bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Promote or inhibit? Examining the influence of youth digital advocacy on digital social entrepreneurship
Authors: Herani Rina , Pranandari Anggraeni
Published: July 2024

Purpose

This study aims to investigates the impact of felt obligation for constructive change, constructive voices on social media and social media knowledge competence on digital social entrepreneurship among Indonesian youth.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses Hayes’ process model to assess the stated hypotheses using survey data gathered from 489 Indonesian youth.

Findings

Youth with elevated social media knowledge competency might display diminished motivation to participate in digital social entrepreneurship, even when their felt obligation for constructive change remains robust. While promotive voice on social media mediates the relationship between felt obligation and digital social entrepreneurship, the notable absence of a mediating role for prohibitive voice on social media contradicts traditional Positive Youth Development (PYD) theory

Research limitations/implications

This research challenges conventional PYD theory by suggesting that youth with high social media knowledge competence may have reduced motivation for digital social entrepreneurship, despite a strong commitment to positive change. While promotive voice behavior mediates the relationship between felt obligation and digital entrepreneurship, the absence of mediation by prohibitive voice contradicts traditional PYD principles. This study expands the PYD framework, highlighting the challenges related to social media knowledge competence and prohibitive voice in engaging youth advocates for digital social entrepreneurship. It emphasizes the need to adapt PYD theory to address the complexities of the digital age effectively.

Practical implications

The findings offer valuable insights for students, aspiring young entrepreneurs, educators and policymakers interested in advancing the development of digital social entrepreneurship in a developing nation.

Social implications

This research offers valuable practical implications for policymakers, educators and society. It suggests the importance of nurturing a sense of responsibility among young individuals, enabling their active involvement in addressing issues like environmental degradation and discrimination. Creating supportive online communities for collaboration and constructive voice behavior on social media can provide judgment-free environments. Additionally, advocating for partnerships between youth and various stakeholders can boost resources, mentorship and funding opportunities, enhancing the prospects for impactful digital social entrepreneurship.

Originality/value

This study contributes to an underexplored area in the field of social entrepreneurship by investigating the intersection of youth, digital advocacy and digital social entrepreneurship. The incorporation of the PYD theory introduces a novel dimension to recent research in this domain
Social media marketing and brand loyalty: exploring interrelationships through symmetrical and asymmetrical modeling
Authors: Ali Faizan , Suveatwatanakul Chokechai , Nanu Luana , Ali Murad , Terrah Abraham
Published: July 2024

Purpose

This study aims to examine the interrelationships between social media marketing activities, self-brand connections, brand equity, trust and loyalty.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 402 valid responses were collected from Amazon MTurk, and the data were subjected to partial least squares structural equation modeling and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA).

Findings

Findings indicate that social media marketing activities strongly and positively influence self-brand connection, brand equity and brand trust. Moreover, brand loyalty was strongly and positively influenced by self-brand connection, brand equity and brand trust. Moreover, the findings from fsQCA indicate that three causal paths lead to a high level of brand loyalty, and one causal path determines a low level of brand loyalty.

Originality/value

This research extends current knowledge by bridging the literature between social media marketing activities and branding using self-brand connections. Additionally, this study uses the strength of two complimentary methods – symmetrical and asymmetrical modeling – to uncover how social media marketing activities bridge customer-brand relationships.
Soil type and precipitation level have a greater influence on fungal than bacterial diversity in serpentine and non‐serpentine biological soil crusts
Authors: Botha Danielle , Barnard Sandra , Claassens Sarina , Rajakaruna Nishanta , Venter Arthurita , Ismail Arshad , Allam Mushal , Siebert Stefan J.
Published: July 2024

Serpentine soils are characterized by nutrient imbalances and high levels of potentially toxic metals (PTMs). These soils host depauperate plant communities of species with specialized adaptations. Initial studies showed that South African serpentine soils harbor distinct biocrust algal and cyanobacterial species compared to adjacent non‐serpentine soils, with these communities further differing based on high and low precipitation levels. Here, we investigated the bacterial and fungal diversity of biological soil crusts from serpentine and non‐serpentine soils at two precipitation levels. The bacterial and fungal communities were characterized using 16S rDNA and ITS metabarcoding, respectively. No significant differences could be found in bacterial richness and community structure. Nevertheless, bacterial taxa such as Archangium, Candidatus Solibacter, Chthoniobacter, and Microvirga were more abundant in serpentine biocrusts or biocrusts receiving lower precipitation. The fungal community structure was distinct between serpentine and non‐serpentine soils (p = 0.027) and between high and low precipitation (p = 0.018). Furthermore, fungal diversity was lowest in the drier, serpentine biocrusts compared to non‐serpentine (p = 0.001) and serpentine crusts receiving higher precipitation (p = 0.002). The fungal genera, Ramimonilia and Vishniacozyma, which are known to be resistant or tolerant to PTMs and other environmental extremes, were significantly more abundant (p = 0.036 and p = 0.016, respectively) in serpentine biocrusts, with the latter indicating serpentine habitats. This study concluded that soil type influenced the fungal alpha diversity, specifically in the serpentine soil, resulting in a decrease in fungal species richness. Furthermore, precipitation influenced fungal beta diversity by shaping distinct fungal communities found in the biocrusts of serpentine and non‐serpentine soils.
The role of race, gender, and poverty on length of pretrial jail stays: A multi‐site analysis
Authors: Ouellette Heather M. , Huebner Beth M. , Giuffre Andrea , Slocum Lee Ann , Schaefer Brian P.
Published: July 2024

Research Summary

The average length of jail stays is increasing despite national efforts to reduce these populations. The current study examines variations in lengths of stay, differentiating between short and long pretrial stays. Using data from two large jails in metropolitan jurisdictions, we take an intersectional perspective and model potential differences among race, gender, and residing in a high‐poverty area. In both locations, we find that Black men are the most likely to have long lengths of stay, but that length of stay varies depending on the intersection of gender, race, and neighborhood poverty.

Policy Implications:

The human costs of pretrial detention are paid unequally by different groups of people. Given the downstream costs of pretrial detention, this work suggests that focusing policy efforts on the barriers to release among people of color, particularly Black men, would be fruitful. There is evidence that bail reform can reduce some barriers to release without increases in crime. Further, attending to obstacles to case processing could lead to pretrial system reform. This work also highlights another area of the criminal legal system where Black males, compared to their White counterparts, are disparately affected and denotes the continuing need for intersectional perspectives on reform.
Intramyometrial and intravenous oxytocin compared to intravenous carbetocin for prevention of postpartum hemorrhage in elective cesarean section—A quasi‐randomized controlled phase IV non‐inferiority interventional trial
Authors: Brun Romana , Meier Lea , Kapfhammer Elisabeth , Zimmermann Roland , Ochsenbein‐Kölble Nicole , Haslinger Christian
Published: July 2024

Introduction

Our objective was to assess non‐inferiority of the unique approach used in our institution of combined 10 IU IM (intramyometrial) and 10 IU IV (intravenous) oxytocin to carbetocin IV in preventing severe postpartum blood loss in elective cesarean sections. The design was a prospective controlled phase IV non‐inferiority interventional trial. The setting was a tertiary center at University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland.

Material and Methods

The population consisted of 550 women undergoing elective cesarean section after 36 completed weeks of gestation at low risk for postpartum hemorrhage (PPH). Participants were assigned to either combined oxytocin regimen (10 IU IM and 10 IU IV) or carbetocin (100 μg IV). Non‐inferiority for oxytocin for severe PPH was assessed with a 0.05 margin using the Newcombe–Wilson score method. The main outcome measures were severe postpartum blood loss defined as delta hemoglobin (∆Hb, Hb prepartum—Hb postpartum) ≥30 g/L.

Results

Non‐inferiority of combined oxytocin (IM/IV) in preventing severe postpartum blood loss was not shown (17 women in the oxytocin group vs. 7 in the carbetocin group). The number needed to treat when using carbetocin was 28. The risk difference for ∆Hb ≥30 g/L was 0.04 (oxytocin 0.06 vs. 0.03), 95% confidence interval (CI) (0.00–0.08). No significant difference was observed for ∆Hb (median 12 [IQR 7.0–19.0] vs. 11 [5.0–17.0], p = 0.07), estimated blood loss (median 500 [IQR 400–600] vs. 500 [400–575], p = 0.38), or the PPH rate defined as estimated blood loss ≥1000 mL (12[4.5] vs. 5 [2.0], risk difference 0.03, 95% CI (−0.01 to 0.06), p = 0.16). More additional uterotonics were administered in the oxytocin group compared to the carbetocin group (15.2% vs. 5.9%, p = 0.001). Total case costs were non‐significantly different in the oxytocin group (US $ 10 146 vs. 9621, mean difference 471.4, CI (−476.5 to 1419.3), p = 0.33).

Conclusions

Combined (IM/IV) oxytocin is not non‐inferior to carbetocin regarding severe postpartum blood loss defined as postpartum Hb decrease ≥30 g/L in elective cesarean sections. We recommend carbetocin for use in clinical practice for elective cesarean sections.
What is known about the use of weight loss medication in women with overweight/obesity on fertility and reproductive health outcomes? A scoping review
Authors: Maslin Kate , Alkutbe Rabab , Gilbert Jeremy , Pinkney Jonathan , Shawe Jill
Published: July 2024

Pregnancy during or soon after treatment with weight loss medication, particularly glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonists (GLP‐1 RAs), is contraindicated due to potential teratogenicity. The aim of this scoping review is to investigate what is known about the use of weight loss medication in women of childbearing age in relation to reproductive health outcomes, focusing on the three medications licenced in the United Kingdom at the time of the search. A systematic search of studies that assessed reproductive health outcomes in women taking either orlistat, liraglutide or semaglutide was undertaken in July 2023 and updated in January 2024 across MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, Scopus, ClinicalTrials.gov, PROSPERO, Epistemonikos and OpenGrey. Studies focused on polycystic ovarian syndrome, diabetes or animals were excluded. Titles and abstracts were screened, and data from included articles were extracted. After removal of duplicates, 341 titles remained, of which 318 were excluded. Of the final 18 articles included, there were five interventional trials, one retrospective case‐control study, six narrative reviews, two systematic reviews, three systematic review protocols and one registry protocol yet to start recruitment. All five interventional trials involved orlistat given preconceptionally, showing no improvement in live birth rate, despite improvement in reproductive hormone levels. There were no studies with primary data about GLP‐1 RAs. There were no qualitative studies. There is an absence of primary data about the role of GLP‐1 RAs on the reproductive health of women of childbearing age without polycystic ovarian syndrome. Future research should explore short‐ and long‐term effects on reproductive health, pregnancy outcomes and experiences.
Impact of Age of Heart Transplant Program on Patient Survival and Post‐Transplant Outcomes
Authors: Majure David T. , Sayer Gabriel , Clerkin Kevin J. , Karas Maria G. , Jones Mandisa , Horn Evelyn M. , Naka Yoshifumi , Uriel Nir
Published: July 2024

Background

The relationship between age of a heart transplant (HT) program and outcomes has not been explored.

Methods

We performed a retrospective cohort analysis of the United Network for Organ Sharing database of all adult HTs between 2009 and 2019. For each patient, we created a variable that corresponded to program age: new (<5), developing (≥5 but <10) and established (≥10) years.

Results

Of 20 997 HTs, 822 were at new, 908 at developing, and 19 267 at established programs. Patients at new programs were significantly more likely to have history of cigarette smoking, ischemic cardiomyopathy, and prior sternotomy. These programs were less likely to accept organs from older donors and those with a history of hypertension or cigarette use. As compared to patients at new programs, transplant patients at established programs had less frequent rates of treated rejection during the index hospitalization (HR 0.43 [95% CI, 0.36–0.53] p < 0.001) and at 1 year (HR 0.58 [95% CI, 0.49–0.70], p < 0.001), less frequently required pacemaker implantations (HR 0.50 [95% CI, 0.36–0.69], p < 0.001), and less frequently required dialysis (HR 0.66 [95% CI, 0.53–0.82], p < 0.001). However, there were no significant differences in short‐ or long‐term survival between the groups (log‐rank p = 0.24).

Conclusion

Patient and donor selection differed between new, developing, and established HT programs but had equivalent survival. New programs had increased likelihood of treated rejection, pacemaker implantation, and need for dialysis. Standardized post‐transplant practices may help to minimize this variation and ensure optimal outcomes for all patients.
Hepatitis B Virus Reactivation in Non‐Liver Solid Organ Transplantation: Incidence and Risk Analysis
Authors: Chiu Chia‐Yu , Brumble Lisa M. , Vikram Holenarasipur R. , Watt Kymberly D. , Beam Elena
Published: July 2024

Introduction

Hepatitis B virus reactivation (HBVr) can occur in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients with previously inactive hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Previous studies have reported that HBVr is generally less than 10% in nonliver SOT recipients with past HBV infection.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective study from January 2018 to August 2023 at Mayo Clinic sites in Arizona, Florida, and Minnesota. We examined the antiviral prophylaxis strategy used and the characteristics of HBVr in hepatitis B core antibody‐positive (HBcAb +) nonliver SOT adult recipients. Past HBV infection was defined as HBcAb + / hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) –. Chronic HBV infection was defined as HBcAb + / HBsAg +.

Results

A total of 180 nonliver SOT recipients were identified during the study period. Indefinite antiviral prophylaxis was utilized in 77 recipients, and none developed HBVr after transplantation. In 103 recipients without antiviral prophylaxis, the incidence of HBVr was 12% (12/97) and 33% (2/6) in those with past HBV infection and chronic HBV infection. The incidence of HBVr in patients with past HBV infection is 16% (8/50), 15% (3/20), and 5% (1/22) in kidney, heart, and lungs, respectively. HBVr was more frequent in those who received alemtuzumab. Among 14 recipients with HBVr, none had HBV‐associated liver failure or death.

Conclusions

Our study observed a higher rate of HBVr (12%) in nonliver SOT recipients with past HBV infection compared to the previous studies. Further studies are needed to identify predictors of HBVr in nonliver SOT recipients and optimize antiviral prophylaxis guidance.
Incretin‐based therapy and the risk of diabetic foot ulcers and related events
Authors: Werkman Nikki C. C. , Driessen Johanna H. M. , Klungel Olaf H. , Schaper Nicolaas S. , Souverein Patrick C. , Stehouwer Coen D. A. , Nielen Johannes T. H.
Published: July 2024

Aim

To investigate the effect of dipeptidyl peptidase‐4 inhibitors (DPP4‐Is) and glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonists (GLP1‐RAs) on diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) and DFU‐related outcomes (lower limb amputation [LLA], DFU‐related hospitalization and mortality).

Methods

We performed a cohort study with data from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink Aurum database with linkage to hospital data. We included people with type 2 diabetes starting treatment with metformin. Then we propensity score matched new users of DPP4‐Is and sulphonylureas (N = 98 770), and new users of GLP1‐RAs and insulin (N = 25 422). Cox proportional hazards models estimated the hazard ratios (HRs) for the outcomes.

Results

We observed a lower risk of DFU with both DPP4‐I use versus sulphonylurea use (HR 0.88, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.79‐0.97) and GLP1‐RA use versus insulin use (HR 0.44, 95% CI: 0.32‐0.60) for short‐term exposure (≤ 400 days) and HR 0.74 (95% CI: 0.60‐0.92) for long‐term exposure (>400 days). Furthermore, the risks of hospitalization and mortality were lower with both DPP4‐I use and GLP1‐RA use. The risk of LLA was lower with GLP1‐RA use. The results remained consistent across several sensitivity analyses.

Conclusions

Incretin‐based therapy was associated with a lower risk of DFU and DFU‐related outcomes. This suggests benefits for the use of this treatment in people at risk of DFU.
Randomised comparison of intravenous and subcutaneous routes of glucagon‐like peptide‐1 administration for lowering plasma glucose in hyperglycaemic subjects with type 2 diabetes
Authors: Quast Daniel R. , Lancaster Dara , Xie Cong , Bound Michelle J. , Grivell Jacqueline , Jones Karen L. , Horowitz Michael , Meier Juris J. , Wu Tongzhi , Rayner Christopher K. , Nauck Michael A.
Published: July 2024

Aim

To perform a direct, double‐blind, randomised, crossover comparison of subcutaneous and intravenous glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP‐1) in hyperglycaemic subjects with type 2 diabetes naïve to GLP‐1‐based therapy.

Materials and Methods

Ten fasted, hyperglycaemic subjects (1 female, age 63 ± 10 years [mean ± SD], glycated haemoglobin 73.5 ± 22.0 mmol/mol [8.9% ± 2.0%], both mean ± SD) received subcutaneous GLP‐1 and intravenous saline, or intravenous GLP‐1 and subcutaneous saline. Infusion rates were doubled every 120 min (1.2, 2.4, 4.8 and 9.6 pmol·kg−1·min−1 for subcutaneous, and 0.3, 0.6, 1.2 and 2.4 pmol·kg−1·min−1 for intravenous). Plasma glucose, total and intact GLP‐1, insulin, C‐peptide, glucagon and gastrointestinal symptoms were evaluated over 8 h. The results are presented as mean ± SEM.

Results

Plasma glucose decreased more with intravenous (by ~8.0 mmol/L [144 mg/dL]) than subcutaneous GLP‐1 (by ~5.6 mmol/L [100 mg/dL]; p < 0.001). Plasma GLP‐1 increased dose‐dependently, but more with intravenous than subcutaneous for both total (∆max 154.2 ± 3.9 pmol/L vs. 85.1 ± 3.8 pmol/L; p < 0.001), and intact GLP‐1 (∆max 44.2 ± 2.2 pmol/L vs. 12.8 ± 2.2 pmol/L; p < 0.001). Total and intact GLP‐1 clearance was higher for subcutaneous than intravenous GLP‐1 (p < 0.001 and p = 0.002, respectively). The increase in insulin secretion was greater, and glucagon was suppressed more with intravenous GLP‐1 (p < 0.05 each). Gastrointestinal symptoms did not differ (p > 0.05 each).

Conclusions

Subcutaneous GLP‐1 administration is much less efficient than intravenous GLP‐1 in lowering fasting plasma glucose, with less stimulation of insulin and suppression of glucagon, and much less bioavailability, even at fourfold higher infusion rates.
Evidence on quality spillovers from speed enhancing policies in the workplace
Authors: Hill Alexandra E. , Beatty Timothy K. M.
Published: July 2024

Empirical researchers often consider a single determinant of labor productivity: speed. This paper asks whether they are neglecting spillovers on output quality. Using high‐frequency data on the speed and quality of strawberry harvesters' work, we offer novel evidence that two distinct workplace policies associated with increases in worker speed lead to similar decreases in the quality of their work. We find that both peer speed and wage changes boost worker speed and lower output quality; 10 percent increases in speed are associated with reductions in quality on the order of 1.5–1.7 percent.
Competitive interactions affect introgression and population viability amidst maladaptive hybridization
Authors: Reed Thomas Eric , Kane Adam , McGinnity Philip , O'Sullivan Ronan James
Published: July 2024

The deliberate release of captive‐bred individuals, the accidental escape of domesticated strains, or the invasion of closely related conspecifics into wild populations can all lead to introgressive hybridization, which poses a challenge for conservation and wildlife management. Rates of introgression and the magnitude of associated demographic impacts vary widely across ecological contexts. However, the reasons for this variation remain poorly understood. One rarely considered phenomenon in this context is soft selection, wherein relative trait values determine success in intraspecific competition for a limiting resource. Here we develop an eco‐genetic model explicitly focussed on understanding the influence of such competitive interactions on the eco‐evolutionary dynamics of wild populations experiencing an influx of foreign/domesticated individuals. The model is applicable to any taxon that experiences natural or human‐mediated inputs of locally maladapted genotypes (‘intrusion’), in addition to phenotype‐dependent competition for a limiting resource (e.g. breeding sites, feeding territories). The effects of both acute and chronic intrusion depended strongly on the relative competitiveness of intruders versus locals. When intruders were competitively inferior, density‐dependent regulation limited their reproductive success (ability to compete for limited spawning sites), which prevented strong introgression or population declines from occurring. In contrast, when intruders were competitively superior, this amplified introgression and led to increased maladaptation of the admixed population. This had negative consequences for population size and population viability. The results were sensitive to the intrusion level, the magnitude of reproductive excess, trait heritability and the extent to which intruders were maladapted relative to locals. Our findings draw attention to under‐appreciated interactions between phenotype‐dependent competitive interactions and maladaptive hybridization, which may be critical to determining the impact captive breeding programmes and domesticated escapees can have on otherwise self‐sustaining wild populations.
Diversification in birds is promoted by plant diversity, topographic heterogeneity and stable paleoclimate
Authors: Wang Xinyu , Miao Lu , Huang Xiongwei , Mao Lingfeng , Cai Tianlong , Svenning Jens‐Christian , Feng Gang
Published: July 2024

Aims

Long‐term climate stability, contemporary climate and environmental heterogeneity have been linked to bird diversity patterns through their direct impacts on diversification rate, as well as through their indirect effects on plant species richness, which could also directly and indirectly affect bird diversity. This study aimed to quantitatively assess whether these potential drivers could indirectly affect bird species richness through their direct effects on the diversification rate in birds in eastern Asia.

Location

Mainland China.

Taxon

Birds.

Methods

Using the distribution data of 1127 bird species across 320 prefecture cities in China and a phylogenetic tree of these bird species, we analysed the distribution patterns of bird species richness and diversification rate of all birds, passerine birds and non‐passerine birds, respectively. We also investigated their relationships with long‐term climate stability, contemporary climate, elevation range and plant diversity using ordinary least squares regression model and simultaneous autoregressive model. In addition, structural equation model was used to analyse whether these drivers could indirectly affect bird species richness through their direct effects on bird diversification rate.

Results

The results showed that bird species richness and diversification rate were highest in southwestern China. Additionally, diversification rate for passerine birds was higher than non‐passerine birds and all birds. Regression analyses revealed that plant species richness was the variable most associated with bird species richness and diversification rate across the three groups. Notably, results from structural equation model indicated that plant species richness, elevation range and glacial–interglacial climate change can indirectly influence bird species richness by directly affecting diversification rates.

Main Conclusions

These findings emphasize the importance of considering diversification rate when understanding the geographic distribution patterns of bird diversity. The direct and indirect effects of plant species richness, elevation range and glacial–interglacial climate change on bird diversity highlight the crucial role of mountain regions with higher plant diversity and stable paleoclimate in forming and maintaining biodiversity.
A grader for fresh jujube with electromagnetic synchronous actuator assembly
Authors: Zhang Jun , Yu Hao , Kang Ningbo , Qu Qianjin , Cheng Bo , He Peng
Published: July 2024

In recent years, the post‐harvest commercialization of fresh jujube sorting technology is backward, the efficiency of manual grading is low, and the application of machine vision technology in fruit grading has been a research hotspot. To improve the grading accuracy and speed of the fresh jujube machine vision grading machine, this study designs a method of fresh jujube machine vision grading using an electromagnetic synchronous actuator. The grading machine consists of an automatic distribution and arrangement system, an image acquisition and processing system, and a synchronous actuator assembly, which uses a sensitive electromagnet to adsorb a silicon steel switching buckling plate to execute the action. The image processing process includes an image color component, Sobel operator filtering, Otsu method binarization, and ellipse fitting to extract the color and size eigenvalues. The experimental results show that the date images can be acquired quickly and processed accurately with a processing speed of 50 ms per frame. In addition, the proposed actuator can be sensitively triggered with a response time of 40 ms. The grader successfully classified jujube into five size classes and one color class. The grading accuracy and non‐destructive rate reached 93.7% and 100%, respectively. The grading efficiency is 20 jujubes per second, with a maximum production rate of 1400 kilograms per hour. This grading machine realizes the requirements of high accuracy, high speed, and non‐destructive grading of fresh jujube and provides an important technical and theoretical basis for the development of machine vision jujube rapid grading technology.

Practical applications

In recent years, sorting technology in the post‐harvest commercialization of fruits has been outdated, and manual grading has been inefficient. The application of machine vision technology in fruit grading has been a research hotspot in recent years. This study designs a machine vision grading of fresh dates with an electromagnetic synchronous actuator. The grader was composed of a roller conveyor, synchronous actuator assembly, image main processor, and actuator controlling co‐processor. Experimental results indicated that jujube images could be acquired rapidly and processed accurately, with a processing speed of 50 ms per frame. In addition, the proposed actuator could be sensitively triggered with a response time of 40 ms. Finally, the grader successfully sorted jujubes into five size classes and one color class. The grading accuracy rate and non‐destructive rate reached 93.7% and 100%, respectively. The grading efficiency was 20 jujubes per second, and the maximum productivity was 1400 kg/h.
Numerical simulation of three physical fields in counter‐current ultrasound
Authors: Li Kexin , Ma Haile , Li Shujun , Wang Chuyan
Published: July 2024

Power ultrasound is a kind of green and environmentally friendly processing technology. Still, because of its uneven distribution of acoustic pressure in the propagation medium, the large‐scale industrial application of ultrasound is limited. In order to make more effective use of ultrasound waves, this paper uses a counter‐current ultrasound‐assisted extraction container as the geometric model of simulation, calculates the distribution of the acoustic pressure field in the container by COMSOL Multiphysics software, and investigates the effect of acoustic pressure on the fluid field, and temperature field. The simulation results showed that the acoustic pressure increased with the increase of ultrasound power and frequency, tended to balance with the rise of propagation distance, and the cavitation effect was more likely to occur. The propagation of ultrasound in the fluid medium increased the velocity and vorticity of the fluid, which was conducive to the generation of mixing effects. Under the ultrasound pulse working mode for 4 min, the fluid temperature on the central axis increased in a stepped order, with a maximum increase of 19.3°C. We can see that the establishment of the simulation model provides some theoretical guidance for the more practical application of ultrasound in the food industry.

Practical Applications

The limitation of ultrasound application mainly lies in the nonuniform distribution of acoustic pressure when ultrasound propagates in the fluid medium. Therefore, mastering the distribution of multiple physical fields in the reaction zone through simulation has important technical support and theoretical guiding significance for designing efficient ultrasound‐assisted extraction equipment and large‐scale industrial production of ultrasound.
Prevention of vertical transmission of hepatitis B: A retrospective review of a 5‐year maternal–infant cohort in London
Authors: O'Mahony Elizabeth , Raghunanan Sophie , Brown Ashley , Foster Caroline
Published: July 2024

Aims

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 3.5% of the population live with hepatitis B virus (HBV); migrants to Europe are disproportionately affected. UK birth dose HBV vaccination is limited to infants born to those living with HBV (LWHBV). High‐risk infants (high maternal infectivity, low birthweight) also receive HBV immunoglobulin (HBIG). The Family Hepatitis Clinic follows infants and those LWHBV working towards WHO goals of combating viral hepatitis by 2030.

Methods

A trust‐wide electronic note review of outcomes for infants born to those LWHBV (2016–2020).

Results

Two hundred and eighty‐three infants, 134 (47%) females, born to those LWHBV were referred. Two hundred and thirty‐one (82%) attended follow‐up with a vertical transmission rate of 0%. Twenty (7%) individuals LWHBV received tenofovir disoproxil fumerate in pregnancy; median viral load (VL) at initiation 125 416 376 DNA IU/mL, one having birth VL. Twenty‐eight (10%) infants were stratified as high risk and all received HBIG and birth dose vaccination with 9 (32%) subsequently lost to follow‐up, compared to 48 (19%) low‐risk infants. 267/283 (94%) had birth dose vaccination documented and 206/283 (73%) received at least four vaccine doses. 215/283 (76%) infants had serology by 24 months; 17 (6%) with suboptimal vaccine responses: hepatitis B surface antibody <100 IU/mL. Serology before 18 months resulted in higher rates of maternal hepatitis B core antibody detection (15% vs. 3%).

Conclusion

Prevention of vertical transmission of HBV was universal in those attending, although high‐risk infants were more likely lost to follow up. HBV post‐vaccine serological protection was comparable with national data from 2021 (77% >4 doses, 77% HBsAb >100).
Associations between COVID‐19 therapies and outcomes in rural and urban America: A multisite, temporal analysis from the Alpha to Omicron SARS‐CoV‐2 variants
Authors: Anzalone A. Jerrod , Beasley William H. , Murray Kimberly , Hillegass William B. , Schissel Makayla , Vest Michael T. , Chapman Scott A. , Horswell Ronald , Miele Lucio , Porterfield J. Zachary , Bunnell H. Timothy , Price Bradley S. , Patrick Sharon , Rosen Clifford J. , Santangelo Susan L. , McClay James C. , Hodder Sally L. ,   the National COVID Cohort Collaborative (N3C) Consortium
Published: July 2024

Purpose

To investigate the enduring disparities in adverse COVID‐19 events between urban and rural communities in the United States, focusing on the effects of SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccination and therapeutic advances on patient outcomes.

Methods

Using National COVID Cohort Collaborative (N3C) data from 2021 to 2023, this retrospective cohort study examined COVID‐19 hospitalization, inpatient death, and other adverse events. Populations were categorized into urban, urban‐adjacent rural (UAR), and nonurban‐adjacent rural (NAR). Adjustments included demographics, variant‐dominant waves, comorbidities, region, and SARS‐CoV‐2 treatment and vaccination. Statistical methods included Kaplan‐Meier survival estimates, multivariable logistic, and Cox regression.

Findings

The study included 3,018,646 patients, with rural residents constituting 506,204. These rural dwellers were older, had more comorbidities, and were less vaccinated than their urban counterparts. Adjusted analyses revealed higher hospitalization odds in UAR and NAR (aOR 1.07 [1.05–1.08] and 1.06 [1.03–1.08]), greater inpatient death hazard (aHR 1.30 [1.26–1.35] UAR and 1.37 [1.30–1.45] NAR), and greater risk of other adverse events compared to urban dwellers. Delta increased, while Omicron decreased, inpatient adverse events relative to pre‐Delta, with rural disparities persisting throughout. Treatment effectiveness and vaccination were similarly protective across all cohorts, but dexamethasone post‐ventilation was effective only in urban areas. Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir and molnupiravir better protected rural residents against hospitalization.

Conclusions

Despite advancements in treatment and vaccinations, disparities in adverse COVID‐19 outcomes persist between urban and rural communities. The effectiveness of some therapeutic agents appears to vary based on rurality, suggesting a nuanced relationship between treatment and geographic location while highlighting the need for targeted rural health care strategies.
Dietary magnesium supplementation in cats with chronic kidney disease: A prospective double‐blind randomized controlled trial
Authors: Tang Pak‐Kan , van den Broek Dirk Hendrik Nicolaas , Jepson Rosanne E. , Geddes Rebecca F. , Chang Yu‐Mei , Lötter Nicola , Moniot Delphine , Biourge Vincent , Elliott Jonathan
Published: July 2024

Background

Plasma total magnesium concentration (tMg) is a prognostic indicator in cats with chronic kidney disease (CKD), shorter survival time being associated with hypomagnesemia. Whether this risk factor is modifiable with dietary magnesium supplementation remains unexplored.

Objectives

Evaluate effects of a magnesium‐enriched phosphate‐restricted diet (PRD) on CKD–mineral bone disorder (CKD‐MBD) variables.

Animals

Sixty euthyroid client‐owned cats with azotemic CKD, with 27 and 33 allocated to magnesium‐enriched PRD or control PRD, respectively.

Methods

Prospective double‐blind, parallel‐group randomized trial. Cats with CKD, stabilized on a PRD, without hypermagnesemia (tMg >2.43 mg/dL) or hypercalcemia (plasma ionized calcium concentration, (iCa) >6 mg/dL), were recruited. Both intention‐to‐treat and per‐protocol (eating ≥50% of study diet) analyses were performed; effects of dietary magnesium supplementation on clinicopathological variables were evaluated using linear mixed effects models.

Results

In the per‐protocol analysis, tMg increased in cats consuming a magnesium‐enriched PRD (β, 0.25 ± .07 mg/dL/month; P < .001). Five magnesium supplemented cats had tMg >2.92 mg/dL, but none experienced adverse effects. Rate of change in iCa differed between groups (P = .01), with decreasing and increasing trends observed in cats fed magnesium‐enriched PRD and control PRD, respectively. Four control cats developed ionized hypercalcemia versus none in the magnesium supplemented group. Log‐transformed plasma fibroblast growth factor‐23 concentration (FGF23) increased significantly in controls (β, 0.14 ± .05 pg/mL/month; P = .01), but remained stable in the magnesium supplemented group (β, 0.05±.06 pg/mL/month; P =.37).

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Magnesium‐enriched PRD is a novel therapeutic strategy for managing feline CKD‐MBD in cats, further stabilizing plasma FGF23 and preventing hypercalcemia.
Invasive fungal infections in wars, following explosives and natural disasters: A narrative review
Authors: El Eid Rozana , Chowdhary Anuradha , El Zakhem Aline , Kanj Souha S.
Published: July 2024

Infections are well‐known complications in patients following traumatic injuries, frequently leading to high morbidity and mortality. In particular, trauma occurring in disaster settings, both natural and man‐made, such as armed conflicts and explosives detonation, results in challenging medical conditions that impede the best management practices. The incidence of invasive fungal infections (IFI) is increasing in trauma patients who lack the typical risk factors like an immune compromised state or others. This narrative review will focus on IFI as a direct complication after natural disasters, wars, and man‐made mass destruction with a summary of the available evidence about the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, risk factors, microbiology, and proper management. In this setting, the clinical manifestations of IFI may include skin and soft tissue infections, osteomyelitis, visceral infections, and pneumonia. IFI should be considered in the war inflicted patients who are exposed to unsterile environments or have wounds contaminated with soil and decaying organic matter.
Two new species of wild ornamental Musa (Musaceae) from Arunachal Pradesh, northeast India
Authors: Taid Simanta , Singh Sorokhaibam Sureshkumar , Raj Gajurel Padma
Published: July 2024

Two new species of ornamental banana, namely Musa siangensis Taid, S.S. Singh et Gajurel and Musa bracteata S.S. Singh, Gajurel et Taid collected in Arunachal Pradesh, India, are described. Morphologically, both the new species are close to Musa arunachalensis A. Joe, Sreejith et M. Sabu. Morphological characters are described and illustrated with colour photographs for easy recognition. A key to the closely related species and a table of comparison enumerating selected morphological characters are also provided. The new species are further supported by molecular rbcL sequence data.
Ectomycorrhizal fungi of Douglas‐fir retain newly assimilated carbon derived from neighboring European beech
Authors: Audisio Michela , Muhr Jan , Polle Andrea
Published: July 2024

Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi distribute tree‐derived carbon (C) via belowground hyphal networks in forest ecosystems. Here, we asked the following: (1) Is C transferred belowground to a neighboring tree retained in fungal structures or transported within the recipient tree? (2) Is the overlap of ectomycorrhizal fungi in mycorrhizal networks related to the amount of belowground C transfer?

We used potted sapling pairs of European beech (Fagus sylvatica) and North‐American Douglas‐fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) for 13CO2 pulse‐labeling. We compared 13C transfer from beech (donor) to either beech or Douglas‐fir (recipient) and identified the ECM species. We measured the 13C enrichment in soil, plant tissues, and ECM fractions of fungal‐containing parts and plant transport tissues.

In recipients, only fungal‐containing tissue of ectomycorrhizas was significantly enriched in 13C and not the plant tissue. Douglas‐fir recipients shared on average one ECM species with donors and had a lower 13C enrichment than beech recipients, which shared on average three species with donors.

Our results support that recently assimilated C transferred belowground is shared among fungi colonizing tree roots but not among trees. In mixed forests with beech and Douglas‐fir, the links for C movement might be hampered due to low mycorrhizal overlap with consequences for soil C cycling.
Deconstructing nursing's paradoxical relationship with the concept of complexity
Authors: Clancy Tracey L.
Published: July 2024

Although nursing seems to understand itself and its practice as complex, the literature is less clear about what this actually means. While complexity is discussed as an attribute of nursing, it is also suggested that complexity in nursing remains misunderstood and poorly articulated, is devalued, is not considered as a measure of health outcomes and remains invisible. Despite the overarching lack of a definition, some nurse scholars have conceptualized complexity as a complex intervention. For these authors, complexity becomes a complex intervention defined as that which is composed of component parts interacting in a variety of ways that influence the delivery of and outcomes of health‐related interventions for populations. Conceptualizing complexity as a complex intervention forces nursing to embrace and adopt a received interpretation of complexity as expressed through complexity theory and complexity science. While complexity theory may afford us some tools for thinking about complexity, when we deconstruct nursing complexity to explicitly determinate and quantifiable tasks, this artificially narrowed orientation to complexity reveals an oversimplified explanation of the complexities associated with nursing and serves to blind us to its real qualities. Through a consideration of complexity from a Western philosophical tradition, I demonstrate that when nursing adopts the received interpretation of complexity as a complex intervention, this perspective on complexity contains nursing epistemologically and ontologically. I offer an extended conceptualization of complexity framed upon the consideration that nurses assume complexity and do not reduce it; that nurses have the capacity to not be paralysed by complexity and have developed logics to mobilize it in productive ways. Mobilizing complexity through navigating paradox and contradiction shapes an orientation to complexity that embraces an extended epistemology. This extended epistemology is characterized by a ‘yes/and’ mindset that expresses the dynamic and generative relationship between forms of knowledge which reflects complexity that characterizes nursing.
Fully Automatic Deep Learning Model for Spine Refracture in Patients with OVCF: A Multi‐Center Study
Authors: Zhu Xuetao , Liu Dejian , Liu Lian , Guo Jingxuan , Li Zedi , Zhao Yixiang , Wu Tianhao , Liu Kaiwen , Liu Xinyu , Pan Xin , Qi Lei , Zhang Yuanqiang , Cheng Lei , Chen Bin
Published: July 2024

Background

The reaserch of artificial intelligence (AI) model for predicting spinal refracture is limited to bone mineral density, X‐ray and some conventional laboratory indicators, which has its own limitations. Besides, it lacks specific indicators related to osteoporosis and imaging factors that can better reflect bone quality, such as computed tomography (CT).

Objective

To construct a novel predicting model based on bone turn‐over markers and CT to identify patients who were more inclined to suffer spine refracture.

Methods

CT images and clinical information of 383 patients (training set = 240 cases of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCF), validation set = 63, test set = 80) were retrospectively collected from January 2015 to October 2022 at three medical centers. The U‐net model was adopted to automatically segment ROI. Three‐dimensional (3D) cropping of all spine regions was used to achieve the final ROI regions including 3D_Full and 3D_RoiOnly. We used the Densenet 121‐3D model to model the cropped region and simultaneously build a T‐NIPT prediction model. Diagnostics of deep learning models were assessed by constructing ROC curves. We generated calibration curves to assess the calibration performance. Additionally, decision curve analysis (DCA) was used to assess the clinical utility of the predictive models.

Results

The performance of the test model is comparable to its performance on the training set (dice coefficients of 0.798, an mIOU of 0.755, an SA of 0.767, and an OS of 0.017). Univariable and multivariable analysis indicate that T_P1NT was an independent risk factor for refracture. The performance of predicting refractures in different ROI regions showed that 3D_Full model exhibits the highest calibration performance, with a Hosmer–Lemeshow goodness‐of‐fit (HL) test statistic exceeding 0.05. The analysis of the training and test sets showed that the 3D_Full model, which integrates clinical and deep learning results, demonstrated superior performance with significant improvement (p‐value < 0.05) compared to using clinical features independently or using only 3D_RoiOnly.

Conclusion

T_P1NT was an independent risk factor of refracture. Our 3D‐FULL model showed better performance in predicting high‐risk population of spine refracture than other models and junior doctors do. This model can be applicable to real‐world translation due to its automatic segmentation and detection.