bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Disruption of Epithelial Barrier Integrity via Altered GILZ/c-Rel/RACK1 Signaling in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Authors: Buoso Erica , Masi Mirco , Limosani Roberta Valeria , Fagiani Francesca , Oliviero Chiara , Colombo Giorgia , Cari Luigi , Gentili Marco , Lusenti Eleonora , Rosati Lucrezia , Pisati Federica , Pasini Alessandra , Lenti Marco Vincenzo , Di Sabatino Antonio , Mobbs Claire Louise , Przyborski Stefan , Ronchetti Simona , Travelli Cristina , Racchi Marco
Published: December 2024

Background and Aims

Given the role of Receptor for Activated C Kinase 1 (RACK1) in both immune cell activation and in the maintenance of the intestinal epithelial barrier integrity, we investigated whether it was involved in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Methods

RACK1 expression was analyzed in intestinal mucosal samples of healthy and IBD patients, in mice with chemically induced colitis, and in diseased in vitro 2D and 3D coculture models by luciferase assay, reverse transcription-quantitative PCR, Western blotting, immunofluorescence, and immunohistochemistry. Based on our finding that glucocorticoid-induced leucine zipper (GILZ or tsc22d3) positively correlates with RACK1 expression in IBD patients, GILZ knockout mice and cell silencing experiments were performed.

Results

RACK1 was significantly decreased in IBD, especially in ulcerative colitis. This was associated with an NF-κB/c-Rel-related mechanism, correlating with decreased GILZ protein expression. GILZ depletion confirmed a decrease in RACK1 expression, which favored SRC activation and led to a significant reduction in E-cadherin, resulting in impaired epithelial barrier integrity. Finally, our data highlighted that this novel mechanism could be considered to develop new therapies since dexamethasone, the first line of treatment in IBD, restored RACK1 expression through the glucocorticoid receptor in a c-Rel/GILZ-independent manner.

Conclusions

We provide the first evidence that an alteration of RACK1/SRC/E-cadherin regulatory mechanism, correlating with decreased GILZ protein expression, is involved in epithelial barrier disruption. The clinical relevance is based on the fact that this mechanism involving GILZ/c-Rel-related RACK1 expression could be considered to improve IBD therapies, particularly in patients with low or no response to glucocorticoid treatment.
Paradoxical improvement in exercise tolerance and peak VO2 consumption after treatment with ivabradine and beta-blockers in a patient with mild dilated cardiomyopathy and inappropriate sinus tachycardia—a case report
Authors: Graziano Francesca , Pizzolato Matteo , Bondarev Sergei , Corrado Domenico , Zorzi Alessandro
Published: December 2024

Background

Left bundle branch block (LBBB) is a rare conduction disorder in athletes associated with ventricular dyssynchrony, which can lead to left ventricular systolic dysfunction and exercise intolerance. Inappropriate sinus tachycardia (IST) is characterized by an excessive heart rate (HR) that is not related to physiological needs, often resulting in reduced exercise capacity. Managing these conditions in athletes can be challenging, as standard treatments like beta-blockers and ivabradine, while effective in controlling HR, are described to be associated with a reduction in maximal exercise performance.

Case summary

A 50-year-old amateur athlete presented with exercise intolerance, LBBB, and mild dilated cardiomyopathy due to ventricular dyssynchrony. Resting electrocardiogram and 24-h monitoring confirmed IST. Initial cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) off-therapy showed rapid HR increase during exertion, an early plateau in oxygen pulse, and reduced peak oxygen consumption (VO2, 22.1 mL/kg/min, 76% of the predicted value). After 1 month of ivabradine 5 mg b.i.d., there was some improvement in these parameters. At the third follow-up, with combined therapy of ivabradine (5 mg b.i.d.) and metoprolol (50 mg b.i.d.), the HR response during exercise normalized, and CPET parameters significantly improved, with peak VO2 reaching 29.2 mL/kg/min (101% of the predicted value).

Discussion

This case highlights a paradoxical improvement in exercise tolerance and peak VO2 with combined ivabradine and beta-blocker therapy in a patient with IST. The treatment optimized the HR response during exercise, suggesting that individualized strategies can enhance exercise performance in patients with IST and mild cardiomyopathy, despite the expected limitations of these medications.
Anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from pulmonary artery mimicking antero-lateral ST-elevation myocardial infarction: a case report
Authors: Arow Ziad , Zilberman Liaz , Koifman Edward , Assali Abid , Arnson Yoav
Published: December 2024

Background

Anomalous origin of the left coronary artery (LCA) from the pulmonary artery (PA) (ALCAPA) is a rare congenital abnormality. We present a case of an ALCAPA in a 25-year-old man.

Case summary

A 25-year-old male with no past medical history was admitted to our intensive cardiac care unit after sudden cardiac arrest due to ventricular fibrillation and suspected acute coronary syndrome. After being treated with shock by automated external defibrillator, an electrocardiogram (ECG) demonstrated sinus tachycardia with antero-lateral ST-segment elevation. Initial transthoracic echocardiography showed severe and diffuse left ventricular dysfunction and dilatation. Coronary angiography revealed anomalous origin of the LCA from the PA and extensive collateral circulation from a giant RCA. An ECG-gated cardiac computed tomography confirmed the diagnosis of anomalous left main originating from the left PA. Cardiac magnetic resonance demonstrated an enlarged left ventricle with globally reduced function and extensive sub-endocardial scarring of the anterior, antero-lateral, and lateral walls. Following a multidisciplinary heart team discussion, the patient successfully underwent repair of aberrant LCA with direct LCA re-implantation to the aorta and subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillator implantation. Optimal medical therapy for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction was initiated, and the patient was discharged home for a close clinical and echocardiographic follow-up.

Discussion

In conclusion, ALCAPA in the adulthood is a very rare congenital anomaly that clinicians should be aware of. The preferred treatment, when diagnosed in time, is direct re-implantation of the LCA to the aorta.
Evaluating neurological outcomes of and risk factors for hypoattenuated leaflet thickening following aortic root replacement and arch surgery
Authors: Radner Caroline , Peterss Sven , Buech Joscha , Grefen Linda , Hagl Christian , Pichlmaier Maximilian
Published: December 2024

OBJECTIVES

In this retrospective study, we aimed to assess incidence, possible causes and clinical consequences of hypoattenuated leaflet thickening (HALT) following aortic root replacement with valved composite grafts and concomitant aortic arch repair.

METHODS

Between January 2016 and December 2022, 454 patients underwent Bentall procedures with arch replacements in hypothermic circulatory arrest at the University Aortic Centre MunichLMU, Germany. Sequential postoperative ECG-gated, high-resolution computed tomography angiographies were analyzed, and the presence of HALT correlated with neurologic events and transvalvular gradients over time. Furthermore, attention was given to intraoperative hemostatic product use and postoperative anticoagulation regimes.

RESULTS

327 out of 454 patients were included. The follow-up period averaged to 3.27 years. 28% of the patients showed radiographic signs of HALT, which was correlated with a significantly higher incidence of transient neurological events as compared to those without (38 vs 8 events, P < 0.01). However, there were no significant differences with respect to the postoperative anticoagulation regimen or transvalvular gradients between the two groups. Only the intraoperative administration of prothrombin complex concentrate was significantly higher in patients with postoperative HALT.

CONCLUSIONS

HALT is observed in a high percentage of cases following aortic root replacement combined with complex aortic procedures. Furthermore, it is associated with an increased risk of neurological events but only a weak correlation was demonstrated with the perioperative coagulation management. While no long-term implications were noted, these findings suggest the necessity for further investigations, longer follow-up periods, and more comprehensive diagnostic approaches.
The maintenance of genetic polymorphism underlying sexually antagonistic traits
Authors: Flintham Ewan , Savolainen Vincent , Otto Sarah P , Reuter Max , Mullon Charles
Published: December 2024

Selection often favors different trait values in males and females, leading to genetic conflicts between the sexes when traits have a shared genetic basis. Such sexual antagonism has been proposed to maintain genetic polymorphism. However, this notion is based on insights from population genetic models of single loci with fixed fitness effects. It is thus unclear how readily polymorphism emerges from sex-specific selection acting on continuous traits, where fitness effects arise from the genotype-phenotype map and the fitness landscape. Here, we model the evolution of a continuous trait that has a shared genetic basis but different optima in males and females, considering a wide variety of genetic architectures and fitness landscapes. For autosomal loci, the long-term maintenance of polymorphism requires strong conflict between males and females that generates uncharacteristic sex-specific fitness patterns. Instead, more plausible sex-specific fitness landscapes typically generate stabilizing selection leading to an evolutionarily stable state that consists of a single homozygous genotype. Except for sites tightly linked to the sex-determining region, our results indicate that genetic variation due to sexual antagonism should arise only rarely and often be transient, making these signatures challenging to detect in genomic data.
People With Dementia Disclosing Their Diagnosis to Social Networks: A Systematic Review and Meta-Synthesis
Authors: Kohl Gianna , Molinari Ulate Mauricio , Bhatt Jem , Lynch Jennifer , Scior Katrina , Charlesworth Georgina
Published: December 2024

Background and Objectives

Given the stigma of dementia, individuals with the condition may be wary to disclose their diagnosis to other people, both in face-to-face and digital settings. While sharing one’s dementia diagnosis with others is essential for accessing valuable support for social, cognitive, and physical well-being, this area of research has largely been neglected. In this meta-synthesis, we aimed to systematically review qualitative research on the factors associated with online and offline self-disclosure in people with dementia.

Research Design and Methods

We conducted a systematic search in 6 electronic databases. Inclusion criteria comprised qualitative and mixed-methods studies describing experiences with self-disclosure in people with any type of dementia. Quality of the included studies was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. The meta-synthesis was conducted in NVivo using a thematic synthesis approach.

Results

28 studies were included. 3 analytical themes were generated: “Concealment,” “Stigma and fear,” and “Taking control,” the latter 2 with subthemes. Findings from this review were corroborated with people with dementia and family carers as part of Patient and Public Involvement meetings. Our findings reveal that while stigma plays a pivotal role, people with dementia can take control of the meaning of their diagnosis through self-disclosure.

Discussion and Implications

Self-disclosure is complex and multifaceted. People with dementia, particularly those experiencing stigma, can benefit from post-diagnostic support that encompasses resources and interventions for self-disclosure. Further research is required to investigate people with dementia’s disclosure decision-making process.
Reduced predation and competition from herring may have contributed to the increase of three-spined stickleback in the Baltic Sea
Authors: Donadi Serena , Olin Agnes , Casini Michele , Eklöf Johan , Erlandsson Mårten , Fredriksson Ronny , Kaljuste Olavi , Larson Niklas , Nilsson Jonas , Bergström Ulf
Published: December 2024

In many areas of the Baltic Sea, three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) has increased several fold since the early 2000s. Two major planktivores of the Baltic Sea, Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) and European sprat (Sprattus sprattus), may interact with stickleback via competition for food and predation, but the potential implications at the population level are still unknown. Here, we explored interactions between stickleback, herring, and sprat using (i) herring diet analyses and (ii) fish biomass estimates from hydroacoustics for 2001–2019 covering the largest Baltic Sea basins—the Central Baltic and the Bothnian Sea. The diet analyses revealed that stickleback is an important prey for large herring along the Swedish Baltic Sea coast, comprising up to 64% of the diet of individuals >22 cm. We found a negative influence of large herring (>18 cm) on stickleback in the Central Baltic, and a negative relationship between sprat and small herring (<18 cm) (pooled) and stickleback in the Bothnian Sea. The decline in herring and sprat population after the mid-1990s could have contributed to the increase in stickleback population via reduced predation and competition. Overall, herring may be an underappreciated piscivore, and high fishing pressure on herring could generate cascading effects on lower trophic levels.
The effect of addressing the top 10 global causes of death on life expectancy in 2019: a global and regional analysis
Authors: Shahbazi Fatemeh , Moslehi Samad , Mirzaei Zahra , Mohammadi Younes
Published: December 2024

Background

The life expectancy (LE) index reflects health changes in society, highlighting trends in health quality and quantity. This study focused on analysing the impact of the top 10 causes of death on the global increase in LE in 2019.

Methods

Data on the top 10 causes of death in 2019 were obtained from the Global Burden of Disease website and a period life table was used to assess how eliminating these causes would impact LE.

Results

At the global level, eliminating deaths from ischaemic heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lower respiratory infections, neonatal conditions, lung cancers, Alzheimer's disease, diarrheal diseases, diabetes mellitus and kidney diseases resulted in an increase in LE at birth of 2.44, 1.64, 0.75, 0.80, 4.06, 0.48, 0.36, 0.52, 0.36 and 0.35 y, respectively.

Conclusions

The analysis reveals a gender gap in LE influenced by specific causes of death and regional differences. Therefore, public health policies should be customized for each area to target reductions in deaths that significantly improve LE.
Effect of pre-farrowing hygiene routine (sub-standard vs. optimal) and creep feeding regime (dry pelleted starter diet vs. liquid mixture of milk replacer and starter diet) on post-weaning intestinal parameters and growth to slaughter in pigs
Authors: Vasa Shiv R , Gardiner Gillian E , Cormican Paul , O’Driscoll Keelin , Bee Giuseppe , Lawlor Peadar G
Published: December 2024

The objective was to evaluate the effect of providing a dry pelleted starter diet (DPS) or a liquid mixture of milk replacer and starter diet (LMR + S) to suckling pigs housed in farrowing pens of sub-standard or optimal hygiene conditions on pig growth to slaughter, and post-weaning (PW) intestinal parameters. On day (d) 107 of gestation, 87 sows were randomly allocated to one of four treatments in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. The factors were creep feeding (DPS or LMR + S) and pre-farrowing hygiene routine (SUB-STANDARD or OPTIMAL). Pigs were provided with DPS (manually) from d 11 to weaning (at d 28 ± 1.2 of age) or LMR + S using an automatic liquid feeding system from d 4 to weaning. The SUB-STANDARD hygiene routine (pens washed and dried for ~18 h, sows not washed or disinfected) and the OPTIMAL hygiene routine (pens pre-soaked, detergent applied, washed, dried for 3 days, chlorocresol-based disinfectant applied, dried for 3 more days, and sows washed and disinfected with Virkon) were used to obtain SUB-STANDARD or OPTIMAL hygiene conditions, respectively, in farrowing rooms prior to entry of sows. Microbiome analysis was performed on fecal samples from eight focal pigs per treatment, before weaning and at d 21 and d 114 PW. On d 4 PW, 10 pigs per treatment were euthanized to collect intestinal tissue and digesta samples for histological, enzyme activity, and microbiome analysis. Feeding LMR + S to pigs born into the OPTIMAL hygiene increased total dry matter intake compared to all of the other groups (P ≤ 0.05) and increased weaning weight compared to DPS feeding under both OPTIMAL and SUB-STANDARD hygiene conditions (P ≤ 0.05). Pigs from OPTIMAL farrowing pens had lower clinical cases of disease, diarrhea prevalence, and were slaughtered 3.8 days earlier than those from SUB-STANDARD farrowing pens (P ≤ 0.05). Suckling piglet mortality was reduced with LMR + S (P ≤ 0.05). On d 4 PW, jejunal and ileal villus height were increased by OPTIMAL hygiene and ileal sucrase activity was increased by LMR + S (P ≤ 0.05). On d 4 PW, LMR + S-fed pigs from OPTIMAL farrowing pens had a lower relative abundance of Clostridium_P in the jejunum. In conclusion, the OPTIMAL hygiene routine increased pre-weaning LMR + S feed intake, reduced clinical cases of disease, improved intestinal structure, and reduced the weaning to slaughter duration, while LMR + S feeding increased weaning weight, intestinal maturity, and reduced pre-weaning mortality.
Streaming giants and the global shift: building value chains and remapping trade flows
Authors: Chalaby Jean K
Published: December 2024

This article analyses the global dominance of three U.S.-based platforms (Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, and Netflix) on the streaming market. It investigates their reconfiguring of the TV industry around a global value chain, akin to other highly globalized industries, and characterized by the presence of a few lead firms operating in multiple markets and leveraging hundreds of suppliers worldwide. These streaming platforms benefit from transnational network effects and the coordination of supply chains on a global scale. By building large content libraries and accumulating foreign assets, they are transforming international trade flows in the process. Since 2020, the United States imports more audiovisual services, including movies and television programming, than it exports. This research demonstrates how the impact of these platforms is positive on local creative ecosystems, despite power asymmetries at play, and negative on local broadcasters.
Arthrosurface of the humeral head with the OVO surface replacement endoprosthesis
Authors: Wrotniak Maciej , Polczak Łukasz , Skowron Łukasz , Rydel Piotr , Urbanek Adrian , Kostuj Marcin
Published: December 2024

The case report concerns a 67-year-old man who suffered an accident on a motorcycle, as a result of which he suffered a dented fracture of the right humeral head. After physical examination and imaging diagnostics, he was qualified for surgical treatment—arthrosurface of the patient’s humeral head with the OVO surface replacement endoprosthesis. Right after the patient’s surgical treatment, a period of 16-week rehabilitation was implemented, which, as a result, enabled the patient to achieve a full range of shoulder mobility, and the patient was able to return to all activities before the injury.
Development and evaluation of Amikacin-loaded carbopol hydrogel for topical treatment of Mycobacterium marinum skin infections
Authors: Francis Praise Mary , Vinod Vivek , Kumar V Anil , Mohan C Gopi , Biswas Raja
Published: December 2024

Mycobacterium marinum is a slow growing Non-Tuberculosis Mycobacteria known to cause skin and subcutaneous tissue infections known as “fish tank granuloma” in humans. Treatment of M. marinum skin infections can last for several months or even years. Intravenous or intramuscular administration of Amikacin, a bactericidal inhibitor, in a multidrug regimen is a good therapeutic option in treating M. marinum infections. No topical hydrogels are currently available to treat M. marinum skin infections. We developed a 2.5% amikacin-loaded carbopol hydrogel containing the permeation enhancers 1% Tween-80 and 1% PEG (AMK-CPTP) for topical application to treat M. marinum skin infections. A molecular docking study of carbopol–Amikacin interaction predicted a stable structure and was confirmed with rheological characterization. The developed gel was found to be non-hemolytic, cytocompatible, and non-irritant. Sustained release of Amikacin from the AMK-CPTP hydrogel was observed, with a release of 60% Amikacin after 48 h. The antibacterial activity and skin permeability of amikacin released from AMK-CPTP were assessed using both in vitro and ex vivo assays. Overall. AMK-CPTP demonstrated anti-microbial activity against M. marinum with a 35% increase in skin permeation on the addition of Tween-80 and PEG. AMK-CPTP could be used to treat M. marinum skin infections.
Detection and quantification of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater using a mobile laboratory setting
Authors: Mathur Shubham , Salah Ikram , Msarwa Haneen , Craddock Hillary A , Moran-Gilad Jacob
Published: December 2024

This study evaluated a point-of-care device for wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) of SARS-CoV-2 circulation. WBE is a critical tool but faces challenges such as laboratory infrastructure, sample transport, skilled personnel, and time-consuming methods. Currently, a rapid, portable solution for wastewater surveillance is lacking. From June to September 2022, the performance of the GeneXpert instrument was compared with an established in-house method for detecting SARS-CoV-2 in 151 wastewater samples across laboratory, field, and mobile testing environments. In the laboratory setting, GeneXpert showed 100% agreement in detection, with 94.6% of positive samples displaying a viral load difference of ± 1 log compared to the in-house method. Field testing demonstrated 90% agreement, with 92.6% of GeneXpert-positive samples showing similar log differences. In mobile testing, GeneXpert detected 62.5% of samples, and testing faced technical issues. Overall, GeneXpert displayed a limit of detection of 12 cpml−1 with results available in under an hour, making it a promising tool for rapid and deployable wastewater testing. This requires further validation while addressing technical challenges related to field and mobile settings.
Sense of Coherence and Past and/or Present Mental Health Problems Among Conscripts at Military Call-up in Northern Finland
Authors: Sirkiä Carlos , Koivumaa-Honkanen Heli , Parkkola Kai , Hurtig Tuula
Published: December 2024

Introduction

Sense of coherence (SOC) refers to the psychosocial aspects and origins of health. Sense of coherence is related to physical and psychological health and quality of life. Military studies on SOC are commonly related to military deployment or operations, military training, and military fitness. Sense of coherence is assessed using a self-report scale. The total score of the scale indicates the level of SOC. Psychometric research studies over 2 past decades, however, suggest that the SOC scale is a multidimensional measure, and the latent factors should be considered as separate dimensions of SOC. Thus far, there are no previous factorial structure studies of the SOC scale in military contexts or in military populations. The dimensions of SOC have not been investigated in relation to mental health and subjective well-being of soldiers, military personnel, or military recruits/conscripts.

Materials and Methods

This study examined the structure of the self-report SOC scale among 2614 military conscripts at military call-up (before obligatory military service) in Northern Finland. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to test 4 different structure models based on previous studies of the SOC scale (1-, 2-, or 3-factor models). The dimensions of SOC were investigated in relation to conscripts’ self-reported past and/or present mental health problems. Demographic variables were explored. Nonparametric tests for group and pairwise analyses were used.

Results

The 11-item 2-factor model fitted the data best. The 2-factor structure represented the cognitive behavioral (comprehensibility and manageability) and motivational (meaningfulness) dimensions of SOC. The motivational dimension was higher among conscripts who reported past but no present mental health problems as compared to conscripts who reported past and present mental health problems. A similar difference was not found in the cognitive behavioral dimension. Both cognitive behavioral and motivational dimensions of SOC were higher among conscripts who reported not having past or present mental health problems.

Conclusions

SOC among conscripts is a 2-dimensional model. The experience of recovery from past mental health problems is related to a stronger motivational dimension (meaningfulness towards life), which shows upon obligatory military service and training. Sense of coherence motivational aspect may be useful when training recruits. Demographic variables, such as economic situation, family structure, and parents’ employment, should be considered when assessing past and/or present mental health problems and SOC.
Inferring Long-Term and Short-Term Determinants of Genetic Diversity in Honey Bees: Beekeeping Impact and Conservation Strategies
Authors: Leroy Thibault , Faux Pierre , Basso Benjamin , Eynard Sonia , Wragg David , Vignal Alain
Published: December 2024

Bees are vital pollinators in natural and agricultural landscapes around the globe, playing a key role in maintaining flowering plant biodiversity and ensuring food security. Among the honey bee species, the Western honey bee (Apis mellifera) is particularly significant, not only for its extensive crop pollination services but also for producing economically valuable products such as honey. Here, we analyzed whole-genome sequence data from four Apis species to explore how honey bee evolution has shaped current diversity patterns. Using Approximate Bayesian Computation, we first reconstructed the demographic history of A. mellifera in Europe, finding support for postglacial secondary contacts, therefore predating human-mediated transfers linked to modern beekeeping. However, our analysis of recent demographic changes reveals significant bottlenecks due to beekeeping practices, which have notably affected genetic diversity. Black honey bee populations from conservatories, particularly those on islands, exhibit considerable genetic loss, highlighting the need to evaluate the long-term effectiveness of current conservation strategies. Additionally, we observed a high degree of conservation in the genomic landscapes of nucleotide diversity across the four species, despite a divergence gradient spanning over 15 million years, consistent with a long-term conservation of the recombination landscapes. Taken together, our results provide the most comprehensive assessment of diversity patterns in honey bees to date and offer insights into the optimal management of resources to ensure the long-term persistence of honey bees and their invaluable pollination services.
Local chemical heterogeneity enabled superior zero thermal expansion in nonstoichiometric pyrochlore magnets
Authors: Sun Yanming , Yu Ruohan , Khmelevskyi Sergii , Kato Kenichi , Cao Yili , Hu Shixin , Avdeev Maxim , Wang Chin-Wei , Yu Chengyi , Li Qiang , Lin Kun , Kuang Xiaojun , Xing Xianran
Published: December 2024

The design of zero thermal expansion (ZTE) materials is urgently required as dimension-stable components in widespread modern high-precision technologies. Local chemical order has been of great importance in engineering advanced inorganic materials, but its role in optimizing the ZTE is often overlooked. Herein, we propose local composition heterogeneity for developing superior ZTE via a nonstoichiometric strategy. A remarkably low coefficient of thermal expansion of αa = +1.07 × 10−6 K−1 is achieved from 3 to 440 K in a quaternary Zr-Nb-Fe-Co pyrochlore magnet, which is the widest temperature range among known cubic ZTE metals. High-resolution synchrotron X-ray diffraction and magnetization measurements reveal that all the Bragg peaks split as resulting from two cubic phases with different magnetic orders. Scanning transmission electron microscopy, Mössbauer spectroscopy and theoretical calculations indicate that such phase separation intimately derives from excess Co dopant preferentially clustering on the Fe pyrochlore-lattice (16d) and simultaneously yielding an antisite Fe on Zr/Nb sublattice (8a). The Co content in pyrochlore-lattice has weaker exchange interactions than that of Fe, but the antisite Fe introduces extra positive exchange interactions between 8a and 16d sites. Local composition fluctuation of Co and Fe thus affects the interplanar ferromagnetic order of pyrochlore-lattice and balances the normal phonon effect successively on heating. Superior corrosion resistance to both acid and alkaline conditions merits potential applications of the present ZTE metal.
Small mammals in a biodiversity hotspot harbor viruses of emergence risk
Authors: Feng Yun , Kuang Guopeng , Pan Yuanfei , Wang Jing , Yang Weihong , Wu Wei-chen , Pan Hong , Wang Juan , Han Xi , Yang Lifen , Xin Gen-yang , Shan Yong-tao , yu Gou Qin- , Liu Xue , Guo Deyin , Liang Guodong , Holmes Edward C , Gao Zihou , Shi Mang
Published: December 2024

Metagenomic sequencing has transformed the understanding of viral diversity in wildlife and the potential threats these viruses pose to human health. Despite this progress, such sequencing studies often have lacked systematic and ecologically informed sampling, thereby likely missing many potential human pathogens and the drivers behind their ecology, evolution and emergence. We conducted an extensive search for viruses in the lungs, spleens, and guts of 1,688 mammals from 38 species across 428 sites in Yunnan Province, China—a hotspot for zoonoses emergence. We identified 162 mammalian viruses, including 102 new ones and 24 posing potential risks to humans due to their relationships with known human pathogens associated with serious diseases or their ability to cross major host species barriers. Our findings offer an in-depth view of virus organotropism, cross-host associations, host sharing patterns, and the ecological factors influencing viral evolution, all of which are critical for anticipating and mitigating future zoonotic outbreaks.
Right-Wing Extremism in Capitalism: Adorno’s Sociological Project
Authors: Benzer Matthias , Krause Juljan
Published: December 2024

This chapter engages with a range of Theodor W. Adorno’s contributions to sociology to draw attention to his reflections on the key components of sociological research. It highlights his advocacy of empirical investigations, his warnings of the limitations of empirical research, his corresponding insistence—in opposition to strict empiricism and positivism—on the interpretation of particular phenomena in relation to the social whole, and his development of a concept of society with reference to the writings of Max Weber, Émile Durkheim, Karl Marx, and Auguste Comte. The chapter then proceeds to discuss Adorno’s sociological examinations of racism, elements of fascist thought, and right-wing extremism in capitalism, which were shaped by his encounter with Karl Mannheim’s sociology. Adorno argues that the problems at the center of these examinations thrive in the social conditions of capitalism. Simultaneously, he warns that although those phenomena can aid the preservation of the capitalist order, they also pose a threat to it and possibly to the human species per se. The chapter follows Adorno’s inquiries in this area to illustrate the major components that he ascribes to sociology. Adorno’s sociological endeavors have retained their ability to animate and offer direction to sociological work in the present-day.
Industry Emergence Between Technology and Zeitgeist
Authors: Tumasjan Andranik
Published: December 2024

This chapter examines the dynamics of industry emergence using the case of the blockchain and crypto (BC) industry. The BC industry is a rapidly developing field that has—in less than a decade—transformed from initially being a volunteer project of a small group of cypherpunks to a global industry with a plethora of actors involving vivid entrepreneurial and corporate activity. Importantly, the review of the extant literature and evidence reveals that ideological driving forces, which have been neglected in prior industry emergence research, constitute a major catalyst of this rapid industry development. In this vein, the chapter shows that the ideological notion of ‘decentralization’ has strongly contributed to the BC industry’s rapid growth by matching the zeitgeist in times of financial crises with increasing centralization by large digital platforms.
Global Climate Realism in Blue Modern Europe
Authors: Barcz Anna
Published: December 2024

This chapter explores the concept of global climate realism through the lens of river flood narratives. It begins by situating realism within the environmental humanities and briefly examining its global cultural context. The chapter then investigates the specific, “weird” form of climate realism that can be found in river flood narratives across different regions of the world, with a focus on how narratives of modern European river floods contribute to the broader global history of climate realism. Central to this discussion is an analysis of the river flood narrative in the novella The Willows (1907) by English writer Algernon Blackwood, a text that vividly portrays the Danube River as a monstrous, animated being. This portrayal challenges traditional anthropocentric perspectives and introduces a unique form of blue climate realism that lacks significant parallels in modern European culture. The methodological approach involves close reading and interpretation through using animistic categories and discussing the poetics of monstrous rivers. As a result, the case study of The Willows has broader implications for understanding how climate realism, as reflected in river flood narratives, contributes to our comprehension of blue global climate change. This chapter offers insights for both literary studies and environmental humanities. In sum, this chapter situates the Danube’s monstrous narrative within a global context, enhancing the discussion of global climate realism beyond the Eurocentric constraints of modern knowledge.
Body and Soul in Italian Romanticism
Authors: Luzzi Joseph
Published: December 2024

This chapter explores the dialogue between the principles of Christianity and political economy in Alessandro Manzoni’s writing, especially I promessi sposi (The Betrothed), which was first published in 1827 and is often called Italy’s first “modern” novel. After tracing Manzoni’s relation to the origins of Italian political economy in the Enlightenment, the chapter explores his ideas on the relation between Christianity and political economy in “Lettera sul romanticismo” (“Letter on Romanticism,” written in 1823, published in 1846), a philosophical inquiry into the nature of the Romantic movement. The essay then shows how this infusion of religion into economic thought in the “Letter on Romanticism” also shapes Manzoni’s representation of economic inequality and class division in The Betrothed. An overall goal of the essay is to connect Manzoni’s unusual views on political economy to the exceptional nature of Italian Romanticism itself, a movement that was widely known in Italy because of the heated literary polemics that surrounded it, yet which failed to have a significant impact on broader European culture. This anomalous nature of Italian Romanticism is discussed in the context of its open rejection by two authors who, along with Manzoni, are considered to be the greatest in early-nineteenth-century Italian literature: Ugo Foscolo and Giacomo Leopardi.
Emotions in Migration Studies
Authors: Pace Michelle
Published: December 2024

The migration experience often necessitates analysis of host societies’ immigration policies. This frequently leads to a focus on this experience’s legal, political, economic, and social aspects. Yet, more recently, the field of emotions and migration has brought into social research the role that emotions play in the entangled relations between actors involved along the way. Inspired by these extant debates on “emotions on the move,” this chapter highlights the ways in which the prism of emotions can shed light on how migrants themselves emotionally process and make sense of what is happening to them along their migratory route. It showcases the relevance of emotions in migration studies through a nuanced analysis of conceptual and methodological approaches in this field. Empirically, it draws upon the case of Denmark to elucidate the role emotions play in the country’s migration regime. It concludes by summing up this state of the art as well as limitations therein.
States-As-Groups and State Emotions
Authors: Sasley Brent E.
Published: December 2024

Emotions and affects are not just individual experiences. When similar emotions and affects occur across many individuals who are connected through social interaction, those individual-based emotions become social emotions, even across large social groups such as states, allowing us to theorize about state emotions. Emotions research in international relations (IR) has adopted one of three approaches to explain state emotions. States can be studied as a single, unitary “person”; they can be studied through an analysis of their leaders; or they can be studied as a social group. This chapter adopts the third approach. Drawing on social psychology, it uses intergroup emotions theory (IET) to explore the development of state emotions. It adapts IET to the IR context and provides an illustrative case study, Israel.
Investigation of Kaonic Atom Optical Potential by the High-Precision Data of Kaonic 3He and 4He Atoms
Authors: Yamagata-Sekihara J , Iizawa Y , Jido D , Ikeno N , Hashimoto T , Okada S , Hirenzaki S
Published: December 2024

We investigate kaonic atom optical potentials of $^3$He and $^4$He phenomenologically based on the latest high-precision data of the $2p$ states of the kaonic atoms in helium (J-PARC E62). We consider a simple phenomenological form for the optical potential proportional to the nuclear density distributions and clarify the meanings and implications of the data by determining the potential parameters using the latest data. We find two sets of potential parameters for each of $K^--^3$He and $K^--^4$He that reproduce the data. We then extract the potential parameters consistent with the data of $^3$He and $^4$He atoms simultaneously. We report the possible strong isospin dependence of the potential, and the different strength of the data of $K^--^3$He and $K^--^4$He in the restrictions on the potential parameters. We mention that the study of the $1s$ states of the kaonic helium atom is very interesting as a next step. Observing these states could provide valuable information on potential parameters and kaonic nuclear s states because of the mutual influence between the atomic and the nuclear states of kaons with the same orbital angular momentum.
40 Hz visual stimulation during sleep evokes neuronal gamma activity in NREM and REM stages
Authors: Hainke Laura , Dowsett James , Spitschan Manuel , Priller Josef
Published: December 2024

Study Objectives

Visual stimulation (VS) at 40 Hz is being tested as a non-invasive approach against dementias such as Alzheimer’s disease. Applying it during sleep could increase the convenience, duration, and efficacy of stimulation. Here, we tested the feasibility of 40 Hz VS during sleep in a proof-of-concept study.

Methods

Thirty healthy participants underwent one control and one experimental night of polysomnography at the sleep laboratory. 40 Hz VS was delivered in wakefulness (W), NREM sleep stages 2 and 3, and REM sleep.

Results

As expected, 40 Hz EEG spectral power was increased in all four stages in the experimental condition, compared to control. It was highest in W and similar across NREM 2, NREM 3, and REM, with large and medium effect sizes, respectively. Steady-state visually evoked potential (SSVEP) analyses in the time domain confirmed the specificity of the effect. Secondary analyses revealed that the intervention did not impair objective and subjective sleep quality beyond the first-night effect.

Conclusions

40 Hz VS during sleep effectively evoked neuronal gamma activity at stimulation frequency without degrading sleep quality, supporting the feasibility of this approach. These findings lay the groundwork for optimizing gamma-band sensory stimulation as a tool to causally study cognitive functions and as a scalable, non-invasive intervention against dementias.
Memory updating in dreams
Authors: Wamsley Erin J , Trost Tempest , Tucker Matthew
Published: December 2024

Robert Stickgold’s research was among the earliest to rigorously quantify the effect of learning on dream content. As a result, we learned that dreaming is influenced by the activation of newly formed memory traces in the sleeping brain. Exactly how this happens is an ongoing area of investigation. Here, we test the hypothesis that participants are especially likely to dream of recent experiences, which overlap with well-established semantic networks. We created an artificial situation in which participants encountered new information about a person with which they have extensive past experience—a favorite celebrity. We tracked the effect of novel information about a favorite celebrity on participants’ dream content across 3 consecutive nights and queried participants about other recent and remote memory sources of their dreams. While the celebrity manipulation failed to affect dream content, this dataset provides rich descriptive information about how recent and remote memory fragments are incorporated into dreams, and how multiple memory sources combine to create bizarre, imaginative scenarios. We discuss these observations in light of the proposed “memory updating” function of sleep-dependent memory consolidation, as well as Stickgold and Zadra’s NEXTUP (Network Exploration to Understand Possibilities) model of dreaming. This paper is part of the Festschrift in honor of Dr Robert Stickgold.
Protective effects of quercetin against tongue injury and oxidative stress triggered by irinotecan: a histopathological, biochemical and molecular study
Authors: Faruk Eman Mohamed , Ibrahim Fatma , Hassan Mahmoud M , Kamal Kamal M , Hassan Dina Allam Abdelmaksoud , Awwad Ayat Abu-elnasr , Taha Neama Mahmoud , Hablas Mohamed Ghazy Attia , Zaazaa Ahmed Mohammed , Ibrahim Mai Hassan
Published: December 2024

Introduction

About 80% of patients receiving chemotherapeutics suffer from side effects related to the gastrointestinal tract. Irinotecan (CPT-11) is a chemotherapeutic agent usually used in treating solid tumors. Quercetin (QRT), a bioflavonoid, is an antioxidant and scavenger reactive oxygen species scavenger.

Objective

The current study explored the possible protective effects of QRT against mucosal tongue injury caused by CPT-11.

Methods

The study included four equal groups: group 1/control, group 2/QRT, group 3/CPT-11, and group 4/CPT-11 + QRT.

Results

CPT-11-induced tongue injury in the form of non-healed ulcers, absent lingual papillae, mononuclear cells infiltration, marked deposition of collagen fibers, and overexpression of CD86 and tumor necrosis factor- α (TNF-α). The increased malondialdehyde levels, decreased superoxide dismutase and total antioxidant capacity revealed that there was an oxidative stress. Also, there was a decreased countenance of Ki-67 and Bcl-2 and an increased countenance of NF-κB. The QRT-treated group showed complete ulcer healing, with histological features almost like the control group, along with minimal collagen fiber deposition, decreased reactivity to CD86 and TNF-α and improvement of oxidative stress status and the molecular study results as well.

Conclusion

QRT possess protective properties against CPT-11-triggered tongue injury.
Role of IL-6, TNF-α and VCAM-1 as predictors of renal impairment in patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis
Authors: El Raziky Maissa , Rashwan Mennatallah , Tamim Hend Hamed , Afify Shimaa , Lithy Rania M
Published: December 2024

Background

Multiple mechanisms may contribute to the occurrence of renal impairment (RI) in patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP). One such mechanism is systemic inflammatory response syndrome, which involves the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumour necrosis factor [TNF]-α, interleukin [IL]-6 and vascular cell adhesion molecule [VCAM]-1). The goal of this research was to evaluate the role of IL-6, TNF-α and VCAM-1 as potential predictors of RI and mortality in cirrhotic patients with SBP.

Methods

This study included 90 cirrhotic patients with SBP, divided into two equal groups: group A was patients without RI and group B was patients with RI. Based on mortality outcomes, the patients were further categorized into group 1 (recovery, n=70) and group 2 (death, n=20). TNF-α, IL-6 and VCAM-1 serum levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results

RI occurred in 50% (45/90) of the study population. Among the 90 patients, 10 (11.1%) had elevated IL-6 levels, 8 (8.9%) had elevated TNF-α levels and 6 (6.7%) had elevated VCAM-1 levels. There were no significant variations in cytokine levels between groups A and B. With an area under the curve of 0.5, the three cytokines showed comparable sensitivity and specificity as predictors of RI.

Conclusions

The use of TNF-α, IL-6 and VCAM-1 as predictive markers for RI and mortality in SBP patients is not recommended, as these biomarkers demonstrated limited diagnostic value.
Interrelationships among age, time horizons, and uncertainty: emotional experiences and workplace learning
Authors: Growney Claire M , Chu Li , Carstensen Laura L
Published: December 2024

The present study examines interrelationships among age, time horizons, and uncertainty and how they influence preferences for work tasks. We tested hypotheses that were grounded in socioemotional selectivity theory about the role of uncertainty in age differences in work task preferences. The study included 213 participants who were full-time workers aged 25–76 years. Consistent with previous findings, both older ages and shorter occupational time horizons were associated with preferences for emotionally meaningful work tasks over career-advancing tasks. Uncertainty about work was unrelated to work preferences in younger and middle-aged workers, but work uncertainty in older workers was associated with a reduced motivation for emotionally meaningful work. These findings suggest that workplace uncertainty could potentially reduce age-related prosociality at work. Findings make theoretical and applied contributions to the understanding of age-diverse occupational settings.
How Chatbots Respond to NCLEX-RN Practice Questions
Authors: García-Rudolph Alejandro , Sanchez-Pinsach David , Caridad Fernandez Mira , Cunyat Sandra , Opisso Eloy , Hernandez-Pena Elena
Published: December 2024

ChatGPT often “hallucinates” or misleads, underscoring the need for formal validation at the professional level for reliable use in nursing education. We evaluated two free chatbots (Google Gemini and GPT-3.5) and a commercial version (GPT-4) on 250 standardized questions from a simulated nursing licensure exam, which closely matches the content and complexity of the actual exam. Gemini achieved 73.2 percent (183/250), GPT-3.5 achieved 72 percent (180/250), and GPT-4 reached a notably higher performance with 92.4 percent (231/250). GPT-4 exhibited its highest error rate (13.3%) in the psychosocial integrity category.