bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
How to train students to engage in text‐picture integration for multimedia lessons
Authors: Leng Xiaoxue , Wang Fuxing , Mayer Richard E. , Zhao Tingting
Published: December 2023

This study investigated the effectiveness of visual training or verbal training on how to use a text‐picture processing strategy for learning from computer‐based multimedia instructional material. Sixty‐nine university students were randomly assigned to the verbal training group (students received text‐based instruction for a text‐picture processing strategy), the visual training group (students observed a video depicting an expert's eye fixations while using a text‐picture processing strategy for an initial portion of a multimedia lesson) or the control group (students did not receive any instruction). During reading a multimedia lesson on biology, students' eye movements were tracked; and after the lesson, students took a posttest. Concerning learning outcomes, both visual and verbal training helped students perform better than the control group on a recall test and the verbal training group perform better on a transfer test. Concerning learning processes, both visual and verbal training caused students to attend less to on‐screen text and more to on‐screen pictures as compared to the control group. Mediation analysis showed that increased attention to pictures was a mediator for better learning outcomes. Practical and theoretical implications are discussed.

Practitioner notes

What is already known about this topic

Pre‐training on key concepts or terms improves learning, but little is known whether and how pre‐training on strategy acquisition supports learning.

Mayer's multimedia principle suggests people learn better from illustrated text than from text alone; however, learners sometimes fail to integrate text and picture.

What this paper adds

Pre‐training on text‐picture processing strategy is effective.

Verbal and visual training foster text‐picture processing strategy acquisition.

Verbal training improves both recall and transfer test performance, and visual training improves only recall test performance.

Verbal training is better in improving outcomes.

Fixation time on pictures mediates the effects of training on learning outcomes.

Implications for practice and/or policy

Pre‐training should be used to support learners' strategy acquisition.

This study also provides suggestions on how to design pre‐training on strategy acquisition.
Triptolide inhibits proliferation and invasion of colorectal cancer cells by blocking Nrf2 expression
Authors: Wang Hui‐feng , Zhao Zhi‐long
Published: December 2023

Triptolide (TPL), the main active ingredient of Tripterygium wilfordii, has anti‐inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and antitumor actions. It can also inhibit cell proliferation and metastasis while promoting apoptosis of several tumors, such as colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the mechanism of TPL against CRC is not clear. This study was designed to investigate the effects and molecular mechanisms of TPL on the proliferation and invasion ability of CRC cells. A human CRC cell line (HT29 cell line) cultured in vitro was treated with different concentrations of TPL (0, 25, 50, and 100 nmol/L). The proliferation of cells was detected by MTT, the invasion ability of cells by Transwell, and the apoptosis level by flow cytometry. The protein expression levels of nuclear factor‐erythroid 2‐related factor 2 (Nrf2), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)‐2, and MMP‐9 were detected by western blotting. After transfection with sh‐Nrf2, HT29 cells were divided into NC group, NC + TPL group and sh‐Nrf2 + TPL group, and the above assays were repeated for each group. TPL significantly inhibited the proliferation and invasion ability of HT29 cells and promoted apoptosis (p < .05). Notably, its inhibitory or promotional effects were concentration‐dependent, which were enhanced with increasing drug concentration (p < .05). After silencing Nrf2 expression, the proliferation, and invasion ability of HT29 cells were further significantly inhibited while cells apoptosis was further promoted (p < .05). Besides, the decreased Nrf2 expression reduced the protein expression levels of MMP‐2 and MMP‐9 (p < .05). TPL can effectively inhibit the proliferation and invasion while promoting apoptosis of HT29 cells. And its mechanism of action may be related to the inhibition of Nrf2 signaling expression.
Primary cutaneous SMARCA4‐deficient undifferentiated malignant neoplasm: A rare case report and literature review
Authors: Gumusgoz Emrah , Graham Bradley S. , Hosler Gregory A.
Published: December 2023

Primary cutaneous SMARCA4‐deficient undifferentiated malignant neoplasm (SD‐UMN) is a rare and recently described entity characterized by the loss of expression of the SMARCA4 (BRG1) protein, which is involved in chromatin remodeling. SD‐UMN presents a diagnostic challenge due to its rarity and unique histopathological and immunohistochemical features. In this report, we present a case of primary cutaneous SD‐UMN in a 67‐year‐old man who presented with a rapidly growing, ulcerated, and bleeding nodule on his right cheek. Histopathological examination revealed a highly cellular dermal tumor consisting of pleomorphic epithelioid cells with prominent mitotic figures and necrosis, lacking any morphological evidence of differentiation. Immunohistochemical analysis showed a complete loss of SMARCA4 and SMARCA2 expression, while INI‐1 expression remained intact. p53 was diffusely expressed, and p16 was completely absent. In addition, a range of markers, including high‐molecular‐weight cytokeratin, p63, SOX10, INSM1, MCPyV, NKX2.2, CD99, CDX2, CD56, ERG, NUT, desmin, androgen receptor, chromogranin, CD34, and CD43 were all negative. To date, only two cases of primary cutaneous SMARCA4‐deficient undifferentiated tumors have been reported in the literature. Therefore, this case report adds to the limited body of knowledge on the clinical and histopathological features of this novel entity. The report highlights the importance of considering SD‐UMN in the differential diagnosis of undifferentiated cutaneous tumors.
Use of platelet transfusions and tranexamic acid in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes: A clinical practice survey
Authors: Mo Allison , Weinkove Robert , Wood Erica M. , Shortt Jake , Johnston Anna , McQuilten Zoe K. ,   the Australasian Leukaemia and Lymphoma Group Supportive Care Scientific Working Party
Published: December 2023

Aim

Thrombocytopenia and bleeding are common in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), but optimal management is unknown. We conducted a survey to identify current clinical practice regarding platelet transfusion (PLT‐T) and tranexamic acid (TXA) to inform future trial design.

Method

A 25‐question survey was distributed to members of the ALLG from December 2020 to July 2021.

Results

Sixty‐four clinicians across Australia, New Zealand and Singapore responded. Clinicians treated a median of 15 MDS patients annually. Twenty‐nine (45%) reported having institutional guidelines regarding prophylactic PLT‐T. Although 60 (94%) said they would consider using TXA, most (58/64; 91%) did not have institutional guidelines. Clinical scenarios showed prophylactic PLT‐T was more likely administered for patients on disease‐modifying therapy (49/64; 76%, commonest threshold <10 × 109/L) or with minor bleeding (32/64 [50%] transfusing at threshold <20 × 109/L, 23/64 [35%] at <10 × 109/L). For stable untreated patients, 29/64 (45%) would not give PLT‐T and 32/64 (50%) would. Most respondents (46/64; 72%) were interested in participating in trials in this area. Potential barriers included resource limitations, funding and patient/clinician acceptance.

Conclusion

Real‐world management of MDS‐related thrombocytopenia varies and there is a need for clinical trials to inform practice.
Prefrontal cortex hemodynamic activity during a test of lower extremity functional muscle strength in children with cerebral palsy: A functional near‐infrared spectroscopy study
Authors: Licea Joel , Khan Owais A. , Singh Tarkeshwar , Modlesky Christopher M.
Published: December 2023

Children with cerebral palsy (CP) exhibit impaired motor control and significant muscle weakness due to a brain lesion. However, studies that assess the relationship between brain activity and performance on dynamic functional muscle strength assessments in CP are needed. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of a progressive lateral step‐up test on prefrontal cortex (PFC) hemodynamic activity in children with CP. Fourteen ambulatory children with spastic CP (Gross Motor Function Classification System level I; 5–11 y) and 14 age‐ and sex‐matched typically developing control children completed a progressive lateral step‐up test at incremental step heights (0, 10, 15 and 20 cm) using their non‐dominant lower limb. Hemodynamic activity in the PFC was assessed using non‐invasive, portable functional neuroimaging (functional near‐infrared spectroscopy). Children with CP completed fewer repetitions at each step height and exhibited lower PFC hemodynamic activity across step heights compared to controls. Lower PFC activation in CP was maintained after statistically controlling for the number of repetitions completed at each step height. PFC hemodynamic activity was not associated with LSUT task performance in children with CP, but a positive relationship was observed in controls at the most challenging 20 cm step height. The results suggest there is an altered PFC recruitment pattern in children with CP during a highly dynamic test of functional strength. Further studies are needed to explore the mechanisms underlying the suppressed PFC activation observed in children with CP compared to typically developing children.
Predicting fatigue life of shear connectors in steel‐concrete composite bridges using artificial intelligence techniques
Authors: Roshanfar Melika , Ghiami Azad Amir Reza , Forouzanfar Mohamad
Published: December 2023

Fatigue limit states often govern the design of shear connectors in steel‐concrete composite bridges. AASHTO LRFD bridge design specifications provides a linear equation in a semi‐logarithmic S‐N curve for predicting the fatigue life of shear connectors. However, this equation can be too conservative in some cases, as supported by the available experimental data. In this paper, artificial intelligence (AI) was incorporated into the prediction of the fatigue life of shear connectors. Six different machine learning (ML) algorithms were considered for this purpose. The predictions of ML algorithms were compared both with the available experimental data and the equation provided by AASHTO. The results showed that the fatigue life predicted by ML methods is more accurate than that predicted by the current equation of AASHTO. The results of this study showed that AI can be a proper alternative to the existing methods for predicting the fatigue life of shear connectors.
Predicting fracture behavior (mixed‐modes I/III) of cement asphalt mortar under fatigue and static loading conditions using response surface method
Authors: Najjar Shima , Mohammadzadeh Moghaddam Abolfazl , Sahaf Ali , Mohammadaliha Mohammadreza
Published: December 2023

Static and cyclic fracture properties (Modes I, III, and I/III) of cement emulsified asphalt mortar at three frequencies were investigated in terms of the fracture energy and fatigue life, respectively. For this to achieve, 576 edge notched disk bend specimens with 16 haphazard mix designs including, disparate bitumen‐to‐cement (B/C), water‐to‐cement (W/C) ratios, and cement contents (C) were tested. By developing statistical models (at the 5% significance level, p value < 0.05), the findings revealed that under static loading, the fracture energy got highest in tearing mode and lowest in opening mode. In all fracture modes, the fracture energy decreased with an increase of C and decrease of B/C while the mortar's fatigue life augmented due to a rise in C and B/C. Moreover, the fatigue life gained an increase with the increase in the fracture energy, loading frequency, and Me in the nonlinear trend. The utmost variation of fatigue life was explained with the increase of fracture energy which had the greatest effect in mode‐III loading.
A case of A20 haploinsufficiency complicated by autoimmune hepatitis
Authors: Iwasa Taisei , Miwa Takao , Unome Shinji , Hanai Tatsunori , Imai Kenji , Takai Koji , Miwa Yuki , Hori Tomohiro , Ohnishi Hidenori , Matsumoto Munekazu , Niwa Ayumi , Miyazaki Tatsuhiko , Shimizu Masahito
Published: December 2023

Aim

A20 haploinsufficiency (HA20) is a recently described autoinflammatory disease that manifests symptoms similar to those of Behçet's disease. However, little is known about the involvement of the liver in HA20. Here, we report a case of HA20 complicated by autoimmune hepatitis (AIH).

Case presentation

A 33‐year‐old woman was previously diagnosed with HA20 and chronic thyroiditis, and was treated with prednisolone (PSL; 7.5 mg/day) and levothyroxine sodium hydrate (125 μg/day). She experienced general malaise and jaundice, and biochemical evaluation revealed elevated liver function with an aspartate aminotransferase level of 817 U/L, an alanine aminotransferase level of 833 U/L, and a total bilirubin of 8.3 mg/dL. Pathological evaluation of the liver biopsy revealed interface hepatitis and the patient was diagnosed with acute exacerbation of AIH. Upon increasing the PSL dose to 60 mg/day, the liver enzyme levels rapidly decreased. During tapering of PSL, azathioprine 50 mg/day was added, and there was no relapse of AIH with combination therapy of PSL 7 mg/day and azathioprine 50 mg/day.

Conclusion

This is the first report of biopsy‐proven AIH in an Asian patient with HA20. This case has significant implications for the pathogenesis and treatment of AIH in patients with HA20.
Struggling with capital: Recovery after severe traumatic brain injury among working‐age individuals in Denmark
Authors: Hindhede Anette L.
Published: December 2023

Objective

This study uses capital theory to investigate survivors' investments in their bodies and the resources they accumulate during their rehabilitation trajectory, and how these factors impact their perception of recovery from their impairments.

Methods

Qualitative interviews were conducted with 20 patients of working age and their relatives, with audio recordings transcribed verbatim. Data analysis utilized an abductive approach informed by Bourdieu's capital theory.

Findings

During the initial phases of rehabilitation (acute and subacute), survivors invest in their physical bodies and acquire physical capital. However, they encounter a range of complex barriers when attempting to convert this capital into the resources necessary for re‐entering the workforce or pursuing education. These difficulties are linked to the lack of specialized community services in the later phases of their rehabilitation trajectory.

Discussion and Conclusion

Present‐day Danish healthcare rehabilitation focuses on restoring physical function and recovering physical capital. However, comprehensive rehabilitation to enhance mental and cognitive abilities and increase levels of emotional capital, which is crucial for working‐age individuals, is inadequately addressed within community services. This results in unequal treatment and care, contradicting the stated goal of equality in the Danish healthcare system.

Patient or Public Contribution

This study incorporated the perspectives of 20 individuals who have survived severe traumatic brain injury, as well as their relatives, to gain insights into their experiences throughout the rehabilitation process, the resources they have accumulated and how these factors contribute to their sense of recovery.
A configurational perspective on design elements and user governance engagement in blockchain platforms
Authors: Zhang Rongen “Sophia” , Ramesh Balasubramaniam
Published: December 2023

Blockchain technology offers the potential to create an open, decentralised governance structure that empowers stakeholders to participate in decentralised engagement. However, how blockchain platforms configure their design elements to establish and maintain decentralised systems with high levels of user governance engagement requires further research. This study investigates the key design elements of blockchain platforms and their ideal configurations for promoting user governance engagement. Due to the complex and interdependent nature of the design elements, we adopt a configurational perspective accompanied by a fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to uncover complex nonlinear relationships among key conditions that are relevant to decentralised governance. Our research identifies five key design elements that facilitate distributed governance (Access to decision rights,Process visibility,Protocol automation,Incentives for developers/miners, andIncentives for other stakeholders) based on existing blockchain governance literature. We analyse 14 unique blockchain platform cases that adopted on‐chain governance. Our fsQCA results reveal three ideal types of blockchain governance configurations that are sufficient for high generative user governance engagement:Centralised incentive model,Impartial incentive model, andAutomation‐driven model, whereas achieving high evaluative governance engagement requires the presence of all the design elements (Comprehensive model). Also, we foundAccess to decision rightsandProtocol automationare necessary conditions for generative governance engagement, andAccess to decision rights together withProcess visibilityis a combined necessary condition for evaluative governance engagement. Relevant theoretical and practical implications for platform designers as well as methodological implications for applying QCA to emerging IS phenomena are discussed.
A systematic review of the efficacy, safety and satisfaction of regenerative medicine treatments, including platelet‐rich plasma, stromal vascular fraction and stem cell‐conditioned medium for hypertrophic scars and keloids
Authors: Jafarzadeh Alireza , PourMohammad Arash , Goodarzi Azadeh
Published: December 2023

The primary objective of this study is to examine the efficiency of various regenerative medicine approaches, such as platelet‐rich plasma, cell therapy, stromal vascular fraction, exosomes and stem cell‐conditioned medium, in the process of healing hypertrophic and keloid scars. Major databases including PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science were systematically searched, and based on the content of the articles and the inclusion and exclusion criteria, eight articles were selected. Out of these eight articles, there were two non‐randomized clinical trial studies (25%), one randomized, single‐blinded comparative study (12.5%), one retrospective clinical observational study (12.5%) and four randomized clinical trial studies (50%). We employed EndNote X8 and Google Sheets to conduct article reviews and extract relevant data. Following the review phase, the studies underwent analysis and categorization. In all eight reviewed studies, the effectiveness of regenerative medicine in treating hypertrophic scars and keloids has been proven. Out of these studies, five (62.5%) focused on the effectiveness of platelet‐rich plasma, two study (25%) examined the effectiveness of stromal vascular fraction and one study (12.5%) explored the efficacy of stem cell‐conditioned medium. In two studies (25%), the treatment methods were added to standard treatment, while in six studies (75%), regenerative medicine was used as the sole treatment method and compared with standard treatment. The use of these treatment methods did not result in any serious side effects for the patients. Regenerative medicine is an effective method with minimal side effects for the treatment of hypertrophic scars and keloids. It can be used as a monotherapy or in combination with other treatment methods. However, further studies are needed to thoroughly evaluate the effectiveness of all sub‐branches of this method.
Evaluating a technologically enhanced rehabilitation programme for wound healing in patients with coronary heart disease
Authors: Hong Feifei , Liu Feifei , Li Yan , Liu Pengxi
Published: December 2023

Wound healing symptoms in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) are frequently problematic, potentially resulting in complications. In order to tackle this concern, a state‐of‐the‐art rehabilitation programme was created, which incorporated telehealth, virtual reality and robotics in an effort to optimize wound healing in patients with coronary heart disease. The purpose of this research was to assess the efficacy of a rehabilitation programme that utilized cutting‐edge technology in enhancing the outcomes of wound recovery for individuals diagnosed with (CHD). Data from 120 CHD patients who participated in this longitudinal randomized controlled trial of a specialized rehabilitation programme intended to promote wound repair were utilized in a cross‐sectional analysis. Anthropometric measurements, sociodemographical factors, exercise capacity and the progression of wound recovery were gathered as data. The research participants were primarily comprised of older males from various socioeconomic backgrounds. Age, gender, BMI, socio‐educational orientation, physical activity, identified regulation and identified regulation were all significant determinants of wound healing. The significance of customized strategies in cardiac rehabilitation programmes that aim to achieve favourable wound healing outcomes is underscored by these results. In conclusion, this study emphasized the importance of incorporating unique patient attributes when designing technologically advanced rehabilitation protocols aimed at facilitating wound recovery in patients with coronary heart disease. Personalized interventions that consider these variables could potentially result in improved outcomes for wound healing among this particular group of patients.
Visualization of the relationship between macrophage and wound healing from the perspective of bibliometric analysis
Authors: Guo Qiang , Li Wanqing , Xie Ruijie , Wang Yulin , Xie Yuchen , Cheng Kunming , Sun Zhiming
Published: December 2023

Macrophages play a crucial role in aiding all phases of the wound‐healing process and has garnered increasing attention recently. Although a substantial body of related studies has been published, there remains a lack of comprehensive bibliometric analysis. In this study, we collected 4296 papers from the Web of Science Core Collection database. Three tools including CiteSpace, VOSviewer and one online analytical platform were employed to conduct bibliometric analysis and data visualization. Our results revealed that the annual number of publications related to macrophage and wound healing has increased exponentially with the year. The United States and China stand as the primary driving forces within this field, collectively constituting 58.2% of the total publication output. The application of biomaterials was one of the most concerned research areas in this field. According to references analysis, the current research focus has shifted to diabetic wound healing and regulating macrophage polarization. Based on the keywords analysis, we identified the following research frontiers in the future: exosomes and other extracellular vesicles; bio‐derived materials and drug delivery methods such as nanoparticles, scaffolds and hydrogels; immunomodulation and macrophage polarization in the M2‐state; chronic wounds, particularly those associated with diabetes; antimicrobial peptides; and antioxidant. Additionally, TNF, IL‐6, IL‐10, TGF‐β1 and VEGF ranked as the five genes that have garnered the most research attention in the intersection of macrophage and wound healing. All in all, our findings offered researchers a holistic view of the ongoing progress in the field of macrophages and wound healing, serving as a valuable reference for scholars and policymakers in this domain.
Tweets versus broadsheets: Sentiment impact on stock markets around the world
Authors: Gan Baoqing , Alexeev Vitali , Yeung Danny
Published: December 2023

We contrast sentiment derived from social and news media to investigate its impact across 14 international markets. We find that heightened media sentiment during nontrading periods significantly affects the next day's opening returns even after accounting for the previous‐day activity. Markedly, only the US market exhibits strong reactions to social media, whereas other markets are more responsive to the news. We find that most variability in overnight returns is explained by sentiment aggregated 3 h before markets open. Our findings suggest that the overnight sentiment does not simply subsume previous‐day market activity but contains additional information that helps improve predictability in return forecasting models.
Prolonged second stage of labor in delivery using epidural analgesia is a risk factor for postpartum urinary retention
Authors: Miyamoto Keisuke , Komatsu Hiroaki , Nagata Hiroki , Nagira Kei , Motomura Eri , Shimizu Natsuko , Tanaka Ayumi
Published: December 2023

Aim

To determine the postpartum urinary retention rate and risk factors after delivery using epidural analgesia.

Methods

This single‐center retrospective study targeted 341 women who gave birth after at least 37 weeks of gestation from April to August 2021; from this cohort, 208 patients were examined. The postpartum urinary retention rate was compared between the no epidural analgesia group (n = 107) and epidural analgesia group (n = 101). Subsequently, risk factors for postpartum urinary retention were investigated in the epidural analgesia group.

Results

After adjustment by propensity score matching for age, body mass index, being primiparous, and labor induction as covariates, the analysis of the incidence of postpartum urinary retention revealed that the epidural analgesia group exhibited a significantly higher postpartum urinary retention rate than the no epidural analgesia group (30% vs. 11%, p = 0.02). The investigation results regarding risk factors for postpartum urinary retention in the epidural analgesia group obtained through a univariate analysis showed that being primiparous and having a prolonged second stage of labor were significantly correlated with postpartum urinary retention. Multivariate analysis indicated that a prolonged second stage of labor was an independent risk factor for postpartum urinary retention (p = 0.03; odds ratio: 3.18; 95% confidence interval: 1.08–9.77). All patients recovered from postpartum urinary retention by day 4.

Conclusions

The postpartum urinary retention rate after delivery using epidural analgesia was 25.7%. In the case of epidural analgesia deliveries, a prolonged second stage of labor was an independent risk factor for postpartum urinary retention.
Evaluating the effect of preoperative interventions on sleep health in the perioperative period: a systematic review
Authors: Sibley Daniel , Sellers Daniel , Randall Ian , Englesakis Marina , Culos‐Reed S. Nicole , Singh Mandeep , Mina Daniel Santa
Published: December 2023

Surgery and general anaesthesia have deleterious effects on sleep and disrupted perioperative sleep health is a risk factor for poor surgical outcomes. The objective of this systematic review was to summarise preoperative interventions that report sleep outcomes. Studies that delivered an intervention initiated >24 h prior to surgery among an adult sample without a diagnosed sleep disorder were included. Studies were excluded if they were preclinical or were not published in English. MEDLINE, MEDLINE ePubs Ahead of Print and In‐process Citations, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, APA PsycINFO, CINAHL, and the Web of Science were searched on February 2, 2023. This review was reported in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses and was registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (identifier: CRD42021260578). Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk‐of Bias 2 tool for randomised trials and the Risk Of Bias In Non‐randomised Studies ‐ of Interventions for non‐randomised trials. Certainty of findings were assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation framework. The searching yielded 10,938 total citations, and after screening resulted in 28 randomised and 19 non‐randomised trials (47 total) with 4937 participants. Sleep was a primary outcome in 16 trials; a sleep outcome was significantly improved relative to comparator in 23 trials. This review demonstrates that preoperative sleep is modifiable via a variety of interventions, including pharmacological, non‐pharmacological, and nursing interventions delivered preoperatively or perioperatively. Our results should be considered with caution due to an overall intermediate to high risk of bias in the included trials, and low to very low certainty of evidence. This review supports the modifiability of sleep health among surgical patients and provides the groundwork for preoperative sleep optimisation research.
A trait‐based framework linking the soil metabolome to plant–soil feedbacks
Authors: Delory Benjamin M. , Callaway Ragan M. , Semchenko Marina
Published: December 2023

By modifying the biotic and abiotic properties of the soil, plants create soil legacies that can affect vegetation dynamics through plant–soil feedbacks (PSF). PSF are generally attributed to reciprocal effects of plants and soil biota, but these interactions can also drive changes in the identity, diversity and abundance of soil metabolites, leading to more or less persistent soil chemical legacies whose role in mediating PSF has rarely been considered. These chemical legacies may interact with microbial or nutrient legacies to affect species coexistence. Given the ecological importance of chemical interactions between plants and other organisms, a better understanding of soil chemical legacies is needed in community ecology. In this Viewpoint, we aim to: highlight the importance of belowground chemical interactions for PSF; define and integrate soil chemical legacies into PSF research by clarifying how the soil metabolome can contribute to PSF; discuss how functional traits can help predict these plant–soil interactions; propose an experimental approach to quantify plant responses to the soil solution metabolome; and describe a testable framework relying on root economics and seed dispersal traits to predict how plant species affect the soil metabolome and how they could respond to soil chemical legacies.
The INFORMAS healthy food environment policy index in Brazil: Benchmarking, current policies, and determining priorities for the future
Authors: Recine Elisabetta , de Castro Junior Paulo Cesar Pereira , Sugai Andrea , Gentil Patricia Chaves , Feldenheimer da Silva Ana Carolina
Published: December 2023

Introduction

Obesity and non‐communicable diseases are the most important cause of death and inability in Brazil and worldwide. Public policies are an important strategy to prevent obesity. This study analysed the scope of Brazilian public policies for preventing and controlling obesity using the INFORMAS/Food‐EPI protocol.

Methods

The public policies evaluation was conducted based on the INFORMAS/Food‐EPI protocol. Experts from academia, civil society, and government assessed the level of implementation of food policies compared with international best practices and proposed new actions to be developed nationally. The protocol consisted of five phases: (1) A comprehensive review of the implementation of food environment‐related public policies; (2) validation with experts; (3) comparison of the national actions with the international best practice and due to the level of implementation; (4) list a set of actions to improve the current policies; and (5) evaluation of the actions due to their importance and achievability.

Results

Brazilian actions were focused on monitoring, leadership, governance, and resources and financing domains.

Conclusion

The results will provide elements to support and improve the national policies that aim at the promotion of a healthy food environment and obesity prevention.
The role of pragmatic considerations during mathematical derivation in the applicability of mathematics
Authors: Pérez‐Escobar José Antonio
Published: December 2023

The conditions involved in the applicability of mathematics in science are the subject of ongoing debates. One of the best‐received approaches is the inferential account, which involves structural mappings and pragmatic considerations in a three‐step model. According to the inferential account, these pragmatic considerations happen in the immersion and interpretation stages, but not during derivation (symbol‐pushing in a mathematical formalism). In this work, I draw inspiration from the later Wittgenstein and make the case that the applicability of mathematics also rests on pragmatic considerations at the mathematical derivation level. I make the further case that pragmatic considerations at the mathematical derivation level may substitute pragmatic considerations in the other two stages, thus showing how they are holistically interrelated. I illustrate these two points with the solution of a simple geometrical problem.
Logratio analysis of components separated from grain‐size distributions and implications for sedimentary processes: An example of bottom surface sediments in a shallow lake
Authors: Yamaguchi Naofumi , Ando Tsuyoshi , Enokida Hirotaka , Nakada Natsumi , Yamaki Syota , Ohta Tohru
Published: December 2023

The grain‐size distributions of sediments can yield important information about sediment provenance and sedimentary processes; however, grain‐size distributions are frequently polymodal, rendering analyses difficult. To improve analyses of polymodal grain‐size data, the present study decomposed the grain‐size distributions of bottom surface sediments from Lake Kitaura, a shallow lake in Japan, into lognormal distributions and performed logratio analysis of their mixing proportions. The polymodal grain‐size distributions of the studied samples were separated into four common components at most sites. This logratio analysis revealed clear differences in the characteristics of the spatial distributions of the separated grain‐size components. The logratio values indicated that the three finer components were uniformly deposited within the lake, whereas the coarsest component was spatially diverse, reflecting differences in their sources and sedimentary processes. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of decomposition and logratio analysis of polymodal grain‐size distributions for estimating sedimentary processes. This method can be applied to modern sediments and for palaeoenvironmental reconstructions using sediment cores.
Will the centralization of carbon pricing revenue in the European Union lead to laxer climate policy?
Authors: Fuest Clemens , Meier Volker
Published: December 2023

We analyze the economic impact of using carbon pricing revenue to fund the European Union (EU) budget. Such a reform would redistribute from countries with above‐average carbon‐intensive production to less‐carbon‐intensive countries. Once the reform is implemented, the low‐carbon countries will prefer a lower carbon price (i.e., laxer climate policy at the EU level) than before the reform, and vice versa. As a result, EU climate policy becomes less ambitious and less disputed, where quantitative impacts presumably remain small. Weaker incentives for national governments to enforce emission taxes after revenue centralization might also contribute to higher emissions.
Effects of different water‐soluble phosphorus on the distribution and utilization of phosphorus in maize in Xinjiang, China
Authors: Tian Yuxin , Liu Dao , Liu Xinghong , Liang Fei , Liu Mengjie , Li Quansheng , Wang Guodong , Liu Peishan , Jia Hongtao
Published: December 2023

Phosphorus (P) is the main limiting nutrient in agriculture. Most of the P fertilizers applied to the soil remain ineffective because of the weak movement and transfer of P in the soil. Current agricultural production requires large amounts of P fertilizers, leading to the accumulation of residual P in the soil and serious ecological problems. Fixation of P is a vital reason for limited fertilizer effectiveness. Therefore, improving soil P effectiveness is the key to reducing soil P accumulation. This study explored the effects of different water‐soluble P fertilizers on maize yield and economic benefits by comparing the relationships between soil P distribution and P absorption and utilization of maize in calcareous soil of Xinjiang province in China. The main results indicated that (1) the drip application of ammonium polyphosphate (APP) and urea phosphate (UP) was more beneficial for increasing the total P content in the deep soil layer; the drip application of APP was beneficial in increasing the available P content of the deep soil layer. (2) Dripping acid fertilizer was more conducive to reducing soil acidity and alkalinity (pH). (3) The application of different P fertilizers favoured the accumulation of P in all organs of maize, among which APP and UP were the most effective since they increased accumulation by 75.8% and 60.4% (at the flowering stage) and 98.2% and 62.3% (at the maturity stage), respectively, compared with CK (without P fertilizer). (4) pH was the main factor affecting P uptake and transformation, and the drip application of P fertilizer had the most significant effect on pH. (5) The application of different water‐soluble P fertilizers increased maize yield and economic benefits. Among the five water‐soluble P fertilizers selected in this study, APP had the greatest economic benefits, followed by UP and monoammonium phosphate (MAP); they increased yields by 31.6%, 24.5%, and 22.0%, respectively, compared with CK.
Mobility, infrastructure and human environment relations in the Anthropocene
Authors: Horn Christine
Published: December 2023

This paper examines transport and mobility in rural and remote communities, focusing on trade‐offs between development and environmental protection in the Anthropocene. In Sarawak, a state of Malaysia, unpaved logging roads provide basic mobility for remote communities while contributing to the unsustainable and inequitable extraction of natural resources. I argue that the conditions under which transport infrastructure is provided prevent the possibility for sustainable development and pitch local people against a landscape that is the source of livelihoods and identities. The paper is interested in the life and agency of infrastructure and the environment, new materialism and critical approaches to development within human geography.
Exploring approaches to contemporary clinical incident analysis methods within acute care settings: a scoping review protocol
Authors: Kynoch Kathryn , Liu Xianliang , Tan Jing-Yu (Benjamin) , Shi Wendan , Teus Judeil Krlan , Ramis Mary-Anne
Published: December 2023

Objective:

This review will explore the literature on contemporary incident analysis methods used in acute hospital settings, identifying types and characteristics of these methods and how they are used to minimize, prevent, or learn from errors and improve patient safety.

Introduction:

Safety is a major focus in health care; however, despite best efforts, errors and incidents still occur, leading to harm or potential harm to patients, families, carers, staff, or the organization. Incident analysis methods aim to reduce risk of harm. Traditional methods have been criticized for failing to consider the complexity of health care and the dynamic nature of acute care settings. Alternative methodologies are being sought to achieve higher levels of patient safety and care quality care in hospitals. Learning from errors and communicating with those involved in incidents are key requirements in contemporary incident analysis.

Inclusion criteria:

This review will consider empirical research published since 2013, reporting on the use of clinical incident analysis methods within acute care settings. The review will explore ways in which consumers or stakeholders (eg, clinicians or other hospital workers, patients, families, carers, visitors) have been included in these analysis methods and how data have been used to support changes in the service or organization.

Methods:

Following JBI methods and PRISMA-ScR reporting guidance, we will search PubMed, CINAHL (EBSCOhost), Embase, Scopus, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and ProQuest Dissertations and Theses. Studies will be reviewed independently, with results presented in tables, figures, and narrative summaries according to the concepts of interest.
Investigation on the heat transfer characteristics of flexible vacuum glass based on cross-laminated microcavities
Authors: Zhang Jun , Liu Chenhui , Song Chenchen , Wang Xudi , Huang Rui
Published: December 2023

Vacuum glass is a key component of energy-efficient buildings. At present, the traditional vacuum glass (VG) has some problems, such as side edge heat transfer, poor thermal insulation in small sizes, high cost of indium alloy edge sealing, and poor adaptability to the rigid structure to environments, which limits its application in buildings. Vacuum interlayer heat transfer is thickness-independent. Therefore, increasing the transfer path and thermal resistance of the support structure under micrometer gaps achieves effective thermal insulation. In this study, a vacuum glass with a cross-laminated microcavity structure was proposed. The cross-laminated structure has a total thickness of several hundred micrometers and is made of polycarbonate. The heat transfer and stress-strain of the cross-laminated vacuum glass (CLVG) and VG are investigated. The results indicate that the CLVG accomplished a lower heat transfer coefficient compared with the VG at a size smaller than 30 × 30 cm2. In addition, the CLVG is edge-effect-free. As a flexible structure, the CLVG can be easily applied to existing buildings. This study contributes to the exploration of new structures for the vacuum glass.
Analytic study of exposure contrast over feature edge in electron-beam lithography
Authors: Lee Soo-Young
Published: December 2023

In electron-beam (e-beam) lithography, the location of a feature edge may vary with experiment due to the stochastic nature of the e-beam exposure and resist-development processes. From the viewpoint of consistent reproducibility of a circuit pattern, it is essential to enhance the stability of a feature edge in the e-beam lithographic process. A fundamental metric affecting the stability is the exposure contrast over the feature edge, and therefore, it is important to understand the dependency of exposure contrast on significant parameters. However, the computer simulation for the dependency analysis is time-consuming and needs to be repeated. In this study, a new method has been developed by deriving closed-form mathematical expressions of exposure contrast for the cases of a single feature and a uniform pattern of multiple features. The mathematical expressions enable the fast analysis of exposure contrast without simulation, and therefore, can serve as a useful tool in e-beam lithography.
Molecular determinants of ligand efficacy and potency in GPCR signaling
Authors: Heydenreich Franziska M. , Marti-Solano Maria , Sandhu Manbir , Kobilka Brian K. , Bouvier Michel , Babu M. Madan
Published: December 2023

Heterotrimeric guanine nucleotide–binding protein (G protein)–coupled receptors (GPCRs) bind to extracellular ligands and drugs and modulate intracellular responses through conformational changes. Despite their importance as drug targets, the molecular origins of pharmacological properties such as efficacy (maximum signaling response) and potency (the ligand concentration at half-maximal response) remain poorly understood for any ligand-receptor-signaling system. We used the prototypical adrenaline–β2 adrenergic receptor–G protein system to reveal how specific receptor residues decode and translate the information encoded in a ligand to mediate a signaling response. We present a data science framework to integrate pharmacological and structural data to uncover structural changes and allosteric networks relevant for ligand pharmacology. These methods can be tailored to study any ligand-receptor-signaling system, and the principles open possibilities for designing orthosteric and allosteric compounds with defined signaling properties.
2024 looms
Authors: Thorp H. Holden
Published: December 2023

Last week,
Science
reflected on major achievements in science in 2023, from weight loss drugs and a malaria vaccine to exascale computing and advances in artificial intelligence. These are all impressive developments and provide yet more testimony to the power of science to continually expand the quality of our lives while deepening our understanding of the world. Even so, it’s hard to end the year without some worries about 2024. Wars in Ukraine and Gaza will grind on in the new year, and the United States is headed toward perhaps the most consequential and divisive presidential election in more than 160 years. These events—and similar ones around the world—will challenge the cohesiveness and determination of the scientific community as never before.
Essential gene knockdowns reveal genetic vulnerabilities and antibiotic sensitivities in
Acinetobacter baumannii
Authors: Ward Ryan D. , Tran Jennifer S. , Banta Amy B. , Bacon Emily E. , Rose Warren E. , Peters Jason M.
Published: December 2023

Acinetobacter baumannii
is a hospital-acquired pathogen that is resistant to many common antibiotic treatments. To combat resistant
A. baumannii
infections, we need to identify promising therapeutic targets and effective antibiotic combinations. In this study, we comprehensively characterize the genes and pathways that are critical for
A. baumannii
viability. We show that genes involved in aerobic metabolism are central to
A. baumannii
physiology and may represent appealing drug targets. We also find antibiotic-gene interactions that may impact the efficacy of carbapenems, rifamycins, and polymyxins, providing a new window into how these antibiotics function in mono- and combination therapies. Our studies offer a useful approach for characterizing interactions between drugs and essential genes in pathogens to inform future therapies.
Gallic acid ameliorates colitis by trapping deleterious metabolite ammonia and improving gut microbiota dysbiosis
Authors: Peng Jie , Liu Tong , Meng Pengfei , Luo Yue , Zhu Siyue , Wang Yanxin , Ma Mingxia , Han Jiaojiao , Zhou Jun , Su Xiurong , Li Shiming , Ho Chi-Tang , Lu Chenyang
Published: December 2023

The dysbiosis of the gut microbiota and its metabolism directly cause the emergence of IBD. In this study, we aimed to clarify the anti-colitis mechanism of GA in sight of gut microbiota and its metabolite ammonia. We discovered that GA directly captured and reduced the harmful metabolite ammonia in vivo to produce the aminated metabolite 4-NH2-GA, while the amination of GA had no adverse effect on its initial anti-colitis activity. In addition, both GA and its aminated metabolite improved the gut microbiota in colitis mice, and the modified gut microbiota, in turn, helped to relieve colitis. Since the GA structure is presented in diverse polyphenols as a common building block, the novel anti-colitis mechanism targeting the symptoms and root causes might also apply to other complex polyphenols.