bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Patterns of marital conflict among middle‐aged couples and their effects on family satisfaction: A latent class analysis
Authors: Lee Eun Jin , Han Sangyoon
Published: January 2023

Objective

Through this study, we aimed to categorize marital conflict in middle adulthood and examine its effect on family satisfaction.

Background

Marital conflict is detrimental to family satisfaction in the middle age. Despite the increasing dissolution of marriage and the intensification of marital conflict among middle‐aged couples, little research has examined this issue.

Method

This study used data from the 2018 Korean Retirement and Income Study (KreIS). A total of 1,581 married people aged between 40 and 65 years were analyzed. We conducted latent class analysis (LCA) to categorize the sample and performed multiple regression analysis to verify the effect of various marital conflict types on family satisfaction.

Results

Three latent classes of marital conflict were identified using the LCA: the lifestyle conflict (LC), the infrequent conflict (IC), and the financial conflict (FC) group. Examining family satisfaction by group revealed that there was no significant difference between IC and FC, whereas LC experienced significantly lower family satisfaction.

Conclusions

This study suggested the need for a new approach to resolving marital conflict for middle‐aged couples, especially according to the conflict aspect.
The impacts of a high school healthy marriage and relationship education program
Authors: Goesling Brian , Alamillo Julia
Published: January 2023

Objective

To assess the 1‐year impacts of a healthy marriage and relationship education (HMRE) program for high school students.

Background

Research on HMRE programming for youth has found that programs can improve youth's relationship skills, attitudes, and knowledge around the time the program ends. However, there is less evidence on whether these impacts are sustained over time or when providers do not have enough time to deliver the full program.

Method

A three‐arm cluster randomized trial involving 1,862 students from two schools. The two intervention groups received either a 12‐lesson HMRE curriculum or a shortened eight‐lesson version of the same curriculum. Students completed surveys at baseline and 1 year later.

Results

Students in all three groups reported similar levels of relationship skills, attitudes, and knowledge for 9 of the 10 outcomes examined at the one‐year follow up. For the one exception, students offered the 12‐lesson curriculum were more likely than students in the control group to disagree that feelings of love are enough to sustain a happy marriage.

Conclusion

We found limited evidence of sustained impacts and no evidence of an effect from shortening the curriculum.

Implications

Offering HMRE to high school students might plant the seeds of healthy relationships, but more programming will probably be needed to sustain the types of short‐term impacts found in prior research.
The effects of cannabidiol on subjective states, cognition, and psychomotor function in healthy adults: A randomized clinical trial
Authors: Rudisill Toni Marie , Innes Karen (Kim) , Wen Sijin , Haggerty Treah , Smith Gordon S.
Published: January 2023

Despite being added to numerous products, little is known about cannabidiol. Drowsiness is a self‐reported side effect, which could impact cognitive functioning. To determine whether cannabidiol impacts cognition and psychomotor function, a volunteer sample of healthy, college students were recruited for this randomized, parallel‐group, double‐blind, feasibility trial from April–November 2021. Participants completed a baseline survey, the Stanford Sleepiness Scale, Visual Analog Mood Scale, Digit Symbol Substitution Test, Trail Making Test, Psychomotor Vigilance Test, and Simple Reaction Time Tests. Participants were then randomized and allocated to receive 300 mg cannabidiol oil (N = 21) or placebo (N = 19). After 120 min, participants retook the tests. Performance between groups was compared using Analysis of Covariance and multi‐level Negative Binomial regression. Participants averaged 21 ± 3 years of age, and 52% were female. Self‐reported anxiety did not change posttreatment. Performances on the Stanford Sleepiness Scale, Visual Analog Mood Scale, and Psychomotor Vigilance Test increased for both groups. After accounting for baseline scores, attention lapse duration significantly increased for those receiving cannabidiol compared to placebo in the Psychomotor Vigilance Test (76 vs. 66 ms; p = 0.02). Auditory reaction time improved in the cannabidiol group versus placebo for one sound emitted during the Simple Reaction Time Test (241 vs. 245 ms; p = 0.02), but the number of early responses increased from 0.3 to 0.8 for those receiving cannabidiol. While performance on most tests was similar between those receiving cannabidiol and placebo, cannabidiol might affect certain aspects of vigilance. More research and larger trials are needed.
Application of factorial model for an optimization of partial replacement of feldspar by talc on the sintering process
Authors: da Silva Robson Couto , La Porta Felipe de Almeida , Silva Graciela Aparecida dos Santos , Tebcherani Renato Mandalozzo , Kubaski Evaldo Toniolo , Bonfante Estevam Augusto , Tebcherani Sergio Mazurek
Published: January 2023

This research used a factorial model containing two levels and three variables to evaluate the partial substitution of sodium feldspar (albite) by a talc ore found in abundance in the region of Itaiacoca—Brazil. The model can also be used to verify the influence of initial talc particle size, proportion, and sintering threshold temperature on the following physical properties, such as linear shrinkage, water absorption, bulk density, total porosity, and firing color. In this study, the mechanical strength of the compositions was evaluated by the flexural strength test. The factorial model indicated the sintering temperature as the variable that most affects the samples’ densification and the proportion of talc as the variable that changes the firing color. The experiment that used a higher sintering temperature combined with a coarser talc granulometry presented the highest mechanical strength. When more refined granulometry was used, there was the beginning of an overfire process. Water absorption values in the range of .04% and modulus of rupture of 49 MPa were obtained, confirming the talc's effectiveness as a secondary flux agent suitable for the formulation of ceramic bodies.
Mechanical properties of B4C–CrB2 binary eutectic composites prepared by arc‐melting
Authors: Tu Rong , Li Jiaojiao , Jia Mingpu , Li Qizhong , Yang Meijun , Zhang Song , Goto Takashi
Published: January 2023

B4C–CrB2 composites were prepared by arc‐melting using B4C and CrB2 powders as raw materials. The eutectic composition of B4C–CrB2 system was 30B4C–70CrB2 (mol%) with a labyrinth‐like irregularly layered eutectic microstructure, composed of B4C phase about 1–2 μm in thickness dispersing in CrB2 matrix, much smaller than raw powders. The interface of the eutectic composite was well bonded, and there were edge dislocations at the interface to alleviate the interface mismatch. The eutectic temperature of B4C–CrB2 composites was approximately 2200 K. At the eutectic composition, the B4C–CrB2 composites showed the maximum Vickers hardness (24.6 GPa) and fracture toughness (4.3 MPa m1/2) at room temperature.
Enterprise credit risk portrait and evaluation from the perspective of the supply chain
Authors: Xie Xiaofeng , Zhang Jixin , Luo Yuxuan , Gu Jing , Li Yunfei
Published: January 2023

This paper aims to help financial institutions identify credit risk and reduce default losses more effectively by improving the accuracy and efficiency of the credit evaluation process using two methods. The paper first mines indicators that comprehensively describe the supply chain aspects of credit risk to obtain a precise credit risk portrait of the enterprise. The study then innovatively designs a random forest‐weighted naive Bayes (RF‐WNB) model that offers good interpretability and generalization qualities. The model forms an effective two‐stage process of enterprise credit risk evaluation that selects key features, quantifies the importance of each, and then evaluates credit risk. By applying empirical analysis to 1363 listed enterprises and performing one typical case analysis, we verified the effectiveness of the indicators and the two‐stage RF‐WNB model in evaluating enterprise credit risk.
Manipulation of the ratio of Li+/Zn2+ on the structure and persistent luminescence property of Li2Zn0.9992Ge3O8:0.08%Cr3+
Authors: Li Rui , Li Panlai , Wei Guohui , Li Jiehong , Shi Yawei , Wang Ye , He Shaoxuan , Yang Yuanbo , Ding Wenge , Wang Zhijun
Published: January 2023

Long persistent luminescence (LPL) materials have been widely applied and investigated in the fields of night‐safe, bio‐fluorescent labeling, and optical anti‐counterfeiting because of their unique properties of delayed luminescence. In this work, the focus of this research is to significantly improve the LPL properties of Li2Zn0.9992Ge3O8:0.08%Cr3+ by adjusting the ratio of Li+/Zn2+. On the one hand, when Li+:Zn2+ < 2:1 (Li1.97Zn1.0292Ge3O8:0.08%Cr3+), a deep‐red LPL is produced in the 650–900 nm band for more than 50 h, which is 2.5 times longer than that without regulation. From another perspective, when Li+:Zn2+ > 2:1 (Li2.01Zn0.9892Ge3O8:0.08%Cr3+), the intensity of LPL is enhanced about four times compared to unregulated. The relationship between traps and LPL was comprehensively investigated by analyzing thermoluminescence spectra. Biological tissue penetration experiments were performed and a set of anti‐counterfeit labels was designed. This research will provide guidance for the design of a novel persistent phosphor for the desired trap depth.
Fluorescence in situ hybridization test for detection of endometrial carcinoma cells by non‐invasive vaginal swab
Authors: Weimer Jörg , Hüttmann Martje , Nusilati Asiyan , Andreas Svenja , Röseler Jona , Tribian Nils , Rogmans Christoph , Stope Matthias Bernhard , Dahl Edgar , Mustea Alexander , Stickeler Elmar , Hedemann Nina , Flörkemeier Inken , Tiemann Katharina , Magadeeva Svetlana , Dempfle Astrid , Arnold Norbert , Maass Nicolai , Bauerschlag Dirk
Published: January 2023

Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most common gynaecological malignancy with increasing incidence in developed countries. As gold standard, hysteroscopy confirms only 30% of suspected ECs. The detection of EC cells in the vagina by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) after a smear test could reduce invasive procedures in the future. Using array‐based comparative genome hybridization (aCGH) on 65 endometrial carcinomas, most frequently imbalanced regions of the tumour genome were identified. Bacterial artificial chromosomes were used to generate FISH‐probes homologue to these human regions. The FISH test was hybridized on swabs specimens collected from the vaginal cavity. Samples from six patients without EC were selected as a negative control and on 13 patients with known EC as a positive control. To distinguish between benign and EC cases, the cut‐off value has been defined. A first validation of this EC‐FISH Test was performed with swabs from 41 patients with suspected EC. The most common genomic imbalances in EC are around the CTNNB1, FBXW7 and APC genes. The cut‐off is defined at 32% of analysed cells without diploid signal pattern. This differs significantly between the positive and negative controls (p < 0.001). In a first validation cohort of 41 patients with suspected EC, the EC‐FISH Test distinguishes patients with and without EC with a sensitivity of 91% and a specificity of 83%. The negative predictive value is 96%. This is the first report of a non‐invasive EC‐FISH Test to predict EC in women with suspected EC.
The effects of KTKEGV repeat motif and intervening ATVA sequence on α‐synuclein solubility and assembly
Authors: Brontesi Lisa , Imberdis Thibaut , Ramalingam Nagendran , Dettmer Ulf
Published: January 2023

Alpha‐synuclein (αS), the key protein in Parkinson's disease, is typically described as an intrinsically disordered protein. Consistent with this notion, several context‐dependent folding states may coexist in neurons. Unfolded soluble monomers, helical monomers at membranes and helical multimers (soluble or at membranes) have all been reported and may be in an equilibrium with each other. We previously found that αS can be stabilized in its membrane‐associated monomeric form by genetically increasing the hydrophobicity of the membrane‐embedded half of the αS helix. αS amphipathic helix formation at membranes is governed by up to nine 11‐amino acid repeats with the core motif KTKEGV. However, this repeat is only imperfectly conserved; for example, it consists of KAKEGV in repeat #1, KTKEQV in repeat #5, and AVVTGV in the poorly conserved repeat #6. Here we explored the effect of perfecting the αS core repeat to nine times KTKEGV (“9KV”) and found by sequential protein extraction that this engineered mutant accumulates in the cytosolic phase of neural cells. Intact‐cell cross‐linking trapped a part of the cytosolic portion at multimeric positions (30, 60, 80, 100 kDa). Thus, compared to wild‐type αS, αS 9KV seems less prone to populating the membrane‐associated monomeric form. Removing the “ATVA” intervening amino‐acid sequence between repeats 4 and 5 slightly increased cytosolic localization while adding “ATVA” in between all repeats 1–8 caused αS to be trapped as a monomer in membrane fractions. Our results contribute to an ongoing debate on the dynamic structure of αS, highlighting that wild‐type αS is unlikely to be fully multimeric/monomeric or fully cytosolic/membrane‐associated in cells, but protein engineering can create αS variants that preferentially adopt a certain state. Overall, the imperfect nature of the KTKEGV repeat motifs and the presence of ATVA in between repeats 4 and 5 seem to prevent a strong cytosolic localization of αS and thus play a major role in the protein's ability to dynamically populate cytosolic vs. membrane‐associated and monomeric vs. multimeric states.

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The amino acid and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon compositions of the promptly recovered CM2 Winchcombe carbonaceous chondrite
Authors: Chan Queenie H. S. , Watson Jonathan S. , Sephton Mark A. , O'Brien Áine C. , Hallis Lydia J.
Published: January 2023

The rapid recovery of the Winchcombe meteorite offers a valuable opportunity to study the soluble organic matter (SOM) profile in pristine carbonaceous astromaterials. Our interests in the biologically relevant molecules, amino acids—monomers of protein, and the most prevalent meteoritic organics—polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are addressed by analyzing the solvent extracts of a Winchcombe meteorite stone using gas chromatography mass spectrometry. The Winchcombe sample contains an amino acid abundance of ~1132 parts‐per‐billion that is about 10 times lower than other CM2 meteorites. The detection of terrestrially rare amino acids, including α‐aminoisobutyric acid (AIB); isovaline; β‐alanine; α‐, β‐, and γ‐amino‐n‐butyric acids; and 5‐aminopentanoic acid, and the racemic enantiomeric ratios (D/L = 1) observed for alanine and isovaline indicate that these amino acids are indigenous to the meteorite and not terrestrial contaminants. The presence of predominantly α‐AIB and isovaline is consistent with their formation via the Strecker‐cyanohydrin synthetic pathway. The L‐enantiomeric excesses in isovaline previously observed for aqueously altered meteorites were viewed as an indicator of parent body aqueous processing; thus, the racemic ratio of isovaline observed for Winchcombe, alongside the overall high free:total amino acid ratio, and the low amino acid concentration suggest that the analyzed stone is derived from a lithology that has experienced brief episode(s) of aqueous alteration. Winchcombe also contains 2‐ to 6‐ring alkylated and nonalkylated PAHs. The low total PAHs abundance (6177 ppb) and high nonalkylated:alkylated ratio are distinct from that observed for heavily aqueously altered CMs. The weak petrographic properties of Winchcombe, as well as the discrepancies observed for the Winchcombe SOM content—a low total amino acid abundance comparable to heavily altered CMs, and yet the high free:total amino acid and nonalkylated:alkylated PAH ratios are on par with the less altered CMs—suggest that Winchcombe could represent a class of weak, poorly lithified meteorite not been previously studied.
Xanthomonas campestris VemR enhances the transcription of the T3SS key regulator HrpX via physical interaction with HrpG
Authors: Li Rui‐Fang , Peng Jian‐Ling , Liu Qian‐Qian , Chang Zheng , Huang Yi‐Xin , Tang Ji‐Liang , Lu Guang‐Tao
Published: January 2023

VemR is a response regulator of the two‐component signalling systems (TCSs). It consists solely of a receiver domain. Previous studies have shown that VemR plays an important role in influencing the production of exopolysaccharides and exoenzymes, cell motility, and virulence of Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (Xcc). However, whether VemR is involved in the essential pathogenicity determinant type III secretion system (T3SS) is unclear. In this work, we found by transcriptome analysis that VemR modulates about 10% of Xcc genes, which are involved in various cellular processes including the T3SS. Further experiments revealed that VemR physically interacts with numerous proteins, including the TCS sensor kinases HpaS and RavA, and the TCS response regulator HrpG, which directly activates the transcription of HrpX, a key regulator controlling T3SS expression. It has been demonstrated previously that HpaS composes a TCS with HrpG or VemR to control the expression of T3SS or swimming motility, while RavA and VemR form a TCS to control the expression of flagellar genes. Mutation analysis and in vitro transcription assay revealed that phosphorylation might be essential for the function of VemR and phosphorylated VemR could significantly enhance the activation of hrpX transcription by HrpG. We infer that the binding of VemR to HrpG can modulate the activity of HrpG to the hrpX promoter, thereby enhancing hrpX transcription. Although further studies are required to validate this inference and explore the detailed functional mechanism of VemR, our findings provide some insights into the complex regulatory cascade of the HpaS/RavA‐VemR/HrpG‐HrpX signal transduction system in the control of T3SS.
OsGLP3‐7 positively regulates rice immune response by activating hydrogen peroxide, jasmonic acid, and phytoalexin metabolic pathways
Authors: Sun Bingrui , Li Wenyan , Ma Yamei , Yu Ting , Huang Wenjie , Ding Jierong , Yu Hang , Jiang Liqun , Zhang Jing , Lv Shuwei , Yang Jianyuan , Yan Shijuan , Liu Bin , Liu Qing
Published: January 2023

Although germin‐like proteins (GLPs) have been demonstrated to participate in plant biotic stress responses, their specific functions in rice disease resistance are still largely unknown. Here, we report the identification and characterization of OsGLP3‐7, a member of the GLP family in rice. Expression of OsGLP3‐7 was significantly induced by pathogen infection, jasmonic acid (JA) treatment, and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) treatment. OsGLP3‐7 was highly expressed in leaves and sublocalized in the cytoplasm. Overexpression of OsGLP3‐7 increased plant resistance to leaf blast, panicle blast, and bacterial blight, whereas disease resistance in OsGLP3‐7 RNAi silenced plants was remarkably compromised, suggesting this gene is a positive regulator of disease resistance in rice. Further analysis showed that OsGLP3‐7 has superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and can influence the accumulation of H2O2 in transgenic plants. Many genes involved in JA and phytoalexin biosynthesis were strongly induced, accompanied with elevated levels of JA and phytoalexins in OsGLP3‐7‐overexpressing plants, while expression of these genes was significantly suppressed and the levels of JA and phytoalexins were reduced in OsGLP3‐7 RNAi plants compared with control plants, both before and after pathogen inoculation. Moreover, we showed that OsGLP3‐7‐dependent phytoalexin accumulation may, at least partially, be attributed to the elevated JA levels observed after pathogen infection. Taken together, our results indicate that OsGLP3‐7 positively regulates rice disease resistance by activating JA and phytoalexin metabolic pathways, thus providing novel insights into the disease resistance mechanisms conferred by GLPs in rice.
The role of functional and phylogenetic diversity in riparian tree vegetation on leaf litter breakdown in rivers
Authors: Swan Christopher M. , Sparkman April
Published: January 2023

While how taxonomic diversity mediates changes in ecosystem function is well‐studied, how deeper dimensions of biodiversity drive important processes is understudied. The overarching goal of this work was to determine the role of these dimensions of biodiversity independently and/or interactively in explaining carbon processing in rivers. Here, we explicitly link community structure and subsequent traits of riparian forests to adjacent ecosystem processing of carbon (e.g. leaf litter). This was accomplished by examining how forests are actually structured in addition to experimental manipulations of phylogenetic and functional diversities of riparian forest community inputs of leaf litter to streams. Experimental field manipulations were carried out in three Piedmont headwater streams to answer the following questions: 1) does existing variation in taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversity of riparian communities differentially drive decomposition in rivers? And 2) independent of taxonomic diversity, how does functional and phylogenetic diversity of leaf litter assemblages influence rates of decomposition in rivers? We observed significant interspecific variation in breakdown among 30 riparian tree species, in addition to significant relationships between breakdown rate and important foliar tissue chemistries. Breakdown of mixtures that reflected the composition of the riparian species composition did not vary with functional nor phylogenetic diversity, but breakdown of litter mixtures was higher than that of single species. In a separate study, when manipulated independently, functional and phylogenetic diversity were positively related to breakdown, and explained similar degrees of variation. These results are important to understand in light of deepening knowledge of the role different dimensions of biodiversity take in explaining ecosystem function.
Theoretical performance of progressive addition lenses with poorly measured individual parameters
Authors: Pascual Eduardo , Gómez‐Pedrero José A. , Alonso José
Published: January 2023

Purpose

The aim of this paper was to present a theoretical study of how poorly measured individual parameters affect the optical performance of progressive addition lenses (PALs). Modern progressive lenses can be prescribed based on parameters such as vertex distance, pantoscopic and wrap angles. These parameters can be measured from the lens wearer using specific devices; however, not all of them can be measured with the same precision, and the impact of measurement errors on the lens performance is still unknown.

Methods

Data from 1900 patients were used to simulate the performance of four PAL designs with different degrees of complexity: perfect individual design, individual design with induced errors in the individual parameters, optimised design and conventional/basic design. For each patient and design, a quality metric was calculated to describe the optical performance of the lens.

Results

The design having the best performance was the perfect individual design, followed by the individual design with induced errors, the optimised design and finally the conventional/basic design.

Conclusions

Individual designs with measurement errors have better optical performance than lenses with less complexity, such as the optimised or conventional designs. This knowledge is useful for the eye care professional to make informed choices when dispensing these lenses.
Correlation of horizontal condylar angle measured with CBCT and clinical dysfunction index in patients with temporomandibular disorders
Authors: Khojastepour Leila , Paknahad Maryam , Rastegarian Navid , Mahjoori‐Ghasrodashti Mohammad , Vojdani Mahroo , Omidi Mahsa
Published: January 2023

Objectives

This study aimed to find a correlation between the severity of TMD based on the Helkimo clinical dysfunction index and the mean horizontal condylar angle (HCA) in CBCT images.

Materials and methods

HCAs of 84 patients with TMD were measured in CBCT cross‐sections. The TMD patients were clinically evaluated and then subdivided into three groups using Helkimo clinical Di and. Means of HCA and differences between right and left HCA were compared with a matched control group and among TMD patients with different TMD severity.

Results

The difference between right and left HCA and HCA mean were significantly greater in TMD patients than in the control group. The mean of HCA was also significantly different among TMD patients with different Di.

Conclusion

It was revealed significant differences between TMD and non‐TMD condyles. There was also a significant relationship between the Helkimo clinical Di and the greater HCA.
Parent genome contribution and its relationship with grain yield in backcross‐derived lines of soybean (Glycine max)
Authors: Koraboyana Vijayakumar , Gill Balwinder Singh , Sirari Asmita , Khosla Gaurav , Bindra Shayla , Kumar Vineet
Published: January 2023

Introgression of yellow mosaic disease (YMD) resistance and effect of recurrent parent genome (RPG) on grain yield was studied in 84 soybean genotypes from four populations namely, F2:7, BC1F6, BC2F5 and BC3F4 derived from cross JS335 x SL525. It was observed that in F2:7, BC1F6, BC2F5 and BC3F4 derived lines, RPG contribution was 42.5%, 54.9%, 66.4% and 77.6%, respectively, which is significantly less than expected values. Linkage drag from donor parent with YMD resistance gene may be a possible reason for such deviations. Average grain yield per plant in F2:7, BC1F6, BC2F5 and BC3F4 generations was observed as 13.0, 14.3, 14.9 and 16.1 g, respectively. It was observed that genotypes with more than 80% RPG observed to have both YMD resistance and good yield potential. Graphical genotyping (GGT) analysis revealed that maximum RPG was recovered in chromosomes 8 and 10 and maximum introgression occurred in chromosomes 6 and 19. Our results demonstrated that RPG was positively associated with yield as evident from yield increase with increase in RPG.
Well‐posedness of generalized KdV and one‐dimensional fourth‐order derivative nonlinear Schrödinger equations for data with an infinite L2 norm
Authors: Lu Yufeng
Published: January 2023

We study the Cauchy problem for the generalized Korteweg–de Vries (KdV) and one‐dimensional fourth‐order derivative nonlinear Schrödinger equations, for which the global well‐posedness of solutions with small rough data in certain scaling limit of modulation spaces is shown, which contain some data with infinite L2 norm.
Living wages in Portugal: In search of dignity in a polarised labour market
Authors: Pereirinha José António , Pereira Elvira
Published: January 2023

Living wage (LW) is a concept that goes beyond that of national minimum wage (NMW), since it implies income adequacy to the wage earners and to his/her family members. It is coherent with the principle related to wages of the European Pillar of Social Rights (EPSR) namely the right of workers to fair wages, and the duty to ensure adequate minimum wages providing the satisfaction of the worker needs and of his/her family, which originated a proposal of the European Commission for a Directive on adequate minimum wages in the European Union. This article discusses the possibility of implementation of a LW policy in Portugal, a country with low average and median wages, a generous NMW relative to average and median wage, high earnings inequality and a polarised labour market. To be defensible, this policy should reach household income adequacy, be feasible regarding the labour and fiscal costs, and be socially acceptable regarding the change of earnings distribution. The discussion of this policy is made using EU‐SILC data and data from interviews with social partners involved in the national level social dialogue. We quantify and qualify some of the trade‐offs, simulating different values for core policy variables, centred on the worker as a wage earner, as a household member and as a citizen with social rights and fiscal duties, supported on an adequate normative estimation of a consensual Minimum Income Standard (MIS) for the Portuguese households.
The Impact of Municipality Mergers on Political Participation
Authors: Frey Bruno S. , Briviba Andre , Gullo Anthony
Published: January 2023

The citizen assembly of the Swiss canton Glarus in 2006 decided to radically reduce the historical number of communes from 25 to three. Studies show that the financial and economic consequences are surprisingly small. This paper analyzes the effects on citizens' vote participation as an indicator of their political involvement. Using the difference‐in‐difference and the synthetic control methods, we empirically show that vote participation dropped significantly, also compared to neighboring cantons and the rest of Switzerland.
Functional validation of co‐culture model of human keratinocytes and neuronal cell line for sensitive skin by using transient receptor potential channel vanilloid subfamily member 1 antagonist
Authors: Shin Sun Mee , Baek Eun Joo , Oh Dong Yeol , Kim Kwang Ho , Kim Kwang Joong , Park Eun Joo
Published: January 2023

Background

Sensitive skin is a subjective cutaneous hyper‐reactivity that occurs in response to various innocuous stimuli. Keratinocytes have recently been shown to participate in sensory transduction by releasing many neuroactive molecules that bind to intra‐epidermal free nerve endings and modulate nociception. In the literature, the characterization of these interactions has been based on the co‐culture of keratinocyte and mammalian‐origin neuronal cell lines. In this study, we established an in vitro model based on a co‐culture of primary human keratinocytes and differentiated SH‐SY5Y cells, a human neuronal cell line.

Methods

Human epidermal keratinocytes and SH‐SY5Y cells were monocultured and co‐cultured. Changes in calcium influx, substance P, inflammatory cytokines, and neuropeptides between the monoculture and co‐culture groups treated with capsaicin only and capsaicin with transient receptor potential channel vanilloid subfamily member 1 (TRPV1) antagonist, trans‐4‐tert‐butylcyclohexanol (TTBC), together. In addition, the difference in stinging sensation was evaluated by applying it to the volunteers.

Results

When SH‐SY5Y cells were co‐cultured with keratinocytes, they had no significant effect on axonal development. Substance P was also released after capsaicin treatment and reduced by TTBC under co‐culture conditions. Moreover, the expression of inflammatory cytokines and neuropeptides was significantly increased in co‐cultured keratinocytes compared to that under monoculture conditions. In addition, the stinging sensation was significantly induced after the application of capsaicin in vivo and was relieved after the application of the TRPV1 antagonist.

Conclusion

We demonstrated that the novel co‐culture model is functionally valid through capsaicin and TRPV1 antagonist. We also confirmed that TTBC could be used for the treatment of sensitive skin through a co‐culture model and in vivo tests. This co‐culture model of keratinocytes and SH‐SY5Y cells may be useful in vitro alternatives for studying the close communication between keratinocytes and neuronal cells and for screening therapeutic drugs for sensitive skin.
Characterization of the novel HLA‐C*08:258 and ‐C*12:374 alleles by two different sequencing‐based typing techniques
Authors: Devriese Magali , Usureau Cedric , Carmagnat Maryvonnick , Da Silva Sephora , Taupin Jean‐Luc
Published: January 2023

The novel HLA‐C*08:258 and ‐C*12:374 alleles differ from HLA‐C*08:02:01:01 and ‐C*12:03:01:01 by one nucleotide substitution.
Patient perspectives on intraoperative blood transfusion: A qualitative interview study with perioperative patients
Authors: Lenet Tori , Skanes Stephanie , Tropiano Joseph , Verret Michael , McIsaac Daniel I. , Tinmouth Alan , Hallet Julie , Nicholls Stuart G. , Fergusson Dean A. , Martel Guillaume
Published: January 2023

Background

While red blood cell (RBC) transfusions are frequently administered during surgery, little is known about patient perspectives regarding intraoperative transfusion. The aim of this study was to understand patient perspectives about intraoperative RBC transfusion and explore their willingness to engage in transfusion prevention strategies.

Study Design and Methods

This descriptive qualitative study used semi‐structured patient interviews before and after surgery. Purposive sampling was used to select adult patients with varying perioperative courses, including having perioperative transfusion or postoperative anemia. Inductive and deductive thematic analyses were conducted to identify themes.

Results

Twenty patients (nine preoperative and 11 postoperative patients) were interviewed. The following themes were identified: Risk–benefit perception of transfusion, transfusion acceptance, trust, patient involvement in transfusion decisions, acceptance of transfusion prevention interventions, and communication. Patients perceived transfusions as low‐risk compared to the surgery itself. Factors influencing transfusion acceptance included trust in the healthcare system and the perception of the treatability of transfusion‐related complications. Some patients preferred to defer transfusion decision making to the perioperative team, citing trust in professional judgment and building a positive relationship with their surgeon. Others wished for their preferences to be incorporated into transfusion decisions. Some desired detailed blood consent conversations and most were willing to participate in strategies to reduce intraoperative transfusion.

Conclusion

In our sample, patients consider intraoperative transfusions as low‐risk high‐reward interventions and trust the healthcare system and perioperative team to guide intraoperative transfusion decision making. However, preoperative transfusion consent discussions were recalled as being superficial and lacking nuance. Targeted strategies are required to improve blood consent discussions to better integrate patient preferences.
Ramsey numbers of Boolean lattices
Authors: Grósz Dániel , Methuku Abhishek , Tompkins Casey
Published: January 2023

The poset Ramsey number is the smallest integer such that any blue–red coloring of the elements of the Boolean lattice has a blue‐induced copy of or a red‐induced copy of . The weak poset Ramsey number is defined analogously, with weak copies instead of induced copies. It is easy to see that . Axenovich and Walzer (Order 34 (2017), 287–298) showed that . Recently, Lu and Thompson (Order 39 (2022), no. 2, 171–185) improved the upper bound to . In this paper, we solve this problem asymptotically by showing that . In the diagonal case, Cox and Stolee (Order 35 (2018), no. 3, 557–579) proved using a probabilistic construction. In the induced case, Bohman and Peng (arXiv preprint arXiv:2102.00317, 2021) showed using an explicit construction. Improving these results, we show that for all and large by giving an explicit construction; in particular, we prove that .
Large genus asymptotics for lengths of separating closed geodesics on random surfaces
Authors: Nie Xin , Wu Yunhui , Xue Yuhao
Published: January 2023

In this paper, we investigate basic geometric quantities of a random hyperbolic surface of genus with respect to the Weil–Petersson measure on the moduli space . We show that as goes to infinity, a generic surface satisfies asymptotically:

the separating systole of is approximately

there is a half‐collar of width approximately around any separating systolic curve on

the length of the shortest separating closed multi‐geodesics on is approximately .

As applications, we also discuss the asymptotic behavior of the extremal separating systole, the non‐simple systole, and the expected length of the shortest separating closed multi‐geodesics as goes to infinity.
From Start-Up to Scale-Up of a Health-Promoting Intervention for Older Adults: The Choose to Move Story
Authors: Nettlefold Lindsay , Gray Samantha M. , Sims-Gould Joanie , McKay Heather A.
Published: January 2023

Interventions that are effective in research (efficacy or effectiveness) trials cannot improve health at a population level unless they are successfully delivered more broadly (scaled up) outside of the research setting. However, scale-up is often relegated to the too hard basket. Factors such as the need to adapt interventions prior to implementing them in diverse settings at scale, retaining fidelity to the intervention, and cultivating the necessary community and funding partnerships can all present a challenge. In the present review article, we present a scale-up case study—Choose to Move—an effective health-promoting intervention for older adults. The objectives of this review were to (a) describe the frameworks and processes adopted to implement, adapt, and scale up Choose to Move across British Columbia, Canada; (b) provide an overview of the phased approach to scale-up; and (c) share key lessons learned while implementing and scaling up health-promoting interventions with community partners across more than 2 decades.
Science Literacy: a More Fundamental Meaning
Authors: Elhai Jeff
Published: January 2023

Over a century of attention to “science literacy for all” has not produced a public that can appreciate a common body of core science facts, concepts, and methods; nor have many acquired from their years in K–12 education the ability to apply science learning to everyday problems or to the scientific issues that concern a democracy. Some have called the endeavor impossible and moved on to lesser goals of science appreciation and heuristic guides to choosing trusted experts.
Determinants and Mechanisms of the Low Fusogenicity and High Dependence on Endosomal Entry of Omicron Subvariants
Authors: Qu Panke , Evans John P. , Kurhade Chaitanya , Zeng Cong , Zheng Yi-Min , Xu Kai , Shi Pei-Yong , Xie Xuping , Liu Shan-Lu
Published: January 2023

Omicron has been shown to predominantly use the endosomal entry pathway, resulting in reduced lung tropism and reduced disease severity; however, the underlying mechanism is not fully understood. In addition, whether the most recent Omicron subvariants, including BA.5 and BA.2.75, use the same pathway as their ancestor for entry is currently not known.
Attenuation of Avian Flavivirus by Rewiring the Leucine and Serine Codons of Its E-NS1 Protein toward Stop Mutation To Redirect Virus Evolution
Authors: Guo Jiaqi , He Yu , Wang Xiaoli , Merits Andres , Wang Mingshu , Jia Renyong , Zhu Dekang , Liu Mafeng , Zhao Xinxin , Yang Qiao , Wu Ying , Zhang Shaqiu , Huang Juan , Mao Sai , Ou Xumin , Gao Qun , Sun Di , Tian Bin , Cheng Anchun , Chen Shun
Published: January 2023

Flaviviruses are medically important arboviruses that threaten public health, but no approved treatments are currently available. Vaccines prevent flavivirus infection.
Identification and Regulatory Roles of a New Csr Small RNA from Arctic Pseudoalteromonas fuliginea BSW20308 in Temperature Responses
Authors: Wen Jiao , Liao Li , Duan Zedong , Su Shiyuan , Zhang Jin , Chen Bo
Published: January 2023

Previous research on microbial temperature adaptation has focused primarily on functional genes, with little attention paid to posttranscriptional regulation. Small RNAs, the major posttranscriptional modulators of gene expression, are greatly underexplored, especially in nonpathogenic and nonmodel microorganisms.
Pesticin-Like Effector VgrG3
cp
Targeting Peptidoglycan Delivered by the Type VI Secretion System Contributes to Vibrio cholerae Interbacterial Competition
Authors: Liu Ming , Zhao Meng-Yu , Wang Heng , Wang Zeng-Hang , Wang Zhao , Liu Ying , Li Yin-Peng , Dong Tao , Fu Yang
Published: January 2023

The type VI secretion system used by a broad range of Gram-negative bacteria delivers toxic proteins to target adjacent eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells. Diversification of effector proteins determines the complex bacterium-bacterium interactions and impacts the health of hosts and environmental ecosystems in which bacteria reside.
Pathogen Detection Using Metagenomic Next-Generation Sequencing of Plasma Samples from Patients with Sepsis in Uganda
Authors: Grundy Brian S. , Parikh Hardik , Jacob Shevin , Banura Patrick , Moore Chris C. , Liu Jie , Houpt Eric R.
Published: January 2023

The use of next-generation sequencing (NGS) in blood samples is an emerging technology for clinical microbiology labs. In this work, we performed NGS on plasma samples from a well-characterized cohort, where all samples had been previously tested by PCR for 43 pathogens.
Distinctive Structure and Assembly of Phyllosphere Microbial Communities between Wild and Cultivated Rice
Authors: Yin Yue , Wang Yi-Fei , Cui Hui-Ling , Zhou Rui , Li Lv , Duan Gui-Lan , Zhu Yong-Guan
Published: January 2023

Plant microbiota are being considered a lever to increase the sustainability of food production under a changing climate. In particular, the microbiomes associated with ancestors of modern cultivars have the potential to support their domesticated cultivars.
Microbial Enterotypes Shape the Divergence in Gut Fermentation, Host Metabolism, and Growth Rate of Young Goats
Authors: Wang Dangdang , Tang Guangfu , Yu Junjian , Li Yuanyuan , Feng Leiyu , Liu Huifeng , Li Jiaxiao , Chen Luyu , Cao Yangchun , Yao Junhu
Published: January 2023

The intricate relationships between a host animal and its resident gut microbiomes provide opportunities for dealing with energy efficiency and production challenges in the livestock industry. Here, we applied the enterotype concept to the gut microbiome in young goats and found that it can be classified into two enterotypes which are apparently associated with divergences in gut fermentation, blood biochemistry, and goat growth rates.
Assessment of choriocapillaris and choroidal vascular changes in posterior uveitis using swept-source wide-field optical coherence tomography angiography
Authors: Tian Meng , Zeng Guodong , Zinkernagel Martin , Tappeiner Christoph , Wolf Sebastian , Munk Marion R
Published: January 2023

Purpose

To evaluate choriocapillaris (CC) and choroidal vascular changes in patients with posterior uveitis using swept-source (SS) wide-field optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).

Method

Consecutive patients with posterior uveitis were evaluated using 3×3 mm and 12×12 mm OCTA scan patterns and montage images of 5×12×12 mm or 2×15×9 mm, covering approximately 70°–90° of the retina. The images were quantitatively and qualitatively analysed and compared with healthy controls.

Results

Eighty-six eyes of 56 patients with posterior uveitis (mean age 45.2±19.9 years; 58.9% female), and 38 eyes of 19 age-matched healthy controls (57.9% female) were included. The mean perfusion density (PD) in 3×3 mm and 12×12 mm CC scans was significantly lower in eyes with posterior uveitis compared with those of healthy controls. However, no significant difference in the mean PD of choroidal scans was found comparing eyes with posterior uveitis and healthy controls. The mean PD in eyes with active disease was significantly higher compared with the inactive eyes on 12×12 mm choroidal scans (55.61% vs 51.25%, p=0.02), while no difference was found in the CC slabs.

Conclusion

CC and choroidal assessment using OCTA provides useful information in patients with posterior uveitis. SS-OCTA metrics of the CC and choroidal slabs are promising tools in uveitis patients in the future.

Trial registration number

NCT02811536.
Artificial intelligence-based fluid quantification and associated visual outcomes in a real-world, multicentre neovascular age-related macular degeneration national database
Authors: Martin-Pinardel Ruben , Izquierdo-Serra Jordi , De Zanet Sandro , Parrado-Carrillo Alba , Garay-Aramburu Gonzaga , Puzo Martin , Arruabarrena Carolina , Sararols Laura , Abraldes Maximino , Broc Laura , Escobar-Barranco Jose Juan , Figueroa Marta , Zapata Miguel Angel , Ruiz-Moreno José M , Moll-Udina Aina , Bernal-Morales Carolina , Alforja Socorro , Figueras-Roca Marc , Gómez-Baldó Laia , Ciller Carlos , Apostolopoulos Stefanos , Mosinska Agata , Casaroli Marano Ricardo P , Zarranz-Ventura Javier
Published: January 2023

Aim

To explore associations between artificial intelligence (AI)-based fluid compartment quantifications and 12 months visual outcomes in OCT images from a real-world, multicentre, national cohort of naïve neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) treated eyes.

Methods

Demographics, visual acuity (VA), drug and number of injections data were collected using a validated web-based tool. Fluid compartment quantifications including intraretinal fluid (IRF), subretinal fluid (SRF) and pigment epithelial detachment (PED) in the fovea (1 mm), parafovea (3 mm) and perifovea (6 mm) were measured in nanoliters (nL) using a validated AI-tool.

Results

452 naïve nAMD eyes presented a mean VA gain of +5.5 letters with a median of 7 injections over 12 months. Baseline foveal IRF associated poorer baseline (44.7 vs 63.4 letters) and final VA (52.1 vs 69.1), SRF better final VA (67.1 vs 59.0) and greater VA gains (+7.1 vs +1.9), and PED poorer baseline (48.8 vs 57.3) and final VA (55.1 vs 64.1). Predicted VA gains were greater for foveal SRF (+6.2 vs +0.6), parafoveal SRF (+6.9 vs +1.3), perifoveal SRF (+6.2 vs −0.1) and parafoveal IRF (+7.4 vs +3.6, all p<0.05). Fluid dynamics analysis revealed the greatest relative volume reduction for foveal SRF (−16.4 nL, −86.8%), followed by IRF (−17.2 nL, −84.7%) and PED (−19.1 nL, −28.6%). Subgroup analysis showed greater reductions in eyes with higher number of injections.

Conclusion

This real-world study describes an AI-based analysis of fluid dynamics and defines baseline OCT-based patient profiles that associate 12-month visual outcomes in a large cohort of treated naïve nAMD eyes nationwide.