bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Structure and property evolution of LaYbZr2O7/YSZ heterogeneous interface in double‐layer thermal barrier coatings after thermal exposure
Authors: Lu Yang , Sun Jian , Liu Guanghua , Liu Wei , Liu Xiangyang , Pan Wei , Wan Chunlei
Published: July 2024

Double‐layer thermal barrier coatings are one of the development directions of thermal barrier coatings technology. LaYbZr2O7 (LYZO) has high toughness and low thermal conductivity, making it promising for use as a high‐temperature thermal barrier coating. However, its relatively poor mechanical properties, especially low fracture toughness, limit its further application. Therefore, we prepared a double‐layer coating of LYZO and Y2O3 partially stabilized ZrO2 (YSZ) using atmospheric plasma spraying, with the inner layer being YSZ and the outer layer being LYZO. The results showed that after spraying, LYZO was in the metastable fluorite phase, while YSZ was in the tetragonal phase. LYZO and YSZ had good chemical compatibility, and an interaction layer formed at the interface between them, with its thickness increasing with the sintering time. Eventually, after 100 h of heat treatment, the thickness reached 12 µm. The hardness of the LYZO/YSZ interface increased with the sintering time, reaching a maximum value after sintering at 1300°C for 10 h. When evaluating the interfacial bonding strength using indentation method, the length of cracks caused by indentation significantly decreased with the increase of sintering time. The increase in bonding strength can be attributed to the formation of a reaction layer and the reduction of thermal residual stresses. Raman spectroscopy was used to measure the thermal residual strain at the LYZO/YSZ interface. Unbalanced distribution of thermal residual stress and M phase was observed near the interface. As the sintering time increased, both thermal residual stress and M phase content decreased. In summary, the double‐layer thermal barrier coating of LYZO/YSZ has good potential for development.
Enhanced sintering resistance in LaYbZr2O7 system through HfO2 doping for thermal insulation ceramic materials
Authors: Zhu Bofeng , Li Kangxin , Sun Jian , Liu Guanghua , Liu Xiangyang , Liu Wei , Pan Wei , Wan Chunlei
Published: July 2024

The increase in operating temperature contributes to improving the performance and fuel utilization efficiency of gas turbines. However, it also places thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) in a more demanding working environment, requiring higher sintering resistance and better mechanical properties. In the present study, HfO2 was introduced into the dual‐phase LaYbZr2O7 system as a doping oxide to form the LaYb(HfxZr1−x)2O7 system. The research concentrated on its phase composition, mechanical properties, and thermophysical properties. The results show that substituting Hf for Zr does not alter the dual‐phase structure of the system. The mutual inhibition between the two phases and the inherent material‐binding capability of Hf further reduce the grain size compared to pure LYZO. Additionally, the presence of Hf reduces the tendency of Frenkel defect formation and cation migration frequency, effectively inhibiting ion diffusion and thereby suppressing the densification and shrinkage trends of the material. The system retains relatively high hardness, fracture toughness, and low elastic modulus of the LYZO matrix, with a decrease in thermal conductivity and an increase in infrared reflectivity. These results suggest that Hf doping enhances the sintering resistance of LYZO material, making them promising for high‐temperature TBCs. Our study presents a viable approach to enhance the sintering resistance of LYZO, and this methodology can be extrapolated to other rare‐earth zirconates.
Multiple‐trait genomic prediction for swine meat quality traits using gut microbiome features as a correlated trait
Authors: Tiezzi Francesco , Schwab Clint , Shull Caleb , Maltecca Christian
Published: July 2024

Traits such as meat quality and composition are becoming valuable in modern pork production; however, they are difficult to include in genetic evaluations because of the high phenotyping costs. Combining genomic information with multiple‐trait indirect selection with cheaper indicator traits is an alternative for continued cost‐effective genetic improvement. Additionally, gut microbiome information is becoming more affordable to measure using targeted rRNA sequencing, and its applications in animal breeding are becoming relevant. In this paper, we investigated the usefulness of microbial information as a correlated trait in selecting meat quality in swine. This study incorporated phenotypic data encompassing marbling, colour, tenderness, loin muscle and backfat depth, along with the characterization of gut (rectal) microbiota through 16S rRNA sequencing at three distinct time points of the animal's growth curve. Genetic progress estimation and cross‐validation were employed to evaluate the utility of utilizing host genomic and gut microbiota information for selecting expensive‐to‐record traits in crossbred individuals. Initial steps involved variance components estimation using multiple‐trait models on a training dataset, where the top 25 associated operational taxonomic units (OTU) for each meat quality trait and time point were included. The second step compared the predictive ability of multiple‐trait models incorporating different numbers of OTU with single‐trait models in a validation set. Results demonstrated the advantage of including genomic information for some traits, while in some instances, gut microbial information proved advantageous, namely, for marbling and pH. The study suggests further investigation into the shared genetic architecture between microbial features and traits, considering microbial data's compositional and high‐dimensional nature. This research proposes a straightforward method to enhance swine breeding programs for improving costly‐to‐record traits like meat quality by incorporating gut microbiome information.
Effects of semi‐rigid plastic tray geometry on quality characteristics of a retort food simulant
Authors: Stowe Curtis H. , Bangar Sneh Punia , Whiteside William Scott , Thomas Ronald L.
Published: July 2024

The present study aims to investigate how the geometric shapes of semi‐rigid plastic trays impact the quality characteristics of a retort processed food simulant. Initially, oval, triangular, rectangular, and round‐shaped plastic trays with a tomato‐based food simulant were subjected to retorting at rotational speeds of 6 and 11 revolutions per minute (RPM), and various food quality attributes were assessed. At 6 RPM, triangle‐shaped and round‐shaped trays exhibited a significantly greater reduction (p < 0.05) in ascorbic acid (AA) content compared to oval or rectangular‐shaped trays. Furthermore, there were no significant differences (p > 0.05) in lycopene and hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) content change from control among the different tray shapes at 6 RPM. However, hexanal content change was found to be greater in rectangular‐shaped trays than in oval‐shaped trays, while no significant difference was observed between triangular and round‐shaped trays. Both triangular and rectangular‐shaped trays showed a substantially greater (p < 0.05) total color difference (ΔE) compared to other shapes. This data suggests the presence of a temperature gradient in the food simulant influenced by the tray's shape. At 11 RPM, oval and round‐shaped trays showed a significant reduction in AA content, while rectangular‐shaped trays exhibited higher lycopene levels compared to oval and round trays. There was an increase in HMF response from control across all tray shapes; however, differentiation between shapes was not significant (p > 0.05), while both triangle and round‐shaped trays had elevated hexanal content as compared to oval‐shaped trays (p < 0.05). Oval, round, and triangle‐shaped trays all exhibited a greater ΔE than rectangular‐shaped trays. In summary, oval and round‐shaped trays exhibited a more pronounced change in AA content at 11 RPM, indicating a faster temperature equilibration. In contrast, triangle and rectangular‐shaped trays displayed elevated total color differences at 6 RPM, which may suggest the presence of a temperature gradient leading to uneven heating due to their respective shapes.

Practical applications

This information would be applicable to new food products designed for thermal treatment in which the packaging shape could be manipulated to not only fit infrastructure requirements (packaging equipment, processing equipment, distribution devices) but also help support heat penetration at an optimal rate. Depending on product type and makeup, this approach may hold some value to the product developer whose product will be packaged in semi‐rigid plastic containers.
Genetic evidence for the causal impact of insomnia on gastrointestinal diseases and the mediating effects of adiposity traits
Authors: Wang Jing , Sui Wan‐Nian , Zhao Yu‐Qiang , Meng Shi‐Yin , Han Wen‐Xiu , Ni Jing
Published: July 2024

Background and Aim

Insomnia has been implicated in gastrointestinal diseases (GIs), but the causal effect between insomnia and GIs and underlying mechanisms remain unknown.

Methods

By using the released summary‐level data, we conducted a two‐step Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to examine the relationship between insomnia and four GIs and estimate the mediating role of candidate mediators. The first step was to investigate the causal association between insomnia and GIs using univariable MR analysis. The second step was to estimate the mediation proportion of selected mediators in these associations using multivariable MR analysis. Subsequently, results from different datasets were combined using the fixed‐effect meta‐analysis.

Results

Univariable MR analysis provided strong evidence for the causal effects of insomnia on four GIs after Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons, including peptic ulcer disease (PUD) (odds ratio [OR] = 1.15, 95% interval confidence [CI] = 1.10–1.20, P = 1.83 × 10−9), gastroesophageal reflux (GORD) (OR = 1.19, 95% CI = 1.16–1.22, P = 5.95 × 10−42), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) (OR = 1.18, 95% CI = 1.15–1.22, P = 8.69 × 10−25), and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) (OR = 1.09, 95% CI = 1.03–1.05, P = 3.46 × 10−3). In the mediation analysis, body mass index (BMI) and waist‐to‐hip ratio (WHR) were selected as mediators in the association between insomnia and PUD (BMI: mediation proportion [95% CI]: 13.61% [7.64%–20.70%]; WHR: 8.74% [5.50%–12.44%]) and GORD (BMI: 11.82% [5.94%–18.74%]; WHR: 7.68% [4.73%–11.12%]).

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that genetically instrumented insomnia has causal effects on PUD, GORD, IBS, and IBD, respectively. Adiposity traits partially mediated the associations between insomnia and GIs. Further clinical studies are warranted to evaluate the protective effect of insomnia treatment on GIs.
Disparities in end‐of‐life care for minoritized racial and ethnic patients during terminal hospitalizations in New York State
Authors: Cid Miguel , Quan Vega Main Lin , Yang Zhixin , Guglielminotti Jean , Li Guohua , Hua May
Published: July 2024

Background

Racial and ethnic minorities often receive care at different hospitals than non‐Hispanic white patients, but how hospital characteristics influence the occurrence of disparities at the end of life is unknown. The aim of this study was to determine if disparities in end‐of‐life care were present among minoritized patients during terminal hospitalizations, and if these disparities varied with hospital characteristics.

Methods

We identified hospitalizations where a patient died in New York State, 2016–2018. Using multilevel logistic regression, we examined whether documented end‐of‐life care (do‐not‐resuscitate status (DNR), palliative care (PC) encounter) differed by race and ethnicity, and whether these disparities differed based on receiving care in hospitals with varying characteristics (Black or Hispanic‐serving hospital; teaching status; bed size; and availability of specialty palliative care).

Results

We identified 143,713 terminal hospitalizations in 188 hospitals. Across all hospitals, only Black patients were less likely to have a PC encounter (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 0.83 [0.80–0.87]) or DNR status (aOR 0.91 [0.87–0.95]) when compared with non‐Hispanic White patients, while Hispanic patients were more likely to have DNR status (aOR 1.07 [1.01–1.13]). In non‐teaching hospitals, all minoritized groups had decreased odds of PC (aOR 0.80 [0.76–0.85] for Black, aOR 0.91 [0.85–0.98] for Hispanic, aOR 0.93 [0.88–0.98] for Others), while in teaching hospitals, only Black patients had a decreased likelihood of a PC encounter (aOR 0.88 [0.82–0.93]). Also, Black patients in a Black‐serving hospitals were less likely to have DNR status (aOR 0.80 [0.73–0.87]). Disparities did not differ based on whether specialty PC was available (p = 0.27 for PC encounter, p = 0.59 for DNR status).

Conclusion

During terminal hospitalizations, Black patients were less likely than non‐Hispanic White patients to have documented end‐of‐life care. This disparity appears to be more pronounced in non‐teaching hospitals than in teaching hospitals.
The wavenumber linearisation without calibration device for spectral‐domain optical coherence tomography
Authors: Wu Xiupin , Gao Wanrong , Qiu Zhiyuan , Wang Chunyou
Published: July 2024

The wavenumber nonlinearity leads to blurred reconstructed images in spectral‐domain optical coherence tomography (SDOCT). In this work, a wavenumber‐linearisation method without calibration devices is presented, based on the fact that the difference between the phases of adjacent peak and valley points is equal to . The theoretical model is derived, and the efficacy of the method was proven by acquiring SDOCT data from TiO2 phantom and zebrafish. The results exhibit the superior performance of our method. Compared with the linear phase‐based method, the resolution could be improved at least a factor of 2. Compared with the polynomial fitting method, the resolution could also be improved by nearly half.
Midwives’ and Obstetric Physicians’ Practices Related to Pregnancy Nutrition Counseling: A Scoping Review
Authors: Erbe Katherine , Liese Kylea , Tussing‐Humphreys Lisa , Papautsky Elizabeth Lerner , Rutherford Julienne , Koenig Mary Dawn
Published: July 2024

Introduction

Dietary intake during pregnancy impacts short‐ and long‐term maternal and fetal health outcomes. Dietary habits are highly individualized and influenced by contextual factors and social determinants of health within each person's lived environment. Midwives and other health care providers are well positioned to facilitate nutrition conversations and interventions with patients related to recommendations and modifications before and during pregnancy. This scoping review synthesizes the literature on perinatal care providers’ attitudes and practices related to antenatal nutrition counseling.

Methods

An electronic database literature search was conducted in March 2023 using the following inclusion criteria: English language, published between 1990 and 2023, completed in high‐income countries, and evaluated provider practices related to educating pregnancy patients on nutrition. Exclusion criteria included comparison or interventional studies as well as those focused on patient perspectives, specialty diets, comorbidities, or pregnancy complications. Thematic analysis was completed to identify common themes and subthemes across studies related to perinatal care providers’ perspectives of pregnancy nutrition.

Results

Thirty‐six articles were included in the final review. Although providers acknowledged the importance of nutrition for pregnancy outcomes, few reported being able to cover the topic in‐depth during antenatal visits. Counseling was usually generalized, limited in scope, and lacked consideration of patient‐specific contextual factors such as dietary restrictions, preferences, or access to resources needed to follow recommendations. Provider barriers to comprehensive nutrition counseling included lack of training and time during clinic visits and limited availability of guidelines.

Discussion

Multiple gaps in current pregnancy nutrition counseling practices exist. Despite nutrition being viewed by perinatal care providers as an important part of pregnancy, multiple barriers lead to it being overlooked during patient‐provider interactions. Contextual factors for both providers and patients contribute to failure of current interventions to consistently and significantly impact dietary habits of pregnant people.
Marital separation, reconciliation, and repartnering in later life
Authors: Brown Susan L. , Lin I‐Fen , Marino Francesca A. , Mellencamp Kagan A.
Published: July 2024

Objective

The growth in gray divorce raises new questions about the marital dissolution process experienced by older adults. Our goal was to assess patterns of reconciliation among couples following marital separation, treating forming a union with a new partner as a competing risk.

Background

Repartnering after a gray divorce is common, particularly among men. However, the extent to which older adults reconcile with their spouses is unknown. In line with the few prior studies on marital reconciliation among younger people, we anticipated that spouses with fewer resources and more marital‐specific capital would be more likely to reconcile.

Method

Using the 1998–2018 Health and Retirement Study, we tracked women and men who experienced a marital separation after age 50 to evaluate their propensities to reconcile with their spouse versus form a coresidential union (i.e., cohabitation or remarriage) with a new partner relative to remaining separated.

Results

Roughly 7% of women and 11% of men reconciled with their spouses, whereas 12% of women and 26% of men instead formed unions with a new partner within 10 years of marital separation. We expected that having fewer resources and greater relationship‐specific investments would encourage reconciliation, but results were mixed for women and men alike. Resources did tend to be positively associated with repartnering, particularly for men.

Conclusion

Our study contributes to the emerging research on repartnering after late‐life divorce as well as the limited literature on marital reconciliation by underscoring the utility of examining both reconciliation and repartnering as potential outcomes following marital separation.
How we get along depends on how you make me feel: An episodic perspective on leader–follower emotional entrainment and daily interaction quality
Authors: Stollberger Jakob , Gerpott Fabiola H. , Rivkin Wladislaw
Published: July 2024

Leader–follower relationships are a cornerstone of leadership research. Considering recent developments that point to emotions as key determinants of dyadic relationships, we shift the focus of this literature to the episodic interplay of leader emotional expressions and follower emotional reactions for the emergence of high‐quality interactions. Specifically, we develop an emotional entrainment perspective stating that the trajectory of leader emotional expressions and corresponding follower emotional reactions over the course of a day gives rise to follower perceptions of their interaction quality with their leader. We glean additional insights by examining follower attachment styles as a moderator. Results of an experience sampling study (Nemployees = 72, Ndays = 479) demonstrate that emotional entrainment of high‐activated emotions (joy and fear) predicts end‐of‐day interaction quality contingent on followers' (avoidant and anxious) attachment styles. Future avenues for research on the emergence of high‐quality leader–follower relationships are discussed.
Impact of vertical alveoloplasty on changes in keratinized mucosa width following full‐arch immediate implant placement and rehabilitations: A prospective case series
Authors: Wei Donghao , Jiang Xi , Luo Jia , Yi Xiaosong , Lin Ye , Ren Shuxin
Published: July 2024

Purpose

This prospective case series aimed to investigate the effect of vertical alveoloplasty on the changes in keratinized mucosa width (KMW) following full‐arch immediate implant placement and rehabilitation.

Materials and Methods

A total of 17 potential edentulous patients were enrolled and received implant placement and full‐arch implant‐supported immediate rehabilitations. The main outcome was to analyze the effect of vertical alveoloplasty on the changes in KMW. The amount of vertical alveoloplasty during implant surgery as well as the changes in KMW at buccal aspects from the day of surgery to 6 months post‐surgery were recorded on the implant‐level using a periodontal probe. The secondary outcome was to analyze the other possible factors that affected the changes in KMW. The included factors were the initial KMW, the distribution of implants in the maxilla and mandible, the distribution of implants in the anterior and posterior regions, the distribution of implants in extraction sockets and healed ridges, and gender. Mann‐Whitney non‐parametric tests and multiple linear regression adjusted by generalized estimating equations (GEE) were used to statistically analyze the data.

Results

A total of 121 implant positions were analyzed. The KMW was 4.1± 2.0 mm on the day of the surgery and 4.1± 1.7 mm 6 months post‐surgery. The mean changes in KMW following 6 months were −0.1± 1.6 mm (p = 0.824). From the results of GEE, the vertical amount of alveoloplasty had no significant effect on changes in KMW. Both initial KMW and the distribution of implants in the anterior and posterior regions had significant impacts on the changes in KMW (p < 0.0001).

Conclusion

The amount of vertical alveoloplasty during implant surgery has no significant impact on the KMW. The KMW remained stable from baseline to 6 months after alveoloplasty, implant placement, and immediate rehabilitations in potential edentulous arches. The initial KMW and the distribution of implants in the anterior and posterior regions were the possible factors affecting changes in KMW.
Sodium‐glucose transport protein 2 inhibitor use in the management of insulin dysregulation in ponies and horses
Authors: Menzies‐Gow Nicola J. , Knowles Edward J.
Published: July 2024

Laminitis is a common and painful condition of the equine foot and approximately 90% of cases are associated with insulin dysregulation (ID) that is a central feature of the common endocrine disorder equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) and occurs in a subset of animals with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction. Additional features of EMS include obesity, altered circulating concentrations of adipokines (particularly adiponectin and leptin) and hypertriglyceridaemia. Obesity, ID, hypoadiponectinaemia, hyperleptinaemia and an altered plasma lipid profile are also features of human metabolic syndrome (HMS) alongside hyperglycaemia. Sodium‐glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) are a novel class of oral hypoglycaemic agents used in combination with lifestyle changes in the management of HMS. SGLT2 receptors are responsible for 90% of the renal glucose reabsorption that occurs in the proximal convoluted tubule. Thus, these drugs increase urinary glucose excretion by suppressing glucose reabsorption from the glomerular filtrate resulting in urinary calorie loss with consequent weight loss and improvements in ID, hyperglycemia, hypoadiponectinaemia and hyperleptinaemia. There are no licenced veterinary drugs available for treating ID and preventing insulin‐associated laminitis in horses. Thus, the use of SGLT2i for the control of equine hyperinsulinaemia with the goal of improving recovery from associated active laminitis or preventing future laminitis has recently been advocated. There are a small number of published studies reporting the use of the SGLT2i canagliflozin, ertugliflozin and velagliflozin to aid the management of equine ID. However, the doses used are largely extrapolated from human studies with limited consideration of species‐specific variations. In addition, there is limited evaluation of the fundamental differences between ID in horses and humans, particularly the fact that most horses with ID remain hyperinsulinaemic but normoglycaemic such that increased urinary loss of glucose may not explain the beneficial effects of these drugs. Further study of the potential deleterious effects of treatment‐associated hypertriglyceridaemia is required together with the effect of SGLT2i therapy on circulating concentrations of adipokines in horses.
Differentiation in detoxification gene complements, including neofunctionalization of duplicated cytochrome P450 genes, between lineages of cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera
Authors: Zhang Jianpeng , Shi Yu , Yang Yihua , Oakeshott John G. , Wu Yidong
Published: July 2024

Here we investigate the evolutionary dynamics of five enzyme superfamilies (CYPs, GSTs, UGTs, CCEs and ABCs) involved in detoxification in Helicoverpa armigera. The reference assembly for an African isolate of the major lineages, H. a. armigera, has 373 genes in the five superfamilies. Most of its CYPs, GSTs, UGTs and CCEs and a few of its ABCs occur in blocks and most of the clustered genes are in subfamilies specifically implicated in detoxification. Most of the genes have orthologues in the reference genome for the Oceania lineage, H. a. conferta. However, clustered orthologues and subfamilies specifically implicated in detoxification show greater sequence divergence and less constraint on non‐synonymous differences between the two assemblies than do other members of the five superfamilies. Two duplicated CYPs, which were found in the H. a. armigera but not H. a. conferta reference genome, were also missing in 16 Chinese populations spanning two different lineages of H. a. armigera. The enzyme produced by one of these duplicates has higher activity against esfenvalerate than a previously described chimeric CYP mutant conferring pyrethroid resistance. Various transposable elements were found in the introns of most detoxification genes, generating diverse gene structures. Extensive resequencing data for the Chinese H. a. armigera and H. a. conferta lineages also revealed complex copy number polymorphisms in 17 CCE001s in a cluster also implicated in pyrethroid metabolism, with substantial haplotype differences between all three lineages. Our results suggest that cotton bollworm has a versatile complement of detoxification genes which are evolving in diverse ways across its range.
A scoping review and theory‐informed conceptual model of professional identity formation in medical education: Commentary from a clinical psychology perspective
Authors: Schubert Samantha , Hunt Caroline , Monrouxe Lynn V.
Published: July 2024

Medicine and psychology share challenges adopting theory to enhance education. Here Schubert et al. use a social constructionist view to highlight how identities form and evolve, guiding educators to provide support.
China's Legal Governance Approaches toward Safeguarding Its Maritime Rights and Interests
Authors: Chang Yen‐Chiang , Jian Anqi , Zhao Xiaonan
Published: July 2024

Ocean development is crucial for modern states, and the importance of safeguarding and developing ocean rights and interests is becoming increasingly apparent. Economic development relies on the ocean, as does national sovereignty, security, and interests. In addition, national political and military development also depends on the ocean. China has long been committed to safeguarding its own ocean rights and interests, while also actively promoting the development of the international legal order for the ocean. In terms of international legislation, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea provides a legal basis for safeguarding ocean rights and interests and plays a regulatory role in the maintenance of maritime rights and interests for all states. In terms of domestic legislation, many ocean laws in China play an important role in safeguarding China's maritime security and ocean rights and interests. As an important part of the legal system for safeguarding ocean rights and interests, maritime law enforcement has practical significance in the application of national jurisdiction at sea. China's maritime law enforcement, centered on safeguarding ocean rights and interests, is carried out by the reorganized China Coast Guard, guided by domestic and international legal norms, and strictly combats illegal and criminal activities at sea through international cooperation to protect the sustainable development of marine resources and environment and to safeguard international maritime public security and order while guaranteeing ocean rights and interests. In terms of judicial practice, China has already used legal means to effectively safeguard ocean rights and interests in the areas of marine environmental protection, maritime rights protection, fisheries law enforcement, and maritime traffic safety.
Pediatric anesthesia training in Israel and Palestine: Realities versus expectations
Authors: Kameny Daniel , Zatari Yazan , Aljuba Yahya
Published: July 2024

Israel is a young country with a rather young system of medical education. This educational review serves to illuminate the similarities and differences in the training of a pediatric Anesthesiologist in both Israel and Palestine.
A consensus‐based electronic medical record template for pediatric morphea patient visits
Authors: Dignum Tessa , Brandling‐Bennett Heather
Published: July 2024

Morphea, also known as localized scleroderma, is an inflammatory sclerosing disorder of uncertain pathogenesis that affects the skin and underlying tissues. In the pediatric population, the disease often runs a chronic course with a high risk for irreversible sequelae; as such, patients often require long‐term monitoring. The objective of this study is to develop a multi‐center, consensus‐based electronic medical record template for pediatric morphea patient visits using a modified Delphi method of iterative surveys. By facilitating consistent data collection and interpretation across medical centers and patient populations, this template may improve patient care for pediatric patients with morphea.
Obscurity of chlorophyll tails ‐ Is chlorophyll with farnesyl tail incorporated into PSII complexes?
Authors: Graça André T. , Lihavainen Jenna , Hussein Rana , Schröder Wolfgang P.
Published: July 2024

Chlorophyll is essential in photosynthesis, converting sunlight into chemical energy in plants, algae, and certain bacteria. Its structure, featuring a porphyrin ring enclosing a central magnesium ion, varies in forms like chlorophyll a, b, c, d, and f, allowing light absorption at a broader spectrum. With a 20‐carbon phytyl tail (except for chlorophyll c), chlorophyll is anchored to proteins. Previous findings suggested the presence of chlorophyll with a modified farnesyl tail in thermophilic cyanobacteria Thermosynechoccocus vestitus. In our Arabidopsis thaliana PSII cryo‐EM map, specific chlorophylls showed incomplete phytyl tails, suggesting potential farnesyl modifications. However, further high‐resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) analysis in A. thaliana and T. vestitus did not confirm the presence of any farnesyl tails. Instead, we propose the truncated tails in PSII models may result from binding pocket flexibility rather than actual modifications.
BcWRKY1 confers Botrytis cinerea susceptibility via inhibiting JA biosynthesis
Authors: Yuan Shuilin , Wang Yuan , Hu Die , Xiao Dong , Wang Jianjun , Hou Xilin , Li Ying
Published: July 2024

WRKYs play important roles in plant stress resistance. However, the role of WRKYs in non‐heading Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris ssp. chinensis) against Botrytis cinerea (B. cinerea) remains poorly understood. Herein, the expression of BcWRKY1 was induced by B. cinerea. Further, the role of BcWRKY1 in B. cinerea infection was identified. Silencing of BcWRKY1 in non‐heading Chinese cabbage enhanced plant resistance to B. cinerea. After B. cinerea inoculation, BcWRKY1‐silencing plants exhibited lower reactive oxygen species (ROS) content, higher jasmonic acid (JA) content, and the expression level of JA biosynthesis genes, BcOPR3, BcLOX3‐1 and BcLOX3‐2 were upregulated. Overexpression of BcWRKY1 in Arabidopsis exhibited a complementary phenotype. By directly targeting W‐boxes in the promoter of BcLOX3‐2, BcWRKY1 inhibited the transcription of this gene. In addition, 13 candidate interacting proteins of BcWRKY1 were identified by yeast two‐hybrid (Y2H) screening, and the interaction between BcWRKY1 and BcCaM6 weakened the inhibition of BcLOX3‐2. In summary, our findings suggest that BcWRKY1 interacts with BcCaM6 to negatively regulate disease resistance.
Long‐term stress exposure, cortisol level and cardiovascular activity and reactivity: Observations in patients with fibromyalgia
Authors: Reyes del Paso Gustavo A. , Duschek Stefan , Contreras‐Merino Ana M. , Davydov Dmitry M.
Published: July 2024

Previous research suggested that exposure to long‐lasting or repeated laboratory stressors may lead to rearrangement of cardiovascular control, with a shift of regulation mechanisms from dominant cardiac to dominant vascular influences between the early and late response phases, respectively. This study investigated whether similar rearrangement occurs during life stress accompanying chronic disease by analyzing also associations between cortisol level and cardiovascular variables in patients with fibromyalgia (FM). In 47 women with FM and 36 healthy women (HW), cardiovascular recordings were taken during active body posture changes (sitting, lying down, and standing). Moreover, hair cortisol concentration (HCC) was obtained. During standing, which involved orthostatic challenge, FM patients showed higher total peripheral resistance (TPR) but lower stroke volume (SV), cardiac output (CO), and baroreflex sensitivity than HW. During sitting and lying down, TPR was more closely associated with blood pressure (BP) than CO in FM patients; in contrast, CO was more closely associated with BP than TPR in HW. HCC correlated positively with TPR and BP in FM patients, but negatively with TPR and BP and positively with SV and CO in HW. Results suggest that chronic disease‐related stress is associated with alterations in cardiovascular regulation toward greater involvement of vascular than cardiac mechanisms in BP control. Stress‐related cortisol release may contribute to the long‐term rearrangement of autonomic regulation. At the behavioral level, the dominance of vascular over cardiovascular control may relate to reduced somatic mobilization during an active fight‐flight response in favor of passive and behaviorally immobile coping.
The past and future of the study of Islamic esotericism
Authors: Saif Liana
Published: July 2024

The study of Islamic esotericism, particularly the concept of al‐bāṭiniyya, remains fragmented. While often studied under various labels like “mysticism” and “occultism,” it is widely equated to Sufism. Scholars still hesitate to use the term al‐bāṭiniyya due to its historical pejorative connotations, linking it to extremist adherence to esotericism and sectarian views. Furthermore, al‐bāṭiniyya has faced marginalization because of its association with narratives of Islamic civilization's decline. Even when the decline narrative is challenged, esotericism is often depicted as an “intellectual defect.” This article examines the ways the “esoteric” and “esotericism” have been studied, particularly in relation to the study of Shīʿī esotericism and Sufism. It also highlights developments in the scholarship on Islam and esotericism, aiming to draw a picture of an emerging coherence in the study of “Islamic esotericism.” This is explored against the backdrop of twentieth‐century Islamic discourses that grappled with the place of esotericism within Islamic knowledge and pedagogy. Here, the focus is on the “Islamization of Knowledge” project and its key figures: Ismāʿīl al‐Fārūqī, Syed Naquib al‐Attas, and Seyyed Hossein Nasr.
Firm‐level prices, quality, and markups: The role of immigrant workers
Authors: Sabbadini Giulia
Published: July 2024

In this article, I study export quality as a channel through which immigrant workers affect the export prices and markups of French manufacturing firms. I find that the share of immigrant workers in a local labor market is positively associated with firm‐level export prices and quality and that this quality advantage translates to higher markups. I present evidence for the mechanism accounting for these relationships and find that the presence of immigrant workers is positively associated with firms importing higher‐price (higher‐quality) intermediate inputs, which are key to producing higher‐price (higher‐quality) exports. The hypothesized economic mechanism is that immigrant workers help firms overcome informational barriers to sourcing higher‐price (higher‐quality) inputs from abroad. I provide evidence consistent with immigrant workers having specialized knowledge of the upstream market.
Automating Video‐Based Two‐Dimensional Motion Analysis in Sport? Implications for Gait Event Detection, Pose Estimation, and Performance Parameter Analysis
Authors: Mundt Marion , Colyer Steffi , Wade Logan , Needham Laurie , Evans Murray , Millett Emma , Alderson Jacqueline
Published: July 2024

Background

Two‐dimensional (2D) video is a common tool used during sports training and competition to analyze movement. In these videos, biomechanists determine key events, annotate joint centers, and calculate spatial, temporal, and kinematic parameters to provide performance reports to coaches and athletes. Automatic tools relying on computer vision and artificial intelligence methods hold promise to reduce the need for time‐consuming manual methods.

Objective

This study systematically analyzed the steps required to automate the video analysis workflow by investigating the applicability of a threshold‐based event detection algorithm developed for 3D marker trajectories to 2D video data at four sampling rates; the agreement of 2D keypoints estimated by an off‐the‐shelf pose estimation model compared with gold‐standard 3D marker trajectories projected to camera's field of view; and the influence of an offset in event detection on contact time and the sagittal knee joint angle at the key critical events of touch down and foot flat.

Methods

Repeated measures limits of agreement were used to compare parameters determined by markerless and marker‐based motion capture.

Results

Results highlighted that a minimum video sampling rate of 100 Hz is required to detect key events, and the limited applicability of 3D marker trajectory‐based event detection algorithms when using 2D video. Although detected keypoints showed good agreement with the gold‐standard, misidentification of key events—such as touch down by 20 ms resulted in knee compression angle differences of up to 20°.

Conclusion

These findings emphasize the need for de novo accurate key event detection algorithms to automate 2D video analysis pipelines.
Identification of the novel HLA‐A*30:221 allele by next‐generation sequencing
Authors: Galluccio Tiziana , Giustiniani Paola , Di Luzio Andrea , Testa Giuseppe , Andreani Marco
Published: July 2024

The novel HLA‐A*30:221 allele differs from HLA‐A*30:01:01:01 by one nucleotide substitution in Exon 7.
DNA Methylation and Its Effects on TRIM29 Gene Expression in the Equine Sarcoid Tissue
Authors: Ewelina Semik‐Gurgul , Anna Zaborowska , Rafał Pędziwiatr , Maciej Witkowski
Published: July 2024

Sarcoids are the most frequently diagnosed dermatological tumour in horses. It is a disease that can affect various species of equids, such as donkeys, mules and zebras. This type of tumour can develop in all horse breeds, regardless of age and gender. Treatment options depend on many factors, such as the type of lesion, location, extent, owner preference and financial considerations. In the present study, we investigated the TRIM29 expression, the methylation status of its first exon and its involvement in the formation of equine sarcoids. Bisulfite sequencing PCR (BSP) was used to determine DNA methylation at CpG sites and real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was used to detect TRIM29 expression level. Our results showed that TRIM29 is significantly downregulated in lesional samples (FC = −3.72; p < 0.001). Furthermore, TRIM29 expression was significantly correlated (R = −0.73; p < 0.001) with hypermethylation of its specific CpG sites in the first exon of this gene. Our research has demonstrated that the identification of increased methylation of CpG sequences in horse sarcoids, along with the decreased expression of the TRIM29 gene, is an important step towards understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the disease. These findings can serve in the future as a diagnostic biomarker for horse sarcoids and help in detecting the disease.
Presumed renal arterial aneurysm in a cat
Authors: Lojszczyk Anna , Kimicka Aleksandra
Published: July 2024

A 3‐year‐old cat was presented for an abdominal ultrasound examination with apathy and anemia. The US revealed the enlargement of the left kidney with a hypoechoic subcapsular thickening. An abnormal, tortuous vessel was visible in the medulla with arterial flow on pulsed‐wave Doppler examination. The CT examination confirmed the ultrasound findings and a presumptive diagnosis of the intraparenchymal renal aneurysm was made. Four days later, the cat presented again with a worsening of its condition. The US features were suggestive for that of an aneurysm rupture.
Molecular detection of Coxiella burnetii in ticks collected from animals and the environment in Uganda
Authors: Eneku Wilfred , Erima Bernard , Byaruhanga Anatoli Maranda , Cleary Nora , Atim Gladys , Tugume Titus , Ukuli Qouilazoni Aquino , Kibuuka Hannah , Mworozi Edison , Tweyongyere Robert , Douglas Christina E. , Koehler Jeffrey W. , von Fricken Michael E. , Wabwire‐Mangen Fred , Byarugaba Denis K.
Published: July 2024

Aims

Coxiella burnetii is a highly infectious organism that is easily spread through aerosols causing Q fever in humans. Ticks can harbour and transmit C. burnetii to animals, contributing to disease maintenance. Our aim was to examine the presence of C. burnetii in ticks in Uganda.

Methods and Results

In this study, ticks were collected from five Ugandan districts and tested by real‐time PCR for C. burnetii (Coxiella outer membrane protein 1 gene). A total of 859 tick pools (9602 individual ticks) were tested, and pool positivity for C. burnetii was 5.5% (n = 47). Pooled prevalence differed by district; the highest was Luwero (7.3%), then Gulu (6.6%), and Kasese had the lowest (1.3%). However, district variation was not statistically significant (Fisher's exact = 0.07). Ticks collected from dogs and cats had the highest positivity rates [23/47, (48.9%)] followed by livestock (cattle, goats, sheep, and pigs) [18/47, (38.3%)] and vegetation [6/47, (12.8%)]. Haemaphysalis elliptica had the highest infection rates, followed by Rhipicephalus appendiculatus, Amblyomma variegatum and Rhipicephalus decoloratus had similar prevalence.

Conclusions

Although ticks are not the primary transmitters of C. burnetii to humans, pathogen detection in ticks can be an indirect indicator of risk among animal hosts. Vulnerable populations, including occupations with close animal contact such as farming, butchery, and veterinary practice, have an increased risk of C. burnetii exposure. Veterinarians and clinicians should be aware that C. burnetii may cause human and animal illness in these regions.
Methodological approaches in graded dental ceramics: a scoping review protocol
Authors: Gali Sivaranjani , Gururaja Suhasini , Karuveettil Vineetha , Janakiram Chandrashekhar
Published: July 2024

Objectives:

This review will map the various methodological approaches used in graded dental ceramics and distinguish their material characteristics and properties. The aim is to identify gaps in the development and application of grading in dental ceramic systems.

Introduction:

The advantage of functionally graded materials is the absence of the weakest link, with no distinct boundaries, thereby eliminating the possibility of stress concentrations at the interfaces. Functionally graded materials are well established in nature, such as in human teeth, bone, and the bio-tissues of plants and animals. This concept has also been explored in dental ceramics to enhance fatigue resistance and strength.

Inclusion criteria:

This review will include observational studies and interventional studies, such as in vitro and experimental studies, on functionally graded dental ceramic systems. Studies that use finite element analysis to evaluate stress distributions, and studies on the mechanical performance of graded dental ceramics, irrespective of the type of ceramic material, design, or thickness of graded layers, will be considered.

Method:

The review will follow the JBI methodology for scoping reviews and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews. MEDLINE (PubMed), Scopus, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses (EBSCOhost), Cochrane CENTRAL, and Google Scholar will be searched for English language studies. The search strategy will be based on MeSH terms and free-text specific terms, and will be adapted for each database. Two independent reviewers will screen titles and abstracts, and extract data from selected sources. The data extracted from the selected studies will be analyzed and presented in the form of tables and figures.

Review registration:

Open Science Framework: https://osf.io/ahsp7
Fourier-Based Function Generation of Four-Bar Linkages With an Improved Sampling Points Adjustment and Sylvester's Dialytic Elimination Method
Authors: Qian Yahui , Zhong Hong , Tan Chin-An , Wang Liangmo
Published: July 2024

Four-bar linkages are critical fundamental elements of many mechanical systems, and their design synthesis is often mathematically complicated with iterative numerical solutions. Analytical methods based on Fourier coefficients can circumvent these difficulties but have difficulties with sampling points adjustment and solutions of the design equations in previous studies. In this paper, an improved Fourier-based analytical synthesis method is presented, which transforms the function generation synthesis of planar four-bar linkages into a problem of solving design equations. Calculation of the Fourier coefficients is discussed, including the discretization of the prescribed function and an improved sampling points adjustment method. It is shown that the Fourier coefficients can be computed efficiently and accurately by discretizing the prescribed function with a small number of sampling points. The proposed sampling adjustment method overcomes the difficulty of easily resulting in non-Grashof solutions by considering the complete period of the prescribed function. An improved Sylvester's dialytic elimination method is presented to solve design equations. The method reduces the computation time and avoids cumbersome procedures without generating additional invalid solutions. Several examples are presented to demonstrate the advantages of the proposed synthesis method, which is easy-understanding and efficient, and yields more accurate solutions than available synthesis methods.