bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
SherpaPak Cardiac Transport System: Experience in Pediatric Heart Transplantation
Authors: Sather Anna , Marshall Molly , Murthy Raghav , Lamour Jacqueline M. , Chase Christyn , Bansal Neha
Published: January 2025

Introduction

The present study aimed to assess the clinical outcomes of pediatric heart transplant patients whose donor hearts were preserved with the SherpaPakCardiac Transport System.

Methods

All pediatric patients undergoing heart transplantation at our center between January 2020 and June 2024 were included and described. Vasoactive inotropic score (VIS) was calculated. The cohort was divided into two groups by recipient diagnoses (cardiomyopathy vs. congenital heart disease [CHD]). They were compared based on demographics, operative details, and postoperative outcomes. The χ2 and Fisher exact tests were used for categorical variables and the Mann–Whitney U test or t‐test for continuous variables.

Results

A total of 18 patients were included. The median recipient age was 11.9 years (IQR: 2.5, 13.9). Half had cardiomyopathy, median total ischemic time was 236 min (IQR: 211.5, 283.5). Upon comparing the two groups, there were no significant differences observed in VIS or primary graft dysfunction (PGD) even though the median circulatory arrest time and bypass times were significantly longer in the CHD group (p < 0.05). Three patients experienced early rejection (all with CHD), but there was no mortality.

Conclusions

The SherpaPak Cardiac Transport System provides safe outcomes for pediatric heart transplant patients, including those with complex CHD. Further multi‐institutional and registry studies are needed to evaluate this method for pediatric heart transplantation.
Intraspecific Diversity in Thermal Performance Determines Phytoplankton Ecological Niche
Authors: Krinos Arianna I. , Shapiro Sara K. , Li Weixuan , Haley Sheean T. , Dyhrman Sonya T. , Dutkiewicz Stephanie , Follows Michael J. , Alexander Harriet
Published: January 2025

Temperature has a primary influence on phytoplankton physiology and ecology. We grew 12 strains of Gephyrocapsa huxleyi isolated from different‐temperature regions for ~45 generations (2 months) and characterised acclimated thermal response curves across a temperature range. Even with similar temperature optima and overlapping cell size, strain growth rates varied between 0.45 and 1 day−1. Thermal niche widths varied from 16.7°C to 24.8°C, suggesting that strains use distinct thermal response mechanisms. We investigated the implications of this thermal intraspecific diversity using an ocean ecosystem simulation resolving phytoplankton thermal phenotypes. Model analogues of thermal ‘generalists’ and ‘specialists’ resulted in a distinctive global biogeography of thermal niche widths with a nonlinear latitudinal pattern. We leveraged model output to predict ranges of the 12 lab‐reared strains and demonstrated how this approach could broadly refine geographic range predictions. Our combination of observations and modelled biogeography highlights the capacity of diverse groups to survive temperature shifts.
The link between nonstandard work and parental distress among new parents: Coparenting as a moderator
Authors: Feng Ruiqi , Teti Douglas M.
Published: January 2025

Objective

The present study examines the link between nonstandard work schedules and parental distress in mothers and fathers during the transition to parenthood, examining coparenting as a moderator.

Background

Existing research suggests negative effects of nonstandard work schedules on employees' health. Such impact may be particularly strong among parents transitioning to parenthood, when family stress is high. Very little work has been done examining these linkages in mothers and fathers transitioning to parenthood.

Method

Parental reports of coparenting quality and distress (depressive, anxious, and hostile symptoms) were assessed in 124 parents at 6 months postpartum. The mean numbers of nonstandard work shifts were assessed at 1, 3, and 6 months. Multiple regression was conducted to test hypotheses.

Results

Coparenting quality moderated the link between nonstandard work and distress only among mothers. Mothers working more nonstandard schedules had higher distress, but that link was attenuated when coparenting quality was high. Among fathers, only coparenting quality was associated with lower distress. Prenatal to postnatal change in nonstandard work was statistically controlled.

Conclusion

Higher coparenting quality serves as a protector of the impact of nonstandard work schedules on maternal distress for first time mothers, and mothers were more impacted by nonstandard work schedules than fathers.

Implications

Mothers in the early postpartum are particularly vulnerable to the negative impacts of nonstandard work on overall well‐being. Fathers' involvement and support appears to be critically important in helping mothers adapt to the stress of nonstandard work when adjusting to new parenthood.
Financial flexibility and the persistence of extreme financial leverage policies: A new empirical approach
Authors: Ebrahimi Tahera , Al‐Najjar Basil
Published: January 2025

Firms might adopt capital structure policies which are far away from their optimal targets, this is known in the literature as extreme financing policies. Unlike previous empirical studies, our research sheds new light on the impact of financial flexibility (changes in credit ratings and over/underinvestment) on the duration of these policies. Using a large sample of US firms for the period from 1985 to 2017, we employ a novel empirical approach of multilevel survival model estimators for different subsamples of conservative and aggressive debt policy users. The results show that, on average, the duration of extreme financing policies renders the degree of urgency to shift towards firms' optimal leverage. Accordingly, firms adopting extreme financial policies are less keen to adjust quickly to their target debt ratios and such speed of adjustment varies between conservative and aggressive debt users. Our results provide interesting empirical implications for firms adopting conservative or aggressive debt policies.
The Complex World of Toothpaste Diversity, Meeting Patient Clinical Needs. An Umbrella Review
Authors: Suvan Jeanie , Marruganti Crystal
Published: January 2025

Background

Amidst numerous recent advancements in toothpaste formulations and active ingredients, some clinicians may believe all toothpastes are similar despite differences in their active ingredients and corresponding clinical application.

Aim

This umbrella review aims to provide clinicians with an overview of toothpaste ingredients and evidence of efficacy for a variety of oral conditions, including gum health issues, caries, dentine hypersensitivity, tooth surface loss, oral malodour and tooth whitening (staining).

Methods

The focused question for the review was ‘What is the efficacy of common toothpaste active ingredients in preventing or treating oral conditions including gum health issues, caries, dentine hypersensitivity, tooth surface loss, oral malodour and tooth whitening (stain removal)?’. Therefore, an umbrella review design was followed focused on review articles, that is, systematic and/or narrative reviews of randomised clinical trials, observational or in vitro studies whenever available. Seventy‐two reviews were identified through electronic search of OVID. Quality assessment was performed based upon the PRISMA checklist. Data was extracted according to relevance to the listed oral conditions.

Results

Nineteen toothpaste ingredients were identified to treat six oral conditions, including six types of fluoride. Evidence of efficacy of active ingredients varied and with six reported to have significant benefits for the prevention or treatment of the targeted oral condition. Differences were particularly evident in the efficacy of types of fluoride.

Conclusions

Toothpaste active ingredient efficacies are diverse. As such, oral healthcare providers should consider recommendation of toothpastes containing appropriate active ingredients by effectively targeting oral conditions/diseases according to each patient's needs.
Ultra High‐Density Mapping and Ablation of Localized Micro‐Reentrant Tachycardias: Insight From the CHARISMA Registry
Authors: Mantovan Roberto , Bianchi Stefano , Pelargonio Gemma , Solimene Francesco , Malacrida Maurizio , Carbone Angelo , Anselmino Matteo , Gallucci Marco , Segreti Luca , Galeazzi Marco , Bianco Daniele , Giomi Andrea , Mirizzi Gianluca , Rossi Luca , Zingarini Gianluca , Calvanese Raimondo , Allocca Giuseppe , Ducceschi Valentino , Dell'Era Gabriele , Bisignani Antonio , Scacciavillani Roberto , Schillaci Vincenzo , Rivetti Luigi , Bulian Francesca
Published: January 2025

Background

Recent advancements in ultra‐high‐density mapping (UHDM) featuring automated functionalities have enhanced our understanding of micro‐reentrant atrial tachycardias (mAT) circuits and the precise localization of the origin.

Purpose

To evaluate the diagnostic support provided by an automated UHDM algorithm in guiding the ablation of mATs.

Methods

Consecutive patients eligible for AT ablation in 22 Italian centers were prospectively enrolled. All ATs were comprehensively mapped in either the left or right atrium utilizing the RHYTHMIA mapping system. The LUMIPOINT tool was systematically employed to confirm electrogram fragmentation within this defined area.

Results

Among 159 ATs analyzed, 97 (61.0%) were identified as macro‐reentrant ATs, 50 (31.4%) as focal ATs and 12 (7.5%) as mATs. Concerning the mAT group, the targeted activity was localized in the anterior wall in 4 cases (33.3%), in proximity to PVs in 3 cases (25%), along the left ridge in 2 cases (16.6%), and at the roof, in the free wall and along the CTI in 1 case (8.3%), respectively. Low voltage areas (< 0.1 mV) were detected in all mAT cases and colocalized with the origin site. Over a median of 288 [248–349] days of follow‐up, 5 (3.1%) patients suffered from an AT/AF arrhythmia recurrence: 3 (3.1%) were in the MAT group, 1 (2%) in the focal AT and 1 (8.3%) in the mAT group.

Conclusion

A novel automated algorithm for mAT identification, coupled with ORION catheter, enables mAT description and transcatheter ablation of the localized origin of this rare form of AT results in a satisfactory procedural success rate.

Trial Registration

Catheter Ablation of Arrhythmias With High‐Density Mapping System in the Real World Practice (CHARISMA).

http://clinicaltrials.gov/ Identifier: NCT03793998.
Research Review: The impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on the mental health of children and young people with pre‐existing mental health and neurodevelopmental conditions – a systematic review and meta‐analysis of longitudinal studies
Authors: Ching Brian C. F. , Downs Johnny , Zhang Shuo , Abdul Cader Hannah , Penhallow Jessica , Voraite Elvina , Popnikolova Teodora , Wickersham Alice , Parlatini Valeria , Simonoff Emily
Published: January 2025

Background

Systematic reviews have suggested mixed effects of the COVID‐19 pandemic on the mental health of children and young people. However, most included studies focused on the general population and were cross‐sectional. The long‐term impact on those with pre‐existing mental health and/or neurodevelopmental conditions remains unclear. Thus, we conducted a systematic review and meta‐analysis to examine the longitudinal impact of the pandemic on the mental health of this clinical population and potential explanatory factors.

Methods

Ovid Medline, Embase, APA PsycInfo and Global Health databases were searched between 1 January 2020 and 3 August 2023 (PROSPERO CRD42022383546). We included longitudinal studies that compared mental health symptoms between pre‐ and during pandemic and/or during pandemic timepoints in children and young people (≤18 years old) with pre‐existing mental and/or neurodevelopmental conditions. Outcomes included internalising, externalising and other symptoms. Risk of bias was rated using an adapted tool. Included studies were narratively synthesised and multi‐level meta‐analyses were conducted where the number of studies was sufficient.

Results

We identified 21 studies (N = 2,617) from 6,083 records. Studies differed across countries, diagnoses, measures, informants and timepoints. All had overall moderate‐to‐high risk of bias. Narrative synthesis found mixed evidence of symptom change, with individual studies showing increase/reduction/no change. Factors such as diagnosis, baseline symptom severity, age and sex/gender may explain variation in outcomes. Multi‐level meta‐analyses were feasible for a limited number of outcomes and found no significant changes in internalising and externalising symptoms pre‐ versus during pandemic or internalising symptoms between 2020 pandemic phases, and high heterogeneity was noted.

Conclusions

The impact of the pandemic on the mental health of children and young people with pre‐existing conditions varied according to individual and contextual vulnerabilities, which were not fully captured in pooled analyses. Further research needs to investigate longer‐term impacts and better stratify this vulnerable population.
A Grounded Theory Analysis of Control and Freedom in Intimate Relationships
Authors: Smedley Daniel K. , Whiting Jason B. , Bradford Angela B. , Anderson Shayne R.
Published: January 2025

Although coercive control has been studied in unhealthy relationships, all couples navigate some amount of control and freedom as they interact. Varied prevalence estimates and definitions of control suggest a need to better define the continuum of control in mild and extreme forms, including non‐physically violent forms of control. The purpose of this qualitative study was to expand knowledge of control in relationships by examining the whole continuum of partners' experiences of control and freedom. Using constructivist grounded theory methods, data on control and freedom from 66 semi‐structured interviews were analyzed to examine how partners describe control and freedom in their relationships. Findings highlighted nuanced forms of emotional abuse within the continuum of control and the value of openness and support in developing freedom. Clearer conceptions of milder and non‐physical forms of control may aid clinicians in identifying elusive processes of control and helping partners support each other's freedom.
Hybridity in Non‐profits: Innovating for Social Value Creation
Authors: Logue Danielle , Edwards Melissa , McAllister Gillian
Published: January 2025

Non‐profits face rising pressure to secure funding and innovate for increasingly complex social problems, while cognizant that failed innovations could produce consequential societal harm. In a longitudinal case study, we apply a social innovation lens to examine how a non‐profit experiments with hybridity. Applying such a lens foregrounds mechanisms of social value creation, capture and distribution and reveals how non‐profits can move beyond managing tensions and instead look to reframe hybridity as innovation. Our study, based as it is in social innovation, brings a focus to organizational dynamics and processes and reveals how organizational responses to hybridity occur in mission and operations and, importantly, in strategy. This reconceptualization of hybridity makes a theoretical contribution in bridging literature on hybridity and social innovation, anchoring in management and strategy. It also makes a significant empirical contribution in reconceptualizing hybridity for practitioners and in showing how hybridity may then be viewed not as a threat to non‐profit values and traditions and not as an ongoing tension to resolve, but rather as a process to innovate and amplify social value and impact.
Adverse Reactions to Cosmetic Fillers in the Oral and Maxillofacial Region: Clinico‐Pathological, Histochemical, and Immunohistochemical Characterization
Authors: Tetzner Ana Cristina , Viana Laura Regina Mendes , Abreu Lucas Guimarães , Mendonça Elismauro Francisco , Arantes Diego Antônio Costa , Vasconcelos Ana Carolina Uchoa , Gomes Ana Paula Neutzling , Nonaka Cassiano Francisco Weege , Alves Pollianna Muniz , Tapia Roberto Onner Cruz , Mesquita Ricardo Alves , de Sousa Sílvia Ferreira , Silva Tarcília Aparecida , Caldeira Patrícia Carlos
Published: January 2025

Background

Cosmetic injections are increasing, as their complications, which can be misdiagnosed as neoplastic lesions. This study aimed to detail clinical, pathological, histochemical, and immunohistochemical features of adverse reactions to cosmetic fillers in the oral and maxillofacial region.

Methods

Samples were retrieved from five pathology laboratories. Hematoxylin–eosin (H&E), Alcian Blue, Sirius Red, and Toluidine blue stains were performed, as well as immunohistochemistry for CD68, CD3, and CD20. H&E was evaluated under polarization. Descriptive statistics were performed.

Results

Twenty‐three cases were included. Polymethyl‐methacrylate was the most common material. Most reactions affected women, lips and were asymptomatic, with a variable time of evolution, presenting as nodules. Materials had different shape and size on H&E. Giant cells were commonly found, except in silicone and hyaluronic acid. Foreign‐body granuloma was frequent in polymethyl‐methacrylate. Calcium hydroxyapatite and poly‐L‐lactic acid were refractile under polarized light. Hyaluronic acid and polyacrylamide hydrogel were metachromatic by Toluidine blue. Alcian blue was positive in all cases of hyaluronic acid. Mast cells were detected in all materials, except hyaluronic acid and polyacrylamide hydrogel. Eosinophils were rarer than mast cells. Numerous CD68‐positive cells were seen in all cases. All cases had CD3‐positive cells, with variable amounts. CD20 was scant or negative in most cases.

Conclusions

An evident macrophage reaction is observed in all aesthetic fillers, frequently associated with giant cell formation. Despite similarities, there are specific features of each material and the host response that assist the correct histopathological diagnosis. Immunohistochemistry for CD68 and Toluidine blue stain are useful in doubtful cases.
A New Empirical Model of the Determinants of Sickness and the Choice Between Presenteeism and Absence
Authors: Denis Théo , Lanfranchi Joseph
Published: January 2025

This article revisits the association between employment characteristics, working conditions, and the annual duration of sickness presenteeism or absence using a French representative survey. Our novel estimation method controls for endogenous participation, as working conditions can affect employees' likelihood of illness separately from the decision to stay at home or work ill. We use a copula approach to model the link between illness and the duration of presenteeism and absence. Without correcting for endogenous participation, our estimates would be biased, and the determinants of sickness absence or presenteeism incorrectly identified. This work helps to highlight firm policy instruments that protect health and affect the choice between sickness presenteeism and absence.
Autonomous construction framework for crane control with enhanced soft actor–critic algorithm and real‐time progress monitoring
Authors: Xiao Yifei , Yang T. Y. , Xie Fan
Published: January 2025

With the shortage of skilled labors, there is an increasing demand for automation in the construction industry. This study presents an autonomous construction framework for crane control with enhanced soft actor–critic (SAC‐E) algorithm and real‐time progress monitoring. SAC‐E is a novel reinforcement learning algorithm with superior learning speed and training stability for lifting path planning. In addition, robotic kinematics and a control algorithm are implemented to ensure that the crane can autonomously execute the lifting path. Last, novel hardware communication interfaces between robot operating system and building information modeling (BIM) are developed for real‐time construction progress monitoring. The performance of the proposed framework was demonstrated using a robotized mobile crane to stack concrete retaining blocks. The results show that the proposed framework can be effectively used to execute the retaining block construction using the robotized mobile crane with real‐time construction update in the BIM platform.
Prevalence and Treatment Patterns of Anaemia in Individuals With Chronic Kidney Disease Across Asia: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Kim Dana , Lee Joshua , Toyama Tadashi , Liyanage Thaminda , Woodward Mark , Matsushita Kunihiro , Hooi Lai Seong , Lin Ming‐Yen , Iseki Kunitoshi , Jha Vivekanand , Wong Muh Geot , Jun Min ,   For the Asian Renal Collaboration
Published: January 2025

Aim

Anaemia is a significant complication of chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, its prevalence and treatment patterns in Asia are poorly understood. We sought to quantify prevalence of anaemia and its treatment in people with CKD across the region.

Methods

MEDLINE and Embase (inception to 2023) were systematically searched for observational studies of adults with CKD conducted in Asia that reported the prevalence of anaemia or its treatment. Additional relevant unpublished data were obtained from national experts. Summary estimates of the prevalence of anaemia and its treatment were determined using a random‐effects meta‐analysis according to country and study‐specific CKD inclusion criteria.

Results

Eighty‐six studies from 10 Asian countries reported data on 1 342 121 participants. The overall prevalence of anaemia in individuals with CKD was 42% (95% CI 33%–52%), with wide variation (12%–57% in studies including all CKD stages; 21%–96% in studies limited to individuals with kidney failure). Anaemia prevalence progressively increased with more advanced CKD (80% in Stage 5). Studies reporting data on anaemia treatment, particularly in early CKD, were limited. The prevalence of erythropoietin‐stimulating agents (ESAs) and iron therapy was 40% (95% CI 24%–58%) and 21% (95% CI 14%–31%), respectively (ESA: 7%–29% in CKD, 63%–95% in kidney failure; iron: 6%–26% in CKD, 15%–88% in kidney failure).

Conclusion

Our findings indicate a significant, but widely varying, prevalence of anaemia and its treatment in people with CKD in Asia. Substantial variability in data availability and collection highlights the need for standardised reporting to facilitate the development of regionally relevant strategies for anaemia management in CKD.
A First Case Report of Autoimmune Acquired Factor V Deficiency After Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 mRNA Vaccination at the Time of Initiating Haemodialysis
Authors: Tasaki Ayako , Fukuda Akihiro , Kudo Akiko , Nishikawa Emiko , Koumatsu Nobuchika , Wada Megumi , Okita Jun , Maruo Misaki , Uchida Hiroki , Nakata Takeshi , Itani Kazuhito , Shibata Hirotaka
Published: January 2025

A 73‐year‐old Japanese man with chronic kidney disease had no history of abnormal clotting or bleeding. Six days after receiving his third dose of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) vaccine (BNT162b2; Pfizer/BioNTech), blood tests showed a marked prolongation of the prothrombin time‐international normalised ratio and activated partial thromboplastin time, as well as a decrease in factor V (FV) activity. Three months later, he required dialysis owing to worsening heart and renal failure. After supplementation with FV, a flexible double‐lumen catheter was inserted, and haemodialysis was initiated without the use of anticoagulants. The patient was found to be positive for FV inhibitors and was diagnosed with autoimmune acquired factor V deficiency (AiFVD). AiFVD is a rare autoimmune disease in which factor V inhibitors decrease FV activity. The patient did not undergo immunosuppressive therapy because he did not have severe bleeding symptoms, and he is currently able to continue dialysis without causing fatal bleeding. FV inhibitors can be induced by bovine thrombin, surgery, and infection, but have also been detected after SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. The development of various acquired coagulation factor inhibitors has been reported after SARS‐CoV‐2 infection or vaccination, but there have been no reports of AiFVD due to SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccination. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of AiFVD probably associated with SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccination. Although AiFVD is rare, physicians should be aware of its possibility after SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccination.
Cardiac Vagal Efficiency Is Enhanced by Percutaneous Auricular Neurostimulation in Adolescents With Nausea: Moderation by Antidepressant Drug Exposure
Authors: Kolacz Jacek , Roath Olivia K. , Lewis Gregory F. , Karrento Katja
Published: January 2025

Objectives

Percutaneous electrical nerve field stimulation (PENFS) is an effective treatment for disorders of gut–brain interaction (DGBI), proposed to influence vagal pathways. Cardiac metrics such as respiratory sinus arrythmia (RSA) and vagal efficiency (VE) can noninvasively assess parasympathetic output. Commonly used antidepressant drugs inhibit vagal signaling and may interfere with PENFS. This study examined immediate effects of active compared to sham PENFS on cardiac vagal function in adolescents with chronic nausea with and without concurrent drug therapy.

Materials and Methods

Participants (n = 84) were randomized to active (3.2 V, 1–10 Hz) or sham PENFS within an 8‐week prospective, double‐blind clinical trial. Subjects underwent posture challenges to elicit a vagal response before and after PENFS device placement mid‐way through the study. RSA, mean heart period (HP), and VE were calculated from electrocardiogram recordings. Exposure to antidepressant drugs was recorded.

Results

The mean (SD) age was 15.61 (2.07) years (83% female). Fifty percent were treated with antidepressants. PENFS neurostimulation enhanced VE in patients without antidepressant exposure (mean increase after PENFS stimulation =7.56 [95% CI: 0.26, 14.86], d = 0.30, 17% increase) but not in those treated with antidepressants (mean change = −5.30 [95% CI:−14.28, 3.68]). Sham PENFS did not produce significant VE changes regardless of medication use (both p > 0.40). There were no significant effects on RSA or HP.

Conclusions

Acute enhancement of cardiac VE is demonstrated with PENFS in patients not exposed to chronic antidepressant drug therapy. Findings indicate that VE is a sensitive metric for rapid assessment of PENFS effects but raise concern for possible interaction or interference by standard of care medications.

Trial Registration: Clinicaltrials.gov #: 1064187–2
Effects of Porphyromonas gingivalis Outer Membrane Vesicles (OMVs) on Macrophages in Periodontitis
Authors: Zhang Shuyi , Jiao Yao , Liu Siyan , Liu Yitong , Liu Yi
Published: January 2025

Objective

To review the effect of outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) of the periodontal pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) on macrophages during periodontitis development.

Method

Literature pertaining to P. gingivalis OMVs and macrophages was reviewed and discussed, with a focus on the immunomodulatory effects of P. gingivalis OMVs on macrophages.

Results

P. gingivalis OMVs affect the recognition, phagocytosis, polarization, and apoptosis functions of macrophages. However, information on their antigen‐presenting effect remains lacking, and further research is required for clinical applications.

Conclusion

P. gingivalis OMVs can influence the development of periodontitis through immune modulation of macrophages; however, further research is required to provide novel ideas for the prevention and treatment of periodontitis.
Arabidopsis Ankyrin‐Repeat Protein Kinase ANK‐PK2 Negatively Regulates Salt Tolerance by Mediating Degradation of the Sugar Transporter Protein STP11
Authors: Ma Qijun , Xu Shuo , Hu Shi , Zuo Kaijing
Published: January 2025

Soluble sugars provide energy sources required for plant growth and development. They also act as osmoprotectants to improve the salt tolerance of plants. However, molecular mechanism underlying the negative regulation of soluble sugar accumulation in plants under salt stress conditions remains unknown. In this study, we investigated the functions of ankyrin‐repeat kinase 2 (ANK‐PK2) that regulates soluble sugar content in Arabidopsis under salt stress. ANK‐PK2 interacts with and phosphorylates the sugar transporter protein 11 (STP11) under salt stress. Phosphorylated STP11 is easier to degrade, and its glucose‐transporting ability and soluble sugar accumulation are inhibited. The ank‐pk2 mutant exhibited increased salt tolerance. The salt‐sensitive phenotype of the mutant stp11 was recovered through a dephosphorylation mutation that changed Thr227 in STP11 to Ala227. Our results revealed a novel molecular mechanism underlying salt stress adaptation in Arabidopsis, which ANK‐PK2 negatively regulates salt tolerance by phosphorylating and subsequently decreasing the transport activity of STP11 to balance the cellular soluble sugar content in Arabidopsis.
“Rising Women”: Evidence From China's Agricultural Mechanization
Authors: Pan Rui , Gao Mengfei , Ji Yueqing
Published: January 2025

The transformation of agricultural machinery technology in China has revolutionized traditional farming practices and reshaped gender relations. Utilizing data from five waves of the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) spanning 2014 to 2022, this paper empirically investigates the impact of mechanization on women's empowerment. The findings reveal that mechanization significantly enhances women's empowerment scores, especially in the economically advanced eastern regions and among farming households. Rigorous endogeneity analysis and robustness tests affirm the reliability of these results. Mechanism analysis uncovers that mechanization promotes women's empowerment through labor migration and increased female relative income. Additionally, further analysis indicates that mechanization influences marital dynamics, notably by lowering wives' evaluations of their spouses. This study not only enriches the body of research on agricultural mechanization but also provides a novel perspective on the evolution of gender relations within rural families.
An insect †Archaeopteryx: Cretaceous amber fossil elucidates the evolution of complex host detection and ovipositor mechanisms in parasitoid woodwasps (Hymenoptera: Orussoidea)
Authors: Vilhelmsen Lars , Boudinot Brendon E. , Hammel Jörg U. , Nakamine Hiroshi , Yamamoto Shûhei
Published: January 2025

We describe †Cretovelona orussopteryx n. gen. & sp., a female orussoid from mid‐Cretaceous Kachin amber. We examine the fossil with synchrotron scanning and integrate it into an existing morphological data set for Orussoidea. †Cretovelona is placed as sister to crown group Orussoidea by Bayesian phylogenetic analyses. It is unique in displaying a combination of plesiomorphic (e.g. 12 antennomeres, exposed ovipositor sheaths, partly internalized ovipositor that does not extend further than anterior part of abdomen) and apomorphic characters (e.g. antenna with club, fore tarsus 3‐segmented) that display intermediate stages in the evolution of the host detection mechanism and the fully internalized ovipositor in extant Orussidae. The wing venation of †Cretovelona is even more reduced than observed in extant Orussidae, likely correlated with the small body size (<2 mm). Tracing the changes in body size across the orussoid tree indicates that the stem group underwent a size reduction event in the Cretaceous, something that might have influenced character evolution in for example wing venation and internalization of the ovipositor. †Cretovelona is a rare example of a transitional fossil that elucidates the evolution of complex features when adapting to a highly specialized lifestyle, in this case detecting and targeting hosts deep inside wood. We propose to recognize only the family Orussidae within Orussoidea. Orussidae comprises the crown group Orussoidea, including all Cenozoic fossils described so far. The stem group taxa, all Mesozoic fossils, are not assigned to any specific family within Orussoidea. Zoobank Registration: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:397F76A5‐7467‐4BCA‐9963‐6A380EC05200.
From Hope to Hardship
Authors: Prins Aaldert
Published: January 2025

From Hope to Hardship begins with the missionary quest of Ralph and Edith Norton, who assisted John Wilbur Chapman around the turn of the twentieth century at the height of his success as a ‘mass-evangelist’ in major US cities and worldwide. The book explores the origins and development of the Nortons’ campaign, and the interactions between a transatlantic faith mission and the broader landscape of Belgian Protestantism. Through a detailed account of the historical context, in a vivid narrative the author examines how the theological framework of first-wave fundamentalism was creatively applied in a transcultural missionary context, introducing the reader to the mission’s evangelistic strategies against the socio-political and religious background of post–World War I Belgium. In this comprehensive monograph, Aaldert Prins offers a well-documented and nuanced understanding of the mission’s successes, struggles, and leadership changes, making this book an essential read for anyone interested in the history of transnational evangelicalism and its missionary endeavors.
Design and Implementation of a Low-Cost IoT-Based Real-Time Emission Monitoring System for a Thermoelectric Generator-Integrated Biomass Cookstove
Authors: Pandit Shankar , Das Dulal Chandra , Das Biplab , Newar Pranjal Prasad
Published: January 2025

More than 2 billion people globally depend on biomass for cooking, predominantly using conventional cookstoves. This leads to approximately 4 million annual deaths due to indoor air pollution. Currently, air pollution stands as the biggest environmental health challenge worldwide, having harmful effects on human health, climate, and ecosystems. These health risks can be reduced by improving stove design and combustion characteristics. This article focuses on the design and development of a low-cost IoT-based real-time emission monitoring system (LIEMS) integrated with a thermoelectric generator-integrated biomass cookstove (TIBC). The TIBC is designed to support multi-fuel use, improve user-friendliness, reduce emissions, and enhance overall efficiency. Here, the emission performance evaluation is facilitated by the LIEMS, which monitors pollutants such as particulate matter PM2.5, PM1.0, PM10, carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) while also capturing temperature profiles of the cookstove. The LIEMS system is powered entirely by the thermoelectric generator, eliminating the need for an external power source. Built on the ESP-WROOM-32 development board and integrated with the ThingSpeak IoT platform, the system enables real-time data visualization, email alerts for unsafe pollutant levels, and air quality management strategies. Validation results showed measurement discrepancies of ±5.42% for PM2.5, ±5.46% for PM1.0, ±5.49% for PM10, ±23.68% for CO, ±2.38% for CO2, and ±2.17%, ±8.57%, and ±2.17% for the cookstove's hot-side temperature (Thot) and ±8.57% for its cold-side temperature (Tcold). This new integration of IoT technology with TIBC offers a reliable and user-friendly solution for real-time indoor air quality monitoring, advancing household air quality management and sustainability.
Identification Method of Remaining Oil Potential Area Based on Deep Learning
Authors: Zhao Beichen , Yao Yuedong , Xiao Zheyu , Wei Yafei , Liu Hanze , Huang Jiacheng , Tian Ya-Peng , Wang Jianchao
Published: January 2025

Efficiently classifying potential areas of remaining oil is essential for enhancing the recovery in high water cut reservoir. The distribution of remaining oil is complex and challenging to mobilize due to temporal evolution and spatial variation in long-term waterflood development. Currently, reservoir classification relies on manual experience and unsupervised machine learning, both of which have limitations. Manual classification is constrained by human understanding, leading to inaccuracies, while unsupervised learning lacks adherence to reservoir theory, resulting in a possible lack of physical interpretability. This article introduces the Beluga whale optimization and the improved temporal convolutional network (BWO-ITCN) model, a novel prediction classification model that combines intelligent classification with reservoir theory constraints. The structure of the ITCN model was improved by changing the serial structure to the parallel pooling structure, in order to extract the features of time series data. The BWO-ITCN model incorporates expert experience by considering five dynamic and one static indicators for evaluating potential areas. It aims to identify remaining oil potential areas by learning the evaluation indicators in spatial variations and temporal evolution. The BWO algorithm enhances the classification precision by optimizing hyperparameters, particularly, blending samples. The experimental results demonstrate that the BWO-ITCN model achieves an accuracy of 94.25%, a precision of 94.1%, a recall rate of 93.82%, and an F1-score of 93.83%. Notably, the overall accuracy of a spatiotemporal model is higher than a nonspatiotemporal model. This autonomous classification model effectively addresses the challenges in classifying potential areas, simplifies the process, and offers valuable insights for development.
Impact of Production Strategy on Production Forecasting, Energy Demand, and Carbon Emissions: Typical Case Study of the Brazilian Presalt
Authors: Hohendorff Filho J. C. V. , Bannwart A. C. , Estevam V. , Castro M. S. , Schiozer D. J.
Published: January 2025

This study evaluates how the production strategy influences the main decision-making indicators in the development of the production of a Brazilian presalt field, considering reservoir and production system models integrated into a single simulation. The general methodology involves the evaluation of alternative production strategies for a case study related to a production development project, from the point of view of reservoirs for the water injection recovery mechanism. Variables with a focus on the reservoir, production, and primary processing of fluids are included. Sensitivity analyses based on the methodology of the response surface of parameters and variables are performed in relation to oil recovery, financial return, energy demand, and carbon emission. Production and fluid injection curves are compared. The integrated modeling (reservoir, well, and processing) was important to evaluate the impact of the selection of the design and management variables of the integrated production strategy, showing the interdependence between the simulated models. The first-order analysis of the uncertain reservoir parameters observed a significant impact on the indicators of field recovery (up to 11%) and financial return (up to 13%), and a lower impact on energy demand (up to 7%), carbon emissions (up to 6%), and oil production per CO2 emitted (up to 4%). The design and management variables of the field (platform capacity, number of producer and injector wells, separation operating pressure, and maintenance pressure in the reservoir), including those related to the production system (platform process plant alternatives for gas recycling, gas turbine-driven compressors, primary separator operating pressure, and production control of the wells to limit CO2 emission) have a significant impact on the indicators of financial return (up to 10% without CO2 emission tax rate, up to 12% with emission tax rate), energy demand (up to 17%), carbon emissions (up to 15%), and oil production per CO2 emitted (up to 15%), with less impact on field recovery (up to 11%). The study quantifies the impact of production strategy variables in an integrated way, especially those related to the production system. This assessment is important for production forecasting and decision-making support on energy demand and greenhouse gas emissions from oil and gas production and processing.
GlnA3

Mt

is able to glutamylate spermine but it is not essential for the detoxification of spermine in
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Authors: Krysenko Sergii , Emani Carine Sao , Bäuerle Moritz , Oswald Maria , Kulik Andreas , Meyners Christian , Hillemann Doris , Merker Matthias , Prosser Gareth , Wohlers Inken , Hausch Felix , Brötz-Oesterhelt Heike , Mitulski Agnieszka , Reiling Norbert , Wohlleben Wolfgang
Published: January 2025

Mycobacterium tuberculosis
is well adapted to survive and persist in the infected host, escaping the host’s immune response. Since polyamines such as spermine, which are synthesized by infected macrophages, are able to inhibit the growth of
M. tuberculosis
, the pathogen needs strategies to cope with these toxic metabolites. The actinomycete
Streptomyces coelicolor
, a close relative of
M. tuberculosis,
makes use of a gamma-glutamylation pathway to functionally neutralize spermine. We therefore considered whether a similar pathway would be functional in
M. tuberculosis
. In the current study, we demonstrated that
M. tuberculosis
growth was inhibited by the polyamine spermine. Using
in vitro
enzymatic assays we determined that GlnA3

Mt

(Rv1878) possesses genuine gamma-glutamylspermine synthetase catalytic activity. We further showed that purified His-Strep-GlnA3

Mt
,

as well as native GlnA3

Mt
,

prefer spermine as a substrate over putrescine, cadaverine, spermidine, or other monoamines and amino acids, suggesting that GlnA3

Mt

may play a specific role in the detoxification of the polyamine spermine. However, the deletion of the
glnA3
gene in
M. tuberculosis
did not result in growth inhibition or enhanced sensitivity of
M. tuberculosis
in the presence of high spermine concentrations. Gene expression analysis of spermine-treated
M. tuberculosis
revealed no difference in the level of

glnA3
Mt

expression relative to untreated cells, whereas a gene encoding a previously characterized efflux pump (Mmr;
rv3065
) was significantly upregulated. This suggests that bacterial survival under elevated spermine concentrations can not only be achieved by detoxification of spermine itself but also by mechanisms resulting in decreased spermine levels in the bacteria.

IMPORTANCE

Upon
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
infection macrophages synthesize the polyamine spermine, which at elevated concentrations is toxic for
M. tuberculosis
. Based on our investigations of spermine resistance in the closely related actinomycete
Streptomyces coelicolor
, we hypothesized that the glutamylspermine synthetase GlnA3 may be responsible for the resistance of
M. tuberculosis
against toxic spermine. Here we show that GlnA3

Mt

can indeed covalently modify spermine via glutamylation. However, GlnA3

Mt

is probably not the only resistance mechanism since a
glnA3
null mutant of
M. tuberculosis
can survive under spermine stress. Gene expression studies suggest that an efflux pump may participate in resistance. Thus a combination of GlnA3

Mt

and specific efflux pumps acting as putative spermine transporters may constitute an active spermine-detoxification system in
M. tuberculosis
.
Subdermal contraceptive implant migration to pulmonary artery branch
Authors: Kareem Tooba , Frain David , Raza Samavia , Watson Nicholas Alexander
Published: January 2025

Subdermal contraceptive implants are now commonly used throughout the world. One of the rare complications of these implants is migration to the lungs due to misplacement of the implant during insertion, with only a limited number of cases documented. Here, we present a case where a subdermal contraceptive implant embolised in the subsegmental branch of the pulmonary artery within the anterobasal segment of the left lower lobe. Due to incorrect placement, the subdermal implant migrated from subcutaneous plane into one of the upper extremity veins. It then travelled the venous pathway to the heart, passed through the right atrium and ventricle, transferred into the left pulmonary artery and eventually embolised into the anterobasal segmental branch. Treatment options for such cases include endovascular retrieval, mini-thoracotomy (open thoracic surgery, video-assisted thoracoscopic wedge or segmental resection) or conservative management.
Risk factors for visual loss after excision of orbital cavernous venous malformations: a systematic review
Authors: Pietris James , Quigley Clare , Psaltis Alkis James , Rose Geoffrey E , Selva Dinesh
Published: January 2025

Background

Orbital cavernous venous malformations (OCVMs) are the most common primary orbital mass lesion and presenting symptoms are usually secondary to a mass effect. Surgical excision presents unique challenges and vision loss is a rare, but devastating, complication. This review aims to identify risk factors for vision loss with excision of OCVMs.

Method

A systematic search of the databases PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase and CENTRAL was performed to May 2024, prior to data collection and risk of bias analysis in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. 16 articles fulfilled the inclusion criteria.

Results

These studies identified apical location and strong adherence to apical structures, including the optic nerve, as characteristics carrying a higher risk of postoperative vision loss. Symptoms and signs with a poor visual prognosis included preoperative visual loss, relative afferent pupillary defect, optic disc abnormality and choroidal folds. Intraoperative risk factors include prolonged vascular handling and traction on the optic nerve, as well as low intraoperative diastolic blood pressure. Central retinal artery occlusion was the most common cause of vision loss.

Conclusion

There are several risk factors for poor visual outcome after excision of OCVMs. Surgical and anaesthetic teams should remain cognisant of these factors, and be willing to adapt their intraoperative management as required. Further large-scale prospective studies might aid the development of management guidelines.