bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Antioxidants with proven efficacy and elastin‐conserving vitamin C—A new approach to free radical defense
Authors: Widgerow Alan D. , Ziegler Mary E. , Garruto John A. , Shafiq Faiza
Published: October 2023

Background

This paper describes the background research and validation related to the formulation of a novel antioxidant product. Two defined outcomes were sought. Firstly, a combined efficacy of antioxidant ingredients in quenching free oxygen radicals. Secondly, the investigation into whether a vitamin C derivative sodium salt was elastin conserving in contrast to current vitamin C/l‐ascorbic acid variations that have been reported to negatively affect elastin constitution and regeneration.

Materials and Methods

A leading l‐ascorbic acid antioxidant available on the market was compared with the experimental new product in two studies. In the first experiment, the products were compared to assess their antioxidant properties. The evaluated products TOPICAL ANTIOXIDANT 1 and TOPICAL ANTIOXIDANT 2 were applied to human skin cultures (25–30 mg/cm2) for a total of 72 h of treatment and exposed to oxidative stress. The generation of free radicals was semi‐quantitatively assessed by measuring the fluorescence intensity of the deacetylation and oxidation of the probe dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCFH‐DA). In the second experiment, an ex vivo skin model (derived from patients undergoing facelift procedures) was used to assess elastin preservation. Three skin explants were topically subjected to the two formulations daily for 7 days. The skin was then prepared and fixed for immunofluorescent assessment after staining with CD44 and tropoelastin antibodies. Images were then analyzed using ImageJ.

Results

A full description of the different components selected for the new formulation is presented. In the first study, the experimental formulation performed with absolute equivalence to the comparator in its radical quenching capacity; both showed extremely effective antioxidant function. In the second study, the comparator negatively affected the existing elastin with areas of breakdown and diminished staining. In contrast, the new formulation showed good conservation of healthy elastin in all sections demonstrating elastin preservation.

Conclusion

A new antioxidant formulation was carefully designed with multiple actives that show an equivalent antioxidant capacity to a leading product on the market. More importantly, the vitamin C component shows direct elastin conservation and improvement as opposed to the comparator, which had negative effects on elastin preservation. This is in keeping with little‐known literature reports on vitamin C and its negative effects on elastin and validates the use of a sodium salt derivative, which appears to have protective effects on elastin. These findings support the overall regenerative extracellular matrix changes seen with TriHex® technology in other products.
COVID‐19 Related Facilitators and Barriers to In‐Person Learning for Children With Intellectual and Development Disabilities: A Follow‐Up
Authors: Vestal Liz E. , Schmidt Ann M. , Dougherty Nikole L. , Rolf Liz , Newland Jason G. , Mueller Nancy B. ,   for the COMPASS‐T Study Group
Published: October 2023

BACKGROUND

Students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and the staff who support them were largely in‐person during the 2021‐2022 school year, despite their continued vulnerability to infection with SARS‐CoV‐2. This qualitative study aimed to understand continued perceptions of weekly SARS‐CoV‐2 screening testing of students and staff amidst increased availability of vaccinations.

METHODS

Twenty‐three focus groups were held with school staff and parents of children with IDD to examine the perceptions of COVID‐19 during the 2021‐2022 school year. Responses were analyzed using a directed thematic content analysis approach.

RESULTS

Four principal themes were identified: strengths and opportunities of school‐ and district‐level mitigation policies; experience at school with the return to in‐person learning; facilitators and barriers to participation in SARS‐CoV‐2 screening testing; and perceptions of SARS‐CoV‐2 testing in light of vaccine availability.

IMPLICATIONS FOR SCHOOL HEALTH POLICY, PRACTICE, AND EQUITY

Despite the increased availability of vaccines, school staff and families agreed that saliva‐based SARS‐CoV‐2 screening testing helped increase comfort with in‐person learning as long as the virus was present in the community.

CONCLUSION

To keep children with IDD in school during the pandemic, families found SARS‐CoV‐2 screening testing important. Clearly communicating school policies and mitigation strategies facilitated peace of mind and confidence in the school district.
Pharmacokinetics, withdrawal period and risk assessment of enrofloxacin in the northern snakehead (Channa argus) following bath administration
Authors: Zhang Meiling , Zheng Guangming , Yin Yi , Zhou Hao , Ma Lisha , Li Lichun , Lin Jiawei , Liu Shugui , Zhao Cheng , Dai Xiaoxin , Wei Linting , Shan Qi
Published: October 2023

Enrofloxacin (ENR) is widely used in aquaculture practice, but little is known about its pharmacokinetic, withdrawal period and dietary risk in fish via bath administration. The purpose of this study was to provide data support for the use of ENR bath therapy in the northern snakehead (Channa argus). The pilot study was carried out to evaluate the therapy concentrations of ENR in northern snakehead with immersion concentrations ranged from 5 to 40 mg/L for 6 h. Based on results of the pilot study, an ENR immersion concentration of 20 mg/L was used for the formal experiment. At this dose, the peak concentrations of ENR in plasma, muscle plus skin, liver and kidney were 4.85, 4.55, 3.87 and 7.42 μg/mL (or g), respectively. According to the AUC0‐∞ values, the distribution of ENR in northern snakehead followed the order of kidney > plasma > liver > muscle + skin. The elimination of ENR in northern snakehead was very slow, the half‐lives (T1/2λz) were up to 90.31, 85.5, 104.56 and 120.9 h in plasma, muscle plus skin, liver and kidney, respectively. Ciprofloxacin (CIP) was not detected in any samples in the pilot study and was only occasionally detected in muscle plus skin and liver samples in formal experiment. Based on the calculated PK/PD index AUC/MIC and Cmax/MIC, the current bath treatment regimen will have a good therapeutic effect on infections caused by bacteria with MIC below 0.6 μg/mL. The dietary risk assessment suggested that there was a dietary risk (Hazard Quotients > 10%) until day 6 after bath treatment. It is mandatory for ENR to maintain a withdrawal period of at least 450°C‐day in northern snakehead after bath treatment ceased.
The population bottleneck of the Iberian wolf impacted genetic diversity but not admixture with domestic dogs: A temporal genomic approach
Authors: Lobo Diana , López‐Bao José Vicente , Godinho Raquel
Published: October 2023

After decades of intense persecution, the Iberian wolf subspecies faced a severe bottleneck in the 1970s that considerably reduced its range and population size, nearly leading to its extinction in central and southern Iberian Peninsula. Such population decline could have impacted the genetic diversity of Iberian wolves through different processes, namely genetic drift and dynamics of hybridization with domestic dogs. By contrasting the genomes of 68 contemporary with 54 historical samples spanning the periods before and immediately after the 1970s bottleneck, we found evidence of its impact on genetic diversity and dynamics of wolf–dog hybridization. Our genome‐wide assessment revealed that wolves and dogs form two well‐differentiated genetic groups in Iberia and that hybridization rates did not increase during the bottleneck. However, an increased number of hybrid individuals was found over time during the population re‐expansion, particularly at the edge of the wolf range. We estimated a low percentage of dog ancestry (~1.4%) in historical samples, suggesting that dog introgression was not a key driver for wolf extinction in central and southern Iberia. Our findings also unveil a significant decline in genetic diversity in contemporary samples, with the highest proportion of homozygous segments in the genome being recently inherited. Overall, our study provides unprecedented insight into the impact of a sharp decline on the Iberian wolf genome and refines our understanding of the ecological and evolutionary drivers of wolf–dog hybridization in the wild.
#clearaligners and social media: An in‐depth analysis of clear aligners' content on Instagram
Authors: Abdelemam Ahmed A. , Abdelrahman Hams H. , Hassan Mohamed G.
Published: October 2023

Background and Objectives

Clear aligners‐related posts are popularized on social media platforms to educate patients and peers and to market aligners in dental practices. This study aimed to characterize the account credentials and content of the top‐performing posts to understand the spread of clear aligners‐related information on Instagram.

Materials and Methods

This cross‐sectional web‐based study analysed 13 Instagram clear aligners‐related hashtags. Content analysis was performed for the “Top 10 posts” listed under the “Top” section for each hashtag within Instagram, as sorted by Instagram's algorithm. Data were analysed for the poster's background, credentials, role, post format, content, and engagement level ratio. Duplicate posts and those not relevant to clear aligners were excluded. Quantitative and qualitative analyses of the collected data were conducted.

Results

A total of 29 192 596 posts mentioned the selected hashtags, of which 130 posts were screened in this study. Most posts were authored by dentists (n = 84), 79.8% of them were orthodontic specialists. Self‐promotional posts comprised 90.2%, while educational posts accounted for only 8.9%. Interestingly, the number of likes and comments received on posts by patients (n = 19, median = 112, IQR = 340) was significantly higher than those posted by dentists (n = 84, median = 93, IQR = 81.75) (P = .004).

Conclusion

More than 29 million posts about clear aligners were identified on Instagram. Orthodontists are the leading authors of aligners hashtags. However, the majority of the posts are self‐promotional and have nonfactual information. Social media awareness among orthodontic specialists may help provide more evidence‐based content about clear aligners and can act as an interactive networking and health communication platform.
An atypical case of incontinentia pigmenti with a hypomorphic variant
Authors: Guo Youming , Bu Wenbo , Jia Weixue , Zhang Yuanyuan , Li Chengrang
Published: October 2023

Incontinentia pigmenti (IP) is a rare X‐linked dominant genodermatosis that affects skin, hair, teeth, eyes and central nervous system. We present the case of a female patient with mild IP caused by a hypomorphic pathogenic variant of the inhibitor of the kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B cells, kinase gamma (IKBKG) gene. This is the first report of a female IP patient with the hypomorphic variant, NM_001099856.6: c.1423dup, which is causative of anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia with immune deficiency in males.
Psychological resilience‐related functional connectomes predict creative personality
Authors: Sun Jiangzhou , Zhang Jingyi , Chen Qunlin , Yang Wenjing , Wei Dongtao , Qiu Jiang
Published: October 2023

Both psychological resilience and creativity are complex concepts that have positive effects on individual adaptation. Previous studies have shown overlaps between the key brain regions or brain functional networks related to psychological resilience and creativity. However, no direct experimental evidence has been provided to support the assumption that psychological resilience and creativity share a common brain basis. Therefore, the present study investigated the relationship between psychological resilience and creativity using neural imaging method with a machine learning approach. At the behavioral level, we found that psychological resilience was positively related to creative personality. Predictive analysis based on static functional connectivity (FC) and dynamic FC demonstrated that FCs related to psychological resilience could effectively predict an individual's creative personality score. Both the static FC and dynamic FC were mainly located in the default mode network. These results prove that psychological resilience and creativity share a common brain functional basis. These findings also provide insights into the possibility of promoting individual positive adaptation from negative events or situations in a creative way.
Stochastic Model of the Annual Maximum Rainfall Series Using Probability Distributions
Authors: Musakkir Nurul Azizah , Sunusi Nurtiti , Thamrin Sri Astuti
Published: October 2023

Rainfall is a natural process that is often characterized by significant variability and uncertainty. Stochastic models of rainfall typically involve the use of probability distributions to describe the likelihood of different outcomes occurring. This study aimed to model the annual maximum of daily rainfall in Makassar City, Indonesia for the period 1980–2022, specifically focusing on the rainy season (November to April) using probability distributions to estimate return periods. The study used the Generalized Extreme Value (GEVD) and Gumbel distributions. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to determine the suitability of each distribution, and the likelihood ratio test was employed to determine the best-fit model. The Mann-Kendall test was used to detect any trends in the data. The results indicated that the Gumbel distribution was the best-fit model for data in November, December, January, March, and April, while GEV was appropriate for February. No trends were observed in any of the months. The study then estimated the maximum rainfall for various return periods. January produced the highest maximum rainfall estimates for the 2, 3, and 5-year return periods, while February produced the highest maximum rainfall estimates for the 10 and 20-year return periods. Information about maximum rainfall can be valuable for the government and other stakeholders in developing flood prevention strategies and mitigating the effects of heavy rainfall, particularly during the peak months of the rainy season in Makassar City, which are December, January, and February.
Rapid ozone depletion after humidification of the stratosphere by the Hunga Tonga Eruption
Authors: Evan Stephanie , Brioude Jerome , Rosenlof Karen H. , Gao Ru-Shan , Portmann Robert W. , Zhu Yunqian , Volkamer Rainer , Lee Christopher F. , Metzger Jean-Marc , Lamy Kevin , Walter Paul , Alvarez Sergio L. , Flynn James H. , Asher Elizabeth , Todt Michael , Davis Sean M. , Thornberry Troy , Vömel Holger , Wienhold Frank G. , Stauffer Ryan M. , Millán Luis , Santee Michelle L. , Froidevaux Lucien , Read William G.
Published: October 2023

The eruption of the Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha’apai volcano on 15 January 2022 offered a good opportunity to explore the early impacts of tropical volcanic eruptions on stratospheric composition. Balloon-borne observations near Réunion Island revealed the unprecedented amount of water vapor injected by the volcano. The enhanced stratospheric humidity, radiative cooling, and expanded aerosol surface area in the volcanic plume created the ideal conditions for swift ozone depletion of 5% in the tropical stratosphere in just 1 week. The decrease in hydrogen chloride by 0.4 parts per million by volume (ppbv) and the increase in chlorine monoxide by 0.4 ppbv provided compelling evidence for chlorine activation within the volcanic plume. This study enhances our understanding of the effect of this unusual volcanic eruption on stratospheric chemistry and provides insights into possible chemistry changes that may occur in a changing climate.
Determining hot-carrier transport dynamics from terahertz emission
Authors: Taghinejad Mohammad , Xia Chenyi , Hrton Martin , Lee Kyu-Tae , Kim Andrew S. , Li Qitong , Guzelturk Burak , Kalousek Radek , Xu Fenghao , Cai Wenshan , Lindenberg Aaron M. , Brongersma Mark L.
Published: October 2023

Understanding the ultrafast excitation and transport dynamics of plasmon-driven hot carriers is critical to the development of optoelectronics, photochemistry, and solar-energy harvesting. However, the ultrashort time and length scales associated with the behavior of these highly out-of-equilibrium carriers have impaired experimental verification of ab initio quantum theories. Here, we present an approach to studying plasmonic hot-carrier dynamics that analyzes the temporal waveform of coherent terahertz bursts radiated by photo-ejected hot carriers from designer nano-antennas with a broken symmetry. For ballistic carriers ejected from gold antennas, we find an ~11-femtosecond timescale composed of the plasmon lifetime and ballistic transport time. Polarization- and phase-sensitive detection of terahertz fields further grant direct access to their ballistic transport trajectory. Our approach opens explorations of ultrafast carrier dynamics in optically excited nanostructures.
Cracking the neuronal code of episodic memory
Authors: Steudler Jasmin S. , Ólafsdóttir H. Freyja
Published: October 2023

Hierarchical organization of memory is observed in the brains of rats
In Science Journals
Authors: Simonti Corinne , Szuromi Phil , Smith Keith T. , Lopez Bianca , Yeston Jake S. , Fogg Christiana N. , Ferrarelli Leslie K. , Alderton Gemma , Hurtley Stella M. , Smith H. Jesse , Stern Peter , Osborne Ian S. , Vignieri Sacha , Olingy Claire
Published: October 2023

Highlights from the
Science
family of journals
Genome sequence of the virulent
Aeromonas salmonicida
atypical strain T30 isolated from sablefish with furunculosis
Authors: Ma Jie , Myrsell Veronica L. , Dietrich Joseph , Cain Kenneth D.
Published: October 2023

Aeromonas salmonicida
, a Gram-negative bacterium, causes the disease furunculosis in multiple fish species. We present the complete genome sequence of the atypical
A. salmonicida
strain T30, which was isolated from furunculosis in sablefish in Manchester, WA, USA. Analyzing this genome will help to identify the bacterium’s role in marine aquaculture.
Reference genome assembly and annotation of two
Bacillus cereus sensu lato
strains from Etosha National Park, Namibia
Authors: Orr Russell J. S. , Brynildsrud Ola B. , Abdelli Mehdi , Ramisse Vincent , Dybwad Marius
Published: October 2023

Bacillus cereus sensu lato
(
s.l
.) poses health and security issues. Here, we report the reference genome assembly of two
Bacillus cereus s.l
. strains, isolated from Etosha National Park, Namibia (FFI_BCgr36 and FFI_BCgr46). These unique genomes open for better understanding of environmental diversity and improvements in detection of threatening species.
Synergistic metabolism of salivary MUC5B in oral commensal bacteria during early biofilm formation
Authors: Robertsson Carolina , Svensäter Gunnel , Davies Julia R. , Bay Nord Anders , Malmodin Daniel , Wickström Claes
Published: October 2023

Bacterial metabolism in oral biofilms is comprised of complex networks of nutritional chains and biochemical regulations. These processes involve both intraspecies and interspecies networks as well as interactions with components from host saliva, gingival crevicular fluid, and dietary intake. In a previous paper, a large salivary glycoprotein, mucin MUC5B, was suggested to promote a dental health-related phenotype in the oral type strain of
Streptococcus gordonii
DL1, by regulating bacterial adhesion and protein expression. In this study, nuclear magnetic resonance-based metabolomics was used to examine the effects on the metabolic output of monospecies compared to dual species early biofilms of two clinical strains of oral commensal bacteria,
S. gordonii
and
Actinomyces naeslundii
, in the presence of MUC5B. The presence of
S. gordonii
increased colonization of
A. naeslundii
on salivary MUC5B, and both commensals were able to utilize MUC5B as a sole nutrient source during early biofilm formation. The metabolomes suggested that the bacteria were able to release mucin carbohydrates from oligosaccharide side chains as well as amino acids from the protein core. Synergistic effects were also seen in the dual species biofilm metabolome compared to the monospecies, indicating that
A. naeslundii
and
S. gordonii
cooperated in the degradation of salivary MUC5B. A better understanding of bacterial interactions and salivary-mediated regulation of early dental biofilm activity is meaningful for understanding oral biofilm physiology and may contribute to the development of future prevention strategies for biofilm-induced oral disease.

IMPORTANCE

The study of bacterial interactions and salivary-mediated regulation of early dental biofilm activity is of interest for understanding oral microbial adaptation to environmental cues and biofilm maturation. Findings in oral commensals can prove useful from the perspectives of both oral and systemic health of the host, as well as the understanding of general microbial biofilm physiology. The knowledge may provide a basis for the development of prognostic biomarkers, or development of new treatment strategies, related to oral health and disease and possibly also to other biofilm-induced conditions. The study is also an important step toward developing the methodology for similar studies in other species and/or growth conditions.
An Improved Algorithm for The
k
-Dyck Edit Distance Problem
Authors: Fried Dvir , Golan Shay , Kociumaka Tomasz , Kopelowitz Tsvi , Porat Ely , Starikovskaya Tatiana
Published: October 2023

A
Dyck
sequence is a sequence of opening and closing parentheses (of various types) that is balanced. The
Dyck
edit distance of a given sequence of parentheses
S
is the smallest number of edit operations (insertions, deletions, and substitutions) needed to transform
S
into a
Dyck
sequence. We consider the threshold
Dyck
edit distance problem, where the input is a sequence of parentheses
S
and a positive integer
k
, and the goal is to compute the
Dyck
edit distance of
S
only if the distance is at most
k
, and otherwise report that the distance is larger than
k
. Backurs and Onak [PODS’16] showed that the threshold
Dyck
edit distance problem can be solved in
O
(
n
+
k
16
) time.

In this work, we design new algorithms for the threshold
Dyck
edit distance problem which costs
O
(
n
+
k
4.544184
) time with high probability or
O
(
n
+
k
4.853059
) deterministically. Our algorithms combine several new structural properties of the
Dyck
edit distance problem, a refined algorithm for fast (min, +) matrix product, and a careful modification of ideas used in Valiant’s parsing algorithm.
Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 affects vasopressin-mediated AQP2 expression in collecting duct cells of the kidney
Authors: Jang Hyo-Ju , Park Euijung , Jung Hyun Jun , Kwon Tae-Hwan
Published: October 2023

The poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) family catalyzes poly(ADP-ribosylation) (PARylation), which is one of the posttranslational modifications of largely undetermined physiological significance. This study investigated the role of PARP-1, the most prevalent member of the PARP family, in the vasopressin-responsive expression of aquaporin-2 (AQP2). The results demonstrated that PARP-1 protein expression itself, and not PARP-1-mediated PARylation, is necessary for dDAVP-regulated AQP2 expression. β-Catenin, which is phosphorylated at Ser552 by dDAVP, was identified as the PARP-1-interacting protein.
Performance of Six Genetically Diverse Phylloxera Strains on 5C Teleki (V. berlandieri × V. riparia) Rootstock
Authors: Clarke C. W. , Henneken J. , Carmody B. M. , Cunningham J. P.
Published: October 2023

Background and Aims. Grapevine phylloxera, Daktulosphaira vitifoliae (Fitch), feeds on roots and leaves of Vitis spp. Susceptibility to phylloxera differs among rootstocks, such that Vitis spp. grafted onto resistant rootstocks can safeguard vineyards from phylloxera-induced damage in the long term. Diverse phylloxera genetic strains, however, vary in their ability to survive on different rootstocks. The 5C Teleki rootstock (V. berlandieri × V. riparia) is widely planted worldwide, but its resistance to phylloxera has not been characterised against the genetically diverse phylloxera strains present in Australia. Methods and Results. 5C Teleki roots and Vitis vinifera L. (positive control), either excised in Petri dishes or planted as whole plants in pots, were inoculated with eggs of six phylloxera strains (G1, G4, G19, G20, G30, and G38). On excised roots, G19, G20, G30, and G38 phylloxera survived to reproductive adults. The G1 and G4 phylloxera did not survive past the first instar stage. In potted vines, G4, G19, G20, G30, and G38 phylloxera strains induced nodosities on roots, but adults were only found on roots inoculated with G19 and G20 phylloxera strains. Conclusions. Results showed that 5C Teleki is resistant to the G1 phylloxera and susceptible to G19 strains. Performance of G4, G20, G30, and G38 differs depending on the assay used. 5C Teleki is likely tolerant of these strains. Significance of the study: the 5C Teleki rootstock is resistant to the G1 phylloxera strain but likely tolerant of others present in Australia. This implies that the rootstock can still host a population of phylloxera, and strict farm-gate hygiene should be employed to stop spread among vineyards and regions.
Density Functional Theory Simulation of Optical and Photovoltaic Properties of DRTB-T Donor-Based Organic Solar Cells
Authors: Setsoafia Daniel Dodzi Yao , Ram Kiran Sreedhar , Mehdizadeh-Rad Hooman , Ompong David , Singh Jai
Published: October 2023

Using the density functional theory (DFT), the influence of substitution of electron-donating (OCH3 and OH) and electron-accepting (F and Cl) groups on the peripheral thiophene units of DRTB-T donor molecule is studied. By optimizing the geometric structure, HOMO and LUMO energies, reorganization energies, optical properties, and photovoltaic properties are simulated. It is found that the ionization potential of the electron-donating derivatives (DRTB-4OCH3 and DRTB-4OH) reduces, but it increases for the electron-accepting derivatives (DRTB-4F and DRTB-4Cl) in comparison with that of DRTB-T. It is also found that the absorption spectra of the electron-donating derivatives (DRTB-4OCH3 and DRTB-4OH) get redshifted, but these get blue shifted for the electron-accepting derivatives (DRTB-4F and DRTB-4Cl) in comparison with those of DRTB-T. These changes in the electronic and optical properties of the modified structures result in higher PCE in BHJ OSCs with the blended active layer of DRTB-4F: NITI, DRTB-4Cl: NITI, in comparison with that of OSC with the active layer of DRTB-T: NITI and the highest being 15.0% in DRTB-4Cl: NITI. Our results may be expected to provide valuable insights into design optimization, leading to the fabrication of more efficient OSCs.
Inhaled Corticosteroid Exposure and Risk of Cataract in Patients with Asthma and COPD: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Savran Osman , Suppli Ulrik Charlotte
Published: October 2023

Purpose. Both systemic and inhaled corticosteroids may increase the risk of cataract in patients with both chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. Our aim was to assess the degree of association between cataract and corticosteroid exposure in patients with asthma and COPD. Methods. A systematic literature review and meta‐analysis was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐analyses guidelines. The odds ratio estimates were extracted from each article. A random effects model was applied for estimate pooling in separate meta‐analyses according to study design. Meta‐regression was performed to assess the dose‐response relationship between corticosteroid exposure and the risk of cataract development. Results. A total of 19 studies met the criteria for inclusion in this review, of which 12 studies provided effect estimates for pooled analyses. All but one of the included observational studies reported a significant association between use of corticosteroids and cataract development in cohorts of asthma and/or COPD patients. Pooled analyses revealed on average a doubled risk of cataract in corticosteroid‐exposed asthma and COPD patients. Studies have shown that daily high‐dose inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) ≥ 1000 μg is associated with a significant risk of developing cataract and by that predispose to subsequent cataract surgery, although one study showed that systemic corticosteroids increase cataract risk more than ICS. Conclusion. ICS treatment in asthma and COPD patients is a risk factor for cataract development. Our results emphasize a previously underestimated potential long‐term risk of treatment with ICS and underline the importance of targeting ICS treatment, and not least dosing, to improve the risk‐benefit ratio of maintenance treatment in both asthma and COPD.
Genetic Profile of FOXO3 Single-Nucleotide Polymorphism in Colorectal Cancer Patients
Authors: Uroog Laraib , Rahmani Arshad Husain , Alsahli Mohammed A. , Almatroodi Saleh A. , Wani Rauf Ahmad , Rizvi M. Moshahid Alam
Published: October 2023

Introduction: Colorectal cancer (CRC) heritability is determined by the composite relations between inherited variants and environmental factors. In developing countries like India, the incidence rates of CRC are especially increasing. In this study, we have focused on the distribution of the FOXO3 gene polymorphisms among the patients with CRC in North India. Methods: A case-control study was conducted on 487 CRC patients and 487 age-matched controls. We genotyped single-nucleotide polymorphisms rs2253310 and rs4946936 through polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis and PCR-single-stranded conformation polymorphism procedure followed by sequence detection. Results: A significantly increased risk of CRC was observed for the CC genotype of the rs4946936 polymorphism compared to the TT genotype (p = 0.02; odd ratio [OR] = 1.40, confidence interval [CI] = 1.05–1.87). GT haplotype appeared to be a “risk” haplotype (OR = 1.71, 95% CI = 0.82–2.19), while as other haplotypes CC (OR = 0.83, 95% CI = 0.32–1.54), CT (OR = 0.75, 95% CI = 0.25–1.01), and GC (OR = 0.98, 95% CI = 0.88–1.14) were found to be “protective” for developing CRC. Conclusion: This study suggests an association of increased risk of CRC with the rs4946936 polymorphism but not with the rs2253310 polymorphism.
A Canary Alive: What Cheating Reveals about Morality and Its Development
Authors: Dahl Audun , Waltzer Tal
Published: October 2023

Reports of academic cheating trigger fears of moral decay. Cheating looks like a dying canary in the coal mine of morality. But this diagnosis assumes that those who cheat lack, or turn off, any genuine moral concerns with honesty and integrity. This article proposes an alternative perspective on cheating and dishonesty. We propose that cheating results from (1) misperceptions of what constitutes cheating, (2) evaluations that cheating or lying is okay under exceptional circumstances, and (3) prioritization of non-integrity concerns during conflict. Each of these three steps – perceptions, evaluations, and action selections – varies across situations and developments. From this perspective, decisions about cheating engage, rather than disengage, morality. Far from revealing a dying canary, the psychology of cheating illustrates how morality pervades decision-making.
Clinicopathological Features and Survival Trends of Non-Epithelial Ovarian Cancer: Analysis of the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Database
Authors: Zhang Chunxiao , Xi Xiaowei
Published: October 2023

Introduction: Owing to their low incidence, no reliable statistics about prognostication derived from large sample sizes have been reported of malignant ovarian germ cell tumors (MOGCTs) and sex cord-stromal tumors (SCSTs). The present study aimed to investigate the clinicopathological prognostic factors and the survival trends of MOGCTs and SCSTs. Materials and Methods: Patients with MOGCTs and SCSTs were recorded in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database diagnosed between 2000 and 2019. Clinical, demographic, and treatment characteristics were compared between groups of MOGCTs and SCSTs. Cox risk regression analysis and Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used to compare overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) and to assess the prognostic factors. Results: Information about 2,506 patients with MOGCTs and 1,556 patients with SCSTs was extracted from the SEER database, respectively. Aged <40 years and single were more common in patients with MOGCTs than in those with SCSTs. The vast majority of patients with MOGCTs and SCSTs underwent surgery (98.1% vs. 94.5%; p < 0.001), and women with MOGCTs were more likely to receive chemotherapy than women with SCSTs (56.1% vs. 32.2%; p < 0.001). For both patients before and after propensity-score matching, the 5-year OS rates of patients with SCSTs were lower than those of patients with MOGCTs (p < 0.05). In multivariate Cox regression analysis, both age and surgery were independent predictors of OS in patients with MOGCTs and SCSTs. FIGO staging was an independent predictor of CSS in MOGCT patients. Tumor size and chemotherapy were also independent predictors of CSS in patients with SCSTs. Conclusion: Compared to patients with SCSTs, those with MOGCTs tended to be younger and had a higher OS and CSS. Adjuvant chemotherapy after surgery did not prolong OS and CSS in patients with SCSTs.
Association of NOTCH3 With Elastic Fiber Dispersion in the Infrarenal Abdominal Aorta of Cynomolgus Monkeys
Authors: Ito Sohei , Amioka Naofumi , Franklin Michael K. , Wang Pengjun , Liang Ching-Ling , Katsumata Yuriko , Cai Lei , Temel Ryan E. , Daugherty Alan , Lu Hong S. , Sawada Hisashi
Published: October 2023

BACKGROUND:

The regional heterogeneity of vascular components and transcriptomes is an important determinant of aortic biology. This notion has been explored in multiple mouse studies. In the present study, we examined the regional heterogeneity of aortas in nonhuman primates.

METHODS:

Aortic samples were harvested from the ascending, descending thoracic, suprarenal, and infrarenal regions of young control monkeys and adult monkeys with high fructose consumption for 3 years. The regional heterogeneity of aortic structure and transcriptomes was examined by histological and bulk RNA sequencing analyses, respectively.

RESULTS:

Immunostaining of CD31 and αSMA (alpha-smooth muscle actin) revealed that endothelial and smooth muscle cells were distributed homogeneously across the aortic regions. In contrast, elastic fibers were less abundant and dispersed in the infrarenal aorta compared with other regions and associated with collagen deposition. Bulk RNA sequencing identified a distinct transcriptome related to the Notch signaling pathway in the infrarenal aorta with significantly increased
NOTCH3
mRNA compared with other regions. Immunostaining revealed that NOTCH3 protein was increased in the media of the infrarenal aorta. The abundance of medial NOTCH3 was positively correlated with the dispersion of elastic fibers. Adult cynomolgus monkeys with high fructose consumption displayed vascular wall remodeling, such as smooth muscle cell loss and elastic fiber disruption, predominantly in the infrarenal region. The correlation between NOTCH3 and elastic fiber dispersion was enhanced in these monkeys.

CONCLUSIONS:

Aortas of young cynomolgus monkeys display regional heterogeneity of their transcriptome and the structure of elastin and collagens. Elastic fibers in the infrarenal aorta are dispersed along with upregulation of medial NOTCH3.
The larva of Microptila orienthula Kjærandsen & Ito (Trichoptera, Hydroptilidae), with a description of its microhabitat in Japan
Authors: ITO TOMIKO
Published: October 2023

The final instar larva, case, and microhabitat of the East Palearctic caddisfly species Microptila orienthula Kjærandsen & Ito 2009 (Trichoptera, Hydroptilidae) are described from Japan. The laterally compressed larva occurs in small plant tufts (primarily mosses and liverworts) in hygropetric habitats.
Cultivating cultural capital and transforming cultural fields: A study with arts and disability organisations in Europe
Authors: Leahy Ann , Ferri Delia
Published: October 2023

This article critically discusses participation by people with disabilities in the arts, drawing on Pierre Bourdieu’s concept of cultural capital. It is informed by a qualitative study with representatives of organisations working on arts and disability in 22 European countries. The article highlights that experiences of inequality at various levels, including within education systems, and medicalised understandings of what disability is, continue to hamper arts participation and development of cultural capital by people with disabilities. A Bourdieusian analysis unveils how organisations working on arts and disability consciously engage in ‘high’ arts practices as an expression of distinction and in a way that is designed to reframe what is culturally valued within their fields. It also demonstrates the continued relevance of Bourdieu’s theorising of cultural capital and of arts practices as distinction for potentially marginalised groups. Furthermore, participants often linked arts participation involving high artistic standards to potential change in how societies understand and relate to disability, connecting cultural practices and political struggles.
Exploration and application of microbial method to enhance the effect of hydraulic fracturing on coal seam permeability enhancement and gas extraction
Authors: Ma Shoulong , Zong Qi
Published: October 2023

The efficient extraction of gas from low-permeability coal seams is an urgent problem in coal mine safety production. The traditional gas extraction technology generally suffers from problems that limited penetration enhancement or extraction effect, low construction efficiency, large workload, etc. Thus, it is especially urgent and important to explore the new technology applicable to efficient underground gas extraction. In this paper, based on the principle of hydraulic fracturing to increase permeability, we innovatively propose a technique to enhance the effect of hydraulic fracturing to increase permeability and further improve the efficiency of gas extraction using the gas desorption activity of native microorganisms in coal seams. Herein, the composition of the primary microbial community of a coal seam in Xinji No.2 mine was analyzed by bacterial and archaeal 16SrDNA amplicon sequencing, the community structure of the main functional microorganisms was clarified, the optimal combination of functional microorganisms for organic matter degradation in coal seam under anaerobic culture conditions was obtained. Besides the Biolog microplate technology was used to screen the nutrients of the excitation carbon source to stimulate the rapid decomposition of coal organic matter by microorganisms and to define the optimal ratio of the excitation carbon source to microorganisms. Finally, the effect of this technology on the application of coal seam fracturing and gas extraction was tested through field industrial tests, revealing that the extraction effect of this technology was more significant than that of the common coal seam perforation extraction technology. The results of this paper provide a new technical idea for gas extraction from low permeability coal seams, which is an important reference value for subsequent similar studies.
Performance analysis of evacuated tubes with thermosyphon heat pipe solar collector integrated with compound parabolic concentrator under different operating conditions
Authors: Govindasamy Kumaresan , Palanivel Vijayakumar , Meena Radhey Shyam , Muthusamy Suresh , Panchal Hitesh , Shah Mohd. Asif , Siddiqui Md Irfanul Haque
Published: October 2023

The present work experimentally evaluated the performance of a solar collector comprised evacuated tube heat pipe (ETHP) coupled with a compound parabolic concentrator at different tilt angles. Therefore, experiments have been conducted in the climate conditions of Tamil Nadu (77.07° E,11.04° N), India, from April 15, 2019, to May 20, 2019. The objective of the work is to explore the effect of a tilting angle on the performance of an evacuated tube solar collector with a thermosyphon attached to the compound parabolic concentrator. The CPC is designed with an aperture width of 343 mm, concentration ratio of 2.32, and aperture angle of 25.4°, improving the solar collector efficiency with the help of MATLAB Programming, which gets Coordinate points based on these coordinate points. CPC Profile is fabricated. The Thermosyphon heat pipe is constructed with a Copper tube having a 19 mm diameter with 40% Acetone charged. The experiments were conducted by varying the tilting angles of the solar collector at 15°, 30°, 45°, and 60° horizontal. The heat resistance and instantaneous efficiency of the solar collector are studied in this study. The result reveals a minimum thermal resistance of 0.02 kW−1, and a maximum efficiency of 78% was recorded at a 45° tilting angle.
Measuring Nurses’ Organizational Well-Being: A Systematic Review of Available Instruments
Authors: Gioiello Giovanni , Zaghini Francesco , Della Bella Valerio , Fiorini Jacopo , Sili Alessandro
Published: October 2023

This systematic review aimed to identify and compare instruments measuring nurses’ organizational well-being, summarise the dimensions measured by these instruments, the statistical analysis performed for validity evidence and identify an instrument that comprehensively investigates nurses’ organizational well-being. The JBI Manual for Evidence Synthesis and the PRISMA checklist were used as guidelines. The search was conducted on Medline, CINAHL, Cochrane Library and Scopus. Critical appraisal and data extraction were drawn on the COSMIN checklist. Dimensions were conceptually synthesized by the measurement concepts' similarity. Twenty-two articles were retrieved and they included 21 instruments that measured nurses’ organizational well-being. The instruments vary by dimension number (range 2–19), items (range 12–118) and concept elicitation. A plurality of methodologies has been used in instrument development and assessments of evidence for validity. Only four instruments reported a concurrent criterion validity or a measurement comparison with an already tested-for-validity instrument. Similar dimensions were leadership and support, relationships and communication, work-family balance, work demands, violence, control and autonomy, satisfaction and motivation, work environment and resources, careers, and organizational policy. This review underlines the core areas of the instruments that measure nursing organizational well-being. It allows administrators and researchers to choose the appropriate instruments for monitoring this multidimensional concept.
State capacity and the ‘value’ of sustainable finance: Understanding the state-mediated rent and value production through the Seychelles Blue Bonds
Authors: Christiansen Jens
Published: October 2023

Financial capital is currently being heralded for its potential to provide social and environmental transformations. This paper provides an in-depth case study of the Seychelles Blue Bond, highlighting the state’s (fiscal and planning) capacities as central in mediating the future rents and value production when channelling thematic bond proceeds. Even as the Blue Bonds tapped into private capital markets and bond proceeds were intended to provide leverage for private businesses, this operation was contingent on complex economic and environmental planning by the state. Using literature on fictitious capital, rent and the role of the state in governing natural resources, this paper shows how the state needed to govern investment flows and its environmental conditions simultaneously in the case of the Seychelles Blue Bonds. By examining how the state tries to govern environments and finance in tandem, this paper contributes to geographical research on public fiscal policy, financialisation and environmental governance.
‘I probably wouldn’t want to talk about anything too personal’: A qualitative exploration of how issues of privacy, confidentiality and surveillance in the home impact on access and engagement with online services and spaces for care-experienced young people
Authors: Stabler Lorna , Cunningham Emily , Mannay Dawn , Boffey Maria , Cummings Aimee , Davies Brittany , Wooders Charlotte , Vaughan Rachael , Evans Rhiannon
Published: October 2023

This paper draws on a qualitative interview-based study that explored online mental health and wellbeing interventions and services for care-experienced young people. The study involved young people ( n = 4), foster carers ( n = 8), kinship carers ( n = 2) and social care professionals ( n = 9) in Wales, UK. The paper reflects on the complexities of online communication in the space of ‘the home’. It documents the ways in which care-experienced young people’s living arrangements can restrict access to services and complicate confidentiality within portals to the virtual world, creating an environment where young people and their carers ‘wouldn’t want to talk about anything too personal’. Drawing on data generated in a study focused on services and interventions to support the mental health and wellbeing of care-experienced children and young people, the paper considers privacy, confidentiality and surveillance in the home and reflects on how associated relational practices impact on care-experienced young people. While the data discussed in this paper was generated during the Covid-19 pandemic, its findings have implications for how care-experienced young people and their carers can be supported to engage with the digital world in the future.
Acceleration response of part-screw pile composite foundation under long-term train load excitation
Authors: Guan Wei , Wu Honggang , Pai Lifang , Ma Zhigang , Feng Kang
Published: October 2023

This paper investigates the vibration response of a new part-screw pile composite foundation under moving train loads via a model test method. Based on the acceleration signals of the pile and the surrounding soil, a non-linear fitting method is used to establish the relationship between the dynamic attenuation coefficient and the depth of the foundation. Next, the effect of spatial location and train speed on the pile-soil dynamic interaction is investigated by introducing the pile-soil spectral amplitude ratio [Formula: see text]. In addition, the dynamic susceptibility of the part-screw pile to damage under dynamic train loads is revealed with a wavelet packet energy distribution index E DIS. Afterwards, the cumulative deformation evolution characteristics of screw pile composite foundations under long-term train loading were revealed using the frequency domain integration method. The results of this work reveal that the faster the train runs, the larger the pile-soil spectrum amplitude ratio and the more prominent the ‘dynamic concentration effect’ of the part-screw pile. The change in cross-section of the part-screw pile results in a sudden change in the vibration energy transmitted from the top of the pile, which makes the variable section of the part-screw pile more likely to cause dynamic damage or even deformation. The cumulative deformation evolution process of soil between part-screw piles under long-term cyclic train loading can be divided into three stages: slow change period, fluctuation rising period and stable deformation period. The research results have important reference significance for the optimization design of high-speed railway part-screw pile composite foundation and the planning of railway running speed.