may be improved by studying patterns in the two components of species diversity, species richness and evenness of abundance of species. Variation in species richness and evenness has previously been linked to variation in total abundance of communities as well as productivity gradients. Exploring both components of species diversity is essential because these components could be unrelated or driven by different mechanisms.

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between species richness and evenness in European bird communities along an extensive latitudinal gradient. We examined their relationships with latitude and Net Primary Productivity, which determines energy and matter availability for heterotrophs, as well as their responses to territory densities (i.e. the number of territories per area) and community biomass (i.e. the bird biomass per area).

We applied a multivariate Poisson log‐normal distribution to unique long‐term, high‐quality time‐series data, allowing us to estimate species richness of the community as well as the variance of this distribution, which acts as an inverse measure of evenness.

Evenness in the distribution of abundance of species in the community was independent of species richness. Species richness increased with increasing community biomass, as well as with increasing density. Since both measures of abundance were explained by NPP, species richness was partially explained by energy‐diversity theory (i.e. the more energy, the more species sustained by the ecosystem). However, species richness did not increase linearly with NPP but rather showed a unimodal relationship. Evenness was not explained either by productivity nor by any of the aspects of community abundance.

This study highlights the importance of considering both richness and evenness to gain a better understanding of variation in species diversity. We encourage the study of both components of species diversity in future studies, as well as use of simulation studies to verify observed patterns between richness and evenness.
The revolution next door
Authors: Calnitsky David , Wannamaker Kaitlin Pauline
Published: July 2024

This paper explores the cascading influence of revolutionary moments on democracy and inequality, not at home, but across borders. We use data on revolutions and other social upheavals over the past 120 years and examine their cross‐national impact on a range of variables in neighboring countries. Engaging with debates on whether substantial democracy and equality increases require extraordinary circumstances, our research investigates whether revolutionary activities induce consequential spillovers, such as policy concessions from elites in neighboring contexts. In exploring spillover effects, the paper examines how significant events in one nation influence social life in adjacent ones. It encompasses an analysis of 171 countries over two centuries, connecting data on revolution with democracy and equality metrics, and hypothesizing that elite fear of revolutionary contagion may necessitate democracy and equality concessions to mitigate potential uprisings. Findings suggest neighboring revolutions positively impact domestic democracy and equality levels. We observe significant increases in an index of democracy and two indices of economic egalitarianism, although one of the egalitarianism measures is robust to all model specifications. Additionally, we find that isolated “protest‐led ousters” can moderately increase suffrage and one of our indices of egalitarianism, while coups do not seem to impact democracy or inequality variables. By examining various upheaval types and outcomes across time and space, the study illuminates the causal relationship between global mobilizations and local changes, providing insights into how global events inform domestic outcomes.
Impact of functional dietary fiber incorporation on the appearance and mechanical properties of extruded high moisture meat analogs
Authors: Wagner Caleb E. , Ganjyal Girish M.
Published: July 2024

The effect of including functional dietary fiber ingredients (FDFI) on the texture and structure of high moisture meat analog (HMMA) was examined in this study. The inclusion of FDFI in this application is hypothesized to act as a label‐friendly texture modifier in HMMA while also boosting the product's dietary fiber content. Two inclusion rates (5% and 10% wt/wt) of four functionally unique FDFI ingredients (pea hull, citrus fiber, hydrocolloid oat bran, and powdered cellulose) were blended with wheat protein isolate. Each unique formulation was processed using a high‐moisture twin‐screw extrusion process at two different screw speeds (200 and 400 rpm). The type of FDFI added affected the mechanical texture attributes (hardness, springiness, cohesiveness, and integrity index) and in‐process behavior (torque and pressure) of the resulting HMMA far more than the inclusion rate or screw speed (p > 0.05). The type of FDFI ingredient employed also had the largest qualitative effect on the visual appearance of the resulting HMMA. These observed quality changes correlated well with the physicochemical and structure–function properties of the FDFI ingredients, especially with water‐holding and absorption capacities. The incorporation of FDFI is a viable means of modulating HMMA texture and improving the holistic nutrition of these products.

Practical Application

Adding highly functional, dietary fiber‐rich ingredients to processed foods is a viable strategy for improving the nutritional and textural quality of these foods. The results of this study imply that these fibers can be added to meat analogs at nutritionally relevant rates, and the texture of the resulting product can be tailored based on the functional properties of the ingredients deployed.
Characterization of the covalent binding of cyanidin‐3‐glucoside to bovine serum albumin and its inhibition mechanism for advanced nonenzymatic glycosylation reactions
Authors: Liao Jinqiang , Zhang Yujing , Deng Zeyuan , Li Hongyan , Zhang Bing
Published: July 2024

Nonenzymatic glycosylation of proteins can generate advanced glycosylation end products, which are closely associated with the pathogenesis of certain chronic physiological diseases and aging. In this study, we characterized the covalent binding of cyanidin‐3‐glucoside (C3G) to bovine serum albumin (BSA) and investigated the mechanism by which this covalent binding inhibits the nonenzymatic glycosylation of BSA. The results indicated that the covalent interaction between C3G and BSA stabilized the protein's secondary structure. Through liquid chromatography‐electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry analysis, we identified the covalent binding sites of C3G on BSA as lysine, arginine, asparagine, glutamine, and cysteine residues. This covalent interaction significantly suppressed the nonenzymatic glycosylation of BSA, consequently reducing the formation of nonenzymatic glycosylation products. C3G competitively binds to nonenzymatic glycosylation sites (e.g., lysine and arginine) on BSA, thereby impeding the glycosylation process and preventing the misfolding and structural alterations of BSA induced by fructose. Furthermore, the covalent attachment of C3G to BSA preserves the secondary structure of BSA and hinders subsequent nonenzymatic glycosylation events.
Catching up with climate priorities: Understanding multilateral development banks' evolving approach to biodiversity
Authors: Nedopil Christoph , Larsen Mathias , Chane‐Yook Aurelie , Narain Divya
Published: July 2024

A global consensus now recognises biodiversity as equal to climate change in its importance to sustainable development. While multilateral development banks (MDBs) have developed a strong emphasis on climate change, how do they approach biodiversity as a new priority? Current literature on MDBs' approach to climate change is prolific, but scholarship on biodiversity is scarce. Here, we compare MDBs' climate and biodiversity efforts in order to identify differences, analyze causes, and ultimately propose ways for MDBs to prioritise biodiversity. Methodologically, we analyze MDB documents in the form of policies, high‐level announcements, and strategies, in order to compare climate change and biodiversity across five aspects: Financing, policy, strategy, client requirements, and environmental reporting. Subsequently, we apply automated text analysis to examine mentions of climate change and biodiversity in annual reports. Focusing on the 10 largest MDBs, we find that across all five aspects, MDBs' prioritisation of biodiversity lags far behind that of climate change. From that, we recommend that biodiversity be prioritised by MDBs in three ways: By adopting an integrated strategic approach to environmental issues that goes beyond climate, by not only addressing biodiversity through safeguards but also through labeled projects, and by assigning targets as proportions of total financing.
Portugal: Political Developments and Data in 2023
Authors: MAGONE JOSÉ M.
Published: July 2024

In 2023, Portugal experienced the end of a political cycle of Socialist government rule that had started in 2014. Several scandals affected the executive throughout the year, including traffic of influence. There were also regional elections in Madeira on 24 September, which were won by the Social Democratic Party (Partido Social Democrata). At the end of the year, President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa dismissed Prime Minister Antonio Costa. This still allowed the budget for 2024 to be passed in December, with the call for early legislative elections being postponed to the beginning of 2024.
Primary outcomes and anticipated effect sizes in randomised clinical trials assessing adjuncts to peripheral nerve blocks: A scoping review
Authors: Flyger Sarah Sofie Bitsch , Sorenson Sandra , Pingel Lasse , Karlsen Anders Peder Højer , Nørskov Anders Kehlet , Mathiesen Ole , Maagaard Mathias
Published: July 2024

Background

Prolonging effects of adjuncts to local anaesthetics in peripheral nerve blocks have been demonstrated in randomised clinical trials. The chosen primary outcome and anticipated effect size have major impact on the clinical relevance of results in these trials. This scoping review aims to provide an overview of frequently used outcomes and anticipated effect sizes in randomised trials on peripheral nerve block adjuncts.

Methods

For our scoping review, we searched MEDLINE, Embase and CENTRAL for trials assessing effects of adjuncts for peripheral nerve blocks published in 10 major anaesthesia journals. We included randomised clinical trials assessing adjuncts for single‐shot ultrasound‐guided peripheral nerve blocks, regardless of the type of interventional adjunct and control group, local anaesthetic used and anatomical localization. Our primary outcome was the choice of primary outcomes and corresponding anticipated effect size used for sample size estimation. Secondary outcomes were assessor of primary outcomes, the reporting of sample size calculations and statistically significant and non‐significant results related to the anticipated effect sizes.

Results

Of 11,854 screened trials, we included 59. The most frequent primary outcome was duration of analgesia (35/59 trials, 59%) with absolute and relative median (interquartile range) anticipated effect sizes for adjunct versus placebo/no adjunct: 240 min (180–318) and 30% (25–40) and for adjunct versus active comparator: 210 min (180–308) and 17% (15–28). Adequate sample size calculations were reported in 78% of trials. Statistically significant results were reported for primary outcomes in 45/59 trials (76%), of which 22% did not reach the anticipated effect size.

Conclusion

The reported outcomes and associated anticipated effect sizes can be used in future trials on adjuncts for peripheral nerve blocks to increase methodological homogeneity.
Dose‐specific clinical outcomes in patients with opioid use disorder treated with 24–32 mg/day of buprenorphine
Authors: D’Agata Mount Julia , Sun Junfeng , Davis Ashley , Cover Amelia , Sun Lily , Gannon Catherine , Derenoncourt Meghan , Garrett Grace , Eyasu Rahwa , Ebah Emade , Bijole Phyllis , Greenblatt Aaron , Kattakuzhy Sarah , Rosenthal Elana
Published: July 2024

Background/Aims

In people with opioid use disorder (OUD), buprenorphine is a vital treatment to decrease opioid use and overdose. The US Food and Drug Administration's prescribing information for buprenorphine advises dosing up to 24 mg/day; however, doses of buprenorphine up to 32 mg have been shown to be safe and effective. We compared outcomes associated increased dosing from 24 to 32 mg/day.

Design

Prospective cohort investigation.

Setting

Low‐barrier buprenorphine clinic in Washington, District of Columbia, USA.

Participants

Participants in the ANCHOR study (people with hepatitis C virus (HCV), OUD, and active opioid misuse who were treated for HCV and offered buprenorphine) who received buprenorphine at doses of 24 and/or 32 mg/day. 72 participants were included in the analysis: 24 (33%) patients stabilized on 24 mg, and 48 (67%) patients stabilized on 32 mg. Patients were predominantly male (78%), Black (96%), unstably housed (57%), and used opioids by injection (93%).

Measurements

Patient‐reported drug use, use frequency, triggers for use, and urine drug screens were collected at each visit. For analysis, the cohort was divided into individuals stabilized on 24 mg (24 mg cohort) or 32 mg (32 mg cohort). Drug use outcomes were assessed between cohorts at 24 mg dosing and at respective maximum dosing. Within the 32 mg cohort, outcomes were compared at 24 mg versus 32 mg dosing.

Findings

Within the 32 mg cohort, increased dosing from 24 to 32 mg was associated with a decline in opioid use (68.5% [5.2%] at 24 mg vs 59.5% [5.6%] at 32 mg; P = 0.02), frequency of use per week (1.58 [0.19] at 24 mg vs. 1.15 [0.16] at 32 mg; P = 0.0002) and physiologic triggers for use (38.2% [6.0%] at 24 mg vs 7.0% [1.9%] at 32 mg; P < 0.0001). At the end of the study period, there were significantly more patients retained in the 32 mg cohort (78.7%) compared with the 24 mg cohort (50.0%, P = 0.02).

Conclusion

Higher buprenorphine dosing (32 mg/day) appears to improve outcomes in people with opioid use disorder, even in the absence of abstinence.
The expression of intermediate filaments in the abomasum of ruminants: A comparative study
Authors: Aydın Nurşin , Ketani M. Aydın , Sağsöz Hakan
Published: July 2024

Intermediate filaments (IFs) are key molecular factors of the cell and have been reported to play an important role in maintaining the structural integrity and functionality of the abomasum. This study was designed to determine the regional distribution, cellular localization and expression of several IFs, including CK8, CK18, CK19, vimentin, desmin, peripherin and nestin, as well as the connective tissue component laminin, in the bovine, ovine and caprine abomasa. Immunohistochemical analyses demonstrated varying levels of expression of CK8, CK18, CK19, vimentin, desmin, nestin, peripherin and laminin in the bovine, ovine and caprine abomasa. CK8 immunoreactions were particularly evident in the luminal and glandular epithelia of the glands found in the abomasal cardia, fundus and pylorus in all three species. In the bovine abomasum, CK18 immunoreactions were stronger in the parietal cells, compared to the chief cells. In the abomasum of all three species, the smooth muscle as well as the smooth muscle cells of the vascular media in the cardiac, fundic and pyloric regions showed strong immunoreactivity. In all three species, the cardiac, fundic and pyloric regions of the abomasum showed strong peripherin and nestin immunoreactions in the luminal and glandular epithelial cells, stromal and smooth muscle cells, nervous plexuses and blood vessels. The expression patterns of IFs and laminin in the ruminant abomasum suggest that these proteins play a structural role in the cytoskeleton and are effective in maintaining abomasal tissue integrity and stability.
Evaluation of genomic prediction considering non‐additive genetic effects on fatty acid traits of Japanese Black cattle
Authors: Oyama Hidemi , Nishio Motohide , Shibata Eri , Takemyo Hinaka , Ichinoseki Kasumi , Ishii Kazuo
Published: July 2024

Genomic prediction was conducted using 2494 Japanese Black cattle from Hiroshima Prefecture and both single‐nucleotide polymorphism information and phenotype data on monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) and oleic acid (C18:1) analyzed with gas chromatography. We compared the prediction accuracy for four models (A, additive genetic effects; AD, as for A with dominance genetic effects; ADR, as for AD with the runs of homozygosity (ROH) effects calculated by ROH‐based relationship matrix; and ADF, as for AD with the ROH‐based inbreeding coefficient of the linear regression). Bayesian methods were used to estimate variance components. The narrow‐sense heritability estimates for MUFA and C18:1 were 0.52–0.53 and 0.57, respectively; the corresponding proportions of dominance genetic variance were 0.04–0.07 and 0.04–0.05, and the proportion of ROH variance was 0.02. The deviance information criterion values showed slight differences among the models, and the models provided similar prediction accuracy.
Grazing effects on vegetation: Biodiversity, management, and restoration
Authors: Török Péter , Lindborg Regina , Eldridge David , Pakeman Robin
Published: July 2024

In many regions, wild large herbivores have maintained open landscapes up to and including historic times, but, more recently, have been largely replaced by domestic livestock. By employing extensive and traditional grazing and browsing regimes, conservation actions support biodiversity and recovery in natural and degraded areas. However, grazing also plays other important ecological roles, for example, in the maintenance and/or recovery of important ecosystem services, such as biomass production and carbon sequestration. Understanding herbivore effects on plant composition and functional diversity, and ecosystem functioning and services, is essential for informing ecological theory and practice. The current Special Issue highlights that the effects of grazing on vegetation are strongly context‐dependent. The articles identify at least three major factors acting in concert, which are responsible for contrasting diversity and functional patterns of vegetation subjected to herbivores: (i) herbivore identity; (ii) grazing intensity; and (iii) vegetation type. Insights from this Special Issue imply that long‐term experiments across different habitat types and in underrepresented regions are needed to provide valuable information for grazing planning and management. They also demonstrate that integrating indigenous and traditional ecological knowledge, and considering socio‐economic contexts, can provide opportunities for improving sustainable grazing management.
Learners’ Spontaneous Gesture Before a Math Lesson Predicts the Efficacy of Seeing Versus Doing Gesture During the Lesson
Authors: Congdon Eliza L. , Wakefield Elizabeth M. , Novack Miriam A. , Hemani‐Lopez Naureen , Goldin‐Meadow Susan
Published: July 2024

Gestures—hand movements that accompany speech and express ideas—can help children learn how to solve problems, flexibly generalize learning to novel problem‐solving contexts, and retain what they have learned. But does it matter who is doing the gesturing? We know that producing gesture leads to better comprehension of a message than watching someone else produce gesture. But we do not know how producing versus observing gesture impacts deeper learning outcomes such as generalization and retention across time. Moreover, not all children benefit equally from gesture instruction, suggesting that there are individual differences that may play a role in who learns from gesture. Here, we consider two factors that might impact whether gesture leads to learning, generalization, and retention after mathematical instruction: (1) whether children see gesture or do gesture and (2) whether a child spontaneously gestures before instruction when explaining their problem‐solving reasoning. For children who spontaneously gestured before instruction, both doing and seeing gesture led to better generalization and retention of the knowledge gained than a comparison manipulative action. For children who did not spontaneously gesture before instruction, doing gesture was less effective than the comparison action for learning, generalization, and retention. Importantly, this learning deficit was specific to gesture, as these children did benefit from doing the comparison manipulative action. Our findings are the first evidence that a child's use of a particular representational format for communication (gesture) directly predicts that child's propensity to learn from using the same representational format.
The evolving role of interventional cytopathology from thyroid FNA to NGS: Lessons learned at Federico II University of Naples
Authors: Vigliar Elena , Carillo Anna Maria , Nacchio Mariantonia , Cozzolino Domenico , Acanfora Gennaro , Salatiello Maria , Pisapia Pasquale , Malapelle Umberto , Troncone Giancarlo , Bellevicine Claudio
Published: July 2024

Fine‐needle aspiration (FNA) guided by ultrasound (US) has emerged as a highly precise diagnostic method for managing thyroid nodules, significantly diminishing unnecessary surgeries. The effectiveness of US‐guided FNA is high when a single specialist performs the FNA procedure and the microscopy. This paradigm has paved the way for the evolution of interventional cytopathology, a specialist with a pivotal role in the preoperative diagnostic process, encompassing patient history review, clinical examination, FNA execution under US guidance, preparation, and microscopic interpretation of cytological samples. As the landscape of precision medicine unfolds, molecular testing assumes greater importance in thyroid cytopathology, particularly in refining the risk of malignancy for indeterminate nodules. The updated Bethesda classification system underscores the clinical significance of molecular tests, emphasizing their role in refining diagnostic accuracy. With this evolving landscape, interventional cytopathologists must adapt by acquiring expertise in molecular technologies and addressing ongoing challenges in workflow harmonization and optimization. This paper delves into our decade‐long experience as interventional cytopathologists, focusing on recent endeavours to ensure adequate samples not only for microscopic diagnosis but also for molecular testing. Additionally, here we review the challenges of integrating next‐generation sequencing (NGS) technology into clinical practice, highlighting the importance of integrating clinically meaningful molecular data into comprehensive molecular cytology reports.
Diagnostik und Therapie des Ulcus cruris venosum: S2k‐Leitlinie der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Phlebologie und Lymphologie (DGPL) e.V.
Authors: Valesky Eva Maria , Hach‐Wunderle Viola , Protz Kerstin , Zeiner Kim Nikola , Erfurt‐Berge Cornelia , Goedecke Falk , Jäger Björn , Kahle Birgit , Kluess Holger , Knestele Michaela , Kuntz Anja , Lüdemann Claas , Meissner Markus , Mühlberg Katja , Mühlberger Dominic , Pannier Felizitas , Schmedt Claus‐Georg , Schmitz‐Rixen Thomas , Strölin Anke , Wilm Stefan , Rabe Eberhard , Stücker Markus , Dissemond Joachim
Published: July 2024

Diese S2k‐Leitlinie zu den Thematiken des Ulcus cruris venosum wurde auf Initiative und unter Federführung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Phlebologie und Lymphologie (DGPL) e.V. erstellt. Die Leitliniengruppe bestand zudem aus Vertretern der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Phlebologie und Lymphologie, Deutschen Dermatologische Gesellschaft, Deutschen Gesellschaft für Allgemeinmedizin, Deutschen Gesellschaft für Angiologie, Deutschen Gesellschaft für Gefäßchirurgie und Gefäßmedizin, Deutschen Gesellschaft für Chirurgie, Deutschen Gesellschaft für Dermatochirurgie, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Wundheilung und Wundbehandlung, Berufsverband der Phlebologen und Lymphologen und Initiative Chronische Wunden.

Durch diese Leitlinie sollen die unterschiedlichen Herangehensweisen und Wissensstände der jeweiligen Berufsgruppen konsensbasiert vereint werden, so dass ein Basiskonzept für die möglichst optimale Behandlung der Patienten mit Ulcus cruris venosum angeboten werden kann. Unterteilt in die Themenbereiche Diagnostik, Therapie, Prävention von Rezidiven und alltäglichen Herausforderungen wurden insgesamt 70 konkrete Empfehlungen formuliert und abgestimmt.

Die Leitlinie bildet somit den aktuellen wissenschaftlichen Stand ab und soll als bestverfügbares Dokument für die Behandlung der Patienten mit Ulcus cruris venosum im klinischen Alltag breit eingesetzt werden.
Linking acoustic variability in the infants' input to their early word production
Authors: Bulgarelli Federica , Bergelson Elika
Published: July 2024

Exposure to talker variability shapes how learning unfolds in the lab, and occurs in the everyday speech infants hear in daily life. Here, we asked whether aspects of talker variability in speech input are also linked to the onset of word production. We further asked whether these effects were redundant with effects of speech register (i.e., whether speech input was adult‐ vs. child‐directed). To do so, we first extracted a set of highly common nouns from a longitudinal corpus of home recordings from North‐American English‐learning infants. We then used the acoustic variability in how these tokens were said to predict when the children first produced these same nouns. We found that in addition to frequency, variability in how words sound in 6–17 month's input predicted when children first said these words. Furthermore, while the proportion of child‐directed speech also predicted the month of first production, it did so alongside measurements of acoustic variability in children's real‐world input. Together, these results add to a growing body of literature suggesting that variability in how words sound in the input is linked to learning both in the lab and in daily life.

Research Highlights

Talker variability shapes learning in the lab and exists in everyday speech; we asked whether it predicts word learning in the real world.

Acoustic measurements of early words in infants' input (and their frequency) predicted when infants first said those same words.

Speech register also predicted when infants said words, alongside effects of talker variability.

Our results provide a deeper understanding of how sources of variability inherent to children's input connect to their learning and development.