bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Regulation of Prostitution in China
Authors: Boittin Margaret L.
Published: December 2024

In this compelling book, Margaret L. Boittin delves into the complex world of prostitution in China and how it shapes the lives of those involved in it. Through in-depth fieldwork, Boittin provides a fascinating case study of the role of law in everyday life and its impact on female sex workers, street-level police officers, and frontline public health officials. The book offers a unique perspective on the dynamics between society and the state, revealing how the laws that govern sex work affect those on the frontlines. With clear and accessible prose, this book is a must-read for anyone interested in law, state-society relations, China, and sex work.
Automatic Matching Algorithms to Identify Eligible Participants for Stroke Trials: A Proof-of-Concept Study
Authors: Charatpangoon Pattarawut , Singh Nishita , Buck Brian H. , Carpani Federico , Catanese Luciana , Coutts Shelagh B. , Field Thalia S. , Hunter Gary , Khosravani Houman , Perera Kanjana , Sajobi Tolulope T. , Shamy Michel , Shankar Jai Jai Shiva , Tkach Aleksander , Swartz Richard H. , Almekhlafi Mohammed A. , Menon Bijoy K. , MacDonald M. Ethan , Ganesh Aravind
Published: December 2024

Background:

Clinical trials often struggle to recruit enough participants, with only 10% of eligible patients enrolling. This is concerning for conditions like stroke, where timely decision-making is crucial. Frontline clinicians typically screen patients manually, but this approach can be overwhelming and lead to many eligible patients being overlooked.

Methods:

To address the problem of efficient and inclusive screening for trials, we developed a matching algorithm using imaging and clinical variables gathered as part of the AcT trial (NCT03889249) to automatically screen patients by matching these variables with the trials’ inclusion and exclusion criteria using rule-based logic. We then used the algorithm to identify patients who could have been enrolled in six trials: EASI-TOC (NCT04261478), CATIS-ICAD (NCT04142125), CONVINCE (NCT02898610), TEMPO-2 (NCT02398656), ESCAPE-MEVO (NCT05151172), and ENDOLOW (NCT04167527). To evaluate our algorithm, we compared our findings to the number of enrollments achieved without using a matching algorithm. The algorithm’s performance was validated by comparing results with ground truth from a manual review of two clinicians. The algorithm’s ability to reduce screening time was assessed by comparing it with the average time used by study clinicians.

Results:

The algorithm identified more potentially eligible study candidates than the number of participants enrolled. It also showed over 90% sensitivity and specificity for all trials, and reducing screening time by over 100-fold.

Conclusions:

Automated matching algorithms can help clinicians quickly identify eligible patients and reduce resources needed for enrolment. Additionally, the algorithm can be modified for use in other trials and diseases.
The effects of climate change on mental health and psychological well-being: Impacts and priority actions
Authors: Soomro Shazia , Zhou Dianen , Charan Iftikhar Ahmed
Published: December 2024

Climate anxiety has a negative impact on the mental health and psychological well-being of the vulnerable population. The goal is to assess many factors that affect mental health and psychological well-being, as well as how climate change affects mental health in Pakistan’s vulnerable population. This study provides evidence-based insights into the long- and medium-term impacts of extreme weather events on mental health. To obtain information on these variables, this research uses a quantitative approach and a cross-sectional survey design with a multivariate regression model for empirical tests on a sample of parents and children with an impact on mental health from climate change anxiety. Results indicate that individuals who experience shock climate change anxiety and its effects on mental health and psychological well-being. Climate change can have detrimental effects on children’s mental health. (1) Children’s Stress Index (CSI): (2) climate change anxiety (CCA), (3) generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) and (4) major depression disorder (MDD), as reported by the children with mental health outcomes. The findings of this study show that climate change has a stressful effect on mental health. The article concludes with a discussion on strategies to address the anticipated mental health issues among children due to climate change.
Highly pathogenic avian influenza: considerations for healthcare settings
Authors: Epstein Lauren , Doron Shira
Published: December 2024

In this manuscript, we discuss a systematic approach that healthcare facilities can adopt to prepare to identify, confirm, and safely manage highly pathogenic avian influenza in the healthcare setting.
The great convergence: post-Cold War transitions to hybrid regimes across waves and ebbs
Authors: Cassani Andrea
Published: December 2024

The ‘waves and ebbs’ model proposed by Huntington in his 1991's The Third Wave has profoundly shaped how scholars interpret global trends of democratization and autocratization, but has also received criticisms, especially concerning its ability to explain regime change in the three decades following the end of the Cold War. I contend that, rather than an alternation between democratization waves and authoritarian ebbs, the post-Cold War period could be more fruitfully described as a phase of ‘regime convergence’ characterized by a tendency of both democracies and autocracies to shift towards hybrid forms of political regime. By showing that between 1990 and 2023 transitions to hybrid regimes significantly exceeded transitions in other directions, I demonstrate the empirical relevance of hybridization as a process affecting both democracies and autocracies, and I encourage renewed attention to this phenomenon distinct from both democratization and autocratization.
Kinetic modelling of rarefied gas mixtures with disparate mass in strong non-equilibrium flows
Authors: Li Qi , Zeng Jianan , Wu Lei
Published: December 2024

The simulation of rarefied gas flow based on the Boltzmann equation is challenging, especially when the gas mixtures have disparate molecular masses. In this paper, a computationally tractable kinetic model is proposed for monatomic gas mixtures, to mimic the Boltzmann collision operator as closely as possible. The intra- and inter-collisions are modelled separately using relaxation approximations, to correctly recover the relaxation time scales that could span several orders of magnitude. The proposed kinetic model preserves the accuracy of the Boltzmann equation in the continuum regime by recovering four critical transport properties of a gas mixture: the shear viscosity, the thermal conductivity, the coefficients of diffusion and the thermal diffusion. While in the rarefied flow regimes, the kinetic model is found to be accurate when comparing its solutions with those from the direct simulation Monte Carlo method in several representative cases (e.g. one-dimensional normal shock wave, Fourier flow and Couette flow, two-dimensional supersonic flow passing a cylinder and nozzle flow into a vacuum), for binary mixtures with a wide range of mass ratios, species concentrations and different intermolecular potentials. Pronounced separations in species properties have been observed, and the flow characteristics of gas mixtures in shock waves are found to change as the molecular mass ratio increases from 10 to 1000.
Understanding groundwater droughts using detrended historical meteorological data and long-term groundwater modelling
Authors: Schutten Wout A. , Pezij Michiel , Hogeboom Rick J. , Jungermann U. Nicole , Augustijn Denie C.M.
Published: December 2024

Groundwater is a vital resource for various water users in the Netherlands. However, due to a changing climate, increasing water demand and changes in the water system, the country is increasingly exposed to groundwater droughts. Water managers use various indicators and statistics to identify groundwater droughts. These indicators characterise the drought for example in terms of intensity, duration and probability of occurrence. Often, these indicators require information on long-term average groundwater conditions and extreme situations that can occur over long periods. However, the availability of long-term groundwater observations of more than ten years in length is limited. Particularly, extreme groundwater drought events are ill-described and subject to large uncertainty in their characterisation. This study explores a novel method for obtaining long-term phreatic groundwater levels by combining a data-driven time series model using transfer function-noise modelling with detrended historical meteorological time series representing the current climate. The method is applied to an area in the Netherlands to generate groundwater levels for the period 1910–2022. Our results reveal differences in the characterisation of groundwater droughts when the extended groundwater time series are compared with observations of a limited duration (eight years). Using the 2018 summer drought event as an example, we find that the probability of this groundwater drought occurring is approximately once every twelve years, based on the eight-year observation period. However, this probability reduces to a once every 24-year event when using historically generated groundwater time series to characterise the groundwater drought. We conclude that characterising droughts with the extended groundwater time series based on historical meteorological data can provide a more comprehensive insight into the intensity and frequency of groundwater droughts, as well as the probability of occurrence of current groundwater levels. Hence, the proposed method supports water managers in establishing return period-based criteria for measures, such as deciding when to implement irrigation bans.
Complementary geophysical methods for monitoring groundwater pressure and saturation
Authors: Fokker Eldert , Carpentier Stefan
Published: December 2024

Monitoring groundwater levels and soil moisture content (SMC) is crucial for managing water resources and assessing risks, but can be challenging, especially over large acreages. Recent advances in geophysical methods provide new opportunities for accurate groundwater assessment. Seismic wave speed data, sensitive to changes in pore water pressure, can be used in a passive monitoring approach, while electrical conductivity data can be used for monitoring SMC. Combining seismic and electromagnetic induction (EMI)-based monitoring techniques enhances our understanding of groundwater dynamics. Seismic methods enable wide spatial coverage with moderate depth resolution, whereas EMI offers high-resolution, rapid data acquisition, particularly effective for shallow subsurface monitoring. Integrating these approaches can leverage the strengths of each, yielding comprehensive, high-resolution insights into dynamic subsurface hydrological processes. Integrating these approaches allows for improved groundwater monitoring, aiding in better understanding and managing droughts in regions like the Netherlands.
A snapshot in time: composition of native primary fauna of gall wasps in Spanish contact zones with chestnut trees infested by Dryocosmus kuriphilus
Authors: Gil-Tapetado Diego , Polidori Carlo , Gómez Jose F. , Nieves-Aldrey Jose Luis
Published: December 2024

One of the most prominent problems related to biological invasions is the variation of local species composition, which often leads to ex novo interspecific interactions. Here, we explored and analysed the native species composition of gall inducers and their associated parasitoids and inquilines in Spanish areas invaded by Dryocosmus kuriphilus Yasumatsu 1951 (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae), an invasive pest of chestnut trees. After a quantitative description of these species' assemblages, we analysed through bipartite networks the level of the trophic specialisation of parasitoids and inquilines when considering either the host taxonomic identity, the host plant species or the host gall morphological type. We sampled galls of D. kuriphilus and native species of Cynipidae in different Spanish areas, including those where the exotic parasitoid Torymus sinensis Kamijo 1982 (Hymenoptera: Torymidae) had been released for D. kuriphilus biological control. The results indicate that the native parasitoids recruited by D. kuriphilus come almost exclusively from native communities on Quercus galls, except for one species from Rosa. Galls of D. kuriphilus had the second most diverse species composition; despite this species assemblage arose ex novo in less than a decade. The bipartite networks resulted more specialised when considering host plant taxa than when gall types and the host taxa were accounted. In such trophic webs, there were few parasitoid/inquiline specialist and many generalist species, which agrees with the rapid recruitment by D. kuriphilus. Higher parasitoid species richness in D. kuriphilus galls is likely due to their being a largely unexploited available resource for the native natural enemies of cynipid wasps.
Effect of in vitro simulated gastrointestinal digestion on the antibacterial properties of bovine lactoferrin
Authors: Gunning Laura , O'Sullivan Michael , Boutonnet Claire , Pedrós-Garrido Selene , Jacquier Jean-Christophe
Published: December 2024

The aim of this research was to investigate the ability of an in vitro simulated gastrointestinal digestion (SGID) to generate peptides from bovine lactoferrin (LF) that possess antibacterial activity. Escherichia coli was examined as the target pathogen due to its prevalence in foods and the well-documented antibacterial effect of both LF and LF peptides against this organism. Results showed that in-vitro digested LF, specifically gastric LF digesta, exhibited significant antibacterial activity at low concentrations against E. coli compared to its undigested counterpart. Additionally, the highest antibacterial activity in the gastric digesta was associated with a relatively high molecular weight fraction of >30 kDa obtained within the first 30 min of the SGID. This demonstrates that the digestive process can result in the generation of antibacterial LF peptides and contribute to improving the antimicrobial properties of LF exhibited in its undigested state, making it a suitable dairy food additive to potentially provide protection against bacterial pathogens within the gastrointestinal system.
Effect of post-milking teat dipping on milk quality and udder health of crossbred cows
Authors: Tiwari Shiwani , Lathwal Surender Singh , Devi Indu , Tomar Divyanshu Singh
Published: December 2024

We aimed to determine the efficacy of different post-milking teat dips in the prevention of intramammary infection and teat condition scores in common crossbred cows (Holstein Frisian × Tharparkar) found in Indian sub-tropical conditions. Eighty healthy crossbred cows were selected and randomly divided into four groups: untreated control, 1% w/v iodine, 5% v/v lactic acid and finally essential oil mix (eucalyptus, lavender, peppermint, and tea tree oils). Samples were collected quarter-wise (n = 308). Sampling as well as teat scoring was done simultaneously. 1st sample was collected before starting teat dipping, followed by 15th day in milk (DIM), 45th DIM and 90th DIM, respectively. The study found that post-milking teat dipping significantly reduced the mean California mastitis test score, somatic cell count and electrical conductivity of the milk in the treatment groups compared to the control group, and also improved milk yield in the treatment groups. There were no differences between the individual treatments. The study also found a significant reduction in teat end condition and teat skin condition after 90 d of post-milking teat dipping.
Formulation and characterization of novel dairy-based dip utilizing heat-acid-coagulated milk gel and whey
Authors: Manik Subhadip , Debnath Anindita , Hossain Shamim , Roy Kuntal , Debnath Partha Pratim , Haldar Lopamudra , Ray Pinaki Ranjan
Published: December 2024

An attempt was made to develop a novel dairy-based dip-like product from heat-acid-induced milk gel and whey. Based upon preliminary trials, the combination of cream (15–35%), whey (60–70%) and common salt (0.8–1.0%, all three as weight of heat-acid-induced milk gel) was selected for optimization of the dairy dip through factorial design of response surface methodology (RSM). Addition of glycerol monostearate, trisodium citrate and sodium hexametaphosphate each at the rate of 0.3% (as weight of heat-acid-induced milk gel) in the formulation was previously standardized. The optimization was carried out by analysing the textural and sensorial parameters of the dairy-based dip. The sensorial parameters (flavour, body and texture, colour and appearance and overall acceptability) and textural parameters (firmness, stickiness, work of shear and work of adhesion) were significantly (P < 0.05) correlated with the ingredient formulation. RSM analysis suggested the use of cream, whey and common salt at amounts of 27.92, 60.26 and 0.8% of the weight of heat-acid-induced milk gel for preparing dairy-based dip with a desirability of 0.84. The formulated product contained a lower fat but higher protein and lactose content than cheese dip.
Selecting a dietary assessment method for a national nutrition survey: a review and evaluation of online 24-h dietary recall tools
Authors: Follong Berit , Mackay Sally , Ni Mhurchu Cliona
Published: December 2024

Objective:

Online 24-h dietary recall tools are commonly used in nationwide nutrition surveys to assess population diets. With a steep rise in the development of new and more advanced 24-h dietary recall tools, the decision of which tool to use for a national nutrition survey becomes increasingly challenging. Therefore, this short communication outlines the process of selecting a 24-h dietary recall tool for a national nutrition survey in New Zealand.

Design:

To identify suitable 24-h dietary recall tools, a review of peer-reviewed and grey literature was conducted (2019–2022). Data on functionalities, validation, usability and adaptability were extracted for eighteen pre-specified tools, which were used in the subsequent evaluation process.

Results:

Six of the eighteen tools had new relevant publications since 2019. The fourteen new publications described six validation studies and eight usability studies. Based on pre-selection criteria (e.g. availability, adaptability, previous use in national surveys), three tools were shortlisted: ASA24, Intake24 and MyFood24. These tools were further evaluated, and expert advice was sought to determine the most suitable tool for use in the New Zealand context.

Conclusions:

A comprehensive yet time- and cost-efficient approach was undertaken to identify the potential use of online 24-h dietary recall tools for a national nutrition survey. The selection process included key evaluation criteria to determine the tools’ suitability for adaptation within the New Zealand context and ultimately to select a preferred tool. A similar approach may be useful for other countries when having to select 24-h dietary recall tools for use in national nutrition surveys.
Translation, Cultural Validation, and Gender Invariance of the Narcissistic Admiration and Rivalry Questionnaire to Brazilian Portuguese
Authors: Lessmann Reis Janaína , O’Tuathaigh Colm , Romano Thatiana Pires , Montagna Erik , Zaia Victor
Published: December 2024

Abstract: The “Narcissistic Admiration and Rivalry Questionnaire” (NARQ) assesses narcissism’s admiration and rivalry dimensions. This study aimed at the translation, semantic adaptation, and psychometric validation of the NARQ into Brazilian Portuguese and to check gender invariance. All 789 participants were a convenience sample recruited online from Brazil. After the translation, semantic validation, and back translation, the final version and a socio-economic characterization questionnaire were sent to participants. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were performed. The results confirmed the original model of the questionnaire (χ2 = 580.27, df = 126 ( p < 0.001), RMSEA = 0.08 (CI 90% = 0.07–0.08), CFI = 0.99, TLI = 0.99 and χ2/df = 4.60). A configural, metric, and scalar invariance for gender was assessed revealing diverse levels of narcissism for this characteristic. Finally, our version of the NARQ showed adequate validity for this sample preserving the between-gender invariance.
Assessment of the Water Mass Dynamics Over the Algero‐Provencal Basin (Western Mediterranean Sea) in the MEDRYS1V2 Reanalysis
Authors: Barral Quentin‐Boris , Zakardjian Bruno , Dumas Franck , Garreau Pierre , Beuvier Jonathan
Published: December 2024

We present an assessment of the water mass dynamics in a reanalysis of the Mediterranean Sea with a focus on the Algero‐Provencal basin. We use a θ‐S‐based algorithm to compute the fractions of the main western Mediterranean water masses: Atlantic and modified Atlantic Waters (AW and mAW), Western and Eastern Intermediate Waters (WIW and EIW), Tyrrhenian and Western Mediterranean Deep Water (TDW and WMDW). The reanalysis retains the known mean characteristics of the water masses, their seasonal to interannual variabilities, and main circulation patterns when compared with the literature. The imprint of winter mixing is particularly obvious with coherent variations of water mass volumes, mainly the yearly creation of WIW from mAW on northernmost shelves and of WMDW from all surface and intermediate layers during years of deep water formation (DWF). The results also highlight some unrealistic events of variability of the WMDW volume that are likely due to the data assimilation process. Recomputation of water mass volumes and transports without these altered years allowed to highlight the possible disruption of large‐scale barotropic cyclonic circulation in the East Algerian basin in response to major DWF events over the Gulf of Lion and the induced surface consequence on Algerian Eddies' trajectories.
Hollows on Mercury: A Comprehensive Analysis of Spatial Patterns and Their Relationship to Craters and Structures
Authors: De Toffoli Barbara , Galluzzi Valentina , Massironi Matteo , Besse Sebastien , Schmidt Gene Walter , Barraud Oceane , Buoninfante Salvatore , Palumbo Pasquale
Published: December 2024

Hollows on Mercury are small (hundreds of meters ‐ few kilometers), shallow (tens of meters), irregular depressions typically found in clusters, often associated with impact craters, and likely formed by the loss of volatile materials. While their exact formation process remains debated, various hypotheses suggest sublimation or space weathering. In this study, we analyzed the global distribution of hollows, exploring their spatial patterns and relationships with key geological features. Our findings challenge the idea that hollows arise from a single volatile‐rich surface layer, suggesting instead that volatiles are dispersed throughout the crust. Hollows show no correlation with specific geological units or elevations, indicating no singular volatile source. Moreover, the transitory nature of hollows is suggested as they are rare in older, degraded craters but common in younger ones or older craters with deep‐seated features, hinting at a link to the reworking of materials through impacts or volcano‐tectonic activity.
Satellite‐Based Diagnostics of Precipitation Process in Mixed‐Phase Clouds: Extension From Warm Rain Process Statistics
Authors: Suzuki Kentaroh , Nagao Takashi M. , Murai Aya
Published: December 2024

This study proposes a methodology for analyzing the precipitation process in mixed‐phase clouds using multisensor satellite data, including radar, lidar, and imager. By leveraging a specific multivariate statistic, we elucidate the vertical microphysical structures of mixed‐phase clouds and their transitions associated with cloud particle growth and phase change. Expanding upon previous warm rain process diagnostics, we integrate cloud thermodynamic phase information from lidar and imager, representing the phase near the cloud top and column, respectively, to classify the vertical microphysical structures obtained from radar. Our global composite analysis reveals a systematic transition from non‐precipitating to precipitating characteristics with increasing ice phase fraction of the cloud column, rather than near the cloud top, and increasing cloud‐top particle size. These findings offer valuable observational references for evaluating numerical models in precipitation physics.
Impact of Horizontal Resolution on Simulating Eddy‐Induced Meridional Heat Transport in the Southeast Indian Ocean
Authors: Qian Xingshang , Zhou Lei , Qin Jianhuang
Published: December 2024

The eddy‐induced meridional heat transport (EMHT) in the Southeast Indian Ocean (SEIO) plays a crucial role in regional air–sea interactions and climate changes, but it is commonly underestimated in widely‐known models and reanalysis data sets. This study uses three experiments of the Regional Ocean Modeling System (ROMS) with varying horizontal resolutions to assess their impact on simulating EMHT in the SEIO. The results show that increasing horizontal resolution enhances the simulated EMHT with a stronger seasonal cycle. The higher horizontal resolution experiments show improvements in the association and phase difference between high‐frequency temperature and meridional velocity, both of which are the definition of EMHT. According to turbulent diffusion theory, the magnitude of EMHT is directly correlated with eddy kinetic energy (EKE). Both of them show similar vertical and temporal variations as well as spatial patterns. EKE budget analysis suggests that the improvement in EKE is primarily attributed to the enhanced baroclinic energy conversion, which indicates the EKE originated from eddy available potential energy. It is further found that the amplitude and number of mesoscale eddies are notably large in high‐resolution experiments, thereby augmenting the EKE and EMHT. Additionally, the seasonal variation in EMHT in each model experiment is tied to the number of mesoscale eddies, rather than other characteristics of them. Thus, this study provides a valuable insight into the enhancing horizontal resolution to improve the simulation of EMHT.
Anthropogenic Perturbations Complicated the Downstream Greenhouse Gas Dynamics of a Large Subtropical Reservoir
Authors: Wan Xiang , Chen Shuai , Wang Wanfa , Dai Mutan , Shi Wenhong , Ran Lishan , Wu Xiaoxu , Tan Wenfeng
Published: December 2024

River damming can significantly alter the hydrology and nutrient levels of river water, resulting in substantial greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to the atmosphere. However, the dynamics of greenhouse gases in the discharged water downstream of dams remain poorly understood, despite being recognized as a crucial source of GHG emissions in river‐reservoir systems. In this study, we conducted comprehensive measurements of GHG concentrations and water chemistry in a large subtropical reservoir and its upstream and downstream rivers to investigate the spatiotemporal patterns of GHG concentrations and fluxes and to identify their governing mechanisms, with a primary focus on downstream GHG dynamics. Our analysis revealed that the distribution of pCO2 among the reservoir and its upstream and downstream rivers was predominantly controlled by aquatic metabolism and atmospheric CO2 exchange. Conversely, the distribution of CH4 and N2O levels was largely influenced by anaerobic metabolism. Seasonal fluctuations in GHG dynamics were linked to hydroclimatic conditions, including water temperature, hydrologic connectivity between land and rivers, and reservoir thermal stratification. Anthropogenic activities (e.g., agricultural land use) were found to affect the downstream trend of GHG concentrations. Higher GHG fluxes in the downstream rivers compared to reservoir were attributed to the anaerobic production of CH4 in the reservoir and increased gas transfer velocity in the downstream rivers. These findings underscore the critical influence of anthropogenic activities on downstream GHG dynamics and emphasize the necessity of integrating anthropogenic impacts and seasonal variability in downstream GHG emissions to enhance our understanding of the carbon budget in river‐reservoir systems.
Seawater Lead Isotopes Record Early Miocene to Modern Circulation Dynamics in the Pacific Sector of the Southern Ocean
Authors: Huang Huang , Gutjahr Marcus , Song Zhaoyang , Fietzke Jan , Frank Martin , Kuhn Gerhard , Hillenbrand Claus Dieter , Christl Marcus , Garbe‐Schönberg Dieter , Goepfert Tyler , Eisenhauer Anton
Published: December 2024

The Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) is Earth's largest current flowing around Antarctica at all depths and connecting major ocean basins, thus representing an important component of Earth's climate. However, the timing and key controls determining ACC flow path and its strength as a function of past climatic boundary conditions that ultimately resulted in its modern configuration remain unclear due to major uncertainties in paleoceanographic and tectonic reconstructions. Here we present a unique high‐resolution laser ablation‐derived late Cenozoic seawater lead isotope record obtained from a hydrogenetic ferromanganese crust from the Pacific sector of the Southern Ocean. Our Pb isotope data reveal that the ACC has experienced five stable circulation states since the early Miocene which were separated by four major transitions observed at 17.5‐14.6, 12, 10 and 5 Ma. We suggest that the relatively abrupt transitions between ACC circulation state were mainly induced by tectonic changes, whereas the impact of climatic changes was of secondary importance. According to our data the modern ACC configuration formed 5 million years ago, likely in response to the closure of the Panama Seaway. Since the Drake Passage (DP) has already been an open seaway since at least the late Miocene, our results demonstrate that DP opening was not the only factor affecting past ACC circulation. Our data also show that changes in the latitudinal position of the ACC were linked to the middle Miocene waxing and waning of the Antarctic ice sheets, which emphasizes the ACC's critical role as a key control of Antarctic glaciation.
Glial cell deficits are a key feature of schizophrenia: implications for neuronal circuit maintenance and histological differentiation from classical neurodegeneration
Authors: Bernstein Hans-Gert , Nussbaumer Madeleine , Vasilevska Veronika , Dobrowolny Henrik , Nickl-Jockschat Thomas , Guest Paul C. , Steiner Johann
Published: December 2024

Dysfunctional glial cells play a pre-eminent role in schizophrenia pathophysiology. Post-mortem studies have provided evidence for significantly decreased glial cell numbers in different brain regions of individuals with schizophrenia. Reduced glial cell numbers are most pronounced in oligodendroglia, but reduced astrocyte cell densities have also been reported. This review highlights that oligo- and astroglial deficits are a key histopathological feature in schizophrenia, distinct from typical changes seen in neurodegenerative disorders. Significant deficits of oligodendrocytes in schizophrenia may arise in two ways: (i) demise of mature functionally compromised oligodendrocytes; and (ii) lack of mature oligodendrocytes due to failed maturation of progenitor cells. We also analyse in detail the controversy regarding deficits of astrocytes. Regardless of their origin, glial cell deficits have several pathophysiological consequences. Among these, myelination deficits due to a reduced number of oligodendrocytes may be the most important factor, resulting in the disconnectivity between neurons and different brain regions observed in schizophrenia. When glial cells die, it appears to be through degeneration, a process which is basically reversible. Thus, therapeutic interventions that (i) help rescue glial cells (ii) or improve their maturation might be a viable option. Since antipsychotic treatment alone does not seem to prevent glial cell loss or maturation deficits, there is intense search for new therapeutic options. Current proposals range from the application of antidepressants and other chemical agents as well as physical exercise to engrafting healthy glial cells into brains of schizophrenia patients.
A study on digital tooth preparation assessment software in undergraduate pre-clinical skills teaching
Authors: Alsharif Hanin , Boyle Richard , Maillou Pauline , Cherukara George P.
Published: December 2024

Introduction

Aims This research aims to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of the PrepCheck digital system as an additional feedback tool in enhancing undergraduate dental students’ tooth preparation skills and its potential to enhance students’ learning experience.

Material and Methods

A total of 55 BDS3 students attending the “Crowns Course” and divided into three groups participated in the study. One group (n = 24) was randomly selected as the case group and received feedback using the digital tooth preparation analysis system, PrepCheck, alongside standard visual assessment. The other two groups (n = 31) served as controls and only received standard visual feedback. All students’ tooth preparations for the final test were digitally assessed using PrepCheck against a faculty-approved master preparation. The tooth preparation quality was compared between the case and control groups, employing two distinct grading methods. Additionally, a questionnaire was provided to students who used the digital system to gather their feedback.

Results

The findings revealed a positive trend in performance among the case group when using the PrepCheck system. However, the analysis showed no statistically significant differences between the groups in both the tutor assessment only and tutor assessment in addition to using the PrepCheck report. Despite the absence of statistically significant differences, qualitative feedback from participants indicated a favourable reception of the digital system.

Conclusions

While the PrepCheck digital system displayed potential in complementing traditional teaching methods and enhancing the learning experience, its integration posed challenges, particularly concerning time constraints. Further research is recommended to investigate further the potential longer-term effects and potential useful applications for integrating digital systems like PrepCheck into dental education.
Parallel development of social behavior in biological and artificial fish
Authors: McGraw Joshua D. , Lee Donsuk , Wood Justin N.
Published: December 2024

Our algorithmic understanding of vision has been revolutionized by a reverse engineering paradigm that involves building artificial systems that perform the same tasks as biological systems. Here, we extend this paradigm to social behavior. We embodied artificial neural networks in artificial fish and raised the artificial fish in virtual fish tanks that mimicked the rearing conditions of biological fish. When artificial fish had deep reinforcement learning and curiosity-derived rewards, they spontaneously developed fish-like social behaviors, including collective behavior and social preferences (favoring in-group over out-group members). The artificial fish also developed social behavior in naturalistic ocean worlds, showing that these embodied models generalize to real-world learning contexts. Thus, animal-like social behaviors can develop from generic learning algorithms (reinforcement learning and intrinsic motivation). Our study provides a foundation for reverse-engineering the development of social behavior using image-computable models from artificial intelligence, bridging the divide between high-dimensional sensory inputs and collective action.
Healthcare utilization, mortality, and cardiovascular events following GLP1-RA initiation in chronic kidney disease
Authors: Zhang Shuyao , Sidra Fnu , Alvarez Carlos A. , Kinaan Mustafa , Lingvay Ildiko , Mansi Ishak A.
Published: December 2024

Treatment with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP1-RA) in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) may attenuate kidney disease progression and cardiovascular events but their real-world impact on healthcare utilization and mortality in this population are not well-defined. Here, we emulate a clinical trial that compares outcomes following initiation of GLP1-RA vs Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP4i), as active comparators, in U.S. veterans aged 35 years of older with moderate to advanced CKD during fiscal years 2006 to 2021. Primary outcome was rate of acute healthcare utilization. Secondary outcomes were all-cause mortality and a composite of acute cardiovascular events. After propensity score matching (16,076 pairs) and 2.2 years mean follow-up duration, use of GLP1-RA in patients with moderate to advanced CKD was associated with lower annual rate of acute healthcare utilization and all-cause mortality. There was no significant difference in acute cardiovascular events.
X-linked deletion of Crossfirre, Firre, and Dxz4 in vivo uncovers diverse phenotypes and combinatorial effects on autosomes
Authors: Hasenbein Tim P. , Hoelzl Sarah , Smith Zachary D. , Gerhardinger Chiara , Gonner Marion O. C. , Aguilar-Pimentel Antonio , Amarie Oana V. , Becker Lore , Calzada-Wack Julia , Dragano Nathalia R. V. , da Silva-Buttkus Patricia , Garrett Lillian , Hölter Sabine M. , Kraiger Markus , Östereicher Manuela A. , Rathkolb Birgit , Sanz-Moreno Adrián , Spielmann Nadine , Wurst Wolfgang , Gailus-Durner Valerie , Fuchs Helmut , Hrabě de Angelis Martin , Meissner Alexander , Engelhardt Stefan , Rinn John L. , Andergassen Daniel
Published: December 2024

The lncRNA Crossfirre was identified as an imprinted X-linked gene, and is transcribed antisense to the trans-acting lncRNA Firre. The Firre locus forms an inactive-X-specific interaction with Dxz4, both loci providing the platform for the largest conserved chromatin structures. Here, we characterize the epigenetic profile of these loci, revealing them as the most female-specific accessible regions genome-wide. To address their in vivo role, we perform one of the largest X-linked knockout studies by deleting Crossfirre, Firre, and Dxz4 individually and in combination. Despite their distinct epigenetic features observed on the X chromosome, our allele-specific analysis uncovers these loci as dispensable for imprinted and random X chromosome inactivation. However, we provide evidence that Crossfirre affects autosomal gene regulation but only in combination with Firre. To shed light on the functional role of these sex-specific loci, we perform an extensive standardized phenotyping pipeline and uncover diverse knockout and sex-specific phenotypes. Collectively, our study provides the foundation for exploring the intricate interplay of conserved X-linked loci in vivo.
Deciphering the atomistic mechanism underlying highly tunable piezoelectric properties in perovskite ferroelectrics via transition metal doping
Authors: Tan Peng , Huang Xiaolin , Wang Yu , Xing Bohan , Zhang Jiajie , Hu Chengpeng , Meng Xiangda , Xu Xiaodong , Li Danyang , Wang Xianjie , Zhou Xin , Zhang Nan , Wang Qisheng , Li Fei , Zhang Shujun , Tian Hao
Published: December 2024

Piezoelectricity, a fundamental property of perovskite ferroelectrics, endows the materials at the heart of electromechanical systems spanning from macro to micro/nano scales. Defect engineering strategies, particularly involving heterovalent trace impurities and derived vacancies, hold great potential for adjusting piezoelectric performance. Despite the prevalent use of defect engineering for modification, a comprehensive understanding of the specific features that positively impact material properties is still lacking, this knowledge gap impedes the advancement of a universally applicable defect selection and design strategy. In this work, we select perovskite KTa1−xNbxO3 single crystals with orthorhombic phase as the matrix and introduce Fe and Mn elements, which are commonly used in “hard” ferroelectrics as dopants. We investigate how transition-metal doping modifies piezoelectric properties from the perspective of intrinsic polarization behaviors. Interestingly, despite both being doped into the B-site as an acceptor, Mn doping enhances the local structural heterogeneity, greatly bolstering the piezoelectric coefficient beyond 1000 pC/N, whereas Fe doping tends to stabilize the polarization, leading to a substantial improvement in the mechanical quality factor up to 700. This work deciphers the diverse impacts of transition metal impurities on regulating polarization structures and modifying piezoelectric properties, providing a good paradigm for strategically designing perovskite ferroelectrics.
Dengue virus transmission in Italy: historical trends up to 2023 and a data repository into the future
Authors: Branda Francesco , Nakase Taishi , Maruotti Antonello , Scarpa Fabio , Ciccozzi Alessandra , Romano Chiara , Peletto Simone , de Filippis Ana Maria Bispo , Alcantara Luiz Carlos Junior , Marcello Alessandro , Ciccozzi Massimo , Lourenço José , Giovanetti Marta
Published: December 2024

Dengue virus circulation is on the rise globally, with increased epidemic activity in previously unaffected countries, including within Europe. In 2023, global dengue activity peaked, and Italy reported the highest number of dengue cases and local chains of transmission to date. By curating several sources of information, we introduce a novel data repository focused on dengue reporting in Italy. We integrate data from such a repository with other geographic, genomic and climatic spatiotemporal data to present an overview of transmission patterns of the past eight years related to circulating viral lineages, geographic distribution, hotspots of reporting, and the theoretical contribution of local climate. The novel data repository can contribute to a better understanding of an evolving epidemiological scenario in Italy, with the potential to inform reassessment and planning of adequate national and European public health strategies to manage the emergence of the dengue virus.
A global multi catchment and multi dataset synthesis for water fluxes and storage changes on land
Authors: Zarei Mohanna , Destouni Georgia
Published: December 2024

Water on land is essential for all societal, ecosystem, and planetary health aspects and conditions, and all life as we know it. Many disciplines consider and model similar terrestrial water phenomena and processes, but comparisons and consistent validations are lacking for the datasets used by various science communities for different world parts, scales, and applications. Here, we present a new global data synthesis that includes and harmonises four comparative datasets for main terrestrial water fluxes and storage changes, and the catchment-wise water balance closure they imply for the 30-year period 1980–2010 in 1561 non-overlapping hydrological catchments around the world. This can be used to identify essential agreements and disagreements of the comparative datasets for spatial variations and temporal changes of runoff, evapotranspiration, water storage, and associated water-balances around the global land area, e.g., for pattern recognition and hypothesis/model testing. The facilitated direct dataset comparison can advance a more coherent, realistic cross-disciplinary understanding of Earth’s water states and changes across regions and scales, from local and up to continental and global.
Brain physiology during photoperiod-related caste determination in the primitively eusocial wasp Polistes jokahamae
Authors: Sasaki Ken , Yoshimura Hideto , Yokoi Kakeru
Published: December 2024

Adult females of the primitively eusocial wasp Polistes jokahamae can change caste in response to photoperiod length. Short-day photoperiod females store more lipids but have less developed ovaries for hibernation (becoming gynes), whereas long-day photoperiod females have fewer lipid stores but more developed ovaries under queenless conditions (becoming egg-laying workers). To explore the physiological mechanisms underlying photoperiod-related caste determination, analyses of gene expression levels in the brains of short- or long-day females were performed. Results suggest that short-day females may exhibit higher expression of genes involved in tryptophan metabolism, insulin signaling, and nutrition, including the digestion of sugars and lipids, and production of royal jelly proteins. Oral administration of tryptophan resulted in a positive correlation between tryptophan levels in the brain and lipid stores in the abdomen, suggesting that tryptophan promotes lipid storage in gynes. Long-day females showed enhanced expression of genes involved in tyramine/dopamine syntheses, epidermal growth factor receptor, insulin degradation, and oogenesis. In these females, tyramine administration increased the brain levels of tyramine and dopamine, and activated initial ovarian development under queenless conditions. Together, these results indicate that photoperiod-related caste determination in P. jokahamae may involve gene expression pathways similar to those involved in caste determination during the preimaginal stage in other Polistes species.
Surface areas and adsorption energies of biochars estimated from nitrogen and water vapour adsorption isotherms
Authors: Skic Kamil , Adamczuk Agnieszka , Gryta Angelika , Boguta Patrycja , Tóth Tibor , Jozefaciuk Grzegorz
Published: December 2024

Nitrogen adsorption isotherms, along with the BET model for interpretation, are recommended for estimating biochar surface area. The frequently measured small surface areas of biochars contrast with their high sorption and cation exchange capacities. We hypothesised that water adsorption provides a better tool for estimating the surface area of biochars. Although adsorption energy also appears to be a valuable surface characteristic, there is a lack of studies on this subject. We studied the surface areas and adsorption energies of three waste deposits – peat, willow dust and biochar prepared from these materials at different temperatures – using nitrogen and water vapour adsorption isotherms. The BET model accurately described all water vapour adsorption isotherms but failed for some nitrogen isotherms. Alternative methods for estimating surface areas and adsorption energies were proposed in cases where the BET model did not apply. Nitrogen adsorption was typically much lower than water vapour adsorption, and the estimated surface areas reflected this. However, nitrogen adsorption energies were significantly higher. Nitrogen surface areas increased with pyrolysis temperature, while water vapour surface areas decreased. The surface area estimated from nitrogen adsorption was generally much lower than needed to accommodate the surface-charged groups responsible for the cation exchange capacity of biochars.