bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Safety, Pharmacokinetics, and Pharmacodynamics of a First‐in‐Class ClC‐1 Inhibitor to Enhance Muscle Excitability: Phase I Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Ruijs Titia Q. , de Cuba Catherine M. K. E. , Heuberger Jules A. A. C. , Hutchison John , Bold Jane , Grønnebæk Thomas S. , Jensen Klaus G. , Chin Eva , Quiroz Jorge A. , Petersen Thomas K. , Flagstad Peter , de Kam Marieke L. , van Esdonk Michiel J. , Klaassen Erica , Doll Robert J. , Koopmans Ingrid W. , de Goede Annika A. , Aulin Linda B. S. , Pedersen Thomas H. , Groeneveld Geert Jan
Published: December 2024

NMD670 is a first‐in‐class inhibitor of skeletal muscle‐specific chloride channel ClC‐1, developed to improve muscle weakness and fatigue in neuromuscular diseases. Preclinical studies show that ClC‐1 inhibition enhances muscle excitability, improving muscle contractility and strength. We describe the first‐in‐human, randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study, which evaluated the safety, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of single and multiple doses of NMD670 in healthy male and female subjects. Single‐ascending doses (50–1,600 mg) were administered in a (partial) cross‐over design; multiple‐ascending doses (200–600 mg q.d.; 400 mg b.i.d.) were administered in a parallel design. Differences in pharmacokinetics between males/females and fed/fasted states were evaluated. Pharmacodynamic effects were evaluated using muscle velocity recovery cycles (MVRC) and analyzed using mixed‐effects modeling. NMD670 was generally safe and well‐tolerated in healthy subjects, with the only dose‐related adverse event being myotonia occurring at the highest dose levels tested (single dose of 1,200, and 1,600 mg). Moreover, NMD670 significantly increased the following MVRC parameters after a single dose of 1,200 mg compared with placebo: early supernormality (estimated difference (ED) 2.04; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.379, 3.70; P = 0.0242); early supernormality after 5 conditioning stimuli (ED 2.51; 95%CI 0.599, 4.41; P = 0.0177); supernormality at 20 ms (ED 2.78; 95%CI 1.377, 4.181; P = 0.0021). Importantly, the results of this study indicate pharmacological target engagement at well‐tolerated dose levels in healthy subjects; firstly, because myotonia was an expected exaggerated on‐target pharmacological effect, and secondly, because the effects on MVRC indicate increased muscle cell excitability. This study in healthy subjects indicates proof‐of‐mechanism and provides a solid base for translation to patients with neuromuscular diseases.
Visualizing Volumetric and Segmentation Data using Mol* Volumes & Segmentations 2.0
Authors: Chareshneu Aliaksei , Cantara Alessio , Tichý Dominick , Sehnal David
Published: December 2024

Ever‐increasing availability of experimental volumetric data (e.g., in .ccp4, .mrc, .map, .rec, .zarr, .ome.tif formats) and advances in segmentation software (e.g., Amira, Segger, IMOD) and formats (e.g., .am, .seg, .mod, etc.) have led to a demand for efficient web‐based visualization tools. Despite this, current solutions remain scarce, hindering data interpretation and dissemination. Previously, we introduced Mol* Volumes & Segmentations (Mol* VS), a web application for the visualization of volumetric, segmentation, and annotation data (e.g., semantically relevant information on biological entities corresponding to individual segmentations such as Gene Ontology terms or PDB IDs). However, this lacked important features such as the ability to edit annotations (e.g., assigning user‐defined descriptions of a segment) and seamlessly share visualizations. Additionally, setting up Mol* VS required a substantial programming background. This article presents an updated version, Mol* VS 2.0, that addresses these limitations. As part of Mol* VS 2.0, we introduce the Annotation Editor, a user‐friendly graphical interface for editing annotations, and the Volumes & Segmentations Toolkit (VSToolkit) for generating shareable files with visualization data. The outlined protocols illustrate the utilization of Mol* VS 2.0 for visualization of volumetric and segmentation data across various scales, showcasing the progress in the field of molecular complex visualization. © 2024 The Author(s). Current Protocols published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.

Basic Protocol 1: VSToolkit—setting up and visualizing a user‐constructed Mol* VS 2.0 database entry

Basic Protocol 2: VSToolkit—visualizing multiple time frames and volume channels

Support Protocol 1: Example: Adding database entry idr‐13457537

Alternate Protocol 1: Local‐server‐and‐viewer—visualizing multiple time frames and volume channels

Support Protocol 2: Addition of database entry custom‐tubhiswt

Basic Protocol 3: VSToolkit—visualizing a specific channel and time frame

Basic Protocol 4: VSToolkit—visualizing geometric segmentation

Basic Protocol 5: VSToolkit—visualizing lattice segmentations

Alternate Protocol 2: “Local‐server‐and‐viewer”—visualizing lattice segmentations

Basic Protocol 6: “Local‐server‐and‐viewer”—visualizing multiple volume channels

Support Protocol 3: Deploying a server API

Support Protocol 4: Hosting Mol* viewer with VS extension 2.0

Support Protocol 5: Example: Addition of database entry empiar‐11756

Support Protocol 6: Example: Addition of database entry emd‐1273

Support Protocol 7: Editing annotations

Support Protocol 8: Addition of database entry idr‐5025553
Dynamic Release Electrolyte Design for Stable Proton Batteries
Authors: Zhang Jian , Lang Qing , Yu Jiayuan , Yang Yixiao , Che Jiulong , Chen Liang , Wang Gang
Published: December 2024

Aqueous proton batteries (APBs) have recently demonstrated unprecedented advantages in the fields of ultralow temperature and high‐power energy applications due to kinetically favorable proton chemistry. Proton acids (e. g. H2SO4, H3PO4) as the common proton‐conducting electrolyte, however, seriously corrode electrode materials and current collectors, resulting in limited cycle life of APBs. Here we reported protonated amine as a feasible proton transport mediator and releasing source for APBs based on its dynamic chemical dissociation equilibrium. Free protons in the electrolyte are limited to a quite low level. Consequently, the optimized electrolyte with a nearly neutral pH value significantly suppresses corrosion and broadens material selection option for APBs. The CuFe‐TBA electrode exhibited a long cycle performance over 40000 cycles with only ~0.0004 % attenuation rate per cycle in the optimized electrolyte. The WO3 and VO2(B) electrode also displayed high cycling stability. Benefiting from enhanced electrode stability in the optimized electrolyte, the resultant CuFe‐TBA/WO3 and CuFe‐TBA/VO2(B) full batteries display impressive long‐term cycling performance with high‐capacity retention. Our work presents a proton dynamic‐release electrolyte for durable APBs which is highly promising for scalable energy systems.
From the bench to the clinic: basophils and type 2 epithelial cytokines of thymic stromal lymphopoietin and IL‐33
Authors: Obata‐Ninomiya Kazushige , Jayaraman Tharmalingam , Ziegler Steven F
Published: December 2024

Type 2 epithelial cytokines, including thymic stromal lymphopoietin and IL‐33, play central roles in modulation of type 2 immune cells, such as basophils. Basophils are a small subset of granulocytes within the leukocyte population that predominantly exist in the blood. They have non‐redundant roles in allergic inflammation in peripheral tissues such as the lung, skin and gut, where they increase and accumulate at inflammatory lesions and exclusively produce large amounts of IL‐4, a type 2 cytokine. These inflammatory reactions are known to be, to some extent, phenocopies of infectious diseases of ticks and helminths. Recently, biologics related to both type 2 epithelial cytokines and basophils have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for treatment of allergic diseases. We summarised the roles of Type 2 epithelial cytokines and basophils in basic science to translational medicine, including recent findings.
Changes in reproduction mediate the effects of climate change and grassland management on plant population dynamics
Authors: Andrzejak Martin , Knight Tiffany M. , Plos Carolin , Korell Lotte
Published: December 2024

Climate change is one of the largest threats to grassland plant species, which can be modified by land management. Although climate change and land management are expected to separately and interactively influence plant demography, this has been rarely considered in climate change experiments. We used a large‐scale experiment in central Germany to quantify the effects of grassland management, climate change, and their joint effect on the demography and population growth rate of 11 plant species all native to this temperate grassland ecosystem. We parameterized integral projection models with five years of demographic data to project population growth rate. We hypothesized that plant populations perform better in the ambient than in the future climate treatment that creates hotter and drier summer conditions. Further, we hypothesized that plant performance interactively responds to climate and land management in a species‐specific manner based on the drought, mowing, and grazing tolerances as well as the flowering phenology of each species. Due to extreme drought events, over half of our study species went quasi extinct, which highlights how extreme climate events can influence long‐term experimental results. We found no consistent support for our expectation that plants perform better in ambient compared with future climate conditions. However, several species showed interactive responses to the treatments, indicating that optimal management strategies for plant performance are expected to shift with climate change. Changes in population growth rates of these species across treatments were mostly due to changes in plant reproduction. Experiments combined with measuring plant demographic responses provide a way to isolate the effects of different drivers on the long‐term persistence of species and to identify the demographic vital rates that are critical to manage in the future. Our study suggests that it will become increasingly difficult to maintain species with preferences for moister soil conditions, and that climate and land use can interactively alter demographic responses of the remaining grassland species.
Active motor‐cognitive recovery supports reactive agility performance in trained athletes
Authors: Hülsdünker Thorben , Koster Joe , Mierau Andreas
Published: December 2024

Active breaks are suggested to support recovery and performance in sports. Previous research in ball and team sports focused on motor performance such as repetitive sprinting or change of direction. This does not account for the interaction between motor and cognitive task demands in sports. Therefore, this study is the first to investigate the effectiveness of an active motor‐cognitive break to support reactive agility performance. Twenty (7 female and 13 male) healthy trained young adults (mean age: 26 years) performed an active or passive 5 min break following a fatiguing protocol of six 100 m reactive agility runs with an intermittent break of 40 s. Prior to the experiment (pre), after fatigue (post), and following the rest condition (retention), a reactive agility test was performed using the SKILLCOURT technology. In addition, lactate, heartrate, and physical exertion were recorded. Active rest contained two motor‐cognitive training tasks on the SKILLCOURT combining low to moderate physical intensity with conflict inhibition and decision‐making. During passive rest, participants remained seated. When comparing post and retention agility tests, results indicate significantly stronger performance gains following the active when compared to the passive break condition (p = 0.02 and ηp2 = 0.24). This was not associated with any differences in physiological parameters such as lactate, heart rate, or RPE (p ≥ 0.25). The results suggest that active motor‐cognitive breaks support recovery and improve sport‐related reactive agility performance. Performance gains in the active break are likely attributable to cognitive performance effects rather than physiological recovery, which may benefit athletes especially in ball and team sports.
Morphological characteristics of permanent gullies and their relationship with topography in two typical agro‐geomorphic regions of Northeast China
Authors: Chen Zhuoxin , Song Qingchen , Guo Mingming , Zhou Pengchong , Wang Lixin , Chen Qiang , Zhang Xingyi
Published: December 2024

Gully erosion poses significant challenges to land degradation and food security. The Mollisols region of Northeast China (MNC) is the main grain‐producing region in China. The low mountainous and hilly region (MFI) and the rolling hilly region (RFI), as the prominent topographic units in MNC, have suffered significantly from severe gully erosion. However, the actual situation and influencing factors of gully erosion in both regions are still unclear. Thus, we selected two field investigation regions of 103.4 km2 in MFI and 123.9 km2 in RFI to obtain a detailed inventory of gullies. Results showed that the gully number density in MFI was 25.7 No. km−2, 8.3 times greater than in RFI. Conversely, the gully average gully length (511.7 m), width (7.8 m) and depth (2.8 m) in RFI were 156.8%, 112.6% and 37.4% greater than those in MFI, respectively. The three types of gullies, developed in different land uses (GF, farmland; GW, woodland; GR, unpaved road), had significantly varying morphologies. In RFI, GF was the longest, and GW was the widest and deepest. Conversely, in MFI, GR was the longest but exhibited the least width and depth. Notably, farmland posed the highest risk of gully erosion in both MFI and RFI, with 74.4% and 89.6% of the gullies developed there, respectively. Topography was the critical factor influencing the differences in gully erosion between the two regions. To effectively control gully erosion, topographic conditions most susceptible to gully erosion should be prioritized for attention, e.g., slopes of 8–10° and 2–4° were the slope intervals most likely to contribute to gully development in MFI and RFI, respectively. We provide the potential for large‐scale prediction of gully erosion. Corresponding prediction models based on gully area were provided and the effectiveness of the predictions was improved by separating different land uses. The study's findings could serve as a valuable foundation for gully erosion control and prediction for MNC.
The effects of secondary currents in tight bends on large wood transport in rivers: Lesson learned from Versilia flood in 1996
Authors: Innocenti Lorenzo , Paris Enio , Aberle Jochen , Solari Luca
Published: December 2024

The presence and dynamics of large wood (LW) in river systems, particularly for streams flowing through forested areas, play a significant role in shaping river morphology and influencing flood events. This paper focuses on the numerical reproduction of observed LW trajectories during a flood event in the Versilia River in 1996 in Italy. The study reach, located near Pietrasanta in Tuscany, includes a tight river bend named S. Bartolomeo. During the event, more than two thousand cubic meters of transported wood were observed at this location. In addition, due to the collapse of the outer levee, six million cubic meters of water exited the river corridor, causing the flooding of Pietrasanta. The 2D Lagrangian model Iber‐Wood was used for the numerical simulation of this event. In particular, two versions of the model were used: the original one (IB‐NSC) and the enhanced version (IB‐SC) which simulates the effects of secondary currents on LW dynamics. The results validated the applicability of the enhanced version to simulate real‐world conditions and showed that the IB‐SC model improves the agreement between observed and simulated LW trajectories by more than 20% compared to the IB‐NSC model. Examining the influence of the breach on the LW trajectories, it appears that the presence of LW during the overtopping flow intensified and accelerated the erosion process, resulting in a rapid breach formation. This study therefore highlights the importance of including secondary current effects on LW transport for the development of flood risk assessments and river management strategies, particularly in channelized rivers with tight bends or meanders.
Intracontinental Mesozoic Composite Magmatism in Central North China Craton—A Tectonic Response to the Westward Subduction of the Paleo‐Pacific Plate
Authors: Sun Junyi , Cui Jiawei , Wang Xiaolong , Wang Sushan
Published: December 2024

The influence, extent, intensity, and spatiotemporal evolution of the subduction of the Paleo‐Pacific Plate on West‐Central North China Craton during the middle‐late Mesozoic remains unknown. Detailed petrological investigations, systematic zircon U–Pb dating, whole‐rock geochemistry, and in situ zircon Lu‐Hf isotopic analysis were conducted on various lithologies of the composite pluton in the central part of the North China Craton. The composite pluton can be divided into four distinct periods: quartz‐porphyry (162 ± 1 Ma), porphyritic biotitic granite (152 ± 1 Ma), quartz diorite (142 ± 1 Ma), granite (136 ± 2 Ma). These rocks are belonged to high silica, potassium‐calcareous alkalinity, aluminium content and enriched in large‐ion lithophile elements such as Rb and K, and depleted in high‐field‐strength elements such as Nb and Ta. The εHf(t) values and the TDMC ages of the quartz‐porphyry, porphyritic biotitic granite indicated these igneous rocks originated from the lower crust to the mid‐lower crust which exhibit a lithospheric evolution process consistent with that of the North China Craton. The εHf(t) values of quartz diorite and granite indicate that the igneous rocks originated from the ancient lower crust with contributions of mantle‐derived material, and from a mixture of the ancient mid‐lower crust and the Late Palaeozoic younger lower crust. Considering the regional geological background, it is believed that this magmatism indicates a transition in the central North China Craton from compression to extension from the Late Jurassic to the Early Cretaceous. This transition is associated with the subduction of the Paleo‐Pacific Plate, which began subducting under eastern Asia in the Early Jurassic and led to an extensional state in the Cretaceous due to the retreat of the Pacific subduction slab.
Connectivity, Pathology, and ApoE4 Interactions Predict Longitudinal Tau Spatial Progression and Memory
Authors: Ziontz Jacob , Harrison Theresa M. , Fonseca Corrina , Giorgio Joseph , Han Feng , Lee JiaQie , Jagust William J. ,   Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative
Published: December 2024

Tau pathology spread into neocortex indicates a transition from healthy aging to Alzheimer's disease (AD). Connectivity between tau epicenters and later accumulating regions of cortex has been proposed as a mechanism of tau spread, but how this relationship changes with greater AD pathology burden or genotype is not understood. We investigated tau accumulation in two key regions, precuneus and inferior temporal cortex, using resting state functional connectivity (rsFC) and longitudinal PET imaging from a multicohort sample of cognitively unimpaired older adults. We examined how baseline tau PET, Aβ PET, and ApoE4 genotype status interact with rsFC between hippocampus and these downstream regions to predict rate of tau accumulation in neocortex. We found that the 3‐way interaction between connectivity, baseline tau, and baseline Aβ or ApoE4 status was associated with neocortical tau accumulation in precuneus and inferior temporal cortex. In addition, baseline tau, Aβ, and ApoE4 status also moderated the association between connectivity and rate of memory decline. Together, these results suggest that the extent and distribution of future tau accumulation may be predicted by the interaction of baseline connectivity, AD pathology, and genetic risk.
Negative Emotion Differentiation Promotes Cognitive Reappraisal: Evidence From Electroencephalogram Oscillations and Phase‐Amplitude Coupling
Authors: Wang Yali , Shangguan Chenyu , Li Sijin , Zhang Wenhai
Published: December 2024

Cognitive reappraisal, an effective emotion regulation strategy, is influenced by various individual factors. Although previous studies have established a link between negative emotion differentiation (NED) and cognitive reappraisal, the underlying neural mechanisms remain largely unknown. Using electroencephalography, this study investigates the influence and neural basis of NED in cognitive reappraisal by integrating aspects of event‐related potentials, neural oscillation rhythms, and cross‐frequency coupling. The findings revealed that individuals with high NED demonstrated a significant decrease in parietal late positive potential amplitudes during cognitive reappraisal, suggesting enhanced cognitive reappraisal abilities. Moreover, high NED individuals displayed increased γ synchronization, parietal α–γ coupling, and frontal θ–γ coupling when reappraising negative emotions than those with low emotion differentiation ability. Machine learning analysis of these neural indicators highlighted the superior classification and predictive accuracy of multimodal indicators for NED as opposed to unimodal indicators. Overall, this multimodal evidence provides a comprehensive interpretation of the neurophysiological mechanisms through which NED influences cognitive reappraisal and provides preliminary empirical support for personalized cognitive reappraisal interventions to alleviate emotional problems.
Long‐Term Potentiation: The Accidental Discovery
Authors: Lømo Terje
Published: December 2024

Long‐term potentiation (LTP), is a type of synaptic plasticity now considered essential for learning and memory. Here I tell the story of how I accidentally discovered in 1966 in the laboratory of Per Andersen in Oslo, Norway, because I was not looking for it. It just emerged. I recount how I came to work with Per and why my result was not immediately followed up. Then, in 1968 Tim Bliss joined the lab and, on his urging, from 1968 to 1969 we did the experiments that resulted in Bliss and Lømo, 1973. I explain why I think the experiments later failed in Oslo, and for a few years also in Tim's lab in London, before it became a readily observable phenomenon. I also describe how Tony Gardner‐Medwin and I in 1971 failed to reproduce the results that Tim and I had obtained 2 years earlier in the same lab and the same type of anesthetized rabbit preparation. I tell how this failure caused me to leave the LTP field and, instead, continue exploring mechanisms of nerve–muscle interactions, which I had studied with much success during my postdoc period in London from 1969 to 1971. I reflect on Donald Hebb's influence on LTP studies and on my experience when after many years of neglect, I became interested in LTP and the hippocampus anew and started to write about it, though without doing lab experiments. Finally, I report briefly on the experiments I am doing now in retirement, studying how the nervous system regulates body temperature through varying amounts of muscle tone.
Scalable Preparation of Substituted 4‐Aminoquinolines: Advancements in Manufacturing Process Development
Authors: Basset Jean‐Francois , Marty Maurus , Walther Eric , Mosimann Hervé , Randall Harvey , Linder Simon
Published: December 2024

We report herein an unprecedented and scalable synthetic method for the production of specific aminoquinoline compounds with potential applications as sweetness‐enhancing agents. The first strategy involves the reaction of ortho‐aminobenzonitriles with β‐ketoesters in the presence of stoichiometric amounts of FeCl3. Alternatively, the second strategy focuses on an enamine synthesis using alkyl acetoacetate and aminobenzonitrile. The resulting enaminonitrile is then converted into aminoquinoline under basic conditions. This newly developed process yields the desired compounds with an overall yield above 45 % over five steps with high purity.
Top Management Team Connectedness and Greenwashing
Authors: Chen Jinyu , Yang Yan , Ding Qian , Xie Julan
Published: December 2024

This paper examines the effect of top management team (TMT) connectedness on greenwashing from the lens of social network view. Using a sample of Chinese listed firms during 2015–2020, we find that TMT connectedness is positively related to greenwashing. This finding is robust based on a battery of empirical tests. Additionally, the internal governance curbs the association, while the role of market competition and environmental regulation is very limited. Our findings are also in accordance with social network theory, suggesting that well‐connected TMTs use their power and influence in the social hierarchy to take greenwashing behaviour and reap private benefits. Overall, we contribute to the literature by providing evidence that social connectedness is an important driver of greenwashing.
On Optimal Currency Areas: Common Shocks Versus Common Persistence of Shocks
Authors: Grimm Louisa , Steinkamp Sven , Westermann Frank
Published: December 2024

The Optimal Currency Area (OCA) literature has been focusing on the co‐movement of business cycle shocks as a key policy criterion. We document in a simple Barro–Gordon framework that, in addition to a high correlation of shocks, a common persistence of shocks is a relevant OCA criterion. The model provides a conceptual underpinning for empirical studies that have used the Serial Correlation Common Features (SCCF) test to evaluate common currency areas. We apply the SCCF test to a set of countries that could potentially introduce the Euro and find for the period from 1999 (Q1) to 2019 (Q3) only little evidence that the acceding countries share a common cyclical response pattern with the European Monetary Union (EMU) aggregate.
Enhancing Diagnostic Precision in Breast Cancer Classification Through EfficientNetB7 Using Advanced Image Augmentation and Interpretation Techniques
Authors: Mahesh T. R. , Khan Surbhi Bhatia , Mishra Kritika Kumari , Alzahrani Saeed , Alojail Mohammed
Published: December 2024

The precise classification of breast ultrasound images into benign, malignant, and normal categories represents a critical challenge in medical diagnostics, exacerbated by subtle interclass variations and the variable quality of clinical imaging. State‐of‐the‐art approaches largely capitalize on the advanced capabilities of deep convolutional neural networks (CNNs), with significant emphasis on exploiting architectures like EfficientNet that are pre‐trained on extensive datasets. While these methods demonstrate potential, they frequently suffer from overfitting, reduced resilience to image distortions such as noise and artifacts, and the presence of pronounced class imbalances in training data. To address these issues, this study introduces an optimized framework using the EfficientNetB7 architecture, enhanced by a targeted augmentation strategy. This strategy employs aggressive random rotations, color jittering, and horizontal flipping to specifically bolster the representation of minority classes, thereby improving model robustness and generalizability. Additionally, this approach integrates an adaptive learning rate scheduler and implements strategic early stopping to refine the training process and prevent overfitting. This optimized model demonstrates a substantial improvement in diagnostic accuracy, achieving a 98.29% accuracy rate on a meticulously assembled test dataset. This performance significantly surpasses existing benchmarks in the field, highlighting the model's enhanced ability to navigate the intricacies of breast ultrasound image analysis. The high diagnostic accuracy of this model positions it as an invaluable tool in the early detection and informed management of breast cancer, potentially transforming current paradigms in oncological care.
Parental mentalization across cultures: Mind‐mindedness and parental reflective functioning in British and South Korean mothers
Authors: Lee Yujin , Meins Elizabeth , Larkin Fionnuala
Published: December 2024

Differences in mind‐mindedness and parental reflective functioning (PRF) were investigated in mothers and their 6‐month‐old infants from South Korea (N = 66, 32 girls) and the United Kingdom (N = 63, 26 girls). Mind‐mindedness was assessed in terms of appropriate and non‐attuned mind‐related comments during infant–mother interaction; PRF was assessed using a questionnaire. British mothers commented more on infant desires and preferences, whereas Korean mothers commented more on cognitions and emotions, but there were no cultural differences in overall levels of mind‐mindedness. For PRF, Korean mothers reported more certainty about their infants’ mental states compared with their British counterparts, but there were no cultural differences in mothers’ reported interest in their infants’ mental states. Greater reported certainty about infants’ mental states was positively related to self‐reported parenting quality in both cultural groups, but this association was not seen for parenting quality as assessed observationally. Mind‐mindedness and PRF were unrelated in both Korean and British mothers. Results are discussed in terms of the Korean concept of mother–infant oneness and the multi‐dimensional nature of parental mentalization.
Persisting plant blindness in conservation efforts
Authors: Jose Jithu K
Published: December 2024

Plants receive significantly less attention in conservation efforts than other groups. Conservation and funding are often directed towards more charismatic animal groups. Considering that two out of every five plant species face the risk of extinction, the limited expenditure on plant conservation is particularly concerning. An unbiased distribution of funding across conservation priorities is urgently needed.
“Polyethylene Terephthalate Nanoplastics Caused Hepatotoxicity in Mice Can be Prevented by Betaine: Molecular and Immunohistochemical Insights”
Authors: Kamel Nehal A. , Bashir Dina W. , EL‐Leithy Ebtihal M. M. , Tohamy Adel F. , Rashad Maha M. , Ali Ghada E. , El‐Saba Abdel Aleem A.
Published: December 2024

Polyethylene terephthalate nanoplastics (PET‐NPs) are one of the most frequently distributed nanoplastics in daily life. Betaine is thought to be a promising hepatoprotective agent. The current investigation focused on whether orally administered PET‐NPs caused hepatotoxicity and ameliorative effect of betaine. Forty adult male Swiss albino mice were randomly split into four groups: group I control, group II betaine (1000 mg/kg I/P), group III PET‐NPs (200 mg/kg orally), and group IV betaine plus PET‐NPs at doses similar to group II& III respectively. After 30 days, blood sample were collected then animals were euthanized and liver specimens were dissected out for biochemical and histopathological examination. PET‐NPs induced a significant elevation in alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and malondialdehyde (MDA), as well as an increase in the inflammatory genes a proto‐oncogene (c‐FOS) and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2) (p ≤ 0.05), with a substantial decrease in glutathione (GSH) (p ≤ 0.05). Furthermore, on the level of histopathological analysis PET‐NPs caused alterations in hepatic tissue architecture as vascular dilatation and congestion with hepatocytes degeneration, bile duct epithelial hyperplasia and inflammatory cell infiltrations While on the level of immunohistochemistry, PET‐NPs trigger positive tumor necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α) and nuclear factor‐kappa B (NF‐ҠB) expression in comparison to control. Meanwhile, betaine treatment reduced the deleterious effects of PET‐NPs. To summarize, PET‐NPs may cause hepatotoxicity in mice, with a belief that betaine could mitigate the detrimental impact.
Evaluating sorbents for reducing per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substance mobility in biosolids‐amended soil columns
Authors: Openiyi Elijah O. , Lee Linda S. , Alukkal Caroline R.
Published: December 2024

Sustainable reuse of biosolids as fertilizers is being threatened by the presence of per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in our waste stream warranting research on strategies that will minimize PFAS mobility from land‐applied biosolids. Here, we evaluated the ability of waste‐derived sorbents aluminum chlorohydrate water treatment residuals (ACH‐WTRs, 1 wt%) and biosolids‐based biochar (1.5 wt%) to reduce mobility of PFAS in columns with 3 wt% biosolids‐amended soils with and without sorbent layered on top of soil only and operated under transient unsaturated conditions. Cycles of simulated rain events of approximately three pore volumes distributed over a 4‐day period followed by 3 days of drying were imposed for 6 months. Total PFAS concentrations in collected leachates were lower in the sorbent‐treated columns compared to the control columns. Biochar outperformed the ACH‐WTR with 41% versus 32% lower total PFAS in leachate, respectively, compared to the control. The most significant mitigation effect was observed with PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate) with 68% and 62% less PFOS in the leachates from the columns treated with ACH‐WTR or biochar compared to the control, respectively. These results provide a first‐of‐its‐kind assessment of the potential benefit of co‐applying WTRs or biochar with biosolids to reduce PFAS mobility in biosolids‐amended soils.
Hypergraph Anti‐Ramsey Theorems
Authors: Liu Xizhi , Song Jialei
Published: December 2024

The anti‐Ramsey number of an ‐graph is the minimum number of colors needed to color the complete ‐vertex ‐graph to ensure the existence of a rainbow copy of . We establish a removal‐type result for the anti‐Ramsey problem of when is the expansion of a hypergraph with a smaller uniformity. We present two applications of this result. First, we refine the general bound proved by Erdős–Simonovits–Sós, where denotes the family of ‐graphs obtained from by removing one edge. Second, we determine the exact value of for large in cases where is the expansion of a specific class of graphs. This extends results of Erdős–Simonovits–Sós on complete graphs to the realm of hypergraphs.
On a Question of Erdős and Nešetřil About Minimal Cuts in a Graph
Authors: Bradač Domagoj
Published: December 2024

Answering a question of Erdős and Nešetřil, we show that the maximum number of inclusion‐wise minimal vertex cuts in a graph on vertices is at most for large enough .
The heterogeneity among people re‐engaging in antiretroviral therapy highlights the need for a differentiated approach: results from a cross‐sectional study in Johannesburg, South Africa
Authors: Mutyambizi Chipo , Rees Kate , Grimsrud Anna , Ndou Rendani , Wilkinson Lynne S.
Published: December 2024

Introduction

Disengagement and re‐engagement with antiretroviral therapy (ART) are common in South Africa, but routine monitoring is insufficient to inform policy development. To address this gap, Anova implemented the 2020 National Adherence Guidelines’ re‐engagement standard operating procedure (re‐engagement SOP) and collected additional data to describe the characteristics of re‐engagement visits to inform HIV programmes.

Methods

Between July and December 2022, we conducted a study at nine primary healthcare facilities in Johannesburg. Staff were trained on the re‐engagement SOP and provided with job aides to support implementation. Administration clerks categorized visits based on the time elapsed since the missed appointment: ≤14days and >14 days, with the latter identified as re‐engaging. For these clients, clinicians filled out “re‐engagement clinical assessment forms” that included visit dates, both clinician‐assessed and self‐reported treatment interruptions, and clinical details. Data on missed appointments and previous viral loads were extracted from medical records. The information was entered into REDCap. We present data from three out of the nine facilities, selected for their comprehensive data collection and high coverage of all re‐engaging clients.

Results

A total of 2342 clients returned following a missed scheduled appointment. The majority, 1523 (65%), missed their appointments by ≤ 14 days, while 819 (35%) were >14 days late (re‐engaging). Among those re‐engaging, 635 (78%) re‐engagement clinical assessment forms were completed. A missed appointment date was available for 623 with 25% (n = 161) returning 2–4 weeks late, 47% (n = 298) 4–12 weeks and 26% (n = 164) >12 weeks late. Self‐reported ART interruption, available for 89% (567/635), indicated the majority (54%, n = 304) experienced no interruption. Clinical concerns were identified in 65 (10%) cases. A majority (79%, 504/635) had prior viral load results, with 73% (370/504) below 50 copies/ml.

Conclusions

Clients frequently return to care shortly after missed appointments. Despite missing scheduled ART refill dates, many report not interrupting treatment, either having treatment on hand or sourcing ART elsewhere. Most re‐engaging clients were adherent prior to disengagement, and clinical concerns are rare. A differentiated service delivery approach, prioritizing flexibility and reduced healthcare burden, is required to support client's needs and preferences at re‐engagement.
Comparative Morphology of the Extrinsic and Intrinsic Leg Musculature in Dictyoptera (Insecta: Blattodea, Mantodea)
Authors: Bäumler Fabian , Gorb Stanislav N. , Büsse Sebastian
Published: December 2024

Insect legs, as primarily locomotory devices, can show a tremendous variety of morphological modifications providing a multitude of usages. The prehensile raptorial forelegs of praying mantises (Mantodea) are a prominent example of true multifunctionality since they are used for walking while being efficient prey‐capturing and grasping devices. Although being mostly generalist arthropod predators, various morphological adaptations due to different environmental conditions occur across Mantodea. Recently, the general mantodean morphology, and particularly their raptorial forelegs, received an increased interest. Yet, knowledge about the evolutionary transition from walking to prey‐grasping legs is still scarce. From evolutionary and functional perspectives, the question arises: what changes were necessary to achieve the strongly modified raptorial forelegs—while keeping walking ability—and how does the foreleg morphology differ from the remaining four walking legs? In this context, we investigated the musculature of the raptorial forelegs in seven phylogenetically distant mantodeans, including pterothoracic legs in four of them, using high‐resolution microcomputed tomography and dissection. To understand the results from an evolutionary perspective, we additionally examined all three pairs of unmodified walking legs of the closest sister group—Blattodea. We updated the knowledge of blattodean morphology, revealing differences in cuticle structures of the coxal articulation of the first pair of legs between the two orders and a shared musculature set‐up in all pairs of legs among later‐branching mantodeans. Interestingly, the early branching species Metallyticus splendidus and Chaeteessa sp. show several muscular characteristics, otherwise found exclusively in one or the other order, with a few procoxal muscles showing an intermediate state between the two orders. Studying the evolutionary transition from a walking leg to a raptorial leg will help to understand the character evolution of this highly specialized biomechanical system from a purely locomotory appendage to a multi‐functional device with all related amenities and constraints.
The Authentic Learning of Humans Is a Creative Process and Very Different from the Artificially Creative Output of AI
Authors: Runco Mark A.
Published: December 2024

This article examines theories which suggest that authentic learning requires creativity. The connection between creativity and learning has been recognized for quite some time. Several of the theories examined herein are decades old. The older theories include Piaget's and Dewey's, and less obviously the humanistic theory of self‐actualization. It is quite useful to take these perspectives, though older, into account. The idea of authentic learning has evolved, however, as is evidenced by newer theories. One of these is the theory of personal creativity. This theory is interpreted in the context of the previous perspectives on learning and creativity. Newer evidence from the neurosciences is also cited because it confirms that learning is more than memory and that the brain uses special operations when original ideas are constructed. Implications of the idea that creativity and learning are related are explored. These include suggestions for educators and the classroom. Several surprising implications for our understanding of AI are also explored. Most important is probably the conclusion that an appreciation of what exactly makes up authentic learning goes a long way towards distinguishing the artificial creativity of AI from the creativity of humans. It is the latter which should guide educational decisions.
Pediatric gastrostomy tube referral patterns and postoperative use: A single‐center experience
Authors: Krinock Derek J. , Stephenson Krista J. , Whaley Madison G. , Wells Allison , Wolf Lindsey L. , Dassinger Melvin S.
Published: December 2024

Objectives

Practice variability exists regarding the timing of gastrostomy tube (GT) placement in patients unable to maintain adequate oral nutrition. We sought to assess patient factors predictive of longer surgical GT use to inform patient selection.

Methods

We conducted a single‐center, retrospective cohort study including children ≤18 years who underwent surgical GT placement from June 1, 2018 to June 1, 2021 at a children's hospital. Bivariate and logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the impact of referral patterns, operative indications, and patient comorbidities on the length of GT use.

Results

Four hundred fifty‐eight children underwent GT placement. Median age at placement was 5 months (interquartile range [IQR]: 2–12) and 52% were male. Fifty‐six percent were referred from a neonatal intensive care unit;/cardiovascular intensive care unit provider before initial hospital discharge and 19% were outpatient referrals. Forty‐six percent were premature and 50% exhibited oropharyngeal dysphagia. The median duration of nasogastric (NGT) feeding before GT placement was 36.5 days (IQR: 16–64). In those with GT removal (n = 140), the median duration of use was 269 days (IQR: 144–474), with 23% of the cohort no longer utilizing the GT within 12 months of placement. Patients with congenital lung disease (odds ratio [OR]: 3.03, p = 0.002) and genetic anomalies excluding isolated Trisomy 21 (OR: 3.57, p = 0.003) were more likely to require prolonged GT use.

Conclusions

Nearly a quarter of children attain full oral feeding within a year of GT placement. The identified factors predictive of prolonged GT use suggest early placement in these patients. Continuing NGT feeds in other patients may decrease the morbidity of unnecessary GT placement.
Untargeted Profiling of Shenfu Qiangxin Pills Based on High‐Resolution Mass Spectrometry and Absolute Quantitation of Multiple Components Using Parallel Reaction Monitoring
Authors: Gao Yan , Liang Xv , Zhang Nihui , Zhang Xiangyang , Li Xia , Gao Wenyuan
Published: December 2024

Shenfu Qiangxin (SFQX) pills are proprietary traditional Chinese medicine used for the treatment of chronic heart failure with significant clinical effects. However, the systematic identification and quantification of complexed components in SFQX have not been reported yet. In this work, a reliable and comprehensive method for a rapid identification of chemical components was developed by data dependent acquisition using ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled with high‐resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC‐Q Exactive‐Orbitrap‐MS). A total of 104 compounds mainly including flavonoids, saponins, alkaloids, anthraquinones, coumarins, and phenolic acids were identified through database searching. The identified compounds were further ascribed to herb species in SFQX pills, such as Ginseng Radis et Rhizoma, Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata (processed), Mori Cortex, Lepidii Semen, Rhei Radix et Rhizoma, and Polyporus. Thirty‐two representative compounds were elaborated with cleavage pathways and characteristic fragments in MS/MS spectrum of commercially available standards. A quantification method based on parallel reaction monitoring technique was established, and absolute quantification of 28 components in SFQX pills was then carried out. This work constitutes a basis and methodological reference for the quality control, consistency evaluation, and standardization of similar proprietary Chinese medicines.
Differential Comparison of Chemical Compositions Between Two Wutou Decoctions Based on Ultrahigh–Performance Liquid Chromatography Coupled With Quadrupole Time‐of‐Flight Tandem Mass Spectrometry Combined With Chemometric Analysis
Authors: Liu Yizhe , Tao Chujun , Ma Han , Qiu Feng
Published: December 2024

Wutou decoction is an ancient compound preparation composed of five herbal medicines, which has good therapeutic effects on rheumatoid arthritis. There are two classic preparation methods of Wutou decoction using honey and water as decocting excipients, respectively. However, the differences of chemical compositions between these two Wutou decoctions yet remain unclear. Therefore, honey‐decocting Wutou decoction was prepared according to the record written in Synopsis of Golden Chamber, and water‐decocting Wutou decoction was prepared by the process commonly used in clinics nowadays. Wutou decoction database was also established for the identification of their chemical compositions. Ultrahigh–performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time‐of‐flight tandem mass spectrometry technique combined with chemometric analysis was further established and applied to analyze their chemical compositions. A total of 128 components were identified in honey‐decocting Wutou decoction, whereas 126 components in water‐decocting Wutou decoction. Isoguanosine and aromadendrin were found to exist only in honey‐decocting Wutou decoction, but not in water‐decocting Wutou decoction. Principal component analysis results showed that there were obvious differences between honey‐decocting Wutou decoction and water‐decocting Wutou decoction. Orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis further verified these differences, of which 30 potential differential components were found by calculation of their variable importance in the projection values. Different chemical compositions will inevitably affect the toxicity and safety of Wutou decoction, and it is imperative to calibrate its preparation process.