bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
“Make it better for the women and babies who come after me”: Findings from women in Australia completing the international Babies Born Better survey
Authors: Young Kate , Miller Yvette D.
Published: August 2023

Background

Woman‐centered maternity service delivery is endorsed by Australian federal health policy. Despite this, little evaluation of maternity care is conducted through the lens of women. We examined the responses of women birthing in Australia to the international Babies Born Better 2018 (Version 2) open‐response survey.

Methods

An online international survey was distributed primarily by means of social media for women who had given birth in the last 5 years. In addition to closed‐ended questions to describe the sample, a series of open‐ended questions recorded women's experiences and satisfaction with their maternity care and place of birth.

Results

Of 1249 women who reported birthing their most recent baby in Australia and speaking English, 84% responded to at least one open‐ended evaluation question. We thematically analyzed the data to identify three related themes of safety, choice, and respect for women. Women's experiences of these were closely tied to their model of care; those birthing at home with a private midwife more so reported positive experiences than those discussing obstetric care or, to a lesser extent, midwifery‐led care in a hospital. There was a strong preference and need for (1) access to affordable care with a known practitioner from early pregnancy to postpartum, and (2) individualized care with the removal of restrictive hospital policies not aligned with woman‐centered practice.

Discussion

This is the first Australian national study of women's maternity experiences and evaluations. Consistent with previous state‐based research, women birthing in Australia continue to report maternity “care” that is physically and emotionally harmful. They also stated a need to address the psychosocial aspects of becoming a mother, in addition to the biological ones. Women and other birthing people must be at the center of defining quality maternity health service delivery, and services must be accountable for preventing and addressing harm, as defined by all birthing people.
The moderating roles of resilience and social support in the relationships between bullying victimization and well‐being among Chinese adolescents: Evidence from PISA 2018
Authors: Zhang Ying , Li Hao , Chen Gaowei , Li Bo , Li Na , Zhou Xin
Published: August 2023

Bullying victimization can undermine adolescents' well‐being. However, few studies have comprehensively investigated the contributions of various victimization forms to well‐being and compared which forms were more harmful than others. Evidence on whether resilience and social support moderate such associations is also limited. Using a sample of 12,058 Chinese adolescents in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2018, this cross‐sectional study aimed to (1) investigate the associations of physical, verbal and relational victimization with well‐being; (2) compare the strengths of these associations; and (3) examine the moderating roles of resilience and teacher and parent support in these associations. Results showed that three victimization forms were associated with poorer well‐being. Relational and physical victimization were more harmful to most studied well‐being outcomes than verbal victimization. Furthermore, resilience weakened the negative effects of physical victimization on negative affect and life satisfaction but aggravated the negative effects of verbal victimization on both outcomes and the negative effect of relational victimization on school belonging. Teacher support intensified the negative effects of physical victimization on school belonging. Parent support was not effective in regulating the victimization–well‐being association. The findings underscored the detrimental effects of bullying victimization on adolescents' well‐being and the potentially harmful sides of resilience and social support. Implications for bullying prevention were discussed.
Moral reasoning behind the veil of ignorance: An investigation into perspective‐taking accessibility in the context of autonomous vehicles
Authors: Bruno Giovanni , Spoto Andrea , Sarlo Michela , Lotto Lorella , Marson Alex , Cellini Nicola , Cutini Simone
Published: August 2023

Perspective‐taking (PT) accessibility has been recognized as an important factor in affecting moral reasoning, also playing a non‐trivial role in moral investigation towards autonomous vehicles (AVs). A new proposal to deepen this effect leverages the principles of the veil of ignorance (VOI), as a moral reasoning device aimed to control self‐interested decisions by limiting the access to specific perspectives and to potentially biased information. Throughout two studies, we deepen the role of VOI reasoning in the moral perception of AVs, disclosing personal and contingent information progressively throughout the experiment. With the use of the moral trilemma paradigm, two different VOI conditions were operationalized, inspired by the Original Position theory by John Rawls and the Equiprobability Model by John Harsanyi. Evidence suggests a significant role of VOI reasoning in affecting moral reasoning, which seems not independent from the order in which information is revealed. Coherently, a detrimental effect of self‐involvement on utilitarian behaviours was detected. These results highlight the importance of considering PT accessibility and self‐involvement when investigating moral attitudes towards AVs, since it can help the intelligibility of general concerns and hesitations towards this new technology.
Structure and morphology of an active conjugate relay zone, Messina Strait, southern Italy
Authors: Dorsey Rebecca J. , Longhitano Sergio G. , Chiarella Domenico
Published: August 2023

Messina Strait is a narrow fault‐bounded marine basin that separates the Calabrian peninsula from Sicily in southern Italy. It sits in a seismically active region where normal fault scarps and raised Quaternary marine terraces record ongoing extension driven by southeastward rollback of the Calabrian subduction zone. A review of published studies and new data shows that normal faults in the Messina Strait region define a conjugate relay zone where displacement is transferred along strike from NW‐dipping normal faults in the northeast (southern Calabria) to the SE‐dipping Messina‐Taormina normal fault in the southwest (offshore eastern Sicily). The narrow marine strait is a graben undergoing active subsidence within the relay zone, where pronounced curvature of normal faults results from large strain gradients and clockwise rotations related to fault interactions. Based on regional fault geometries and published age constraints, we infer that normal faults in southern Calabria migrated northwest while normal faults in NE Sicily migrated southeast during the past ca. 2–2.5 Myr. This pattern has resulted in tectonic narrowing of the strait through time by inward migration of facing normal faults and rapid mantle‐driven uplift.
Mr Speaker: The changing nature of parliamentary debates on immigration in Canada
Authors: Pendakur Ravi , Sarna Sabrina
Published: August 2023

We use correspondence analysis to look at the changing nature of political debates in the Canadian House of Commons concerning immigration over a five‐decade period. Using data drawn from the Linked Parliamentary Data (LiPaD) project we assess the way in which immigration policy and issues are discussed by different political parties from September of 1968 to June of 2019. We look at debates in five of the longest Prime Ministers’ mandates. In doing so, we trace changes in both emphasis and rhetoric by political party. We find that party political views on immigration became more polarized with the breakup of the Progressive Conservative party in the early 1990s. Liberal party views moved toward to the left of the spectrum while the Reform/Alliance/Conservative Party of Canada parties moved toward the right and became increasingly entrenched until 2015. After that, the Conservatives and the Liberals moved closer to the centre. The New Democratic Party was the most consistent in its views over time, focusing on issues of humanitarianism as well as broad policy issues.
Feasibility study for a fully decentralized clinical trial in participants with functional constipation symptoms
Authors: Huh Ki Young , Chung Woo Kyung , Park Jiyeon , Lee SeungHwan , Kim Min‐Gul , Oh Jaeseong , Yu Kyung‐Sang
Published: August 2023

Decentralized clinical trials (DCTs) leverage digital technologies to reduce dependency on study sites and intermediaries. DCT should be balanced with accessibility and data reliability while meeting regulatory requirements. Here, we conducted a pilot study for functional constipation symptoms to investigate the feasibility of DCT. The study was an open, fully remote, randomized clinical trial in participants who had functional constipation symptoms. Electronic consent was obtained remotely, and study volunteers were screened through web‐based questionnaires. Subjects were randomized to either receive Lactobacillus and vitamin C supplements or vitamin C alone in a 1:1 ratio, which were delivered directly to subjects. Subjects kept track of bowel diaries daily during the 1‐week baseline and 2‐week treatment period using mobile applications. Bowel symptoms and the validity of the records were descriptively evaluated. A total of 30 subjects were randomized and completed the study. A total of 26.7% of subjects resided outside of the metropolitan area. Two‐week Lactobacillus treatments increased the number of defecations (+0.80 vs. +0.46 times per week) and decreased the defecation time (−3.94 h vs. −1.62 h) compared to the comparator group. Overall, 67.1% of bowel diary records were completed in accordance with the schedule whereas 32.9% were not. Implementation of DCTs can facilitate geographic accessibility but should be guaranteed for data reliability. Prompt detection of errors and response using objective metrics would be required.
Gossypol improves myocardial dysfunction caused by sepsis by regulating histone acetylation
Authors: Shi Xiaohui , Lv Xinwei , Xiao Dong
Published: August 2023

Gossypol is a polyphenol from the cotton plant with anti‐inflammatory and anti‐oxidation activities and can also function as a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor. Sepsis is an inflammatory disease with high mortality. Inflammation, oxidative stress, and epigenetic factors are involved in sepsis and its complications. The biological activities of gossypol strongly suggest the potential effects of gossypol on sepsis. In the present study, the beneficial effects of gossypol on sepsis were evaluated. We established a cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) mouse model of sepsis and treated CLP mice with gossypol. The survival rate, serum level of myocardial injury markers, and myocardial level of oxidation markers were measured. We also administered gossypol to lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐treated primary cardiomyocytes. The production of pro‐inflammatory cytokines, activation of protein kinase B (AKT) and IκB kinase (IKK), acetylation of histone, and expression of HDACs were measured. Gossypol prevented the death of CLP mice and ameliorated myocardial damage in CLP mice. Moreover, gossypol decreased oxidative factors, while promoting antioxidant production in CLP mice. Gossypol prevented LPS and cytosine‐phosphate‐guanosine‐induced expression of pro‐inflammatory cytokines, suppressed LPS‐induced activation of AKT and IKK, inhibited histone acetylation, and decreased the expression of HDACs. In conclusion, gossypol ameliorates myocardial dysfunction in mice with sepsis.
Perceived contact with friends from lower socioeconomic status reduces exclusion based on social class
Authors: Gönül Buse , Sahin‐Acar Basak , Killen Melanie
Published: August 2023

This study investigated children's and adolescents’ reasoning about intergroup exclusion based on social class from educational opportunities in Türkiye. The role of children's and adolescents’ perceived contact with friends from different socioeconomic backgrounds on their evaluations of exclusion and personal solutions to the exclusion was also examined. Participants (N = 270) included 142 children (8–10 years old, Mage = 9.80; SD = 0.82; 53.5% girls) and 128 adolescents (14–16 years old, Mage = 15.46; SD = 0.91, 61.7% girls) from lower (N = 144) and higher (N = 126) socioeconomic backgrounds. Results showed that while most participants viewed social class‐based exclusion as wrong, adolescents were more likely to view it as wrong than were children. Adolescents from lower SES approached social class‐based exclusion as less acceptable than did adolescents from higher SES who referred to expectations about conformity to authority and the status quo. Moderation analyses showed that for adolescents from higher SES, higher perceived contact with friends from lower SES was associated with decreased acceptability of exclusion and increased motivation to provide equity.

Research Highlights

Overall, adolescents living in a country with economic instability evaluated social class‐based exclusion from educational opportunities among peers as unfair and wrong.

Adolescents from lower SES viewed social class‐based exclusion as less acceptable than did adolescents from higher SES.

Adolescents from higher SES expected that excluders’ intentions were motivated by conforming to authority and supporting the status quo more frequently than did children.

For adolescents from higher SES, perceived contact with friends from lower SES was associated with decreased acceptability of exclusion and increased motivation to provide equity.
The usefulness of echo‐based hemodynamic parameters in cardiac resynchronization therapy with conduction system pacing for optimal device programing
Authors: Boczar Krzysztof , Ząbek Andrzej , Golińska‐Grzybała Karolina , Sławuta Agnieszka , Dębski Maciej , Gajek Jacek , Holcman Katarzyna , Gackowski Andrzej , Lelakowski Jacek , Małecka Barbara
Published: August 2023

Background

His bundle pacing (HBP) has proved to be a valuable alternative enabling the physiological activation of cardiac contraction in cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). At present, however, little is known about the optimal method of programming of the His bundle‐paced CRT systems in terms of achieving the best cardiac output.

Aim

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of cardiac resynchronization therapy with conduction system pacing (CRT+CSP) on echo‐based hemodynamic parameters in the early post‐operative measurements.

Methods

The study enrollment criteria included: permanent atrial fibrillation, heart failure and bundle branch block. All patients underwent implantation of CRT + HBP. During the post‐operative phase, we aimed to optimize HOT‐CRT settings in order to achieve the greatest cardiac output assessed by complex echocardiographic measurements.

Results

The study included 21 patients, mean age 71.2 (6.3) years, predominantly men (71.4%) with non‐ischemic cardiomyopathy 62%. All patients had heart failure with NYHA functional class III and IV (81%). Mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 27.5 (9.7%). The mean duration of the QRS complex was 148.8 ms. The effects of resynchronization pacing: HBP alone, HBP with left ventricular pacing, HBP with biventricular pacing (BiV) and BiV without HBP ​​were analyzed consecutively. HBP combined with left ventricular pacing demonstrated the best hemodynamic response.

Conclusion

His bundle pacing coupled with LV pacing proved to be the most advantageous pacing program setting with regard to cardiac output. Moreover, it performed better than biventricular pacing and significantly better than RV pacing.
Sublethal effects of kleptoparasitism on experimental social spider colonies
Authors: Straus Samantha , Avilés Leticia
Published: August 2023

A defining feature of parasitism is the harm parasites cause to their host via a reduction in lifetime reproductive success. Harm, also referred to as “virulence,” may involve host mortality or sublethal effects, such as a decreased body condition or protracted development of immature individuals. We considered a system where colonies of the social spider Anelosimus eximius serve as hosts to confamilial kleptoparasitic spiders that steal food resources. In a laboratory experiment with parasitized and non‐parasitized colonies, we tested whether this host–parasite interaction meets the criterium of harm to host individuals and colonies. We assessed survival and measured scaled mass indices (SMI) before and after the experimental period. Linear mixed effects models demonstrated that colonies exposed to kleptoparasites had lower SMI values at the end of the experiment compared to controls, but found no effect of kleptoparasitism on mortality in treatment and control groups. We conclude that kleptoparasites meet the criterium of harm to their host to be considered parasitic and provide the first empirical measure of virulence for this study system.
Experimental study of the strengthening effect: A novel fatigue life prediction method for variable amplitude loads
Authors: Jiang Renjie , Yang Xiaoguang , Shi Duoqi , Cheng Muwei , Sun Yantao
Published: August 2023

The strengthening effect of low‐amplitude loading at elevated temperatures was investigated experimentally. A powder metallurgy nickel‐based superalloy FGH96 was preloaded with different cycle numbers and stress levels, and the residual fatigue life was tested under subsequent high‐amplitude loads. The results show that when the number of preloading cycles is in a specific range, the residual fatigue life is higher than that of the virgin specimen under the same load. A novel damage accumulation model was proposed to incorporate the strengthening effect into the life prediction framework. The proposed model was validated using experimental results for various materials in the literature. The mechanism of the strengthening effect of FGH96 was discussed based on electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) analysis.
Planktonic archaea reveal stronger dispersal limitation and more network connectivity than planktonic bacteria in the Jinsha River of southwestern China
Authors: Cui Ge , Chen Juan , Wang Chao , Wang Peifang , Zhang Bo , Gao Han , Fu Rui
Published: August 2023

Planktonic archaea and bacteria play important roles in biogeochemical cycling, but their biogeographical patterns and underlying ecological processes remain poorly understood, particularly in large‐scale rivers.

We collected 43 water samples covering a 2279 km reach of the Jinsha River, one of the largest rivers in southwest China, and performed high‐throughput sequencing analysis on planktonic archaeal and bacterial communities. Partial Mantel analysis and neutral model were used to assess the factors influencing microbial distributions. The associations among different microbial species and their geographical distribution patterns were linked through co‐occurrence networks, and the putative key taxa in the archaeal and bacterial networks were analysed.

The Shannon index of both archaeal and bacterial communities was highest in the midstream reach. The Pielou's evenness of archaea did not vary among the three reaches, whereas those of bacteria increased from upstream to downstream. The archaeal and bacterial community compositions were significantly different in the three reaches, but the differences among the bacterial communities were greater than among the archaeal communities.

Both dispersal limitation and environmental selection affected the community compositions of the archaea and bacteria, but dispersal limitation was the most influential factor. Compared to archaea, bacteria were less affected by dispersal limitation and more by environmental selection.

The co‐occurrence network analysis demonstrated that, compared with the bacterial network of all sites, the archaeal network with larger graph density had higher connectivity and complexity, but a lower proportion of negative correlations. The putative key taxa belonged to Nitrososphaeraceae and Candidatus_Nitrocosmicus from the archaeal community, and Hydrogenophaga and Sphingorhabdus from the bacterial community.

Taken together, these findings demonstrated that the planktonic archaea were more dispersal‐limited and showed more network connectivity than the planktonic bacteria in the Jinsha River. This study enhances our understanding of the biogeographical distribution patterns and underlying ecological processes of planktonic microorganisms over large‐scale freshwater systems.
DHX36 maintains genomic integrity by unwinding G‐quadruplexes
Authors: Mizumoto Ayaka , Yokoyama Yuta , Miyoshi Tomoichiro , Takikawa Masahiro , Ishikawa Fuyuki , Sadaie Mahito
Published: August 2023

The guanine‐rich stretch of single‐stranded DNA (ssDNA) forms a G‐quadruplex (G4) in a fraction of genic and intergenic chromosomal regions. The probability of G4 formation increases during events causing ssDNA generation, such as transcription and replication. In turn, G4 abrogates these events, leading to DNA damage. DHX36 unwinds G4‐DNA in vitro and in human cells. However, its spatial correlation with G4‐DNA in vivo and its role in genome maintenance remain unclear. Here, we demonstrate a connection between DHX36 and G4‐DNA and its implications for genomic integrity. The nuclear localization of DHX36 overlapped with that of G4‐DNA, RNA polymerase II, and a splicing‐related factor. Depletion of DHX36 resulted in accumulated DNA damage, slower cell growth, and enhanced cell growth inhibition upon treatment with a G4‐stabilizing compound; DHX36 expression reversed these defects. In contrast, the reversal upon expression of DHX36 mutants that could not bind G4 was imperfect. Thus, DHX36 may suppress DNA damage by promoting the clearance of G4‐DNA for cell growth and survival. Our findings deepen the understanding of G4 resolution in the maintenance of genomic integrity.
Angela Rayner (Member of Parliament) and the “Basic Instinct Ploy”: Intersectional misrecognition of women leaders' legitimacy, productive resistance and flexing (patriarchal) discourse
Authors: Stead Valerie , Mavin Sharon , Elliott Carole
Published: August 2023

This paper interrogates a shift in patriarchal media discourse related to women leaders' recognition and legitimation in the UK. We conduct a multimodal discourse analysis of an online newspaper article about the UK politician and Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, Angela Rayner, and analyzed public responses. Understanding the media as a means to distribute power and enable the challenging of norms, we contribute a theory of intersectional misrecognition in media's representation of women political leaders. This reveals an enduring and dynamic subordinate status of women leaders, shown specifically through the intersection of gender and class. We theorize that while women leaders continue to be misrecognized in the media, destabilizing their legitimacy, there is a demonstrable flexing of patriarchal discourse combined with stronger and accelerated resistance to ongoing sexism. We identify this resistance as productive in its call for consequences and a redistribution of cultural values, reflecting a discursive shift toward a productive resistance of resilient gender norms, evident in the intersection of gender with class. Intersectional misrecognition has value in making inequalities explicit for women leaders and where there may be productive tensions with potential to mobilize for change.
Impact of albumin–lymphocyte–platelet–C‐reactive protein index as a prognostic indicator of hepatocellular carcinoma after resection: Associated with nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2
Authors: Iseda Norifumi , Itoh Shinji , Toshida Katsuya , Nakayama Yuuki , Ishikawa Takuma , Tsutsui Yuriko , Izumi Takuma , Bekki Yuki , Yoshiya Shohei , Toshima Takeo , Yoshizumi Tomoharu
Published: August 2023

Aim

To investigate the prognostic value of the preoperative albumin–lymphocyte–platelet–C‐reactive protein (ALPC) index in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) undergoing curative hepatectomy. We also evaluated the relationship between the ALPC index and the phosphorylated nuclear factor erythroid 2‐related factor 2 (p‐Nrf2) levels.

Methods

Data were analyzed retrospectively from 256 patients who underwent resection for HCC. For cross‐validation, patients were divided into the training and testing cohort. We assessed eight combinations of inflammatory markers for predictive value for recurrence. We examined the associations of the ALPC index with recurrence‐free survival and overall survival in univariate and multivariate analyses (Cox proportional hazards model). Immunohistochemical staining of p‐Nrf2 was performed on tumor samples of 317 patients who underwent hepatic resection for HCC.

Results

A high preoperative ALPC index correlated with a high serum albumin concentration, small tumor size, low rate of poor differentiation, solitary tumor, early Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage, and low rate of microscopic intrahepatic metastasis in the training dataset. A high preoperative ALPC index correlated with a high serum albumin concentration, high serum alpha‐fetoprotein concentration, small tumor size, a low rate of poor differentiation and a low rate of microscopic intrahepatic metastasis in the testing dataset. A higher preoperative ALPC index was an independent predictor of longer recurrence‐free survival and overall survival in the training and testing datasets. A high ALPC index was associated with negative p‐Nrf2 expression in HCC tumor cells.

Conclusions

We showed that a high ALPC index was an independent prognostic factor for patients with HCC undergoing curative hepatic resection.
Influence of sunscreen formulation on the transfer of mineral and organic ultraviolet filters from skin to seawater in simulated ocean bathing tests
Authors: Saxe Jennifer K. , Mullins Larry , Jones Randy , Lewis Alan , Sun Frank , Reynertson Kurt A.
Published: August 2023

Objective

Significant research and regulatory attention have been focussed on the potential for some ultraviolet filters (UVFs) to rinse off from beachgoers' skin into seawater leading to exposure to sea life, especially coral reefs. The amount of UVFs potentially rinsed from skin during recreational beach activities has not been well studied, leading to uncertainty about the potential magnitude of aquatic UVF exposure due to changes in sunscreen use patterns. This study quantifies rinse‐off of UVFs in sunscreen from skin into synthetic seawater and identifies differences in rinse‐off quantity due to formulation type with a goal of informing future modelling efforts aimed at estimating UVF exposure to sea life associated with recreational activities at the beach.

Methods

UVF rinse‐off from skin during recreation in seawater was simulated by applying eight different sunscreen products to porcine skin samples followed by three periods of shaking in synthetic seawater totalling 40 min. The rinsed mass of six UVFs – zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, and octocrylene – was determined analytically in synthetic seawater and in extractant rinsate from glassware for organic UVFs and compared among formulas.

Results

Among the 22 UVF‐formulation combinations tested, 19 resulted in less than 10% of the applied UVF rinsed from skin. All formulation‐UVF combinations where the formula types were water‐in‐oil (reverse phase) emulsions or anhydrous resulted in 5% or less of the applied UVF rinsed to synthetic seawater. Sunscreens formulated as oil‐in‐water emulsions yielded higher rinse‐off percentages for all UVFs tested, with a maximum of 20% rinse‐off of avobenzone in one lotion.

Conclusion

The potential for sunscreen UVF rinse‐off is significantly influenced by formulation and is generally well below the prior assumed rinse‐off levels used to estimate risk. Formulation consideration is therefore essential for accurate exposure models used in environmental risk assessment. Anhydrous and reverse phase (water‐in‐oil) sunscreen formulations tested resulted in lower UVF transfer from skin to synthetic seawater in simulated ocean bathing tests and as a result, are expected to yield lower UVF exposures to sea life. This approach can be used in predictive environmental exposure models to support ecologically safe sunscreen formulation design.
Exploring ultrasound‐assisted technique for enhancing techno‐functional properties of plant proteins: a comprehensive review
Authors: Justino Heloisa de Fátima Mendes , dos Santos Israel Felipe , de Souza Ruan Carlos Nascimento , Sanches Edgar Aparecido , Bezerra Jaqueline de Araújo , Lamarão Carlos Victor , Pires Ana Clarissa dos Santos , Campelo Pedro Henrique
Published: August 2023

The adoption of vegetarian diets has been increasingly embraced by individuals seeking to improve their health and reduce their environmental impact. One concern regarding this dietary choice is the adequate intake of proteins with nutritional quality comparable to animal‐derived proteins. In this regard, plant‐based proteins have been the focus of studies and technological developments aimed at enhancing their nutritional and functional properties. The application of ultrasound to plant proteins has proven to be an effective strategy for modifying their structure and improving their digestibility, solubility, and viscosity. This review article presents studies that have investigated the modification of plant‐based proteins using ultrasound, with emphasis on their nutritional and technological implications. The effects of ultrasound on protein structure and properties will be discussed, as well as the potential applications in the food industry.
Natural cane sugar derivative‐based pumpkin bars: biofunctional, organoleptic quality and shelf life studies
Authors: Kaur Gagandeep , Kaur Sukhpreet , Aggarwal Poonam , Kaur Navjot
Published: August 2023

Jaggery, a natural unrefined sweetener rich in phytonutrients, could be used as a healthier substitute to develop functional foods. The present study intended to utilise liquid jaggery in place of refined sugars to develop a functional fruit snack bar. Five different formulations were prepared by varying levels (0%–100%) of liquid jaggery in conventional fruit bar containing pumpkin pulp as base material. The addition of jaggery significantly enhanced bioactive constituents and minerals, which were also confirmed by ICAP analysis. Based on sensory characteristics, pumpkin bars prepared by replacing sugar with 50% liquid jaggery were selected for shelf study evaluation. Bars were packed in laminated foil and butter paper and stored under room (25 ± 1 °C) and refrigerated (4 ± 1 °C) conditions. Irrespective of storage temperature and packaging materials, significant variation was noticed in moisture content and textural characteristics of stored fruit bars. Total and reducing sugars and titratable acidity increased while bioactive constituents and colour values remarkably decreased with progression of storage period. Except moisture, the rate of loss of quality attributes was rapid at room temperature. Stored jaggery‐based pumpkin bars packed in both packagings showed satisfactory microbial and organoleptic quality for 6 months.
Development of functional pasta enriched with green leafy vegetables: impact on liposoluble compounds, nutritional, technological and sensorial quality
Authors: Fratianni Alessandra , Vitone Caroline , D'Agostino Annacristina , Trivisonno Maria Carmela , Falasca Luisa , Panfili Gianfranco
Published: August 2023

Durum wheat semolina was replaced with 15% of freeze‐dried leaves of spinach, chicory, or chard to obtain pasta samples enriched with vegetables. Samples were evaluated for chemical composition, tocol and carotenoid content, texture, cooking, and sensorial quality. All developed pasta samples can be claimed as a “source or high source of fibres” (from 4.5 to 6/100 g) and as a “source of vitamin E and vitamin A”. A slight increase in cooking loss and a decrease of optimal cooking time was found as to semolina control sample. Spinach and chard pastas reported similar values to semolina pasta for water absorption (120%–130%), swelling index (about 1.7), and firmness (680 and 610 g, respectively) and an excellent sensorial quality. Even with a lower technological quality, chicory pasta resulted in good acceptability. Partial replacement of wheat semolina with vegetables showed the possibility of producing pasta with an improved nutritional value and good technological features.
The use of hydrotherapy in the first stage of labour: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Ergin Ayla , Aşci Özlem , Bal Meltem Demirgöz , Öztürk Gizem Güneş , Karaçam Zekiye
Published: August 2023

Aim

To explore the effect of hydrotherapy applied in the first stage of labour on the health of mother and newborn.

Methods

This systematic review and meta‐analysis was carried out by following PRISMA. The studies were obtained by scanning EBSCO, PubMed, Science Direct, Ovid, Web of Science and Scopus electronic databases. Twenty studies published between 2013 and 2023 were included.

Results

The total sample size of the studies was 8254 (hydrotherapy: 2953, control: 5301). Meta‐analyses showed that the perception of pain decreased, comfort level and vaginal birth rate were higher and assisted vaginal birth rate and APGAR scores in the first minute were lower in women who underwent hydrotherapy. There was no difference between groups in terms of the duration of the first and second stage of labour, episiotomy, perineal trauma, intrapartum and postpartum bleeding amounts, use of pain medication and labour augmentations, APGAR scores in the fifth minute, positive neonatal bacterial culture and neonatal intensive care unit need.

Conclusion

This study revealed that the results that hydrotherapy decreased the perception of pain and assisted birth, increased the rate of vaginal birth and comfort level and did not adversely affect the health of the mother and baby during the birth process.
The feasibility trial of nurse‐directed education programme among benign prostatic hyperplasia patients
Authors: Choudhary Dakshta , Kalal Nipin , Kumar Ashok , Choudhary Gautam Ram , Sharma Priya
Published: August 2023

Does nursing directed education have any impact on severity of symptoms and quality of life among BPH patients? This study aims to develop a nurse‐directed education program, to assess and compare the effectiveness of the program on symptoms‐severity and quality of life among BPH patients. BPH, one of the most common causes of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS) in elderly men, is caused by a combination of prostate proliferation and lower urinary tract obstruction. A cross‐sectional study conducted by Divmehar Kaur et al. 2020 at Rajindra Hospital, Patiala, Punjab concluded that BPH patients' quality of life is negatively affected by LUTS associated with BPH (p ≤ 0.001). Also, a field study conducted by Özcan et al. in Turkey concluded that subjects' BPH‐QLS ratings varied statistically significantly (p 0.05) depending on the age, educational attainment, the occurrence of micturition issues, and whether they had ever applied to a medical facility. Then another descriptive study, correlational‐type carried by Pinto et al. in 2014 in Singapore found that patients with BPH had a poor health‐related quality of life and suffered significantly from their psychological wellbeing. And a RCT conducted in Korea by Jung et al. in 2011 with the aim of examining the benefits of tai chi on patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy's (BPH's) lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTSs) and quality of life (QoL) found that tai chi group's change in overall QoL score was more notable (t = 3.06; p = 0.005) and it demonstrated significant improvements. A quasi‐experimental study was conducted among the BPH patients visiting the Urology OPD of AIIMS Jodhpur. Data were collected from 10 BPH patients (5 in each group) using a purposive sampling technique from those over 40 years diagnosed with BPH for the last 6 months after taking informed consent, excluding those being advised for surgery. Self‐structured sociodemographic and clinical variables tool, International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), and 12‐item Short Form Survey (SF‐12) were administered. Statistical analysis was performed by employing the SPSS version 23. Chi‐square and Mann–Whitney U tests were used. It was seen that there was a significant difference (p‐value < 0.05) concerning the IPSS‐QOL Index (p‐value = 0.008) of symptoms‐severity (IPSS) and PCS‐12 (p‐value = 0.009) of quality of life scale (SF‐12) between control and experimental groups after 4th‐week post‐intervention (nurse‐directed education program). Findings from this study will help reinforce designing a cost‐effective care delivery system in the care of BPH patients. This program is a novel approach to improving preventive, curative, and rehabilitative services to BPH patients in India.
Neutrophil CD64 index as a good biomarker for early diagnosis of bacterial infection in pregnant women during the flu season
Authors: Yu Lifei , Cen Panpan , Zhang Linjian , Ke Jianfei , Xu Xiangfei , Ding Jiexia , Jin Jie , Leng Jianhang , Yu Yunsong
Published: August 2023

Background

Pregnant women are at high risk of developing febrile illness during the flu season. Early identification of a viral or bacterial infection is crucial in the management of febrile pregnant patients. Neutrophil CD64 (nCD64) has been shown to have more important diagnostic value in sepsis than traditional inflammatory indicators.

Methods

The pregnant women enrolled were divided into three groups according to disease: influenza A infection, bacterial infection and healthy controls. Peripheral blood CD64, leukocyte, C‐reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT) and human Th1/Th2‐related cytokines levels were routinely measured. The correlation between and diagnostic value of the nCD64 index and other biomarkers were evaluated using Spearman's correlation test and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.

Results

Pregnant women with bacterial infection had significantly elevated levels of leukocytes (8.4 vs. 5.95, 109/L; P = 0.004), CRP (89.70 vs. 50.05 mg/mL; P = 0.031), PCT (0.13 vs. 0.04 ng/mL; P = 0.010) and TNF‐α (0.46 vs. 0.38 pg/mL; P = 0.012) and an elevated nCD64 index (12.16 vs. 0.81; P < 0.001) compared with those with influenza A infection. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve of the nCD64 index to discriminate bacterial infection among pregnant women (AUROC = 0.9183, P < 0.0001) was the largest. The sensitivity and specificity of the nCD64 index at an optimal cut‐off value of 3.16 were 84% and 100%, respectively, with a negative predictive value (NPV) of 94%.

Conclusions

Our study demonstrates the clinical value of the nCD64 index in distinguishing between bacterial infection and influenza A in pregnant women.
Tempo‐spatial evolution of seed plant endemism in Taiwan island
Authors: Ye Jun‐Wei , Yang Zhao‐Zhen , Tian Bin
Published: August 2023

Aim

In Taiwan island, recent land‐bridge and oversea dispersal after the appearance of proto‐Taiwan (<6.5 Ma) is responsible for its biodiversity assembly. Radiations have also been widely reported in mountain systems. The tempo‐spatial route to the floral hotspot was determined through a meta‐analysis of the evolution of endemic plants.

Location

Taiwan island and its adjacent regions.

Taxon

Seed plants.

Methods

Published dated phylogenies were compiled to infer the origin times represented by the stem ages. To determine the speciation mode, either in situ origin or dispersal origin, the ancestral range shift pattern and/or current distribution range of the sister taxa were used with 10 different biogeographical regions classified. Histograms quantifying the numbers of different origin modes within bins of 0.5 Ma were constructed. Probabilities of long‐distance dispersal (LDD) were evaluated.

Results

The 125 sampled species originate between the late Eocene and late Pleistocene, of which 14 (11.2%) and 111 (88.8%) were derived before and after the emergence of proto‐Taiwan, respectively. Spatially, in situ speciation would have a bigger contribution to the formation of endemism than dispersal events (56.8% vs. 43.2%). The species with in situ origin (mean = 1.83 Ma) were significantly younger than those with dispersal origin (mean = 6.34 Ma). The main regions where dispersal occurred were South‐Central China (n = 29) and Southeast China (n = 28), followed by Japan (n = 14). High probabilities (60.8%) of LDD were found.

Main Conclusions

Spatially, recent land‐bridge and oversea dispersal from the adjacent Asian flora is supported and the southern part of China was found to be the most important source. In situ speciation that may have correlated with mountain uplift, monsoon intensification and Pleistocene climatic fluctuations exerted greater contributions to the biodiversity there. Temporally, floral endemism predominantly occurred after the emergence of proto‐Taiwan. Additional investigations with more sophisticated sampling and genetic data are needed in the future.
Unipolar and bipolar electrograms to predict successful ablation site of premature ventricular contractions originating from the free wall of the tricuspid annulus
Authors: Liu Qi‐Fang , Tian Ye , Tian Long‐Hai , Jing Huang
Published: August 2023

Introduction

This study aimed to identify the characteristics of unipolar and bipolar electrogram (UniEGM and BiEGM) in guiding successful ablation of premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) originating from the free wall of the ventricular aspect of the tricuspid annulus (TA). We hypothesized that the negative concordance pattern (NCP) on the onset of UniEGM and BiEGM, together with the least value of the difference between the earliest BiEGM and UniEGM dV/dTmax, might improve the accuracy of conventional mapping.

Methods and Results

Thirty consecutive patients who underwent successful catheter ablation from February 2018 to July 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. The BiEGM and UniEGM for successful ablation sites were compared with those for non‐successful ablation sites. Among the 30 patients, 30 successful and 26 nonsuccessful ablation sites were compared. The earliest activation time of the BiEGM (BiEGMoneset‐QRS) was 25 ± 6 ms for the successful ablation sites and 21 ± 6 ms for the nonsuccessful ablation sites (p = .47). The value of the difference in the earliest BiEGM and UniEGM dV/dTmax differed between successful and nonsuccessful ablation sites (6.4 ± 3.6 ms vs. 10.4 ± 6.8 ms). NCP was observed at 90.0% and 42.3% of the successful and nonsuccessful ablation sites, respectively. Alignment of NCP and BiEGMonset‐UniEGM ≤6 ms was applied as the mapping criterion for successful PVC suppression (73.1% sensitivity and 87.7% specificity). The area under the receiver‐operating characteristic curve for this cutoff was 0.85.

Conclusion

Mapping based on an NCP at the onset of the BiEGM and UniEGM and the least difference value of the earliest BiEGM and UniEGM dV/dTmax had an excellent predictive value for successful ablation. These strategies may reduce the number of radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) applications for free‐wall tricuspid annular PVCs.
Digestive system deep infiltrating endometriosis: What do we know
Authors: Yin Wenze , Li Xiaoqing , Liu Peng , Li Yingjie , Liu Jin , Yu Shan , Tai Sheng
Published: August 2023

Digestive system infiltrating endometriosis (DSIE) is an uncommon form of endometriosis in the digestive system. DSIE often occurs in the intestines (especially the sigmoid rectum), liver, gallbladder and pancreas. Clinically, DSIE presents with the same symptoms as endometriosis, including cyclic pain, bleeding and infertility, in addition to specific biliary/intestinal obstruction and gastrointestinal bleeding. Compared to general endometriosis, DSIE has unique biological behaviour and pathophysiological mechanisms. Most DSIEs are deep invasive endometrioses, characterized by metastasis to the lymph nodes and lymphatic vessels, angiogenesis, peripheral nerve recruitment, fibrosis and invasion of surrounding tissues. DSIE‐related peripheral angiogenesis is divided into three patterns: angiogenesis, vasculogenesis and inosculation. These patterns are regulated by interactions between multiple hypoxia‐hormone cytokines. The nerve growth factors regulate the extensive neurofibril recruitment in DSIE lesions, which accounts for severe symptoms of deep pain. They are also associated with fibrosis and the aggressiveness of DSIE. Cyclic changes in DSIE lesions, recurrent inflammation and oxidative stress promote repeated tissue injury and repair (ReTIAR) mechanisms in the lesions, accelerating fibril formation and cancer‐related mutations. Similar to malignant tumours, DSIE can also exhibit aggressiveness derived from collective cell migration mediated by E‐cadherin and N‐cadherin. This often makes DSIE misdiagnosed as a malignant tumour of the digestive system in clinical practice. In addition to surgery, novel treatments are urgently required to effectively eradicate this lesion.
Phase Ib study of anlotinib in combination with anti‐PD‐L1 antibody (TQB2450) in patients with advanced acral melanoma
Authors: Du Yu , Dai Jie , Mao Lili , Wei Xiaoting , Bai Xue , Chen Ling , Lin Jing , Chi Zhihong , Cui Chuanliang , Sheng Xinan , Lian Bin , Tang Bixia , Wang Xuan , Yan Xieqiao , Li Siming , Zhou Li , Guo Jun , Chen Yu , Si Lu
Published: August 2023

Background

Acral melanoma, the most common subtype of melanoma in Asians, is often diagnosed at an advanced stage and responds poorly to current programmed cell death protein 1 (PD‐1) inhibitors.

Objectives

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of TQB2450 and anlotinib in patients with advanced acral melanoma in a phase Ib study (NCT03991975).

Methods

Patients received TQB2450 (1200 mg every 3 weeks) and anlotinib (10 mg or 12 mg once daily, 2‐week on/1‐week off) in the dose‐escalation and dose‐expansion phases. The primary endpoints were dose‐limiting toxicity (DLT), maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and objective response rate (ORR).

Results

Nineteen patients were enrolled between June 2019 and June 2022. The majority of patients (16 of 19 patients) received anlotinib and TQB2450 as first‐line treatment. No DLTs were observed, and MTD was not reached. Eighteen (94.7%) out of 19 patients experienced treatment‐related adverse events (TRAEs), but most were grade 1 or 2. Grade 3 or greater TRAEs occurred in seven patients (36.8%). The ORR was 26.3% (two complete responses and three partial responses). The disease control rate was 73.7%. The median duration of response was 30.3 months [95% confidence interval (CI): 5.8–NA]. The median progression‐free survival (PFS) was 5.5 months (95% CI: 2.8–NA), and median overall survival was 20.3 months (95% CI: 14.8–NA). Whole‐exome sequencing suggested that acquired drug resistance might be attributed to activation of the MAPK signalling pathway and transformation to an immunosuppressive tumour environment.

Conclusions

TQB2450 combined with anlotinib showed favourable tolerance and promising anti‐tumour activity with a prolonged PFS compared with anti‐PD1 monotherapy in patients with advanced acral melanoma.