bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Upper Devonian to Lower Carboniferous Billefjorden Group on Bjørnøya, Svalbard, and Its North‐Eastern Greenlandic Provenance
Authors: Janocha Julian , Grundvåg Sten‐Andreas , Stockli Daniel F.
Published: December 2024

In this contribution, we document changes in detrital zircon ages in the upper Devonian (Famennian) to lower Carboniferous (Mississippian) Billefjorden Group on Bjørnøya, the southernmost island of Svalbard. This alluvial, coal‐bearing clastic succession is widely distributed across the archipelago and the Barents Shelf. The sediments were deposited in subsidence‐induced lowlands that formed just after regional post‐Caledonian collapse‐related extension, which created the classical ‘Old Red Sandstone’ basins during the Devonian, and prior to localised rift‐basin development in the middle Carboniferous (Serpukhovian–Moscovian). Moreover, the succession is little affected by Ellesmerian compressional deformation, which occurred in the latest Devonian. However, little is known of the provenance and regional sediment routing in this tectonically transitional period between the post‐Caledonian structuring events in the Devonian and the middle Carboniferous rifting. It has previously been invoked that a regional fault running parallel to the western Barents Shelf margin, the West Bjørnøya Fault, controlled sedimentation in the area. Here, we combine detrital zircon U–Pb ages and sedimentological data to investigate stratigraphic provenance variations and test whether tectonics controlled deposition of the Billefjorden Group on Bjørnøya. Sedimentological investigations demonstrate changes in fluvial style with intercalations between successions dominated by meandering channel fills and abundant overbank fines to sandstone‐dominated sheet‐like successions of braided stream origin. Palaeocurrent data show that two competing drainage directions accompany the changes in fluvial architecture. Northeasterly transport directions, recorded in the braided stream deposits, indicate possible fault‐transverse drainage. The detrital zircon content in these deposits indicates sourcing from Caledonian terranes in Northeast Greenland. Northwest‐oriented transport directions, measured in the meandering channel deposits, are inferred to represent axially positioned drainage systems. These may have been sourced from either Northeast Greenland, a more localised source, or Baltica. The latter would require long‐distance sourcing, which, given the tectonic setting of the region, seems unlikely. Although our sedimentological observations point to syn‐tectonic deposition, this is not clearly captured in the detrital zircon data, suggesting a common source for the Late Devonian–Mississippian fluvial systems of Bjørnøya. Thus, combined with previously published provenance data from Svalbard and Greenland, we demonstrate that the East Greenland Caledonides formed a long‐lived and significant source area which provided sediments to nearby basins from the Devonian to the Early Cretaceous.
Persist or resist: Immune checkpoint inhibitors in EGFR‐mutated NSCLC
Authors: Zhu Pengcheng , Li Zhitong , Sun Yuxiang , Liu Tongyan , Yin Rong
Published: December 2024

Although epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR‐TKIs), especially third‐generation TKIs, have significantly improved the progression‐free survival and overall survival of non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with EGFR mutation, TKI resistance is inevitable for most patients. Over the past few years, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have significantly improved the survival for EGFR‐wild type NSCLC patients. However, no significantly improved benefits were observed with ICI monotherapy in EGFR‐mutated patients. EGFR‐mutated NSCLC shows more heterogeneity in tumor mutational burden (TMB), programmed cell death‐ligand 1 (PD‐L1), and immune microenvironment characteristics. Whether ICIs are suitable for EGFR‐mutated NSCLC patients remains to be elucidated. In this review, we summarized clinical trials of ICIs or combined therapy in EGFR‐mutated NSCLC patients. We further discussed the factors determining the efficacy of ICIs in EGFR‐mutated NSCLC patients, the mutation subtypes and microenvironment characteristics of potential responders. More importantly, we provided insights into areas worth further investigation in the future.
Discovery of Voreloxin as a Dual‐Selective Stabilizer for c‐Myc/Bcl‐2 G‐Quadruplexes in Leukemia
Authors: Yin Jiacheng , Jia Pingting , Qu Xinxin , Han Zheng , Yao Longsheng , Wang Shangzhao , Gao Jian
Published: December 2024

Overexpression of c‐Myc is a key factor in the development of leukemia and other malignancies, highlighting the urgent need for novel drugs to inhibit c‐Myc protein levels. DNA G‐quadruplexes (G4) have emerged as potential regulatory targets for c‐Myc expression. Previous studies identified trovafloxacin, a topoisomerase II inhibitor, as a novel c‐Myc G4 stabilizer. In this study, virtual screening based on structural similarity led to the identification of nine derivatives of trovafloxacin, among which voreloxin exhibited potent cytotoxicity in multiple myeloma cells and showed promising therapeutic efficacy in leukemia cells. FRET assays demonstrated that voreloxin specifically stabilized the G4 structures of c‐Myc and Bcl‐2, with minimal effects on the G4 structures of other oncogenes. Moreover, voreloxin significantly reduced the expression levels of c‐Myc and Bcl‐2 in THP‐1 and MOLM‐13 cells. Molecular docking, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, and MM/GBSA calculations further confirmed the stable binding of voreloxin to both c‐Myc and Bcl‐2 G4s, primarily driven by π‐π stacking and hydrogen bonding interactions. These findings provide valuable insights for the development of G4‐targeting drugs for cancer therapy.
Maladaptive but malleable: Gender‐science stereotypes emerge early but are modifiable by language
Authors: Wang Michelle M. , Cardarelli Amanda , Brenner Jonah , Leslie Sarah‐Jane , Rhodes Marjorie
Published: December 2024

Gender‐science stereotypes emerge early in childhood, but little is known about the developmental processes by which they arise. The present study tested the hypothesis that language implying scientists are a special and distinct kind of person contributes to the development of gender‐science stereotypes, even when it does not communicate stereotypic content. One cross‐sectional and two longitudinal studies with racially and geographically diverse children (primarily from the United States; ages 4–5; N = 872, tested 2020–2022) revealed that gender stereotypes about science versus art (a) emerge before elementary school, (b) arise from commonplace identity‐emphasizing language, especially among girls, and (c) can be durably disrupted by subtle changes to language. This study identifies a promising way to counteract stereotypes at their roots.
How ‘the System’ Affects job Satisfaction and Intention to Stay or Leave—A Qualitative Study Among Child Welfare and Protection Workers in Norway
Authors: Nilsen Kristel Høie , Lauritzen Camilla , Vis Svein Arild , Iversen Anita
Published: December 2024

This article presents the findings of a study examining the factors that influence the intentions of Norwegian child welfare and protection workers to either remain in or leave their positions. It explores the elements that sustain their motivation and commitment, as well as those that contribute to their sense of challenge during difficult times. The study involved group interviews with 11 experienced workers, all of whom expressed a profound, idealistic passion for child welfare and protection as the primary driver for their continued engagement in a demanding and intricate field. Concurrently, they voiced their frustration with systemic inefficiencies that obstruct their ability to perform their duties effectively. The study highlights the significance of effective leadership and collegial support as key factors that help these professionals cope with the challenges posed by an underperforming system.
[genus]_[species]; Presenting phylogenies to facilitate synthesis
Authors: Chesters Douglas , Bossert Silas , Orr Michael C.
Published: December 2024

Each published phylogeny is a potential contribution to the synthesis of the Tree of Life and countless downstream projects. Steps are needed for fully synthesizable science, but only a minority of studies achieve these. We here review the range of phylogenetic presentation and note aspects that hinder further analysis. We provide simple suggestions on publication that would greatly enhance utilizability, and propose a formal grammar for phylogeny terminal format. We suggest that each published phylogeny should be accompanied by at minimum the single preferred result in machine readable tree (e.g. Newick) form in the supplement, a simple task fulfilled by fewer than half of studies. Further, the tree should be clear from the file name and extension; the orientation (rooted or unrooted) should match the figures; terminals labels should include genus and species IDs; underscores should separate strings within‐field (instead of white spaces); and if other informational fields are added these should be separated by a unique delimiting character (we suggest multiple underscores or the vertical pipe character, |) and ordered consistently. These requirements are largely independent of phylogenetic study aims, while we note other requirements for synthesis (e.g. removal of species repeats and uninformative terminals) that are not necessarily the responsibility of authors. Machine readable trees show greater variation in terminal formatting than typical phylogeny images (owing presumably to greater scrutiny of the latter), and thus are complex and laborious to parse. Since the majority of existing studies have provided only images, we additionally review typical variation in plotting style, information that will be necessary for developing the automated phylogeny transcription tools needed for their eventual inclusion in the Tree of Life.
Scope of practice: A discussion of non‐physician providers in care management
Authors: Plemmons Alicia
Published: December 2024

Scope of practice is a phrase used to describe the types of services that can be performed by non‐physician healthcare providers. In the United States, the range of services a practitioner may offer is not determined by representatives of the profession, but instead through a state‐level legislative process. Researchers in this space have focused on understanding the effects of these state policies on the accessibility, quality, and cost‐effectiveness of healthcare for patients. As the physician shortage grows, understanding areas where non‐physician providers can bridge this care gap presents potential solutions to healthcare barriers. This introduction outlines the themes of the issue, what has been done in the literature, what is yet to be done, and the current conversation within state and federal legislatures.
Pharmacokinetic study of polymyxin B in healthy subjects and subjects with renal insufficiency
Authors: Fang Yu‐Wei , Huang Chien‐Hsien , Jang Tsrang‐Neng , Lin Shih‐Sen , Wang Jing‐Tong , Huang Yen‐Ta , Tsai Ming Hsien
Published: December 2024

Polymyxin B is a viable option for treating antibiotic‐resistant infections; however, current data on its pharmacokinetics, particularly in patients with renal insufficiency, remain inconclusive and necessitates further investigation. To address this gap, we conducted an open‐label, single‐center, single‐dose, parallel‐group pharmacokinetic study. Participants received an intravenous dose of 0.75 mg/kg of polymyxin B and were categorized based on their renal function: those with normal function (creatinine clearance [CLcr] ≥ 90 mL/min), mild renal insufficiency (CLcr 60–89 mL/min), and end‐stage kidney disease patients on intermittent hemodialysis (IHD) (CLcr < 10 mL/min). The pharmacokinetic parameters assessed included the area under the curve (AUC), maximum concentration (Cmax), clearance rate (CL), volume of distribution (Vz), and half‐life (t1/2). Results indicated that subjects with mild renal insufficiency exhibited pharmacokinetic profiles similar to healthy individuals. Nevertheless, in patients undergoing long‐term IHD, we observed significant differences: the AUC was 58% higher, Cmax was 29% lower, CL was 42% lower, Vz was 60% larger, and t1/2 was extended by 10 h compared to healthy controls. Secondary outcomes revealed good tolerability of polymyxin B across all groups, with no serious adverse effects related to renal function. In summary, while kidney function may have a slight impact on the pharmacokinetic of polymyxin B, it does not compromise the drug's therapeutic effectiveness.
Capital market distortions and skills demand in a transitional economy: The case of Vietnam
Authors: Phan Diep , Coxhead Ian
Published: December 2024

We model and investigate differences in factor demand by private and state‐owned enterprises in Vietnam, an economy in transition, to market‐driven growth. We postulate that state firms, who have privileged access to financial capital and face lower borrowing costs, choose technologies that are capital intensive and demand more skilled labour, a complementary input, while private firms rely on low‐technology methods and less‐skilled labour. Propositions generated by the model are supported by analysis using data from Vietnam's enterprise census. Because the private sector is by far the larger employer, a more level capital market playing field would likely raise aggregate demand for skills, thereby strengthening incentives to invest in higher education.
The Effects of Hybridization and Parasite Infection on the Survival and Behaviour of Endangered Landlocked Salmon Subject to Predation—Implications for Genetic Rescue
Authors: Eronen Aslak , Janhunen Matti , Hyvärinen Pekka , Kortet Raine , Karvonen Anssi
Published: December 2024

A prerequisite of genetic rescue in endangered and genetically depauperate populations is to pre‐evaluate between possible pros and cons of hybridization for the life history and survival of the target population. We hybridized the critically endangered Saimaa landlocked salmon (Salmo salar m. sebago) with one of its geographically closest relatives, anadromous Baltic salmon from River Kymijoki. In two similar experiments, conducted in semi‐natural streams during overwintering (at age 1.5) and in early summer (age 2+), we studied how hybridization and eye parasite infection (Diplostomum pseudospathaceum) affected survival from predation by Northern pike (Esox lucius). Additionally, we recorded movements of the juvenile salmon using passive integrated telemetry to gain insights into the effect of hybridization and infection on antipredatory behaviour (movement activity and habitat use). Among the uninfected groups, we found significantly lower mortality of hybrid salmon (mortality ± S.E. 14.5% ± 5.4%) compared to purebred landlocked salmon (37.2% ± 9.4%), supporting a positive effect of hybridization under predation risk. This benefit, however, was cancelled out by the parasite infection, which impaired vision and increased the susceptibility to predation. The negative effects of infection were particularly pronounced in the anadromous salmon due to lower infection resistance, compared to the landlocked salmon. Hybridization per se did not affect the activity levels of salmon, but overwintering activity correlated positively with eye cataract coverage, and summer activity was highest in anadromous salmon. These results demonstrate that controlled supplementation of a small animal population with genetically more diverse hybrids could entail both positive and negative implications, at least in the first crossbred generation.
Words of advice: how to write the story of a patient for a problem‐based learning session in a healthcare education program
Authors: Bergemann Andrew D. , McMillin Matthew , Gillispie‐Taylor Miriah C. , Gingell Gareth , Surles R. Taylor , Wallace Rachel
Published: December 2024

Medical education is in the process of a pedagogical revolution. Traditional lectures are playing a progressively smaller role, with more of the content being delivered through student‐centered small‐group sessions. Problem‐based learning (PBL) has become a centerpiece of education for many medical schools, in large part because of its focus on the learners identifying their own knowledge gaps. As junior scientists seek faculty appointments in institutions focused on healthcare education, they will find that skills in PBL are valued by the academic community. Among the necessary skills is the capability to lead efforts in PBL case writing. The cases, each of which is a narrative of a patient's experience of disease, are a critical component of the PBL process, as they trigger learners to follow their curiosity and thereby drive learning. In this article, we outline a clear methodology for educators to follow to create new cases. The described steps provide guidance on making each case powerful to learners through creating immediacy and a sense of the patient as a human being. Guidance is also provided to enable case authors to avoid the common pitfalls, including avoiding the introduction of unintended biases and microaggressions. Importantly, guidance is also provided regarding the best practices to incorporate feedback from content experts. Following the steps in our process promotes a methodical approach to case writing that consistently generates a quality product that enriches student learning.
More and more pleiotropy within the IL‐6 family of cytokines
Authors: Rose‐John Stefan , Jones Simon A.
Published: December 2024

Historically, cytokines belonging to the gp130 family bind to specific ligand‐binding receptors that stimulate cell signaling through a receptor complex comprising gp130 or gp130 together with another structurally related signaling receptor. However, recent findings increasingly dispel these stereotypes and suggest that the receptor specificity of gp130‐activating cytokines is less strict than originally assumed. Weitz et al. now provide the latest example of this pleiotropy and report that human interleukin‐6 can bind and stimulate signaling via the interleukin‐11 receptor. Possible biological and therapeutic consequences of these findings are discussed.
A Trophic and Non‐Trophic Seasonal Interaction Network Reveals Potential Management Units and Functionally Important Species
Authors: Daly Ella Z. , Brock‐Fisher Taylor M. , Frost Carol M.
Published: December 2024

Aim

Understanding the organisation of the wide variety of ecological interactions is crucial to advancing our understanding and management of real ecosystems. We aimed to compile a ‘complete’ network of tetrapod trophic and non‐trophic interactions for the entire North American boreal forest biome that could be analysed to gain insights into community organisation and function. In particular, we aimed to identify functionally important units (modules) and species within the boreal network, and to compare how these changed seasonally and with different types of ecological interactions.

Location

Boreal North America.

Time Period

1950–present.

Major Taxa Studied

Tetrapods.

Methods

We compiled published ecological interactions for boreal tetrapods into a food web (trophic interactions) and a network containing trophic and non‐trophic interactions (‘inclusive network’). We partitioned interactions by season, creating four networks representing the two network types per season. We examined how the modular structure, composition of modules, assortativity of species' attributes within modules and importance of different species compared across these networks.

Results

We compiled a dataset of 5037 ecological interactions amongst 421 boreal tetrapod species. Most of these interactions (87%) occur in summer. The summer and winter boreal food webs and inclusive networks are modular (i.e., contain subsets of species interacting more with each other than with species outside of the subset). The winter networks have more modules than the summer networks. Several species attributes explain which species assort together into modules, including physical and behavioural traits, taxonomic class and trophic niche. Seven species were functionally important across at least two of three measures: module hubs, centrality or responsible for the greatest network changes, with other species being important within certain seasons or interaction contexts.

Main Conclusions

Potential conservation management units (modules) exist in the boreal network, and module membership likely indicates tighter dynamic coupling in winter than in summer.
Land‐Use Impacts on Plant Functional Diversity Throughout Europe
Authors: Rosa Francesca , van Bodegom Peter M. , Hellweg Stefanie , Pfister Stephan , Biurrun Idoia , Boch Steffen , Chytrý Milan , Ćušterevska Renata , Fratte Michele Dalle , Damasceno Gabriella , Garbolino Emmanuel , Lenoir Jonathan , Ozinga Wim A. , Penuelas Josep , Sabatini Francesco Maria , Schrodt Franziska , Uogintas Domas , Byun Chaeho , Dolezal Jiri , Dziuba Tetiana , Hérault Bruno , Martín‐Forés Irene , Niinemets Ülo , Peyre Gwendolyn , Scherer Laura
Published: December 2024

Aim

Global biodiversity loss resulting from anthropogenic land‐use activities is a pressing concern, requiring precise assessments of impacts at large spatial extents. Existing models mainly focus on species richness and abundance, lacking insights into ecological mechanisms and species' roles in ecosystem functioning. To bridge this gap, we conducted an extensive analysis of the impact of human land use on vascular plant functional diversity across diverse land‐use classes and bioregions in Europe, comparing it to traditional metrics.

Location

Europe.

Time Period

1992–2019.

Major Taxa Studied

Vascular plants.

Methods

Integrating extensive databases of vegetation plots with spatial data on land use and land cover, we paired plots from areas actively used and modified by humans with plots from natural habitats under similar environmental conditions. Using species occurrences and traits, in each plot we computed three complementary functional diversity metrics (functional richness, evenness and divergence), species richness and abundance. We assessed the impact of land use by comparing the metrics in the paired plots.

Results

Our findings revealed that, compared to natural habitats, anthropogenic land use exhibits lower functional richness and divergence but higher functional evenness across most land‐use classes and bioregions. The response of functional richness was more marked than the other two metrics and especially pronounced in croplands and urban areas and in northern bioregions. Functional richness exhibited a pattern that did not fully overlap with the trend in species richness, providing useful complementary information.

Main Conclusions

We provide a large‐scale precise assessment of anthropogenic land‐use impacts on functional diversity across Europe. Our findings indicate that: (i) human disturbance significantly alters plant functional diversity compared to natural habitats; (ii) this alteration goes in the direction of functional homogenisation within sites; (iii) functional diversity metrics complement traditional metrics by offering deeper insights into the ecological mechanisms in response to anthropogenic land use.
HUMAN RIGHTS IN A GLOBAL WORLD: RACIALISATION AND RELIGION IN RATHLEF'S DIE MOHRINN ZU HAMBURG AND ZIEGLER'S DIE MOHRINN1
Authors: Nitschke Claudia
Published: December 2024

In Rathlef's and Ziegler's plays the need for human rights becomes tangible through the seemingly Other, disrupting the quotidian order of the (bourgeois) realm. The plays explore racial premises placed in close relationship with intertextual correlates, in particular bourgeois tragedies where the female protagonists embody complex moral values in a challenging environment: both plays under scrutiny here similarly rely on the moral impeccability of their Black protagonists to promote the idea of universal human rights. Moral performance and deficiency as well as perfectibility become an intrinsic part of humanness, which resonates with the nascent notion of Herder's ‘Humanität’ (understood as a common property inherent in human beings but in need of being cultivated and brought out). The article analyses the dynamic of these developmental arguments and seeks to show how these notions of a morally charged ‘Humanität’ offer a different, transcendent and in many ways transcultural starting point for the discussion of human rights: human rights emanating from the ‘Humanität’ inherent in all people can be regarded as universal in these plays precisely because they transcend specific sovereign realm(s) and political rights regimes dominant in the eighteenth century.
Favorable impact of hepatitis C virus infection control on recurrence after surgical resection for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma
Authors: Kinoshita Masahiko , Kosaka Hisashi , Kaibori Masaki , Ueno Masaki , Yasuda Satoshi , Komeda Koji , Yamamoto Yusuke , Tani Masaji , Aihara Tsukasa , Shinkawa Hiroji , Hayami Shinya , Matsuo Yasuko , Kawaguchi Nao , Morimura Ryo , Mori Haruki , Nakajima Takayoshi , Kubo Shoji , Ishizawa Takeaki
Published: December 2024

Aim

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a risk factor of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). However, the impact of HCV infection control status on prognosis after surgery for ICCs is still unclear.

Methods

This multicenter retrospective study included patients who underwent curative resection for ICCs. The sera of 56 patients tested positive for anti‐HCV antibody and negative for hepatitis B surface antigen (HCV group). Additionally, the sera of 358 patients tested negative for anti‐HCV antibody and hepatitis B surface antigen (NBNC group). In the HCV group, 33 of 56 patients achieved sustained virologic response (SVR) for HCV (SVR group), whereas 23 patients did not (non‐SVR group). To investigate the prognostic impact of HCV infection control status in the whole study cohort and in patients with solitary ICC without lymph node metastasis (StN0 study cohort), the postoperative prognosis of the SVR, non‐SVR, and NBNC groups was compared.

Results

In the whole study cohort, there were no significant differences in terms of recurrence‐free survival (RFS) or overall survival among the three groups. Based on the multivariate Cox regression analysis, non‐SVR was an independent unfavorable prognostic factor of RFS. In the StN0 study cohort, the non‐SVR group had a significantly lower RFS than the NBNC and SVR groups. Based on the multivariate analysis, non‐SVR was an independent unfavorable prognostic factor of RFS.

Conclusions

The achievement of SVR for HCV infection in patients with HCV infection‐related ICCs is associated with a better RFS after surgery for HCV‐related ICCs, particularly solitary ICC without lymph node metastasis.
Disappearing aapa mires and why we should care: unnoticed climate change exacerbates drainage effects on birds
Authors: Fox Anthony D. , Lehikoinen Aleksi
Published: December 2024

Aapa mires are distinctive base‐enriched northern peatland systems, often with pronounced flark‐string (deep‐pool) surface features. Aapa mires are used by specialist breeding migratory waterbirds (particularly Broad‐billed Sandpiper Calidris falcinellus, Jack Snipe Lymnocryptes minimus, Taiga Bean Goose Anser fabalis and Pintail Anas acuta) and support high densities of other nesting wader species (Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola, Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus, Ruff Calidris pugnax, Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago, Curlew Numenius arquata and Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus) compared with other peatland landforms. Remote sensing, palynology and peat stratigraphy studies confirm rapid and massive loss of aapa mires through recent drainage, but now also through climate change. Botanists report that recent warming has caused enhanced successional expansions in ombrotrophic raised mire vegetation to engulf aapa mires, destroying their unique surface and nutrient characteristics. As the waterbird species associated with aapa mires cannot survive on acidic base‐poor raised mire systems, this ecological change places their populations in jeopardy. While acknowledging the need to reduce climate change through other means, these changes prioritize the need for international cooperation to extend and improve site‐safeguarding of intact aapa mires and restoration of damaged aapa mires, as well as effective conservation of affected avian species throughout their full annual cycle to safeguard them, aapa mires and their associated bird communities for future generations. The case regarding aapa mires highlights the need to establish new mechanisms to create cohesive networks of protected areas for special habitats that are of disproportional importance to key avian populations and other wetland species that may not be adequately represented in current site‐safeguard networks.
Association Between Children's Toothbrushing and Head of Household Educational Attainment in Peru
Authors: Vilca‐Najarro Andrea , Garcés‐Elías Maria Claudia , León‐Manco Roberto A.
Published: December 2024

Objective

To determine the association between Peruvian children toothbrushing and head of household educational attainment.

Methods

Cross‐sectional study with two‐stage, probabilistic, stratified, balanced and independent sampling. The independent variable was the highest level of education of the head of household, and the dependent variables were general toothbrushing, daily toothbrushing and toothbrushing at least twice a day; the co‐variables were: wealth index, health insurance tendency, natural region, area of residence, place of residence, sex and age. The National Institute of Statistics and Informatics website was accessed to download and merge databases using STATA 15.1. The statistical analysis included descriptive, bivariate (chi‐squared) and multivariate (Poisson regression) tests with a 95% confidence level and p < 0.05.

Results

The higher education level of the head of household presented a positive association with general toothbrushing (RPa: 1.04; 95% CI: 1.03–1.06; p < 0.001), adjusted for the variables natural region, area of residence, place of residence, altitude, wealth index, health insurance, sex and age.

Conclusion

Having a head of household with higher education is positively associated with children practising general toothbrushing, compared to those whose parents only completed an elementary education level.
COVID‐19‐Related Knowledge, Fear, and Infection Control of Dental Staff
Authors: Sim Eunbi , Mun So‐Jung , Han Sunyoung , Kang Jung Yun , Lee Yoon , Noh Hie‐Jin
Published: December 2024

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the correlations between knowledge, fear, infection control practices, and attitude of dental staff in Korea.

Methods

This study was conducted to investigate the correlation between COVID‐19‐related knowledge, fear, and infection control attitudes and practices.

Results

COVID‐19‐related knowledge was significantly correlated with infection control attitudes and practices (r = 0.204, p < 0.010), and infection control attitudes and practices were significantly correlated with knowledge and fear (r = 0.214, p < 0.01).

Conclusions

It was confirmed that most Korean dental staff are acquiring correct knowledge about COVID‐19 and are showing relatively stable infection control attitudes and practices to cope with it.
Effects of Systematic Oral Hygiene Guidance on Plaque Control Among Periodontal Patients
Authors: Lei Bing , Xue Weiqi , Zhao Shanmei , Zhang Limei , Andegiorgish Amanuel Kidane , Liu Jin , Zeng Lingxia
Published: December 2024

Objective

To evaluate the efficacy of systematic oral hygiene instruction in improving oral hygiene knowledge and to practice and control oral plaque, among periodontal patients.

Methods

A total of 407 patients were recruited, with 205 in the experimental group and 202 in the control group. Participants in the experimental group received professional dental examination, cleaning tools and instruction of oral hygiene practices. The patients in the control group received conventional educational guidance. Two follow‐ups with 7–10‐day intervals were conducted after the baseline examination.

Results

Compared to those in control group, the plaque index of participants in the experimental group was significantly improved after the intervention. Moreover, participants' behaviours, including brushing twice or more a day, brushing more than 2 min, skill in using dental floss and brushing before going to bed, significantly improved after receiving professional systematic oral hygiene guidance (p < 0.001). Significant improvement was achieved in patients' oral hygiene knowledge, attitudes and practices (p < 0.001). Overall, 26.8% of the participants reached standard oral plaque control (plaque index ≤ 20%) in experimental group. Multivariable analysis showed that participants' old age and severity of illness had significant effects on plaque control.

Conclusion

Professional educational guidance is effective in maintaining good oral hygiene practices following periodontal management compare with conventional education. Oral health promotion interventions should be adjusted by age, severity of disease and the distal portion of the oral cavity.
Interprofessional Learning and Oral Health‐Related Attitudes and Knowledge Among Nursing Students at a University in Sweden—An Exploratory Study
Authors: Almståhl Annica , Palmgren Erika , Andersson Jessica Skoogh
Published: December 2024

Aim

To evaluate an interprofessional learning (IPL) session involving dental hygiene students and nursing students and to investigate the nursing students' oral health‐related knowledge and attitudes.

Material and Method

First, a questionnaire about knowledge and attitudes regarding oral health was answered by 84 nursing students. After an IPL session, including dental hygiene students and nursing students, both groups completed an evaluation questionnaire.

Results

Both student groups stated that the IPL had led to an increased understanding of each other's professional roles and the importance of collaboration. Among the nursing students, 67.9% rated their knowledge about oral health as good/fairly good. Only 15.5% rated their knowledge about gum diseases as good/fairly good and 44% their knowledge about caries as good/fairly good. Additionally, 48.8% fully agreed/agreed that they felt secure performing oral care on care recipients. The nursing students had received little or no oral health‐related education.

Conclusion

For nursing students, the IPL has led to an increased understanding of how oral diseases can be detected, prevented and treated. For the dental hygiene students, the IPL session has led to an improved capability to discuss oral health and oral care with another profession and to a better understanding of the nurse's role regarding oral healthcare. Both student groups have increased their awareness of the importance of future interprofessional collaboration. IPL about oral health and oral care should be integrated more broadly into dental hygiene and nursing education.
Fabrication of zirconium nitride‐zirconia toughened alumina core‐shell ceramics as surrogate for the uranium nitride‐uranium dioxide core‐shell ceramic fuel
Authors: Chen Ming‐Zhou , Liu Hong‐Lan , Guo Wei‐Ming , Ren Qi‐Sen , Yang Rong‐Kun , Zhu Lin‐Lin , Liao Ye‐Hong , Lin Hua‐Tay
Published: December 2024

The zirconium nitride‐zirconia toughened alumina (ZrN‐ZTA) core‐shell ceramics, whose shell was the ZTA and core was the ZrN‐ZTA with ZrN content between 0 and 88 vol.% were successfully fabricated by powder metallurgy method combined with spark plasma sintering in order to improve the oxidation and corrosion resistance of ZrN ceramics used as a surrogate fuel of uranium nitride. Experimental results showed that the core‐shell ceramics fabricated were intact and crack‐free, and the interfaces between the shell and the core were well‐defined and coherent without apparent defects. Also, all of the ZTA ceramic shells exhibited similar dense microstructure and mechanical properties. When ZrN content in the core increased from 0 to 88 vol.%, the Vickers hardness of the core was increased and then decreased, and fracture toughness was also increased to 5.42 ± 0.31 MPa·m1/2 and then decreased to 4.32 ± 0.25 MPa·m1/2. The core‐shell ceramics fabricated in this study with the high nitride content have demonstrated reliable microstructure and mechanical properties, which can be potential candidates for application as accident‐tolerant fuel in nuclear energy systems.
Impact of rotational speed and pH on tribocatalytic dye degradation activity of 0.5Ba(Zr0.2Ti0.8)O3‒0.5(Ba0.7Sr0.3)TiO3
Authors: Dubey Shivam , Thakur Abhay Singh , Vaish Rahul , Algarni Zaina , Ismail Mohamed A. , Amari Abdelfattah
Published: December 2024

The degradation of methylene blue dye via tribocatalysis using 0.5Ba(Zr0.2Ti0.8)O3‒0.5(Ba0.7Sr0.3)TiO3 (BST‒BZT) ceramic powders was investigated under various conditions. The tribocatalytic process was initiated using magnetic stirring with a polytetrafluoroethylene‐coated magnetic bar in a glass beaker setup. The degradation efficiency was evaluated at different stirring speeds of 300, 500, and 700 rpm. The results showed significant variation in degradation rates, with the highest degradation efficiency of ∼73% achieved within 12 h at a rotational speed of 700 rpm. Additionally, the impact of pH on the degradation process was examined by adjusting the dye solution to pH levels of 3, 6, and 9. The degradation efficiency increased with higher pH levels, with the maximum degradation occurring in the basic medium (pH 9). Kinetic analysis revealed that the degradation process adhered to pseudo‐first‐order kinetics, with rate constants of 0.023, 0.035, and 0.104 min⁻1 at different stirring speeds of 300, 500, and 700 rpm, respectively. This study showcases the potential of BST‒BZT ceramics as efficient tribocatalysts for degrading organic pollutants in wastewater, emphasizing the impact of stirring speed and pH on degradation efficiency.
Contextual Factors Shaping the Professional Identity of Chinese Teachers in English as a Foreign Language Instructional Context: Exploring the Role of School Climate and Administrator Leadership Behavior
Authors: Wang Wenyi , Derakhshan Ali
Published: December 2024

Due to the immense impact of teachers’ professional identity on their teaching effectiveness, multitudes of studies have now examined this multifaceted construct and its determinants. However, due to excessive focus on the personal determinants of teacher identity, whether or not this construct can be affected by contextual factors has remained elusive. To narrow this lacuna and unravel the contextual determinants of teacher professional identity, the current study strived to divulge the role of two contextual factors, namely, school climate and administrator leadership behavior, in shaping the professional identity of Chinese English as foreign language teachers. To this end, with the aid of the convenient sampling technique, 375 English as foreign language teachers were invited to partake in the present research. The needed data were gleaned via three online self‐scoring questionnaires and were analyzed via SPSS (v. 26) and AMOS (v. 29). Results obtained from correlation tests indicated a strong, linear relationship between school climate and teacher professional identity, as well as a moderate, linear association between leadership behavior and teacher professional identity. Furthermore, the findings of regression analyses identified that school climate and administrator leadership behavior are two important determinants of professional identity among Chinese English as foreign language teachers. In fact, as the regression outcomes revealed, these two contextual variables serve a key role in constructing or reconstructing the professional identity of Chinese English as foreign language teachers. The findings of this inquiry can deepen our comprehension of the influence of contextual factors on the formation of teachers’ professional identity.
Comparison of cardiovascular risk prediction in type 1 diabetes: an Australian viewpoint
Authors: Wimalarathne Savindi , Goh Yuhan A. , Fegan P. Gerry , Yeap Bu B. , Lan Nick S. R.
Published: December 2024

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a significant burden in individuals with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Yet the optimal method of CVD risk stratification remains uncertain. We found that the new Australian CVD risk calculator could overestimate risk category compared with the Steno Type 1 Risk Engine and underestimate risk category compared with the new Swedish/Scottish prediction tool, both of which were validated for T1DM. More research is needed to derive a CVD risk assessment pathway for individuals with T1DM in Australia.
Preferential chemical oxygen diffusion along dislocation networks in SrTiO3
Authors: Rodenbücher Christian , Balin Katarzyna , Wojtyniak Marcin , Besmehn Astrid , Korte Carsten , Szot Krzysztof
Published: December 2024

The properties of SrTiO3 (STO), a well‐known and often employed model material of transition metal oxides with perovskite structure, have been the subject of numerous studies over the last decades. However, even fundamental mechanisms such as the reaction of STO to changes in oxygen activity are still not yet fully understood. In this paper, we focus on the role of dislocations on reduction and chemical diffusion. We demonstrate that upon reduction of STO crystals, metallic filaments form along the dislocations. Using a bicrystal boundary as an indicator for dislocation‐related properties, we provide direct evidence for fast chemical oxygen diffusion along dislocation networks in reduced STO using 18O isotope oxidation experiments. Consequently, it is possible to manipulate the global conductivity of a macroscopic crystal by means of oxidation in a low‐temperature regime, in which classical bulk diffusion is not expected. We illustrate that the impact of dislocations is larger than previously assumed and should not be neglected when analyzing and modeling solid oxide materials with mixed electronic–ionic conductivity.
Facilitating an Evidence‐Based Quality Improvement Learning Culture in Nursing Teams Through Coaching and Identification of Key Influencing Factors: An Action Research Approach
Authors: Giesen Jeltje , Berings Marjolein , Bakker‐Jacobs Annick , Vermeulen Hester , Huisman‐De Waal Getty , Van Vught Anneke
Published: December 2024

Aims

To explore how coaching can facilitate the development of an Evidence‐Based Quality Improvement (EBQI) learning culture within nursing teams in hospital and community care settings. This study also explores the specific contextual factors that influence effective outcomes.

Design

Action research.

Method

Nine teams, including 254 nurses were selected from four hospitals and two community care organisations to participate in the development of an EBQI‐learning culture under the guidance of internal and external coaches. Data were gathered from 27 focus groups with 56 unique participants (of whom 31 participated multiple times) and six individual interviews with three external coaches. Transcripts of all interviews were subjected to abductive thematic analysis.

Results

To promote an EBQI learning culture in nursing teams, it is essential that internal coaches effectively guide their team members. The internal coaches in this study focused on enhancing readiness for EBQI by providing support, encouraging involvement and motivating team members. They deepened innovation competencies including assessing daily care, implementing well‐structured changes in care practices and embedding small steps in the change process in daily routines. It was found that barriers and facilitators within the team's context can influence the development of EBQI‐learning culture and therefore need to be considered when seeking to make changes. The presence of external coaches served as a valuable resource and a motivator in supporting internal coaches to apply and improve their coaching skills.

Conclusions

To stimulate the development of an EBQI‐learning culture, internal coaches need to focus on team readiness to work with EBQI. Priority needs to be given to enhancing the care change competencies of team members. Barriers to change must also be addressed. Internal coaches require external support and motivation to continually develop coaching skills.

Reporting Method

The Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research.

Patient or Public Contribution

No patient or public contribution.
Cognitive and Moral Enhancement: A Response to Gordon and Ragonese's Practical Proposal
Authors: Matisonn Heidi , Brzozowski Jacek
Published: December 2024

In their response to Persson and Savulescu's argument that we urgently need to pursue the moral enhancement of humankind given the risk posed by a ‘morally corrupt minority's potential to abuse cognitive enhancement’, Gordon and Ragonese offer a ‘practical proposal’ for a targeted form of cognitive enhancement whereby ‘as more sophisticated forms of cognitive enhancement become accessible, they should be made available in a carefully regulated way to’ scientific researchers invested in the production of new and improved moral enhancements. In this article we raise some concerns with such a proposal, focusing specifically on the (potential) harms such an intervention may give rise to, for both the enhanced researchers and their unenhanced counterparts. We further suggest that recent changes in the nature of the academic environment – which already seem to be driving researchers to use cognitive enhancers – present a serious challenge to any proposal that encourages such use.
Broomean(ish) Algorithmic Fairness?
Authors: Castro Clinton
Published: December 2024

Recently, there has been much discussion of ‘fair machine learning’: fairness in data‐driven decision‐making systems (which are often, though not always, made with assistance from machine learning systems). Notorious impossibility results show that we cannot have everything we want here. Such problems call for careful thinking about the foundations of fair machine learning. Sune Holm has identified one promising way forward, which involves applying John Broome's theory of fairness to the puzzles of fair machine learning. Unfortunately, his application of Broome's theory appears to be fatally flawed. This article attempts to rescue Holm's central insight – namely, that Broome's theory can be useful to the study of fair machine learning – by giving an alternative application of Broome's theory, which involves thinking about fair machine learning in counterfactual (as opposed to merely statistical) terms.