bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exogenous hydrogen sulphide promotes plant flowering through the Arabidopsis splicing factor AtU2AF65a
Authors: Ma Tian , Xu Shutian , Wang Yaqin , Zhang Liping , Liu Zhiqiang , Liu Danmei , Jin Zhuping , Pei Yanxi
Published: February 2024

Alternative splicing (AS) is an important regulatory mode at the post‐transcriptional level, through which many flowering genes regulate floral transition by producing multiple transcripts, and splicing factors have essential roles in this process. Hydrogen sulphide (H2S) is a newly found gasotransmitter that has critical physiological roles in plants, and one of its potential modes of action is via persulfidation of target proteins at specific cysteine sites. Previously, it has been shown that both the splicing factor AtU2AF65a and H2S are involved in the regulation of plant flowering. This study found that, in Arabidopsis, the promoting effect of H2S on flowering was abolished in atu2af65a‐4 mutants. Transcriptome analyses showed that when AtU2AF65a contained mutations, the regulatory function of H2S during the AS of many flowering genes (including SPA1, LUH, LUG and MAF3) was inhibited. The persulfidation assay showed that AtU2AF65a can be persulfidated by H2S, and the RNA immunoprecipitation data indicated that H2S could alter the binding affinity of AtU2AF65a to the precursor messenger RNA of the above‐mentioned flowering genes. Overall, our results suggest that H2S may regulate the AS of flowering‐related genes through persulfidation of splicing factor AtU2AF65a and thus lead to early flowering in plants.
Excited state properties of 5‐fluoro‐4‐thiouridine derivative†
Authors: Sato Rin , Yamada Yoshino , Kashihara Wataru , Nishihara Tatsuya , Tanabe Kazuhito , Xu Yao‐Zhong , Suzuki Tadashi
Published: February 2024

The excited state properties of thionated 5‐fluorouridine (2′,3′,5′‐tri‐O‐acetyl‐5‐fluoro‐4‐thiouridine; ta5F4TUrd), synthesized with Lawesson's reagent, have been intensively investigated with nanosecond transient absorption spectroscopy, time‐resolved thermal lensing, near‐infrared emission, and quantum chemical calculation. The intrinsic triplet lifetime of ta5F4TUrd was determined to be μs in acetonitrile, and the formation quantum yield of the excited triplet state was as large as . The quenching rate constants of the triplet ta5F4TUrd by the dissolved oxygen molecule and by the self‐quenching process were found to be nearly equal to the diffusion‐controlled rate of acetonitrile. The quantum yield of the singlet molecular oxygen produced through energy transfer between the triplet ta5F4TUrd and the dissolved oxygen, , was successfully determined to be under the oxygen‐saturated condition. From the oxygen concentration dependence of the value, the fraction of triplet ta5F4TUrd quenched by dissolved oxygen which gives rise to the 1O2* formation, , was successfully obtained to be , which was the largest among the thionucleobases and the thionucleosides reported so far. This could be due to the lower energy and/or the ππ* character of the triplet state.
Academic achievement at ages 11 and 16 in children born with congenital anomalies in England: A multi‐registry linked cohort study
Authors: Glinianaia Svetlana V. , Tan Joachim , Morris Joan K. , Brigden Jo , Evans Hannah E. R. , Loane Maria , Neville Amanda J. , Rankin Judith
Published: February 2024

Background

Children born with major congenital anomalies (CAs) have lower academic achievement compared with their peers, but the existing evidence is restricted to a number of specific CAs.

Objectives

To investigate academic outcomes at ages 11 and 16 in children with major isolated structural CAs and children with Down or Turner syndromes.

Methods

This population‐based cohort study linked data on approximately 11,000 school‐aged children born with major CAs in 1994–2004 registered by four regional CA registries in England with education data from the National Pupil Database (NPD). The comparison group was a random sample of children without major CAs from the background population recorded in the NPD that were frequency matched (5:1) to children with CAs by birth year, sex and geographical area.

Results

Overall, 71.9%, 73.0% and 80.9% of children with isolated structural CAs achieved the expected attainment level at age 11 compared to 78.3%, 80.6% and 86.7% of the comparison group in English language, Mathematics and Science, respectively. Children with nervous system CAs as a whole had the lowest proportion who achieved the expected attainment at age 11. At age 16, 46.9% of children with CAs achieved the expected level compared to 52.5% of their peers. Major CAs were associated with being up to 9% (95% confidence interval [CI] 8%, 11%) and 12% (95% CI 9%, 14%) less likely to achieve expected levels at ages 11 and 16, respectively, after adjustment for socioeconomic deprivation.

Conclusions

Although many children with isolated CAs achieved the expected academic level at ages 11 and 16, they were at higher risk of underachievement compared to their peers. These stark yet cautiously encouraging results are important for counselling parents of children with specific CAs and also highlight the possible need for special education support to reduce potential academic difficulties.
The effectiveness of macroprudential policies in managing extreme capital flow episodes
Authors: de Villiers David , Hollander Hylton , van Lill Dawie
Published: February 2024

Against the backdrop of a proliferation of policy tools in recent years, there is ongoing policy uncertainty surrounding the suitability of capital flow management in mitigating systemic risk and financial disruptions. We study the effectiveness of macroprudential policies in managing extreme capital flow episodes (surges, stops, flight, and retrenchment), comparing them to capital controls and foreign exchange interventions. Using propensity score matching, based on a panel of 54 countries spanning 1990Q1 to 2020Q3, we find that macroprudential policy can reduce the likelihood of extreme capital flow episodes at least as effectively as capital controls or foreign exchange interventions. Their relative effectiveness, however, varies considerably across type of instrument, proliferation of tools, country income‐development level, and type of extreme capital flow episode.
The effects of academic unprofessional behaviour on disciplinary action by medical boards: Systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: da Rosa Maria Inês , Ceretta Luciane Bisognin , Martins Milton Arruda , Colonetti Laura , Colonetti Tamy , Grande Antonio Jose , Tempski Patricia
Published: February 2024

Objective

The objective of this study is to evaluate the association of disciplinary actions by regulatory councils and unprofessional behaviour during medical graduation.

Methods

A search strategy was developed using the terms: ‘physicians’, ‘disciplinary action’, ‘education’, ‘medical’, ‘undergraduate’ and their synonyms, subsequently applied to the electronic databases MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, LILACs and grey literature, with searches up to November 2023. The risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle‐Ottawa scale and statistical analysis was performed using the RevMan software.

Results

A total of 400 studies were found in the databases, and 15 studies were selected for full‐texting reading. Four studies met the inclusion criteria and were included, bringing together a total of 3341 evaluated physicians. Three studies were included in the meta‐analysis, showing a greater chance of disciplinary actions among physicians who exhibited unprofessional behaviour during medical graduation (OR: 2.54; 95%CI: 1.87–3.44; I2: 0%; P < 0.0001; 3077 participants; physicians with disciplinary action: 107/323; control physicians: 222/2754).

Conclusions

There is a statistically significant association between unprofessional behaviour during medical undergraduate study and subsequent disciplinary actions by Medical Councils. The tools for periodic assessments of student behaviour during undergraduate studies can be a perspective for future studies aimed at reducing disciplinary actions among physicians.
The dual role of the RETINOBLASTOMA‐RELATED protein in the DNA damage response is coordinated by the interaction with LXCXE‐containing proteins
Authors: Zaragoza Jorge Zamora , Klap Katinka , Heidstra Renze , Zhou Wenkun , Scheres Ben
Published: February 2024

Living organisms possess mechanisms to safeguard genome integrity. To avoid spreading mutations, DNA lesions are detected and cell division is temporarily arrested to allow repair mechanisms. Afterward, cells either resume division or respond to unsuccessful repair by undergoing programmed cell death (PCD). How the success rate of DNA repair connects to later cell fate decisions remains incompletely known, particularly in plants. The Arabidopsis thaliana RETINOBLASTOMA‐RELATED1 (RBR) protein and its partner E2FA, play both structural and transcriptional functions in the DNA damage response (DDR). Here we provide evidence that distinct RBR protein interactions with LXCXE motif‐containing proteins guide these processes. Using the N849F substitution in the RBR B‐pocket domain, which specifically disrupts binding to the LXCXE motif, we show that these interactions are dispensable in unchallenging conditions. However, N849F substitution abolishes RBR nuclear foci and promotes PCD and growth arrest upon genotoxic stress. NAC044, which promotes growth arrest and PCD, accumulates after the initial recruitment of RBR to foci and can bind non‐focalized RBR through the LXCXE motif in a phosphorylation‐independent manner, allowing interaction at different cell cycle phases. Disrupting NAC044‐RBR interaction impairs PCD, but their genetic interaction points to opposite independent roles in the regulation of PCD. The LXCXE‐binding dependency of the roles of RBR in the DDR suggests a coordinating mechanism to translate DNA repair success to cell survival. We propose that RBR and NAC044 act in two distinct DDR pathways, but interact to integrate input from both DDR pathways to decide upon an irreversible cell fate decision.
Cryogenic Failure Behaviors of Al–Mg–Si Alloy Tubes in Bulging Process
Authors: Fan Xiaobo , Wang Xugang , Chen Xianshuo , Yuan Shijian
Published: February 2024

Cryogenic medium pressure forming has been developed to form the complex-shaped tubular components, in which the needed shape and tube diameter directly determine the complex evolution of biaxial stress in bulging process. The superposition of biaxial stress and cryogenic temperature complicates the deformation behaviors, especially for the final fracture and bulging limit, which determine the forming quality of components. Therefore, the effects of tube geometry on failure orientation and fracture strain of Al–Mg–Si alloy tubes under cryogenic biaxial stress were elucidated, by utilizing cryogenic free bulging with different length–diameter ratios. The failure orientations and corresponding damage modes under different bulging geometric conditions were revealed. The influence mechanism of tube geometry and temperature on the failure mode was analyzed theoretically. A fracture model was established to predict the fracture strain in cryogenic bulging. The failure mode changes from circumferential cracking to axial cracking with the decreasing length–diameter ratio, owing to the stress sequence reversal induced by the significant nonlinearity of the stress path under a small length–diameter ratio. The failure mode can inverse under a larger length–diameter ratio of 1.0 at −196 °C because of the enhanced nonlinearity, which is promoted by the improved plasticity at cryogenic temperature. The established model based on the more accurate assessment of hardening ability during deformation can accurately predict the fracture strain with an average deviation of 10.6% at different temperatures. The study can guide deformation analysis and failure prediction in the cryogenic forming of aluminum alloy tubular parts.
Climate-invariant machine learning
Authors: Beucler Tom , Gentine Pierre , Yuval Janni , Gupta Ankitesh , Peng Liran , Lin Jerry , Yu Sungduk , Rasp Stephan , Ahmed Fiaz , O’Gorman Paul A. , Neelin J. David , Lutsko Nicholas J. , Pritchard Michael
Published: February 2024

Projecting climate change is a generalization problem: We extrapolate the recent past using physical models across past, present, and future climates. Current climate models require representations of processes that occur at scales smaller than model grid size, which have been the main source of model projection uncertainty. Recent machine learning (ML) algorithms hold promise to improve such process representations but tend to extrapolate poorly to climate regimes that they were not trained on. To get the best of the physical and statistical worlds, we propose a framework, termed “climate-invariant” ML, incorporating knowledge of climate processes into ML algorithms, and show that it can maintain high offline accuracy across a wide range of climate conditions and configurations in three distinct atmospheric models. Our results suggest that explicitly incorporating physical knowledge into data-driven models of Earth system processes can improve their consistency, data efficiency, and generalizability across climate regimes.
Neoadjuvant radioimmunotherapy in pancreatic cancer enhances effector T cell infiltration and shortens their distances to tumor cells
Authors: Wang Junke , Gai Jessica , Zhang Tengyi , Niu Nan , Qi Hanfei , Thomas Dwayne L. , Li Keyu , Xia Tao , Rodriguez Christina , Parkinson Rose , Durham Jennifer , McPhaul Thomas , Narang Amol K. , Anders Robert A. , Osipov Arsen , Wang Hao , He Jin , Laheru Daniel A. , Herman Joseph M. , Lee Valerie , Jaffee Elizabeth M. , Thompson Elizabeth D. , Zhu Qingfeng , Zheng Lei
Published: February 2024

Radiotherapy is hypothesized to have an immune-modulating effect on the tumor microenvironment (TME) of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) to sensitize it to anti–PD-1 antibody (a–PD-1) treatment. We collected paired pre- and posttreatment specimens from a clinical trial evaluating combination treatment with GVAX vaccine, a–PD-1, and stereotactic body radiation (SBRT) following chemotherapy for locally advanced PDACs (LAPC). With resected PDACs following different neoadjuvant therapies as comparisons, effector cells in PDACs were found to skew toward a more exhausted status in LAPCs following chemotherapy. The combination of GVAX/a–PD-1/SBRT drives TME to favor antitumor immune response including increased densities of GZMB
+
CD8
+
T cells, T
H
1, and T
H
17, which are associated with longer survival, however increases immunosuppressive M2-like tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). Adding SBRT to GVAX/a–PD-1 shortens the distances from PD-1
+
CD8
+
T cells to tumor cells and to PD-L1
+
myeloid cells, which portends prolonged survival. These findings have guided the design of next radioimmunotherapy studies by targeting M2-like TAM in PDACs.
RNF220-mediated K63-linked polyubiquitination stabilizes Olig proteins during oligodendroglial development and myelination
Authors: Li Yuwei , Wan Li Pear , Song Ning-Ning , Ding Yu-Qiang , Zhao Shuhua , Niu Jianqin , Mao Bingyu , Sheng Nengyin , Ma Pengcheng
Published: February 2024

Maldevelopment of oligodendroglia underlies neural developmental disorders such as leukodystrophy. Precise regulation of the activity of specific transcription factors (TFs) by various posttranslational modifications (PTMs) is required to ensure proper oligodendroglial development and myelination. However, the role of ubiquitination of these TFs during oligodendroglial development is yet unexplored. Here, we find that RNF220, a known leukodystrophy-related E3 ubiquitin ligase, is required for oligodendroglial development. RNF220 depletion in oligodendrocyte lineage cells impedes oligodendrocyte progenitor cell proliferation, differentiation, and (re)myelination, which consequently leads to learning and memory defects. Mechanistically, RNF220 targets Olig1/2 for K63-linked polyubiquitination and stabilization during oligodendroglial development. Furthermore, in a knock-in mouse model of leukodystrophy-related RNF220
R365Q
mutation, the ubiquitination and stabilization of Olig proteins are deregulated in oligodendroglial cells. This results in pathomimetic oligodendroglial developmental defects, impaired myelination, and abnormal behaviors. Together, our evidence provides an alternative insight into PTMs of oligodendroglial TFs and how this essential process may be implicated in the etiology of leukodystrophy.
Draft genome sequences of
Bacillus licheniformis
strains MEZBL63 and MEZBL64 harboring the lichenysin toxin operon isolated from livestock in South Africa
Authors: El Zowalaty Mohamed E. , Falgenhauer Linda , Ashour Hossam M. , Zishiri Oliver T. , Forsythe Stephen , Helmy Yosra A.
Published: February 2024

Here, we report the draft genome sequences of two
Bacillus licheniformis
strains harboring the lichenysin operon that were isolated from healthy goat and horse in South Africa. The genomes were sequenced using Illumina MiSeq and had a length of 4,152,826 and 4,110,075 bp, respectively, with a G + C content of 46%.
A scoping review on heat indices used to measure the effects of heat on maternal and perinatal health
Authors: Brimicombe Chloe , Conway Francesca , Portela Anayda , Lakhoo Darshnika , Roos Nathalie , Gao Chuansi , Solarin Ijeoma , Jackson Debra
Published: February 2024

A previous systematic review has shown associations between exposure to high temperatures and negative birth outcomes. To date, a scoping review for heat indices and their use to measure effects of heat on maternal and perinatal health has not been considered.

Objectives

To provide a scoping review on heat stress and indices for those interested in the epidemiology and working in extreme heat and maternal perinatal health.

Methods

This study is a scoping review based on a previous review guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for scoping reviews. It identifies the main ways heat stress through different heat indices impacts maternal and perinatal health in available literature. For documents that met the inclusion criteria, we extracted 23 publications.

Results

We find four heat indices: heat index, apparent temperature, wet bulb globe temperature and universal thermal climate index. Exposure to elevated levels of heat stress can be associated with preterm birth. In addition, the more intense and prolonged duration of exposure to heat stress, the greater the risk of stillbirth. Negative birth outcomes can occur from change in hormonal levels (ie, cortisol), dehydration and blood flow diversion away from the placenta and fetus when suffering from heat stress. All studies demonstrate that certain socioeconomic factors influence the effect of heat on maternal and perinatal health outcomes.

Conclusion

We make three suggestions based on the results: (1) heat indices should be standardised across studies and explained. (2) An increased number of perinatal and maternal health outcomes explored. Finally, (3) enhanced collaboration across climate and health to improve understanding.
Comparing the rate of inpatient admissions of prison residents with COVID-19 to the general population in England in 2020/2021 using Hospital Episode Statistics data
Authors: Davies Miranda , Roy Anjana
Published: February 2024

Objective

To compare the rate of inpatient admissions of prison residents with COVID-19 to the general population and to consider differences in the use of inpatient and outpatient services by prison residents in England in the first year of the pandemic (2020/2021), to the 12 months prior to the pandemic (2019/2020).

Methods

The pseudonymised records of patients who accessed admitted patient care and outpatient hospital services from a prison address in England between 1 April 2019 and the 31 March 2021 were extracted from Hospital Episode Statistics data. Descriptive statistics summarise the most common primary admitting diagnosis and the proportion of outpatient appointments attended and not attended. Indirectly standardised adjusted admission rate was calculated to compare the rate of inpatient admissions by prison residents with COVID-19 to the general population.

Results

The standardised adjusted admission rate for COVID-19 was 2.2 times higher in prison than the general population. Hospital data highlight continuing challenges regarding high levels of violence and self-harm resulting in hospital admissions during a period when people were spending an increasing amount of time in their cells.

Conclusions

Despite efforts to minimise the spread of COVID-19 in secure settings, prison residents in England were significantly more likely to be hospitalised with a COVID-19 diagnosis relative to the general population during the first year of the pandemic. This is in addition to the wider implications of the COVID-19 restrictions, particularly spending extended periods in isolation, on people’s mental health.
Detailed modeling of odd–even staggering in fission-fragment charge distributions
Authors: Möller Peter , Schmitt Christelle
Published: February 2024

During the last 10 years or so the Brownian shape-motion (BSM) model has been used in numerous calculations of fission-fragment mass and charge distributions with encouraging agreement with experimental measurements. In this model the structure obtained in the fission-fragment distributions is entirely a consequence of the structures in the calculated five-dimensional (5D) potential-energy surfaces. The potential-energy model until recently did not accommodate the influence of the emerging fragment properties on the calculated potential energy. Therefore there were no odd-even effects in the calculated fission-fragment distributions. Recent extensions of the potential-energy model allow properties of the nascent fragments to be included in the potential-energy model. Application of the BSM model to execute random walks on these more detailed potential-energy surfaces led to calculated fission-fragment yields that exhibited odd-even effects, which “by eye” indicated reasonable agreement with experimental data. The present work goes a step further with a quantitative comparison between experimental and theoretical results based on the global and local odd-even staggering observables. Theoretical calculations and experimental observations both show that pairing effects and enhancement of two-nucleon relative to one-nucleon transfer in heavy-ion collisions decrease with excitation energy and implementing a damping of these quantities with excitation energy leads to improved agreement with experiment. Characteristic variations of the local staggering with charge split seen in the experimental data are also present in the calculated results.
Geometrically thick equilibrium tori around a dyonic black hole with quasi-topological electromagnetism
Authors: Zhou Xuan , Chen Songbai , Jing Jiliang
Published: February 2024

We study geometrically thick and non-self gravitating equilibrium tori orbiting a static spherically symmetric dyonic black hole with quasi-topological electromagnetism. Our results show that the electric and magnetic charges together with the coupling parameter in the quasi-topological electromagnetism lead to a much richer class of equilibrium tori. There are a range of parameters which allow for the existence of double tori. The properties of double equilibrium tori become far richer. There exist transitions between single torus and double tori solutions as we change the specific angular momentum of the fluid. These properties of equilibrium tori could help to understand the dyonic black hole and its thick accretion disk.
Fatjet signatures of heavy neutrinos and heavy leptons in a left-right model with universal seesaw at the HL-LHC
Authors: Dey Atri , Rahaman Rafiqul , Rai Santosh Kumar
Published: February 2024

We perform a collider search for fatjet signals originating from boosted heavy neutral and charged leptons with masses between a few hundred GeV to a TeV. These heavy leptons originate from the decay of heavy gauge bosons with masses above 4 TeV in a left-right symmetric extension of the Standard Model (SM), which considers a universal seesaw mechanism for the generation of all the SM fermion masses. The fatjet signals arise naturally in this model due to the presence of heavy seesaw partners of the SM fermions which decay to SM gauge bosons carrying large boosts. We employ substructure based variables lepton sub-jet fraction (LSF) and lepton mass drop (LMD) together with kinematic variables of fatjets to look for fatjet signals associated with non-isolated leptons. These variables help in reducing the SM backgrounds while retaining enough statistics for signal events, which leads to a robust discovery potential at the high-luminosity Large Hadron Collider (HL-LHC).
Charged spinning fermionic configurations and a mass gap
Authors: Dzhunushaliev Vladimir , Folomeev Vladimir
Published: February 2024

We consider a self-consistent axially symmetric system supported by a classical nonlinear spinor field minimally coupled to electric and magnetic Maxwell fields. The presence of the nonlinearity of the spinor field ensures the existence of a minimum positive energy of the system (a mass gap), of a minimum charge (a charge gap), and of a minimum magnetic moment. In turn, the presence of the electric charge results in qualitative changes in the behavior of physical characteristics of the systems under consideration as compared with the case of an electrically neutral spinor field. It is shown that, with a suitable choice of free system parameters, there exists a regular finite-energy particlelike solution describing a localized spinning object whose physical parameters correspond to the main characteristics of an electron/positron (including the spin equal to 1/2), but with the characteristic size comparable to the corresponding Compton wavelength. Also, we show that four local Dirac equations are equivalent to two nonlocal equations.
Comparison of Lysophospholipids and Bile Acids on the Growth Performance, Lipid Deposition, and Intestinal Health of Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides)
Authors: Bao Ming-Yang , Wang Zhe , Nuez-Ortín Waldo G. , Zhao Guiping , Dehasque Marleen , Du Zhen-Yu , Zhang Mei-Ling
Published: February 2024

Lysophospholipids (LPLs) and bile acids (BA) are commonly used as emulsifiers in aquaculture. This study investigated the effects of dietary supplementation of LPLs or BA on the growth performance, lipid deposition, and intestinal health of largemouth juveniles. Fish were randomly allotted into three groups in quadruplicate and fed with a basal diet (CON) or diets containing 300 mg/kg LPLs (LPLs), or 300 mg/kg commercially available BA product (BA) for 8 weeks. The results showed that compared with the control group, LPLs and BA supplemented groups showed a higher weight gain trend, and LPLs supplementation promoted the protein deposition in fish body. Both BA and LPLs supplementations helped to maintain liver health by decreasing the activities of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase in serum. Besides, LPLs supplementation decreased overall lipid deposition in terms of mesenteric fat index and liver lipid content. Furthermore, LPLs supplementation showed unique advantage in improving intestinal barrier, as characterized by the increased villus length and higher expression of the tight junction protein zo-1 expression. LPLs supplementation also increased the alpha diversity index and the abundances of Proteobacteria in the intestinal microbiota which is positively correlated with the abundance of SCFA in the gut. These findings will promote the application of novel feed additives and especially provide a basis for the rational selection of emulsifiers in the aquaculture industry.
Comparative Evaluation of Antimicrobial and Smear Layer Removal Efficacy of Mangifera indica Kernel Extract as Root Canal Irrigant in Primary Molar: An In Vitro Study
Authors: Haripriya S. , Farzan Jamaluddin Mohammed , Baghkomeh Parisa Nourouzi , Nuvvula Sivakumar
Published: February 2024

Background. Endodontic therapy aims to disinfect the entire root canal system. Extracts from the kernel of Mangifera indica has the potential to be a novel root canal irrigant that has yet to be studied. Hence, the present study evaluated the antimicrobial, and smear layer removal efficacy of the M. indica kernel extract as a root canal irrigant in primary molars. Materials and Methods. Methanolic extract of M. indica was prepared using the standard method. The antimicrobial efficacy of M. indica kernel extract was determined by agar diffusion method with 3% sodium hypochlorite and distilled water as controls, and the smear layer removal efficacy was assessed under the SEM after processing the root samples with different concentrations of M. indica kernel extract with 17% EDTA and distilled water as positive and negative controls, respectively. Results. A statistically significant antimicrobial efficacy was observed with the largest mean zone of inhibition recorded with 50 μl of M. indica kernel extract at 24 hr of incubation period, when compared to sodium hypochlorite as a root canal irrigant against Enterococcus faecalis using agar diffusion method at MIC value of 0.625 mg/ml. The smear layer removal efficacy of the M. indica kernel extract was not satisfactory, when compared with EDTA as a root canal irrigant in primary molars and observed under SEM. In contrast, a complete smear layer removal was observed with 17% EDTA solution. Conclusion. M. indica kernel extract has an enhanced antimicrobial efficacy but poor smear layer removal efficacy when used as a root canal irrigant.
The Impact of Shared Governance Model’s Implementation on Professional Governance Perceptions of Nurses in Saudi Arabia: A Randomised Controlled Trial
Authors: Hamdan Mahmoud , Jaafar Amar Hisham
Published: February 2024

Objective. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of the shared governance model application on the level of perceived professional governance among clinical nurses in a tertiary hospital in Riyadh. Background. Professional governance continues traditional governance, shared governance, and self-governance. Shared governance (SG) is the engagement of clinical nurses in decision-making at different levels. This empowers nurses, increases job satisfaction, improves clinical outcomes, and enhances patient satisfaction. Methods. This randomised control trial in which researchers distributed the Index of Professional Nursing Governance (IPNG) to a random sample of 440 nurses working in a 1200-bed tertiary hospital in Riyadh and divided into experimental and control groups. The intervention included designing and implementing a nursing shared governance model at the hospital level; professional governance was measured before and eight months after implementation. The IPNG was used to measure nurses’ perceived level of professional governance before and after the intervention. The sample was divided into experimental and control groups. Results. By comparing experimental and control groups, there was no statistically significant difference between them regarding professional governance subscales and the total IPNG scores before the intervention. At the same time, there was a considerable difference between them after the intervention. Moreover, the scores of the six professional governance subscales and the overall IPNG scores significantly increased after the intervention in the experimental group. They showed no significant difference in the control group. Conclusion. Designing and implementing specific shared governance structures and processes effectively enhanced nurses’ perceived level of shared governance at the hospital, as evidenced by significantly higher postintervention IPNG scores. Elements of the shared governance model that proved effective included engaging nurses in decision-making at various organizational levels and empowering their involvement.
The Efficiency of China’s Hub Economy and Its Influencing Factors: A Two-Stage Analysis Based on the Super SBM-Malmquist-Tobit Model
Authors: Fan Xueru , Yao Guanxin , Yang Yang
Published: February 2024

Hub economy is a kind of emerging economic form. Developing a hub economy is essential to strengthen domestic and foreign connectivity and build a powerful country in transportation. This paper designs a two-stage analysis framework for the evaluation and impact study of the input-output efficiency of the hub economy based on the super SBM model, Malmquist model, and Tobit model. In the first stage, the Super SBM and Malmquist models are used to measure the static and dynamic efficiency of the hub economy. In the second stage, the Tobit model is used to analyze the factors influencing the efficiency of the hub economy. Among them, the explained variable in the second stage is the measurement result of technical efficiency in the first stage. The empirical results of 30 provinces and cities in China from 2012 to 2021 show that (1) the technical efficiency (TE), pure technical efficiency (PTE), and scale efficiency (SE) of China’s hub economy are 0.585, 0.740, and 0.820, respectively, which do not reach the effective state; (2) the technical efficiency change index (Effch), technical progress change index (Techch), and total factor productivity change index (Tfpch) of China’s hub economy are 0.994, 0.945, and 0.939, respectively, indicating that the corresponding efficiencies show a downward trend; and (3) industrial structure, innovation, and technology are significantly and positively correlated with the efficiency of the hub economy; policy and enterprises are significantly negatively correlated with the efficiency of the hub economy; and education does not correlate with the efficiency of the hub economy.
TABLE 1 from Longitudinal Position and Cancer Risk in the United States Revisited
Authors: Niu Jin , Brown Charlotte , Law Michael , Colacino Justin A. , Ritov Ya'acov
Published: February 2024

Reported coefficients by relative position for all cancer (with 95% confidence interval)
Supplementary Table 6 from Longitudinal Position and Cancer Risk in the United States Revisited
Authors: Niu Jin , Brown Charlotte , Law Michael , Colacino Justin A. , Ritov Ya'acov
Published: February 2024

Supplementary Table 6 shows Reported Coefficients of Relative Position for Hormonally Associated Cancers (with 95% Confidence Interval)
Supplementary Figure 6 from Longitudinal Position and Cancer Risk in the United States Revisited
Authors: Niu Jin , Brown Charlotte , Law Michael , Colacino Justin A. , Ritov Ya'acov
Published: February 2024

Supplementary Figure 6 shows the linear approximation result of incidence by relative position for four of the hormonally associated cancers, with 95% bootstrap confidence band.
Supplementary Figure 4 from Longitudinal Position and Cancer Risk in the United States Revisited
Authors: Niu Jin , Brown Charlotte , Law Michael , Colacino Justin A. , Ritov Ya'acov
Published: February 2024

Supplementary Figure 4 shows the relative weights of 607 counties studied by Gu et al. (2017)
Supplementary Figure 2 from Longitudinal Position and Cancer Risk in the United States Revisited
Authors: Niu Jin , Brown Charlotte , Law Michael , Colacino Justin A. , Ritov Ya'acov
Published: February 2024

Supplementary Figure 2 shows maps of cancer incidence rate by county for four of the hormonally associated cancers.
Data from Longitudinal Position and Cancer Risk in the United States Revisited
Authors: Niu Jin , Brown Charlotte , Law Michael , Colacino Justin A. , Ritov Ya'acov
Published: February 2024

Abstract
The debate over daylight saving time (DST) has surged, with interests in the effects of sunlight exposure on health. Prior studies simulated DST and standard time conditions by analyzing different locations within time zones and neighboring areas across time zone borders. We analyzed cancer incidence rates from various longitudinal positions within time zones and at time zone borders in the contiguous United States. Using data from State Cancer Profiles (2016–2020), we analyzed total cancer of 19 types and specific rates for eight cancers, adjusted for age and includes all demographics. log-linear regression is used to replicate a previous study, and spatial regression models are employed to explore discontinuities at borders. Cancer rate differences lack statistical significance within time zones and near borders for total cancer and most individual cancers. Exceptions included breast, prostate, and liver and bile duct cancers, which exhibited significant relationships with relative position at the 95% significance level. Breast and liver and bile duct cancers saw decreases, while prostate cancer incidence increased from west to east within time zones. Relative position does not have a significant impact on cancer incidence, hence cancer development in general. Isolated exceptions may warrant further investigation as more data become available. Our findings challenge prior research, revealing numerous inconsistencies. These disparities urge a reconsideration of the potential disparities in human health associated with DST and standard time. They offer insights contribute to the ongoing discussion surrounding the retention or abandonment of DST.
Significance:
In this article, we investigate the relation between the epidemiology of cancer incidence in the United States and time zone–related longitudinal positions. Our results differ from previous research, which were based on a subset of our data, and show that the time zone effect on cancer incidence rate is not significant. Our research provides implications on the implementation of DST by suggesting that there is no cancer-risk associated reason to prefer one time over the other. Our study also uses regression discontinuity design using natural splines, a more advanced statistical method, to increase robustness of our result. Our findings challenge prior research, revealing numerous inconsistencies. These disparities urge a reconsideration of the potential disparities in human health associated with DST and standard time. They offer insights contribute to the ongoing discussion surrounding the retention or abandonment of DST.
Terrestrial movements, activity patterns and habitat use by Kinosternon scorpioides (Testudines: Kinosternidae) in Palo Verde National Park, Costa Rica
Authors: Mora José M. , Castañeda Franklin E.
Published: February 2024

The Scorpion Mud turtle, Kinosternon scorpioides, is a widely distributed, semiaquatic species known to engage in regular terrestrial movement and terrestrial estivation. We studied terrestrial behavior in this species in Palo Verde National Park, northwestern Costa Rica. We determined terrestrial activity patterns by searching for active individuals during transects along 3.4 km of trails. We determined the distance that turtles traveled between the wetlands and estivation sites by fitting 10 terrestrially active individuals with a thread-bobbin tracking device attached to the rear of the carapace. We identified sex and marked and measured every turtle found active. We accumulated 92 observations of K. scorpioides active on land and we identified two behaviors: traveling and nesting. These turtles showed a bimodal activity pattern (χ2 = 18.1, p < 0.02, df = 8) with maximum activity during early morning hours (06:00 to 08:00 h) and twilight and early evening hours (16:00 to 20:00 h). We found 41 turtles estivating in deciduous dry forest at an average distance (±SE) of 156.4 ± 13.7 m (range 20.9–304.9 m) from the wetland border (water´s edge). Adults estivated at greater distances from the wetland than did juvenile turtles, and males estivated at greater distances than females. Turtles found estivating were in three different habitats: leaf litter (85%), rock cavities (10%), and tree buttresses (5%). Kinosternon scorpioides was observed to estivate for at least 84 days in PVNP during the dry season. We recorded several behavioral traits that may account for its ability to withstand desiccation during the estivation period. Our work underscores the need to include terrestrial habitats when considering the conservation needs of semiaquatic turtles.
Diálogos entre a teoria e a prática investigativa: comentários sobre a obra de Antonil, uma operação historiográfica
Authors: Vieira Enzo Cabral Fernandes
Published: February 2024

O presente trabalho tem como objetivo desenvolver reflexões acerca de uma operação historiográfica do livro “Cultura e opulência do Brasil por suas drogas e minas”, escrito pelo jesuíta André João Antonil (1711). Dessa forma, buscaremos construir uma atividade prática de análise de uma fonte, a partir do estudo de um fragmento da referida obra, que consiste no recorte do primeiro ao nono capítulo do livro I. Assim, à luz dos referenciais teórico-metodológicos do historiador francês Michel de Certeau, destrinchamos o lugar social do autor, o contexto de produção da obra e fizemos uma análise dos discursos contidos no referido recorte. À vista disso, percebemos que o discurso histórico de Antonil é revestido por uma simbiose entre os seus interesses econômicos e religiosos, sendo o nosso recorte uma espécie de guia que orienta como o senhor de engenho deve gerir a sua propriedade e as suas relações com seus trabalhadores – escravizados e livres – para a obtenção de uma maior produtividade em consonância com preceitos do catolicismo do período da colonização do território da América portuguesa. Compreendemos, portanto, que tal operação se configura como uma atividade crucial não apenas para dimensionarmos a relevância dessa fonte para o entendimento de diversos aspectos socioeconômicos que tangenciam parte da história colonial do Brasil, mas também para pensarmos sobre como o estudo desse passado nos ajuda a entender as violências e as desigualdades sociais do Brasil do tempo presente.
Quarup de Antônio Callado: literatura, sociedade e política no Brasil dos anos 1960
Authors: Toledo Pedro Henrique Resende
Published: February 2024

Os períodos anterior e imediatamente após-1964 foram de imensa riqueza cultural e efervescência política, os quais foram expressos, a seu modo, na literatura e nas artes de modo geral especialmente em um romance que podemos dizer paradigmático do período, em que é colocado no centro da representação o ‘’pequeno mundo’’ dos intelectuais face ao ‘’grande mundo’’ das massas, do povo brasileiro. Devido ao caráter extensivo da forma e conteúdo do romance, o historiador pode encontrar fontes importantes sobre essa época dramática da História política e cultural do Brasil. Nesse contexto, o romance Quarup de Antônio Callado ilustra exemplarmente a característica dialógica do gênero; haja vista que nele estão as ideologias e discursos se contrapondo, ou confluindo.
Uberaba à luz do modo de produção escravista colonial: dinâmicas de escravizados no circuito mercantil (1830–1888)
Authors: Borges João Pedro Passos de Barros
Published: February 2024

A pesquisa tem por objetivo debater quais as incidências que permitem que um escravizado consiga se integrar num circuito mercantil na cidade de Uberaba durante o período imperial. Para isso, recorreu-se à padronização de documentos como cartas de alforria, penhoras, fianças, hipotecas, manumissões, inventários, considerando o debate historiográfico clássico que se levantou para analisar os aspectos do movimento e dos circuitos mercantis durante o período por parte de escravizados. Dando demasiada atenção ao conceito de “brecha camponesa” e suas críticas ulteriores; além de procurar apresentar uma interpretação que dê conta de identificar os fenômenos factuais dos documentos a partir das obras de Louis Althusser e Nicos Poulantzas. Por fim, lê-se a sujeição jurídica de alguns escravizados e propõe-se a compreensão da liberdade a partir das descontinuidades da reprodução do escravismo colonial.
Upaniṣads: uma exposição sobre seus aspectos fundamentais
Authors: Oliveira Leonardo Ricardo de
Published: February 2024

Este artigo tem por objetivo proporcionar uma introdução às antigas Upaniṣads indianas, as quais constituem um conjunto de textos de caráter filosófico-religioso elaborados aproximadamente a partir do século VII Antes da Era Comum. Para tal, discorreremos sobre a data de composição das primeiras Upaniṣads, discutiremos acerca de quem as produziu e como elas foram transmitidas, bem como apontaremos para o que pode ser entendido como ātman e Brahman nesses escritos e sobre o que eles sugerem para que se escape do ciclo de renascimentos (saṃsāra). Por fim, algumas noções relevantes sobre o contexto cultural e geográfico da Índia Antiga serão fornecidas, assim como apontaremos para as principais traduções dos textos em questão disponíveis atualmente em inglês e em português.
Albumin Levels and Risk of Early Cardiovascular Complications After Ischemic Stroke: A Propensity-Matched Analysis of a Global Federated Health Network
Authors: Bucci Tommaso , Pastori Daniele , Pignatelli Pasquale , Ntaios George , Abdul-Rahim Azmil H. , Violi Francesco , Lip Gregory Y.H.
Published: February 2024

BACKGROUND:

No studies have investigated the association between albumin levels and the risk of early cardiovascular complications in patients with ischemic stroke.

METHODS:

Retrospective analysis with a federated research network (TriNetX) based on electronic medical records (
International Classification of Diseases-Tenth Revision-Clinical Modification
and logical observation identifiers names and codes) mainly reported between 2000 and 2023, from 80 health care organizations in the United States. Based on albumin levels measured at admission to the hospital, patients with ischemic stroke were categorized into 2 groups: (1) reduced (≤3.4 g/dL) and (2) normal (≥3.5 g/dL) albumin levels. The primary outcome was a composite of all-cause death, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, ventricular arrhythmias, myocardial infarction, and Takotsubo cardiomyopathy 30 days from the stroke. Secondary outcomes were the risk for each component of the primary outcome. Cox regression analyses were used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs following propensity score matching.

RESULTS:

Overall, 320 111 patients with stroke had normal albumin levels (70.9±14.7 years; 48.9% females) and 183 729 (57.4%) had reduced albumin levels (72.9±14.3 years; 50.3% females). After propensity score matching, the primary outcomes occurred in 36.0% of patients with reduced and 26.1% with normal albumin levels (HR, 1.48 [95% CI, 1.46–1.50]). The higher risk in patients with reduced albumin levels was consistent also for all-cause death (HR, 2.77 [95% CI, 2.70–2.84]), heart failure (HR, 1.31 [95% CI, 1.29–1.34]), atrial fibrillation (HR, 1.11 [95% CI, 1.09–1.13]), ventricular arrhythmias (HR, 1.38 [95% CI, 1.30–1.46]), myocardial infarction (HR, 1.60 [95% CI, 1.54–1.65]), and Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (HR, 1.51 [95% CI, 1.26–1.82]). The association between albumin levels and the risk of cardiovascular events was independent of advanced age, sex, multimorbidity, and other causes of hypoalbuminemia. A progressively increased risk of adverse events was found in patients with mild and severe reduced compared to normal albumin levels.

CONCLUSIONS:

Albumin levels are associated with the risk of early cardiovascular events and death in patients with ischemic stroke. The potential pathophysiological or therapeutic roles of albumin in patients with stroke warrant further investigation.