bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tissue distribution of cysteine string protein/DNAJC5 in C. elegans analysed by CRISPR/Cas9-mediated tagging of endogenous DNJ-14
Authors: Barker Eleanor , Morgan Alan , Barclay Jeff W.
Published: February 2024

Cysteine string protein (CSP) is a member of the DnaJ/Hsp40 family of molecular chaperones. CSP is enriched in neurons, where it mainly localises to synaptic vesicles. Mutations in CSP-encoding genes in flies, worms, mice and humans result in neuronal dysfunction, neurodegeneration and reduced lifespan. Most attention has therefore focused on CSP’s neuronal functions, although CSP is also expressed in non-neuronal cells. Here, we used genome editing to fluorescently tag the Caenorhabditis elegans CSP orthologue, dnj-14, to identify which tissues preferentially express CSP and hence may contribute to the observed mutant phenotypes. Replacement of dnj-14 with wrmScarlet caused a strong chemotaxis defect, as seen with other dnj-14 null mutants. In contrast, inserting the reporter in-frame to create a DNJ-14-wrmScarlet fusion protein had no effect on chemotaxis, indicating that C-terminal tagging does not impair DNJ-14 function. WrmScarlet fluorescence appeared most obvious in the intestine, head/pharynx, spermathecae and vulva/uterus in the reporter strains, suggesting that DNJ-14 is preferentially expressed in these tissues. Crossing the DNJ-14-wrmScarlet strain with GFP marker strains confirmed the intestinal and pharyngeal expression, but only a partial overlap with neuronal GFP was observed. DNJ-14-wrmScarlet fluorescence in the intestine was increased in response to starvation, which may be relevant to mammalian CSPα’s role in microautophagy. DNJ-14’s enrichment in worm reproductive tissues (spermathecae and vulva/uterus) parallels the testis-specific expression of CSPβ and CSPγ isoforms in mammals. Furthermore, CSPα messenger RNA is highly expressed in the human proximal digestive tract, suggesting that CSP may have a conserved, but overlooked, function within the gastrointestinal system.
Assessing patients’ needs in the follow-up after treatment for colorectal cancer—a mixed-method study
Authors: Voigt Kelly R. , de Bruijn Esmee A. , Wullaert Lissa , Witteveen Léon , Verhoef Cornelis , Husson Olga , Grünhagen Dirk J.
Published: February 2024

Purpose

The accessibility of cancer care faces challenges due to the rising prevalence of colorectal cancer (CRC) coupled with a shrinkage of healthcare professionals—known as the double aging phenomenon. To ensure sustainable and patient-centred care, innovative solutions are needed. This study aims to assess the needs of CRC patients regarding their follow-up care.

Methods

This study uses a mixed-method approach divided in three phases. The initial phase involved focus group sessions, followed by semi-structured interviews to identify patients’ needs during follow-up. Open analysis was done to define main themes and needs for patients. In the subsequent quantitative phase, a CRC follow-up needs questionnaire was distributed to patients in the follow-up.

Results

After two focus groups (n = 14) and interviews (n = 5), this study identified six main themes. Findings underscore the importance of providing assistance in managing both physical and mental challenges associated with cancer. Participants emphasised the need of a designated contact person and an increased focus on addressing psychological distress. Furthermore, patients desire individualised feedback on quality of life questionnaires, and obtaining tailored information. The subsequent questionnaire (n = 96) revealed the priority of different needs, with the highest priority being the need for simplified radiology results. A possible approach to address a part of the diverse needs could be the implementation of a platform; nearly 70% of patients expressed interest in the proposed platform.

Conclusions

CRC patients perceive substantial room for improvement of their follow-up care. Findings can help to develop a platform fulfilling the distinct demands of CRC patients during follow-up.
A Method for Reconstruction of Size Distributions from 3D Drone Image Analysis: A Case Study
Authors: Segarra Pablo , Sanchidrián José A. , Pötsch Markus , Iglesias Luis , Gómez Santiago , Gaich Andreas , Bernardini Maurizio
Published: February 2024

This paper describes a novel procedure to assess fragmentation from automatic analysis of 3D photogrammetric models with a commercial software. The muckpiles from 12 blasts were photographed with a conventional drone to build 3D photogrammetric models; the flights were made with a relatively constant ground sampling distance (GSD) of 6.2 sd 0.92 mm (mean and standard deviation, respectively). A comparison with already published mass-based size distributions from 11 of these blasts, shows a good performance of automatic 3D-fragmentation measurements in the coarse range (P ≥ 60%), while deviations between mass-based and 3D model fragmentation analysis grow towards the central-fines range. As a solution, the Swebrec function is fitted to the reliable part of the size distributions, well above the GSD, and then is extended towards the fines, down to a percentage passing of 5–10%. The suitable fitting range is obtained iteratively from the mass-based fragmentation data; the lower fragment size considered is independent of the model’s resolution (i.e. GSD) with mean of 357 mm (equivalent to a passing in the range 66–86%, and well above the GSD of our models). The resulting distributions match properly mass-based size distributions with relative errors in percentile sizes of 15.5 sd 3.4%, and they can be represented with the simplest form of the fragmentation-energy-fan. As a guideline for reconstruction of size distributions and fines assessment when mass-based data is not available, the lower-fitting limit of 357 mm yields reasonable results (mean errors in pass in the range 5–36%) for the present case. The errors are limited enough to keep a sound description of the variation of fragmentation with change in blast design.
Is it possible to extract primary maxillary molars without palatal injection?: a controlled clinical trial
Authors: TUĞUTLU Esra Ceren , SANCAK Kevser
Published: February 2024

Objectives

The absolute necessity of a palatal injection for the extraction of primary maxillary molars has never been explored, despite the fact that it is widely known that children do not tolerate local anesthetic injections into the palatal tissue well. The aim of this study was to compare separately the perception of pain in the absence of palatal injection after anesthesia and maxillary primary molar tooth extraction using different anesthetic solutions and different post-anesthetic waiting times.

Materials and methods

A single-blinded randomized controlled study was conducted in 78 participants (26 patients with palatal anesthesia (the control groups), and 26 patients with 5 min and 26 patients with 8 min post-anesthetic waiting time without palatal anesthesia (the study groups)). Subjective experiences of pain were evaluated separately after anesthesia and tooth extraction using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and the Wong-Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale (WBS).

Results

In terms of VAS scores obtained following administration of anesthesia, there was a statistically significant difference between the groups (p<0.05). VAS pain scores were reported to be lower in the groups without palatal anesthesia than in the groups with palatal anesthesia. No statistically significant difference was observed in VAS and Wong-Baker scores after tooth extraction between the groups with and without palatal anesthesia (P>0.05).

Conclusions

While the pain reported following administration of anesthesia was found to be higher in the groups receiving palatal anesthesia, no difference was found between the groups in the pain reported after tooth extraction.

Clinical relevance

Extraction of maxillary primary molars is possible without palatal injection by injecting 4% articaine or 2% lidocaine into the buccal vestibule of the tooth with a waiting time of 5 or 8 min.
Analysis of retromuscular drain output and postoperative outcomes for heavyweight versus mediumweight polypropylene mesh following open ventral hernia repair
Authors: Essani V. , Maskal S. M. , Ellis R. C. , Messer N. , Tu C. , Miller B. T. , Petro C. C. , Beffa L. R. A. , Krpata D. M. , Prabhu A. S. , Rosen M. J.
Published: February 2024

Purpose

Heavyweight polypropylene (HWPP) mesh is thought to increase inflammatory response and delay tissue integration compared to mediumweight (MWPP). Reactive fluid volume (i.e., drain output) may be a reasonable surrogate for integration. We hypothesized that daily drain output is higher with HWPP compared to MWPP in open retromuscular ventral hernia repair (VHR).

Methods

This is a post-hoc analysis of a multicenter, randomized clinical trial conducted March 2017–April 2019 comparing MWPP and HWPP for VHR. Retromuscular drain output in milliliters was measured at 24-h intervals up to postoperative day seven. Univariate analyses compared differences in daily drain output and time to drain removal. Multivariable analyses compared total drain output and wound morbidity within 30 days and hernia recurrence at 1 year.

Results

288 patients were included; 140 (48.6%) HWPP and 148 (51.4%) MWPP. Daily drain output for days 1–3 was higher for HWPP vs. MWPP (total volume: 837.8 mL vs. 656.5 mL) (p < 0.001), but similar on days 4–7 (p > 0.05). Median drain removal time was 5 days for both groups. Total drain output was not predictive of 30-day wound morbidity (p > 0.05) or hernia recurrence at 1 year (OR 1, p = 0.29).

Conclusion

While HWPP mesh initially had higher drain outputs, it rapidly returned to levels similar to MWPP by postoperative day three and there was no difference in clinical outcomes. We believe that drains placed around HWPP mesh can be managed similarly to MWPP mesh.
Individuals with a ventral hernia who report moderate to high fear have worse functional performance than those with low fear
Authors: Arhos Elanna K. , Poulose Benjamin K. , Di Stasi Stephanie , Chaudhari Ajit M. W.
Published: February 2024

Purpose

Ventral hernia repairs (VHR) are performed to restore the integrity of the abdominal wall. Fear of movement, or kinesiophobia, may develop in patients with ventral hernia due to pain and functional impairments, however it has not yet been objectively measured in this patient population. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that in patients with ventral hernia awaiting surgical repair, higher levels of kinesiophobia would be associated with poorer mobility, abdominal core function, and quality of life.

Methods

Seventy-seven participants scheduled for ventral hernia repair were enrolled as part of an ongoing randomized controlled trial (NCT05142618). The Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK-11) is an 11-item questionnaire that asks about fear of movement and physical activity restriction. Participants were split into groups based on their TSK-11 score (minimal, low, moderate to high). Primary outcome measures included the five-time sit-to-stand (5xSTS), Quiet Unstable Sitting Test (QUeST), and the Hernia-Related Quality-of-Life (HerQLeS) survey. A one-way ANOVA with a Bonferroni correction compared QUeST, 5xSTS, and HerQLes results between groups.

Results

Groups were significantly different on 5xSTS (minimal: 11.4 ± 2.6 s, low: 13.8 ± 3.1 s, moderate to high: 17.8 ± 9.8 s; p = 0.001) and HerQLes (minimal: 58.0 ± 27.8, low: 49.4 ± 22.0, moderate to high: 30.6 ± 25.3; p = 0.003) but not QUeST (minimal: − 2.8 ± 2.5, low: − 6.8 ± 10.0, moderate to high: − 5.5 ± 5.0; p = 0.16).

Conclusion

Individuals with moderate to high kinesiophobia have worse pre-operative performance-based (5xSTS) and self-reported (HerQLes) function and quality of life than those with minimal and low kinesiophobia. Future research should examine the influence of kinesiophobia on post-operative outcomes as it may be a potent target for rehabilitation.
Skewness-seeking behavior and financial investments
Authors: Benuzzi Matteo , Ploner Matteo
Published: February 2024

Recent theoretical and empirical advancements highlight the pivotal role played by higher-order moments, such as skewness, in shaping financial decision-making. Nevertheless, contemporary experimental research predominantly relies on limited-outcome lotteries, an oversimplified representation distant from real-world investment dynamics. To bridge this research gap, we conducted a rigorously pre-registered experiment. Our study delves into individuals’ preferences for investment opportunities, examining the influence of skewness of continuous probability distributions of returns. We document an inclination towards positively skewed outcome distributions. Furthermore, we uncovered a substitution effect between risk appetite and the sign of skewness. Finally, we unveiled a robust positive correlation between skewness-seeking behavior and a propensity for speculative behavior. Simultaneously, a distinct negative correlation surfaced between skewness-seeking behavior and the perceived risk associated with positive skewness.
2-Desaza-annomontine (C81) impedes angiogenesis through reduced VEGFR2 expression derived from inhibition of CDC2-like kinases
Authors: Zech T. J. , Wolf A. , Hector M. , Bischoff-Kont I. , Krishnathas G. M. , Kuntschar S. , Schmid T. , Bracher F. , Langmann T. , Fürst R.
Published: February 2024

Angiogenesis is a crucial process in the progression of various pathologies, like solid tumors, wet age-related macular degeneration, and chronic inflammation. Current anti-angiogenic treatments still have major drawbacks like limited efficacy in diseases that also rely on inflammation. Therefore, new anti-angiogenic approaches are sorely needed, and simultaneous inhibition of angiogenesis and inflammation is desirable. Here, we show that 2-desaza-annomontine (C81), a derivative of the plant alkaloid annomontine previously shown to inhibit endothelial inflammation, impedes angiogenesis by inhibiting CDC2-like kinases (CLKs) and WNT/β-catenin signaling. C81 reduced choroidal neovascularization in a laser-induced murine in vivo model, inhibited sprouting from vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A)-activated murine aortic rings ex vivo, and reduced angiogenesis-related activities of endothelial cells in multiple functional assays. This was largely phenocopied by CLK inhibitors and knockdowns, but not by inhibitors of the other known targets of C81. Mechanistically, CLK inhibition reduced VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2) mRNA and protein expression as well as downstream signaling. This was partly caused by a reduction of WNT/β-catenin pathway activity, as activating the pathway induced, while β-catenin knockdown impeded VEGFR2 expression. Surprisingly, alternative splicing of VEGFR2 was not detected. In summary, C81 and other CLK inhibitors could be promising compounds in the treatment of diseases that depend on angiogenesis and inflammation due to their impairment of both processes.

Graphical abstract
A Comparative Study of Scarfed Nozzle for Jet-Installation Noise Reduction
Authors: Kamliya Jawahar Hasan , Azarpeyvand Mahdi
Published: February 2024

The experimental investigation of the effects of scarfed nozzles on jet-installation noise was conducted using unheated subsonic jets in an anechoic jet noise facility. Four different types of scarfed nozzles with increasing nozzle lip angles were examined to study the installation effects at various plate distances away from the jet. Mach numbers ranging from 0.3 to 0.8 were investigated in the experiments. The use of scarfed nozzles is known to result in the deflection of flow away from the centre axis, inducing asymmetry in the jet shears, leading to azimuthal variation in the spectra, and ultimately, noise reduction. This study aims to explore the possibility of reducing jet-installation noise using scarfed nozzles at subsonic flow conditions. The characteristics of jet hydrodynamic pressure fluctuations were investigated in the axial direction using far-field measurements. The near-field flow features were studied using surface pressure transducers installed on the flat plate for the installed configurations. Detailed spectral, coherence, and correlation analyses were carried out to determine the noise reduction mechanisms associated with scarfed nozzles in the proximity of a flat plate. The results of the study showed that the use of scarfed nozzles significantly reduced the jet-installation noise. The reduction was attributed to the generation of an asymmetric flow field induced by the nozzle geometry. The reduction in noise levels was also observed to increase with increasing nozzle lip angle. The detailed analyses revealed that the noise reduction mechanism was associated with a decrease in the acoustic power generated by the jet. Overall, the results suggest that scarfed nozzles can be an effective means of reducing jet-installation noise in subsonic flow conditions.
Jet Noise and Wing Installation Effects of Circular, Beveled and Rectangular Nozzles
Authors: Christophe Julien , de Decker Julien , Schram Christophe
Published: February 2024

With the growth of modern turbofan engines, their integration under the wing becomes challenging and induces aerodynamic and acoustic interactions between the jet exhaust and the airframe. Jet noise reduction techniques have been widely studied over the past decades but their efficiency has still to be demonstrated once installed. The present lab-scale jet experiments at Mach 0.6 compare the noise radiated by beveled and rectangular installed nozzles to circular ones on a quarter-sphere radiation map using a microphone antenna. For all radiation angles, modified nozzles show an amplitude decrease of the jet-plate interaction tones of the noise spectra attributed to a strong coupling between the jet shear layers and the sound scattering at the plate trailing edge. Beveled nozzles achieve a noise reduction for all radiation angles with a maximum decrease up to 2 dB at receiver locations perpendicular to the plate. While rectangular nozzles show a similar behavior, a sound increase is observed for listeners parallel to the plate when the height-to-width ratio is small.
Opportunities for personalised follow-up in breast cancer: the gap between daily practice and recurrence risk
Authors: Voets Madelon M. , Hassink Noa S. , Veltman Jeroen , Slump Cornelis H. , Koffijberg Hendrik , Siesling Sabine
Published: February 2024

Purpose

Follow-up guidelines barely diverge from a one-size-fits-all approach, even though the risk of recurrence differs per patient. However, the personalization of breast cancer care improves outcomes for patients. This study explores the variation in follow-up pathways in the Netherlands using real-world data to determine guideline adherence and the gap between daily practice and risk-based surveillance, to demonstrate the benefits of personalized risk-based surveillance compared with usual care.

Methods

Patients with stage I–III invasive breast cancer who received surgical treatment in a general hospital between 2005 and 2020 were selected from the Netherlands Cancer Registry and included all imaging activities during follow-up from hospital-based electronic health records. Process analysis techniques were used to map patients and activities to investigate the real-world utilisation of resources and identify the opportunities for improvement. The INFLUENCE 2.0 nomogram was used for risk prediction of recurrence.

Results

In the period between 2005 and 2020, 3478 patients were included with a mean follow-up of 4.9 years. In the first 12 months following treatment, patients visited the hospital between 1 and 5 times (mean 1.3, IQR 1–1) and received between 1 and 9 imaging activities (mean 1.7, IQR 1–2). Mammogram was the prevailing imaging modality, accounting for 70% of imaging activities. Patients with a low predicted risk of recurrence visited the hospital more often.

Conclusions

Deviations from the guideline were not in line with the risk of recurrence and revealed a large gap, indicating that it is hard for clinicians to accurately estimate this risk and therefore objective risk predictions could bridge this gap.
The active pulling technique to solve microcatheter-uncrossable lesions in retrograde chronic total occlusion percutaneous coronary intervention
Authors: Zhu Hongmin , Cai Xinyong , Zhan Yuliang , Hong Lang
Published: February 2024

Background: It is not uncommon to encounter retrograde microcatheter-uncrossable lesions in retro-recanalization of Chronic Total Occlusion (CTO) cases, existing solutions were time-consuming or complicated to operate. Therefore, the present study aimed to propose and evaluate the feasibility, safety of a novel technique termed Active Pulling retrograde microcatheter crossing Technique (APT) during retrograde CTO percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods: We retrospectively collected retrograde CTO-PCI cases from February 2017 to April 2023, only cases with the retrograde wire successfully crossed the CTO lesion were analyzed. The baseline clinical characteristics, angiographic characteristics, procedural details, and in-hospital major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) were compared. Results: A total of 80 CTO cases were divided into the APT group and the non-APT group according to whether the APT was applied in the procedure. The APT group had a higher rate of device success than the non-APT group (100% vs. 85%, P = 0.013), with shorter duration (5.3 ± 3.8 vs. 18.6 ± 5.9 min, P < 0.001) and a smaller number of retrograde microcatheters were used (P < 0.001). In the APT group, the average air kerma radiation exposure was lower (2.7 ± 1.2 vs. 4.3 ± 1.7 Gy, P < 0.001), the fluoroscopy time (69.0 ± 15.0 vs. 88.1 ± 18.9 min, P < 0.001) and the procedure time (116.2 ± 22.2 vs. 131.6 ± 28.7 min, P = 0.009) was shorter than the non-APT group. The technical success rate of both groups reached 100% while the procedure success rate was higher in the APT group than the non-APT group (100% vs. 85%, P = 0.13). Conclusions: The APT is an easy and safe technique that can greatly improve procedural efficiency without adding other instruments, and allows the retrograde microcatheter to quickly crossing the CTO body after successful retrograde wire externalization.
The animal agriculture industry, US universities, and the obstruction of climate understanding and policy
Authors: Morris Viveca , Jacquet Jennifer
Published: February 2024

The 2006 United Nations report “Livestock’s Long Shadow” provided the first global estimate of the livestock sector’s contribution to anthropogenic climate change and warned of dire environmental consequences if business as usual continued. In the subsequent 17 years, numerous studies have attributed significant climate change impacts to livestock. In the USA, one of the largest consumers and producers of meat and dairy products, livestock greenhouse gas emissions remain effectively unregulated. What might explain this? Similar to fossil fuel companies, US animal agriculture companies responded to evidence that their products cause climate change by minimizing their role in the climate crisis and shaping policymaking in their favor. Here, we show that the industry has done so with the help of university experts. The beef industry awarded funding to Dr. Frank Mitloehner from the University of California, Davis, to assess “Livestock’s Long Shadow,” and his work was used to claim that cows should not be blamed for climate change. The animal agriculture industry is now involved in multiple multi-million-dollar efforts with universities to obstruct unfavorable policies as well as influence climate change policy and discourse. Here, we traced how these efforts have downplayed the livestock sector’s contributions to the climate crisis, minimized the need for emission regulations and other policies aimed at internalizing the costs of the industry’s emissions, and promoted industry-led climate “solutions” that maintain production. We studied this phenomenon by examining the origins, funding sources, activities, and political significance of two prominent academic centers, the CLEAR Center at UC Davis, established in 2018, and AgNext at Colorado State University, established in 2020, as well as the influence and industry ties of the programs’ directors, Dr. Mitloehner and Dr. Kimberly Stackhouse-Lawson. We developed 20 questions to evaluate the nature, extent, and societal impacts of the relationship between individual researchers and industry groups. Using publicly available evidence, we documented how the ties between these professors, centers, and the animal agriculture industry have helped maintain the livestock industry’s social license to operate not only by generating industry-supported research, but also by supporting public relations and policy advocacy.
Academic capture in the Anthropocene: a framework to assess climate action in higher education
Authors: Lachapelle Paul , Belmont Patrick , Grasso Marco , McCann Roslynn , Gouge Dawn H. , Husch Jerri , de Boer Cheryl , Molzbichler Daniela , Klain Sarah
Published: February 2024

Higher education institutions have a mandate to serve the public good, yet in many cases fail to adequately respond to the global climate crisis. The inability of academic institutions to commit to purposeful climate action through targeted research, education, outreach, and policy is due in large part to “capture” by special interests. Capture involves powerful minority interests that exert influence and derive benefits at the expense of a larger group or purpose. This paper makes a conceptual contribution to advance a framework of “academic capture” applied to the climate crisis in higher education institutions. Academic capture is the result of the three contributing factors of increasing financialization issues, influence of the fossil fuel industry, and reticence of university employees to challenge the status quo. The framework guides an empirical assessment evaluating eight activities and related indices of transparency and participation based on principles of climate justice and the growing democracy-climate nexus. The framework can be a helpful tool for citizens and academics to assess the potential for academic capture and capacity for more just and democratic methods of climate action in higher education. We conclude with a series of recommendations on how to refine and apply our framework and assessment in academic settings. Our goal is to further the discussion on academic capture and continue to develop tools that transform higher education institutions to places of deep democracy and innovative climate education, research, and outreach to meet the challenges of the Anthropocene.
Historical climate impact attribution of changes in river flow and sediment loads at selected gauging stations in the Nile basin
Authors: Nkwasa Albert , Chawanda Celray James , Schlemm Annika , Ekolu Job , Frieler Katja , van Griensven Ann
Published: February 2024

The Nile basin is the second largest basin in Africa and one of the regions experiencing high climatic diversity with variability of precipitation and deteriorating water resources. As climate change is affecting most of the hydroclimatic variables across the world, this study assesses whether historical changes in river flow and sediment loads at selected gauges in the Nile basin can be attributed to climate change. An impact attribution approach is employed by constraining a process-based model with a set of factual and counterfactual climate forcing data for 69 years (1951–2019), from the impact attribution setup of the Inter-Sectoral Impact Model Intercomparison Project (ISIMIP3a). To quantify the role of climate change, we use the non-parametric Mann-Kendall test to identify trends and calculate the differences in long-term mean annual river flow and sediment load simulations between a model setup using factual and counterfactual climate forcing data. Results for selected river stations in the Lake Victoria basin show reasonable evidence of a long-term historical increase in river flows (two stations) and sediment load (one station), largely attributed to changes in climate. In contrast, within the Blue Nile and Main Nile basins, there is a slight decrease of river flows at four selected stations under factual climate, which can be attributed to climate change, but no significant changes in sediment load (one station). These findings show spatial differences in the impacts of climate change on river flows and sediment load in the study area for the historical period.
Correction to: The best Condorcet-compatible election method: Ranked Pairs
Authors: Munger Charles T.
Published: February 2024

An error is corrected in the paper by Charles T. Munger, Jr., The best Condorcet-compatible election method: Ranked Pairs, Const Polit Econ (2022).
Professional Development of Preschool Teacher Assistants in Multilingual and Multicultural Contexts
Authors: Kaplan Toren Nurit , Schwartz Mila
Published: February 2024

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of a professional development (PD) program on preschool teacher assistants’ (TAs) attitudes toward multilingualism and self-efficacy in working with linguistically and culturally diverse children (LCDC) and their parents. The study was conducted in a northern peripheral city in Israel that reflects the country’s multicultural, multilingual mosaic. Recently, as part of reforms in the city, PD for TAs was introduced to enrich the participants’ practical knowledge about the development and education of linguistically and culturally diverse children. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected from 59 TAs before and after PD. Questionnaires focused on TAs’ self-efficacy in multicultural classrooms, as well as on their attitudes toward multilingualism. In addition, participants reflected on an event in their preschool with a child whose home language was other than Hebrew—the societally dominant language—focusing on the TAs’ emotional and behavioral responses. The qualitative and the quantitative data point to the impact of this PD program. Dependent variables t-test analysis revealed significant increase in TAs’ self-efficacy to work with LCDC and with parents, thus supporting classroom multilingualism. Mixed-method analysis of the qualitative data showed a decrease in negative feelings such as anxiety, disappointment, low self-esteem, and unpreparedness for handling LCDC, and an increase in positive feelings such as happiness, pride, satisfaction, achievement, and self-efficacy. The discussion addresses three issues: the importance of multicultural, multilingual professional development for TAs, self-efficacy as a central characteristic of TAs’ functioning, and the importance of TAs’ relationships with parents.
Informal Assessment of Preschool Children’s Concepts of Zero
Authors: Cohrssen Caroline , Fielding Jill , Bird Jo
Published: February 2024

There is growing interest in mathematics learning progressions in early childhood education. Counting is a skill usually developed early in life. The application of the counting principles in early childhood typically entails counting objects. This poses challenges for learning about zero. Indeed, the word “zero” is seldom used in the context of early childhood education. Early childhood educators could purposefully introduce children to zero as a concept and facilitate children’s understanding that zero is a number and more than just the absence of something. “Zero” is introduced in school, but little guidance is provided to teachers within the Australian Curriculum for Mathematics in the Foundation year. This study contributes to a small corpus of research that has investigated preschool children’s understanding of the concept of zero. Unlike other studies, the method employed to elicit children’s knowledge was informal and more similar to educator-child conversations that occur within a playbased curriculum and contribute to formative assessment. Data are presented from 20 children, aged from three to five years, participating in a regional early learning centre. Six children demonstrated familiarity with the symbol for zero (“0”) and/or the concept that zero describes a numerical quantity. Asking a follow-up question encouraged children to share their thinking. The importance of early childhood educators purposefully supporting children’s familiarity with the word zero along as well as the concept of zero is proposed.
Biosorptive removal of fluoride from wastewater using tea domestic waste biochar
Authors: Aboulsoud Yasmin I. E.
Published: February 2024

The biochar of tea domestic waste was applied to eliminate F− from their aqueous artificial solutions and real contaminated wastewater. Pre-pyrolysis chemical activation method was used to synthesize biochar from tea domestic waste. Two modification methods were applied, acidic modification using H3PO4 (H-modified form) and basic modification using NaOH (OH-modified form). The synthesized forms of tea biochars were characterized by the determination of ash content, bulk density, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller analyses to detect the pore size, specific surface area, and pore volume, Elemental analyses to detect C, H, O, and N contents, Thermogravimetric analyses to detect the thermal behavior of biochars, and Fourier Transform Infrared analyses to detect the functional active groups of biochars. The synthesized forms of tea biochars were optimized for fluoride removal from aqueous solutions via filter bags method and applied in enhancement of the quality of wastewater from the factories of the new Borg El-Arab City, Egypt. The highest biosorption efficacy achieved was 109.18 mg F−/g biochar using the H-modified form under the optimum conditions of biochar dosage: pH: 2, 0.25 g/l, temperature: 50 °C, initial concentration of F−: 500 mg/l, exposure time: 30 min, and agitation rate: 300 rpm. The OH-modified form achieved less than half biosorption efficacy which reached 49.39 mg F−/g biochar. The existence of competitive anions in the solution had a negative influence on F− biosorption efficacy, where the impact followed the order of PO43−  > SO42−  > Cl−  > NO3−  > HCO3−. The H-modified tea biochar proved to be a promising biosorbent for industrial wastewater treatment by achieving removal efficacy ranges of 80.89–93.31% and returning all violated F− concentrations to the allowable limit. Sustainable development can be greatly supported by using domestic tea wastes in the removal of F− due to the dual disposal of waste and contaminants at the same time. The tea wastes are eco-safe and cheap biosorbent material can be utilized as a precursor for an efficacious tool for the elimination of F− from artificial solutions in addition to real wastewater.
Analyses of genetic diversity and population structure of endemic and endangered species Sideritis gulendamii (Lamiaceae) and implications for its conservation
Authors: Yıldırım Merve , Tuğ Gül Nilhan , Yaprak Ahmet Emre
Published: February 2024

Sideritis gulendamii is a perennial, endangered plant endemic to Türkiye with narrow and fragmented populations encountered in gypsum and marl soil. This species is known as mountain tea and also has a significant potential for use for medicinal and aromatic purposes. Assessing the genetic diversity of this species holds significant importance in its conservation efforts due to its specific habitat requirements, small and isolated populations, and recent threats imposed on these populations. This study determined genetic diversity at the species and population levels using the inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) fingerprinting method on 157 individuals from seven natural populations. We observed that the species-level genetic diversity is relatively high (H = 0.189, I = 0.298), but the population-level is low (H = 0.150, I = 0.231). The greater total genetic variation within populations was determined as 76% using the analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA). The obtained value of genetic differentiation (Gst = 0.208, Φpt = 0.24) among populations is considered to be at a moderate level, whereas gene flow appears to be high (Nm = 1.899). Supportive results were reached using the STRUCTURE cluster analysis, Unweighted Pair Group Method with Arithmetic Averages (UPGMA) dendrogram, and Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCoA). The positive correlation between the matrices of genetic distance and geographic distance is determined to be statistically significant, with values of r = 0.566 and p < 0.001 in the Mantel test. Some strategies were developed using the genetic variability pattern of this endangered species for its conservation.
Psychopathy Scores Predict Recidivism in High-risk Youth: A Five-year Follow-up Study
Authors: Allen Corey H. , Gullapalli Aparna R. , Milillo Michaela , Ulrich Devin M. , Rodriguez Samantha N. , Maurer J. Michael , Aharoni Eyal , Anderson Nathaniel E. , Harenski Carla L. , Vincent Gina M. , Kiehl Kent A.
Published: February 2024

Psychopathic traits have been associated with rearrest in adolescents involved in the criminal legal system. Much of the prior work has focused on White samples, short follow-up windows, and relatively low-risk youth. The current study aimed to evaluate the utility of the Hare Psychopathy Checklist: Youth Version (PCL:YV) for predicting general and violent felony recidivism in a large sample of high-risk, predominantly Hispanic/Latino, male adolescents (n = 254) with a five-year follow-up period. Results indicated higher PCL:YV scores and lower full-scale estimated IQ scores were significantly associated with a shorter time to felony and violent felony rearrest. These effects generalized to Hispanic/Latino adolescents (n = 193)—a group that faces disproportionate risk of being detained or committed to juvenile correctional facilities in the U.S. These results suggest that expert-rated measures of psychopathic traits and IQ are reliable predictors of subsequent felony and violent felony rearrest among high-risk male adolescents.
Negative Affect and Drinking among Indigenous Youth: Disaggregating Within- and Between-Person Effects
Authors: Reynolds Ashley , Paige Katie J. , Colder Craig R. , Mushquash Christopher J. , Wendt Dennis C. , Burack Jacob A. , O’Connor Roisin M.
Published: February 2024

Negative affect (depression/anxiety) and alcohol use among Indigenous youth in Canada remain a concern for many communities. Disparate rates of these struggles are understood to be a potential outcome of colonization and subsequent intergenerational trauma experienced by individuals, families, and communities. Using a longitudinal design, we examined change in alcohol use and negative affect, and reciprocal associations, among a group of Indigenous adolescents. Indigenous youth (N = 117; 50% male; Mage=12.46–16.28; grades 6–10) from a remote First Nation in northern Quebec completed annual self-reported assessments on negative affect (depression/anxiety) and alcohol use. A Latent Curve Model with Structured Residuals (LCM-SR) was used to distinguish between- and within-person associations of negative affect and alcohol use. Growth models did not support change in depression/anxiety, but reports of drinking increased linearly. At the between-person level, girls reported higher initial levels of depression/anxiety and drinking; depression/anxiety were not associated with drinking. At the within-person level, drinking prospectively predicted increases in depression/anxiety but depression/anxiety did not prospectively predict drinking. When Indigenous adolescents reported drinking more alcohol than usual at one wave of assessment, they reported higher levels of negative affect than expected (given their average levels of depression/anxiety) at the following assessment. Our findings suggest that when Indigenous youth present for treatment reporting alcohol use, they should also be screened for negative affect (depression/anxiety). Conversely, if an Indigenous adolescent presents for treatment reporting negative affect, they should also be screened for alcohol use.
Effect of calcination temperature on structural, magnetic, and dielectric properties of Mg0.75Zn0.25Al0.2Fe1.8O4 ferrites
Authors: Şaşmaz Kuru Tuğba
Published: February 2024

Based on the desire to improve material properties, the effects of temperature have begun to be investigated. It was found that for nano-sized powder materials, such as ferrites, the structural properties like crystal structure and grain size, as well as many magnetic and electrical properties depending on them, change with the calcination temperature. Considering these changes, the effect of calcination temperature on the structural, magnetic, and electrical properties of MZA ferrites (Mg0.75Zn0.25Al0.2Fe1.8O4) prepared by co-precipitation was investigated in this study. The produced MZA ferrites were calcined at three different temperatures (600, 700, and 800 °C). The X-ray diffraction results showed that the samples exhibited a cubic spinel structure. It was found that the crystal sizes (D_sch) calculated using the Debye-Scherrer equation increased with increasing calcination temperature (22.47, 33.53, and 42.53 nm). From the Williamson–Hall (W–H) plots, crystal sizes were calculated almost same as Debye–Scherrer crystal sizes. The nano-sized particles were examined by scanning electron microscope (SEM). Elemental analysis was performed using EDX. $${\nu }_{1}$$

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1

and $${\nu }_{2}$$

ν
2

absorption bands and O–H and C–H vibrations were detected in the FTIR spectra. Magnetic measurements were carried out at room temperature and in the range of ± 60 kOe under the applied field. Magnetic results are explained by superparamagnetism. Dielectric measurements were performed at room temperature and a frequency range of 20 Hz to 10 MHz. The dielectric properties can be explained by Maxwell–Wagner theory. Impedance spectroscopy study revealed that the relaxation mechanism is consistent with the Cole–Cole model. In AC conductivity studies at room temperature, it was found that the sample calcined at 600 °C would be suitable for energy storage devices.
Influence of ionizing radiation on admittance measurements of Au/TiO2/n-Si (MIS) capacitor
Authors: İzdeş Mehmet , Ertuğrul Uyar Raziye , Tataroğlu Adem
Published: February 2024

This study aimed to investigate the influence of ionizing radiation on the admittance measurements of Titanium dioxide (TiO2)-based metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) capacitor. The capacitor was irradiated to a cumulative dose of 100 kGy using a 60Co-gamma (γ) source. The electrical admittance (Y = G + iωC) measurements of the MIS capacitor were performed before and after exposure to gamma irradiation for four different frequencies (1, 10, 100 and 500 kHz). Gamma irradiation leads to changes in the capacitance/conductance versus voltage (C/G–V) characteristics. The C and G showed a decrease by increasing the radiation dose and frequency. This decrease is attributed to the interface traps and oxide-trapped charges created during the gamma irradiation. The obtained results showed that the prepared MIS capacitor have great potential for dosimetry applications.
Reassessing HIV Detection Strategies: An Analysis of Opportunistic Screening vs. Indicator-Condition-Driven Diagnosis in Valencia, Spain
Authors: Ortega Enrique , Ocete María Dolores , Martínez-Roma María , Gimeno Concepción , Gómez Neus , Diago Moisés , Carrodeguas Alba , Medina Diogo , García-Deltoro Miguel
Published: February 2024

Our study assessed the characteristics of people living with HIV (PLWH) detected via opportunistic screening in Valencia (Spain) to determine diagnoses potentially missed under a more restrictive, indicator-condition diagnostic strategy. We conducted a retrospective analysis of electronic health records of 97 PLWH diagnosed between April 2019 and August 2022. The main outcomes reported were patient CD4+ T cell count, known HIV risk factors at diagnosis, and missed opportunities for diagnosis, defined as the failure of a previously untested patient to undergo HIV testing despite attending previous visits to healthcare facilities prior to diagnosis. Successful linkage to care was achieved for 95.9% of diagnosed patients. Half of the PLWH were diagnosed late, while 47.8% did not meet the criteria for indicator-condition-driven HIV diagnosis at the time of their diagnosis. Additionally, 52.2% did not receive HIV testing despite an average of 5.1 ± 6.0 healthcare visits in the 12 months prior to diagnosis. Spaniards had more missed opportunities for diagnosis than foreigners (64% vs. 40%, p = 0.02). Depending solely on an indicator-condition-driven HIV diagnosis approach could result in 47.8% of cases being missed. Including “migrants” as a testing criterion could lower missed diagnoses to 25.3% but might create inequities in prevention access. In conclusion, our findings provide valuable insights to enhance HIV testing, early diagnosis, and linkage to care. While it is crucial to uphold the indicator-condition-driven HIV diagnosis as baseline practice, improving screening strategies will decrease late diagnoses and missed opportunities, thereby effectively contributing to end the epidemic.
Happy Moments between Children and Their Parents: A Multi-method and Multi-informant Perspective
Authors: Izzo Flavia , Saija Edoardo , Pallini Susanna , Ioverno Salvatore , Baiocco Roberto , Pistella Jessica
Published: February 2024

Research interest in children’s happiness has increasingly grown in recent years. Studies of children’s happiness have shown that happiness promotes greater social and emotional well-being during childhood. The present study explores the different perspectives of children and their parents on happy moments spent together, examining potential discrepancies in points of view. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 154 children (6–13 years old: Mage=8.72, SD = 2.00; 57% girls), their mothers (Mage=42.30, SD = 4.50), and their fathers (Mage=45.47, SD = 5.42). Children were asked to indicate their level of happiness using a single item and to recount their happy moments spent with their fathers and mothers. Parents were asked to evaluate their children’s happiness and to identify what they thought was the happiest moment their children had experienced with them. The data was analyzed using Thematic Analysis. Six main themes related to children’s happy moments emerged from the transcripts: (1) Activities outside the home; (2) Shared activities between parents and children; (3) Happy moments of play between parents and children; (4) Parent-child moments of affection; (5) Relevance of material gifts; (6) Non-specified happy moments. Emotional interactions characterized the happiest moments reported with mothers, while those with fathers were more frequently playful and fun situations. Results showed that parents and children disagree on children’s happiness levels and tend to identify different episodes as the happiest moments spent together. The study examined parent-child interactions in the context of family happiness, considering the protective role of a child’s happiness against negative psychological symptoms. It aimed to identify components of happier moments as potential indicators of family well-being, given the family’s role in psychological development.
Our Newspaper as Care: Narrative Approaches in Fanon’s Psychiatry Clinic
Authors: Egalité Nathalie
Published: February 2024

This paper argues that the newspaper Notre Journal enshrined the importance of narrative in the revolutionary psychiatry of its founder and editor, Frantz Fanon. Anchoring my analysis in the interdisciplinarity of the medical humanities, I demonstrate how care at Hôpital Blida-Joinville in colonial Algeria was mediated by the written word. I examine Fanon’s physician writing and editorial texts detailing the use of narrative approaches in the clinic. As an object of care, Notre Journal’s promotion of psychic healing, social actions, and engaged professional practice shaped the interactions and experiences of patients and staff. Printed and distributed to the wider institution, the newspaper created community—during an oppressive French Occupation and at the outset of the War of Independence—in addition to nurturing creativity, curiosity, solidarity, and accountability. Still, Fanon would come to recognize the limits of narrative methods amidst cultural oral traditions, illiteracy, and divergent attitudes about narrating the self.