bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
International judicial symposium on family court reform: Final report
Authors: Babb Barbara A. , Applegate Amy G.
Published: February 2024

On May 30, 2023, the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC) and the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ) co‐sponsored an international symposium to explore the subject of family court reform. Twenty‐eight judges representing eight countries and including numerous North American states and provinces met in Los Angeles, California, to identify the most pressing challenges facing family courts and to document promising approaches to improve practice and outcomes in family court cases. They focused on domestic relations cases, as opposed to child welfare and juvenile justice matters. Prior to the symposium, participants responded to a survey about family court reform efforts in each participant's jurisdiction. Judicial officers attending the symposium represented diverse legal systems with some common and many different practices and challenges. After a day filled with small and large group discussions, participants identified key takeaways and made recommendations emanating from the day's discussions.
Rising minimum temperatures contribute to 50 years of occupancy decline among cold‐adapted Arctic and boreal butterflies in North America
Authors: Shirey Vaughn , Neupane Naresh , Guralnick Robert , Ries Leslie
Published: February 2024

Global climate change has been identified as a potential driver of observed insect declines, yet in many regions, there are critical data gaps that make it difficult to assess how communities are responding to climate change. Poleward regions are of particular interest because warming is most rapid while biodiversity data are most sparse. Building on recent advances in occupancy modeling of presence‐only data, we reconstructed 50 years (1970–2019) of butterfly occupancy trends in response to rising minimum temperatures in one of the most under‐sampled regions of North America. Among 90 modeled species, we found that cold‐adapted species are far more often in decline compared with their warm‐adapted, more southernly distributed counterparts. Furthermore, in a post hoc analysis using species' traits, we find that species' range‐wide average annual temperature is the only consistent predictor of occupancy changes. Species with warmer ranges were most likely to be increasing in occupancy. This trend results in the majority of butterflies increasing in occupancy probability over the last 50 years. Our results provide the first look at macroscale butterfly biodiversity shifts in high‐latitude North America. These results highlight the potential of leveraging the wealth of presence‐only data, the most abundant source of biodiversity data, for inferring changes in species distributions.
The impact of coronavirus‐19 vaccination on anti‐nuclear cytoplasmic antibody vasculitis hospitalisations in a Sydney health network
Authors: Turner Dane , Luxton Grant , Yong Kenneth , Sammel Anthony
Published: February 2024

There have been reports of COVID‐19 vaccination triggering anti‐nuclear cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)‐associated vasculitis (AAV), but no robust studies have examined the link. This retrospective cohort study assessed the impact of COVID vaccination on the rate of denovo and relapsed AAV in a Sydney Local Health District from 2018 to 2022. Despite more than 95% of the population receiving vaccination, the case rate of AAV was stable. These findings do not support a relationship between COVID vaccination and AAV.
Influence of oxygen vacancies on the domain wall stability in BiFeO3
Authors: Zhang Mao‐Hua , Tan Yueze , Yang Tiannan , Chen Long‐Qing
Published: February 2024

Oxygen vacancy is the most common type of point defects in functional oxides, and it is known to have profound influence on their properties. This is particularly true for ferroelectric oxides since their interaction with ferroelectric polarization often dictates the ferroelectric responses. Here, we study the influence of the concentration of oxygen vacancies on the stability of ferroelectric domain walls (DWs) in BiFeO3, a material with a relatively narrow bandgap among all perovskite oxides, which enables strong interactions among electronic charge carriers, oxygen vacancies, and ferroelectric domains. It is found that the electronic charge carriers in the absence of oxygen vacancies have essentially no influence on the spatial polarization distribution of the DWs due to their low concentrations. Upon increasing the concentration of oxygen vacancies, charge‐neutral DWs with an originally symmetric polarization distribution symmetric around the center of the wall can develop a strong asymmetry of the polarization field, which is mediated by the electrostatic interaction between polarization and electrons from the ionization of oxygen vacancies. Strongly charged head‐to‐head DWs that are unstable without oxygen vacancies can be energetically stabilized in the off‐stoichiometric BiFeO3−δ with δ ∼ 0.02 where ionization of oxygen vacancies provides sufficient free electrons to compensate the bound charge at the wall. Our results delineate the electrostatic coupling of the ionic defects and the associated free electronic charge carriers with the bound charge in the vicinity of neutral and charged DWs in perovskite ferroelectrics.
How and Why Do Economic Operators Comply With EU Law? Analysis of Firm‐Level Responses to the EU Timber Regulation in Germany
Authors: Köthke Margret , Sotirov Metodi
Published: February 2024

The European Union (EU) Timber Regulation (EUTR) formally requires EU operators to conduct due diligence along their supply chains to prevent illegally sourced timber products from entering the European market. Little is known about the regulatory behaviour and motivations of operators to comply with this regulation. We explore the regulatory behaviour of companies by applying a synthesis of behavioural theories of regulatory compliance and transnational market regulation. Informed by qualitative and quantitative mixed methods, this study finds that EUTR compliance is influenced by operators' regulative, economic, normative and cultural‐cognitive motivations. The empirical analyses reveal that larger, publicly exposed companies are driven to comply through social pressure and the deterrence effect of sanctions and control. Operators' perceptions of the costs and benefits do not explain compliance behaviour in a significant, quantitative way. The Internal values to abide by the law are found to be a stronger motivator than economic cost–benefit calculations.
Evaluation of marginal and internal adaptation of veneers generated by the guided prosthetic tooth preparation system
Authors: Abulhamael Shahad M. , Papathanasiou Aikaterini , Kostagianni Aikaterini , Jain Shruti , Finkelman Matthew , Mourão Carlos Fernando , Ali Ala
Published: February 2024

Objective

This in vitro study aimed to assess and contrast the marginal and internal adaptation of all‐ceramic prefabricated veneers manufactured via the FirstFit guided tooth preparation system against all‐ceramic veneers produced using the chairside Computer‐Aided Design/Computer Aided Manufacture (CAD/CAM) system following identical guided preparation protocols.

Materials and Methods

Two main groups were included, with 16 lithium disilicate veneers per group. Four typodonts were used for the test (FirstFit) and control CAD/CAM groups. Intraoral scans created master casts and preparation guides. Guides performed preparations on typodont teeth (two central incisors and two lateral incisors). Prepared teeth were scanned (CEREC Omnicam) to design and mill CAD/CAM veneers. Marginal gap thickness and cement space thickness were measured using light microscopy at four locations: marginal, cervical internal, middle internal, and incisal internal.

Results

No significant difference existed between groups for marginal adaptation (p = 0.058) or incisal internal adaptation (p = 0.076). The control group had significantly lower values for middle internal adaptation (p = 0.023) and cervical internal adaptation (p = 0.019).

Conclusions

Guided preparation evaluation showed no significant differences in marginal or incisal internal adaptation. The CAD/CAM group had significantly lower middle and cervical internal adaptation values.
Mitogenomic evidence of population differentiation of thorny skate, Amblyraja radiata, in the North Atlantic
Authors: Denton John S. S. , Kneebone Jeff , Yang Lei , Lynghammar Arve , McElroy David , Corrigan Shannon , Jakobsdóttir Klara , Miri Carolyn , Simpson Mark , Naylor Gavin J. P.
Published: February 2024

Management of thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) in the Northwest Atlantic has posed a conservation dilemma for several decades due to the species' lack of response to strong conservation efforts in the US Gulf of Maine and the Canadian Scotian Shelf, confusion over the relationship between two reproductive size morphs of differing life histories that are sympatric in the Northwest Atlantic, and conflicting data on regional population connectivity throughout the species' broader range. To better assess potential A. radiata regional population differentiation and genetic links to life‐history variation, we analysed complete mitochondrial genome sequences from 527 specimens collected across the species' North Atlantic geographic range, with particular emphasis on the Northwest Atlantic region. A high level of genetic diversity was evident across the North Atlantic, but significant genetic differentiation was identified between specimens inhabiting the Northwest (Gulf of Maine and Newfoundland) and Northeast (Greenland, Iceland, North Sea, and Arctic Circle) Atlantic. In the Northwest Atlantic, significant differentiation between the Gulf of Maine and Newfoundland regions was revealed; however, the overall level of differentiation was very low. No genetic difference was identified between the large and small reproductive morphs. The results of this study advance our understanding of A. radiata population structure in the North Atlantic but do not resolve all the questions confounding our understanding of the species' biology and evolutionary history.
Spatial fish distribution in autumn in a shallow mesotrophic lake, assessed by hydroacoustic surveys, trawling, and beach seining
Authors: Jůza Tomáš , Muška Milan , Blabolil Petr , Kočvara Luboš , Sajdlová Zuzana , Dumpis Janis , Medne Ruta
Published: February 2024

Day and nighttime autumn fish abundance and biomass were studied in the pelagic and littoral zones of Lake Sauka in Latvia. Both pelagic methods (hydroacoustics and trawling) revealed significantly higher fish abundance and biomass during the day than at night, especially in deeper zones (below 3 m). Roach (Rutilus rutilus) and Eurasian perch (Perca fluviatilis) dominated the trawl catches during the day, while roach and ruffe dominated at night. Fish smaller than 14 cm strongly dominated in both the trawl catches and hydroacoustic observations. Our hydroacoustic sampling found inhomogeneous pelagic distributions of fish aggregated in big shoals during the day. In the littoral zone, which was sampled by beach seining, both the abundance and biomass were significantly higher at night than during the day. Roach, bleak, and European perch usually dominated in beach seine catches during the day and at night. The daytime pelagic biomass found by hydroacoustics was 62 kg/ha and it decreased to approximately 11 kg/ha at night. The littoral biomass found by beach seining was diurnally opposite, 4 kg/ha during the day and 37 kg/ha at night. It is obvious that diurnal horizontal migrations between pelagic and littoral zones, and shoaling behavior during the daytime are common patterns in the shallow Lake Sauka during the autumn. The study of the spatial distribution of fish is extremely important for the establishment of an appropriate monitoring plan for the purposes of the Water Framework Directive with regard to the morphometry of the lake, the geographical location, and the sampling period of the year. This study also shows that the combination of completely non‐invasive hydroacoustic and other methods that are invasive (trawls, beach seines) but not as destructive as gillnets, which are normally used for scientific fish monitoring in Europe, could be a future way forward for fish monitoring.
Love and frailty and an avalanche of missteps
Authors: Balducci Lodovico
Published: February 2024

A retired oncologist describes the unexpected death of his wife, Claudia, who spent 25 years as head of the geriatrics service of a major VA hospital. The couple drew comfort in their orchestration of a “good death”; nevertheless they understood that her death was hastened by a number of missteps. In the 2 months following a hip fracture, a chain of complications that required five surgical interventions led to massive hemorrhage from necrotizing esophagitis. Claudia lacked resilience to recover from a sequence of traumas sustainable by a younger person—but even the most experienced geriatrician might not have identified or even suspected her risk. Despite multiple well‐controlled comorbidities Claudia was active and independent. She exercised daily and traveled extensively. She did not fit the profile of a frail or vulnerable person, according to assessing instruments in current use. According to the e‐prognosis calculator, her mortality risk was 10% lower than that of women her age. It is not surprising, nor deplorable, that after Claudia developed mild dysphagia, a gastroenterologist put off an EGD, awaiting a cardiac consult. That delay, however, proved fatal. Had the procedure been performed as soon as possible, it would have revealed esophagitis caused by a hiatal hernia, signaling need for different medications and prompt treatment. This might have prevented the terminal hemorrhage. The first important lesson from this case is that for an older patient with multiple comorbidities, even under control, delayed treatment is treatment denied. Current evaluation instruments are unable to spot critical resilience reductions in functional seniors. Inadequate pain management, premature discharge after surgery, and poor communication also contributed to the death. The second important lesson is that older patients, even when they are medical doctors, would benefit from a trained advocate to help them navigate the medical system.
Gaps in cognitive care among older patients undergoing spine surgery
Authors: Barreto Chang Odmara L. , Pawar Niti , Whitlock Elizabeth L. , Miller Bruce , Possin Katherine L.
Published: February 2024

Introduction

Among older adults undergoing surgery, postoperative delirium is the most common complication. Cognitive impairment and dementia are major risk factors for postoperative delirium, yet they are frequently under‐recognized. It is well established that applying delirium preventive interventions to at‐risk individuals can reduce the likelihood of delirium by up to 40%. The aim of this study was to evaluate how often delirium preventive interventions are missing in patients at risk for delirium due to baseline cognitive impairment.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective study using data from the observational study Perioperative Anesthesia Neurocognitive Disorder Assessment‐Geriatric (PANDA‐G) and clinical data from the University of California San Francisco delirium prevention bundle. Patients age 65+ received preoperative multidomain cognitive assessment as part of a research protocol prior to undergoing inpatient spine surgery at a single major academic institution. Results of the cognitive testing were not available to clinical teams. Using electronic medical records, we evaluated if patients who were cognitively impaired at baseline received delirium prevention orders, sleep orders, and avoidance of AGS Beers Criteria® potentially inappropriate medications.

Results

Of the 245 patients included in the study, 42% were women. The mean [SD] age was 72 [5.2] years. Preoperative cognitive impairment was identified in 40% of participants (N = 98), and of these, 34% had postoperative delirium. Of patients with preoperative cognitive impairment, 45% did not receive delirium preventive orders, 43% received PIMs, and 49% were missing sleep orders. At least one of the three delirium preventive interventions was missing in 70% of the patients.

Discussion

Undiagnosed preoperative cognitive impairment among older adults undergoing spine surgery is common. When cognitive test results were not available to clinicians, patients with baseline cognitive impairment frequently did not receive evidence‐based delirium preventive interventions. These findings highlight an opportunity to improve perioperative brain health care via preoperative cognitive assessment and clinical communication.
Infertility treatment is associated with increased risk of postpartum hospitalization due to heart disease
Authors: Yamada Rei , Sachdev Devika , Lee Rachel , Sauer Mark V. , Ananth Cande V.
Published: February 2024

Background

Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of maternal mortality, but the extent to which infertility treatment is implicated in heart disease remains unclear.

Objective

To evaluate the association between infertility treatment and postpartum heart disease.

Methods

We designed a retrospective cohort study of patients who delivered in the United States between 2010 and 2018. The primary outcome was hospitalization within 12‐month post‐delivery due to heart disease (including ischemic heart disease, atherosclerotic heart disease, cardiomyopathy, hypertensive disease, heart failure, and cardiac dysrhythmias). We estimated the rate difference (RD) of hospitalizations among patients who conceived with infertility treatment and those who conceived spontaneously. Associations were expressed as hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), derived from Cox proportional hazards regression after adjustment for potential confounders.

Results

Infertility treatment was recorded in 0.9% (n = 287,813) of 31,339,991 deliveries. Rates of heart disease hospitalizations with infertility treatment and with spontaneous conception were 550 and 355 per 100,000, respectively (RD 195, 95% CI: 143–247; adjusted HR 1.99, 95% CI: 1.80–2.20). The most important increase in risk was observed for hypertensive disease (adjusted HR 2.16, 95% CI: 1.92–2.42). This increased risk was apparent as early as 30‐day post‐delivery (HR 1.61, 95% CI: 1.39–1.86), with progressively increasing risk up to a year.

Conclusions

Although the absolute risk of postpartum heart disease hospitalization is low, infertility treatment is associated with an increased risk, especially for hypertensive disease. These findings highlight the importance of timely postpartum follow‐ups in patients who received infertility treatment.
Caught in a Landslide? Exploring how Far the Increasing Focus on Big Data Benefits or Damages Theoretical Development in Management Studies
Authors: Gatrell Caroline
Published: February 2024

The author teams in this Point‐Counterpoint (PCP) put forward contrasting views regarding the benefits – or otherwise – of using commercially generated corporate ‘big data’ algorithms to inform scholarly research. In this editorial, I reflect on the lines of reasoning for, and against, whether such data offers a reliable means of building new theory. Are academics who refuse to mine and analyse corporately owned big data taking sensible steps to manage scholarly integrity? Or are they Luddites? I invite readers to consider these timely and provocative PCP articles and to consider the implications, for management studies, of the key arguments presented.
T1 mapping in patients with cervical spinal canal stenosis with and without decompressive surgery: A longitudinal study
Authors: Stefanie Meyer , Antonia Geiger , Leah Shyela Volnhals , Sabine Hofer , Peter Dechent , Jens Frahm , Daniel Behme , Christian Brelie , Veit Rohde , Mathias Bähr , Jan Liman , Ilko L Maier
Published: February 2024

Background and Purpose

Cervical spinal canal stenosis (cSCS) is a common cause of spinal impairment in the elderly. With conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) suffering from various limitations, high‐resolution single‐shot T1 mapping has been proposed as a novel MRI technique in cSCS diagnosis. In this study, we investigated the effect of conservative and surgical treatment on spinal cord T1 relaxation times in cSCS.

Methods

T1‐mapping was performed in 54 patients with cSCS at 3 Tesla MRI at the maximum‐, above and below the stenosis. Subsequently, intraindividual T1‐differences (ΔT1) intrastenosis were calculated. Twenty‐four patients received follow‐up scans after 6 months.

Results

Surgically treated patients showed higher ΔT1 at baseline (154.9 ± 81.6 vs. 95.3 ± 60.7), while absolute T1‐values within the stenosis were comparable between groups (863.7 ± 89.3 milliseconds vs. 855.1 ± 62.2 milliseconds). In surgically treated patients, ΔT1 decreased inverse to stenosis severity. After 6 months, ΔT1 significantly decreased in the surgical group (154.9 ± 81.6 milliseconds to 85.7 ± 108.9 milliseconds, p = .021) and remained unchanged in conservatively treated patients. Both groups showed clinical improvement at the 6‐month follow‐up.

Conclusions

Baseline difference of T1 relaxation time (ΔT1) might serve as a supporting marker for treatment decision and change of T1 relaxation time might reflect relief of spinal cord narrowing indicating regenerative processes. Quantitative T1‐mapping represents a promising additional imaging method to indicate a surgical treatment plan and to validate treatment success.
Dietary fat and high energy density diet: Influence on intestinal health, oxidative stress and performance of weaned piglets
Authors: Adebowale Tolulope , Jiang Qian , Yao Kang
Published: February 2024

The utilization of dietary components to support gut function and the health of young animals is an important factor for improved performance. The influence of high dietary fat levels in a low or high energy density diet on the performance of weaned piglets in relation to intestinal absorptive function, amino acid utilization, oxidative stress, and microbial metabolites was assessed in this study. The study examined the effect of two different diets containing either a low energy density/high‐fat level or a high energy density/high‐fat level. A total of 16 healthy weaners (9.60 ± 0.13 kg) were allocated to one of the two dietary treatments. There were eight weaners per treatment. Results showed that feed intake and body weight gain of weaners were increased by the diet of high energy density/high‐fat level (p < 0.05), but the feed efficiency showed an increased tendency of significance (p = 0.05). In the duodenum, the villus height (VH) and VH/crypt depth (CD) ratio (VH:CD) were increased by dietary high energy density/high fat. In the jejunum and ileum, the CD was increased by low energy density/high‐fat diet, while the goblet cell count and VH:CD were increased by dietary high energy density/high‐fat level. Methionine, lysine and phenylalanine concentrations were increased by high energy density/high‐fat diet while low energy density/high‐fat diet showed an increased tendency to increase citrulline and ornithine concentrations in the piglet. Oxidative stress marker, lactase enzyme activity and serum calcium concentration were increased by a high energy density/high‐fat diet. Increased dietary fat in all diets induced diarrhoea in the weaners (p < 0.01). It was concluded that a dietary high energy density/high‐fat diet seems to positively modulate gut absorptive function, serum amino acid (methionine and lysine), calcium levels and increased oxidative stress markers in the weaned piglets.
The tradition of drinking and dying: Gender, alcohol consumption, and violence in San Andrés cholula, Puebla
Authors: Flores Alvarez Jeaqueline
Published: February 2024

This ethnographic research examines practices related to alcohol consumption in the traditional area of San Andrés Cholula, namely, in the region comprised of the eight neighborhoods participating in the “cargo system,” a religious and socio‐spatial institution responsible for organizing ecclesiastical festivities. Using anthropological fieldwork as the research methodology, it observes how male alcoholization, shielded by popular religiosity and supported by local authorities, institutionalizes gender practices that legitimize violence. These practices, veiled under the guise of “traditions,” act to the detriment of the living conditions of local women. In this context, the lens of postcolonial feminism enables the understanding of women's responses and actions in the face of impositions and demands from the local gender regime.
Plastic compounds and liver diseases: Whether bisphenol A is the only culprit
Authors: Sangwan Sonal , Bhattacharyya Rajasri , Banerjee Dibyajyoti
Published: February 2024

Plastics, while providing modern conveniences, have become an inescapable source of global concern due to their role in environmental pollution. Particularly, the focus on bisphenol A (BPA) reveals its biohazardous nature and association with liver issues, specifically steatosis. However, research indicates that BPA is just one facet of the problem, as other bisphenol analogues, microplastics, nanoplastics and additional plastic derivatives also pose potential risks. Notably, BPA is implicated in every stage of non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) onset and progression, surpassing hepatitis B virus as a primary cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. As plastic contamination tops the environmental contaminants list, urgent action is needed to assess causative factors and mitigate their impact. This review delves into the molecular disruptions linking plastic pollutant exposure to liver diseases, emphasizing the broader connection between plastics and the rising prevalence of NAFLD.
Inflammatory myofibroblastoma mimicking cavernous hemangioma in the liver
Authors: Yang Hong , Lai Binglin
Published: February 2024

A 37‐year‐old female patient was admitted to the hospital with a large liver mass, diagnosed as hepatic inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour (HIMT), characterized by unique radiographic features and predominantly occurring in adults. HIMT consists of myofibroblast spindle cells infiltrated by plasma cells and/or lymphocytes, with an unclear aetiology linked to factors like infection and immune response. Treatment typically involves surgical resection, with chemotherapy or targeted therapy options for cases of incomplete resection or metastasis, emphasizing the need for precise diagnosis and tailored treatment strategies.
Shared semantics: Exploring the interface between human and chimpanzee gestural communication
Authors: Henderson Mathew , Grosz Patrick G. , Graham Kirsty E. , Hobaiter Catherine , Patel‐Grosz Pritty
Published: February 2024

Striking similarities across ape gestural repertoires suggest shared phylogenetic origins that likely provided a foundation for the emergence of language. We pilot a novel approach for exploring possible semantic universals across human and nonhuman ape species. In a forced‐choice task, n = 300 participants watched 10 chimpanzee gesture forms performed by a human and chose from responses that paralleled inferred meanings for chimpanzee gestures. Participants agreed on a single meaning for nine gesture forms; in six of these the agreed form‐meaning pair response(s) matched those established for chimpanzees. Such shared understanding suggests apes' (including humans') gesturing shares deep evolutionary origins.
Gold perfusion experiments support the multi‐layered, mesoporous nature of intervessel pit membranes in angiosperm xylem
Authors: Zhang Ya , Pereira Luciano , Kaack Lucian , Liu Jiabao , Jansen Steven
Published: February 2024

Fluid transport across intervessel pit membranes of angiosperm xylem plays a major role in plant transpiration, with transport resistance largely depending on pore constriction sizes. Traditionally, fluid particles traversing pit membranes are assumed to cross a single instead of multiple pore constrictions.

We tested a multi‐layered pit membrane model in xylem of eight angiosperm species by estimating the size frequency of pore constrictions in relation to pit membrane thickness and compared modelled data with perfusion characteristics of nanoscale gold particles based on transmission electron microscopy.

The size frequency of modelled pore constrictions showed similar patterns to the measured number of perfused particle sizes inside pit membranes, although frequency values measured were 10–50 times below modelled data. Small particles enter pit membranes most easily, especially when injected in thin pit membranes.

The trapping of gold particles by pore constrictions becomes more likely with increasing pore constriction number and pit membrane thickness. While quantitative differences between modelled and experimental data are due to various practical limitations, their qualitative agreement supports a multi‐layered pit membrane model with multiple pore constrictions. Pore constrictions between 5 and 50 nm are realistic, and confirm the mesoporous nature of pit membranes.
Distinct geographic parthenogenesis in spite of niche conservatism and a single ploidy level: A case of Rubus ser. Glandulosi (Rosaceae)
Authors: Sochor Michal , Duchoslav Martin , Forejtová Věra , Hroneš Michal , Konečná Michaela , Trávníček Bohumil
Published: February 2024

Asexual organisms often differ in their geographic distributions from their sexual relatives. This phenomenon, termed geographic parthenogenesis, has long been known, but the underlying factors behind its diverse patterns have been under dispute. Particularly problematic is an association between asexuality and polyploidy in most taxa. Here, we present a new system of geographic parthenogenesis on the tetraploid level, promising new insights into this complex topic.

We used flow cytometric seed screen and microsatellite genotyping to characterise the patterns of distribution of sexuals and apomicts and genotypic distributions in Rubus ser. Glandulosi across its range. Ecological modelling and local‐scale vegetation and soil analyses were used to test for niche differentiation between the reproductive groups.

Apomicts were detected only in North‐western Europe, sexuals in the rest of the range in Europe and West Asia, with a sharp borderline stretched across Central Europe. Despite that, we found no significant differences in ecological niches. Genotypic richness distributions suggested independence of the reproductive groups and a secondary contact.

We argue that unless a niche differentiation (resulting from polyploidy and/or hybridity) evolves, the main factors behind the patterns of geographic parthenogenesis in plants are phylogeographic history and neutral microevolutionary processes, such as clonal turnover.
Manipulation of soil mycorrhizal fungi influences floral traits
Authors: Hyjazie Batoule F. , Sargent Risa D.
Published: February 2024

Most plants form root hyphal relationships with mycorrhizal fungi, especially arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). These associations are known to positively impact plant biomass and competitive ability. However, less is known about how mycorrhizas impact other ecological interactions, such as those mediated by pollinators.

We performed a meta‐regression of studies that manipulated AMF and measured traits related to pollination, including floral display size, rewards, visitation, and reproduction, extracting 63 studies with 423 effects.

On average, the presence of mycorrhizas was associated with positive effects on floral traits. Specifically, we found impacts of AMF on floral display size, pollinator visitation and reproduction, and a positive but nonsignificant impact on rewards. Studies manipulating mycorrhizas with fungicide tended to report contrasting results, possibly because fungicide destroys both beneficial and pathogenic microbes.

Our study highlights the potential for relationships with mycorrhizal fungi to play an important, yet underrecognized role in plant–pollinator interactions. With heightened awareness of the need for a more sustainable agricultural industry, mycorrhizal fungi may offer the opportunity to reduce reliance on inorganic fertilizers. At the same time, fungicides are now ubiquitous in agricultural systems. Our study demonstrates indirect ways in which plant‐belowground fungal partnerships could manifest in plant–pollinator interactions.
Insights into a functional model of key deubiquitinases UBP12/13 in plants
Authors: Zhang Shiqi , Hu Ningning , Yu Feifei
Published: February 2024

Understanding the complexities of protein ubiquitination is crucial, as it plays a multifaceted role in controlling protein stability, activity, subcellular localization, and interaction, which are central to diverse biological processes. Deubiquitinases (DUBs) serve to reverse ubiquitination, but research progress in plant DUBs is noticeably limited. Among existing studies, UBIQUITIN‐SPECIFIC PROTEASE 12 (UBP12) and UBP13 have garnered attention for their extensive role in diverse biological processes in plants. This review systematically summarizes the recent advancements in UBP12/13 studies, emphasizing their function, and their substrate specificity, their relationship with E3 ubiquitin ligases, and the similarities and differences with their mammalian orthologue, USP7. By unraveling the molecular mechanisms of UBP12/13, this review offers in‐depth insights into the ubiquitin–proteasome system (UPS) in plants and aims to catalyze further explorations and comprehensive understanding in this field.
Long‐term stability of curve of Spee depth among orthodontically treated patients: A retrospective longitudinal study
Authors: Busenhart Dan Mike , Schätzle Marc , Eliades Theodore , Papageorgiou Spyridon N.
Published: February 2024

Objective

The curve of Spee is deemed important characteristic of the dentition for a balanced occlusion and distribution of masticatory forces, while orthodontic levelling of an accentuated curve of Spee is generally included as a treatment goal for deepbite correction. However, relapse is often seen and can be problematic.

Methods

A retrospective longitudinal study of predominantly young patients with a deep curve of Spee, who had been treated orthodontically with 0.018”‐slot Edgewise fixed appliances, was performed. The depth of the curve of Spee was digitally measured before treatment (T1), at debond (T2), and an average of 7 years post‐debond (T3) and analysed statistically at 5%.

Results

A total of 157 patients were included (56.7% female; 11.6‐year‐old at T1), 16.6% of which were treated with premolars extractions. Non‐extraction treatment reduced the curve of Spee at the first premolar from 1.87 mm (T1) to 0.22 mm (T2), which relapsed 0.12 mm (T3; P = .04). The respective depths for the second premolar were 2.0 mm (T1), reduced to 0.80 mm (T2). No significant relapse was seen for the second premolar (0.08 mm; P > .05) or the first permanent molar (0.06 mm; P > .05). No overall significant differences in absolute relapse were seen between extraction and non‐extraction patients, but premolar extractions were associated with less clinically relevant relapse at the first molar (odds ratio 0.27; 95%‐confidence interval 0.08‐0.88; P = .003).

Conclusion

Steep curves of Spee can be satisfactorily levelled orthodontically with satisfactory stability in the long term, while premolar extractions might be associated with less relapse.
Safety and Effectiveness of Robotic‐Arm Assisted Total Knee Arthroplasty
Authors: Yuan Mingcheng , Ling Tingxian , Su Qiang , Wan Xufeng , Lai Yahao , Zhou Zongke
Published: February 2024

Objective

We investigated the advantages of robotic arm‐assisted total knee arthroplasty (raTKA) over conventional manual TKA (cmTKA) by comprehensively comparing patients who received raTKA and cmTKA in terms of postoperative pain, function, imaging assessment, and trauma to the body. This study investigated the efficacy and safety of raTKA in patients using the YUANHUA‐TKA system.

Methods

In a prospective, randomized single‐blind trial, 60 patients undergoing primary unilateral TKA from October 2020 to December 2020 were randomly assigned to either raTKA or cmTKA. Clinical evaluation, including the time of osteotomy and prosthesis model testing, the total operation time, the visual analogue scale at rest, VAS in motion, opioid consumption, white blood cell count, neutrophil ratio, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C‐reactive protein (CRP), passive and active range of motion (pROM, aROM), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC [stiffness, pain, and function]) score, gait analysis, keen society score (KSS), adverse events, and blood loss were collected by the project nurse, as well as the imaging evaluation, including the lateral tibia component angle (LTC), frontal femoral component angle, frontal tibia component angle (FTC), lateral femoral component angl, and hip–knee–ankle angle (HKA). The student t‐test (or the Wilcoxon signed‐rank test) and the χ2‐test (or the Fisher exact test) were used to determine differences in categorical variables.

Results

No significant difference was found between the two groups in pain throughout the whole follow‐up period. On the third day postoperatively, the erythrocyte sedimentation rate in the cmTKA group was significantly higher (p = 0.02), as well as the CRP (p = 0.04). No significant difference was found in the WOMAC stiffnes score or pROM. However, the aROM and the flexion range when walking (FRW) were significantly better in the raTKA group throughout the trial (p < 0.05). The KSS at the 1‐month follow‐up and the WOMAC function score at the 1‐year follow‐up were both significantly better in the raTKA group (p < 0.05). The HKA and the LTC in the raTKA group closer to the ideal angle, and the difference between the groups was significant (p < 0.05). The total operation time of the raTKA group was significantly longer (p = 0.001). The intraoperative blood loss had no significant difference in the two groups.

Conclusion

Compared with cmTKA, raTKA with the YUANHUA robot not only avoids extra pain and trauma in patients but promises better functional recovery and improves the accuracy of the prosthesis position and axial alignment reconstruction.
Comparing the performance of ChatGPT GPT‐4, Bard, and Llama‐2 in the Taiwan Psychiatric Licensing Examination and in differential diagnosis with multi‐center psychiatrists
Authors: Li Dian‐Jeng , Kao Yu‐Chen , Tsai Shih‐Jen , Bai Ya‐Mei , Yeh Ta‐Chuan , Chu Che‐Sheng , Hsu Chih‐Wei , Cheng Szu‐Wei , Hsu Tien‐Wei , Liang Chih‐Sung , Su Kuan‐Pin
Published: February 2024

Aim

Large language models (LLMs) have been suggested to play a role in medical education and medical practice. However, the potential of their application in the psychiatric domain has not been well‐studied.

Method

In the first step, we compared the performance of ChatGPT GPT‐4, Bard, and Llama‐2 in the 2022 Taiwan Psychiatric Licensing Examination conducted in traditional Mandarin. In the second step, we compared the scores of these three LLMs with those of 24 experienced psychiatrists in 10 advanced clinical scenario questions designed for psychiatric differential diagnosis.

Result

Only GPT‐4 passed the 2022 Taiwan Psychiatric Licensing Examination (scoring 69 and ≥ 60 being considered a passing grade), while Bard scored 36 and Llama‐2 scored 25. GPT‐4 outperformed Bard and Llama‐2, especially in the areas of ‘Pathophysiology & Epidemiology’ (χ2 = 22.4, P < 0.001) and ‘Psychopharmacology & Other therapies’ (χ2 = 15.8, P < 0.001). In the differential diagnosis, the mean score of the 24 experienced psychiatrists (mean 6.1, standard deviation 1.9) was higher than that of GPT‐4 (5), Bard (3), and Llama‐2 (1).

Conclusion

Compared to Bard and Llama‐2, GPT‐4 demonstrated superior abilities in identifying psychiatric symptoms and making clinical judgments. Besides, GPT‐4's ability for differential diagnosis closely approached that of the experienced psychiatrists. GPT‐4 revealed a promising potential as a valuable tool in psychiatric practice among the three LLMs.
Viability and dormancy of the Clematis vitalba aerial seed bank
Authors: Jarvis‐Lowry B. , Harrington K. C. , Ghanizadeh H. , Robertson A. W.
Published: February 2024

Old man's beard (Clematis vitalba L.) is a liana species that has become invasive in many areas of its introduced range. Seeds are produced in abundance and are both physiologically and morphologically dormant upon maturity. To understand the importance of seeds to its invasiveness, changes in viability and dormancy of the aerial seed bank were tracked throughout the after‐ripening period and during storage.

Seeds collected every second month for 2 years were subjected to germination tests. Other seeds stored in outdoor ambient conditions or in a dry, chilled state were dissected before, during, and after imbibition, as well as during incubation, to measure embryo size.

Less than 72% of seeds on the mother plant were viable. Viable seeds remained completely morpho‐physiologically dormant throughout autumn, even when treated with nitrate. Physiological dormancy declined in response to seasonal changes, yet morphological dormancy did not change until seeds had been exposed to appropriate germination conditions for several days. Fully dormant autumn seeds decayed at higher rates during incubation than partially or fully after‐ripened seeds, which were also more germinable and less dormant. Furthermore, seeds incubated in complete darkness were more likely to decay or remain dormant than those exposed to light.

This study demonstrates that fewer than three‐quarters of seeds produced are viable and further decay occurs after dispersal, yet total fertility is still very high, with enormous propagule pressure from seeds alone. Viable seeds are protected with two forms of dormancy; morphological dormancy requires additional germination cues in order to break after seasonal changes break physiological dormancy.
Taxonomic study of the polyphyletic Dudresnaya (Dumontiaceae, Florideophyceae) with descriptions of Dudresnaya ryukyuensis sp. nov. and two new genera, Himehibirhodia and Nudresdaya
Authors: Hoshino Masakazu , Wakeman Kevin C. , Kato Aki , Kitayama Taiju , Sherwood Alison R. , Uwai Shinya , Kogame Kazuhiro
Published: February 2024

The red algal genus Dudresnaya (Dumontiaceae, Gigartinales) has traditionally been a morphologically well‐defined taxon, but its molecular phylogeny has rarely been studied. To examine the phylogenetic relationships among Dudresnaya species, we generated new partial sequences of mitochondrial cox1, chloroplast rbcL and nuclear 28S rRNA genes from an undescribed Dudresnaya species from Okinawa Island, Japan, alongside five additional described species. Our phylogenetic analyses show that Dudresnaya is genetically diverse and polyphyletic. Based on molecular phylogeny and morphological data, we describe the Okinawan Dudresnaya as a new species, Dudresnaya ryukyuensis, and transferred Dudresnaya minima and Dudresnaya littleri, which were phylogenetically and morphologically distinct from the genuine Dudresnaya, to the new genera Himehibirhodia and Nudresdaya, respectively. Our phylogenetic analyses also showed that the Dumontiaceae is not a monophyletic group including the Gainiaceae and Rhizophyllidaceae (DGR complex). Considering that the DGR complex exhibits female reproductive structures and their post‐fertilization development that are similar to each other, the DGR complex appears to be recognized as the Dumontiaceae sensu lato.
Analysis of dementia research trends in nursing using text mining approach
Authors: Atay Eda , Bahadır Yılmaz Emel , Atay Metehan
Published: February 2024

This research aimed to analyze dementia research trends in nursing using a text mining approach. In this study, text mining approach was used to analyze the studies on dementia in the field of nursing around the world. In this study, summaries of all available publications in English between the years 1990–2023 were extracted from the database and transferred to an Excel table by using the ‘Nursing’ AND ‘Dementia’ query from the Thomson Reuters‐ISI Web of Science database. According to the results of this research, a total of 21 concept groups were identified, four of which were the most important. It was determined that the most frequently used word in all of the studies obtained from the database was ‘cost’. In this direction, scientific research on dementia in the field of nursing can be planned by evaluating the most frequently used concepts.
Attention to the domains of Revised Hasegawa Dementia Scale and Mini‐Mental State Examination in patients with Alzheimer's disease dementia
Authors: Honjo Yasuyuki , Ide Kazuki , Nagai Kuniaki , Yuri Takuma , Nakai Hideaki , Kawasaki Ippei , Harada Shun , Ogawa Noriyuki
Published: February 2024

Background

In Japan, Alzheimer's disease dementia (AD) is the most common cognitive disease, and the most widely used dementia screening tests are the Revised Hasegawa Dementia Scale (HDS‐R) and Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE). This study sought to elucidate the relationships of the individual domains of these tests with age and duration of school education in a large group of patients with AD.

Methods

Participants were 505 new outpatients diagnosed with AD who completed the HDS‐R and MMSE at the first visit. We investigated the relationships of total and individual domains of these tests with age and duration of school education using the least squares method. Next, we plotted regression lines of the individual domain scores against the total test scores.

Results

Younger age and longer duration of school education were significantly associated with higher total HDS‐R and MMSE scores in AD. Domain‐specific results indicated that younger age was significantly associated with a higher immediate memory score on both the HDS‐R and MMSE and with a higher orientation (time), repetition score on the MMSE. Longer duration of school education was significantly associated with a higher working memory score on the HDS‐R and with higher serial 7, repetition and writing scores on the MMSE. In addition, shorter duration of school education was significantly associated with higher naming score on the MMSE. The regression lines of orientation of time, remote memory, visual memory, and verbal frequency hit the bottom on the HDS‐R (4/30, 8/30, 4/30, and 6/30, respectively) and of orientation of time, serial 7, remote memory, and writing also hit the bottom on the MMSE (8/30, 9/30, 11/30, and 8/30, respectively).

Conclusions

We should pay attention to age, duration of school education, and the individual domains when using the HDS‐R or MMSE to assess patients with AD.
Barrier or opportunity? How trade regulations shape Colombian firms' export strategies
Authors: Rosenow Samuel
Published: February 2024

Firms increasingly have to contend with trade regulations to access foreign markets. We quantify their relative importance and the heterogeneous effects for Colombians firms exporting to Latin America between 2007 and 2017, focusing on specific types and channels. Using panel evidence from a firm‐level gravity model with a difference‐in‐differences identification strategy, technical barriers to trade (TBTs) and quantity control measures both decrease trade on average. Other non‐tariff measures and tariffs play a minor role. At its core, TBT and quantity measures reallocate trade from small to big firms. The same mechanism benefits firms participating in global value chains. However, quantity controls make it more likely that big firm will leave export markets to the benefit of smaller ones. Our results control for the endogeneity of trade regulations and are robust to the use of different samples and measures of firm size.