bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hollow ring-like flexible electrode architecture enabling subcellular multi-directional neural interfacing
Authors: Vajrala Venkata Suresh , Elkhoury Kamil , Pautot Sophie , Bergaud Christian , Maziz Ali
Published: December 2022

Implantable neural microelectrodes for recording and stimulating neural activity are critical for research in neuroscience and clinical neuroprosthetic applications. A current need exists for developing new technological solutions for obtaining highly selective and stealthy electrodes that provide reliable neural integration and maintain neuronal viability. This paper reports a novel Hollow Ring-like type electrode to sense and/or stimulate neural activity from three-dimensional neural networks. Due to its unique design, the ring electrode architecture enables easy and reliable access of the electrode to three-dimensional neural networks with reduced pressure on the biological tissue, while providing improved electrical interface with cells. The Hollow ring electrodes, particularly when coated with the conducting polymer PEDOT:PSS, show improved electrical properties with extremely low impedance and high charge injection capabilities, when compared to traditional planar disk-type electrodes. The ring design also serves as an optimal architecture for cell gowth to create an optimal subcellular electrical– neural interface. In addition, we demonstrated that the quality of recorded neural signals by the ring electrode was higher than recordings from a traditional disk-type electrode in terms of signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and burst detection from 3D neuronal networksin vitro. Overall, our results suggest the great potential of the hollow ring design for developing next-generation microelectrodes for applications in neural interfaces used in physiological studies and neuromodulation applications.
Reduced progranulin increases tau andα-synuclein inclusions and alters phenotypes of tauopathy mice via glucocerebrosidase
Authors: Takahashi Hideyuki , Bhagwagar Sanaea , Nies Sarah H. , Chiasseu Marius T. , Wang Guilin , Mackenzie Ian R. , Strittmatter Stephen M.
Published: December 2022

Comorbid proteinopathies are observed in many neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), increase with age, and influence clinical outcomes, yet the mechanisms remain ill-defined. Here, we show that reduction of progranulin (PGRN), a lysosomal protein associated with TDP-43 proteinopathy, also increases tau inclusions, causes concomitant accumulation ofα-synuclein and worsens mortality and disinhibited behaviors in tauopathy mice. The increased inclusions paradoxically protect against spatial memory deficit and hippocampal neurodegeneration. PGRN reduction with tau pathology attenuates activity ofβ-glucocerebrosidase (GCase), a protein previously associated with synucleinopathy, while increasing glucosylceramide (GlcCer)-positive tau inclusions. In neuronal culture, GCase inhibition enhances tau aggregation induced by AD-tau. Furthermore, purified GlcCer directly promotes tau aggregationin vitro. Neurofibrillary tangles in human tauopathies are also GlcCer-immunoreactive. Thus, in addition to TDP-43, PGRN regulates tau- and synucleinopathies via GCase and GlcCer. A lysosomal PGRN–GCase pathway may be a common therapeutic target for age-related comorbid proteinopathies.
Haploid-resolved and chromosome-scale genome assembly in hexa-autoploid sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas(L.) Lam)
Authors: Yoon Ung-Han , Cao Qinghe , Shirasawa Kenta , Zhai Hong , Lee Tae-Ho , Tanaka Masaru , Hirakawa Hideki , Hahn Jang-Ho , Wang Xiangfeng , Kim Ho Soo , Tabuchi Hiroaki , Zhang An , Kim Tae-Ho , Nagasaki Hideki , Xiao Shizhuo , Okada Yoshihiro , Jeong Jae Cheol , Nagano Soichiro , Shin Younhee , Lee Hyeong-Un , Park Sul-U , Lee Seung Jae , Lee Keunpyo , Yang Jung-Wook , Ahn Byoung Ohg , Ma Daifu , Takahata Yasuhiro , Kwak Sang-Soo , Liu Qingchang , Isobe Sachiko
Published: December 2022

Sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas(L.) Lam) is the world’s seventh most important food crop by production quantity. Cultivated sweetpotato is a hexaploid (2n = 6x = 90), and its genome (B1B1B2B2B2B2) is quite complex due to polyploidy, self-incompatibility, and high heterozygosity. Here we established a haploid-resolved and chromosome-scalede novoassembly of autohexaploid sweetpotato genome sequences. Before constructing the genome, we created chromosome-scale genome sequences inI. trifidausing a highly homozygous accession, Mx23Hm, with PacBio RSII and Hi-C reads. Haploid-resolved genome assembly was performed for a sweetpotato cultivar, Xushu18 by hybrid assembly with Illumina paired-end (PE) and mate-pair (MP) reads, 10X genomics reads, and PacBio RSII reads. Then, 90 chromosome-scale pseudomolecules were generated by aligning the scaffolds onto a sweetpotato linkage map.De novoassemblies were also performed for chloroplast and mitochondrial genomes inI. trifidaand sweetpotato. In total, 34,386 and 175,633 genes were identified on the assembled nucleic genomes ofI. trifidaand sweetpotato, respectively. Functional gene annotation and RNA-Seq analysis revealed locations of starch, anthocyanin, and carotenoid pathway genes on the sweetpotato genome. This is the first report of chromosome-scalede novoassembly of the sweetpotato genome. The results are expected to contribute to genomic and genetic analyses of sweetpotato.
Lipoprotein sorting to the cell surface via a crosstalk between the Lpt and Lol pathways during outer membrane biogenesis
Authors: Luo Qingshan , Wang Chengai , Qiao Shuai , Yu Shan , Chen Lianwan , Kim Seonghoon , Wang Kun , Zheng Jiangge , Zhang Yong , Wu Fan , Lei Xiaoguang , Lou Jizhong , Hennig Michael , Im Wonpil , Miao Long , Zhou Min , Huang Yihua
Published: December 2022

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and lipoprotein, two essential components of the outer membrane (OM) in Gram-negative bacteria, play critical roles in bacterial physiology and pathogenicity. LPS translocation to the OM is mediated by LptDE, yet how lipoproteins sort to the cell surface remains elusive. Here we report the identification of an inventory of lipoproteins that are transported to the cell surface via LptDE. Notably, we determined crystal structures of LptDE fromPseudomonas aeruginosaand its complex with an endogenousEscherichia colilipoprotein YifL. ThepaLptDE-YifL structure demonstrates that YifL translocates to the OM via LptDE, in a manner similar to LPS transport. The β-barrel domain serves as a passage for the proteinaceous moiety while its acyl chains are transported outside. Our finding has been corroborated by results from native mass spectrometry, immunofluorescence, and photocrosslinking assays, revealing a unique mechanism through which lipoproteins are translocated across the OM in an ATP- and LPS-dependent manner. Moreover, our study expands the scope of current knowledge of lipoprotein sorting by disclosing a crosstalk between the Lpt and Lol pathways.
Modality-specific and modality-general representations of subjective value in frontal cortex
Authors: Dang Shilpa , Antono Jessica Emily , Kagan Igor , Pooresmaeili Arezoo
Published: December 2022

Standard neuroeconomics theories state that the value of different classes of stimuli, for instance the hedonic value of food versus music, is transformed to a common reference scale that is independent of their sensory properties. However, adaptive behaviour in a multimodal dynamic environment requires that our brain also encodes information about the sensory features of rewarding stimuli. How these two processes, i.e. deriving a common reference scale for valuation and maintaining sensitivity to the sensory contexts for goal-directed behaviour, are implemented in the brain remains inadequately understood. Here, we acquired fMRI data while human participants were engaged in a dynamic foraging task requiring them to integrate the reward history of auditory or visual choice options and update the subjective value assigned to each sensory modality. Univariate fMRI analysis revealed modality-specific and modality-general value representations in orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC), respectively. Crucially, modality-specific value representations were absent when the task involved instruction-based rather than value-based choices. The analysis of effective connectivity further demonstrated that the modality-specific value representations emerged as a result of selective bidirectional interactions across the auditory and visual sensory cortices, the corresponding OFC clusters and the vmPFC. These results show how a valuation process that is sensitive to the sensory context of rewarding stimuli is enabled in the brain.
Structural Analysis of Wild-type and Val120Thr MutantCandida boidiniiFormate Dehydrogenase by X-ray Crystallography
Authors: Gul Mehmet , Yuksel Busra , Bulut Huri , DeMirci Hasan
Published: December 2022

Candida boidinii NAD+-dependent formate dehydrogenase (CbFDH) has gained significant attention for its potential applications in the production of biofuels and various industrial chemicals from inorganic carbon dioxide. The present study reports the atomic X-ray crystal structures of the wild-type CbFDH at cryogenic and ambient temperatures as well as Val120Thr mutant at cryogenic temperature determined at the Turkish Light Source “Turkish DeLight”. The structures reveal new hydrogen bonds between Thr120 and water molecules in the mutant CbFDH’s active site, suggesting increased stability of the active site and more efficient electron transfer during the reaction. Further experimental data is needed to test these hypotheses. Collectively, our findings provide invaluable insights into future protein engineering efforts that could potentially enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of CbFDH.
oFVSD: A Python package of optimized forward variable selection decoder for high-dimensional neuroimaging data
Authors: Dang Tung , Fermin Alan S. R. , Machizawa Maro G.
Published: December 2022

Neuroimaging data is complex and high-dimensional that poses challenges for machine learning (ML) applications. Of varieties of reasons contributing on accuracy decoding, variable feature selection is one of crucial steps for determining target feature in data analysis, especially in the context of neuroimaging studies where the number of features is often much larger than the number of observations. Therefore, optimization of feature selection from such high-dimensional neuroimaging data has been challenging using conventional ML algorithms. Here, we introduce an efficient ML package incorporating a forward variable selection (FVS) algorithm that optimizes the identification of features for both classification and regression models. In our framework, the best ML model and feature pairs that explain the inputs can be automatically determined. Moreover, the toolbox can be executed in a parallel environment for efficient computation. The parallelized FVS algorithm iteratively selects the best feature pair compared against the previous steps to maximize the predictive performance. The FVS algorithm evaluates the goodness-of-fit across different models using the k-fold cross validation and identifies the best subset of features based on a pre-defined criterion for each model. Furthermore, the hyperparameters of each ML model are optimized at each forward iteration. A final outcome highlights an optimized number of selected features (brain regions of interest) with decoding accuracies. Using our pipeline, we examined the effectiveness of our toolbox on an existing neuroimaging (structural MRI) dataset. Compared ML models with and without FVS approach, we demonstrate that the FVS significantly improved the accuracy of the ML algorithm over the counterpart model without FVS. Furthermore, we confirmed the use of parallel computation considerably reduced the computational burden for the high-dimensional MRI data. This oFVSD toolbox efficiently and effectively improves the performance of both classification and regression models on neuroimaging data and should be applicable to many other neuroimaging data and more. This Python package is open-source and freely available, making it a useful toolbox for neuroimaging communities seeking improvement of decoding accuracy for their datasets.
Capturing the impact of accounting and regulatory variables on stock prices of banks – an empirical study of Indian banks in panel data modeling
Authors: Sharma Sudhi , Bhardwaj Indira , Kishore Kamal
Published: December 2022

Purpose

Analysts expect reduced bank earnings as a result of the impact of the increase in bad loans. Banks have strategically created high provision coverage ratios allocating large funds for possible deterioration in asset quality. Given the expected faster growth and recovery in the bank lending sector, investors have always been interested in banking stocks, despite the waves of non-performing assets (NPAs) and recessionary influences. Historical references reiterate that the banking stocks have been better performers in their returns compared to the capital markets.

Design/methodology/approach

The study aims to examine the impact of key accounting variables on the stock prices of Indian banks in the panel data framework.

Findings

The current study explores the impact of accounting variables on the market prices of shares. After the study, it may be concluded that earning per share (EPS), return on equity (ROE), capital adequacy ratio (CAR) and net interest margin (NIM) have an incremental impact on the prices of banking stocks, and the current ratio (CR) and NPAs have a detrimental impact on them.

Practical implications

Studying their impact on stock prices is the most convenient fundamental analysis that could be conducted on the stock prices of the banks.

Originality/value

To provide insights into the association of the accounting and regulatory variables there is a severe limitation in the quantity of the literature available. This study has attempted to build a relationship between the accounting and regulatory variables and the stock prices of banking stocks, to help investors with some reliable methods to estimate the stock prices in the future.
Effect of information on public perception of organic foods: a case study
Authors: Koswatta Taniya Jayani , Wingenbach Gary , Leggette Holli R.
Published: December 2022

Purpose

When scientific information is unclear about the health benefits of foods, people choose to react in different ways. Using a posttest-only control group design, the authors tested how balanced and nonfactual information available on YouTube influences public perception of organic foods.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors randomly assigned participants (N = 640) from a southern US land grant university to watch one video: balanced news, nonfactual news, or control. All participants indicated changes in perception about organic foods immediately after the video. The authors analyzed the data using one-way and two-way ANOVA.

Findings

The nonfactual news video had the most influence on public perception of organic foods. Results confirmed that the effect of nonfactual information was more for individuals with preexisting beliefs consistent with the message communicated and individuals exposed to average to high levels of health and diet news.

Practical implications

The authors recommend regulatory changes in marketing strategies related to organic foods in the US that encourage balanced information about organic foods rather than promoting credence attributes of organic foods using persuasive information.

Originality/value

The authors findings suggest that, when scientific information about the health benefits of foods is unclear, communication activities should aim to increase healthy skepticism considering the audience's preexisting beliefs and frequency of health and diet news exposure.
Designing resilient military logistics with additive manufacturing
Authors: Valtonen Ilari , Rautio Samu , Lehtonen Juha-Matti
Published: December 2022

Purpose

In this study, the authors explore how novel and relevant technologies can change the overall design of systems, and which factors influence the design of resilient systems in particular. After evaluating the effects of these factors, the authors describe the potential role of AM-supported maintenance operations in military logistics and draw broader conclusions regarding designing for resilience.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors build a simulation model of the AM-supported maintenance capability of a mechanised battalion to analyse factors affecting its resilience. AM production capacity specifically refers to metal printing and was verified by data generated from 3D printing of the actual APC parts.

Findings

The current AM speed is not able to increase resilience at the depot level, so at present, increasing the spare parts inventory is a better way to improve resilience. However, with future improvements in speed the AM may become feasible in battlefield maintenance.

Practical implications

AM holds great promise in increasing resilience of especially the spare part logistics. At present technology, it is not yet fully realised in the case.

Originality/value

The authors suggest a concrete system performance measure, where reaching a concrete limit, system resilience is lost. The authors present arguments for a definition of resilience where pre-disruption activities are not part of resilience. The authors maintain that simulation, with its ability to include detail, is well-suited in design-for-resilience because supply chains are context dependent and disruptions unexpected.
Mediating and moderating effects of task interdependence and creative role identity behind innovation for service: evidence from China and Australia
Authors: Yang Mingjun , Luu Tuan , Qian David
Published: December 2022

Purpose

Innovation for service contributes to service quality and customer satisfaction, and further benefits service-centered organizations to sustain competitive advantages. However, concurrent mediating and moderating mechanisms underlying innovation for service at both the group and individual levels have been scarcely investigated. The purpose of this study is to explore multilevel mediating and moderating mechanisms behind the relationship between dual-level transformational leadership (TFL) and innovation for service at the group and individual levels.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from two countries (i.e. China and Australia). Multilevel structural equation modeling was employed to validate the research model. Bootstrapping with 5,000 replications and latent moderated structural equation modeling were used to respectively examine the mediating and moderating mechanisms.

Findings

The cross-national results showed that task interdependence and creative role identity respectively played as the group-level and individual-level mediating roles between TFL and innovation for service. It was also found that task interdependence played as a cross-level predictor enhancing individual innovation for service. Task interdependence was a moderator on the relationship between individual-level TFL and creative role identity among Australian employees, but not among Chinese employees. The relationship between creative role identity and individual innovation for service was not moderated by task interdependence among both Chinese and Australian employees.

Originality/value

This study contributes to advancing the TFL–innovation research through revealing dual-level TFL as the antecedent of innovation for service at both the group and individual levels. It also extends the understandings of the mediating and moderating mechanisms behind this dual-level relationship between TFL and innovation for service.
The impacts of social media bandwagon cues on public demand for regulatory intervention during corporate crises
Authors: Ji Yingru , Kim Sora
Published: December 2022

In the social media era, a growing number of corporate crises are entwined with salient social issues. To address such crises, publics may demand their government take action with regulations, legislation or public policy remediation. Through two online experiments in China, this study investigates how social media bandwagon cues contribute to public demand for regulatory intervention during corporate crises. This study finds that a social media post collecting a great number of likes, comments and shares (i.e., high levels of bandwagon cues) can directly lead to increased public demand. This study also reveals significant mediating roles of perceived crisis severity and publics' responsibility attributions to dual agents—an in‐crisis company and social systems wherein the company operates. When publics are exposed to a post with high levels of bandwagon cues, they perceive greater crisis severity, which in turn increases their responsibility attribution to the company and to social systems. The heightened responsibility attribution then spills over to public demand. Moreover, crisis blame frames of the post content moderated the effects of bandwagon cues on publics' attribution to social systems and subsequent public demand.
Decreased Enterobacteriaceae translocation due to gut microbiota remodeling mediates the alleviation of premature aging by a high‐fat diet
Authors: Xu Kang , Guo Yannan , Wang Yida , Ren Yu , Low Vivien , Cho Sungyun , Ping Lu , Peng Kezheng , Li Xue , Qiu Ying , Liu Qingfei , Li Zhongchi , Wang Zhao
Published: December 2022

Aging‐associated microbial dysbiosis exacerbates various disorders and dysfunctions, and is a major contributor to morbidity and mortality in the elderly, but the underlying cause of this aging‐related syndrome is confusing. SIRT6 knockout (SIRT6 KO) mice undergo premature aging and succumb to death by 4 weeks, and are therefore useful as a premature aging research model. Here, fecal microbiota transplantation from SIRT6 KO mice into wild‐type (WT) mice phenocopies the gut dysbiosis and premature aging observed in SIRT6 KO mice. Conversely, an expanded lifespan was observed in SIRT6 KO mice when transplanted with microbiota from WT mice. Antibiotic cocktail treatment attenuated inflammation and cell senescence in KO mice, directly suggesting that gut dysbiosis contributes to the premature aging of SIRT6 KO mice. Increased Enterobacteriaceae translocation, driven by the overgrowth of Escherichia coli, is the likely mechanism for the premature aging effects of microbiome dysregulation, which could be reversed by a high‐fat diet. Our results provide a mechanism for the causal link between gut dysbiosis and aging, and support a beneficial effect of a high‐fat diet for correcting gut dysbiosis and alleviating premature aging. This study provides a rationale for the integration of microbiome‐based high‐fat diets into therapeutic interventions against aging‐associated diseases.
Sex‐dependent body mass and respiratory responses on Euschistus heros individuals resistant to imidacloprid
Authors: Azevedo Kamila E. X. , Cunha Giovana R. , Mantilla‐Afanador Javier G. , Ferrazza Lorenzo B. , Castellanos Nathaly L. , Haddi Khalid , Lima Graziela D. A. , Oliveira Eugenio E.
Published: December 2022

In insect‐resistant populations, adaptive fitness is intimately related to the physiological responses of males and females to different stressors.

By using laboratory‐selected imidacloprid‐resistant individuals of the Neotropical brown stink bug Euschistus heros, one of the most prevalent pests in soybean fields in the Neotropical region, we evaluated whether resistance to imidacloprid (synergized by piperonyl butoxide—PBO) would differentially affect the longevity, body mass and respiratory responses of E. heros males and females.

We used an imidacloprid‐susceptible E. heros strain (ImiSusc), whose individuals were reared under controlled and imidacloprid‐free conditions for over a decade, to select the PBO‐synergized imidacloprid‐resistant strain (ImiPBOSel).

After eight generations using PBO‐synergized imidacloprid, our results revealed that resistant individuals exposed only to dry residues of imidacloprid (tarsal contact) could survive at concentrations as high as 168 μg a.i./cm2, which is equivalent to 40‐fold the label recommendation for field applications. Furthermore, ImiPBOSel males and females exhibited higher longevity, higher body mass and elevated respiratory activity than ImiSusc individuals.

Altogether, the findings described here showed that imidacloprid resistance can select E. heros individuals with better metabolic capacities, which can complicate the management of this pest under field conditions.
Language environment and parent‐infant close contact in neonatal care and emerging lexical abilities of very preterm children–a longitudinal study
Authors: Ståhlberg‐Forsén Eva , Latva Reija , Aija Anette , Lehtonen Liisa , Stolt Suvi
Published: December 2022

Aim

This longitudinal study investigated associations between language environment and parent‐infant close contact in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and preterm children's lexical abilities.

Methods

NICU language environment of 43 very preterm infants (born<32 gestational weeks) was measured with the Language Environment Analysis System (LENA; variables: number of adult words, conversational turns, and child vocalisations). Parent‐infant close contact (holding and skin‐to‐skin contact) in the NICU was reported using parental closeness diaries. At 15 and 18 months' corrected age, lexical development was measured with screening methods, and eye tracking‐based lexical processing was assessed at 18 months. N varied between 29 and 38 in different outcome measures.

Results

LENA measured conversational turns and child vocalisations, and parent‐infant close contact associated positively with lexical development (r = 0.35–0.57). High numbers of NICU adult words associated negatively with lexical processing (r = −0.38– −0.40). In regression models, conversational turns and parent‐infant close contact explained 34%–35% of receptive development.

Conclusion

Findings suggest that adult‐infant turn taking and parent‐infant close contact in the NICU are positively associated with lexical development. High numbers of overheard words in the NICU may not favour later lexical processing. Further research is warranted on the significance of NICU language environment on later lexical abilities.
Reducing economic inequality is ‘just right’: Moral conviction predicts support for redistributive government policies
Authors: Scatolon Andrea , Paladino Maria Paola
Published: December 2022

Individuals may support economic redistribution because of practical considerations, but also because they perceive it as morally necessary according to their personal ethical beliefs. Across three studies, we investigated whether attitudes towards reducing economic inequality can be experienced with moral conviction (i.e. perceived as rooted in one's core beliefs about right and wrong) and motivate support for redistributive government policies. In Study 1 (N = 138), reducing economic inequality moral conviction scores were comparable to other highly moralized topics (e.g. euthanasia) and higher than lowly moralized topics (e.g. tattoos). In Study 2 (N = 325) and Study 3 (N = 271), the moral conviction for reducing economic inequality positively predicted support for several redistributive government policies. Additionally, while empathic concern (Study 2 and 3) provided mixed results, structural causal attributions (Study 3) mediated this effect. Therefore, our findings highlight the importance of personal moral significance in understanding what motivates support for redistributive policies.
Coronary artery disease and its vascular associates in patients with chronic nonsurgical hypoparathyroidism
Authors: Saha Soma , Narang Rajiv , Goswami Ravinder , Pandey Niraj Nirmal , Sharma Vibhav , Kalaivani Mani , Sen Sakshi , Kandasamy Devasenathipathy , Chandran Dinu S. , Deepak Kishore Kumar
Published: December 2022

Objective

Patients with chronic hypoparathyroidism (cHypoPT) are prone to intracranial‐calcification, cataract and nephrocalcinosis. In this study, we systematically investigated the possibility of increased coronary artery calcification (CAC) and coronary artery disease (CAD) in them.

Design

Cross‐sectional.

Patients and Measurements

Ninety‐four nonsurgical cHypoPT (M:F = 50:44; age = 45 ± 15 years) with 18.6 ± 9.3 years of illness were assessed. Those with dyspnoea, angina, syncope, abnormal electrocardiogram, echocardiography or significant CAC underwent coronary angiography or myocardial‐perfusion‐stress imaging. Their lipid parameters and high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hsCRP) were compared with age‐matched healthy controls (Group A, n = 101). The prevalence of CAC in cHypoPT was compared with that of subjects referred from cardiology‐clinics (Group B, n = 148, age = 52 ± 11 years).

Results

One of 94 cHypoPT had known CAD. On screening, 17 cHypoPT required evaluation for CAD. Two of 17 had severe coronary stenosis, and 12 showed subclinical CAD. CAC and aortic‐valve calcification occurred in 21.5% and 11.8%. Clinical and subclinical CAD, CAC and aortic‐valve calcification in cHypoPT ≥50 years of age was 8.1%, 27.0%, 52.8% and 27.8%, respectively. Frequency of age‐adjusted CAC was comparable between cHypoPT and control Group B (30.2% vs. 30.7%, p = .93). Elevated hsCRP was higher in cHypoPT than in controls A (52% vs. 32%, p < .01). Factors associated with CAD in cHypoPT were CAC and hypertension. However, CAD and CAC showed no association with long‐term calcemic or phosphatemic control and intracranial‐calcification in cHypoPT.

Conclusions

Clinical and subclinical CAD was observed in 3.2% and 12.8% of cHypoPT patients. The increased prevalence of CAD, CAC and aortic‐valve calcification in cHypoPT above 50 years of age suggested their careful cardiac evaluation during follow‐up.
More than visual: The apprenticeship of skilled visions
Authors: Grasseni Cristina
Published: December 2022

Skilled vision is more‐than‐visual because the enskilment of vision happens in intersensorial contexts and because it pertains to the broader formation of aesthetic and ethical sensibilities. Sensory and social apprenticeship coexist in practice. I dwell on the intersensoriality of learning to see in an analytical way and on the sociality and morality of skilled visions, using ethnographic examples from my fieldwork with food gardeners in the Netherlands and from other scholars who use a skilled‐visions approach, notably Judith Willkomm on skilled listening in bioacoustic field research in Germany, Tom Martin on craft learning as perceptual transformation in maritime carpentry in the United States, and Jonathan Hankins on the apprenticeship of traditional upholstery in the United Kingdom. Each example shows how the realignment of visual perception in one's learning environment (with other senses, with technical apparatuses, and with human and nonhuman others) mediate the acquisition of perspicuity, namely the perceptual and aesthetic realization of each detail in their proper function and as appropriate to their context.
Fatigue life prediction for Al–Zn–Mg alloy butt welded joints based on a fatigue damage model accounting for the influence of interior porosity
Authors: Wang Xiaojia , Bian Zhi , Zhang Zhe , Hu Weiping , Meng Qingchun
Published: December 2022

This paper proposed a high‐cycle fatigue life prediction method for Al–Zn–Mg alloy welded joints considering the thermal process of welding and the effect of welding pores. First, the welding process was simulated by a numerical thermal–mechanical analysis. The residual stresses were then obtained and applied as the initial stress field of the subsequent fatigue life calculation. Second, a fatigue damage model was constructed by introducing a dimensionless quantity to equivalently describe the effect of interior pores. Further, a corresponding damage mechanics–finite element numerical method was numerically implemented by the ABAQUS platform to calculate the high‐cycle fatigue life for Al–Zn–Mg alloy welded joints. The calculated lives have good consistency with test data, which validates the feasibility and applicability of the proposed model and the calculation method. Finally, the curves of the cyclic stress versus fatigue life of Al–Zn–Mg alloy welded joints with different interior pore sizes were calculated to explore the influence law of the welding pore.
Encountering Berlant part one: Concepts otherwise
Authors: Anderson Ben , Aitken Stuart , Bacevic Jana , Callard Felicity , Chung Kwang Dae (Mitsy) , Coleman Kathryn S. , Hayden Robert F. , Healy Sarah , Irwin Rita L. , Jellis Thomas , Jukes Joe , Khan Salman , Marotta Steve , Seitz David K. , Snepvangers Kim , Staples Adam , Turner Chloe , Tse Justin , Watson Marthy , Wilkinson Eleanor
Published: December 2022

In Part 1 of ‘Encountering Berlant’, we encounter the promise and provocation of Lauren Berlant's work. In 1000‐word contributions, geographers and others stay with what Berlant's thought offers contemporary human geography. They amplify an encounter with their work, demonstrating how a concept, idea, or style disrupts something, opens up a new possibility, or simply invites thinking otherwise. The encounters range across the incredible body of work Berlant left us with, from the ‘national sentimentality’ trilogy through to recent work on negativity. Varying in form and tone, the encounters exemplify and enact the inexhaustible plenitude of Berlant's thought: fantasy, the case, love, impasse, feel tanks, slow death, ellipses, gesture, attrition, intimate public, ambivalence, style. Part 2 of ‘Encountering Berlant’ focuses on Berlant's most influential concept: ‘cruel optimism’. Across these heterogeneous encounters, Berlant's enduring concern with the tensions and possibilities of relationality and how to enact better forms of common life shine through. These enduring concerns and Berlant's commitment to the incoherence and overdetermination of phenomena are summarised in the Introduction, which also explores how Berlant's work has been engaged with in geography. The result is a repository of what an encounter with Berlant's thought makes possible.
Gateway cities for transnational higher education? Doha, Dubai and Ras al‐Khaimah as regional amplifiers in networks of the ‘global knowledge‐based economy’
Authors: Rottleb Tim
Published: December 2022

This paper investigates how the developmental ambitions of governments to attract university offshore campuses to Doha, Dubai and Ras al‐Khaimah and these universities’ internationalization strategies affect the three cities’ positionalities. It links interdisciplinary literature on globally uneven geographies of higher education to geographical debates on the intermediating role of cities in regional and global economies. The paper conceptualizes the three cities as a triadic ensemble of gateways for transnational higher education (TNE), thereby contributing to further theorization of gateway cities. The paper shows that the three cities fulfil two crucial gateway functions. First, they connect internationalizing universities with particular student segments from their regional hinterlands seeking access to TNE. Second, they thereby amplify and disperse hegemonic regimes of the globalising knowledge‐based economy in their regional hinterlands. While all three cities share similar functions and rationales, they also have distinct positionalities rooted in different strategies of the respective governments.
Effectiveness of therapeutic exercise and cognitive‐behavioural therapy combined protocol on functionality, pain and joint health in people with haemophilia: Secondary analysis of a controlled trial
Authors: Moreno‐Segura Noemí , Pérez‐Alenda Sofía , García‐Dasí María , Carrasco Juan J. , Marqués‐Sulé Elena , Querol Felipe , Bonand Santiago , Aguilar‐Rodríguez Marta
Published: December 2022

Background

Haemophilic arthropathy is one of the main causes of morbidity in people with haemophilia (PWH), inducing pain and reduced functionality. Therefore, PWH are complex patients and must be approached from a multidisciplinary perspective.

Objectives

To evaluate the effectiveness of a therapeutic exercise and cognitive‐behavioural therapy (CBT) combined protocol on functionality, pain, and joint health of PWH, arthropathy and chronic pain. Treatment satisfaction was also evaluated.

Methods

A single‐blinded clinical trial with 21 PWH in prophylactic regimen was carried out. Participants were divided into an experimental group (EG, n = 11) and a control group (CG, n = 10). The EG underwent a 4‐month programme of home‐based therapeutic exercise plus CBT, whilst CG performed their daily activities. Patients were evaluated at baseline, post‐intervention and after 12 additional weeks. Measures of functionality (Haemophilia Activities List, Timed Up and Go Test, 2‐Minutes‐Walking‐Test and Sit‐to‐Stand Test), pain (PainDETECT and Visual Analogue Scale) and joint health (Haemophilia Joint Health Score) were taken. Related dimensions of the A36 Haemophilia Quality of Life Questionnaire were calculated. Effects were calculated using a two‐factor ANOVA.

Results

The EG showed significant improvements in function (p < .001), pain (p < .001), joint damage (p = .006), and satisfaction with the treatment (p = .006) dimensions of the A36 Haemophilia Quality of Life Questionnaire, as well as in pain measured with the Visual Analogue Scale (p = .008) and PainDETECT (p = .035).

Conclusions

The combined physiotherapy and CBT protocol showed a partial improvement in functionality, pain and joint health of PWH, arthropathy and chronic pain. In addition, participants were satisfied with the treatment.
Putting humans back in the loop: An affordance conceptualization of the 4th industrial revolution
Authors: Melville Nigel P. , Robert Lionel , Xiao Xiao
Published: December 2022

The current technology epoch—sometimes called the fourth industrial revolution (4IR)—involves the innovative application of rapidly advancing digital technologies such as artificial intelligence. Societal implications of the 4IR are significant and wide‐ranging, from life‐saving drug development to privacy loss and app addiction. A review of the information systems literature, however, reveals a narrow focus on technology‐enabled business benefits. Scant research attention has been paid to the role of humans and humanistic outcomes. To spur new research addressing these issues, formalised affordance theory is employed to develop a new 4IR conceptualization. Four groupings of affordances that capture salient 4IR action possibilities are developed within two categories: machine emulation of human cognition (expansive decision‐making and creativity automation) and machine emulation of human communication (relationship with humans and intermachine teaming). Implications are explored in the context of human‐machine coworking and the development of artificial intelligence safety regulations. Overall, the affordance conceptualization of the 4IR advances a new sociotechnical lexicon of action possibilities and their joint enactment in achieving humanistic and instrumental outcomes, enabling alignment of the scope of 4IR research with the scope of 4IR phenomena—and bringing humans back into the loop.
Fabrication of baicalein‐encapsulated zeolitic imidazole framework as a novel nanocomposited wound closure material to persuade pH‐responsive healing efficacy in post‐caesarean section wound care
Authors: Yang Jing , Chen Aner , He Xiaobo , Lu Shuangji
Published: December 2022

Baicalein is a plant‐derived compound, it has widespread attention among biomedical researchers due to its biocompatibility and efficient biological activities. But it has non‐solubility in physiological conditions and short bioavailability in the clinical process. The Discovery of a stimuli‐based drug delivery system (DDS) is a perfect strategy to improve the bioactivity of baicalin in post‐caesarean section wound care. We prepared a baicalein‐encapsulated pH‐responsive DDS with a zeolite imidazole framework‐8 (ZIF‐8) as a carrier. We investigated the material characteristics of DDS in terms of crystal structure, surface area morphology, particle size, FTIR, UV–vis, Powder XRD, and BET analysis techniques. The in vitro cytotoxicity, biocompatibility, and cell proliferation properties of BA@ZIF‐8 were assessed against human fibroblast L929 cells. In vitro studies showed that BA@ZIF‐8 nanocomposite significantly enhanced the biocompatibility against L929 cells after 72 h post‐exposure. The pH‐responsive drug release kinetics shows excellent baicalein release under acidic conditions and without unwanted drug release in physiological conditions. Wound scratch assay results revealed, that BA@ZIF‐8 nanocomposite‐treated cells exhibit the fastest cell proliferation and migration process in a very short period. In the antibacterial activity study, nanocomposite exposed dose depended on inhibition against wound infectious pathogens. The overall study signifies that BA@ZIF‐8 nano‐DDSs are effective and suitable DDS for stimuli‐based post‐caesarean section wound care.
In vivo observations of biofilm adhering to a dialkylcarbamoyl chloride‐coated mesh dressing when applied to diabetes‐related foot ulcers: A proof of concept study
Authors: Malone Matthew , Radzieta Michael , Schwarzer Saskia , Walker Amy , Bradley Justin , Jensen Slade O.
Published: December 2022

In this proof‐of‐concept study of twenty participants, we sought to determine if a DACC (Dialkylcarbamoyl chloride)‐coated mesh dressing demonstrates an ability to adhere biofilm when placed on Diabetes Related Foot Ulcers (DRFUs) with chronic infection. The study also sought to determine if removal of the DACC‐coated mesh dressings contributes to reducing the total number of bacteria in DRFUs, by exploring the total microbial loads, microbial community composition, and diversity. Standard of care was provided in addition to the application of DACC or DACC hydrogel every three days for a total of two weeks. Wound swabs, tissue curettage, and soiled dressings were collected pre and post‐treatment. Tissue specimens obtained pre‐treatment were analysed with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and peptide nucleic acid fluorescent in situ hybridisation (PNA‐FISH) with confocal laser scanning microscopy and confirmed the presence of biofilm in all DRFUs. SEM confirmed the presence of biofilms readily adhered to soiled DACC‐coated mesh dressings pre‐ and post‐treatment in all participants. Real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) demonstrated the mean total microbial load of DRFUs in 20 participants did not change after two weeks of therapy (pre‐treatment = 4.31 Log10 16 S copies (±0.8) versus end of treatment = 4.32 Log10 16 S copies (±0.9), P = .96, 95% CI −0.56 to 0.5). 16 S sequencing has shown the microbial composition of DACC dressings and wound swabs pre‐ and post‐treatment remained similar (DACC; R = −.047, P = .98, Swab; R = −.04, P = .86), indicating the microbial communities originate from the ulcer. Biofilms adhere to DACC‐coated mesh dressings; however, this may not reduce the total microbial load present within DRFU tissue. Wound dressings for use in hard‐to‐heal wounds should be used as an adjunct to a good standard of care which includes debridement and wound bed preparation.
Elevated fibrosis burden as assessed by MRI predicts cryoballoon ablation failure
Authors: Boyle Patrick M. , Sarairah Sakher , Kwan Kirsten T. , Scott Griffin D. , Mohamedali Farzana , Anderson Carter A. , Bifulco Savannah F. , Ordovas Karen G. , Prutkin Jordan , Robinson Melissa , Sridhar Arun R. , Akoum Nazem
Published: December 2022

Introduction

Late‐gadolinium enhancement magnetic resonance (LGE‐MRI) imaging is increasingly used in management of atrial fibrillation (AFib) patients. Here, we assess the usefulness of LGE‐MRI‐based fibrosis quantification to predict arrhythmia recurrence in patients undergoing cryoballoon ablation. Our secondary goal was to compare two widely used fibrosis quantification methods.

Methods

In 102 AF patients undergoing LGE‐MRI and cryoballoon ablation (mean age 62 years; 64% male; 59% paroxysmal AFib), atrial fibrosis was quantified using the pixel intensity histogram (PIH) and image intensity ratio (IIR) methods. PIH segmentations were completed by a third‐party provider as part of the standard of care at our hospital; Image intensity ratio (IIR) segmentations of the same scans were carried out in our lab using a commercially available software package. Fibrosis burdens and spatial distributions for the two methods were compared. Patients were followed prospectively for recurrent arrhythmia following ablation.

Results

Average PIH fibrosis was 15.6 ± 5.8% of the left atrial (LA) volume. Depending on threshold (IIRthr), the average IIR fibrosis (% of LA wall surface area) ranged from 5.0 ± 7.2% (IIRthr = 1.2) to 37.4 ± 10.9% (IIRthr = 0.97). An IIRthr of 1.03 demonstrated the greatest agreement between the methods, but spatial overlap of fibrotic areas delineated by the two methods was modest (Sorenson Dice coefficient: 0.49). Fourty‐two patients (41.2%) had recurrent arrhythmia. PIH fibrosis successfully predicted recurrence (HR 1.07; p = .02) over a follow‐up period of 362 ± 149 days; regardless of IIRthr, IIR fibrosis did not predict recurrence.

Conclusions

PIH‐based volumetric assessment of atrial fibrosis was modestly predictive of arrhythmia recurrence following cryoballoon ablation in this cohort. IIR‐based fibrosis was not predictive of recurrence for any of the IIRthr values tested, and the overlap in designated areas of fibrosis between the PIH and IIR methods was modest.

Caution must therefore be exercised when interpreting LA fibrosis from LGE‐MRI, since the values and spatial pattern are methodology‐dependent.
Characterizing caregiving supportive services use by caregiving relationship status
Authors: Travers Jasmine L. , Rosa William E. , Shenoy Shivani , Bergh Marissa , Fabius Chanee D.
Published: December 2022

Background

Informal caregivers of older adults experience a high degree of psychosocial burden and strain. These emotional experiences often stem from stressful tasks associated with caregiving. Caregiving supportive services that provide assistance for stressful tasks are instrumental in alleviating caregiving burden and strain. Research is limited on what types of supportive services caregivers are utilizing by relationship status and their source of information regarding these services. We sought to characterize caregiving supportive services use by caregiver relationship status.

Methods

We analyzed cross‐sectional data from the 2015 National Study of Caregiving limited to caregivers of older adults ≥65 years of age. Caregiver relationship status (i.e., spouse, child, other relative/non‐relative) was the independent variable. Type of supportive service and source of information about supportive services were the dependent variables. Bivariate analyses were performed to examine the association with caregiver relationship status and associations between use of caregiving supportive services and caregiver and care recipient characteristics. Among service users, we measured associations between caregiver relationship status, type of supportive services used, and source of information about supportive services.

Results

Our sample consisted of 1871 informal caregivers, 30.7% reported using supportive services. By caregiver relationship status, children had the greatest use of supportive services compared to spouses and other relatives/non‐relatives (46.5% vs. 27.6% vs. 25.9%, p = <0.01, respectively). Among users of services, there were no differences in type of services used. Spouses primarily received their information about services from a medical provider or social worker (73.8%, p = <0.001).

Conclusion

Our findings highlight the need to ensure that other caregiving groups, such as spouses and other relatives/non‐relatives, have access to important supportive services such as financial support. Medical providers and/or social workers should be leveraged and equipped to provide this information and refer to services accordingly.