bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A systematic review of psychological factors influencing attitudes and intentions toward, and uptake of, Covid-19 vaccines in adolescents
Authors: Pitt Angie , Amlôt Richard , Heffernan Catherine , Rubin G. James , Smith Louise E.
Published: September 2024

Vaccination was a key measure to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic, however adolescents were less likely than adults to accept the vaccine. Low vaccine uptake reduces the effectiveness of vaccination campaigns and threatens global public health. Understanding why adolescents are hesitant to accept new vaccines is therefore crucial to support the development of novel vaccine uptake interventions. Prior reviews have included far fewer citations, excluded qualitative data, studies after 2022 and have not mapped adolescent Covid-19 vaccine behaviour onto psychological models. This systematic review investigated psychological factors influencing attitudes and intentions toward and uptake of Covid-19 vaccines in adolescents aged 10 to 19 years globally. It mapped results onto the COM-B framework to inform future interventions. Our search identified 25,354 citations, and included 77 in this review. The quality of studies was mixed, predominantly cross-sectional in design. According to our review, key influences on adolescent Covid-19 vaccine behaviour were: i) Reflective motivation (safety concerns, perceived susceptibility to/severity of Covid-19, perceived vaccine effectiveness, ii) Social opportunity (social norms, autonomy and prosocial attitudes), iii) Psychological capability (attitude and knowledge about vaccines). Our review provides new insights into psychological factors influencing adolescent Covid-19 vaccine behaviour, and maps factors to the COM-B model of behaviour change. To improve vaccine uptake, future vaccine interventions should support adolescents to think critically about the pros and cons of vaccines and consider external influences on their decisions.
Reliable Online Auditory Cognitive Testing: An observational study
Authors: Lad Meher , Taylor John-Paul , Griffiths Tim D
Published: September 2024

Technological advances have allowed researchers to conduct research remotely. Online auditory testing has received interest since the Covid-19 pandemic. A number of web-based developments have improved the range of auditory tasks during remote participation. Most of these studies have been conducted in young, motivated individuals who are comfortable with technology. Such studies have also used stimuli testing auditory perceptual abilities. Research on auditory cognitive abilities in real-world older adults is lacking.

In this study, we assess the reproducibility of a range of auditory cognitive abilities in older adults, with a range of hearing abilities, who took part in in-person and online experiments. Participants performed a questionnaire-based assessment and were asked to complete two verbal speech-in-noise perception tasks, for digits and sentences, and two auditory memory tasks, for different sound features. In the first part of the study, 58 Participants performed these tests in-person and online in order to test the reproducibility of the tasks. In the second part, 147 participants conducted all the tasks online in order to test if previously published findings from in-person research were reproducible.

We found that older adults under the age of 70 and those with a better hearing were more likely to take part in online testing. The questionnaire-based test had significantly better reproducibility than the behavioural auditory tests but there were no differences in reproducibility between in-person and online auditory cognitive metrics. Relationships between relationships with age and hearing thresholds in an in-person or online setting were not significantly different.

Furthermore, important relationships between auditory metrics, evidenced in literature previously, were reproducible online.

This study suggests that auditory cognitive testing may be reliably conducted online.
“Ich-Mupong”,a swollen stomach: An ethnographic study of the daily lived experiences of schoolchildren in schistosomiasis high transmission areas along Lake Albert, Hoima District
Authors: Paskari Odoi , Neema Stella , Bateganya Fred , Vennervald Birgitte J. , Wilson Shona
Published: September 2024

Background

Our primary focus wasSchistosoma mansoniinfection and schoolchildren. Within communities the social environment may promote individual risk of infection for the school-aged children. There will also be demographic groups who are not targeted or reached by preventive chemotherapy campaigns. The behaviours of these other groups will interact with those of school-aged children, resulting in further infection risk through exposure-related behaviours. Furthermore, perception of the disease may significantly influence the schoolchildren’s lived experience of the infection and associated disease. It is therefore crucial to document the daily experiences of schoolchildren living in schistosomiasis high transmission areas along Lake Albert, Hoima District.

Methods

An ethnographic study explored schoolchildren’s perspectives and daily life organisations that shape their risk of schistosomiaisis and their perceptions of the disease. The study was conducted between November 2022 and August 2023. It involved in-depth interviews with schoolchildren and their parents, key informant interviews, focus group discussions with schoolchildren, and participant observations. Data was analysed using a reflexive thematic analysis. Code reports were generated inductively using ATLAS.ti (Version 7).

Results

The study revealed a significant level of knowledge and awareness about schistosomiasis among schoolchildren. They had understanding of the risk factors, continued exposure, and experiences of illness, though they had little autonomy to address these through their own behaviour as they were influenced by the behaviour of others and macro-factors such as WASH provision and economic need. Study participants experienced individual-level effects of schistosomiasis such as educational impacts and isolation as a significant form of stigma.

Conclusions

There is a need for continued community sensitisation and awareness campaigns to address social stigma, educational impact, and contamination and exposure-related behaviours. National and regional policies and programmes on WASH, livelihood and poverty eradication programmes need to be revisited in schistosomiasis high transmission areas to help provide alternatives and improve schoolchildren’s lived experiences.
Exceptional points in perturbed dielectric spheres: A resonant-state expansion study
Authors: Netherwood K. S. , Riley H. K. , Muljarov E. A.
Published: September 2024

Exceptional points (EPs) in open optical systems are rigorously studied using the resonant-state expansion (RSE). A spherical resonator, specifically a homogeneous dielectric sphere in a vacuum, perturbed by two pointlike defects which break the spherical symmetry and bring the optical modes to EPs, is used as a worked example. The RSE is a nonperturbative approach encoding the information about an open optical system in matrix form in a rigorous way, and thus offering a suitable tool for studying its EPs. These are simultaneous degeneracies of the eigenvalues and corresponding eigenfunctions of the system, which are rigorously described by the RSE and illustrated for perturbed whispering-gallery modes (WGMs). An exceptional arc, which is a line of adjacent EPs, is obtained analytically for perturbed dipolar WGMs. Perturbation of high-quality WGMs with large angular momentum and their EPs are found by reducing the RSE equation to a two-state problem by means of an orthogonal transformation of a large RSE matrix. WGM pairs have opposite chirality in spherically symmetric systems and equal chirality at EPs. This chirality at EPs can be observed in circular dichroism measurements, as it manifested itself in a squared-Lorentzian part of the optical spectra, which we demonstrate here analytically and numerically in the Purcell enhancement factor for the perturbed dipolar WGMs.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Evidence of the low-lying baryon
Σ*(1/2−)
in the process
Λc+→ηπ+Λ
Authors: Lyu Wen-Tao , Zhang Sheng-Chao , Wang Guan-Ying , Wu Jia-Jun , Wang En , Geng Li-Sheng , Xie Ju-Jun
Published: September 2024

Motivated by the Belle measurements of the process Λc+→ηπ+Λ, we investigate this process by considering the contributions from the Λ(1670), a0(980), and Σ(1385). In addition, we also consider the predicted low-lying baryon Σ*(1/2−). Our results involving the Σ*(1/2−) are favored by fitting to the Belle data of the ηΛ and π+Λ invariant mass distributions. Furthermore, we predict the ηπ+ invariant mass distribution and the angular distribution dΓ/dcosθ, which are significantly different depending on whether or not the contribution from the Σ*(1/2−) is considered. Finally, we show that, with the contribution from the Σ*(1/2−), the calculated Dalitz plot agrees with the Belle measurements. Future precise measurements of the process Λc+→ηπ+Λ could shed further light on the existence of the low-lying Σ*(1/2−).

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
b¯b¯ud
and
b¯b¯us
tetraquarks from lattice QCD using symmetric correlation matrices with both local and scattering interpolating operators
Authors: Alexandrou Constantia , Finkenrath Jacob , Leontiou Theodoros , Meinel Stefan , Pflaumer Martin , Wagner Marc
Published: September 2024

We study the b¯b¯ud tetraquark with quantum numbers I(JP)=0(1+) as well as the b¯b¯us tetraquark with quantum numbers JP=1+ using lattice QCD. We improve on existing work by including both local and scattering interpolating operators on both sides of the correlation functions and use symmetric correlation matrices. This allows not only a reliable determination of the energies of QCD-stable tetraquark ground states, but also of low-lying excited states, which are meson-meson scattering states. The latter is particularly important for future finite-volume scattering analyses. Here, we perform chiral and continuum extrapolations of just the ground-state energies, for which finite-volume effects are expected to be small. Our resulting tetraquark binding energies, −100±10−51+36  MeV for b¯b¯ud and −30±3−31+11  MeV for b¯b¯us, are consistent with other recent lattice-QCD predictions.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Error mitigated metasurface-based randomized measurement schemes
Authors: Ren Hang , Zhang Yipei , Zheng Ze , Ying Cuifeng , Xu Lei , Rahmani Mohsen , Whaley K. Birgitta
Published: September 2024

Estimating properties of quantum states via randomized measurements has become a significant part of quantum information science. In this paper, we design an innovative approach leveraging metasurfaces to perform randomized measurements on photonic qubits, together with error mitigation techniques that suppress realistic metasurface measurement noise. Through fidelity and purity estimation, we confirm the capability of metasurfaces to implement randomized measurements and the unbiased nature of our error-mitigated estimator. Our findings show the potential of metasurface-based randomized measurement schemes in achieving robust and resource-efficient estimation of quantum state properties.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Anderson Localization of Walking Droplets
Authors: Abraham Abel J. , Malkov Stepan , Ljubetic Frane A. , Durey Matthew , Sáenz Pedro J.
Published: September 2024

Understanding the ability of particles to maneuver through disordered environments is a central problem in innumerable settings, from active matter and biology to electronics. Macroscopic particles ultimately exhibit diffusive motion when their energy exceeds the characteristic potential barrier of the random landscape. In stark contrast, wave-particle duality causes electrons in disordered media to come to rest even when the potential is weak—a remarkable phenomenon known as Anderson localization. Here, we present a hydrodynamic active system with wave-particle features, a millimetric droplet self-guided by its own wave field over a submerged random topography, whose dynamics exhibits localized statistics analogous to those of electronic systems. Consideration of an ensemble of particle trajectories reveals a suppression of diffusion when the guiding wave field extends over the disordered topography. We rationalize mechanistically the emergent statistics by virtue of the wave-mediated resonant coupling between the droplet and topography, which produces an attractive wave potential about the localization region. This hydrodynamic analog, which demonstrates how a classical particle may localize like a wave, suggests new directions for future research in various areas, including active matter, wave localization, many-body localization, and topological matter.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Coordinate-based simulation of pair distance distribution functions for small and large molecular assemblies: implementation and applications
Authors: Zuo Xiaobing , Tiede David M.
Published: September 2024

X-ray scattering has become a major tool in the structural characterization of nanoscale materials. Thanks to the widely available experimental and computational atomic models, coordinate-based X-ray scattering simulation has played a crucial role in data interpretation in the past two decades. However, simulation of real-space pair distance distribution functions (PDDFs) from small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering, SAXS/WAXS, has been relatively less exploited. This study presents a comparison of PDDF simulation methods, which are applied to molecular structures that range in size from β-cyclodextrin [1 kDa molecular weight (MW), 66 non-hydrogen atoms] to the satellite tobacco mosaic virus capsid (1.1 MDa MW, 81 960 non-hydrogen atoms). The results demonstrate the power of interpretation of experimental SAXS/WAXS from the real-space view, particularly by providing a more intuitive method for understanding of partial structure contributions. Furthermore, the computational efficiency of PDDF simulation algorithms makes them attractive as approaches for the analysis of large nanoscale materials and biological assemblies. The simulation methods demonstrated in this article have been implemented in stand-alone software, SolX 3.0, which is available to download from https://12idb.xray.aps.anl.gov/solx.html.
Structural characteristics of Bi2O2CO3 nanosheets synthesized by nano-pulsed discharges in water
Authors: Nomine A. V. , Ghanbaja J. , Redjaimia A. , Belmonte T.
Published: September 2024

A comprehensive analysis of Bi2O2CO3 nanosheets, which were synthesized using nanosecond-pulsed discharges in water between bismuth electrodes, was conducted in order to investigate the crystallographic features of this material. Electron diffraction, X-ray diffraction and electron energy-loss spectrometry techniques revealed the presence of a stoichiometric tetragonal Bi2O2CO3 structure, labelled BOC in this study. It crystallizes in the body-centred tetragonal Bravais lattice and belongs to the I4/mmm space group (No. 139), with the following lattice parameters: a = 3.91, c = 13.77 Å. The nanosheets adopt square shapes. This shape is dictated by the symmetry elements of its point group (4/mmm) under the prevailing local conditions. From the energetic point of view, this shape, dictated by the 4/m2/m2/m point group and therefore a pinacoid, corresponds to an absolute extremum, an indicator of the stability of these BOC nanosheets. Most nanosheets are crossed by equal-inclination fringes or bend contours. These bend contours reflect the fact that the BOC nanosheets contain crystal defects and/or are so thin that they bend elastically, leading to rotation of the lattice planes towards the diffracting Bragg position. The diffraction patterns corresponding to bend contours intersecting along the [001] zone axis have been studied in detail. Extra reflections are superimposed on the diffraction pattern of the BOC crystallographic structure. These extra reflections are essentially attributed to two phenomena: multiple diffraction and local disorder–order transformations of the BOC crystal structure, passing from a body-centred tetragonal to a primitive Bravais lattice. A mechanism related to the ledge mechanism (kinks and jogs), explaining the formation of nanosheets in a metallic matrix, has been adapted and proposed for the formation of BOC nanosheets in water. When the nanosheets are removed from the water, they become carbonated once in the air, leading to the formation of BOC that inherits the nanosheet morphology.
Fiscal policy in the face of the health crisis: A simulation using a hybrid DSGE‐SIR model
Authors: Ouakil Hicham , Moustabchir Abdelhamid , Lechheb Houda , EL Ouazzani Hicham
Published: September 2024

This study employs a dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) model, integrated with a Susceptible‐Infected‐Recovered (SIR) epidemiological framework, to assess the macroeconomic impacts of fiscal policy during the COVID‐19 pandemic in Morocco. Calibrated with Moroccan COVID‐19 data, the model links epidemiological dynamics to macroeconomic variables, offering a detailed analysis of fiscal interventions. The primary objective is to evaluate the effectiveness of various fiscal measures, including government spending shocks, consumption tax cuts, and labor tax reductions, in stimulating economic activity and supporting households and businesses impacted by the pandemic. The results indicate that government spending shocks significantly stimulated economic activity and employment, but also led to increased public debt and inflationary pressures, thereby illustrating the inherent trade‐offs. Consumption tax cuts, intended to boost demand, had mixed effects on inflation; while prices for some goods declined, higher demand caused price increases in others. Labor tax reductions, aimed at enhancing employment, generated varied effects on labor supply and contributed to rising public debt due to lower tax revenues. The study underscores the necessity of balanced fiscal strategies to achieve both immediate economic recovery and long‐term fiscal sustainability, highlighting the critical role of well‐calibrated fiscal policies in mitigating the economic consequences of pandemics.
The responsiveness of rural poverty to structural and rural transformations in Ethiopia
Authors: Endale Kefyalew , Alemu Getnet , Gebeyehu Worku
Published: September 2024

This study investigates the effects of economic opportunities created by structural transformation, such as income from labor employment and income from nonlabor sources, on the incidence, depth, and severity of rural poverty using the 2018/2019 Ethiopian Socioeconomic Survey data. The effects of rural transformations in terms of nonfarm self‐employment and improved farming systems on poverty are also investigated. Ordinary least square, Probit, Instrumental Variable Probit model, and two stage least square estimation methods are used depending on the nature of outcome variables and the Wald test of exogeneity. The findings show that labor income (especially regular salaried income) and nonlabor income (especially remittance from international sources) are crucial in reducing the incidence of rural poverty. Improvements in crop and livestock practices, on the other hand, reduce the incidence as well as depth and severity of rural poverty. The findings suggest that more attention should be given to enhancing the modernization of crop and livestock sectors by expanding access to farm credit and improved extension systems, among other things.
A novel DNA damage detection method based on a distinct DNA damage response system
Authors: Zhong Shitong , Song Shuang , Wang Linjia , Liu Yufeng , Xu Hong , Wang Liangyan , Lu Huizhi , Hua Yuejin
Published: September 2024

DNA damage occurs when cells encounter exogenous and endogenous stresses such as long periods of desiccation, ionizing radiation and genotoxic chemicals. Efforts have been made to detect DNA damage in vivo and in vitro to characterize or quantify the damage level. It is well accepted that single‐stranded DNA (ssDNA) is one of the important byproducts of DNA damage to trigger the downstream regulation. A recent study has revealed that PprI efficiently recognizes ssDNA and cleaves DdrO at a specific site on the cleavage site region (CSR) loop in the presence of ssDNA, which enables the radiation resistance of Deinococcus. Leveraging this property, we developed a quantitative DNA damage detection method in vitro based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). DdrO protein was fused with eYFP and eCFP on the N‐terminal and C‐terminal respectively, between which the FRET efficiency serves as an indicator of cleavage efficiency as well as the concentration of ssDNA. The standard curve between the concentration of ssDNA and the FRET efficiency was constructed, and application examples were tested, validating the effectiveness of this method.
Performance of DNA metabarcoding, standard barcoding and morphological approaches in the identification of insect biodiversity
Authors: Salis Romana , Sunde Johanna , Gubonin Nikolaj , Franzén Markus , Forsman Anders
Published: September 2024

For two decades, DNA barcoding and, more recently, DNA metabarcoding have been used for molecular species identification and estimating biodiversity. Despite their growing use, few studies have systematically evaluated these methods. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of barcoding methods in identifying species and estimating biodiversity, by assessing their consistency with traditional morphological identification and evaluating how assignment consistency is influenced by taxonomic group, sequence similarity thresholds and geographic distance. We first analysed 951 insect specimens across three taxonomic groups: butterflies, bumblebees and parasitic wasps, using both morphological taxonomy and single‐specimen COI DNA barcoding. An additional 25,047 butterfly specimens were identified by COI DNA metabarcoding. Finally, we performed a systematic review of 99 studies to assess average consistency between insect species identity assigned via morphology and COI barcoding and to examine the distribution of research effort. Species assignment consistency was influenced by taxonomic group, sequence similarity thresholds and geographic distance. An average assignment consistency of 49% was found across taxonomic groups, with parasitic wasps displaying lower consistency due to taxonomic impediment. The number of missing matches doubled with a 100% sequence similarity threshold and COI intraspecific variation increased with geographic distance. Metabarcoding results aligned well with morphological biodiversity estimates and a strong positive correlation between sequence reads and species abundance was found. The systematic review revealed an 89% average consistency and also indicated taxonomic and geographic biases in research effort. Together, our findings demonstrate that while problems persist, barcoding approaches offer robust alternatives to traditional taxonomy for biodiversity assessment.
Identification of AS1842856 as a novel small‐molecule GSK3α/β inhibitor against Tauopathy by accelerating GSK3α/β exocytosis
Authors: He Da‐Long , Zhang Xiao‐Yu , Su Jing‐Yang , Zhang Qi , Zhao Ling‐Xiao , Wu Ting‐Yao , Ren Hang , Jia Rong‐Jun , Lei Xian‐Fang , Hou Wen‐Jia , Sun Wen‐Ge , Fan Yong‐Gang , Wang Zhan‐You
Published: September 2024

Glycogen synthase kinase‐3α/β (GSK3α/β) is a critical kinase for Tau hyperphosphorylation which contributes to neurodegeneration. Despite the termination of clinical trials for GSK3α/β inhibitors in Alzheimer's disease (AD) treatment, there is a pressing need for novel therapeutic strategies targeting GSK3α/β. Here, we identified the compound AS1842856 (AS), a specific forkhead box protein O1 (FOXO1) inhibitor, reduced intracellular GSK3α/β content in a FOXO1‐independent manner. Specifically, AS directly bound to GSK3α/β, promoting its translocation to the multivesicular bodies (MVBs) and accelerating exocytosis, ultimately decreasing intracellular GSK3α/β content. Expectedly, AS treatment effectively suppressed Tau hyperphosphorylation in cells exposed to okadaic acid or expressing the TauP301S mutant. Furthermore, AS was visualized to penetrate the blood–brain barrier (BBB) using an imaging mass microscope. Long‐term treatment of AS enhanced cognitive function in P301S transgenic mice by mitigating Tau hyperphosphorylation through downregulation of GSK3α/β expression in the brain. Altogether, AS represents a novel small‐molecule GSK3α/β inhibitor that facilitates GSK3α/β exocytosis, holding promise as a therapeutic agent for GSK3α/β hyperactivation‐associated disorders.
Tracing the origin of the alien pest Cydia pomonella in Algeria through a worldwide comparison of the species’ DNA barcodes
Authors: Mahi Tayeb , Harizia Abdelkader , Canelo Tara , Benguerai Abdelkader , Bonal Raul
Published: September 2024

DNA barcodes (i.e., gene sequences used as identifiers for species identification) constitute a very useful tool in invasive pest research. Using them, we studied, for the first time, the origin and population structure of the alien Cydia pomonella in Africa, a major apple pest.

We sequenced a fragment of the mitochondrial gene Cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) from C. pomonella caterpillars collected in northern Algeria and compared them with DNA barcodes from the rest of the world available at public repositories.

The phylogeny built upon that COI database supports the European origin of the species: haplotypes at the base of the phylogeny were registered in this continent. In Algeria, the results suggest that this pest could have been introduced from Europe, with two unique African mutations probably favoured by C. pomonella multivoltinism and large population sizes.

Population genetic analyses at three Algerian localities showed neither structure nor founder effects. However, to confirm the underlying process of the observed population patterns, it is necessary to perform analyses using genes with higher mutation rates.

Compared to higher resolution markers, mitochondrial DNA barcodes are still a cost‐effective tool for taxonomic determination of unknown specimens and, sometimes, may also allow a preliminary tracing of its origin. This is crucial to detect and stop the spread of invasive pests (i.e., borders). We encourage further studies including functional genes to assess whether any mutations are promoting C. pomonella adaptation to the Northern Africa environment.
The capitalization of property rights to groundwater
Authors: Edwards Eric C. , Hendricks Nathan P. , Sampson Gabriel S.
Published: September 2024

There is limited empirical evidence on the value of formal property rights to natural resources when they are not transferable, and there is regulatory uncertainty about enforcement. This paper takes a hedonic approach to understanding how three core features of groundwater property rights—access, allocation, and seniority—are capitalized into agricultural land values in the High Plains Aquifer region of Kansas. We find that groundwater access rights confer an average land value premium of 71%, or $1445/acre in 2019 dollars. Water rights having larger allocations and more seniority are more highly valued in the land market. The seniority effect is small but is consistent with more junior rights facing greater regulatory risk of curtailment. Taken together, these results suggest that the land market capitalizes constraints to groundwater pumping provided by groundwater property rights. We use our empirical estimates to quantify the distributional costs of modifying existing patterns of pumping, a common challenge of groundwater management organizations seeking to improve the sustainability of extraction.
Comparative motility assessment of sperm retrieved from micro‐testicular sperm extraction: A single‐centre study comparing fresh and frozen–thawed sperm
Authors: Sawaid Kaiyal Raneen , Bryk Darren J. , Kuroda Shinnosuke , Doolittle Johnathan , Parekh Neel V. , Sabanegh Edmund , Desai Nina , Lundy Scott D. , Vij Sarah C.
Published: September 2024

Introduction

Microsurgical testicular sperm extraction (microTESE) is crucial for treating non‐obstructive azoospermia (NOA), offering both ‘fresh’ and ‘frozen’ options. This study evaluates the impact of fresh versus frozen microTESE on the progression to intra‐cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles, focusing on sperm motility.

Materials and Methods

We conducted a retrospective analysis of microTESE procedures at a major medical centre from 2007 to 2021, excluding cases of obstructive azoospermia and cryptozoospermia. Patients were divided into two groups: fresh microTESE (Group FR) and frozen microTESE (Group FZ). Sperm motility was assessed, and ICSI outcomes were compared between groups.

Results

Out of 128 microTESE procedures on 113 NOA patients, 31 were fresh and 97 were frozen. Sperm was found in 67.7% of fresh cases and 45.3% of frozen cases. In fresh cases, 85.7% had motile sperm for ICSI, whereas in frozen cases, 81.8% had motile sperm initially, but only 52.7% retained motility post‐thaw.

Conclusions

Our findings indicate a significant drop in motile sperm availability for ICSI in frozen microTESE cases compared to fresh ones. This suggests a potential advantage of fresh microTESE for certain couples, despite the logistical challenges, highlighting the need for careful patient selection and counselling.
An imperial meantime
Authors: Solana Vivian
Published: September 2024

On November 13, 2020, the Sahrawi movement for national liberation, known as the Polisario Front, resumed its armed struggle against Morocco's occupation of Western Sahara. With this decision, the movement put an end to a 29‐year‐long peace process throughout which the implementation of international law had been indefinitely deferred. During this cease‐fire, the Polisario used humanitarian aid to strengthen its nation‐state building in exile. This practice formed part of a larger historical narration that was inserted into the cease‐fire's temporal parenthesis, or what I call an imperial meantime. As a result, a disjuncture arose between the movement's political forms and its goal of achieving state sovereignty over Western Sahara. During this imperial meantime, a generation of refugees came of age. Describing the contradictions experienced by young politicized refugees, and highlighting the role that the control over time plays in humanitarian governance, I show how the invisible violence of a humanitarian peace anticipated the return to armed struggle.
Deep learning classification method for boar sperm morphology analysis
Authors: Keller Alexandra , Maus McKenna , Keller Emma , Kerns Karl
Published: September 2024

Background

Boar semen quality emphasizes three major criteria: sperm concentration, motility, and morphology. Methods to analyze concentration and motility quickly and objectively readily exist, but few exist for analyzing morphology outside of subjective manual counting. Other vital factors for fertilization, like acrosome health, lack efficient detection methods due to limitations in detection by the human eye and costly biomarker analysis, which is rarely used in semen diagnostics.

Objective

To overcome these challenges, we propose a novel approach integrating deep‐learning technology with high‐throughput image‐based flow cytometry (IBFC) for objective and accurate analysis of both morphology and label‐free acrosome health of thousands of individual spermatozoa at once, as opposed to manually counting on a microscope slide.

Materials and methods

Images of 10,000 spermatozoa were captured using an IBFC and manually annotated based on the primary morphological defect or acrosome health status for the training of the convolutional neural network (CNN). The CNN used these images to train and then applied that training to unannotated images to predict the model accuracy.

Results

Using the CNNs, high F1 scores of 96.73%, 98.55%, and 99.31% for 20x, 40x, and 60x magnifications, respectively, for morphological classification were attained. Additionally, the model demonstrates an F1 score of 99.8% in detecting subtle acrosome health variations at the 60x magnification.

Discussion and conclusions

We have established an integrated approach to rapidly collect and classify morphological defects and acrosome health status, without the use of manual counting or biomarker labeling. Our study underscores the potential of artificial intelligence in semen diagnostics, reducing technician variability, streamlining assays, and facilitating the development of additional label‐free detection methods. This innovative approach addresses the barriers hindering biomarker adoption in semen analysis, offering a promising avenue for enhancing reproductive health assessments.
Utility of interleukin‐6 to identify serious bacterial infections in febrile infants aged ≤60 days
Authors: Orfanos Ioannis , Krusell Emilie Thorén , Elfving Kristina
Published: September 2024

Aim

The aim of this study is to investigate the utility of interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) in the early diagnosis of serious bacterial infections (SBI) in febrile infants and to compare it with C‐reactive protein (CRP).

Methods

Retrospective study conducted in the paediatric emergency department in Gothenburg, Sweden, on previously healthy, full‐term infants aged ≤60 days with fever without a source (FWS) from 2014 to 2017.

Results

We included 536 infants with FWS, of whom IL‐6 was analysed in 364 (68%) and CRP was analysed in 494 (92%). Approximately 70% of the infants presented with a fever duration of less than 12 h. The prevalence of SBIs was 14.8% (95% CI,11.3–18.9) in the IL‐6 group and 17.8% (95% CI,14.5–21.5) in the CRP group. The sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value (NPV), and positive predictive value (PPV) of IL‐6 ≥50 ng/L were 93%, 66%, 98% and 33%, respectively. For CRP ≥20 mg/L, the sensitivity, specificity, NPV, and PPV were 76%, 89%, 95%, and 55%, respectively. Logistic regression analysis showed that CRP was significantly associated with SBI (p < 0.0001) in the entire population, whereas IL‐6 was not.

Conclusion

Interleukin‐6 showed high sensitivity and NPV, which might assist in identifying SBIs early in febrile infants. However, IL‐6 was not shown to be superior to CRP and further studies are needed to investigate whether IL‐6 should be incorporated in clinical management.
Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators (SARMs) Effects on Physical Performance: A Systematic Review of Randomized Control Trials
Authors: Wen Jimmy , Syed Burhaan , Leapart Jared , Shehabat Mouhamad , Ansari Ubaid , Akhtar Muzammil , Razick Daniel , Pai David
Published: September 2024

Objective

Selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs) are potential treatments for ameliorating age‐related physical dysfunctions caused by sarcopenia, cachexia and chronic illnesses such as cancer. The purpose of this systematic review is to analyse the effect of SARMs on physical performance and body and evaluate their safety profile.

Methods

A systematic review search criteria following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines was performed in three databases for studies reporting physical parameter outcomes after SARM intervention. Study variables included title, author, publication date, study year, number of patients, dosage, mean age, mean follow‐up time, pre and post‐intervention outcomes and rates of complications.

Results

Nine studies, including 970 patients with a mean age of 57.1 years (35.3−75.9) and a mean follow‐up of 80 days (14−180), were included. Six SARMs were analysed: LGD‐4033, PF‐06260414, GSK2881078, GTx‐024, MK‐0773 and OPK‐88004. Mean pre‐intervention stair climbing power (five studies), one repetition maximum leg press (four studies) and short physical performance battery (SPPB) score (two studies), lean body mass (seven studies) and fat mass (five studies) were 352.24 W (69.79−678.7), 1822.77 N (1176.8−2407.3), 9.15 (7.95−9.9), 49.46 kg (30.94−63.9) and 21.99 kg (13.3−33), respectively. Mean post‐intervention values were 315.16 W (89.46−525.73 W), 2191.27 N (1375.87−2462.9 N), 9.79 (8.88−10.4), 50.86 kg (31.02−67.29) and 21.85 kg (12.54−32.16), respectively.

Conclusion

SARMs have a positive effect on physical performance and body composition and are associated with moderate rates of mild to moderate adverse effects (AEs) and a low rate of severe AEs.
Drug–drug interactions of icenticaftor (QBW251) with a 5‐probe cytochrome P450 cocktail and oral contraceptives
Authors: Huth Felix , Glaenzel Ulrike , Drollmann Anton , Weis Wendy , Zack Julia , Bebrevska Lidiya
Published: September 2024

A drug–drug interaction (DDI) study was conducted to evaluate the effect of icenticaftor (QBW251) on the pharmacokinetics (PK) of a 5‐probe cytochrome P450 (CYP) substrate cocktail, guided by in vitro studies in human hepatocytes and liver microsomes. Another DDI study investigated the effect of icenticaftor on the PK and pharmacodynamics (PD) of a monophasic oral contraceptive (OC) containing ethinyl estradiol (EE) and levonorgestrel (LVG) in premenopausal healthy female subjects. The static‐mechanistic DDI assessment indicated that icenticaftor may moderately induce the metabolic clearance of co‐medications metabolized by CYP3A4 (area under the concentration–time curve [AUC] ratio: 0.47) and potentially CYP2C; icenticaftor may also weakly inhibit the metabolic clearance of co‐medications metabolized by CYP1A2 and CYP3A4 (AUC ratio: 1.35 and 1.86, respectively) and moderately inhibit CYP2B6 (AUC ratio: 2.11). In the CYP substrate cocktail DDI study, icenticaftor 300 mg twice daily (b.i.d.) moderately inhibited CYP1A2 (AUC ratio: 3.35) and CYP2C19 (AUC ratio: 2.70). As expected from the results of the in vitro studies, weak induction was observed for CYP3A4 (AUC ratio: 0.51) and CYP2C8 (AUC ratio: 0.66). In the OC DDI study, co‐administration of icenticaftor 450 mg b.i.d. with monophasic OC containing 30‐μg EE and 150‐μg LVG once daily reduced the plasma exposure of both components by approximately 50% and led to increased levels of follicle‐stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone. These results provide valuable guidance for the use of icenticaftor in patients taking concomitant medications that are substrates of CYP enzymes or patients using OCs.
Utilising paired measurements of phosphatidylethanol to monitor early success in alcohol abstinence
Authors: White Daniel , Salman Sam , Joyce David A.
Published: September 2024

Introduction

Phosphatidylethanol (PEth) is a specific and persisting marker of ethanol (alcohol) consumption. Early success of medically necessary abstinence can be assessed by monitoring PEth disappearance at a biologically plausible rate. This requires an understanding of PEth elimination, its variability and its determinants. To achieve this, we characterised PEth elimination in drinkers who voluntarily abstained. We aimed to derive a nomogram from the data to assist practitioners in recognising abstinence.

Methods

Twenty‐nine usual drinkers who were prepared to abstain from alcohol consumption for 4 weeks were recruited. Erythrocyte PEth was measured weekly. A population pharmacokinetic model for PEth was developed, describing the time‐course of PEth elimination. Estimates were derived for population average, inter‐individual variability in PEth half‐life and any covariate influences. These estimates informed a nomogram of PEth elimination that incorporated a boundary separating continued abstinence from resumed drinking. The nomogram was tested to identify drinking events among participants.

Results

The model estimated a population average elimination rate constant (k) of 0.088 day−1, corresponding to a half‐life of 7.9 days with a residual coefficient of variation of 8.5%. Elimination was first order and no covariate influences were identified. The nomogram was internally assessed as predictively accurate for 21 successfully abstinent participants and in detecting alcohol consumption in 2 further participants, using a 99.9% prediction interval.

Discussion and Conclusions

The value of PEth in distinguishing alcohol abstinence from consumption is enhanced by using a nomogram to confirm abstinence within weeks of its medically necessary imposition. Further work will establish the value of this approach in clinical practice.
Chicken embryo cultures in the dorsal‐upward orientation for the manipulation of epiblasts
Authors: Konya Kaho , Watanabe Yusaku , Kawamura Akihito , Nakamura Kae , Iida Hideaki , Yoshihi Koya , Kondoh Hisato
Published: September 2024

Chicken embryos have many advantages in the study of amniote embryonic development. In particular, culture techniques developed for early‐stage embryos have promoted the advancement of modern developmental studies using chicken embryos. However, the standard technique involves placing chicken embryos in the ventral‐upward (ventral‐up) orientation, limiting manipulation of the epiblast at the dorsal surface, which is the primary source of ectodermal and mesodermal tissues. To circumvent this limitation, we developed chicken embryo cultures in the dorsal‐up orientation and exploited this technique to address diverse issues. In this article, we first review the history of chicken embryo culture techniques to evaluate the advantages and limitations of the current standard technique. Then, the dorsal‐up technique is discussed. These technological discussions are followed by three different examples of experimental analyses using dorsal‐up cultures to illustrate their advantages: (1) EdU labeling of epiblast cells to assess potential variation in the cell proliferation rate; (2) migration behaviors of N1 enhancer‐active epiblast cells revealed by tracking cells with focal fluorescent dye labeling in dorsal‐up embryo culture; and (3) neural crest development of mouse neural stem cells in chicken embryos.
Is military spending converging across Middle Eastern countries? A comprehensive unit root test analysis
Authors: Ucler Gulbahar , Ozsahin Serife
Published: September 2024

The Middle East is a region of chronic insecurity due to internal and external tensions. These tensions and insecurity have made the Middle East one of the world's leading regions in military armaments. This study investigates the stochastic convergence of military burden in 10 selected Middle Eastern countries using comprehensive unit root analysis. Stochastic convergence for each country from 1977 to 2020 is examined using conventional, structural break, nonlinear, and Fourier‐based unit root tests. Empirical results provide strong evidence of convergence with regional averages in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Oman. There is also some evidence of convergence in the case of Israel, Egypt, Kuwait, Lebanon, and Turkiye. However, evidence for the existence of convergence in Iran and Jordan is weak.
What causes polarized stagnation, corporate economy, or welfare state?: Insights from new development economics
Authors: Jwa Sung‐Hee
Published: September 2024

This study explores polarized economic stagnation from the perspective of a capitalist corporate economy. It introduces two institutional policy paradigms: economic differentiation (ED) and economic egalitarianism (EE). ED‐friendly “market democracy” promotes shared growth, whereas EE‐friendly “egalitarian democracy” leads to polarized stagnation. The corporate economy is portrayed as the epitome of the ED institution leading shared growth, whereas the redistributive welfare state based on EE institutions could bring polarized stagnation. Empirical analysis tests these hypotheses and discovers that the world's polarized stagnation may be linked to “welfare policy under egalitarian democracy” rather than “corporate growth under market democracy” as commonly thought.
Development strategy, infrastructure, and premature deindustrialization: Comparing Asian, African, and Latin American economies
Authors: Lauria Valeria , Lin Justin Yifu , Wang Xin , Zheng Yawen
Published: September 2024

This paper investigates the phenomenon of premature deindustrialization in developing countries, with a focus on Latin America and sub‐Saharan Africa, and examines why this trend primarily occurs in these regions rather than in East Asia. Through a comparative analysis of industrialization experiences across different economies since the 1960s, the paper argues that premature deindustrialization results from a combination of liberalization shocks, development strategies that defy comparative advantage, and inadequate infrastructure supply due to the lack of active state involvement in its provision driven by prevailing neoliberal ideas. This study empirically validates this hypothesis using country‐sector‐level data from 40 economies.
Disclosing the Correlation Between Using ChatGPT and Well‐Being in EFL Learners: Considering the Mediating Role of Emotion Regulation
Authors: Rezai Afsheen , Soyoof Ali , Reynolds Barry Lee
Published: September 2024

Artificial Intelligence (AI)‐driven chatbots, such as ChatGPT, have significantly impacted education, especially for English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners. However, there is paucity of empirical evidence concerning the role of chatbots in psycho‐emotional constructs like well‐being and emotion regulation. It is important to address this issue because it can further our understanding of the ways through which using ChatGPT affects psycho‐emotional constructs in EFL learners. This study aimed to unpack the intersection between using ChatGPT and well‐being, with a focus on the mediating role of emotion regulation in the EFL context of Iran. Using convenience sampling, 492 EFL learners (205 males and 287 females) were invited to complete validated scales measuring ChatGPT use, well‐being, and emotion regulation. The outcomes of structural equation modelling revealed a strong mediation effect of emotion regulation in the relationship between using ChatGPT and well‐being. Additionally, significant positive correlations were found between using ChatGPT and both well‐being and emotion regulation. Besides, a significant positive relationship was established between emotion regulation and well‐being among the EFL learners. The results imply that the integration of ChatGPT into the Iranian EFL learning environment can be beneficial, considering its positive correlations with both well‐being and emotion regulation among the Iranian EFL learners.
From ‘Born’ Bilinguals to Monolinguals: Understanding Korean‐Chinese Bilingual Family Language Policy in China
Authors: Cui Huiling , Gao Xuesong (Andy)
Published: September 2024

In recent years, China has implemented a national language policy promoting the use of Putonghua (Standard Chinese) in ethnic minority schools. This study investigates how mesolevel institutions (i.e., schools) have responded to this macro‐level national language policy change, and how the institutional policy changes have affected Korean‐Chinese bilingual family language policies in Yanbian, China. Based on an analysis of the teaching and learning materials used in schools and data gathered through interviews with and observations of 16 Korean‐Chinese bilingual families, this study finds that schools have actively responded to macro‐level policy changes with organised, large‐scale language practice activities. As a result of factors such as educational pressure and broader societal ideologies, families have been pressured to align with the meso‐level language policy despite their desire to maintain their heritage language and culture. Consequently, it is likely that future generations of Korean‐Chinese individuals, who would previously have been ‘born’ bilinguals, may become monolinguals. This study contends that in countries with a unified language ideology and a dominant language, the impact of macro‐level policy reforms can restrict or promote micro‐level family language policies through the mediating influence of meso‐level institutions. Family language policy researchers may need to recognise that there is a one‐way, rather than two‐way, relationship between the aims of the state and the desires of families in such contexts.