bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Improvement of inert-gas distribution for fuel tanks with the objective of minimum bleed flowrate
Authors: Lin Xinyu , Liu Weihua
Published: July 2024

Purpose

To ensure the safety of aircraft fuel tanks, the FAA issued an airworthiness clause (25.981(b)) suggesting that the risk of combustion and explosion be reduced by installing a Flammability Reduction Means or an Ignition Mitigation Means. The airflow distribution method has a significant effect on the inerting performance. Therefore, this study aims to determine an optimum airflow distribution method of the inerting system.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper establishes the calculation model of the oxygen concentration in the ullage of a multi-bay fuel tank, calculates the oxygen concentration in the ullage of an aircraft tank in single-flow and dual-flow modes under series and parallel ventilation methods and analyses the inerting performance of the tank under different airflow distribution methods.

Findings

The results show that: (1) the bleed flow rate required to achieve whole process inerting of multi-bay fuel tank in dual-flow mode is lower than that in single-flow mode; (2) under the parallel ventilation method, the decrease of oxygen concentration and the uniformity of each bay are better than that in the series ventilation method; (3) dual-flow mode staged ventilation method can be used to achieve the whole process inerting of the tanks under the minimum engine bleed consumption.

Originality/value

The novelty of this paper is to analyze and optimize the airflow distribution method of the inerting system under the whole flight envelope to minimize the engine bleed consumption.
A lightweight interactive approach for unstructured surface mesh generation
Authors: Liu Yang , Hu Yuefan , Xie Dongxiang , Zhang Yongjie , Chen Jianqiang
Published: July 2024

Purpose

The paper aims to propose a generation approach for unstructured surface mesh to speed up mesh generation.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper proposes a lightweight interactive generation approach for unstructured surface mesh and presents several key technologies to support this approach.

Findings

The experimental results show that the proposed approach is feasible for unstructured meshes and it can accelerate the mesh generation process.

Research limitations/implications

More geometric defects should be covered, and more convenient and efficient interactive means need to be provided.

Practical implications

The proposed approach and key technologies are implemented in NNW-GridStar.UG, which is the unstructured version of the mesh generation software of National Numerical Windtunnel (NNW).

Originality/value

This paper proposes a lightweight interactive approach for unstructured surface mesh generation, which can speed up mesh generation.
Clawback enforcement heterogeneity and the horizon of executive pay: empirical evidence
Authors: Remesal Alvaro
Published: July 2024

Purpose

Clawback provisions entitle shareholders to recover previously awarded incentive compensation after the discovery of accounting manipulation or misconduct. The author evaluates the impact of clawback enforcement heterogeneity on the horizon of executive compensation.

Design/methodology/approach

The author provides empirical tests to evaluate the impact of clawback adoption decisions. The author deals with the endogeneity of clawback adoption decisions through an instrumental variables strategy that exploits the transmission of governance choices within firms’ networks.

Findings

While the author finds that clawback adoption reduces the frequency of accounting manipulation, this reduction is accompanied by heterogeneous effects on the horizon of executive pay across firms. Clawback adopters with high director independence, high leverage, high managerial termination payments and low executive ownership tilt their compensation toward the short-term.

Practical implications

The results, robust to alternative specifications, suggest that clawbacks allow strong-enforcement firms to tilt compensation toward the short-term, offsetting some of the direct manipulation disincentives generated by the clawback. The stock market reacts positively to the adoption in firms with weak enforcement, suggesting that clawbacks significantly reduce the managers’ rent-extraction capacity.

Originality/value

Using a novel empirical and identification approach, the results suggest that clawbacks allow strong-enforcement firms to tilt compensation toward the short-term, offsetting some of the direct manipulation disincentives generated by the clawback.
The impact of earnings opacity on corporate social responsibility: insights from Vietnamese listed firms
Authors: Nguyen Ha Thi Thu , Nguyen Tri Tri , Nguyen Hien Thi Thu
Published: July 2024

Purpose

This paper studies the association between earnings opacity and corporate social responsibility disclosures of firms listed on the Vietnamese Stock Exchange.

Design/methodology/approach

We utilize a dataset comprising a sample of all listed Vietnamese firms for the period of 2014–2022. Data regarding corporate social responsibility information are gathered manually. Following Dechow et al. (1995), Kothari et al. (2005) and Bhattacharya et al. (2003), earnings opacity is measured by using three proxies, including abnormal accruals, earnings smoothing and loss avoidance. Our hypothesis was tested via ordinary least squares (OLS) regressions. To address endogeneity problems, we use the two-stage instrumental variable method (IV-2SLS) as well as the generalized method of moments (GMM) to ensure the robustness of our results.

Findings

We find that earnings opacity is positively related to corporate social responsibility disclosures. Cross-sectional analyses indicate that managers of firms disguise their opportunistic behaviour by disclosing more information about corporate social responsibility. The evidence also shows that firms experience long-run underperformance when having higher earnings opacity and greater sustainability disclosures. Our results remain robust even after correcting for endogeneity using the IV approach and the GMM method.

Practical implications

Evidence from this study can serve as a warning signal to the investment community, highlighting that some methods aimed at enhancing a firm’s corporate social responsibility disclosures might be used to obstruct other unethical activities. Moreover, the results of this study can help regulators gain a better comprehension of firms' reporting patterns concerning corporate social responsibility initiatives. It should not only reform the corporate social responsibility regulation but also impose stronger litigation for firms to enhance the quality of corporate social responsibility disclosures.

Originality/value

We are the first to present evidence regarding the relationship between earnings opacity and corporate social responsibility disclosure in Vietnam.
Enhancing user engagement and loyalty in online travel agents: a gamification approach
Authors: Choirisa Septi Fahmi , Waworuntu Alexander , Istiono Wirawan
Published: July 2024

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the effects of gamification features on brand engagement dimensions in online travel agents (OTAs), specifically brand awareness and loyalty.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed model is empirically evaluated through an online survey of 406 Indonesian OTA users. Partial least squares structural equation modeling analysis was used to assess the model.

Findings

The findings reveal that gamification boosts emotional and social brand engagement, while achievement improves cognitive brand engagement. Cognitive brand engagement only affects brand loyalty, excluding brand awareness; however, emotional and social brand engagement substantially impact brand awareness and loyalty.

Originality/value

This study addresses the gap in the limited empirical studies on gamification in the tourism and hospitality industries, with a particular focus on OTAs.
Based on the S–O–R theory adoption intention of blockchain technology in libraries: a two-stage analysis SEM–PLS and ANN
Authors: Khan Asad Ullah , Jan Saeed Ullah , Khan Muhammad Naeem , Aziz Fazeelat , Sohu Jan Muhammad , Ali Johar , Khan Maqbool , Chohan Sohail Raza
Published: July 2024

Purpose

Blockchain, a groundbreaking technology that recently surfaced, is under thorough scrutiny due to its prospective utility across different sectors. This research aims to delve into and assess the cognitive elements that impact the integration of blockchain technology (BT) within library environments.

Design/methodology/approach

Utilizing the Stimulus–Organism–Response (SOR) theory, this research aims to facilitate the implementation of BT within academic institution libraries and provide valuable insights for managerial decision-making. A two-staged deep learning structural equation modelling artificial neural network (ANN) analysis was conducted on 583 computer experts affiliated with academic institutions across various countries to gather relevant information.

Findings

The research model can correspondingly expound 71% and 60% of the variance in trust and adoption intention of BT in libraries, where ANN results indicate that perceived possession is the primary predictor, with a technical capability factor that has a normalized significance of 84%. The study successfully identified the relationship of each variable of our conceptual model.

Originality/value

Unlike the SOR theory framework that uses a linear model and theoretically assumes that all relationships are significant, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, it is the first study to validate ANN and SEM in a library context successfully. The results of the two-step PLS–SEM and ANN technique demonstrate that the usage of ANN validates the PLS–SEM analysis. ANN can represent complicated linear and nonlinear connections with higher prediction accuracy than SEM approaches. Also, an importance-performance Map analysis of the PLS–SEM data offers a more detailed insight into each factor's significance and performance.
Real asset liquidity and accounting conservatism: evidence from asset redeployability
Authors: Huang Wei , Zhang Rui-Zhong (R.Z.)
Published: July 2024

Purpose

This study examines the implications of real asset liquidity for accounting conservatism. We investigate whether the liquidity of a firm’s physical assets mitigates lenders’ demand for conservatism by increasing the amount lenders can recover if the firm is liquidated, a theoretical prediction in Göx and Wagenhofer (2009).

Design/methodology/approach

We use an asset redeployability index as a proxy for firm-level real (physical) asset liquidity and adopt ordinary least squares (OLS) regressions in the test. We also investigate the differential impact of real asset liquidity on conservatism in two unique settings where lenders’ demand for accounting conservatism varies (loan initiation and bank deregulation).

Findings

We find that accounting conservatism decreases as real asset liquidity increases. The negative effect of real asset liquidity on conservatism increases as the quantity of the firm’s real assets increases, and the negative association is strengthened when firms face high financing constraints and have access to public debt markets. The moderating effect of real asset liquidity on lenders’ demand for conservatism increases (decreases) when real asset liquidity is more (less) important to lenders.

Originality/value

This study provides direct empirical evidence for the theoretical prediction in Göx and Wagenhofer (2009). Prior research shows that real asset liquidity impacts a firm’s capital structure and investment decisions (Campello and Giambona, 2013; Kim and Kung, 2017; Ortiz-Molina and Phillips, 2014; Williamson, 1988). We complement this literature by providing evidence that real asset liquidity also plays a role in financial reporting by reducing accounting conservatism.
Transient, context‐dependent fitness costs accompanying viral resistance in isolates of the marine microalga Micromonas sp. (class Mamiellophyceae)
Authors: Bedi de Silva Anamica , Polson Shawn W. , Schvarcz Christopher R. , Steward Grieg F. , Edwards Kyle F.
Published: July 2024

Marine microbes are important in biogeochemical cycling, but the nature and magnitude of their contributions are influenced by their associated viruses. In the presence of a lytic virus, cells that have evolved resistance to infection have an obvious fitness advantage over relatives that remain susceptible. However, susceptible cells remain extant in the wild, implying that the evolution of a fitness advantage in one dimension (virus resistance) must be accompanied by a fitness cost in another dimension. Identifying costs of resistance is challenging because fitness is context‐dependent. We examined the context dependence of fitness costs in isolates of the picophytoplankton genus Micromonas and their co‐occurring dsDNA viruses using experimental evolution. After generating 88 resistant lineages from two ancestral Micromonas strains, each challenged with one of four distinct viral strains, we found resistance led to a 46% decrease in mean growth rate under high irradiance and a 19% decrease under low. After a year in culture, the experimentally selected lines remained resistant, but fitness costs had attenuated. Our results suggest that the cost of resistance in Micromonas is dependent on environmental conditions and the duration of population adaptation, illustrating the dynamic nature of fitness costs of viral resistance among marine protists.
Does Financial Structure Matter for Economic Growth? New Evidence from China
Authors: Xu Guangdong , Gui Binwei , Xu Shudan
Published: July 2024

Following the methodology of Beck et al. in 2001 and Levine in 2002, three relative indicators are constructed to measure China's financial structure at the provincial level and these indicators are applied to explore the current financial structure–economic growth nexus in the Chinese context. The ordinary panel regression model results indicate that different dimensions of financial structure have different growth implications, while the panel threshold regression model results suggest a nonlinear relationship between financial structure and economic growth based on the stage of economic development, the relative importance of the state sector, and the financial structure per se.
School‐based interventions targeting substance use among young people in low‐and‐middle‐income countries: A scoping review
Authors: Cadri Abdul , Beema Ameena Nizar , Schuster Tibor , Barnett Tracie , Asampong Emmanuel , Adams Alayne M.
Published: July 2024

Background and aim

Globally, harmful substance use is among the leading causes of premature deaths in the general population, and most of these behaviours are initiated during pre‐adolescence to young adulthood. Preventing the onset or reducing the prevalence of substance use among young people is thus a global health priority. Diverse school‐based interventions have been implemented in low‐and‐middle‐income countries (LMICs); however, evidence regarding their theoretical underpinnings and core components is lacking. The aim of this scoping review was to identify the underlying (social/behavioural) theories, models or frameworks (TMF) and core (practical) components of school‐based interventions in LMICs aimed at preventing the onset or reducing the prevalence of substance use among young people.

Methods

Using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) guidance for conducting scoping reviews, we searched scientific literature databases for articles published from 1995 to 2022. A further search was conducted using the reference lists of included articles. We selected randomized and non‐randomized trials of school‐based interventions in LMICs that aimed at preventing the onset or reducing the prevalence of substance use among young people. We used Covidence software to screen titles and abstracts, as well as full texts. We then extracted the data and analysed it using a descriptive content analysis approach. Two reviewers conducted the screening, extraction and data analysis and discussed discrepancies, and clarified doubts and uncertainties through consultation with the other team members.

Findings

A total of 58 articles were included in the review. Most articles (63.8%) used either a single or combination of two or more TMFs to inform their interventions. The most widely used TMF was social learning theory followed by theory of planned behaviour. We identified six core components of substance use prevention interventions: education, school environment, school policy, parental involvement, peer engagement and counselling.

Conclusion

This scoping review outlines the core components of school‐based substance use prevention interventions used in low‐and‐middle‐income countries and the common theories, models or frameworks that underpin the design of those interventions.
Re‐exploration following caesarean birth: a prospective national case–control study using the United Kingdom Obstetric Surveillance System (UKOSS) data collection system
Authors: Bhatia Kailash , Columb Malachy , Knight Marian , Vause Sarah
Published: July 2024

Background

Re‐exploration following caesarean birth and the associated maternal morbidity has not been investigated in the UK. Our aims were to determine the national incidence and identify the associated risk factors.

Methods

We conducted a prospective observational case–control study across 194 UK consultant‐led maternity units in women whose caesarean birth was complicated by a re‐exploration. Independent factors for re‐exploration were analysed using multivariable multi‐level mixed effects logistic regression.

Results

Over the study period (1 June 2021 and 31 May 2022) 238,423 caesarean births were recorded across the UK of which 187 women underwent re‐exploration, giving an incidence of one re‐exploration per 1282 caesarean births (95%CI 1:1099–1:1471). Haemorrhage (124/187, 66.3%) and sepsis (31/187, 16.6%) were the most common findings at re‐exploration. Median (IQR [range]) time interval to re‐exploration following the caesarean birth was 1 (0–4 [0–28]) day. Mechanical ventilation was required in 34 (18.6%) women, cardiac arrest was reported in 5 (2.7%) and 3 (1.6%) women died. Independent preceding factors associated with a re‐exploration included: receipt of blood transfusion (adjusted OR (95%CI) 8.25 (2.66–25.61)); use of a general anaesthetic (adjusted OR (95%CI) 3.33 (1.61–6.88)); pre‐eclampsia (adjusted OR (95%CI) 3.27 (1.55–6.91)); black ethnicity (adjusted OR (95%CI) 3.14 (1.39–7.11)); postpartum haemorrhage (adjusted OR (95%CI) 2.82 (1.81–4.37)); use of anticoagulants or antiplatelet drugs pre‐caesarean birth (adjusted OR (95%CI) 2.26 (1.35–3.81)); and emergency caesarean birth (adjusted OR (95%CI) 1.89 (1.01–3.57)).

Conclusion

Re‐exploration following caesarean birth in the UK is uncommon but is associated with significant maternal morbidity and mortality. These study findings will help guide informed consent and encourage appropriate surveillance of high‐risk women postpartum.
The educational game SonoQz improves diagnostic performance in ultrasound assessment of ovarian tumors
Authors: Smedberg Erica , Åkerlund Måns , Andersson Franko Mikael , Epstein Elisabeth
Published: July 2024

Introduction

Our objective was to determine whether the educational game SonoQz can improve diagnostic performance in ultrasound assessment of ovarian tumors.

Material and Methods

The SonoQz mobile application was developed as an educational tool for medical doctors to practice ultrasound assessment, based on still images of ovarian tumors. The game comprises images from 324 ovarian tumors, examined by an ultrasound expert prior to surgery. A training phase, where the participants assessed at least 200 cases in the SonoQz app, was preceded by a pretraining test, and followed by a posttraining test. Two equal tests (A and B), each consisting of 20 cases, were used as pre‐ and posttraining tests. Half the users took test A first, B second, and the remaining took the tests in the opposite order. Users were asked to classify the tumors (1) according to International Ovarian Tumor Analysis (IOTA) Simple Rules, (2) as benign or malignant, and (3) suggest a specific histological diagnosis. Logistic mixed models with fixed effects for pre‐ and posttraining tests, and crossed random effects for participants and cases, were used to determine any improvement in test scores, sensitivity, and specificity.

Results

Fifty‐eight doctors from 19 medical centers participated. Comparing the pre‐ and posttraining test, the median of correctly classified cases, in Simple Rules assessment increased from 72% to 83%, p < 0.001; in classifying the lesion as benign or malignant tumors from 86% to 95%, p < 0.001; and in making a specific diagnosis from 43% to 63%, p < 0.001. When classifying tumors as benign or malignant, at an unchanged level of sensitivity (98% vs. 97%, p = 0.157), the specificity increased from 70% to 89%, p < 0.001.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that the educational game SonoQz is an effective tool that may improve diagnostic performance in assessing ovarian tumors, specifically by reducing the number of false positives while maintaining high sensitivity.
Not attending preschool was linked to challenges in peer relationships
Authors: Fabian Helena , Fält Elisabet , Dahlberg Anton , Salari Raziye , Durbeej Natalie
Published: July 2024

Aim

There is limited research on the impact of preschool attendance on socio‐emotional problems. This study aimed to investigate the association between not attending preschool and emotional and behavioural problems among children aged 3–5 years in Sweden.

Methods

We analysed cross‐sectional data from 9395 children, rated by both parents or by one parent. The dependent variable, emotional and behavioural problems, was measured using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Preschool attendance served as the independent variable. Single and multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted.

Results

Only 1.2% of children did not attend preschool. Single logistic regression models, using SDQ subscales with scores at or above the cut‐off point as outcomes, showed that not attending preschool was associated with peer relationship problems, rated by mothers, and with peer relationship problems and overall difficulties, rated by fathers. These associations remained significant when controlling for covariates. Children with parents born outside Sweden or with lower educational levels had higher odds of experiencing peer relationship problems and overall difficulties.

Conclusion

Children who do not attend preschool are at heightened risk of experiencing peer relationship problems. It is important to ensure that children who may benefit most from preschool education receive adequate support.
Digital medication and patients' right of autonomy in Spain
Authors: Pérez Álvarez Salvador
Published: July 2024

The progress the Internet has experienced in recent years has brought about huge changes and social transformation in all aspects of our lives. One such aspect greatly impacted has been our health, where we can talk about the existence of an ‘Internet of Medical Things’. Amid this digital drift, we have seen the development of pharmaceutical drugs that provide information to patients and their attending healthcare teams concerning medication, doses ingested, and time of ingestion. These are digital pills or digital medication. In this context, the purpose of my paper is to analyze the ethical and legal impact of digital medication, further analyzing the implications concerning the right of service users to make decisions over their own health in Spain.
Mental contrasting promotes effective self‐regulation for the benefits of groups
Authors: Kim SunYoung , Gollwitzer Peter M. , Oettingen Gabriele
Published: July 2024

Self‐regulation is essential for maintaining harmonious social connections and sustaining groups, yet little research has examined how individuals regulate their actions for the benefits of groups and which self‐regulatory strategies promote effective self‐regulation (active engagement and disengagement) in group contexts. In three experiments, focusing on identity groups (family and friends in Study 1) and two distinct functional groups (workplace teams in Study 2; sports teams in Study 3), we investigated whether mental contrasting of a desired future with the obstacle of reality, compared to indulging in the desired future, facilitates expectancy‐dependent contributions for the benefits of groups. We assessed participants' expectancies of successfully contributing to their groups and varied the mode of thought (mental contrasting vs. indulging). Contributions to groups were measured 1 week (Studies 1 and 2) and 3 weeks later (Study 3). Results showed that mental contrasting guided people to align their actions with expectancy levels; the higher their expectancy, the more people contributed to their groups. In contrast, indulging resulted in insensitivity to expectancy levels. Our findings suggest the potential applicability of the mental contrasting strategy for promoting effective self‐regulation in various group settings and provide insights into designing interventions to enhance individuals' engagement in groups.
Using ECHO program data to develop a brief measure of caregiver support and cognitive stimulation using the home observation for measurement of the environment‐infant/toddler (HOME‐IT)
Authors: Trevino Cindy O. , Lai Jin‐Shei , Tang Xiaodan , LeWinn Kaja Z. , Nozadi Sara S. , Wosu Adaeze , Leve Leslie D. , Towe‐Goodman Nissa R. , Ni Yu , Graff Joyce Carolyn , Karr Catherine J. , Collett Brent R. ,   program collaborators for Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes
Published: July 2024

Data from three NIH Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program cohorts that collected the HOME‐Infant‐Toddler (HOME‐IT age 0–3 years) version were used to examine the reliability of a brief scale of caregiver support and cognitive stimulation. Participants with HOME‐IT data (N = 2518) were included in this analysis. Mean child age at HOME‐IT assessment was 1.51 years, 48% of children were female, and 43% of children identified as Black. A four‐stage analysis plan was used to evaluate item response theory assumptions, item response theory model fit, monotonicity, scalability, item fit, and differential item functioning. Results indicate the feasibility of developing a reliable 10‐item scale (reliability >0.7) with particularly high precision for children with lower levels of cognitive stimulation.
Cascading upper bounds for triangle soup Pompeiu‐Hausdorff distance
Authors: Sacht Leonardo , Jacobson Alec
Published: July 2024

We propose a new method to accurately approximate the Pompeiu‐Hausdorff distance from a triangle soup A to another triangle soup B up to a given tolerance. Based on lower and upper bound computations, we discard triangles from A that do not contain the maximizer of the distance to B and subdivide the others for further processing. In contrast to previous methods, we use four upper bounds instead of only one, three of which newly proposed by us. Many triangles are discarded using the simpler bounds, while the most difficult cases are dealt with by the other bounds. Exhaustive testing determines the best ordering of the four upper bounds. A collection of experiments shows that our method is faster than all previous accurate methods in the literature.
Pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and safety of asundexian in healthy Chinese and Japanese volunteers, and comparison with Caucasian data
Authors: Chen Huijun , Hashizume Kensei , Kanefendt Friederike , Brase Christine , Schmitz Sebastian , Liu Tianxing
Published: July 2024

There is an unmet clinical need for effective anticoagulant therapies for the management of thromboembolic diseases that are not associated with a relevant risk of bleeding. Asundexian (BAY 2433334) is an oral, direct, small‐molecule inhibitor of activated factor XI (FXIa). Phase I data from healthy Caucasian male participants indicated predictable pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) profiles and no clinically relevant bleeding‐related adverse events (AEs). Reported here are data from two phase I, randomized, placebo‐controlled, single‐ and multiple‐dose escalation studies of asundexian conducted in 60 healthy men: 24 Japanese and 36 Chinese. Baseline characteristics were comparable between the treatment groups. All treatment‐emergent AEs were mild, with no serious AEs or AEs of special interest reported. Systemic exposure to asundexian increased dose proportionally after single or multiple dosing, with relatively low accumulation following multiple once‐daily dosing in both Chinese and Japanese volunteers. Asundexian induced dose‐dependent prolongation of activated partial thromboplastin time and inhibition of FXIa activity, with no effects on prothrombin time or FXI concentration in Japanese participants. There were no clinically relevant interethnic differences in PK profile across the Japanese, Chinese, and Caucasian (data from the previous phase I study) participants and no clinically relevant difference in PD response between Japanese and Caucasian participants.
Effect of oral semaglutide on energy intake, appetite, control of eating and gastric emptying in adults living with obesity: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Gabe Maria Buur Nordskov , Breitschaft Astrid , Knop Filip Krag , Hansen Morten Rix , Kirkeby Katrine , Rathor Naveen , Adrian Charlotte Lindorff
Published: July 2024

Aim

To investigate the effects of once‐daily oral semaglutide 50 mg on energy intake, appetite, control of eating and gastric emptying.

Methods

A clinical pharmacology, double‐blind study was conducted in 61 adults with obesity randomized to once‐daily oral semaglutide (dose‐escalated to 50 mg) or placebo for 20 weeks. Energy intake was measured during an ad libitum lunch, and participant‐reported appetite ratings and Control of Eating Questionnaire responses were assessed. Gastric emptying was measured using paracetamol absorption following a standardized breakfast.

Results

The relative change from baseline in ad libitum energy intake at week 20 (primary endpoint) was −39.2% points (95% confidence interval −59.0%, −19.4%) with semaglutide compared with placebo. Body weight was reduced by 9.8% with semaglutide and by 1.5% with placebo. Semaglutide reduced hunger, increased fullness and satiety, and was associated with fewer food cravings and better control of eating versus placebo. No statistically significant difference in gastric emptying was observed at week 20.

Conclusions

In participants with obesity, once‐daily oral semaglutide 50 mg reduced energy intake, body weight and appetite, and improved control of eating. There was no evidence of delayed gastric emptying at week 20, as measured through paracetamol absorption.
Stationary steam power in the United Kingdom, 1800–70: An empirical reassessment
Authors: Bottomley Sean
Published: July 2024

The conventional view that the industrial revolution was premised on the unprecedented supply of mechanical power delivered via steam engines has been undermined by econometric work, purporting to show that their adoption outside the cotton and mining sectors was extremely limited until at least 1870. This was largely because water and wind power remained viable and cost‐competitive substitutes long into the nineteenth century. Using evidence from a newly compiled ‘census’ of stationary power installations in Suffolk, this paper demonstrates instead that the adoption of steam power was far greater than previously thought, especially in manufacturing. Moreover, the assumption that steam could be invariably substituted with environmental forces is untenable. Depending on circumstances, even very modest power requirements could only be met with steam. Although the quantitative picture remains incomplete, steam power was likely an indispensable sustentative factor for industrialization.
Integrated primary and community mental health care for young adults with serious mental illness: A program evaluation
Authors: Sowden Gillian L. , Ferron Joelle C. , Pratt Sarah I. , Swenson Kerri R. , Carbin Julianne , Gowarty Minda A. , Tvorun Dunn Alisa G. , MacKenzie Todd A. , Brunette Mary F.
Published: July 2024

Aim

Young adults with serious mental illness (SMI) have poor physical health and high Emergency Department (ED) and hospital utilization. Integrating primary care into community mental health care may be an important form of early intervention.

Methods

Adjusted multivariable regressions assessed changes in self‐reported annual primary care, ED and hospital utilization for 83 young adults with SMI enrolled in integrated care.

Results

Participants' mean annual per person utilization changed significantly as follows: primary care visits, from 1.8 to 3.6, p < .001; medical ED visits, from 1.0 to 0.6, p < .01; psychiatric ED visits from 0.6 to 0.2, p < .001; medical inpatient days, from 1.2 to 0.1, p < .001 and psychiatric inpatient days, from 6.3 to 2.6, p < .001.

Conclusions

Young adults with SMI receiving integrated care increased primary care and reduced ED and inpatient utilization. Future controlled research is warranted to further assess integrated care for young adults with SMI.
The unity argument: Phenomenology's departure from Kant
Authors: Alweiss Lilian
Published: July 2024

Phenomenology questions the centrality that Kant attributes to the “I think.” It claims that on the pre‐reflective level experience is selfless as unity is given. I call this the “unity argument.” The paper explores the significance of this claim by focusing on the work of Edmund Husserl. What interests me is that although the unity argument claims that we can account for the unity of experience without appealing to the an “I think,” Husserl agrees with Kant that experience must be owned. Moreover, he endorses Kant's dictum that ‘the “I think” must be capable of accompanying all my presentations’. The aim of the paper is to explore how Husserl can consistently appeal to Kant's account of the “I think” and at the same time contend that on the pre‐reflective level experience is selfless. The thesis I wish to advance is that although the unity argument acknowledges that experience is necessarily mine, it reveals that it is a necessary feature of self‐reference that I have never taken absolute ownership over my experience. This may explain why our sense of self can often be out of tune with the way we live our lives.
Simple tape‐stripping method for highly reliable and quantitative analysis of skin microbiome
Authors: Soga Naoki , Nagura Risa , Nakamura Risa , Kohda Katsunori , Motoyama Yumi , Ito Masakazu , Nakagawa Ichiro , Nakajima Saeko , Ikeuchi Akinori
Published: July 2024

The composition of human skin microbiome profoundly impacts host skin health and disease. However, the relationship between skin homeostasis or the development of skin diseases and daily changes in skin microbial composition is poorly understood. Longitudinal samplings at more frequent intervals would address this issue, while conventional sampling methods have technical difficulties, leading to limitations in sampling opportunities. Here, we developed a simple and stable tape‐stripping method regardless of the operator's skill. Our method enables skin microbial sampling within 30 seconds and taking multiple skin microbial samples from the same body site. The amount of microbial DNA among multiple sampling sites could be measured within 13.5%. The sequencing results of multiple sampling showed high consistency, Pearson's correlation coefficient between multiple samples of 0.98. Furthermore, these results were comparable to those collected by the conventional swabbing method. These results demonstrate that our tape‐stripping method enables simple microbiome collection and highly reliable quantitative skin microbiome analysis. These features of our method would lead to a further understanding of skin disease development or diagnosis of skin conditions in clinical research by increasing the opportunities for microbial sampling.
The centennial legacy of land‐use change on organic carbon stocks of German agricultural soils
Authors: Emde David , Poeplau Christopher , Don Axel , Heilek Stefan , Schneider Florian
Published: July 2024

Converting natural vegetation for agriculture has resulted in the loss of approximately 5% of the current global terrestrial soil organic carbon (SOC) stock to the atmosphere. Increasing the agricultural area under grassland may reverse some of these losses, but the effectiveness of such a strategy is limited by how quickly SOC recovers after conversion from cropland. Using soil data and extensive land‐use histories gathered during the national German agricultural soil inventory, this study aims to answer three questions regarding agricultural land‐use change (LUC): (i) how do SOC stocks change with depth following LUC; (ii) how long does it take to reach SOC equilibrium after LUC; and (iii) what is the legacy effect of historic LUC on present day SOC dynamics? By using a novel approach that substitutes space for time and accounts for differences in site properties using propensity score balancing, we determined that sites that were converted from cropland to grassland reached a SOC equilibrium level 47.3% (95% confidence interval (CI): 43.4% to 49.5%) above permanent cropland levels 83 years (95% CI: 79 to 90 years) after conversion. Meanwhile, sites converted from grassland to cropland reached a SOC equilibrium level −33.6% (95% CI: −34.1% to −33.5%) below permanent grassland levels after 180 years (95% CI: 151 to 223 years). We estimate that, over the past century, today's German agricultural soils (16.6 million ha) have gained about 40 million Mg C. Furthermore, croplands with historic LUC from grassland are losing SOC by −0.26 Mg ha−1 year−1 (10% of agricultural land) while grasslands historically converted from cropland are gaining SOC by 0.27 Mg ha−1 year−1 (18% of agricultural land). This study shows that even long‐standing temperate agricultural sites likely have ongoing SOC change as a result of historical LUC.
Representing austerity: Baby Banks and news media
Authors: Slocombe Hannah , Rowe Francisco
Published: July 2024

Rising levels of hardship since the introduction of austerity have rendered essential items unaffordable for many on low incomes with young children. Baby Banks—organisations freely providing essential items and equipment to those with, or expecting, a baby or young infant—have grown. These organisations have received little academic attention and much of what is known about them comes from news media coverage. News media plays a critical role in raising public awareness, shaping public attitudes, and influencing policy formation. Drawing on 384 news articles, this paper explores the scale and nature of news article coverage of Baby Banks between 2009 and 2022 using sentiment analysis and topic modelling. Through employing these approaches, our research adds quantitative evidence to extant work on news media coverage under austerity. Our results show that the number of articles written about Baby Banks has grown since 2009, with peaks in coverage during the COVID‐19 pandemic in 2020, potentially reflecting the growing need for these organisations. While sentiment towards Baby Banks within news articles has predominantly been positive, since 2019 there has been a rise in negative coverage due to an increase in articles critical of the growing number of people requiring Baby Banks. Alongside discussions of political changes driving rising hardship, prominent underpinning narratives in articles have included charitable appeals for donations, praise for community work, the royal family, and mothers. By focusing on the sentiment and key discussions around Baby Banks, our research extends understandings of media coverage under austerity.
Characterizing heart failure and its subtypes in people living with HIV
Authors: Inestroza Karla , Hurtado Vanessa , Larson Michaela E. , Satish Sanjana , Severdija Ryan , Ebner Bertrand , Lang Barbara , Jones Deborah , Alcaide Maria , Martinez Claudia
Published: July 2024

Objective

People living with HIV have an increased risk of heart failure (HF). There are different subtypes of HF. Knowledge about the factors differentiating HF subtypes in people with HIV is limited but necessary to guide preventive measures and treatment.

Methods

A retrospective review of medical records was undertaken in people with HIV aged ≥18 years who received care at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial HIV Clinic between January 2017 and November 2019 (N = 1166). Patients with an echocardiogram available for review (n = 305) were included. HF was defined as a documented diagnosis of any HF subtype (n = 52). We stratified those with HF by their ejection fraction (EF) into HF with preserved EF (HFpEF), HF with borderline EF, or HF with reduced EF (HFrEF).

Results

The prevalence of HF was 4.5%. The cohort included 46.2% females and 75% self‐identified African Americans. Those with HF had a higher prevalence of hypertension, prior myocardial infarction, angina, coronary artery disease, percutaneous coronary intervention, coronary artery bypass grafting, diastolic dysfunction, and left ventricle hypertrophy. People with HIV with HF with borderline EF exhibited more coronary artery disease than those with HFpEF.

Conclusions

We characterize HF in people with HIV in South Florida and report the prevalence of HF and HF subtypes. Only a small percentage of patients had echocardiograms performed, suggesting an ongoing need for recognition of the increased risk of HF in people living with HIV, and raising the concern about lack of awareness contributing to underdiagnosis and missed treatment opportunities in this population.
Apical periodontitis as an aggravating factor for the severity of rheumatoid arthritis: An animal study
Authors: Damiani Bianca Araújo Magalhães , Pinto Karem Paula , Ferreira Cláudio Malizia Alves , Sarmento Estéfano Borgo , de Lima Carolina Oliveira , Cassimiro Caroline Silva , Sassone Luciana Moura , da Silva Emmanuel João Nogueira Leal
Published: July 2024

Aim

The present study investigated the influence of apical periodontitis (AP) on the severity of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) using a Wistar rat model.

Methodology

Forty male Wistar rats were distributed across four groups (n = 10) based on the induction of RA and AP: Control, RA, AP, and RA + AP. RA was induced through two immunisations with type II collagen emulsified in incomplete Freund's adjuvant, followed by one immunisation with complete Freund's adjuvant. After 21 days of RA induction, AP was induced by exposing the pulp of four molars. Animals were euthanized after 28 days of pulp exposure. Through the experiment, visual and behavioural assessments tracked RA development and the knees and hind paw joints were measured. Micro‐computed tomography scans of knees and hind paws, as well as mandibles and maxillae, were conducted to evaluate RA severity and the presence of AP, respectively. Serum samples were collected to analyse proinflammatory cytokines (IL‐1β, IL‐2, IL‐17, and TNF‐α). Non‐parametric data were analysed using the Kruskal‐Wallis test followed by Student–Newman–Keuls test, while one‐way anova followed by Tukey's test was performed for parametric data. A significance level of 5% was employed.

Results

All molars submitted to access cavity developed AP. All joints subjected to arthritis induction developed the disease, with AP + RA demonstrating a higher arthritis severity when compared to the RA group (p < .05). RA + AP group displayed a significantly larger hind paw and knee circumference compared to the RA group (p < .05). Micro‐CT images of RA and RA + AP groups revealed joints with erosions and bone deformities, with a significantly lower bone surface density, lower trabecular number and higher trabecular separation in the hind paw and a significantly lower percent bone volume and higher trabecular separation in the knees of RA + AP group compared to RA group (p < .05). RA + AP group exhibited a significantly higher level of TNF‐α and a lower level of IL‐2 compared to all other groups (p < .05). Both RA and RA + AP groups had significantly higher IL‐17 levels (p < .05), while there was no significant difference in IL‐1β levels among the groups (p > .05).

Conclusion

The findings from this study underscore a possible relationship between apical periodontitis and the exacerbation of rheumatoid arthritis.
Four locator attachments of mandibular implant‐retained overdentures with two different distributions: A 10‐year retrospective preliminary study of residual alveolar ridge changes
Authors: El‐Sawy Mohammed A. , Swedan Mostafa S. , Hegazy Salah AF.
Published: July 2024

Objectives

There is little information on the long‐term function of the four Locator attachment of the mandibular implant retained overdenture (OD), particularly with different distributions.

Purpose

To compare the effect of different four inter‐foraminal implant distributions retaining a mandibular OD after 10 years of function on posterior mandibular ridge resorption (PMandRR), anterior maxillary ridge resorption (AMaxRR), and the amount of marginal bone loss (MBL) around all four implants.

Materials and Methods

Twenty‐two participants with total edentulism who had worn mandibular OVDs retained by four inter‐foraminal implants for 10 years of functional life were selected for this study. They were divided into two groups based on implant distribution: Group I with a quadrilateral distribution (QD) of implants and Group II with a linear distribution (LD) of implants. PMandRR, AMaxRR, and MBL around implants were measured.

Results

After 10 years of function, PMandRR was significantly higher in the LD group than in the QD group (p < 0.001*). There was no significant difference in AMaxRR between the QD and LD groups (p = 0.431). The QD group showed a significantly greater amount of MBL around dental implants when compared with the LD group (p = 0.002*).

Conclusions

The LD of implants demonstrates more PMandRR compared with the QD. The QD of implants demonstrates a greater amount of MBL around dental implants compared with the LD. Both implant distributions demonstrate the same effect on the AMaxRR. MBL around implants remained within normal accepted values after 10 years of function.
A reproductive justice analysis of Black motherwork
Authors: Flowers Nia
Published: July 2024

This paper examines how Black mothers have had each tenet of reproductive justice violated by state powers and institutions, how Black mothers have resisted these injustices, and how this struggle between reproductive oppression and resistance is critical to understanding the relevance of Black motherwork in intersectional theories in family science. I argue that applying a reproductive justice analysis to Black motherwork involves three key components: (a) the right to identify and engage with Black motherwork; (b) the right of empowerment to disengage (further) with Black motherwork; and (c) the right to perform Black motherwork in safe and survivable environments. This paper emphasizes that infringements on Black women's reproductive liberties happen beyond the site of the body. They expand into their homes, their neighborhoods, and even their educational spaces.