bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A phase IV clinical trial of gastrointestinal motility in adult patients with migraine before and after initiation of a calcitonin gene‐related peptide ligand (galcanezumab) or receptor (erenumab) antagonist
Authors: Kudrow David , Nguyen Linda , Semler Jack , Stroud Chad , Samaan Karen , Hoban Deirdre B. , Wietecha Linda , Hsu Hai‐An , Pearlman Eric
Published: September 2022

Objective

To compare effects of an initial dose of calcitonin gene‐related peptide (CGRP) monoclonal antibody (mAb) antagonists on gastrointestinal (GI) motility in patients with migraine and to explore if the mechanistic difference contributes to GI adverse events (AEs).

Background

Different frequencies of constipation have been observed between CGRP mAbs that target the ligand (galcanezumab [GMB]) or receptor (erenumab [ERE]).

Methods

Patients (n = 65) with migraine without significant GI symptoms were enrolled in a multi‐center, single‐blind phase IV clinical trial (NCT04294147) and randomized 1:1 to receive GMB (240 mg; n = 33) or ERE (140 mg; n = 32). GI whole and regional transit times were assessed using a wireless motility capsule 1 week before and 2 weeks after mAb administration. The primary endpoint was change from baseline in colonic transit time (CTT) within each treatment group. Other measures included GI Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS), Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSFS), and spontaneous bowel movement (SBM) evaluation. AEs were monitored throughout the study.

Results

Baseline characteristics indicated significant GI transit time variability with minimal GI reported symptoms. While not statistically significant, a numerical mean increase in CTT was observed in ERE patients (n = 28, mean [SD] at baseline: 33.8 [29.4] h; least square [LS] mean [SE] change: 5.8 [5.7] h, 95% confidence interval [CI] −5.7 to 17.2, p = 0.320), while GMB decreased CTT (n = 31, mean [SD] at baseline: 29.3 [24.5] h; LS mean [SE] change: −5.4 [5.4] h, 95% CI −16.2 to 5.5, p = 0.328) compared to baseline. No meaningful changes were observed in other regional transit times. ERE significantly reduced BSFS (LS mean [SE] score −0.5 [0.2], p = 0.004) and SBM (LS mean [SE] −1.2 [0.5], p = 0.0120), and increased GSRS‐constipation compared to baseline (LS mean [SE] score 0.3 [0.1], p = 0.016). GMB increased GSRS‐constipation (LS mean [SE] score 0.4 [0.1], p = 0.002). There were no discontinuations due to or serious AEs. A higher percentage of treatment‐emergent AEs were reported with ERE than GMB (ERE: nine of 32 [28.1%] versus GMB: three of 33 [9.1%]), with constipation the most frequently reported (ERE: five of 32 [15.6%] versus GMB one of 33 [3.0%]).

Conclusion

While the primary endpoint of this study was not met, secondary and tertiary endpoints support a within‐ and between‐treatment change in GI effects suggesting possible mechanistic differences between ligand (GMB) and receptor (ERE) antagonism.
Clinical outcomes amongst elderly patients with inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: Sivanathan Vithoosharan , Basnayake Chamara , Connell William , Wright Emily , Ding John Nik , Niewadomski Ola , Stanley Annalise , Wilson‐O'Brien Amy , Fry Stephanie , Samyue Tamie , Lust Mark , Flanagan Emma , Thompson Alexander J. V. , Kamm Michael A.
Published: September 2022

Backgrounds and aims

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) affects a growing cohort of elderly patients. Our aim was to compare the quality of care received by elderly patients with IBD with a nonelderly adult IBD population using clinical markers including steroid‐free clinical remission.

Method

Retrospective audit of all consecutive patients attending a specialist IBD centre over a 1‐year period aged >60 (elderly cohort [EC]) and 50 consecutive patients aged 30–45 years (control cohort [CC]). A follow‐up survey was completed assessing current symptoms and perceptions of care.

Results

One hundred thirty‐nine patients were evaluated (89 EC, 50 CC). Steroid‐free clinical remission was observed less commonly in the EC (58, 64%) compared with the CC (40, 80%) (P < 0.05). Biologics such as infliximab (15% EC vs 36% CC; P < 0.01) and adalimumab (14% EC vs 30% CC; P = 0.02) were used less frequently in the EC, whilst vedolizumab (6% EC vs 6% CC; P = 1) and ustekinumab (3% EC vs 2% CC; P = 1) were used at a similar frequency. Patients in the EC were less likely to have specialist IBD nursing contact (P < 0.01), smoking screening (P < 0.011) or influenza vaccinations (P < 0.006). IBD nurse contact was associated with significantly greater provision of the preventative care measures.

Conclusion

Elderly patients with IBD were less likely to experience steroid‐free clinical remission or be prescribed biologics. Elderly patients were less likely to receive education with respect to preventative medicine. The models of care for the elderly need re‐evaluation and greater incorporation with the multidisciplinary IBD team.
Cardiovascular disease management in Australian adults with type 2 diabetes: insights from the CAPTURE study
Authors: Davis Timothy M. E. , Colman Peter G. , Hespe Charlotte , Heywood Sarah E. , d'Emden Michael
Published: September 2022

Background

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a well‐recognised cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor, and recent guidelines for the management of T2D include consideration of CVD risk.

Aim

To assess whether contemporary clinical management of Australians with T2D is in accord with recent national and international guidelines.

Methods

This Australia‐specific analysis of the CAPTURE study, a non‐interventional, cross‐sectional study included adults diagnosed with T2D ≥180 days prior to providing informed consent and visiting primary or specialist care. Main outcome measures were the use of blood glucose‐lowering medications (BGLMs), BGLMs with proven cardiovascular benefits and other CVD medications, stratified by CVD status and care setting.

Results

Of 824 Australian participants in the CAPTURE sample, 332 (40.3%) had CVD. Oral BGLMs were used by 83.9% of all participants, most commonly metformin (76.0%), dipeptidyl peptidase‐4 inhibitors (28.8%), sodium‐glucose cotransporter‐2 inhibitors (SGLT2is; 21.8%) and sulfonylureas (21.7%). Insulin was used by 29.2% of participants. BGLMs with proven CV benefit were used by 22.6%; glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonists (GLP‐1 RAs) were less commonly used than SGLT2is in all CVD groups, but these drug classes were more often prescribed in specialist than primary care (SGLT2is 25.4 vs 20.7%, GLP‐1 RAs 3.2 vs 0.8% respectively). Use of non‐BGLMs for CVD risk reduction appeared consistent with guidelines.

Conclusions

Use of BGLMs with CVD benefits appears low in Australia, irrespective of CVD status. This likely reflects the delay in translation of clinical evidence into contemporary care and prescribing restrictions.
Effect of minimally invasive surgery and laparotomy on wound infection and postoperative and intraoperative complications in the management of cervical cancer: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Zheng Shuangyun , Liu Xiaole , Cheng Liqin , Wu Qiaozhu , Meng Fanhang
Published: September 2022

We performed a meta‐analysis to evaluate the effect of minimally invasive surgery and laparotomy on wound infection and postoperative and intraoperative complications in the management of cervical cancer. A systematic literature search up to July 2022 was performed and 10 231 subjects with cervical cancer at the baseline of the studies; 4307 of them were using the minimally invasive surgery, and 5924 were using laparotomy. Odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to assess the effect of minimally invasive surgery and laparotomy on wound infection and postoperative and intraoperative complications in the management of cervical cancer using the dichotomous methods with a random or fixed‐effect model. The minimally invasive surgery had significantly lower wound infection (OR, 0.20; 95% CI, 0.13–0.30, P < .001), and postoperative complications (OR, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.37–0.64, P < .001) in subjects with cervical cancer compared laparotomy. However, minimally invasive surgery compared with laparotomy in subjects with cervical cancer had no significant difference in intraoperative complications (OR, 1.04; 95% CI, 0.80–1.36, P = 0.76). The minimally invasive surgery had significantly lower wound infection, and postoperative complications however, had no significant difference in intraoperative complications in subjects with cervical cancer compared with laparotomy. The analysis of outcomes should be with caution because of the low sample size of 22 out of 41 studies in the meta‐analysis and a low number of studies in certain comparisons.
Incorporating United Nations 2030 Sustainable Future Agenda into the Architectural Studio: A Graduation Studio Case
Authors: Erkarslan Özlem Erdoğdu , Akgün Yenal
Published: September 2022

United Nations (UN) released the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in 2015. This agenda has received attention from various disciplines and sectors globally; partnerships from private and public sectors were formed to play a role in this challenging ambitious plan. However, architectural education and professional organisations in Turkey have not been strongly engaged with the agenda in particular. To meet this gap and create synergy, this paper aims at presenting pedagogical paths followed in a graduation studio, integrating the studio outcomes with UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which have not been widely covered either in nationwide architectural education or professional policies. In addition, the paper focuses on how the SDG action plan is echoed in higher education as well as in the discipline of architecture in Turkey. The paper is a case study in architectural education of which the motivation is to create awareness about UN SDGs among the students; to give insights and demonstrate a realistic design policy to achieve development targets. The pedagogical path presented here is original and aims to fulfill an interlude in the literature, which is still emerging. The case presentation includes the process and the results with a sufficient number of student projects as outcomes of the studio.
Should Political Leaders Be Highly Educated?
Authors: Marley‐Payne Jack
Published: September 2022

Many liberal philosophers view elite education as a virtue of political leaders and, in addition, hold that an important role of a just education system is to create better elites. A compelling and influential articulation of this view has been offered by Elizabeth Anderson. However, this view is in conflict with a commitment to substantive democracy, given the background conditions of the United States today. This article will argue, contra Anderson, that having the highly educated disproportionately represented in political leadership is incompatible with egalitarian principles of democracy. The key reason for this is that it systematically shuts out the working class from full political participation. Therefore, in order to satisfy the constraints of democracy, we must sever the connection between elite education and political office.
Determinants of genetic diversity and species richness of North American amphibians
Authors: Schmidt Chloé , Munshi‐South Jason , Dray Stéphane , Garroway Colin J.
Published: September 2022

Aim

Ecological limits on population sizes and the number of species a region can sustain are thought to simultaneously produce spatial patterns in population genetic diversity and species richness due to the effects of random drift operating in parallel across population and community levels. Here, we test the extent to which resource‐based environmental limits jointly determine these patterns of biodiversity in amphibians.

Location

North America.

Taxon

Amphibians.

Methods

We repurposed open, raw microsatellite data from 19 species sampled at 554 sites in North America and mapped nuclear genetic diversity at the continental scale. We then tested whether ecological limits defined by resource availability and environmental heterogeneity could simultaneously shape biogeographic patterns in genetic diversity and species richness with structural equation modelling.

Results

Spatial patterns of population genetic diversity run opposite patterns of species richness and genetic differentiation. However, while measures of resource availability and niche heterogeneity predict 89% of the variation in species richness, these landscape metrics were poor predictors of genetic diversity.

Main conclusions

Although heterogeneity appears to be an important driver of genetic and species biodiversity patterns in amphibians, variation in genetic diversity both within and across species makes it difficult to infer general processes producing spatial patterns of amphibian genetic diversity. This result differs from those found in endotherms and may be due to the considerable life history variation found across amphibians.
Childhood family and neighbourhood socio‐economic status, psychopathy, and adult criminal behaviour
Authors: Baker Sydney , Javakhishvili Magda , Widom Cathy Spatz
Published: September 2022

Purpose

Lower socio‐economic status (SES) and psychopathy are risk factors for criminal behaviour. This study examines whether psychopathic trait scores moderate the relationship between childhood family and neighbourhood SES and adult arrests.

Methods

A large group of Midwest children ages 0–11 years old during 1967–1971 were interviewed as adults in 1989–1995 (N = 1144) at mean age 29. Childhood family SES was based on information collected during the interview and neighbourhood SES were based on census tract information from childhood. Psychopathic trait scores were based on information from interviews and case records. Official arrest data were used to assess criminal behaviour in adulthood.

Results

Childhood family SES, childhood neighbourhood SES, and psychopathic trait scores each independently predicted the number of adult arrests. As expected, lower childhood family SES and childhood neighbourhood SES predicted a larger number of adult arrests, and higher psychopathic trait scores were associated with a greater number of adult arrests. Childhood family SES and childhood neighbourhood SES also interacted with psychopathic trait scores to predict adult arrests. For individuals with low psychopathic trait scores, lower childhood family SES and lower childhood neighbourhood SES each predicted a higher number of adult arrests, whereas this was not the case for individuals with high psychopathic trait scores.

Conclusions

Childhood SES (family and neighbourhood) continues to affect criminal behaviour long into adulthood. But neither childhood family SES, childhood neighbourhood SES, or psychopathic traits alone explain the extent of adult arrests. For people with comparably low levels of psychopathic traits, childhood family and neighbourhood socio‐economic status continued to impact adult arrests.
Adapting to climate with limited genetic diversity: Nucleotide,DNAmethylation and microbiome variation among populations of the social spiderStegodyphus dumicola
Authors: Aagaard Anne , Liu Shenglin , Tregenza Tom , Braad Lund Marie , Schramm Andreas , Verhoeven Koen J. F. , Bechsgaard Jesper , Bilde Trine
Published: September 2022

Understanding the role of genetic and nongenetic variants in modulating phenotypes is central to our knowledge of adaptive responses to local conditions and environmental change, particularly in species with such low population genetic diversity that it is likely to limit their evolutionary potential. A first step towards uncovering the molecular mechanisms underlying population‐specific responses to the environment is to carry out environmental association studies. We associated climatic variation with genetic, epigenetic and microbiome variation in populations of a social spider with extremely low standing genetic diversity. We identified genetic variants that are associated strongly with environmental variation, particularly with average temperature, a pattern consistent with local adaptation. Variation in DNA methylation in many genes was strongly correlated with a wide set of climate parameters, thereby revealing a different pattern of associations than that of genetic variants, which show strong correlations to a more restricted range of climate parameters. DNA methylation levels were largely independent ofcis‐genetic variation and of overall genetic population structure, suggesting that DNA methylation can work as an independent mechanism. Microbiome composition also correlated with environmental variation, but most strong associations were with precipitation‐related climatic factors. Our results suggest a role for both genetic and nongenetic mechanisms in shaping phenotypic responses to local environments.
Semantic dispositionalism and the rule‐following paradox
Authors: Lane Elek
Published: September 2022

In virtue of what does a sign have meaning? This is the question raised by Wittgenstein's rule‐following considerations. Semantic dispositionalism is a (type of) theory that purports to answer this question. The present paper argues that semantic dispositionalism faces a heretofore unnoticed problem, one that ultimately comes down to its reliance on unanalyzed notions of repeated types of signs. In the context of responding to the rule‐following paradox—and offering a putative solution to it—this amounts to simply assuming a solution to the problem in one domain and using it to solve the same problem in another. Given, moreover, the level at which the rule‐following paradox undercuts dispositionalism—the level of the notion of a sign's repetition—the objections made to the view also rule out causal/informational theories of meaning as well as communitarian/assertion‐theoretic ones as potential solutions to the rule‐following paradox.
14‐3‐3 proteins regulate photomorphogenesis by facilitating light‐induced degradation of PIF3
Authors: Song Pengyu , Yang Zidan , Guo Can , Han Run , Wang Huaichang , Dong Jie , Kang Dingming , Guo Yan , Yang Shuhua , Li Jigang
Published: September 2022

14‐3‐3s are highly conserved phosphopeptide‐binding proteins that play important roles in various developmental and signaling pathways in plants. However, although protein phosphorylation has been proven to be a key mechanism for regulating many pivotal components of the light signaling pathway, the role of 14‐3‐3 proteins in photomorphogenesis remains largely obscure. PHYTOCHROME‐INTERACTING FACTOR3 (PIF3) is an extensively studied transcription factor repressing photomorphogenesis, and it is well‐established that upon red (R) light exposure, photo‐activated phytochrome B (phyB) interacts with PIF3 and induces its rapid phosphorylation and degradation. PHOTOREGULATORY PROTEIN KINASES (PPKs), a family of nuclear protein kinases, interact with phyB and PIF3 in R light and mediate multisite phosphorylation of PIF3 in vivo.

Here, we report that two members of the 14‐3‐3 protein family, 14‐3‐3λ and κ, bind to a serine residue in the bHLH domain of PIF3 that can be phosphorylated by PPKs, and act as key positive regulators of R light‐induced photomorphogenesis.

Moreover, 14‐3‐3λ and κ preferentially interact with photo‐activated phyB and promote the phyB‐PIF3‐PPK complex formation, thereby facilitating phyB‐induced phosphorylation and degradation of PIF3 upon R light exposure.

Together, our data demonstrate that 14‐3‐3λ and κ work in close concert with the phyB‐PIF3 module to regulate light signaling in Arabidopsis.
Environmental change alters nitrogen fixation rates and microbial parameters in a subarctic biological soil crust
Authors: Salazar Alejandro , Warshan Denis , Vasquez‐Mejia Clara , Andrésson Ólafur S.
Published: September 2022

Together, biological soil crust (BSC) and other cryptogamic groundcovers can contribute up to half of the global nitrogen (N) fixation. BSC also stabilizes the soil (reducing erosion and dust emissions), fixes carbon (C), retains moisture and acts as a hotspot of microbial diversity and activity. Much of the knowledge about how climate change is affecting the composition and functioning of BSC comes from hot arid and semiarid regions. The comparatively smaller body of research on BSC from cold and mesic environments has been primarily observational, for example along chronosequences after a glacier retreat. Few studies have experimentally investigated the effects of the environment on BSC from high latitudes. Such experiments allow unraveling of relationships at a resolution that can only be achieved by controlling for confounding factors. We measured short‐term (2–4 days) responses of a liverwort‐based Anthelia juratzkana BSC from the south of Iceland to a range of temperature, moisture and light conditions. Warming increased N fixation rates, especially when moisture was at a saturation level, and only when light was not limiting. A correlation analysis suggests that increases in N fixation rates were linked to cyanobacterial abundance on the BSC surface and to the rates of their metabolic activity. Warming and moisture changes also induced compositional and structural modification of the bacterial community, with consequences at the functional level. In contrast to many observations on BSC from hot drylands, the BSC from our cold and mesic study site is more limited by low temperature and light than by moisture. Our findings show possible ways in which BSC from cold and mesic ecosystems can respond to short‐term manifestations of climate change, such as increasingly frequent heat waves.
Influence of rigid lens decentration and rotation on visual image quality in normal and keratoconic eyes
Authors: Rozema Jos J. , Hastings Gareth D. , Jiménez‐García Marta , Koppen Carina , Applegate Raymond A.
Published: September 2022

Purpose

To investigate whether the movement of a rigid sphero‐cylindrical contact lens has a greater impact on the visual image quality in highly aberrated eyes than in normal eyes.

Methods

For 20 normal and 20 keratoconic SyntEyes, a previously determined best sphero‐cylindrical rigid lens was permitted to shift by up to ±1 mm from the line of sight and rotate up to ±15°. Each of the 52,111 lens locations sampled was ray‐traced to determine the influence on the wavefront aberration. In turn, the logarithm of visual Strehl ratio (log10[VSX]) was calculated for each aberration structure and was used to estimate the associated changes in logMAR visual acuity. Finally, contour surfaces of two‐letter change in visual acuity were plotted in three‐dimensional misalignment space, consisting of decentrations in the x and y directions and rotation, and volumes within these surfaces were calculated.

Results

The variations in image quality within the misalignment space were unique to each eye. A two‐letter loss was generally reached with smaller misalignments in keratoconic eyes (10.5 ± 4.7° of rotation or 0.27 ± 0.13 mm of shift) than in normal eyes (13.4 ± 1.8° and 0.39 ± 0.15 mm, respectively) due to larger cylindrical errors. For keratoconic eyes, on average, 14.4 ± 14.9% of misalignment space saw VSX values above the lower normal VSX threshold, well below the values of normal eyes of 48.5 ± 18.5%. In some eyes, a specific combination of lens shift and lens rotation away from the line of sight leads to a simulated improvement in visual image quality.

Conclusion

Variations in visual image quality due to the misalignment of rigid sphero‐cylindrical contact lens corrections are larger for keratoconic eyes than for normal eyes. In some cases, a specific misalignment may improve visual image quality, which could be considered in the design of the next generation of rigid contact lenses.
Information sharing and state revenue forecasting performance
Authors: Spreen Thomas L. , Martinez Guzman Juan P.
Published: September 2022

This study evaluates whether intergovernmental information sharing enhances forecasting performance. This is accomplished by examining the accuracy of state revenue forecasts following the federal passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017. The quantitative analysis suggests that states that shared information produced more accurate corporate income tax forecasts than nonsharing states. This result is consistent with surveys and interviews of federal and state officials that reported significant information‐sharing activity arising from uncertainty about the TCJA's corporate income tax provisions. This study demonstrates that information sharing plays an important yet overlooked role in mitigating forecast uncertainty.
The complex genome and adaptive evolution of polyploid Chinese pepper (Zanthoxylum armatum and Zanthoxylum bungeanum)
Authors: Hu Lisong , Xu Zhongping , Fan Rui , Wang Guanying , Wang Fuqiu , Qin Xiaowei , Yan Lin , Ji Xunzhi , Meng Minghui , Sim Soonliang , Chen Wei , Hao Chaoyun , Wang Qinghuang , Zhu Huaguo , Zhu Shu , Xu Pan , Zhao Hui , Lindsey Keith , Daniell Henry , Wendel Jonathan F. , Jin Shuangxia
Published: September 2022

Zanthoxylum armatum and Zanthoxylum bungeanum, known as ‘Chinese pepper’, are distinguished by their extraordinary complex genomes, phenotypic innovation of adaptive evolution and species‐special metabolites. Here, we report reference‐grade genomes of Z. armatum and Z. bungeanum. Using high coverage sequence data and comprehensive assembly strategies, we derived 66 pseudochromosomes comprising 33 homologous phased groups of two subgenomes, including autotetraploid Z. armatum. The genomic rearrangements and two whole‐genome duplications created large (~4.5 Gb) complex genomes with a high ratio of repetitive sequences (>82%) and high chromosome number (2n = 4x = 132). Further analysis of the high‐quality genomes shed lights on the genomic basis of involutional reproduction, allomones biosynthesis and adaptive evolution in Chinese pepper, revealing a high consistent relationship between genomic evolution, environmental factors and phenotypic innovation. Our study provides genomic resources and new insights for investigating diversification and phenotypic innovation in Chinese pepper, with broader implications for the protection of plants under severe environmental changes.
Varicella‐zoster virus in actively spreading segmental vitiligo skin: Pathological, immunochemical, and ultrastructural findings (a first and preliminary study)
Authors: Gauthier Yvon , Lepreux Sebastien , Cario‐Andre Muriel , Rambert Jérome , Dakdaki Adrien , Lafon Marie‐Edith , Abouqal Redouane , Benzekri Laila
Published: September 2022

Segmental vitiligo (SV) is a unilateral subtype of vitiligo which is clinically characterized by a cutaneous depigmentation and histologically by a melanocyte loss from the epidermis and hair follicle reservoirs. To date, its pathogenesis remains a mystery. In many cases, this skin depigmentation shares several clinical features and dysfunctions with herpes zoster (HZ). So, for the first time, we examined whether any nucleus and cell fusion associated with a positive immunolabelling of varicella‐zoster virus (VZV) and VZV mature virions could be found in SV skin samples as in herpes zoster (HZ). A total of 40 SV samples were used for histological and immunochemical studies. Control samples were obtained from three HZ, and 10 generalized vitiligo lesions. For ultrastructural study, three recent SV and one HZ as controls were recruited. Here, we report that nuclear fusion in epidermal cells were statistically associated with recent SV (p < .001), whereas syncytia formation was associated with long‐lasting SV (p = .001). A positive detection of VZV antigen was statistically associated in the epidermis with recent SV and in the dermis with long‐lasting SV (p = .001). Finally, the discovery of mature virions in 3/3 recent SV samples provides additional arguments for our viral hypothesis.
The calm before the storm: A punctuated equilibrium theory of international politics
Authors: Joly Jeroen , Richter Friederike
Published: September 2022

Research has shown that policymaking in numerous domestic policies, across a multitude of polities, systematically produces a pattern of change that matches Punctuated Equilibrium Theory (PET), characterized by many incremental and occasional dramatic changes. The field of International Relations (IR), however, has paid surprisingly little attention to PET, even though the same pattern of change is also found in international politics. This study attempts to fill this gap and explains stability and change in international politics based on PET. Specifically, we detail the dynamics behind this pattern of behavior, both at the domestic and the international level, as well as their interplay. The empirical section shows that different indicators of international politics, including troop deployments, foreign aid and international trade, follow a leptokurtic pattern of change, which characterizes Punctuated Equilibrium, and whereby changes in countries' behavior are generally incremental, representing periods of relative stability, and punctuated by large changes that dramatically overthrow existing policies. Moreover, our results indicate that policy outputs where greater friction is at play are more punctuated than those policies that cannot as easily or directly be managed. This study urges future research to further explore the dynamics of stability and change at the aggregate, international level.
Third‐country exchange rate effects on foreign direct investment flows: A global vector autoregessive approach
Authors: Sarnstrom Todd , Ryan Michael
Published: September 2022

We employ global vector autoregessive estimation to examine bilateral and third‐country exchange rate effects on U.S. FDI outflows. Our bilateral results mimic previous work on the topic and indicate host currency depreciation decreases FDI inflows. However, in contrast, third‐country exchange rates also decrease U.S. FDI outflows to those hosts. We find these exchange rate impacts are short‐lived and small relative to quarterly average U.S. outflows. This suggests a potential explanation for the mixed results in the exchange rateFDI literature; while exchange rates may have significant statistical impact on U.S. FDI outflows, typically they are not economically significant.
Association of the interaction between physical activity and sitting time with mortality in older Japanese adults
Authors: Watanabe Daiki , Yamada Yosuke , Yoshida Tsukasa , Watanabe Yuya , Hatamoto Yoichi , Fujita Hiroyuki , Miyachi Motohiko , Kimura Misaka
Published: September 2022

Purpose

To examine how physical activity (PA) and sitting time (ST) are associated with mortality in older Japanese adults.

Methodology

We used the data of 10 233 older Japanese adults aged ≥65 years who provided valid responses to the International Physical Activity Questionnaire‐Short Form (IPAQ‐SF) by a mail survey. Both PA and ST were assessed using the IPAQ‐SF. The results were classified into high or low categories using ≥3.0 metabolic equivalent PA (150 min/week) and ST (300 min/day) into the following four groups: High PA (HPA)/Low ST (LST), HPA/High ST (HST), Low PA (LPA)/LST, and LPA/HST. Mortality data were collected from July 30, 2011, to November 30, 2016. We assessed the interaction of PA and ST status with the risk of all‐cause mortality using the multivariable Cox proportional‐hazards model.

Results

A total of 1014 people were recorded to have died during a median follow‐up period of 5.3 years (51 553 person‐years). After adjustment for confounders, the risk of mortality was higher in the LPA/HST group than in all other groups (HPA/LST: reference; HPA/HST group: hazard ratio [HR] 0.86 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.66 to 1.12); LPA/LST group: HR 1.09 (95% CI: 0.88 to 1.35); LPA/HST group: HR 1.36 (95% CI: 1.10 to 1.67); and multiplicative interaction: HR 1.44 (95% CI: 1.07 to 1.94)).

Conclusions

The risk of mortality associated with LPA/HST depends on the level of PA, duration of ST, and their interaction with each other. Our results may be useful in ameliorating the adverse effects leading to mortality in individuals with lower PA, by reducing ST.
Motivational predictors of children's involvement in out‐of‐school activities: An application of a football program
Authors: Madsen Esben Elholm , Krustrup Peter , Hansen Tina , Aggestrup Charlotte Sandager , Ntoumanis Nikos , Larsen Carsten Hvid , Pfeffer Kristina , Ivarsson Andreas , Ryom Knud , Larsen Malte Nejst , Madsen Mads , Madsen Jeppe Elholm , Elbe Anne‐Marie
Published: September 2022

The “11 for Health in Denmark” in‐school educational football program has shown to have numerous positive physiological and psychological effects in 10‐ to 12‐year‐old schoolchildren. A key part of the successful application of the program, however, has not yet been examined, namely the motivational processes underlying participation and behavioral changes. This study examined such motivational processes (i.e., autonomous motivation, beliefs, and intentions) using the trans‐contextual model (TCM) and investigated if the 11 for Health in Denmark program increased intentions to participate in physical activity (PA) outside of school in 10‐ to 12‐year‐old schoolchildren. Using a web‐based questionnaire, Danish‐speaking schoolchildren (N = 276 [boys, 50.4%]; Mage = 10.44, SD = 0.35) from three schools and seven classes completed TCM‐based questionnaires at three time‐points (weeks 0, 1, and 5) while participating in the 11 for Health in Denmark program. Single‐indicator structural equation modeling was performed to examine goodness‐of‐fit and parameter estimates. A path analysis using maximum likelihood estimation was used to test the direct and indirect effects of the TCM model. The results partly supported a mediation sequence, as we found significant direct effects in eight of 13 motivational variables (β = −0.25–0.83, p < 0.05), indirect effects in one of nine variables (β = 0.15, p < 0.01), but no effects with regard to PA behavior. Findings provide evidence for a motivational link between Danish‐speaking schoolchildren's autonomous and controlled motivation from in school to out of school, and may inform future interventions promoting motivation and participation in out of school PA.
Membership, obligation, and the communitarian thesis
Authors: Fives Allyn
Published: September 2022

Why do we have obligations to the community to which we happen to belong? For communitarians, membership does more than provide the context for asking this question. In fact, the simple fact of membership goes some way towards justifying our obligations. According to the strong version of the communitarian thesis, membership is the fundamental consideration justifying political obligation; but for the weaker version, membership is one consideration among others and at times may be the less weighty one. John Horton's theory of associative obligations can be read as moving back and forth between strong and weak communitarianism. His communitarianism is strong when he rejects value pluralism, arguing that one consideration, membership, is fundamental. However, Horton also advances claims that are compatible with not only the weak version of the communitarian thesis but also value pluralism. They suggest that, if membership is one reason among others to justify obligations, it is not fundamental as it can be defeated by other considerations.
An Experimental and Computational Study on Triple Injection Strategies to Reduce Cold Start Diesel Engine Emissions
Authors: Ross Taylor W. , Naser Nimal , Robarge Nan , Kokjohn Sage L.
Published: September 2022

The effect of triple injection strategies in a diesel engine to reduce cold start emissions were experimentally and computationally investigated in this work. The experiments were performed using a 1.9 L four-cylinder, turbocharged compression ignition engine with diesel fuel. As a representative of the cold start condition in the diesel engine, a low load condition of 1500 rpm and 2 bar brake mean effective pressure (BMEP) was chosen as the fixed condition for this study. The injection strategy made use of a late post injection to reduce catalyst light-off time. The pilot and main injections are fixed and the post injection timing is swept later into the expansion stroke to increase exhaust enthalpy available to heat the aftertreatment system. To further understand the source of hydrocarbon (HC) emissions from late injections, equivalent experiments were conducted with a mixture of n-heptane and iso-octane that matched the reactivity of the diesel fuel. The mixture of primary reference fuels (i.e., PRF 34) obtained by matching the cetane number (CN) of diesel fuel, showed similar combustion characteristics of diesel, but is much more volatile due to lighter components in the PRF mixture. The increased volatility of PRF 34 suppressed liquid fuel impingement on the cylinder liner, which isolated liner impingement as a possible source of HC emissions. Simulations were also performed for the present engine configuration and operating conditions in a sector mesh using CONVERGE™. The physical properties of diesel fuel were modeled using a five-component surrogate. The chemical kinetics of the diesel fuel were modeled with a reduced n-heptane model. The simulations were able to capture the experimental trends of combustion characteristics and emissions. The HC emissions were observed to increase for both fuels with retarded post injection timings in engine experiments. PRF 34 had comparable HC emissions to diesel experiments, which indicated that the liner impingement is not the main source of the increase in HC emissions. Overmixing of the fuel and air was identified as the major cause of increase in HC emissions. Additionally, exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) also intensified the overmixing phenomenon and thereby increase in HC emissions.
Application of Machine Learning to Forced Response Predictions of an Industrial Axial Compressor Rotor Blade
Authors: Bruni Giuseppe , Krishnababu Senthil , Jackson Simon
Published: September 2022

Machine learning has gone way beyond a ground-breaking technology a few decades ago to now taken for granted in many day-to-day activities. It is now providing new ways for manufacturing, assembling, operating, monitoring, and maintaining products. Typical application areas include performance optimization, quality improvements, fault detection and predictive maintenance. In this paper application of machine learning algorithms to forced response prediction during the design and analysis of a typical gas turbine compressor blade is reported. The forced response prediction process typically involves utilizing harmonic or time domain computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analyses to compute the forcing and the aero damping, to calculate reserve factors that represent the high cycle fatigue life of the blade. This time-consuming process is generally limited to the later phases of the design cycle and can lead to hundreds of calculations if one must address all the resonances in a typical twin shaft running range. A neural network trained using historical data is used to directly predict the reserve factor with high confidence without the need for costlier high fidelity CFD by using just the finite elements (FE) predicted parameters. This allows to perform high-fidelity aero-mechanical assessment at an early stage in the design process. Further, application of image recognition using a convoluted neural network to aid in the identification of FE predicted Modeshapes is also demonstrated, which can also improve the quality of the reserve factor predictions.
Characterization of an Apparatus to Study Solid Deposit Formation in Lubricating Oils at High Temperatures
Authors: Juárez Raquel , Gutierrez Noble , Petersen Eric L.
Published: September 2022

When exposed to excessively high temperatures, the lubricating oils in turbines undergo extreme oxidation and thermal degradation processes that eventually result in the formation of solid deposits that can, in turn, cause operational problems. This work describes the testing and characterization process of a newly constructed test rig that studies the propensity of lubricants to form such deposits. In the test rig, the lubricant flows through a heated tube, thermally degrades or oxidizes, and forms solid deposits that adhere to the heated surface. An oil flow rate calibration curve as a function of pump speed was developed using two oils, Castrol GTX 20W-50 and Mobil DTE 732. The steady-state axial temperature distribution along the heated tube was measured for temperature settings of up to 475 °C and flow rates of 10.4, 12.2, and 13.9 mL/min using Mobil DTE 732. The results showed that the surface temperature is not uniform, but that it varies axially as is expected from the heat transfer in the thermal entrance region of a pipe with laminar flow. Examples of the results of tests performed with the apparatus using Mobil DTE 732 and Castrol GTX 20W-50 flowing at 10.4 mL/min with surface temperatures between 328 and 489 °C are presented. Based on these tests, it is clear that the induction time for solid-deposit formation can be unambiguously determined using the experimental apparatus. The induction times of the sample tests described were found to be 638 ± 10 min and 86 ± 10 min for Mobil DTE 732 and Castrol GTX 20W-50, respectively.
The Role of Industry 4.0 Technologies in Manufacturing Sustainability Assessment
Authors: Ramanujan Devarajan , Bernstein William Z. , Diaz-Elsayed Nancy , Haapala Karl R.
Published: September 2022

To understand the past successes and future opportunities for applying Industry 4.0 technologies toward manufacturing sustainability assessment, this state-of-the-art review examines previous literature at the intersection of these domains. Specifically, we focus on the application of Industry 4.0 technologies in the context of the following stages in manufacturing sustainability assessment: (i) planning, infrastructure development, and problem definition, (ii) performance measurement, (iii) results interpretation and decision-making, as well as (iv) intervention, control, and validation strategies. On the basis of the literature review, we present the trends, benefits, research gaps, and required future work for holistically integrating the research domains mentioned above. To accompany this literature review, we performed a meta-analysis of 14,498 articles and compared them to 316 articles compiled from a focused literature search. Based on database-controlled keywords, networks representing keyword co-occurrences were constructed to reveal clusters of related terms and evaluate overall term centrality (i.e., importance). Results from this analysis showed that the two datasets exhibited a similar network structure and also helped reveal Industry 4.0-related opportunities for manufacturing sustainability assessment. They include areas such as automation, robotics, and advanced inspection technologies, which are yet to be exploited in manufacturing sustainability assessment. Further research is needed to investigate whether the incorporation of such areas can (i) facilitate more robust and accessible assessments of manufacturing sustainability and (ii) make manufacturing systems themselves more sustainable.
“STAR WARS™: The First Jedi” Gamification Program: Improvement of Fitness Among College Students
Authors: Mora-Gonzalez Jose , Navarro-Mateos Carmen , Pérez-López Isaac J.
Published: September 2022

Purpose: To examine the effects of a 14-week gamification-based physical education teaching program on fitness in college students. Method: A convenience sample of 112 college students (21.22 ± 2.55 years) was distributed among a gamification-based group or a control group (i.e., traditional teaching). College students from the gamification group used a game-based mobile app under the narrative of “STAR WARS™” with a countdown, so they had to gain lifetime. Cardiorespiratory fitness was assessed by the 20-m shuttle run test. Muscular fitness was measured by the handgrip strength and the standing broad jump tests. Results: Participants from the gamification program reported a significantly higher cardiorespiratory fitness and upper and lower body muscular fitness at postintervention, indicated by an effect size of 0.86 (p < .001), 0.18 (p = .018), and 0.52 (p < .001), respectively. Conclusion: Gamification can have an important implication on students’ motivation toward higher fitness.
Activation of TrkB-Akt signaling rescues deficits in a mouse model of SCA6
Authors: Cook Anna A. , Jayabal Sriram , Sheng Jacky , Fields Eviatar , Leung Tsz Chui Sophia , Quilez Sabrina , McNicholas Eileen , Lau Lois , Huang Shixia , Watt Alanna J.
Published: September 2022

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 6 (SCA6) is a neurodegenerative disease resulting in motor coordination deficits and cerebellar pathology. Expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is reduced in postmortem tissue from SCA6 patients. Here, we show that levels of cerebellar BDNF and its receptor, tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB), are reduced at an early disease stage in a mouse model of SCA6 (SCA6
84Q/84Q
). One month of exercise elevated cerebellar BDNF expression and improved ataxia and cerebellar Purkinje cell firing rate deficits. A TrkB agonist, 7,8-dihydroxyflavone (7,8-DHF), likewise improved motor coordination and Purkinje cell firing rate and elevated downstream Akt signaling. Prolonged 7,8-DHF administration persistently improved ataxia when treatment commenced near disease onset but was ineffective when treatment was started late. These data suggest that 7,8-DHF, which is orally bioavailable and crosses the blood-brain barrier, is a promising therapeutic for SCA6 and argue for the importance of early intervention for SCA6.
“Omics” data unveil early molecular response underlying limb regeneration in the Chinese mitten crab,
Eriocheir sinensis
Authors: Wang Jun , Chen Xiaowen , Hou Xin , Wang Jingan , Yue Wucheng , Huang Shu , Xu Gangchun , Yan Jizhou , Lu Guoqing , Hofreiter Michael , Li Chenhong , Wang Chenghui
Published: September 2022

Limb regeneration is a fascinating and medically interesting trait that has been well preserved in arthropod lineages, particularly in crustaceans. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying arthropod limb regeneration remain largely elusive. The Chinese mitten crab
Eriocheir sinensis
shows strong regenerative capacity, a trait that has likely allowed it to become a worldwide invasive species. Here, we report a chromosome-level genome of
E. sinensis
as well as large-scale transcriptome data during the limb regeneration process. Our results reveal that arthropod-specific genes involved in signal transduction, immune response, histone methylation, and cuticle development all play fundamental roles during the regeneration process. Particularly,
Innexin2
-mediated signal transduction likely facilitates the early stage of the regeneration process, while an effective crustacean-specific prophenoloxidase system (ProPo-AS) plays crucial roles in the initial immune response. Collectively, our findings uncover novel genetic pathways pertaining to arthropod limb regeneration and provide valuable resources for studies on regeneration from a comparative perspective.
Temporal gene expression patterns in the coral
Euphyllia paradivisa
reveal the complexity of biological clocks in the cnidarian-algal symbiosis
Authors: Rinsky Mieka , Weizman Eviatar , Ben-Asher Hiba Waldman , Eyal Gal , Zhu Bokai , Levy Oren
Published: September 2022

Studying chronobiology in reef-building corals is challenging due to the tightly coupled symbiosis with their photosynthetic algae, Symbiodiniaceae. Although symbiosis requires metabolic synchronization and coordination of cellular processes in the holobiont, the cross-talk between the host and symbiont’s clocks is still puzzling. Here, we use the mesophotic coral
Euphyllia paradivisa
to examine temporal gene expression patterns in symbiotic and aposymbiotic morphs exposed to natural light/dark cycles and constant darkness. Our comparative transcriptomic analyses revealed circadian and circatidal cycles of gene expression with a predominant diel pattern in both coral morphs. We found a substantial number of transcripts consistently rhythmic under both light conditions, including genes likely involved in the cnidarians’ circadian clock, thus indicating that an endogenous clock, which can oscillate independently from the Symbiodiniaceae clock, exists in
E. paradivisa
. The analysis further manifests the remarkable impacts of symbiosis on transcriptional rhythms and implies that the algae’s presence influences the host’s biorhythm.