bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Intraprofessional cultural competence in nursing regulation: A critical content analysis of standards and codes in the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Australia
Authors: Correa‐Betancour Marcela , Chiarella Mary , Short Stephanie D.
Published: July 2024

There is a global shortage of nurses, leading many countries to recruit internationally qualified nurses (IQNs) to fill the gap. However, IQNs encounter challenges in integrating into their new professional environment, particularly in their interactions with locally qualified nurses (LQNs). Intraprofessional cultural competence (IPCC), defined as ‘a set of congruent behaviours and attitudes that enable professionals to work respectfully and effectively in cross‐cultural situations’, may be a strategy to address these challenges. Content analysis was used to examine nursing regulatory documents (Standards for Practice [Standards] and Codes of Conduct [Codes]) from the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Australia. Data were extracted and organised based on four key themes relevant to IPCC. The analysis revealed a focus on ‘Mutual collaboration and professional relationships’ in six regulatory documents, with explicit commitments to preventing racism and discrimination in the Australian and NZ Codes. However, issues such as racism, discrimination, bullying and harassment faced by IQNs are not comprehensively addressed, as the documents mainly prioritize culturally appropriate patient interactions over relationships between colleagues. Using regulatory documents to address IPCC may influence positive change such as improving communication, and preventing racism, bullying, discrimination and harassment within nursing.
Factors affecting shared decision‐making concerning menopausal hormone therapy
Authors: Koysombat Kanyada , Mukherjee Annice , Nyunt Sandhi , Pedder Hugo , Vinogradova Yana , Burgin Jo , Dave Harshida , Comninos Alexander N. , Talaulikar Vikram , Bailey Julia V. , Dhillo Waljit S. , Abbara Ali
Published: July 2024

Menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) is an effective treatment for menopause‐related symptoms. Menopause management guidelines recommend a personalized approach to menopause care, including MHT use. Decision‐making around menopause care is a complex, iterative process influenced by multiple factors framed by perspectives from both women and healthcare providers (HCPs). This narrative review aims to summarize evidence around factors affecting decision‐making regarding menopause‐related care. For HCPs, the provision of individualized risk estimates is challenging in practice given the number of potential benefits and risks to consider, and the complexity of the data available, especially within time‐limited consultations. Women seeking menopause care have the difficult task of making sense of the benefit versus risk profiles to make choices in line with their decisional needs influenced by sociocultural/economic, educational, demographic, and personal characteristics. The press, social media, and influential celebrities also impact the perception of menopause and decision‐making around it. Understanding these factors can lead to improved participation in shared decision‐making, satisfaction with the decision and decision‐making process, adherence to treatment, reduced decisional regret, efficient use of resources, and ultimately long‐term satisfaction with care.
Exploring Alternative Futures Focusing on the Science and Technology Policy of Kim Jong‐un's Regime*
Authors: Jeong Keonyeong , Heo Kyungmoo , Kim Youbean
Published: July 2024

Science and technology policy of Kim Jong‐un's regime in North Korea is more strategic and aggressive than ever before. Under the tight economic sanctions led by the United States and its partners, the young leader makes a desperate effort to boost science and technology (S&T) for maintaining North Korea's political stability and achieving economic development. Despite growing concerns over nuclear and security issues, studies addressing the alternative futures of North Korea are mainly focused on the economy, nuclear weapons, and stability of the regime. This study explores various alternative futures for North Korea's S&T policy, which are different from the viewpoints of most existing studies. To envision and propose alternative futures for North Korea's S&T policy in 2050, we try to link uncertainty levels and types of futures based on Voros' future types and utilize Dator's alternative future model. Based on alternative futures, this study suggests a new perspective to better understand the plausible futures of S&T policies and strategies for a preferable future of the country.
A critical analysis of the effect of OM‐85 for the prevention of recurrent respiratory tract infections or wheezing/asthma from systematic reviews with meta‐analysis
Authors: Castro‐Rodriguez Jose A. , Turi Kedir N. , Forno Erick
Published: July 2024

Acute respiratory tract infections (RTIs) are one of the most common causes of pediatric consultations/hospitalizations and a major trigger for asthma exacerbations. Some consensus statements have recommended the use of immunostimulants to boost natural defenses against severe or repeated infections. One of the most common immunostimulants is OM‐85; while several randomized clinical trials (RCTs) have evaluated its efficacy in preventing acute RTIs and wheezing/asthma exacerbations, results have been conflicting. Similarly, various systematic reviews with meta‐analyses (SRMs) on OM‐85 have used different strategies, populations, and outcomes; moreover, SRM conclusions are limited when the original studies are highly heterogeneous or have a low quality, hindering the generalizability of the findings. Here we summarize the evidence on the effect of OM‐85 to prevent acute RTIs, wheezing/asthma episodes, or loss of asthma control in children, by including and critically evaluating all SRMs published to date. We searched for SRMs on OM‐85 in three publication databases and found nine SRMs (seven for RTI, and two for wheezing/asthma). Among those, one had a high confidence evaluation of quality (AMSTAR‐2 tool) and found a reduction in the total number of acute RTIs among the OM‐85 group. Overall, no strong recommendations can be derived from the existing literature, mainly due to the high heterogeneity among included RCTs and SRMs. Further, large, high‐quality RCTs are needed to confirm the true efficacy of OM‐85 for the prevention of acute RTIs, asthma development, and asthma exacerbations.
Evaluating effectiveness of clonal plant selection of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.) in mixtures: Mean performance and stability in a multi‐environment trial
Authors: Bhattarai Surendra , Wang Hu , Poudel Hari P. , Biligetu Bill
Published: July 2024

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) ‐ grass or alfalfa ‐ sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.) mixtures are commonly used for pastures in western Canada because of their high forage quality and their low risk of causing frothy bloat in grazing animals. However, the proportion of these two legumes declines in mixed forage stands over time. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of selecting superior genotypes from clonally propagated alfalfa or sainfoin under plant competition in different growth environments. For this study, around 100 genotypes of each legume were cloned and transplanted into meadow bromegrass (Bromus riparius Relm.) or alfalfa swards at Saskatoon, SK and Lethbridge, AB, Canada in 2017. Genotype‐environment (G x E) interactions of alfalfa and sainfoin genotypes were analysed by an additive main‐effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) model. Significant variations in plant height, spring vigour and total dry matter yield (TDM) were observed for both species. Among the measured traits, plant height was a more highly heritable trait (H2 = .16 for alfalfa and H2 = .18 for sainfoin), while TDM was the least heritable (H2 = .08 for alfalfa and H2 = .04 for sainfoin). In the AMMI Analysis of variance for TDM, the genotype explained <12% of the variation for both species, suggesting a direct selection of yield would result in a low genetic gain. The biplot mean performance (Y) x weighted average of absolute scores from the singular value decomposition of the matrix of BLUPs stability index (WAASB) identified several promising genotypes with superior performance and stability across different environments that were selected for producing synthetic lines. However, the synthetic lines of both alfalfa and sainfoin did not consistently exhibit superior performance in mixtures compared to their respective check cultivars.
Multistress‐tolerant Pseudomonas aeruginosa SSVP3 uses multiple strategies to control Meloidogyne incognita in tomato
Authors: Poria Vikram , Jhilta Prakriti , Adhuna K. P. , Somvanshi Vishal S. , Rana Anuj , Singh Surender
Published: July 2024

Tomato is the most important horticultural crop, and India is its second largest producer; however, the plant‐pathogenic nematode Meloidogyne incognita is a serious pest of tomato, causing detrimental losses in its production. This study is focused on the use of multistress‐tolerant Pseudomonas aeruginosa SSVP3 to control this devastating nematode and attempts to decipher the roles of its metabolites and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) during this interaction. The supernatant of P. aeruginosa SSVP3 caused 58% mortality in M. incognita J2 juveniles. The major nematicidal metabolites, identified using liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry, were pyocyanin, pyoluteorin, pyochelin, benthocyanin and phenazines. The VOCs secreted by P. aeruginosa SSVP3, which were identified via gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (HS‐SPME‐GC–MS) in a mixture, caused 98% mortality in M. incognita J2 juveniles. In a pot experiment, seedling root treatment with P. aeruginosa SSVP3 activated the induced systemic response in tomato plants to M. incognita by increasing the activity of defence and antioxidant enzymes as well as the proline and phenolic contents. The malondialdehyde content in P. aeruginosa SSVP3‐treated plants decreased as compared to those in the other treatment groups. The number of galls formed and the number of endoparasitic stages of M. incognita in the untreated nematode control plants were much greater (19 and 35) than those in the P. aeruginosa SSVP3‐treated (0.33 and 1) and chemically treated groups (0.67 and 1.33). These results indicate that P. aeruginosa and its secreted metabolites and VOCs have a high potential for controlling nematodes.
Temporal gamma tACS and auditory stimulation affect verbal memory in healthy adults
Authors: Manippa Valerio , Nitsche Michael A. , Filardi Marco , Vilella Davide , Scianatico Gaetano , Logroscino Giancarlo , Rivolta Davide
Published: July 2024

Research suggests a potential of gamma oscillation entrainment for enhancing memory in Alzheimer's disease and healthy subjects. Gamma entrainment can be accomplished with oscillatory electrical, but also sensory stimulation. However, comparative studies between sensory stimulation and transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) effects on memory processes are lacking. This study examined the effects of rhythmic gamma auditory stimulation (rAS) and temporal gamma‐tACS on verbal long‐term memory (LTM) and working memory (WM) in 74 healthy individuals. Participants were assigned to two groups according to the stimulation techniques (rAS or tACS). Memory was assessed in three experimental blocks, in which each participant was administered with control, 40, and 60 Hz stimulation in counterbalanced order. All interventions were well‐tolerated, and participants reported mostly comparable side effects between real stimulation (40 and 60 Hz) and the control condition. LTM immediate and delayed recall remained unaffected by stimulations, while immediate recall intrusions decreased during 60 Hz stimulation. Notably, 40 Hz interventions improved WM compared to control stimulations. These results highlight the potential of 60 and 40 Hz temporal cortex stimulation for reducing immediate LTM recall intrusions and improving WM performance, respectively, probably due to the entrainment of specific gamma oscillations in the auditory cortex. The results also shed light on the comparative effects of these neuromodulation tools on memory functions, and their potential applications for cognitive enhancement and in clinical trials.
Publishing experiences of researchers in the developing world: An analysis of submissions to the Review of Development Economics, January 2015 to April 2022
Authors: McKay Andy
Published: July 2024

Researchers based in poorer countries typically face major challenges in publishing their work in international journals, compared to those faced by researchers in the wealthier countries of Europe and North America. This paper studies this issue based on the experience of papers submitted to the Review of Development Economics, an important international development economics journal. It presents an analysis of submissions and success in publication, based on the fortunes of all papers submitted to the journal between 2015 and April 2022, disaggregated by the country in which the corresponding author is based. Authors based in low and middle income countries accounted for 33% of publications in this period, though they accounted for 61% of the submissions received. A main factor was that these papers were significantly less likely to be sent for review by the journal; if reviewed, they were also less likely to be accepted than papers from authors in high income countries, though that differential is much less stark. This analysis is presented in the interests of transparency and to encourage discussion, but also to raise issues the journal needs to address. The paper finishes by reviewing, based on co‐editor experience over this period, issues and potential responses.
Bottom Copy Pronunciation in Japanese Passives
Authors: Abe Jun
Published: July 2024

On the basis of Abe's (2016) proposal that in the case of an A‐chain, any member can be the target for pronunciation, I argue that Japanese passives may have the bottom copies of the produced A‐chains pronounced. When the passivized subjects appear to occupy their original θ‐positions, it is standardly claimed that the relevant word order is derived by scrambling other material sentence‐initially. Contrary to this claim, I demonstrate that there are cases, including those of what Miyagawa (1989) calls the causative‐passive construction, where the passivized subjects actually occupy their original θ‐positions. I then provide evidence that those passivized subjects undergo “covert” A‐movement, hence giving support to my bottom copy pronunciation analysis.
Computed tomographic and magnetic resonance imaging features of canine cervical epidural dirofilariasis
Authors: Lim Sohee , You MyungJo , Sohn Sangjune , Won Sungjun , Song Donghyon , Hong Yeonjung
Published: July 2024

An 8‐year‐old neutered male Maltese dog presented with a month‐long history of progressive nonambulatory tetraparesis. MRI revealed a well‐defined, centrally nonenhanced, T1‐weighted hypointense, extradural structure located in the vertebral canal at the level of the C5 vertebral body. CT demonstrated a hypoattenuating, space‐occupying structure in the same area. Surgery revealed a long, narrow parasite in the epidural space. An adult Dirofilaria immitis was confirmed by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. This is a novel report describing the MRI and CT features of cervical epidural dirofilariasis in a dog.
A correlation of computed tomographic esophageal hiatal cross‐sectional surface area between brachycephalic and nonbrachycephalic cats
Authors: Kim Uhjin , Ban Jiyoung , Chang Jinhwa , Yoon Kwangyong , Kim Byeongjin , In Solji , Park Jihyeon , Yoon Hyounglok , Huh Chan , Lee Namsoon , Chang Dongwoo
Published: July 2024

In humans and dogs, especially brachycephalics, enlargement of the esophageal hiatus and insufficiency have been correlated with decreased lower esophageal sphincter pressure and increased frequency of gastroesophageal reflux. In cats, it has been suggested that gastroesophageal reflux occurs frequently with upper airway obstruction, including brachycephalics. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to determine whether the esophageal hiatal cross‐sectional surface area (EH‐CSA) differs between brachycephalic and nonbrachycephalic cats. Clinical records and CT images of cats that underwent thoracic, abdominal, and entire skull CT at multiple centers between January 2015 and September 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. Esophageal hiatal parameters (EH‐CSA, EH‐long axis diameter, and EH‐short axis diameter) and craniometric indices (cranial index, skull index, and facial index) were measured by using multiplanar reconstruction, and the correlation of craniometry with EH‐CSA was investigated. Ninety‐eight cats (group 1: 42 brachycephalic cats and group 2: 56 nonbrachycephalic cats) were included. Esophageal hiatal cross‐sectional surface area in brachycephalic cats was significantly larger than that in nonbrachycephalic cats. The EH‐CSA significantly increased with the craniometric indices tending to increase with brachycephalism. The present study contributes to the veterinary literature by providing the EH‐CSA as anatomical evidence that could likely correlate to gastroesophageal reflux predisposition in brachycephalic cats.
Investigating rhoticity in Scottish Standard English with sociolinguistic interviews and corpus data
Authors: Schützler Ole
Published: July 2024

This paper approaches variable rhoticity in Scottish Standard English (SSE) from a methodological, data‐oriented perspective. The main focus is on how to integrate within a single sociolinguistic framework data that have been elicited under different conditions (sociolinguistic interviews vs. corpus data) and may therefore be incompatible when we take a relatively simplistic approach to stylistic variation. The article first models variation in such an unbalanced ‘patchwork’ dataset in a holistic, unified analysis and then proceeds to deconstruct the results by taking a closer look at the behaviour of the two main components of the data. While previously reported trends in the development of coda‐/r/ in SSE accents are confirmed, it is also shown that, depending on the precise nature of registers (or genres), productions may be considerably more diverse and may go beyond a simple projection of middle‐class identities. The integration of different styles in a single interpretive framework is challenging and far from straightforward.
P. Jones' interpolation theorem for noncommutative martingale Hardy spaces II
Authors: Randrianantoanina Narcisse
Published: July 2024

Let be a semifinite von Neumann algebra equipped with an increasing filtration of (semifinite) von Neumann subalgebras of . For , let denote the noncommutative column martingale Hardy space constructed from column square functions associated with the filtration and the index . We prove the following real interpolation identity: If and , then
This is new even for classical martingale Hardy spaces as it is previously known only under the assumption that the filtration is regular. We also obtain an analogous result for noncommutative column martingale Orlicz–Hardy spaces.
Intensified training augments cardiac function, but not blood volume, in male youth elite ice hockey team players
Authors: Fischer Mads , Jeppesen Jan S. , Vigh‐Larsen Jeppe F. , Stöhr Eric J. , Mohr Magni , Wickham Kate A. , Gliemann Lasse , Bangsbo Jens , Hellsten Ylva , Hostrup Morten
Published: July 2024

While it is well‐established that a period of interval training performed at near maximal effort, such as speed endurance training (SET), enhances intense exercise performance in well‐trained individuals, less is known about its effect on cardiac morphology and function as well as blood volume. To investigate this, we subjected 12 Under‐20 Danish national team ice hockey players (age 18 ± 1 years, mean ± SD) to 4 weeks of SET, consisting of 6–10 × 20 s skating bouts at maximal effort interspersed by 2 min of recovery conducted three times weekly. This was followed by 4 weeks of regular training (follow‐up). We assessed resting cardiac function and dimensions using transthoracic echocardiography and quantified total blood volume with the carbon monoxide rebreathing technique at three time points: before SET, after SET and after the follow‐up period. After SET, stroke volume had increased by 10 (2–18) mL (mean (95% CI)), left atrial end‐diastolic volume by 10 (3–17) mL, and circumferential strain improved by 0.9%‐points (1.7–0.1) (all P < 0.05). At follow‐up, circumferential strain and left atrial end‐diastolic volume were reverted to baseline levels, while stroke volume remained elevated. Blood volume and morphological parameters for the left ventricle, including mass and end‐diastolic volume, did not change during the study. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate that a brief period of SET elicits beneficial central cardiac adaptations in elite ice hockey players independent of changes in blood volume.
Redes sociales noveles frente a la mimetización agresiva: Snapchat, ClubHouse y BeReal
Authors: Cárdenas Rica María Luisa , Martín Ramallal Pablo
Published: July 2024

Desde Sixdegrees (1997), las redes sociales se afanan en diferenciarse con la pretensión de mejorar y transformarse. Sin embargo, cuando aparece alguna novedad competitiva, surge la mimetización agresiva. Existen múltiples casos en los que las grandes compañías han imitado las formas de generar y emitir contenidos. Esto lleva a cuestionar la supervivencia de plataformas emergentes pues sus funciones definitorias pueden ser plagiadas. El estudio ejecuta un análisis cualitativo en el que se valorarán los indicios que pueden poner en peligro la singularidad de una red como elemento diferencial. Se realiza un estudio de caso de Snapchat, ClubHouse y BeReal. Estas redes son escrutadas conforme a Lemus, Rodríguez y Castellanos (2011), quienes proponen factores que determinan el éxito o fracaso 2.0. Las conclusiones plasman el riesgo que corren las redes nóveles, pues los líderes del sector implementan la singularidad rápidamente por lo que el recién llegado pierde el interés suscitado.
Soberanía y nacionalismo en entornos digitales: la llamativa ausencia de América Latina en el debate mundial
Authors: Becerra Martin , Waisbord Silvio
Published: July 2024

En este trabajo examinamos los factores que impulsan el cibernacionalismo y la llamada gobernanza digital en las políticas de medios. La curiosa ausencia de debates y fuertes esfuerzos para regular las plataformas digitales en la región contrasta con las tendencias observadas en EEUU, Europa, China e India. Durante las últimas dos décadas, la región latinoamericana ha adoptado en gran medida un enfoque desregulador de laissez-faire en cuestiones fundamentales sobre la estructura y el funcionamiento de Internet, incluido el desempeño de los conglomerados dueños de las plataformas digitales globales, la moderación y edición de discursos, el tráfico de contenidos, los datos personales de los usuarios, la propiedad de las infraestructuras, su acceso, y la tributación económica del sector. Ese es el foco de análisis del presente artículo.
Convection Cooling of Power Electronics Operating in Deep-Space
Authors: Harsono Jessica , Kozak Joseph P. , Tomey Hala , Yerkes William , Neville Jonathan
Published: July 2024

Since most traditional spacecrafts are designed to operate in a vacuum environment, forced convection cooling has seen limited use in space-applications. This paper considers an ideal candidate—the Dragonfly Lander, a rotorcraft being sent into deep-space to conduct experiments on Saturn's largest moon, Titan. A forced convection based thermal management solution is presented for the rotor drive electronics (RDE) unit, a high-power electronics box responsible for controlling the rotors that allow the Lander to fly on Titan. A thermal flow model was built in Solidworks Flow Simulation to evaluate the effectiveness of a fan system integrated into the packaging design and used as the primary method for cooling the RDE. The model was validated with temperature data collected from custom designed ground support equipment. It was found that utilizing forced convection allows temperatures of the electronics within the tightly packaged RDE to remain within operational limits when conductive and radiative heat transfer alone are insufficient. Titan's dense atmosphere results in greater mass flow rates through fans compared to on Earth, making forced convection a particularly efficient method of heat transfer. This research may guide the use of forced convection in future space missions, or nontraditional environments.
Endogenous retroviruses mediate transcriptional rewiring in response to oncogenic signaling in colorectal cancer
Authors: Ivancevic Atma , Simpson David M. , Joyner Olivia M. , Bagby Stacey M. , Nguyen Lily L. , Bitler Ben G. , Pitts Todd M. , Chuong Edward B.
Published: July 2024

Cancer cells exhibit rewired transcriptional regulatory networks that promote tumor growth and survival. However, the mechanisms underlying the formation of these pathological networks remain poorly understood. Through a pan-cancer epigenomic analysis, we found that primate-specific endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) are a rich source of enhancers displaying cancer-specific activity. In colorectal cancer and other epithelial tumors, oncogenic MAPK/AP1 signaling drives the activation of enhancers derived from the primate-specific ERV family LTR10. Functional studies in colorectal cancer cells revealed that LTR10 elements regulate tumor-specific expression of multiple genes associated with tumorigenesis, such as
ATG12
and
XRCC4
. Within the human population, individual LTR10 elements exhibit germline and somatic structural variation resulting from a highly mutable internal tandem repeat region, which affects AP1 binding activity. Our findings reveal that ERV-derived enhancers contribute to transcriptional dysregulation in response to oncogenic signaling and shape the evolution of cancer-specific regulatory networks.
Mixotrophic growth of a ubiquitous marine diatom
Authors: Kumar Manish , Tibocha-Bonilla Juan D. , Füssy Zoltán , Lieng Chloe , Schwenck Sarah M. , Levesque Alice V. , Al-Bassam Mahmoud M. , Passi Anurag , Neal Maxwell , Zuniga Cristal , Kaiyom Farrah , Espinoza Josh L. , Lim Hyungyu , Polson Shawn W. , Allen Lisa Zeigler , Zengler Karsten
Published: July 2024

Diatoms are major players in the global carbon cycle, and their metabolism is affected by ocean conditions. Understanding the impact of changing inorganic nutrients in the oceans on diatoms is crucial, given the changes in global carbon dioxide levels. Here, we present a genome-scale metabolic model (
i
MK1961) for
Cylindrotheca closterium
, an in silico resource to understand uncharacterized metabolic functions in this ubiquitous diatom.
i
MK1961 represents the largest diatom metabolic model to date, comprising 1961 open reading frames and 6718 reactions. With
i
MK1961, we identified the metabolic response signature to cope with drastic changes in growth conditions. Comparing model predictions with
Tara
Oceans transcriptomics data unraveled
C. closterium
’s metabolism in situ. Unexpectedly, the diatom only grows photoautotrophically in 21% of the sunlit ocean samples, while the majority of the samples indicate a mixotrophic (71%) or, in some cases, even a heterotrophic (8%) lifestyle in the light. Our findings highlight
C. closterium’
s metabolic flexibility and its potential role in global carbon cycling.
Direct single-cell observation of a key
Escherichia coli
cell-cycle oscillator
Authors: Iuliani Ilaria , Mbemba Gladys , Lagomarsino Marco Cosentino , Sclavi Bianca
Published: July 2024

Initiation of DNA replication in
Escherichia coli
is coupled to cell size via the DnaA protein, whose activity is dependent on its nucleotide-bound state. However, the oscillations in DnaA activity have never been observed at the single-cell level. By measuring the volume-specific production rate of a reporter protein under control of a DnaA-regulated promoter, we could distinguish two distinct cell-cycle oscillators. The first, driven by both DnaA activity and SeqA repression, shows a causal relationship with cell size and divisions, similarly to initiation events. The second one, a reporter of DnaA activity alone, loses the synchrony and causality properties. Our results show that transient inhibition of gene expression by SeqA keeps the oscillation of volume-sensing DnaA activity in phase with the subsequent division event and suggest that DnaA activity peaks do not correspond directly to initiation events.
Highly efficient blue light-emitting diodes based on mixed-halide perovskites with reduced chlorine defects
Authors: Gao Yun , Cai Qiuting , He Yifan , Zhang Dingshuo , Cao Qingli , Zhu Meiyi , Ma Zichao , Zhao Baodan , He Haiping , Di Dawei , Ye Zhizhen , Dai Xingliang
Published: July 2024

Perovskite light-emitting diodes (PeLEDs) provide excellent opportunities for low-cost, color-saturated, and large-area displays. However, the performance of blue PeLEDs lags far behind that of their green and red counterparts. Here, we show that the external quantum efficiencies (EQEs) of blue PeLEDs scale linearly with the photoluminescence quantum yields (PL QYs) of CsPb(Br

x

Cl

1−
x

)
3
nanocrystals emitting at 460 to 480 nm. The recombination efficiency of carriers is highly sensitive to the chlorine content and the related deep-level defects in nanocrystals, causing notable EQE drops even with minor increases in chlorine defects. Minor adjustments of chlorine content through rubidium compensation on the A-site effectively suppress the formation of nonradiative defects, improving PL QYs while retaining desirable bandgaps for blue-emitting nanocrystals. Our PeLEDs with record-high efficiencies span the blue spectrum, achieving peak EQEs of 12.0% (460 nm), 16.7% (465 nm), 21.3% (470 nm), 24.3% (475 nm), and 26.4% (480 nm). This work exemplifies chlorine-defect control as a key design principle for high-efficiency blue PeLEDs.
Scale-inspired programmable robotic structures with concurrent shape morphing and stiffness variation
Authors: Chen Tianyu , Yang Xudong , Zhang Bojian , Li Junwei , Pan Jie , Wang Yifan
Published: July 2024

Biological organisms often have remarkable multifunctionality through intricate structures, such as concurrent shape morphing and stiffness variation in the octopus. Soft robots, which are inspired by natural creatures, usually require the integration of separate modules to achieve these various functions. As a result, the whole structure is cumbersome, and the control system is complex, often involving multiple control loops to finish a required task. Here, inspired by the scales that cover creatures like pangolins and fish, we developed a robotic structure that can vary its stiffness and change shape simultaneously in a highly integrated, compact body. The scale-inspired layered structure (SAILS) was enabled by the inversely designed programmable surface patterns of the scales. After fabrication, SAILS was inherently soft and flexible. When sealed in an elastic envelope and subjected to negative confining pressure, it transitioned to its designated shape and concurrently became stiff. SAILS could be actuated at frequencies as high as 5 hertz and achieved an apparent bending modulus change of up to 53 times between its soft and stiff states. We further demonstrated both the versatility of SAILS by developing a soft robot that is amphibious and adaptive and tunable landing systems for drones with the capacity to accommodate different loads.
Molecular dissection of cobra venom highlights heparinoids as an antidote for spitting cobra envenoming
Authors: Du Tian Y. , Hall Steven R. , Chung Felicity , Kurdyukov Sergey , Crittenden Edouard , Patel Karishma , Dawson Charlotte A. , Westhorpe Adam P. , Bartlett Keirah E. , Rasmussen Sean A. , Moreno Cesar L. , Denes Christopher E. , Albulescu Laura-Oana , Marriott Amy E. , Mackay Joel P. , Wilkinson Mark C. , Gutiérrez José María , Casewell Nicholas R. , Neely G. Gregory
Published: July 2024

Snakebites affect about 1.8 million people annually. The current standard of care involves antibody-based antivenoms, which can be difficult to access and are generally not effective against local tissue injury, the primary cause of morbidity. Here, we used a pooled whole-genome CRISPR knockout screen to define human genes that, when targeted, modify cell responses to spitting cobra venoms. A large portion of modifying genes that conferred resistance to venom cytotoxicity was found to control proteoglycan biosynthesis, including
EXT1
,
B4GALT7
,
EXT2
,
EXTL3
,
XYLT2
,
NDST1
, and
SLC35B2
, which we validated independently. This finding suggested heparinoids as possible inhibitors. Heparinoids prevented venom cytotoxicity through binding to three-finger cytotoxins, and the US Food and Drug Administration–approved heparinoid tinzaparin was found to reduce tissue damage in mice when given via a medically relevant route and dose. Overall, our systematic molecular dissection of cobra venom cytotoxicity provides insight into how we can better treat cobra snakebite envenoming.
Pharmacokinetic–pharmacodynamic modeling of tuberculosis time to positivity and colony-forming unit to assess the response to dose-ranging linezolid
Authors: Simeon Segolene , Garcia-Cremades Maria , Savic Rada , Solans Belén P.
Published: July 2024

According to the World Health Organization, the number of tuberculosis (TB) infections and the drug-resistant burden worldwide increased by 4.5% and 3.0%, respectively, between 2020 and 2021. Disease severity and complexity drive the interest for undertaking new clinical trials to provide efficient treatment to limit spread and drug resistance. TB Alliance conducted a phase 2 study in 106 patients to guide linezolid (LZD) dose selection using early bactericidal activity over 14 days of treatment. LZD is highly efficient for drug-resistant TB treatment, but treatment monitoring is required since serious adverse events can occur. The objective of this study was to develop a pharmacokinetic–pharmacodynamic (PKPD) model to analyze the dose–response relationship between linezolid exposure and efficacy biomarkers. Using time to positivity (TTP) and colony-forming unit (CFU) count data, we developed a PKPD model in six dosing regimens, differing on LZD dosing intensity. A one-compartment model with five transit absorption compartments and non-linear auto-inhibition elimination described best LZD pharmacokinetic characteristics. TTP and CFU logarithmic scaled [log(CFU)] showed a bactericidal activity of LZD against
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
. TTP was defined by a model with two significant covariates: the presence of uni- and bilateral cavities decreased baseline TTP value by 24%, and an increase on every 500 mg/L/h of cumulative area under the curve increased the rate at which TTP and CFU change from baseline by 20% and 11%, respectively.

CLINICAL TRIALS

This study is registered with

ClinicalTrials.gov
as
NCT02279875

.
mRNA-based HIV-1 vaccines
Authors: Ahmed Shamim , Herschhorn Alon
Published: July 2024

The success of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 mRNA vaccines to lessen/prevent severe COVID-19 opened new opportunities to develop RNA vaccines to fight other infectious agents. HIV-1 is a lentivirus that integrates into the host cell genome and persists for the lifetime of infected cells. Multiple mechanisms of immune evasion have posed significant obstacles to the development of an effective HIV-1 vaccine over the last four decades since the identification of HIV-1. Recently, attempts to address some of these challenges have led to multiple studies that manufactured, optimized, and tested, in different animal models, mRNA-based HIV-1 vaccines. Several clinical trials have also been initiated or are planned to start soon. Here, we review the current strategies applied to HIV-1 mRNA vaccines, discuss different targeting approaches, summarize the latest findings, and offer insights into the challenges and future of HIV-1 mRNA vaccines.
Apert syndrome: craniofacial challenges and clinical implications
Authors: Singh Niharika , Verma Promila , Bains Rhythm , Mutalikdesai Jagruti
Published: July 2024

Apert syndrome is a rare acro-cephalo-syndactyly syndrome characterised by craniosynostosis, severe syndactyly of hands and feet, and dysmorphic facial features. It demonstrates autosomal dominant inheritance assigned to mutations in the fibroblast growth factor receptor gene, as a result of which signals are not received to produce necessary fibrous material necessary for normal cranial sutures. Deformities are generally cosmetic but can affect various functions such as hearing, visual abnormalities, swallowing, writing, etc, so a multidisciplinary approach is needed for their management.

Presently described is a case of a male in his late adolescence who was medically diagnosed with Apert syndrome at birth. Physical appearance and dental examination of the patient included acrocephaly, prominent forehead, ocular hypertelorism, proptosis, short and broad nose, pseudo-prognathism, dental crowding and ectopia, maxillary hypoplasia, low hairline, webbed neck, pectus excavatum and severe bilateral syndactyly of hands and feet.
Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: a prospective randomised trial protocol comparing clinical and radiological outcomes in minimally invasive surgery versus standard posterior spinal fusion in a single-centre, the Rizzoli Orthopaedic Institute, Bologna, Italy
Authors: Maccaferri Bruna , Filardo Giuseppe , Cini Chiara , Gasbarrini Alessandro , Vommaro Francesco
Published: July 2024

Introduction

Minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS) has been shown to be safe and effective in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) correction, even though there is no consensus on which treatment provides the best results.

Methods and analysis

The present study will be a randomised controlled trial with allocation 1:1. We will enrol 126 patients with Cobb≤70° undergoing AIS surgery. Patients will be divided into two groups, according to a randomisation list unknown to the surgeons. Group 1 will be treated with posterior spine fusion and group 2 with MISS. MISS technique: two midline noncontiguous skin incisions of 3 cm in length, 3–4 segments (6–8 pedicles screws) instrumented per skin incision, uniplanar and polyaxial pedicle screws inserted bilaterally on each side of the proximal and distal levels, rod translation manoeuvre and C–D manoeuvre performed on the distal part. Clinical and radiological follow-ups will be performed for 5 years. Values of Cobb angles degrees will be collected to study the correction rate of the structural major curve. Postoperative and preoperative anterior-posterior (AP) direct radiography will be compared with the last follow-up examination. Operative time, preoperative haemoglobin (Hb) and second postoperative day Hb, full length of hospitalisation, time to achieve verticalisation and time to remove the drainage will be recorded. Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) medium score will be assessed immediately after surgery and during the whole postoperative rehabilitation treatment to estimate pain reduction. Complications will be collected postoperatively and throughout the whole follow-up period.

Moreover, questionnaires will be administered at follow-up (NRS, Scoliosis Research Society-22 and Oswestry Disability Index) for the clinical assessment.

Ethics and dissemination

The study protocol has been approved by the local ethic committee Area Vasta Emilia Romagna Centro. Written informed consent will be collected for all the participants. Findings of this study will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations.

Trial registration number

NCT05860673.
Effects of patient-based self-assessed fatigue intervention on early postoperative ambulation following gynaecological oncology surgery: a randomised controlled non-inferiority trial
Authors: Du Qian , Chen Bo , Zhang Xiaohong , He Hong , Qin Xiaomin , Li Lin , Du Junyi , He Xindi , Xu Shaoyong , Xiaojie Huang
Published: July 2024

Objectives

To assess the impact of a patient-based self-assessed fatigue intervention aimed at promoting early postoperative ambulation.

Design

Prospective randomised controlled trial.

Setting

Single-centre, conducted at the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department of the Xiangyang Central Hospital, China.

Participants

Eligible were adult patients undergoing elective gynaecologic oncologic surgery.

Interventions

The intervention group utilised a modified Borg Rating of Perceived Experience (RPE) scale for self-assessment of fatigue levels. The control group followed fixed-activity distance guidelines postoperatively.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

The primary outcome was the self-reported the time to first flatus postoperatively. Secondary outcomes encompassed the time to first defecation, incidence of moderate-to-severe abdominal distention, ileus, postambulation adverse events (nausea, vomiting and dizziness), patient satisfaction with early ambulation instructions, compliance with early ambulation and average hospital costs and length of stay.

Results

Between June 2021 and October 2022, 552 patients were enrolled. The self-assessed fatigue intervention group demonstrated non-inferior the time to first flatus compared with the fixed-activity distance assessment group (25.59±14.59 hours vs 26.10±14.19 hours, pnon-inferiority<0.001). Compliance with activity was higher in the intervention group (49.40% vs 36.02%, p<0.001), although it did not reach 50%. The intervention group also exhibited significantly higher mean hospital costs, length of stay and incidence of moderate-to-severe abdominal distention (p<0.001).

Conclusions

The self-assessed fatigue intervention for early postoperative ambulation in gynaecologic oncology patients shows promise as an effective strategy; however, compliance is suboptimal. An intervention based on mandatory, yet reasonable, fixed-activity distance may represent the most viable current approach. Further research is warranted to confirm these findings.

Trial registration number

CTR2100046035.
Identifying suicidal risk factors in the French Overseas Territories with multimethod psychological autopsy (AUTOPSOM): a mixed-methods study protocol
Authors: Amiot Maya , Amadéo Stéphane , Merle Sylvie , Guidère Mathieu , Jehel Louis , Seguin Monique , Spodenkiewicz Michel
Published: July 2024

Introduction

Understanding suicide in more isolated territories is a challenge because of the entanglement of cultural identity with historical, geographical and sociocultural specificities. This knowledge is a necessary precondition for the implementation of targeted prevention strategies in regions such as the French overseas territories (FOT), where data concerning suicidal risk factors is still incomplete. We aim to untangle sociocultural and clinical suicide risk factors by integrating a novel anthropological and psycholinguistic approach into the psychological autopsy method. This article describes the protocol of the clinical study ‘Contribution of Psychological Autopsy to the Understanding of Suicidal Behaviours in Overseas France’ (AUTOPSOM study), designed to identify common or new specific suicide risk factors in four FOT.

Methods and analysis

A multicentre epidemiological study will be carried out in four FOTs (French Polynesia, Martinique, La Reunion and French Guiana) and at a comparison site in mainland France (La Somme). The methodology will be based on a mixed-methods (quantitative and qualitative) approach using a psychological autopsy to collect clinical data and life events in the deceased’s life. We implemented an exploratory multimethod strategy that combines a succession of epidemiological, anthropological, psycholinguistic and psychological methods with a semiautomated analysis of the discourse of relatives bereaved by suicide.

Ethics and dissemination

The study protocol (first version) was approved by the French Ethics Committee (CPP OUEST II, approval #22.04267.000122) and the Ethics Committee of French Polynesia (JOPF of 5 April 2022; CEPF opinion n°91 of 29 March 2022). The overall results and the perspectives established at the end of the study will be communicated to the bereaved relatives according to their will and serve for local suicide prevention purposes.

Trial registration number

NCT05773898.
Effectiveness of team-based care interventions in improving blood pressure outcomes among adults with hypertension in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Hinneh Thomas , Boakye Hosea , Metlock Faith , Ogungbe Oluwabunmi , Kruahong Suratsawadee , Byiringiro Samuel , Dennison Himmelfarb Cheryl , Commodore-Mensah Yvonne
Published: July 2024

Objective

We evaluated the effectiveness of team-based care interventions in improving blood pressure (BP) outcomes among adults with hypertension in Africa.

Design

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Data source

PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, HINARI and African Index Medicus databases were searched from inception to March 2023.

Eligibility criteria for selecting studies

We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and pre-post study designs published in English language focusing on (1) Adults diagnosed with hypertension, (2) Team-based care hypertension interventions led by non-physician healthcare providers (HCPs) and (3) Studies conducted in Africa.

Data extraction and synthesis

We extracted study characteristics, the nature of team-based care interventions, team members involved and other reported secondary outcomes. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool for RCTs and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute assessment tool for pre-post studies. Findings were summarised and presented narratively including data from pre-post studies. Meta-analysis was conducted using a random effects model for only RCT studies. Overall certainty of evidence was determined using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) tool for only the primary outcome (systolic BP).

Results

Of the 3375 records screened, 33 studies (16 RCTs and 17 pre-post studies) were included and 11 RCTs were in the meta-analysis. The overall mean effect of team-based care interventions on systolic BP reduction was −3.91 mm Hg (95% CI −5.68 to −2.15, I² = 0.0%). Systolic BP reduction in team-based care interventions involving community health workers was −4.43 mm Hg (95% CI −5.69 to −3.17, I² = 0.00%) and nurses −3.75 mm Hg (95% CI −10.62 to 3.12, I² = 42.0%). Based on the GRADE assessment, we judged the overall certainty of evidence low for systolic BP reduction suggesting that team-based care intervention may result in a small reduction in systolic BP.

Conclusion

Evidence from this review supports the implementation of team-based care interventions across the continuum of care to improve awareness, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and control of hypertension in Africa.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42023398900.