bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Introduction
Authors: Hallmannsecker Martin , Heller Anna
Published: December 2024

This introduction starts with a brief review of the previous scholarship on the Imperial-era poleis, which has been rather neglected until recently due to a stronger focus on the Archaic and Classical periods of Greek history, on the one hand, and on Roman institutions and (military) history, on the other. The introduction then provides an overview of the chapters of the handbook, which is organized in six sections: Sources and Methods; Civic Institutions; Local Politics; Civic Societies; Religion and Culture; Cities and Regions. The introduction is rounded off by a summary of the crucial historical issues and scholarly debates reflected therein, including identity, Greekness, Romanization, oligarchization, and the more general changes in the Greek cities brought about by their integration into the Roman Empire.
Before ‘Agro-pastoralism’? A Review of Early and Middle Holocene Human Settlement of the Western Himalaya-Hindu Kush and Pamir-Alay Ranges
Authors: Spate Michael
Published: December 2024

Archaeological, botanical, and faunal data from across the Inner Asian Mountains have revealed a range of agricultural and pastoral adaptations to environments previously perceived as marginal zones, possibly dating as early as 5000 years BP. Less understood is the period between the beginning of the Holocene and the development of agro-pastoralism in the region. This chapter reviews the available archaeological data from the mountainous areas of Central Asia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and northern India and considers patterns of human adaptation across the region. The implications of these data in relation to the long-term development of social-ecological systems are described, and potential areas for future research are discussed.
The Dravidian Languages
Authors: Kolichala Suresh
Published: December 2024

This chapter provides an overview of Dravidian languages, primarily spoken by millions of people in South Asia. The four major literary languages within the Dravidian language family are Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil, and Telugu, the official languages of five southern states in India. The chapter examines the pioneering studies in historical and comparative linguistics in correlation with findings from archaeology, computational linguistics, and population genetics. The origins of the Dravidian languages and people are shrouded in mystery, but evidence from recent population genetic research, archaeology and computational linguistic studies has unearthed observations of the geographical spread of the languages. The chapter also discusses the phonology and phonotactics of Proto-Dravidian languages alongside the morphology and syntax of Dravidian languages.
Authoritarian Regimes in Central America
Authors: Lehoucq Fabrice
Published: December 2024

This brief chapter sketches the development of three types of electoral authoritarianism in Central America since 1900. If oligarchic regimes were the least common, personalist dictatorships were the most common, followed by military-dominated electoral autocracies. Each was the outcome of a struggle for control over the executive; electoral autocracies persisted because oligarchs and officers, being small in number, swiftly organized to keep regimes closed. Despite the existence of widespread suffrage rights, controlled or less than competitive elections allowed governments to favor a reactionary coalition of agro-exporters and military officers. Civil war ended dictatorship by the last decades of the twentieth century. Even if transitions led to competitive elections, new regimes have not discarded authoritarian practices and devices. Public disenchantment with the meager results of uneven democratization has catalyzed democratic backsliding. Several presidents have dismantled democratic checks and balances to refashion the personalism of the past.
Digital Constitutionalism in Asia
Authors: Miyashita Hiroshi
Published: December 2024

Digital constitutionalism in Asia varies due to diverse cultural backgrounds. While this chapter provides non-Western approach towards digital constitutionalism, recent Asian policy documents regarding artificial intelligence converged in the human-centric notion of law in the EU and the US. Some Asian constitutional systems face the challenges of redefining the power balance among the government, the digital platforms, and an individual without prior experience in the dynamics of modern state–individual relationships. The socialist constitutionalism of China has its own unique systems such as online censorship, social score systems, and data localization, which led to a dilution of its digital authoritarianism by the constitutional influence by the Western countries. Most Asian constitutional practices generally lie between the strong free speech tradition in the US and stringent data protection in the EU. This chapter covers the freedom of expression, data privacy, and data transfer in the digital arena from diverse Asian perspectives and describes how Western constitutional practices shape Asian constitutional norms in the digital era.
Paying It Forward
Authors: Simmons Staci A.
Published: December 2024

As nurses experience higher work demands, finding the time and resources to complete continuing education activities can be challenging. In this innovative activity, baccalaureate nursing students offered a potential solution by developing educational posters for their clinical partners. Bridging theory and practice, this approach enhanced relationships between students and bedside nurses, promoted collaborative learning, and fostered knowledge exchange within the clinical setting. The result was mutually beneficial; professional nurses acquired valuable continuing education credits while students gained knowledge and experience.
Increasing Graduate Student Awareness of Cultural Competence Through Bias Exploration Related to Diverse Cultural Families
Authors: Airth-Kindree Norah M. M. , Stephens Stacey L. , Sperl Jennifer , Collins Chelsea
Published: December 2024

Abstract

Emphasis by the American Nurses Association and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing regarding the importance of cultural competence in nursing education led to the development of a strategy to address personal bias in graduate nursing students. With the updated Essentials and a change to competency-based education, a need to address culturally congruent practices while increasing awareness of professional organization recommendations exists. Since Domain 2 of the Essentials highlights that culturally competent care is essential to person-centered care, a strategy that enhances knowledge by expanding the definition of culture beyond ethnicity and race was developed.
Guiding Graduate Student Recognition of Implicit Bias Using Interactive Simulation
Authors: Hemphill Jean Croce
Published: December 2024

Assisting graduate nursing students to recognize implicit bias and racism is imperative when providing health care with culturally diverse groups. The article describes an interactive simulation between graduate students and a standardized patient designed to raise awareness of implicit bias and racism. Students in the Doctor of Nursing Practice and PhD programs participated in interviews with a standardized patient; in team interactions; in content analysis of simulated communications; and in reflection, debriefing, and evaluation sessions. Self-awareness education may help reduce health disparities within disparate racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, or undocumented peoples.
Measuring Scholarly Practice in Respiratory Therapists: The Development and Initial Validation of a Scholarly Practice Tool
Authors: Zaccagnini Marco , Bussières André , Nugus Peter , West Andrew , Thomas Aliki
Published: December 2024

Introduction:

Respiratory therapists (RTs) must apply competencies to address the health care needs of the public. Although all competencies are deemed essential, scholarly practice requires that professionals critically assess their practices, integrate evidence-based literature, and enhance the care they deliver to patients. Though scholarly practice is also associated with professional empowerment, role satisfaction, and improved patient care, it is rarely measured. The purpose of this study was to develop, pilot, and generate preliminary validity evidence of a tool designed to measure scholarly practice among RTs.

Methods:

We used DeVellis' nine-step scale development process and exploratory factor analysis to develop the tool. The results of a scoping review and qualitative study were used to generate an item pool and pilot test it with 81 RTs across Canada. The refined tool was tested on a larger sample (n = 832) and analyzed using exploratory factor analysis.

Results:

Using principal axis factoring with Promax rotation, we retained 18 items across 4 factors, explaining 56.7% of the variance in the data (31.7%, 10.2%, 8.6%, 6.2%): (Factor 1) professional development and credibility, (Factor 2) elements supporting scholarly practice, (Factor 3) the perceived impact of scholarly activities on practice, and (Factor 4) scholarly practitioner identity and ability. Internal consistency of the final 18-item scale was suitable overall (Cronbach alpha = 0.879) and for each factor (F1 = 0.888; F2 = 0.774; F3 = 0.842; F4 = 0.746).

Discussion:

Our results provide preliminary evidence for a scholarly practice tool that can encourage self-reflection and/or foster peer-based reflection. Using the tool with other health care professionals and conducting confirmatory factor analysis could generate additional validity evidence.
Simulation-Based Learning About Care of People With Disabilities
Authors: Carman Luke , Lim Fidelindo
Published: December 2024

Background:

An estimated 44.1 million US citizens are living with disabilities. People with disabilities are at higher risk for health problems, affecting their overall quality of life and care experience. Simulation-based learning (SBL) enables students to apply cognitive, affective, and psychomotor competencies through simulated experiential activities in realistic environments. Research is limited on the integration of disability into SBL nursing education.

Aim:

To appraise and synthesize extant literature on the integration of disability in SBL in prelicensure nursing programs.

Methods:

This review identified and synthesized 18 research articles describing the implementation of disability SBL in prelicensure nursing programs.

Results:

Four themes were identified substantiating the importance of integrating disability into SBL: knowledge and understanding, communication confidence, empathy, and enlightened attitudes.

Conclusions:

Disability SBL strategies are integral to achieving learning outcomes related to patient-centered care. Large well-designed studies are needed to measure its effectiveness.
Cumulative HIV viral load and lower CD4 cell count are associated with incident venous thromboembolism in people with HIV
Authors: Ruderman Stephanie A. , Nance Robin M. , Crane Heidi M. , Cachay Edward , Kitahata Mari M. , Napravnik Sonia , Whitney Bridget M. , Heckbert Susan R. , Attia Engi F. , Longenecker Chris T. , Hoffmann Alexander P. , Budoff Matthew J. , Ma Jimmy , Christopoulos Katerina , Hunt Peter W. , Moore Richard D. , Keruly Jeanne C. , Burkholder Greer , Bamford Laura , Willig Amanda L. , Chander Geetanjali , Saag Michael S. , Drumright Lydia N. , Feinstein Matthew J. , Crothers Kristina , Delaney Joseph AC.
Published: December 2024

Background:

People with HIV (PWH) have benefited greatly from antiretroviral therapy, but face additional challenges from age-related comorbid conditions, particularly cardiovascular disease including venous thromboembolism (VTE). Little is known about the effect of HIV viremia and immunodeficiency on VTE risk in this population.

Methods:

We assessed incident, centrally adjudicated VTE among 21,507 PWH in care between 1/2009–12/2019 within the Centers for AIDS Research Network of Integrated Clinical Systems (CNICS) cohort. We examined the association of three measures of HIV viral load (VL: baseline, current, cumulative) and current CD4 count with VTE. Cumulative VL (copy-days of viremia) was estimated with a time-weighted sum using the trapezoidal rule. We modeled the association between VL and VTE using Cox proportional hazards models (marginal structural Cox models for cumulative), adjusted for demographic and clinical characteristics. We compared the 75th percentile of the VL distribution with the 25th percentile using the hazard function from the model for all PWH with a VTE and those with a pulmonary embolism (PE).

Results:

During a median of 4.8 years of follow-up, 424 PWH developed VTE. In adjusted analyses, higher cumulative VL (75th percentile vs. 25th percentile), the strongest VL predictor, was associated with a 1.45-fold higher risk of VTE (95%CI:1.22–1.72). Low CD4 cell count <100 cells/mm3 was associated with higher VTE risk (HR: 4.03, 95%CI: 2.76–5.89) as compared to ≥500 cells/mm3. Findings were similar for PWH who had a pulmonary embolism (n = 189).

Conclusions:

Reducing HIV VL and maintaining CD4 cell count may help mitigate VTE risk in PWH.
Employing Simulated Participants to Develop Communication Skills in Medical Education
Authors: Linder Ute , Hartmann Lilly , Schatz Monika , Hetjens Svetlana , Pechlivanidou Ioanna , Kaden Jens J.
Published: December 2024

Summary Statement

Simulated participants (SPs) are often employed to teach communication skills in medical education. Although there is a large number of qualitative and/or noncomparative studies in this field, there is no current evidence for the effectiveness of this teaching method based on quantitative comparative meta-data. The aim of this review was to evaluate the effectiveness of SP-based teaching on patient-centered communication skills in medical education compared with traditional teaching formats such as lecture or peer role play focusing on quantitative and comparative data. According to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis guidelines, we searched MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and ERIC databases for relevant studies published through February 2023. We also conducted hand searches and ancestry searches. Of the 8523 publications identified, 21 studies with 2500 participants and a Medical Education Research Study Quality Instrument score of 13.7 (SD = 1.3, N = 21) were included in the synthesis. Ten studies were eligible for meta-analysis. The pooled effect for communication skills outcomes suggests a medium effect preferring SP-based teaching to traditional teaching formats (standardized mean difference = 0.74, 95% confidence interval = 0.37 to 1.11, I
2 = 95%, n = 2061). The heterogeneity is high among the analyzed studies. Further analysis reveals great differences among the studies' characteristics (population, objectives, interventions, control group settings, and outcome measurements).
Dinosaur palaeoneurology: an evolving science
Authors: Balanoff Amy M.
Published: December 2024

Our fascination with dinosaur brains and their capabilities essentially began with the first dinosaur discovery. The history of this study is a useful reflection of palaeoneurology as a whole and its relationship to a more inclusive evolutionary neuroscience. I argue that this relationship is imbued with high heuristic potential, but one whose realization requires overcoming certain constraints. These constraints include the need for a stable phylogenetic framework, methods for efficient and precise endocast construction, and fossil researchers who are steeped in a neuroscience perspective. The progress that has already been made in these areas sets the stage for a more mature palaeoneurology—not only one capable of being informed by neuroscience discoveries but one that drives such discoveries. I draw from work on the size, shape, behavioural correlates and developmental role of the dinosaur brain to outline current advances in dinosaur palaeoneurology. My examples largely are taken from theropods and centre on questions related to the origin of birds and their unique locomotory capabilities. The hope, however, is that these exemplify the potential for study in other dinosaur groups, and for utilizing the dinosaur–bird lineage as a parallel model on a par with mammals for studying encephalization.
Passive plasticity and a sex difference in the predictability of mobility
Authors: Kelly Clint D.
Published: December 2024

Behavioural predictability describes the behavioural variability of an individual. Unpredictability can arise from many sources including non-adaptive passive plasticity in which an environmental factor acts directly on the individual to create non-adaptive phenotypic variation. In this study, I use radiotelemetry to field test the hypothesis that Cook Strait giant weta
Deinacrida rugosa
(Orthoptera: Anostostomatidae) exhibit a sex difference in the predictability of their nightly travel distance due to passive behavioural plasticity. As predicted, I found that male mobility (i.e. nightly travel distance) was less predictable than female mobility. Females travel short and predictable distances each night for food and refuges that are close by and readily available. In contrast, male travel is less predictable because they search for female mates that are stochastically dispersed across the landscape. Therefore, their travel distance can vary considerably across nights.
Nitric oxide modelling and its bioavailability influenced by red blood cells
Authors: Nayak Ananta Kumar , Canepari Marco , Das Sovan Lal , Misbah Chaouqi
Published: December 2024

Nitric oxide (NO) is an important vasodilator responsible for maintaining vascular tone in the human body. Its production in endothelial cells (ECs) is regulated by the rise of cytoplasmic Ca
2+
concentration and shear stress perceived by blood flow. The increase in cytoplasmic Ca
2+
concentration is mainly activated by adenosine triphosphate (ATP) released from red blood cells (RBCs) and ECs. However, RBCs, which act as NO scavengers, can affect the bioavailability of NO in blood vessels. In this study, we developed a model that incorporates ATP and shear stress-dependent NO production, integrating various biochemical pathways. The model results are qualitatively consistent with the experimental findings. Given that ATP concentration and shear stress vary spatially within blood circulation, influenced by factors such as vessel width, flow strength and RBC concentration, these variations can significantly affect NO bioavailability. Here, we study RBC flow, ATP release from RBCs and ECs, and

C

a

2
+

and NO dynamics in a two-dimensional channel using the immersed boundary lattice Boltzmann method. The main findings from the study include: (i) an increase in RBC concentration leads to a rise in ATP and cytoplasmic Ca
2+
concentrations for all variation in channel widths, while NO concentration exhibits a decrease; (ii) NO bioavailability is significantly influenced by RBC distribution, particularly in strongly confined channels; and (iii) two phases of NO bioavailability are observed in different regions of the blood vessels: one with a significant concentration change at low RBC concentration and another with a minimal concentration change at high RBC concentration, across all confinements. The outcomes of this study may provide valuable insights into the mechanisms of NO-dependent vasodilation and the transport of oxygen by RBCs within microvascular networks for future studies.
Growth regulation bringing modularity to morphogenesis of complex three-dimensional exoskeletons
Authors: Ito Hiroshi C. , Uchiumi Yu
Published: December 2024

Diverse three-dimensional morphologies of arthropods’ outgrowths, including beetle horns, are formed through the non-uniform growth of epidermis. Prior to moulting, epidermal tissue peels off from the old cuticle and grows non-uniformly to shape protruding structures, which are often branching, curving or twisting, from the planar epidermis. This non-uniform growth is possibly regulated by the distribution of morphogens on the epidermal cell sheet. Previous studies have identified molecules and signalling pathways related to such morphogenesis; however, how local regulation of cell sheet growth can transform planar epidermis globally into complex three-dimensional structures, such as beetle horns, remains unclear. To reveal the relationship between epidermal growth regulation and generated structures, this study theoretically examined how various shapes can be generated from planar epidermis under a deductive growth model that corresponds morphogen distributions to non-uniform growth on tissue. The results show that the heterochronic expression of multiple morphogens can flexibly fuse multiple simple shapes to generate various structures emulating complex outgrowths of beetles. These findings indicate that morphogenesis through such a mechanism may have developmental stability and modularity, providing insights into the evolution of the diverse morphology of arthropods.
Sphingomonas longa sp. nov., Sphingomonas mollis sp. nov. and Sphingomonas aurea sp. nov.: three novel Sphingomonas species isolated from soil
Authors: Kim Eo Jin , Maeng Soo Hyun , Kim Myung Kyum
Published: December 2024

Three Gram-negative, aerobic and non-motile bacterial strains, BT552T, BT553T and KR1UV-12T, were isolated from soil samples in Gwangju-si and Gangneung-si, the Republic of Korea. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that strains BT552T, BT553T and KR1UV-12T clustered to a distinct clade within the family Sphingomonadaceae (order Sphingomonadales, class Alphaproteobacteria). The strains exhibited the highest genetic similarity with representatives of the genus Sphingomonas; moreover, strains BT552T and BT553T tightly clustered with Sphingomonas melonis DAPP-PG 224T (98.2 and 98.1 %) and Sphingomonas aquatilis JSS-7T (98.1 and 98.0 %), while strain KR1UV-12T clustered with S. melonis DAPP-PG 224T (97.9%) and Sphingomonas rubra BH3T (97.8%), respectively. The major cellular fatty acids of all three strains were summed feature 8 (C18:1 ω7c/C18:1 ω6c), comprising 44.7, 46.4 and 48.5%. Additionally, their respiratory quinone is Q-10, and polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phospholipids, sphingolipid and phosphatidylcholine. They all grow well at an optimum temperature of 25 °C, at pH 7. The draft genomes of strains BT552T, BT553T and KR1UV-12T measures 4 035 561 bp, 3 941 714 bp and 3 418 792 bp, respectively, comprising 3 804 3648 and 3236 coding sequences and 50, 48 and 45 RNA genes. The average nucleotide identity analysis and digital DNA–DNA hybridization values between BT552T, BT553T and KR1UV-12T and closely related Sphingomonas species range from 72.7 to 80.2% and 19.4 to 24.3%, respectively. Based on phenotypic, genotypic and chemotaxonomic data, these three strains BT552T, BT553T and KR1UV-12T represent three novel bacterial species within the genus Sphingomonas for which the names Sphingomonas longa sp. nov. (type strain BT552T= KCTC 82094T =NBRC 114993T), Sphingomonas mollis sp. nov. (type strain BT553T =KCTC 82095T =NBRC 114994T) and Sphingomonas aurea sp. nov. (type strain KR1UV-12T = KCTC 92959T = TBRC 18506T) are proposed.
Actinomadura monticuli sp. nov., isolated from Darangshi Oreum (a volcanic cone), and the reclassification of Actinomadura glauciflava Lu et al. 2003 as a later heterotypic synonym of Actinomadura luteofluorescens (Shinobu 1962) Preobrazhenskaya et al. 1975 (Approved Lists 1980)
Authors: Lee Soon Dong , Yang Hong Lim , Kim In Seop
Published: December 2024

Two mycelium-forming actinobacterial strains, designated as DLS-47 and DLS-62T, were isolated from volcanic ash collected from the surface of a rock on the peak of Darangshi Oreum (a volcanic cone) in Jeju, Republic of Korea, and their taxonomic positions were investigated by a polyphasic approach. Both of the isolates showed growth at 20–42 °C, pH 6.0–9.0 and 0–1% (w/v) NaCl. Furthermore, DLS-47 was found to grow at 45 °C, while strain DLS-62T grew at pH 10.0 and 3% (w/v) NaCl. The 16S rRNA gene-based phylogeny showed that both of the isolates belonged to the genus Actinomadura; strain DLS-47 was most closely related to Actinomadura chokoriensis DSM 45346T (100% sequence identity), while strain DLS-62T formed a tight cluster with Actinomadura bangladeshensis DSM 45347T (99.5% sequence similarity). Morphological and chemotaxonomic characteristics supported the affiliation of the two isolates to the genus Actinomadura. Phylogenomic analysis based on 92 core gene sequences showed that both of the isolates were most closely related to A. chokoriensis DSM 45346T. Strain DLS-47 shared 100% of orthologous average nucleotide identity and digital DNA–DNA hybridization values with A. chokoriensis DSM 45346T, while strain DLS-62T showed orthologous average nucleotide identity ≤89.8% and digital DNA–DNA hybridization values ≤39.4% with strain DLS-47 and members of the genus Actinomadura. The results of phenotypic assays and comparison of overall genomic relatedness indices support the conclusion that strain DLS-47 (= KACC 23347=DSM 116423) is a strain of A. chokoriensis, while strain DLS-62T (= KACC 23345T = DSM 116424T) represents a new species of the genus Actinomadura, for which the name Actinomadura monticuli sp. nov. is proposed. Also, Actinomadura glauciflava Lu et al. 2003 is reclassified as a later heterotypic synonym of Actinomadura luteofluorescens (Shinobu 1962) Preobrazhenskaya et al. 1975 (Approved Lists 1980) based on analysis of overall genomic relatedness indices and phenotypic similarity.
The Impact of Memory and Stress on Choice Consistency
Authors: Xin Fei , Lai Jialuo , Guo Manru , Chen Qingfei , Wu Jianhui
Published: December 2024

Choice consistency is a fundamental aspect of rational decision-making, reflecting the stability and reliability of an individual’s preferences. However, real-world decision-making often deviates from this ideal, as individuals frequently make irrational or inconsistent choices in value-based decision-making. This study combined computational modeling, neuroimaging, and behavioral assessments to elucidate the mechanisms by which stress and memory affect choice consistency. Remembered items exhibited higher choice consistency compared to forgotten items. Computational modeling further indicated that the drift rate was higher, and the decision threshold lower, for remembered food items compared to forgotten ones. Stress was found to impair both choice consistency and memory retrieval, with stress-induced declines in memory accuracy positively correlating with reductions in choice reaction times. Activation of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) during the pre-choice anticipation period was positively associated with choice consistency. Similarly, activation of the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) during the memory retrieval of food stimuli correlated with improved memory accuracy. These findings suggest that stress may impair choice consistency by disrupting memory retrieval processes. Overall, our study provides novel insights into the role of stress and memory in decision-making, offering a more nuanced understanding of the neural and cognitive processes that govern choice behavior.
Magic states of top quarks
Authors: White Chris D. , White Martin J.
Published: December 2024

Recent years have seen an increasing body of work examining how quantum entanglement can be measured at high energy particle physics experiments, thereby complementing traditional table-top experiments. This raises the question of whether more concepts from quantum computation can be examined at colliders, and we here consider the property of , which distinguishes those quantum states which lead to a genuine computational advantage over classical states when used in algorithms. We examine top-antitop pair production at the LHC, showing that nature chooses to produce magic tops, where the amount of magic varies with the kinematics of the final state. We compare results for individual partonic channels and at proton level, showing that averaging over final states typically increases magic. This is in contrast to entanglement measures, such as the concurrence, which typically decrease. Also, while some entanglement measures (e.g., the concurrence) have a nonzero threshold for entanglement, there is no such nonzero threshold for magic. Our results create new links between the quantum information and particle physics literatures, providing practical insights for further study.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Criteria of Validity
Authors: Adams Thomas
Published: December 2024

This article revisits the debate between inclusive and exclusive legal positivism, arguing that the question around which it is founded – about whether morality can function as a condition of legal validity – obscures a more basic and fundamental truth about the nature of law: that the norms composing a legal system's criteria of validity have a formal as opposed to substantive nature. Recognising this, I argue, helps to clarify some important aspects of the relationship between the ultimate norms of any legal system and its constitution. It also helps to explain away much of the debate between exclusive and inclusive positivism.
Post‐COVID‐19 inflammation and sarcopenia in obese diabetic dialysis patients
Authors: de Oliveira Carlos Alexandre Ferreira , Amaral Livia Maria Borges , Micheleto José Pedro Cassemiro , Melo Karin Araujo , de Medeiros Rijo Mateus , Lira Pedro Gustavo Barbosa , de Oliveira Barreto Emiliano , da Silva Juliane Pereira , Caetano Antônio Filipe Pereira , de Farias Santos Juliana Célia , Oliveira Michelle Jacintha Cavalcante
Published: December 2024

Introduction

Diabetes, obesity, and CKD collectively impact musculoskeletal health and increase the risk of severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) outcomes.

Methods

This cross‐sectional study included 32 dialysis patients, categorized based on their COVID‐19 status. Laboratory assessments included inflammatory markers (IL‐1β, IL‐6, IL‐8, and TNF‐α). Sarcopenia risk was evaluated using the strength, assistance with walking, rising from a chair, climbing stairs, and falls (SARC‐F) questionnaire, bioimpedance analysis, and static muscle strength testing.

Results

No significant differences were observed between groups in laboratory values, sarcopenia risk, or inflammatory markers. Body composition, SARC‐F scores, and static muscle strength were comparable across both groups, except for elevated parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels in Group A (p = 0.008).

Conclusion

The lack of association between the inflammatory response and sarcopenia risk may be attributed to the existing inflammatory status of this population, given the coexistence of diabetes, CKD, and obesity. Notably, all studied laboratory variables showed no significant differences, except for the higher PTH levels.
Minaeans at Ḥimā: The Epigraphic Corpus and Its Historical, Linguistic and Cultural Implications
Authors: Prioletta Alessia , Arbach Mounir
Published: December 2024

This study explores over 150 inscriptions and graffiti left by Minaean traders in Ḥimā, a key stopover on the trans‐Arabian caravan route. The inscriptions provide valuable data on Minaean onomastics, revealing the use of individual names and lineage indicators. They also suggest varying levels of literacy and linguistic adaptation among the authors, who used writing closely mirroring their spoken language, distinct from formal urban inscriptions. The study addresses the authors' literacy and social status, indicating the presence of notable individuals with higher ranks or specific roles within the trading caravans. It situates the inscriptions within the broader context of ancient trade routes and cultural interactions in the Arabian Peninsula, emphasizing the integration of Minaean families across different regions and the significant role of trade in their social organization.
Differences in phenology between non‐native C4 grasses and native C3 and C4 grasses in a seasonally dry ecosystem
Authors: Pereyra Almena Martín , Ferreras Ana E. , Giorgis Melisa A.
Published: December 2024

Plant species phenology is an important driver of invasions in seasonal climates. The phenology of non‐natives is generally uncoupled from that of native species. Grasses cover a large proportion of the land surface and are important invaders around the world. Interestingly, the phenology of native and non‐native grasses could be modulated by the different metabolic pathways. We aimed to compare the vegetative and reproductive phenology of invasive C₄ grasses with that of coexisting native C₃ and C₄ grasses and to explore the relationship between phenology and climate. We recorded the onset, duration and synchronicity of vegetative and reproductive phenology (flowering and fruiting) during 1 year. Native C₃ grasses had 50% of their above‐ground biomass green earlier and remained in that state for a longer period than non‐native and native C₄ grasses. Flowering and fruiting occurred earlier in non‐native C₄ grasses than in native C₄ grasses. The flowering period was longer in non‐native C₄ than in native C₃ and C₄, with the non‐native Melinis repens (Poaceae), a highly invasive species worldwide, accounting for most of the difference. Non‐native C₄ tended to exhibit a lower flowering and fruiting synchrony than both native C₃ and C₄ species. Finally, reproductive and vegetative phenology was positively associated with temperature, while precipitation was mostly associated with C₄ species. The uncoupled vegetative phenology observed could be related to differences in metabolism among the studied species, while the uncoupled reproduction between non‐native and native C₄ grasses could be due to an advantage in resource use by non‐native species. Our work provides the first insight into the possible role of the species origin and metabolic pathways in the vegetative and reproductive phenology of invasive non‐native C₄ and native C₃ and C₄ grasses. Finally, we suggest future directions to elucidate these processes.
The Effectiveness of Afatinib as First‐Line Treatment in Vietnamese Patients With EGFR‐Mutant Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer and Brain Metastases
Authors: Van Pham Thai , Vu Thanh Ha , Nguyen Hoa Thai Thi , Pham Phuong Cam , Do Anh Tu , Nguyen Tuan Khoi , Hoang Thi Anh Thu , Le Tuan Anh , Vuong Dinh Thy Hao , Nguyen Dac Nhan Tam , Dang Van Khiem , Nguyen Thi Oanh , Pham Van Luan , Nguyen Minh Hai , Vo Thi Huyen Trang , Mai Khoa Trong , Do Hung Kien , Nguyen Thi Thuy Hang , Trinh Le Huy , Nguyen Hoang Gia , Truong Cong Minh , Pham Tran Minh Chau
Published: December 2024

Introduction

The role of afatinib in the first‐line treatment of EGFR‐mutant advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients has been proven through clinical trials and real‐world studies. However, additional data on the effectiveness of afatinib in patients with brain metastases are lacking.

Methods

EGFR‐mutant NSCLC patients with brain metastases were retrospectively reviewed across nine cancer centers in Vietnam from April 1, 2018 to June 1, 2022. The primary endpoints included central nervous system progression‐free survival (CNS‐PFS) and overall survival (OS). The secondary endpoints were the objective response rate (ORR) and CNS‐ORR.

Results

Among 87 enrolled patients, 21.8%, 17.2%, and 60.9% received whole‐brain radiation, gamma knife, and no locoregional therapy, respectively. With a median follow‐up of 32.2 months for CNS‐PFS and 35.3 months for OS, the median CNS‐PFS and OS were 17.9 and 29.9 months, respectively. In multivariate analysis, patients receiving whole‐brain radiation had significantly shorter CNS‐PFS than those untreated with local therapy (16.1 vs. 22.6 months, p = 0.019), but not translating to an inferior OS. Furthermore, both the CNS‐PFS and OS of patients with uncommon mutations were significantly worse than those of patients with Del19 (11.3 vs. 24.2 months, p = 0.013 and 17.7 vs. 34.0 months, p = 0.003, respectively). Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that a lower afatinib starting dose did not significantly affect CNS‐PFS or OS. The CNS‐ORR and ORR were 77.4% and 71.3%, respectively.

Conclusion

In our real‐world study, afatinib showed encouraging effectiveness in Vietnamese patients with EGFR‐mutant NSCLC and brain metastases at baseline.
The Impact of State‐Owned Assets Supervision System Reform on the Performance of State‐Owned Enterprises: Evidence From the ‘Two Types of Companies’ Pilot Policy in China
Authors: Ren Guangqian , Jing Man , Liu Li
Published: December 2024

Promoting the transformation of the state‐owned assets supervision system (SASS) from ‘managing assets’ to ‘managing capital’ is the key direction of the new round of state‐owned assets reform. This article takes the policy implementation of state‐owned capital investment and operation companies (‘two types of companies’) as a quasi‐natural experiment, selects Chinese A‐share listed state‐owned enterprises (SOEs) from 2009 to 2022 as the research sample, and investigates the impact of SASS reform on the performance of SOEs using a multi‐period difference‐in‐differences model. The results suggest that SASS reform can significantly improve the performance of SOEs. Mechanism analysis indicates that SASS reform enhances the performance of SOEs by weakening government intervention, increasing external pay gaps, and reducing agency costs. Heterogeneity analysis shows that SASS reform on the performance of SOEs is affected by the administrative levels, industry attributes, and external institutional environments. The performance‐enhancing effect of SASS reform is more significant in central SOEs, competitive SOEs, and SOEs with a better external institutional environment. The findings enrich the research on the economic consequences of SASS reform and the factors affecting the performance of SOEs, providing empirical evidence for deepening the reform of state‐owned capital and SOEs and promoting the high‐quality development of SOEs.
You Can't Exclude Us Anymore! A Critical Reflection of Inclusive Research and Teaching Opportunities for People With Intellectual Disabilities in University Settings
Authors: Spassiani Natasha , Armstrong Theo , Becaj Mojca , Hiddleston Andrew , Higgins Anna , Hume Aaron , Robertson Jodi , Young Tony
Published: December 2024

People with intellectual disabilities should have opportunities to work within universities.

Inclusive research and coteaching opportunities are some ways that people with intellectual disabilities can have meaningful employment opportunities within universities.

This paper was cowritten with people with intellectual disabilities. The paper discusses the experiences of people with intellectual disabilities, researchers and a disability grassroots organisation in coproducing research and teaching experiences.

Two coproduced lists were developed: (1) To help universities better understand how to include people with intellectual disabilities in research and teaching opportunities and (2) to help other people with intellectual disabilities know what to do when working at a university.
Imaging diagnosis and clinical outcomes of eight horses with sinus gas expansion
Authors: Charles A. , Salciccia A. , van Bergen T. , Pige C. É. , Launois T. , Robert M. , Busoni V. , Evrard L.
Published: December 2024

Background

Sinus gas expansion is a rare condition in equine patients, resulting in progressive deformity of the facial bones. The condition is sparsely documented in veterinary literature. Similar lesions are categorised as sinus pneumocele or pneumosinus dilatans in human patients, based on the presence or absence of sinus wall erosion.

Objectives

To describe imaging findings in horses with gas expansion of the paranasal sinuses.

Study design

Multicentric retrospective descriptive case series.

Methods

Horses with a computed tomographic (CT) description of sinus gas expansion were included. Computed tomography changes were described, and lesions were categorised as sinus pneumocele or pneumosinus dilatans. Signalment, history and clinical signs were recorded, as well as radiological signs, histology and follow‐up information, when available.

Results

Eight horses met the inclusion criteria, including seven diagnosed with sinus pneumocele and one with pneumosinus dilatans. Clinical signs were variable, depending on the affected bones and sinuses. The conchofrontal sinus was the most frequently affected. Irregular sinus wall erosion, marginal separation of the bone diploe and abnormal septation were consistent imaging findings in horses with sinus pneumocele. Active bone remodelling was confirmed by histology in one patient. Based on CT, the sinus mucosa was thickened adjacent to the sinus wall erosion in 5/7 patients, with hazy dystrophic mineralisation in three horses. One horse had a follow‐up CT at 26 months, showing progression of the lesion. The horse with pneumosinus dilatans had minor facial bone deformity and severe gas expansion of all left‐sided paranasal sinuses, largely encroaching on the right paranasal sinuses, without bone erosion.

Conclusion

Diagnostic imaging and more particularly CT is valuable for identifying and characterising abnormal gas expansion of the paranasal sinuses in horses. Based on this small case series, the condition is slowly progressive and inconsistently associated with clinical signs. Its pathophysiology remains unclear, warranting further exploration.
Bodily Autonomy, Reproductive Rights and Company‐Sponsored Fertility Benefits: A Call to Action
Authors: Mackenzie Cliodhna , O'Brien Elaine , Garavan Thomas
Published: December 2024

This commentary considers company‐sponsored fertility benefits (CSFBs) and their use by organizations. We highlight the lack of attention to these benefits in the gender and management literature. Indeed, despite the importance of the topic very few gender researchers, and even fewer management scholars have deemed the erosion of female reproductive rights and commodification of fertility in the workplace worthy of debate. We, therefore, call on gender researchers, and in particular management scholars to stop sitting on the sideliners.
Deceptive signalling: Causes, consequences and remedies
Authors: Steigenberger Norbert
Published: December 2024

Deceptive signalling occurs when resource seekers provide communication or observable behaviour that seems to indicate high‐quality attributes yet actually misleads about the resource seekers’ attributes. Deceptive signalling is an everyday phenomenon that hurts investors, consumers and high‐quality ventures alike, leading to resource misallocation and market inefficiencies. It is also a challenge for researchers interested in signalling theory, as deceptive signalling defies signalling theory's predictions, leading to ambiguity regarding if and how deceptive signals should be analysed from a signalling theory perspective. Research on deceptive signalling has accumulated, yet it is scattered across disciplines and discourses, which hampers our ability to understand the phenomenon and obstructs progress in signalling theory. To mitigate this state of affairs, this paper provides a cross‐disciplinary integrative review, systematizing extant research on deceptive signalling, developing suggestions for the integration of deceptive signalling into signalling theory and outlining a research agenda on currently unresolved questions in signalling research pertaining to deceptive signalling. Developing a better understanding of deceptive signalling seems particularly pressing as recent advances in AI technologies, which reduce the detectability of deceptive signals as well as the costs for producing such signals, will presumably lead to an exacerbation of deceptive signalling problems.
Optimal Combination of Different Selection and Mating Strategies on Exploiting Genetic Diversity and Genetic Gain in Small Pig Conservation Populations
Authors: Zhao Qingbo , Liu Huiming , Zhang Qian , Qadri Qamar Raza , Pan Yuchun , Su Guosheng , Li Pinghua , Huang Ruihua
Published: December 2024

Both selection and mating systems are essential tools for breeders to conserve the genetic variance and improve the performance of livestock animals. How to effectively balance the genetic gain and inbreeding has always been an important issue in quantitative genetics research. In this study, a total of 11 selection methods, including random and truncation selection, six conventional selection methods, three different optimal contribution selection (OCS) methods and three mating strategies including random mating, minimum‐coancestry mating based on pedigree (MCPed) and genomic information (MCmarker), were performed using stochastic simulations. The long‐term effects of different combinations of selection and mating strategies on the genetic gain, the rate of inbreeding and genetic diversity in the small‐scale pig conservation populations were investigated. The results showed that different strategies of selection and mating methods had different effects on genetic gain and inbreeding rate. For maintaining additive genetic variance, the optimal strategy was random selection with random mating, followed by SIREhalf‐DAMfullRandom selection (which means selecting dams randomly from each full‐sib family) and random mating. For mainting the number of common ancestors, the optimal strategy was SIREhalf‐DAMfull selection (which means selecting dams with the highest estimated breeding value within each full‐sib family) and random mating, followed by SIREhalf‐DAMfullRandom selection and random mating, OCS and MCPed mating. For genetic diversity metrics, taking He and Ho as an example, the optimal strategy was GOCS (optimal contribution selection based on genomic information) with MCmarker mating. For genetic gain, the optimal strategy was truncation selection and MCmarker mating, followed by POCS (optimal contribution selection based on pedigree information) and MCmarker mating, truncation selection and MCPed mating. For the rate of inbreeding, the optimal strategy was SIREhalf‐DAMfull selection and MCPed mating. Our findings can help breeding managers and farmers choose a more suitable and sustainable strategy for maintaining the genetic diversity and improving the genetic gain of local pig breeds.