bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Profiles of well‐being and their associations with self‐forgiveness, forgiveness of others, and gratitude among patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases
Authors: Charzyńska Edyta , Offenbächer Martin , Halverson Kjerstin , Hirsch Jameson K. , Kohls Niko , Hanshans Christian , Sirois Fuschia , Toussaint Loren
Published: August 2024

Objectives

Patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) often experience poor well‐being. Common limitations of the studies on this topic involve using variable‐centred and deficit‐based approaches. In this study, we used the person‐centred approach to identify profiles of positive (life satisfaction and health status) and negative (depression, anxiety, fatigue, and stress) indicators of well‐being among patients with RMDs. Moreover, we tested self‐forgiveness, forgiveness of others, gratitude, and sociodemographics as contributors to latent profile membership.

Design

A cross‐sectional questionnaire survey.

Methods

Using a latent profile analysis, we investigated well‐being profiles among 892 patients with RMDs (759 patients with arthritis and 133 with fibromyalgia [FM]) and examined the correlates of latent profile membership.

Results

We identified four profiles of well‐being: (1) ‘life dissatisfaction’ (9.2%), (2) ‘high well‐being’ (43.4%), (3) ‘suboptimal well‐being’ (35.2%), and (4) ‘very poor well‐being’ (12.2%). Members of Profile 2 had higher levels of self‐forgiveness and gratitude than members of the remaining profiles, had higher levels of forgiveness of others than Profile 3, and were older than members of Profile 4. Moreover, members of Profile 2 had a higher proportion of patients with arthritis relative to those with FM than all other profiles and men to women than Profile 4.

Conclusions

Patients with RMDs are heterogeneous in terms of well‐being. Self‐forgiveness, gratitude, and forgiveness of others may serve as psychological capital that enhances patients' well‐being. Special attention should be paid to patients with FM, women, and younger patients since they can be especially susceptible to poor well‐being.
Outcomes of the Victo™ adjustable artificial urinary sphincter in the treatment of male incontinence
Authors: Krhut Jan , Bartáková Lucie , Kondé Adéla , Sýkora Radek Paus , Rychlý Tomáš , Zachoval Roman
Published: August 2024

Objectives

To report the clinical outcomes of the Victo™ (Promedon, Cordoba, Argentina) adjustable artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) implantation in a cohort of patients with severe urinary incontinence (UI) after prostate surgery.

Patients and Methods

This study enrolled patients with UI following prostate surgery who underwent a Victo implantation between May 2018 and December 2023. Patients were prospectively evaluated at baseline, and at 3 and 12 months after device activation, and thereafter annually. The 24‐h pad‐weight test (24hPWT) was used to assess severity of UI, while the Patient Global Impression of Improvement (PGI‐I) and patient satisfaction according to a Likert scale were used to measure patient‐reported outcomes.

Results

A total of 96 patients with a median (interquartile range [IQR]) age of 68 (65–72) years were included in the final analysis. The median (IQR) follow‐up was 3 (1–4) years. In all, 10 patients completed the 5‐year follow‐up. After the treatment, we observed a significant reduction in 24hPWT by the median of 83% (P < 0.001) at 3 months and by a median of 79% (P < 0.001) at 3 years. According to the PGI‐I, a total of 87%, 92%, 87%, 81%, 83%, and 50% (five of 10) of patients rated their condition/incontinence as ‘very much improved’, ‘much improved’ or ‘little improved’ at 3 months, 1‐, 2‐, 3‐, 4‐, and 5‐year follow‐up visits, respectively. The proportion of patients, who were ‘very satisfied’ or ‘satisfied’ with the treatment outcome was 79%, 80%, 75%, 69%, 80%, and 60% (six of 10) at 3 months, 1‐, 2‐, 3‐, 4‐, and 5‐years, respectively. There were a total of 13 (14%) device failures during the follow‐up period.

Conclusion

In conclusion, our data suggest that Victo AUS significantly reduces the severity of UI after prostate surgery and provides a reasonably high patient‐reported satisfaction with treatment outcomes at mid‐term follow‐up.
Inheritance patterns of lower urinary tract symptoms in adults: a systematic review
Authors: Moore Lorcan , Malde Sachin , Dasgupta Prokar , Sahai Arun , Raison Nicholas
Published: August 2024

Objective

To compile and evaluate the heritability and inheritance patterns of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in adult cohorts.

Methods

Searches of five databases (PubMed, Embase, APA PsycInfo, Global Health, and OVID Medline) commenced on 6 July 2024, resulting in 736 articles retrieved after deduplication. Studies evaluating heritability patterns, gene frequencies, and familial aggregation of symptoms were included for review. Screening and predefined eligibility criteria produced 34 studies for final review. A descriptive analysis of synthesised data was performed, adhering to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses guidelines. The Cochrane Risk of Bias in Non‐Randomised Studies of Interventions (ROBINS‐I) tool and the Johanna Briggs Institute checklist were used to evaluate these studies.

Results

Ten of the 34 studies (29%) described general LUTS, 14 (41%) described symptoms due to benign prostatic enlargement (BPE), nine (26%) described urinary incontinence (UI; urge UI [UUI], stress UI [SUI] and mixed UI [MUI]), four (12%) described nocturia alone, two (6%) described overactive bladder (OAB), and four (13%) described other specific symptoms (frequency, postvoid residual urine volume). BPE symptoms, UI (MUI and UUI), nocturia alone, and frequency alone were associated with genetic predisposition, whilst OAB and SUI had more modest inheritance.

Conclusion

The pathogenetic and pharmacological mechanisms fundamental to LUTS manifestation are highly heterogeneous. Further work is required to evaluate the inheritance patterns of LUTS more extensively.
CEO Compensation Contracts in Family Versus Nonfamily Firms: The Use of Nonfinancial Performance Measures
Authors: Afridi Adnan , Dirks Paula M. G. , Porumb Vlad‐Andrei , Zengin‐Karaibrahimoglu Yasemin
Published: August 2024

Research Question/Issue

This study examines the association between ownership type—family versus nonfamily firms—and CEO family status—family CEO versus professional CEO—and the use of nonfinancial performance measures (NFPMs) in CEO compensation contracts.

Research Findings/Insights

Using a sample of 3143 firm‐year observations of S&P 500 nonfinancial firms from 2010 to 2018, we find that family firms place a significantly lower weight on NFPMs in CEO compensation contracts than nonfamily firms. Within family firms, we find that a significantly lower weight is placed on NFPMs in compensation contracts for family CEOs relative to those for professional CEOs. Furthermore, additional tests indicate that the negative association between family ownership and the weight placed on NFPMs is stronger (weaker) in firms with low (high) stakeholder visibility.

Theoretical Implications

We advance the academic literature on the selection of performance measures in compensation contracts by providing insight into the implications of family ownership and of a CEO's family ties for the use of NFPMs. The results suggest that because family firms have a good ability and a strong incentive to directly monitor and control their CEO's actions, NFPMs are less needed in CEO compensation contracts as a means to align goals. Furthermore, the effects we document are even stronger when the CEOs of family firms are family members.

Practitioner/Policy Implications

The results imply that while family firms may not need a high weight on NFPMs in CEO compensation contracts to monitor their CEOs' actions, goal alignment, and internal communication of nonfinancial targets, they may still need them for communication and signaling purposes when exposed to external stakeholder monitoring.
The Role of Employee Ownership, Financial Participation, and Decision‐Making in Corporate Governance: A Multilevel Review and Research Agenda
Authors: Del Sordo Elisa , Zattoni Alessandro
Published: August 2024

Research Question/Issue

The allocation of return and control rights to employees has been somewhat overlooked in governance literature, but it has garnered interest from scholars across various fields. Our analysis of five decades of research integrates and juxtaposes theory and evidence from three independent yet intertwined domains: employee ownership, financial participation, and decision‐making. Our work synthesizes an extensive body of past and current findings and introduces a multilevel contingency framework to formulate novel theoretical, methodological, and contextual remedies.

Research Findings/Insights

We conducted a multilevel analysis of 184 articles published in reputable journals. Our results reveal complementary and substitutive relationships between employee financial participation and decision‐making and show that various contextual variables operating at different levels (i.e., individual, company and country) jointly impact employees behaviors and firm outcomes. Our findings help explain the mixed or ambiguous results of previous studies and offer novel theoretical and methodological pathways for future research.

Theoretical/Academic Implications

Our study invites scholars to further investigate the antecedents and consequences of employee ownership, financial participation and decision‐making. Specifically, we recommend adopting theories and methods that illuminate the complex nature of the employee ownership construct, develop a multilevel understanding of the phenomenon, and analyze the moderating effects of various contextual variables.

Practitioner/Policy Implications

Insights from our review can assist practitioners and policymakers in designing plans that allocate either one or both of ownership rights to employees, enhancing their understanding of the role and impact of diverse contextual factors operating at various levels.
Do recently translocated black‐footed Albatross (Phoebastria nigripes) chicks respond to artificial social attraction?
Authors: Casillas Daniela , Young Lindsay C. , Harmon Kristen C. , Wilhite Chad J. , Vanderwerf Eric A. , Price Melissa R.
Published: August 2024

Translocations of chicks are increasingly being used in seabird restoration projects, along with social attraction of adults using acoustic and visual cues, to establish new colonies or re‐establish extirpated colonies. Many seabird species exhibit high rates of natal philopatry, where most chicks return to the nesting colonies from which they fledged. This makes them ideal candidates for translocation projects since they have a high likelihood of returning to translocation sites if they are relocated prior to imprinting on a natal site. Starting in 2017, Black‐footed Albatross (BFAL) chicks were translocated from populations in the low‐lying Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, where they face habitat loss due to sea level rise, to the higher elevation island of O‘ahu, in an attempt to establish a new colony for this species. Additionally, social attraction was utilized at the site to attract potential nesting adults and provide social stimuli for the translocated chicks. Our study examined the response of translocated BFAL chicks to visual and audio stimuli inside a mammalian predator exclusion fence at James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge on the island of O‘ahu. Decoys constructed in two different poses, representing courtship and resting postures of adult BFAL, were placed in various combinations with playback speakers around the perimeter of artificial shelters. Motion‐activated cameras were used to record and compare the number of visits by chicks to different combinations of visual and acoustic stimuli. We found the number of visits was highest at setups that included a combination of a decoy pair and a playback speaker, suggesting that a combination of visual and audio cues of adult BFAL are most attractive to the chicks. Future studies are needed to evaluate the long‐term impacts of exposure to artificial visual and audio stimuli as chicks on return rates to translocation site and social behavior as adults.
Determining Predictors of Actual Living Kidney Donation Based on Potential Donor Characteristics
Authors: Meinders Andrea M. , Graviss Edward A. , Nguyen Duc T. , Daw Jonathan , Lentine Krista L. , Peipert John Devin , Gaber Ahmed Osama , Axelrod David A. , Weng Francis L. , Waterman Amy D.
Published: August 2024

Background

Living donor kidney transplantation is the optimal treatment for end‐stage kidney disease; however, few living donor candidates (LDCs) who begin evaluation actually donate. While some LDCs are deemed medically ineligible, others discontinue for potentially modifiable reasons.

Methods

At five transplant centers, we conducted a prospective cohort study measuring LDCs’ clinical and psychosocial characteristics, educational preparation, readiness to donate, and social determinants of health. We followed LDCs for 12 months after evaluation to determine whether they donated a kidney, opted to discontinue, had modifiable reasons for discontinuing, were medically ineligible, or had other recipient‐related reasons for discontinuing.

Results

Among 2184 LDCs, 18.6% donated, 38.2% opted to or had modifiable reasons for discontinuing, and 43.2% were deemed ineligible due to medical or recipient‐related reasons. Multivariable analyses comparing successful LDCs with those who did not complete donation for modifiable reasons (N = 1241) found that LDCs who discussed donation with the recipient before evaluation (OR, 2.31; 95% CI, 1.54–3.46), had completed high school (OR, 2.01; 95% CI, 1.21–3.35), or were a “close relation” to their recipient (OR, 1.89; 95% CI, 1.33–2.69) were more likely to donate. Conversely, LDCs who reported religion as important (OR, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.38–0.80), were Non‐White (OR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.49–1.00), or had overall higher anxiety scores (OR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.86–0.99) were less likely to donate.

Conclusion

With fewer than a fifth of LDCs donating, developing programs to provide greater emotional support and facilitate open discussions between LDCs and recipients earlier may increase living donation rates.
Risk Factors and Outcomes Associated With the Development of Persistent Acute Kidney Injury in Non‐Renal Solid Organ Transplant Recipients: Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Saraiva Ivan E. , Hamahata Natsumi , Sakhuja Ankit , Chen Xinlei , Minturn John S. , Sanchez Pablo G. , Chan Ernest G. , Kaczorowski David J. , Al‐Khafaji Ali , Kellum John A. , Gómez Hernando
Published: August 2024

Persistent acute kidney injury (pAKI), compared with acute kidney injury (AKI) that resolves in <72 h, is associated with worse prognosis in critically ill patients. Definitions and prognosis of pAKI are not well characterized in solid organ transplant patients. Our aims were to investigate (a) definitions and incidence of pAKI; (b) association with clinical outcomes; and (c) risk factors for pAKI among heart, lung, and liver transplant recipients. We systematically reviewed the literature including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane from inception to 8/1/2023 for human prospective and retrospective studies reporting on the development of pAKI in heart, lung, or liver transplant recipients. We assessed heterogeneity using Cochran's Q and I2. We identified 25 studies including 6330 patients. AKI (8%–71.6%) and pAKI (2.7%–55.1%) varied widely. Definitions of pAKI included 48–72 h (six studies), 7 days (three studies), 14 days (four studies), or more (12 studies). Risk factors included age, body mass index (BMI), diabetes, preoperative chronic kidney disease (CKD), intraoperative vasopressor use, and intraoperative circulatory support. pAKI was associated with new onset of CKD (odds ratio [OR] 1.41–11.2), graft dysfunction (OR 1.81–8.51), and long‐term mortality (OR 3.01–13.96), although significant heterogeneity limited certainty of CKD and graft dysfunction outcome analyses. pAKI is common and is associated with worse mortality among liver and lung transplant recipients. Standardization of the nomenclature of AKI will be important in future studies (PROSPERO CRD42022371952).
F‐words ingredients of non‐invasive interventions for young ambulant children with cerebral palsy: A scoping review
Authors: Leite Hércules Ribeiro , de Sousa Junior Ricardo Rodrigues , Souto Deisiane Oliveira , Medeiros e Silva Jaíza Marques , de Lima Arthur Felipe Barroso , de Miranda Drumond Carolyne , Policiano Eliane Beatriz Cunha , Marques Ariane Cristina , de Carvalho Chagas Paula Silva , Longo Egmar
Published: August 2024

Aim

To map the ingredients of non‐invasive interventions provided to young ambulant children with cerebral palsy.

Method

Articles were screened and each study's characteristics extracted. The intervention ingredients were described in terms of the Rehabilitation Treatment Specification System and linked to the ‘F‐words’. Results were interpreted and validated by a patient and public involvement group.

Results

Sixty‐one papers were included, of which 55.5% were classified as randomized controlled trial design studies. The selected studies included a total of 2187 children (mean age range 3 months to 5 years 11 months), most from high‐income countries. The included studies investigated a total of 27 interventions, which together presented ingredients representing all F‐words, in the following order of frequency: ‘fitness’ (e.g. strength and endurance training), ‘functioning’ (e.g. active and repetitive practice of a task), ‘family’ (e.g. context‐focused therapy), ‘fun’ (e.g. inclusion of child‐friendly activities), ‘friends’ (e.g. group activities), and ‘future’ (e.g. didactic information sharing). Thus, ingredients related to the F‐word ‘future’ were the most infrequently reported.

Interpretation

Therapists and families need to be aware of the most appropriate match between the F‐word goals, ingredients, and targets. Finally, ‘fun’, ‘friends’, and ‘future’ should be addressed as potential outcomes in future studies.
Fire drives major Holocene vegetation shifts between subtropical and Mediterranean‐type ecosystems: a case study from a biodiversity hotspot in South Africa
Authors: Quick Lynne J. , Chase Brian M. , Chevalier Manuel , Grobler B. Adriaan , Manzano Saúl
Published: August 2024

Fire plays a pivotal role in driving ecological shifts between Mediterranean‐type vegetation and subtropical ecosystems in South Africa. This study investigates long‐term environmental dynamics and ecological regime changes at the Mediterranean‐type vegetation /subtropical boundary using a 6000‐year palaeoecological sequence from the Baviaanskloof – a region of South Africa characterized by high levels of biodiversity and climate dynamism. Combining fossil pollen and microcharcoal data from a rock hyrax Procavia capensis midden, we analyse vegetation responses to environmental changes. Our findings reveal that Mediterranean‐type vegetation resilience prevailed until ca 2800 cal year BP when a major fire event triggered a transition to a subtropical thicket‐dominated environment. This abrupt ecological turnover underscores the significance of fire as a major driver of vegetation change at the Mediterranean‐type vegetation /subtropical boundary. Our study emphasizes the vulnerability of Mediterranean‐type vegetation ecosystems to global environmental change, suggesting potential implications for similar biome boundaries worldwide. By integrating multi‐proxy palaeoecological evidence, we gain insights into the resilience and vulnerability of these ecosystems, aiding in understanding future responses to climate change scenarios.
Fantasies of Rousseau: A Lacanian View of Natural Education In and Beyond Émile
Authors: Stock Nicholas
Published: August 2024

Beginning with the question of the usefulness of Rousseau's Émile for contemporary education, this article explores the fantasy held by educational thinkers and practitioners regarding Rousseau's concept of Natural Education. Using French psychoanalyst Jacques Lacan's theory of fantasy, which is based on a relationship between the subject and the object of their desire, Nicholas Stock breaks down Natural Education in a number of ways. Initially, he explores the signifier of nature as an object of desire for both Rousseau and the contemporary educationalist. Next, he examines how Rousseau deploys the signifier in Émile and how this creates an ontology of the child that claims to understand their nature while designating them as Other. This point opens up discussion of desires in light of Lacan's examination of Marquis de Sade and sadism. Equally, in exploring Rousseau's dialectical relationship with Sade, Stock goes on to discuss how the fantasy of nature in Rousseau opens up possibilities of sadistic desire. Finally, he concludes the article by deconstructing the binary upheld between nature and culture through an exploration of pastoral literature. It is this pastoralism that gives a desirable quality to nature, thus sustaining its fantasy in educational circles.
Long‐term effects of management practices on soil water, yield and water use of dryland wheat: A global meta‐analysis
Authors: Adil Muhammad , Lv Fenglin , Li Tingting , Chen Yi , Gul Isma , Lu Heli , Lu Siqi , Qiu Lin
Published: August 2024

Soil water conservation in dryland agriculture mainly depends on precipitation. We chose 35 long‐term experiments and analysed the data by using meta‐analysis to check how fallow management methods affect soil water storage of dryland winter wheat planting (SWS), precipitation storage efficiency (PSE), crop yield and water use efficiency (WUE). No‐tillage (NT), compared to conventional tillage (CT) in the fallow period, increased PSE, SWS, grain yield and WUE by 32.9%, 27.1%, 30.5% and 22.6%, respectively. Reduced tillage (RT) and subsoil tillage (ST) increased PSE by 15.2% and 11.7%, SWS by 17.4% and 15.0% and grain yield by 15.5 and 13.8%, respectively, but these had a non‐significant effect on WUE. The conservation tillage methods interacted significantly with the residue management and fallow mulching practices. Compared to CT, the conservation tillage methods with fallow mulching increased PSE, SWS, grain yield and WUE, but the growing of cover crops (designated as biological mulching) decreased PSE, SWS and grain yield by 17.3%, 13.0% and 32.0%, and had a non‐significant impact on WUE. Under the condition of straw mulching, NT increased PSE, SWS, grain yield and WUE by 43.7%, 38.1%, 40.6% and 42.9%, respectively, compared to CT. NT and RT increased the PSE, SWS and WUE, under normal mean annual precipitation (MAP), however, ST increased these observations under wet MAP, compared to CT. The effects of tillage methods varied with soil texture, and they were highly interrelated with water conservation, wheat yield and water use. We conclude that compared to conventional tillage, the conservation tillage methods increased soil water conservation during the fallow period, which increased wheat yield and water use. Moreover, NT with or without residue retention increased the fallow water conservation and wheat yield. Crop residues should be retained while applying RT and ST to grow winter wheat in dryland regions.
Polyaspartic calcium improved soil quality and altered nitrification process in saline‐sodic paddy soils
Authors: Meng Yunshan , Wu Zeen , Wei Zhe , Meng Deyao , Ren Xueqin , Tao Shuming , Feng Haojie , Hu Shuwen
Published: August 2024

Saline‐sodic paddy soils in the Songnen Plain suffer from nitrogen loss due to nitrification. The purpose of the study is to explore soil saline improvement and nitrification mitigation effects of polyaspartic calcium (PASP‐Ca) by evaluating changes of soil quality, nitrification, and microbial communities. Four PASP‐Ca application treatments (additions of 0, 500, 1000, and 1500 kg hm−2) were studied in an experiment in saline‐sodic paddy soils of the Songnen Plain, China. Results showed that PASP‐Ca application significantly decreased soil pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and water‐soluble salt ions, and significantly increased soil total carbon (TC), total nitrogen (TN), urease activity (UA), and sucrase activity (SA). PASP‐Ca application significantly slowed down soil nitrification, which was manifested in a significant increase in ammonium nitrogen () and a significant decrease in nitrate nitrogen () and ammonia monooxygenase activity (AMO). The composition and distribution of soil nitrifying microbial communities were affected by soil salinity, nutrient, and enzyme activities. Ammonia‐oxidizing bacteria (AOB) plays an important role in the nitrification process of saline‐sodic paddy soils, while PASP‐Ca application significantly inhibited nitrification by suppressing AOB amoA gene abundance. This study shows that PASP‐Ca, as an effective amendment, can improve soil salinization and slow down nitrification, which has an important role and significance in improving nitrogen utilization and reducing nitrogen loss of saline‐sodic soils.
Coexistence of low body mass index and poor oral health negatively affects activities of daily living, swallowing, and cognition after stroke
Authors: Yoshimura Yoshihiro , Wakabayashi Hidetaka , Nagano Fumihiko , Matsumoto Ayaka , Shimazu Sayuri , Shiraishi Ai , Kido Yoshifumi , Bise Takahiro , Hamada Takenori , Yoneda Kouki
Published: August 2024

Aim

Low body mass index (BMI) and poor oral health are prevalent among older stroke patients and associated with adverse outcomes. However, their combined impact on functional recovery after stroke remains unclear. This study investigated the synergistic effects of low BMI and poor oral health on activities of daily living (ADL) independence, swallowing function, and cognitive status in post‐stroke older patients.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 708 hospitalized post‐stroke patients aged ≥70 years. Low BMI was defined as <20 kg/m2, and poor oral health was assessed using the Revised Oral Assessment Guide (ROAG) with a score ≥13 indicating oral problems. The primary outcome was ADL independence (Functional Independence Measure‐motor score >78) at discharge. Secondary outcomes included swallowing level (Food Intake Level Scale) and cognitive status (Functional Independence Measure‐cognition score). Multiple regression analyses were performed to examine the associations of low BMI, poor oral health, and their combination with outcomes of interest.

Results

The coexistence of low BMI and poor oral health was independently associated with lower odds of achieving ADL independence (odds ratio 0.130, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.023–0.718), worse swallowing level (B = −0.878, 95% CI −1.280 to −0.476), and poorer cognitive status (B = −1.872, 95% CI −2.960 to −0.784) at discharge, after adjusting for confounders. The combined impact was stronger than either condition alone.

Conclusions

The coexistence of low BMI and poor oral health exerts a synergistic negative impact on functional recovery in older stroke inpatients. Comprehensive interventions integrating nutritional support, oral management, and rehabilitation are crucial to optimizing outcomes in this vulnerable population. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; 00: 000–000. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; ••: ••–••.
Macroporous high‐entropy spinel oxide monoliths as efficient oxygen evolution electrocatalyst
Authors: Ouyang Xin , Zhang Zhizhen , Qin Tengteng , Pei Zhen , Guo Xingzhong
Published: August 2024

In this paper, macroporous high‐entropy spinel oxide (HESO) (Fe0.2Ni0.2Co0.2Mn0.2Zn0.2)3O4 monoliths were successfully fabricated via a sol–gel method followed by calcination. Appropriate polyacrylic acid and propylene oxide contents allow the formation of three‐dimensional co‐continuous xerogel monoliths, and the water/glycerol ratio controls the macropore size of monoliths. Subsequent calcination achieves the precipitation of HESO (Fe0.2Ni0.2Co0.2Mn0.2Zn0.2)3O4 with a singular phase and exceptional structural stability. The macroporous HESO (Fe0.2Ni0.2Co0.2Mn0.2Zn0.2)3O4 demonstrates remarkable performance in the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) with an overpotential of 333 mV at 100 mA cm−2 and a Tafel slope of 43.2 mV dec–1, surpassing that of RuO2 (391 mV) under identical conditions. Furthermore, the catalytic stability of the HESO catalyst remains superior even after 24 h of testing. This process offers a promising avenue for the development of macroporous high‐entropy oxide OER catalysts for overall water splitting.
Advanced thermoelectric performance of a textured ceramic composite: Encapsulation of NaxCoO2 into a triple‐phase matrix
Authors: Kruppa Katharina , Hennig Tobias , Escobar Cano Giamper , Möckelmann Jytte , Feldhoff Armin
Published: August 2024

Sodium cobaltite (NaxCoO2) is one of the most renowned and thermoelectrically promising p‐type cobalt oxide materials, showing exceptional performance in this domain. Nonetheless, its thermal instability in air renders it unsuitable for high‐temperature applications such as energy harvesting from industrial waste heat. To utilize the beneficial properties of NaxCoO2, microscale NaxCoO2 template particles of significantly larger size were effectively embedded within a thermally stable Ca3Co4−yO9+δ–NaxCoO2–Bi2Ca2Co2O9 triple‐phase matrix. This approach additionally aimed to enhance the texture and boost the thermoelectric performance of the ceramic composite. Highly textured p‐type ceramic composites were fabricated via uniaxial cold‐pressing and pressureless sintering in air. The unique hexagonal NaxCoO2 template particles, produced through molten‐flux synthesis, allowed precise control over their shape and dimensions, while the matrix was synthesized via a sol–gel synthesis. The integrated NaxCoO2 particles of the textured composite exhibited increased thermal stability, showing no sign of decomposition at 1173 K in air, whereas the sole template particles decomposed at 1073 K during sintering. A 20 wt% template particle content in the textured composites resulted in a remarkably high and nearly temperature‐independent power factor of 8.8 µW cm−1 K2, corresponding to an improvement of 13% compared to that of the pure matrix material.
Genetic parameters, genomic prediction, and identification of regulatory regions located on chromosome 14 for weight traits in Nellore cattle
Authors: Teodoro Miller , Maiorano Amanda Marchi , Campos Gabriel Soares , de Albuquerque Lúcia Galvão , de Oliveira Henrique Nunes
Published: August 2024

This study aimed to investigate functional variants in chromosome 14 (BTA14) and its impact in genomic selection for birth weight (BW), weaning weight (WW), and yearling weight (YW) in Nellore cattle. Genetic parameter estimation and the weighted single‐step genomic best linear unbiased prediction (WssGBLUP) analyses were performed. Direct additive heritability estimates were high for WW and YW, and moderate for BW. Trait‐associated variants distributed across multiple regions on BTA14 were observed in the weighted single‐step genome‐wide association studies (WssGWAS) results, implying a polygenic genetic architecture for weight in different ages. Several genes have been found in association with the weight traits, including the CUB And Sushi multiple domains 3 (CSMD3), thyroglobulin (TG), and diacylglycerol O‐acyltransferase 1 (DGAT1) genes. The variance explained per SNP was higher in six functional classes of gene regulatory regions (5UTR, CpG islands, downstream, upstream, long non‐coding RNA, and transcription factor binding sites (TFBS)), highlighting their importance for weight traits in Nellore cattle. A marginal increase in accuracy was observed when the selected functional variants (SV) information was considered in the WssGBLUP method, probably because of the small number of SV available on BTA14. The identified genes, pathways, and functions contribute to a better understanding of the genetic and physiological mechanisms regulating weight traits in the Nellore breed.
Interpopulation variation in dispersal behavior of fat minnow Rhynchocypris oxycephalus jouyi juveniles inhabiting fragmented habitats
Authors: Yamada Hiroyuki
Published: August 2024

In many organisms, including fishes, downstream dispersal is often phenotype‐dependent. Phenotype‐dependent downstream dispersal can generate evolutionary pressure via spatial sorting, which non‐randomly removes phenotypes enhancing downstream dispersal from upstream populations. Spatial sorting due to downstream dispersal could accumulate in fish populations in above‐barrier habitats to which dispersed individuals cannot return, resulting in functional traits that reduce downstream dispersal. This evolutionary mechanism may be more important in smaller above‐barrier habitats where downstream emigration occurs over shorter dispersal distances. This study observed the dispersal behavior of fat minnow Rhynchocypris oxycephalus jouyi juveniles in an experimental tank to examine whether juveniles from small above‐barrier habitats show more behaviors favorable for reducing downstream dispersal than those from large above‐barrier habitats. Juveniles from small above‐barrier habitats avoided downstream dispersal for longer durations than those from large above‐barrier habitats, but there was no difference in the frequency of ascending attempts. These results support the notion that behavioral traits of juveniles in small above‐barrier populations have been refined by spatial sorting to reduce downstream dispersal. The finding that interpopulation variation in dispersal behavior occurred only for certain dispersal directions implies that the behavioral consequences of habitat fragmentation are more complex than previously assumed.
Reply to “Comment on: Difference between kidney function by cystatin C versus creatinine and association with muscle mass and frailty”
Authors: Potok O. Alison , Rifkin Dena E.
Published: August 2024

See the related comment by Jiawei Du and Jinghua Hou
Nurses during war: Profiles‐based risk and protective factors
Authors: Hamama Liat , Amit Inbal , Itzhaki Michal
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Nurses in southern Israel's public hospitals were exposed to unusual traumatic events following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, and the ensuing Swords of Iron War. This study aimed to clarify the complexity of wartime nursing by identifying profiles based on risk factors (i.e., psychological distress and adjustment disorders) and protective factors (i.e., positive affect (PA), resilience, and perceived social support [PSS]).

Design

This study utilizes a cross‐sectional design.

Method

Two hundred nurses at a major public hospital in southern Israel completed self‐report questionnaires. A latent profile analysis (LPA) was conducted to identify distinct profiles based on nurses' risk and protective factors. Differences in profiles were examined alongside sociodemographic and occupational variables and traumatic event exposure. The LPA was conducted using MPlus 8.8 Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) software.

Findings

Two distinct profiles were identified: “reactive” and “resilient.” The “reactive” group included nurses who had higher risk factor scores (psychological distress and adjustment disorder), whereas the “resilient” group included nurses who had higher protective factor scores (PA, resilience, and PSS). Furthermore, nurses in the “reactive” group were younger, with greater seniority, worse self‐rated health, and a higher frequency of kidnapped family members compared to nurses from the “resilient” group.

Conclusion

Nurses in wartime are at risk if identified as “reactive.” Identifying these profiles can assist in developing effective support practices to help nurses cope with wartime challenges and maintain their mental well‐being.

Clinical Relevance

Healthcare organizations should tailor interventions to prepare and support nurses of various ages and experience levels, during and after conflicts. This approach aims to reduce risk factors and promote protective factors among nurses during wartime.
Teachers and Counselors Talk: The Psychological Impact of COVID‐19 School Closures on Secondary School Students
Authors: Saadat Mehr Reza , Karimian Aram , Abdullahzadeh Mehrdad , Bakhshian Fereshteh
Published: August 2024

Background

The COVID‐19 pandemic significantly impacted students' education, mental health, and social well‐being. Our research explores the experiences and perceptions of teachers and counselors of the psychological impact of COVID‐19 school closures on secondary school students after returning to school.

Methods

In this qualitative study, 21 teachers and counselors in Iran were purposefully involved and interviewed in‐depth using a semi‐structured format. The data was analyzed using Van Manen's 6‐step phenomenological method, and Lincoln and Guba's criteria were implemented to maintain accuracy and trustworthiness.

Results

We have identified 15 categories and 6 themes. These themes encompass issues such as low self‐esteem due to emotional or psychological damage, instability within schools, challenges faced by students with family problems, lack of motivation and patience among students, frustration experienced by students, and emotional detachment.

Implications for School Health Policy, Practice, and Equity

To effectively guide and educate students, teachers and counselors must prioritize the psychological well‐being of students absent from school due to illness or pandemics. They must also take adequate measures to address any arising psychological complications.

Conclusion

Teachers and counselors must recognize and consider the psychological consequences of students absent; this will help develop effective measures to address and alleviate psychological complications.
Beyoncé's “break my soul”: An anthem of courage, resistance, peace, and community
Authors: Lester Neal A.
Published: August 2024

In 2023, Beyoncé became the artist with the most Grammys in music history. Her dance track, “Break My Soul,” from her Renaissance album,* is a radical statement about community and self‐affirmation grounded in Black and queer cultural specificity. This article explores “Break My Soul” as an anthem of uplift, advice, and unity that offers hope and reprieve to a world emerging from a global pandemic and a “racial reckoning” galvanized by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin's murder of George Floyd.
Economic freedom and the quality of education
Authors: Feldmann Horst
Published: August 2024

This paper finds robust evidence that economic freedom improves the quality of education. This is probably mainly because economic freedom incentivizes parents to invest in high‐quality education for their children and helps them to do so. It also incentivizes and helps both governments and private providers to deliver high‐quality education. The paper uses two different indicators of educational quality: PISA scores and the World Bank's harmonized test scores. The magnitudes of the estimated effects of economic freedom on both indicators are substantial. They are even larger once the indirect impact of economic freedom via GDP per capita and, to a lesser extent, once the indirect impact via government education expenditure is taken into account. The paper uses data on up to 49 countries for PISA scores and up to 137 countries for World Bank scores. It accounts for the endogeneity of economic freedom and controls for all major determinants of educational quality.
Vascular Function and Ion Channels in Alzheimer's Disease
Authors: Taylor Jade L. , Martin‐Aragon Baudel Miguel , Nieves‐Cintron Madeline , Navedo Manuel F.
Published: August 2024

This review paper explores the critical role of vascular ion channels in the regulation of cerebral artery function and examines the impact of Alzheimer's disease (AD) on these processes. Vascular ion channels are fundamental in controlling vascular tone, blood flow, and endothelial function in cerebral arteries. Dysfunction of these channels can lead to impaired cerebral autoregulation, contributing to cerebrovascular pathologies. AD, characterized by the accumulation of amyloid beta (Aβ) plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, has been increasingly linked to vascular abnormalities, including altered vascular ion channel activity. Here, we briefly review the role of vascular ion channels in cerebral blood flow control and neurovascular coupling. We then examine the vascular defects in AD, the current understanding of how AD pathology affects vascular ion channel function, and how these changes may lead to compromised cerebral blood flow and neurodegenerative processes. Finally, we provide future perspectives and conclusions. Understanding this topic is important as ion channels may be potential therapeutic targets for improving cerebrovascular health and mitigating AD progression.
Human centered design for applied anthropology
Authors: Carnes Mary , VandenBroek Angela , Brunson Emily K.
Published: August 2024

In this article, we highlight a partnership between CommuniVax and a human‐centered design firm (Bridgeable) that resulted in CommuniVaxCHAT—an online toolkit capable of engaging community members and translating their experiences and local knowledge in a way that decision‐makers, including mayors and public health directors, can act upon. In addition to considering the process involved in creating CommuniVaxCHAT, and its associate practicalities, we examine how human‐centered design, and more particularly personas and journeys, can act as boundary objects to facilitate engagement between groups and create interventions or policy. In this way, we argue that HCD can be used similarly to PhotoVoice as a tool to introduce ethnographic insights into applied and participatory contexts.
A call to action [plans] for cyclic vomiting syndrome
Authors: Rosen John M. , Reeves Patrick T.
Published: August 2024

Cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS) is a disorder of gut‐brain interaction which has a wide clinical spectrum. Clinical action plans have been developed to address and to facilitate treatment in the setting of complex, chronic medical conditions. The CVS Action Plan was developed to meet the chronic and acute care needs of children and adults with CVS. While this tool has not been tested for clinical efficacy as was shown with action plans for functional constipation, anecdotal and indirect evidence supports its use. The CVS Action Plan has the potential to enhance outcomes by simplifying home management and streamlining disease recognition and acute care in the emergency department.
Methyltransferase ATMETTL5 writes m6A on 18S ribosomal RNA to regulate translation in Arabidopsis
Authors: Song Peizhe , Tian Enlin , Cai Zhihe , Chen Xu , Chen Shuyan , Yu Kemiao , Bian Hanxiao , He Kai , Jia Guifang
Published: August 2024

Aberrant RNA modifications can lead to dysregulated gene expression and impeded growth in plants. Ribosomal RNA (rRNA) constitutes a substantial portion of total RNA, while the precise functions and molecular mechanisms underlying rRNA modifications in plants remain largely elusive.

Here, we elucidated the exclusive occurrence of the canonical RNA modification N6‐methyladenosine (m6A) solely 18S rRNA, but not 25S rRNA. We identified a completely uncharacterized protein, ATMETTL5, as an Arabidopsis m6A methyltransferase responsible for installing m6A methylation at the 1771 site of the 18S rRNA. ATMETTL5 is ubiquitously expressed and localized in both nucleus and cytoplasm, mediating rRNA m6A methylation.

Mechanistically, the loss of ATMETTL5‐mediated methylation results in attenuated translation. Furthermore, we uncovered the role of ATMETTL5‐mediated methylation in coordinating blue light‐mediated hypocotyl growth by regulating the translation of blue light‐related messenger RNAs (mRNAs), specifically HYH and PRR9.

Our findings provide mechanistic insights into how rRNA modification regulates ribosome function in mRNA translation and the response to blue light, thereby advancing our understanding of the role of epigenetic modifications in precisely regulating mRNA translation in plants.
Analysis of Failed Atlantoaxial Reduction: Causes of Failure and Strategies for Revision
Authors: Zhang Boyan , Du Yueqi , Zhang Can , Qi Maoyang , Meng Hongfeng , Jin Tianyu , Cui Guoqing , Guan Jian , Duan Wanru , Chen Zan
Published: August 2024

Objective

The craniovertebral junction (CVJ) presents intricate anatomical challenges. In severe or irreducible malformations, complications such as reduction loss and fixation failure may occur, necessitating revision surgery. The posterior facet joint distraction and fusion (PFDF) technique, offers a solely posterior approach for revisions. Hence, we delineate varied revision scenarios, proposing surgical strategies and technical details to enhance outcomes and mitigate risks, thereby enriching the neurosurgical community's repertoire.

Methods

This was a retrospective cohort study, analyzed patient data from Xuanwu Hospital, between 2017 to 2023. All patients had a history of surgical treatment for CVJ malformations, and experienced failure or loss of reduction. The distance from the odontoid process tip to the Chamberlain's line (DCL), the atlantodental interval (ADI), clivus‐canal angle, cervicomedullary angle, width of subarachnoid space, CVJ area, and width of syrinx were used for radiographic assessment. Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scores and SF‐12 scores were used for clinical assessment. Independent sample t‐tests were employed. A significance level of p < 0.05 indicates statistically significant differences.

Results

We analyzed data from 35 patients. For patients who underwent PFDF, the postoperative DCL, ADI, and clivus‐canal angle significantly improved. For all patients, the postoperative cervicomedullary angle, width of subarachnoid space, CVJ area, and width of syrinx all demonstrated significant improvement, indicating the relief of neural compression. All patients showed significant improvement in both symptoms and clinical assessments.

Conclusion

Severe atlantoaxial joint locking or ligament contracting are the fundamental cause of reduction and fixation failure. Anterior odontoidectomy is indicated for patients with robust bony fusion of the atlantoaxial joint in an unreduced position. The PFDF technique is safe and effective for patients with incomplete atlantoaxial bony fusion. Preoperative assessment of surgical feasibility and vertebral artery status ensures surgical safety and efficacy.
Innovative Application of the Ilizarov Technique for Long Nerve Defect Reconstruction: A Detailed Case Report
Authors: Liang Xiajun , Xu Lei , Zhou Chunhao , Fang Jia , Sun Dawei , Qin Chenghe
Published: August 2024

Background

Traditionally known for bone regeneration, the Ilizarov technique's effectiveness in nerve reconstruction, particularly for extensive nerve damage, has yet to be widely recognized.

Case presentation

This report presents a case study and proposes the innovative use of the Ilizarov technique for reconstructing extended nerve defects. In this study, we reviewed a 43‐year‐old male diagnosed with an open fracture of the right tibia combined with soft tissue injury resulting in a mangled injury in which a large part of his right tibial bone and nerve were lost. The patient was cured and the sensorimotor function was recovered after distraction osteogenesis by the Ilizarov technique, which is a unique application of this technique to repair a substantial long nerve defect, a rare occurrence in medical literature. It highlights the method of nerve lengthening, which is achieved by attaching the nerve stump to the bone stump. This approach allows for significant nerve regeneration and ensures a stable progression of the nerve, as the bone stump acts as a carrier, overcoming the challenges of direct nerve lengthening.

Conclusions

The adaptability and effectiveness of the Ilizarov technique in a new area suggests the need to reconsider traditional approaches to complex nerve reconstruction. Placing this case within the context of current medical knowledge underscores the potential of this technique to revolutionize the treatment of extended nerve defects, offering hope for improved outcomes in challenging scenarios.