bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Examining the impact of a strength-based program to enhance teacher-trainees’ critical thinking abilities: a pilot study
Authors: Nair Divya Surendran , Bhandare Seema
Published: March 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to examine how well a strength-based program grounded in positive psychology principles can advance the practical critical thinking skills of those pursuing the teacher training course.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used a single-group pre-test post-test design with 35 teacher-trainees from the Bachelor of Education course. The two-and-a-half-week strength-based program used the values in action survey to identify strengths. Pre- and post-test scores, measured with the Cornell Critical Thinking Test – Level Z, underwent Statistical Package for Social Sciences analysis including paired samples t-test for subcomponent and overall composite analysis.

Findings

Analysis of the pre- and post-test scores demonstrated a statistical significance in the critical thinking scores obtained by the teacher-trainees. Post-test scores were consistently significant. Out of the elements of critical thinking, induction, meaning, observation and credibility were more prominent. Deduction and assumption identification were also having a significant effect.

Originality/value

Most critical thinking programs focus on evaluating specific teaching methods for improving critical thinking skills. In education, positive psychology studies often center on students’ well-being, attention spans and academic success, aligning with wellness programs. Despite the importance of strengths in positive psychology, there is a lack of research on using a strength-based approach to boost critical thinking skills. This study aims to enhance teacher-trainees’ critical thinking by leveraging their individual strengths, moving away from traditional instructional strategies.
Business tourism: a bibliometric visualization review (1994–2023)
Authors: Liu Jing , Mai Huiwen , Zhao Xinyuan , Zhou Zhirui
Published: March 2024

Purpose

The advent of the postpandemic era has brought renewed attention to the development of business tourism. However, the existing research on business tourism is fragmented, and there are gaps in the current understanding of the subject. This study aims to identify the intellectual structures, current hotspots and research directions in the business tourism field from 1994 to 2023.

Design/methodology/approach

A bibliometric visual analysis using VOSviewer was conducted to assimilate the available knowledge from 136 business tourism-related articles collected in the WoS Core Collection database between 1994 and 2023.

Findings

The results indicate that the number of business tourism-related research fluctuates, but the overall trend is gradually increasing. It synthesizes four main research themes, which are tourist behavior, destination marketing, information technology and work-family interferences of business travelers.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is among the first to systematically review business tourism publications over the past 29 years. It assists scholars in gaining a more comprehensive understanding of business tourism research and informs future research directions.
The BBC World Service: is it Waving or Drowning?
Authors: Webb Alban
Published: March 2024

‘Global Britain’ is as much a governing instinct as it is a statement of current policy: an idea that animates the United Kingdom's international relations. And for nine decades the BBC World Service, Britain's principal agent of public diplomacy, has been its exemplar. With a reputation as a trusted source of reliable news in over forty languages, the international BBC sustains a global capacity for intercultural dialogue founded on evidence‐based journalism. At a time when digital media are rewriting the strategic communications playbook and reorganising our knowledge practices and behaviours, the BBC maintains a vital link between Britain and a transnational community of close to half a billion users. Yet, despite these evident strengths, recent confusion over the organisation and funding of the World Service means that its long‐term future is in doubt. This article asks how and why it has come to this and what might be done to preserve the journalistic integrity and ‘soft power’ of the BBC World Service.
Introduction: Where Next for Public Service Broadcasting?
Authors: Franks Suzanne , Seaton Jean
Published: March 2024

Good quality information is a public utility: the rich and powerful will always have access to what they need to know, but poor people do not. Indeed, increasing inequalities in access to decent information underlie other more obvious inequalities. Bad information does not respect borders and yet democracy depends on informed citizens. The case for public intervention in what used to be called broadcasting, now including digital media—but which needs to be thought of as a public information space—is at a tipping point. This collection of essays sets out these vital challenges and offers some innovative solutions.
The effects of sucrose/NaCl combined pickling on the textural characteristics, moisture distribution, and protein aggregation behavior of egg yolk
Authors: Shi Manqi , Zeng Qi , Hu Xiaoxian , Jin Haobo , Lv Xiaohui , Ma Jiaxuan , Chen Rong , Jin Yongguo
Published: March 2024

Salted egg yolks have a tender, loose, gritty, and oily texture and are commonly employed as fillings in baked goods. This study investigated the formation mechanism of egg yolk gels using three different pickling methods: NaCl, sucrose, and mixed groups. The results revealed that of these pickling methods, egg yolks pickled with the mixture had the lowest moisture content (11.59% at 25°C and 10.21% at 45°C), almost no free water content, and the highest hardness (19.11 N at 25°C and 31.01 N at 45°C). Intermolecular force measurements indicated that pickling with the mixture mitigated the surface hardening effect of sucrose and facilitated protein cross‐linking. Moreover, confocal laser scanning microscopy of the egg yolk gels pickled with the mixture displayed macromolecular aggregates and oil exudation, suggesting that this method partially disrupted the lipoprotein structure and notably promoted yolk protein aggregation and lipid release. Overall, egg yolks formed a dense gel via the mixed pickling method owing to the ionic concentration and dehydration effects. These findings show the impact of NaCl and sucrose in pickling egg yolks, providing a crucial foundation for developing innovative and desirable egg yolk products.

Practical Application

This study introduces a novel pickling strategy that combines sucrose and NaCl for egg yolk processing. The egg yolk pickled using this method exhibited improved quality according to the evaluated textural characteristics, moisture distribution, and protein aggregation behavior. The findings may broaden the use of sucrose as a pickling agent for egg yolk processing and provide new ideas for developing and producing pickled eggs and other food products.
Currencies and culture: An amusing journey into the impacts of exchange rates on global creative industries
Authors: Baorui Shao , Zhiyuan Zhang , Zhao Li
Published: March 2024

This paper examines the impact of exchange rate changes on cultural services trade balances in China, Japan, the United States, United Kingdom, France, and Germany from 2006 to 2015. These six countries represent dominant players whose experiences reflect global impacts. Autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) models test for J‐curve effects. Cultural distance matrices combined with cluster analysis explore how cultural proximity influences trade structures. Results demonstrate a J‐curve effect in China contrasting with a reverse J‐curve in the United States. China and Japan form one cultural trade cluster distinct from a Western bloc of the United States, United Kingdom, and France. This signifies emerging economies have developed unique cultural trade models. The research enriches empirical evidence on exchange rate impacts for understudied cultural services trade. Introducing cultural distance provides a novel perspective and policy insights for emerging economies.
Comparison of different organic selenium supplementations on selenium status and serum biomarkers in dairy cows
Authors: Yang Jinhui , Qian Wentao , Li Hongliang , Wang Menghui , Wei Xiaojun , Li Mingqi , Liu Yang
Published: March 2024

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of two different organic selenium (Se) supplements, selenomethionine (Se‐Met) and selenohomolanthionine (Se‐Hlan), on the serum biochemical parameters and Se status of dairy cows. Different dietary Se supplementation treatments were set as follows: a control group (CON, adding sodium selenite at 0.3 mg Se/kg dry matter [DM]), 0.3 and 0.5 Se‐Met (adding Se‐Met at 0.3 and 0.5 mg Se/kg DM, respectively), as well as 0.3 and 0.5 Se‐Hlan (adding Se‐Hlan at 0.3 and 0.5 mg Se/kg DM, respectively). The experiment lasted 8 weeks. The serum measurements showed that both organic Se treatments resulted in higher uric acid than CON. Se‐Met produced higher aspartate aminotransferase, glucose, urea, low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, and lactate dehydrogenase than Se‐Hlan. Regarding the Se status, the highest milk Se values appeared in 0.5 Se‐Met, with intermediate values in 0.3 Se‐Met and 0.5 Se‐Hlan, whereas the highest and lowest serum Se levels were presented in 0.5 Se‐Met and 0.3 Se‐Hlan, respectively. Our results suggest that Se‐Hlan was not as efficient in boosting serum or milk Se as Se‐Met and differences in serum biomarkers between Se‐Met and Se‐Hlan may be associated with distinct metabolic pathways for different forms of organic Se.
Can a “broken heart” successfully be transplanted? A brief report
Authors: Giovannico Lorenzo , Fischetti Giuseppe , Mazzone Federica , Parigino Domenico , Savino Luca , Santeramo Vincenzo , Silva Aline Maria , di Bari Nicola , Acquaviva Tommaso , Fiore Giuseppe , Milano Aldo Domenico , Bottio Tomaso
Published: March 2024

A 59‐year‐old woman, with dilated ischemic cardiomyopathy, was urgently admitted to our Intensive Care Unit for cardiogenic shock. ECMO VA was implanted and placed on the national emergency waitlist for transplantation. A potential donation was identified ten days later. The donor was a 58‐year‐old woman, with no cardiovascular risk factors, had died of a rupture of a cerebral aneurysm with left ventricle dysfunction due to Takotsubo syndrome. Brain injuries such as hemorrhage, trauma and stroke have been extensively documented in literature to cause a surge in stress hormones, such as catecholamines. Such a surge can have a direct effect on the heart, resulting in a transient myocardial dysfunction commonly referred to as “Takotsubo cardiomyopathy” or “broken heart syndrome”.

Many studies have shown that hearts that are dysfunctional at the start of transplant screening, with normal contractile function at the time of organ retrieval, have similar outcomes to hearts that do not have dysfunction. In our case, the transplanted heart, at the time of sampling, still had moderate dysfunction (EF 40%) which completely disappeared after the transplant.
CAR T therapy from haematological malignancies to aging‐related diseases: An ever‐expanding universe
Authors: Ramoni Davide , Montecucco Fabrizio , Carbone Federico
Published: March 2024

Background

Short but impactful, the two‐decade story of gene editing allowed a significant breakthrough in the treatment of haematological malignancies. However, despite different generations of chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR T), such a successful therapy has not yet been replicated in solid tumours and non‐oncological diseases.

Methods

This narrative review discusses how CAR T therapy still faces challenges in overcoming the complexity of the solid tumour microenvironment and the concerns that its long‐term activity raises about potential unknown and unpredictable consequences in non‐oncological diseases.

Results

In the most recent studies, the senolytic potential of CAR T is becoming an exciting field of research. Still, experimental but promising results indeed indicate the clearance of senescent cells as an effective strategy to improve exercise capacity and metabolic dysfunction in physiological ageing, with long‐term therapeutic and preventive effects. However, an effective expansion of a CAR T population requires a lympho‐depleting chemotherapy prior to infusion. While this procedure sounds reasonable for rescue therapy of oncological diseases, it poses genotoxic risks that may not be justified for non‐malignant diseases. Those represent the leading gaps for applying CAR T therapy in non‐oncological diseases.

Conclusion

More is expected from current studies on the other classes of CAR cells now under investigation. Engineering NK cells and macrophages are candidates to improve cytotoxic and immunomodulating properties, potentially able to broaden application in solid tumours and non‐oncological diseases. Finally, engineering autologous T cells in old individuals may generate biologically deteriorated CAR T clones with impaired function and unpredictable effects on cytokine release.
Patch exploitation behaviour by a parasitoid of a forest pest: The influence of host cues and intra‐ and interspecific interactions
Authors: Suans Melisa A. , Fischbein Déborah , Corley Juan C.
Published: March 2024

For parasitoids, host foraging is the most significant activity for their reproductive success, as it directly translates into offspring production. Therefore, foraging behaviour and patch‐use decisions by parasitoids still attract research interest, especially when the studied species are biological control agents.

In laboratory conditions, we studied the patch exploitation behaviour of Megarhyssa nortoni (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae), a larval–pupal parasitoid of several woodwasps (Hymenoptera: Siricidae), exposed to intra‐ and interspecific interactions.

It is known that M. nortoni females are attracted to the symbiotic fungus carried by its hosts, which support host larval development inside the wood. Additionally, in the introduced range where the species has been released in biocontrol programs aimed at managing invasive Sirex noctilio populations, Megarhyssa nortoni coexists with the egg–larval parasitoid Ibalia leucospoides.

First, we investigated whether host–fungal symbiont cues and direct presence of conspecific females affected patch time allocation and oviposition behaviour of M. nortoni, as both stimuli could provide information on concealed hosts. Second, we studied the influence of prior parasitism by I. leucospoides on patch time allocation decisions and oviposition behaviour.

The main results showed that females modulated their responses to the fungal cues when foraging simultaneously with conspecifics. Also, patch‐leaving tendencies and patch residence times were not affected when females foraged patches previously exploited by I. leucospoides; indeed, they probed these patches more frequently.

Our study contributes to the understanding of patch‐use decisions made by parasitoids and their impact on the biological control of damaging insect populations, particularly in a context of two parasitoid species and one host.
Thermal limits of survival and reproduction depend on stress duration: A case study of Drosophila suzukii
Authors: Ørsted Michael , Willot Quentin , Olsen Andreas Kirk , Kongsgaard Viktor , Overgaard Johannes
Published: March 2024

Studies of ectotherm responses to heat extremes often rely on assessing absolute critical limits for heat coma or death (CTmax), however, such single parameter metrics ignore the importance of stress exposure duration. Furthermore, population persistence may be affected at temperatures considerably below CTmax through decreased reproductive output. Here we investigate the relationship between tolerance duration and severity of heat stress across three ecologically relevant life‐history traits (productivity, coma and mortality) using the global agricultural pest Drosophila suzukii. For the first time, we show that for sublethal reproductive traits, tolerance duration decreases exponentially with increasing temperature (R2 > 0.97), thereby extending the Thermal Death Time framework recently developed for mortality and coma. Using field micro‐environmental temperatures, we show how thermal stress can lead to considerable reproductive loss at temperatures with limited heat mortality highlighting the importance of including limits to reproductive performance in ecological studies of heat stress vulnerability.
Classification of recombinant factor VIII products and implications for clinical practice: A systematic literature review
Authors: Ay Cihan , Napolitano Mariasanta , Hassoun Abel , Tomic Radovan , Martin Cedric , Seifert Wilfried , Pinachyan Karen , Oldenburg Johannes
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Consensus over the definition of recombinant factor VIII (rFVIII) product classification in haemophilia A is lacking. rFVIII products are often classified as standard half‐life (SHL) or extended half‐life (EHL); despite this, no universally accepted definition currently exists. One proposed definition includes half‐life, area under the curve, and technology designed to extend half‐life; however, the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis defines activity over time as the most intuitive information for building treatment regimens and the World Federation of Hemophilia describes rFVIII product classification in terms of infusion frequency.

Aim

To summarise published data on the clinical and pharmacokinetic criteria used to define rFVIII product classification.

Methods

PubMed and EMBASE database searches of English‐language articles (2002–2022) were conducted using search strings to identify the relevant population, intervention, and outcomes (e.g., clinical and pharmacokinetic parameters). Articles then underwent title/abstract and full‐text screens.

Results

Among 1147 identified articles, 62 were included. Half‐life was the most widely reported outcome with no clear trends or product groupings observed. No clear groupings emerged among other outcomes, including infusion frequency, consumption, and efficacy. As activity over time was reported in few articles, further investigation of its relevance to rFVIII product classification is warranted.

Conclusion

The findings of this systematic literature review suggest that parameters other than half‐life might be important for the development of a comprehensive and clinically relevant rFVIII product classification definition. There seems to be an opportunity to consider parameters that are clinically meaningful and useful for shared decision‐making in haemophilia A treatment.
Inhibitory effect of ginger juice on the formation of advanced glycation end products in fried fish cakes
Authors: Gao Yanlei , Shi Haonan , Xiong Qing , Rong Jianhua , Liu Ru
Published: March 2024

The impact of different ginger juice ratios on the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in fried fish cakes was examined. The consequences confirmed that the AGEs mainly gathered in the crust layer. Ginger juice has a good oil‐reducing and water‐retaining effect on fried cakes. Ginger juice demonstrated a remarkable capacity to diminish the AGEs content, particularly when utilised at a ratio of 5%. It led to a decrease of around 20% in the fat content and 11% in the thiobarbituric acid (TBARS) value for the crust. Meanwhile, when incorporating 5% ginger juice into cakes, an improvement in sensory attributes, a compact microstructure, elevated moisture levels and reduced pH values was observed. Therefore, the addition of an appropriate amount of ginger juice could efficiently inhibit the generation of AGEs, all the while preserving the exceptional characteristics and sensory attributes of fried cakes.
Cumulative environmental stress and emerging cardiometabolic risk during childhood
Authors: Kunin‐Batson Alicia S. , Haapala Jacob , Crain A. Lauren , Gunnar Megan R. , Kharbanda Elyse O. , Kelly Aaron S. , Seburg Elisabeth M. , Sherwood Nancy E. , French Simone A.
Published: March 2024

Objective

To prospectively evaluate the relationship between cumulative environmental stress and cardiometabolic risk in middle childhood, and to examine whether hair cortisol, a measure of hypothalamic pituitary adrenal‐axis activity, mediates this relationship.

Methods

In a cohort of children from low‐income households (n = 320; 59% Hispanic, 23% Black, body mass index (BMI) percentile >50th at enrollment), environmental stressors including family and neighbourhood factors representing disadvantage/deprivation, and cortisol concentrations from hair samples, were measured over five timepoints beginning when children were 2–4 years old. Cardiometabolic risk factors (i.e., BMI, blood pressure, lipids, blood sugar, C‐reactive protein) were measured at the final timepoint when children were 7–11 years of age.

Results

In adjusted logistic regression models, greater cumulative environmental stress was associated with a higher likelihood of elevated cardiometabolic risk in middle childhood (p = 0.01). Children from minoritized racial/ethnic groups had a higher prevalence of both stressors and cardiometabolic risk factors. Cumulative environmental stress was associated with higher hair cortisol concentrations (p < 0.01). However, hair cortisol was not directly associated with cardiometabolic risk factors and did not explain the association between environmental stress and cardiometabolic risk in causal mediation analysis.

Conclusions

The influence of cumulative stress on cardiometabolic health can be observed in middle childhood and may contribute to cardiometabolic health disparities, highlighting the importance of public health interventions to mitigate disadvantage.
RNAi‐mediated knockdown of exportin 1 negatively affected ovary development, survival and maize mosaic virus accumulation in its insect vector Peregrinus maidis
Authors: Xavier Cesar A. D. , Tyson Clara , Kerner Leo M. , Whitfield Anna E.
Published: March 2024

Exportin 1 (XPO1) is the major karyopherin‐β nuclear receptor mediating the nuclear export of hundreds of proteins and some classes of RNA and regulates several critical processes in the cell, including cell‐cycle progression, transcription and translation. Viruses have co‐opted XPO1 to promote nucleocytoplasmic transport of viral proteins and RNA. Maize mosaic virus (MMV) is a plant‐infecting rhabdovirus transmitted in a circulative propagative manner by the corn planthopper, Peregrinus maidis. MMV replicates in the nucleus of plant and insect hosts, and it remains unknown whether MMV co‐opts P. maidis XPO1 (PmXPO1) to complete its life cycle. Because XPO1 plays multiple regulatory roles in cell functions and virus infection, we hypothesized that RNAi‐mediated silencing of XPO1 would negatively affect MMV accumulation and insect physiology. Although PmXPO1 expression was not modulated during MMV infection, PmXPO1 knockdown negatively affected MMV accumulation in P. maidis at 12 and 15 days after microinjection. Likewise, PmXPO1 knockdown negatively affected P. maidis survival and reproduction. PmXPO1 exhibited tissue‐specific expression patterns with higher expression in the ovaries compared with the guts of adult females. Survival rate was significantly lower for PmXPO1 knockdown females, compared with controls, but no effect was observed for males. PmXPO1 knockdown experiments revealed a role for PmXPO1 in ovary function and egg production. Oviposition and egg hatch on plants were dramatically reduced in females treated with dsRNA PmXPO1. These results suggest that PmXPO1 is a positive regulator of P. maidis reproduction and that it plays a proviral role in the insect vector supporting MMV infection.
Expanding records of occurrence of the whale shark (Rhincodon typus) in The Bahamas and a call for sustainable tourism practices
Authors: Wosnick Natascha , Schneider Eric V. C.
Published: March 2024

This report updates our understanding of whale shark occurrences in The Bahamas by drawing upon a variety of data sources. Our findings reveal previously unreported sighting locations, often associated with tourism activities, underscoring the pivotal role played by nontraditional data sources in addressing knowledge gaps. These revelations emphasize the ongoing necessity for monitoring efforts. Additionally, we have found cases that raise concerns related to unregulated human–shark interactions in the region, highlighting the pressing need for sustainable tourism practices within Bahamian waters.
V‐EMF therapy: A new painless and completely non‐invasive treatment for striae gravidarum
Authors: Veronese Sheila , Bacci Pier Antonio , Garcia‐Gimenez Victor , Canel Micheloud Casiana Cecilia , Haro García Norma Laura , Sbarbati Andrea
Published: March 2024

Background

The appearance of striae gravidarum (SG) during pregnancy is a common problem. The most common SG are abdominal striae, which can cause the greatest sequelae after pregnancy, and in the long term. There are several solutions to prevent and treat these striae, but not all are completely effective, and not without side effects.

Aims

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a treatment that applies an electromagnetic field under vacuum (V‐EMF therapy) on the abdominal SG.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was conducted on the medical records of 26 women affected by abdominal SG and treated with V‐EMF therapy. The results were evaluated using two different 5‐point Likert Scales: one administered to the treated subjects to evaluate their satisfaction, and one to the doctors who performed the treatment, to evaluate the improvement of the striae. The presence of side effects, and the effects of sun exposure after treatment were also considered.

Results

Only two treated subjects rated their level of satisfaction with a Score III on the Liker Scale. Everyone else expressed higher levels of satisfaction. Only one doctor rated the improvement of the striae with a Liker scale score of III. All the others reported greater improvements. No discomfort or side effects were noted either during the individual treatment sessions, or at the end of the treatment. The striae showed a newfound ability to tan.

Conclusions

V‐EMF therapy proves to be a valid, safe, and effective treatment modality for SG.
3‐methyl‐1H‐indol‐1‐yl dimethylcarbamodithioate attenuates periodontitis through targeting MAPK signaling pathway‐regulated mitochondrial function
Authors: Jiang Yun , Ren Xuekun , Mao Jiajie , Zeng Jun , Jiang Wanying , Zhou Runqi , Han Yue , Wang Hongning , Mao Yixin , Sun Xiaoyu , Cao Zelin , Song Zengqiang , Huang Shengbin , Zhao Shufan
Published: March 2024

Periodontitis, the second most common oral disease, is primarily initiated by inflammatory responses and osteoclast differentiation, in which the MAPK signaling pathway and mitochondrial function play important roles. 3‐methyl‐1H‐indol‐1‐yl dimethylcarbamodithioate (3o), a hybrid of indole and dithiocarbamate, was first synthesized by our group. It has shown anti‐inflammatory activity against lipopolysaccharide‐induced acute lung injury. However, it is not known if 3o can exert effects in periodontitis. In vitro study: LPS‐induced macrophage inflammation initiation and a receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand‐stimulated osteoclast differentiation model were established. Cell viability, inflammatory cytokines, osteoclast differentiation, the MAPK signaling pathway, and mitochondrial function before and after treatment with 3o were investigated. In vivo study: Alveolar bone resorption, inflammatory cytokine expression, osteoclast differentiation, and the underlying mechanisms were assessed in mice with periodontitis. Inflammatory cytokine expression and osteoclast differentiation appeared downregulated after 3o treatment. 3o inhibited the MAPK signaling pathway and restored mitochondrial function, including mitochondrial reactive oxygen species, mitochondrial membrane potential, and ATP production. Meanwhile, 3o reduced inflammation activation and bone resorption in mice with periodontitis, reflected by the decreased expression of inflammatory cytokines and osteoclasts, implying that 3o inhibited the MAPK signaling pathway and the mitochondrial oxidative DNA damage marker 8‐OHdG. These results highlight the protective role of 3o in periodontitis in mice and reveal an important strategy for preventing periodontitis.
How Do Parents Choose Schools for Their Children? Experimental Evidence from the Private Christian School Sector
Authors: Lee Matthew H. , Johnson Alison , Cheng Albert
Published: March 2024

Research documents that nearly all parents of school‐aged children in the general U.S. population strongly consider academic quality when choosing a school for their children. Many of these parents also prefer a religious setting for their children's education. However, little is known about how these school characteristics affect the stated preferences of parents of children in private faith‐based schools. We conducted a conjoint experiment in which we presented 2474 parents in the private Christian school sector with three sets of three hypothetical schools, randomly varying each school's tuition level and the quality of academics, spiritual formation, and extracurricular opportunities. We found that lower quality spiritual formation and academic offerings substantially reduce the likelihood a school will be selected by about 30 percentage points. The quality of extracurricular opportunities and tuition levels influence the likelihood a school will be selected to a lesser degree—about 11 percentage points.
Event Boundaries Stretched and Compressed by Aspect: Temporal Segmentation in a First and a Second Language
Authors: Vanek Norbert , Zhang Haoruo
Published: March 2024

Event segmentation tests have shown substantial overlaps in how adults recognize starts and endpoints as events unfold. However, far less is known about what role different language systems play in the process. Variations in grammatical aspect have been shown to influence event processing. We tested how closely first language (L1) speakers of Mandarin and English versus Mandarin learners of English as a second language (L2) align event boundaries with event‐internal changes. We used two event boundary marking tasks (online/offline) and a sorting task. Participants saw 60 animations; their task was to indicate starts and endpoints. For punctual events (e.g., breaking a wall), Mandarin L1 speakers and Mandarin learners of English L2 were significantly further from event transitions than English L1 speakers. This pattern was replicated in the untimed experiment but not in sorting transitions, jointly suggesting that Mandarin L1 and Mandarin learners of English L2 may be less attentive to segmentation of phases surrounding transitions than English L1 speakers. We argue that this variation reflects L1‐specific encoding of ongoingness.
Awakening the Proto‐Lexicon: A Proto‐Lexicon Gives Learning Advantages for Intentionally Learning a Language
Authors: Mattingley Wakayo , Panther Forrest , Todd Simon , King Jeanette , Hay Jennifer , Keegan Peter J.
Published: March 2024

Previous studies report that exposure to the Māori language on a regular basis allows New Zealand adults who cannot speak Māori to build a proto‐lexicon of Māori—an implicit memory of word forms without detailed knowledge of meaning. How might this knowledge feed into explicit language learning? Is it possible to “awaken” the proto‐lexicon in the context of overt language learning? We investigate whether implicit linguistic knowledge represented in a proto‐lexicon gives any advantages for intentional language learning in a tertiary educational environment. We conducted a three‐task experiment which: (a) assessed participants’ Māori proto‐lexicon, (b) assessed their phonotactic knowledge, and (c) tested them on Māori vocabulary that they had been exposed to during the course at two time points. The results show that students with larger Māori proto‐lexicons learn more words in a classroom setting. This study shows that proto‐lexicon acquired from ambient exposure can lead to significant benefits in language learning.
Profiling learning strategies of medical students: A person‐centered approach
Authors: Otto Nils , Böckers Anja , Shiozawa Thomas , Brunk Irene , Schumann Sven , Kugelmann Daniela , Missler Markus , Darici Dogus
Published: March 2024

Background

Students within a cohort might employ unique subsets of learning strategies (LS) to study. However, little research has aimed to elucidate subgroup‐specific LS usage among medical students. Recent methodological developments, particularly person‐centred approaches such as latent profile analysis (LPA), offer ways to identify relevant subgroups with dissimilar patterns of LS use. In this paper, we apply LPA to explore subgroups of medical students during preclinical training in anatomy and examine how these patterns are linked with learning outcomes.

Methods

We analysed the LS used by 689 undergraduate, 1st and 2nd‐year medical students across 6 German universities who completed the short version of the Learning Strategies of University Students (LIST‐K) questionnaire, and answered questions towards external criteria such as learning resources and performance. We used the thirteen different LS facets of the LIST‐K (four cognitive, three metacognitive, three management of internal and three management of external resources) as LPA indicators.

Results

Based on LPA, students can be grouped into four distinct learning profiles: Active learners (45% of the cohort), collaborative learners (17%), structured learners (29%) and passive learners (9%). Students in each of those latent profiles combine the 13 LS facets in a unique way to study anatomy. The profiles differ in both, the overall level of LS usage, and unique combinations of LS used for learning. Importantly, we find that the facets of LS show heterogeneous and subgroup‐specific correlations with relevant outcome criteria, which partly overlap but mostly diverge from effects observed on the population level.

Conclusions

The effects observed by LPA expand results from variable‐centered efforts and challenge the notion that LS operate on a linear continuum. These results highlight the heterogeneity between subgroups of learners and help generate a more nuanced interpretation of learning behaviour. Lastly, our analysis offers practical implications for educators seeking to tailor learning experiences to meet individual student needs.
The sphingolipid inhibitor myriocin increases Candida auris susceptibility to amphotericin B
Authors: Stieber Hanna , Junghanns Lara , Wilhelm Hannah , Batliner Maria , Aldejohann Alexander Maximilian , Kurzai Oliver , Martin Ronny
Published: March 2024

Background

The emergence of the pathogenic yeast Candida auris is of global concern due to its ability to cause hospital outbreaks and develop resistance against all antifungal drug classes. Based on published data for baker's yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, sphingolipid biosynthesis, which is essential for maintaining membrane fluidity and formation of lipid rafts, could offer a target for additive treatment.

Methods

We analysed the susceptibility of C. auris to myriocin, which is an inhibitor of the de novo synthesis of sphingolipids in eukaryotic cells in comparison to other Candida species. In addition, we combined sublethal concentrations of myriocin with the antifungal drugs amphotericin B and fluconazole in E‐tests. Consequently, the combinatory effects of myriocin and amphotericin B were examined in broth microdilution assays.

Results

Myriocin‐mediated inhibition of the sphingolipid biosynthesis affected the growth of C. auris. Sublethal myriocin concentrations increased fungal susceptibility to amphotericin B. Isolates which are phenotypically resistant (≥2 mg/L) to amphotericin B became susceptible in presence of myriocin. However, addition of myriocin had only limited effects onto the susceptibility of C. auris against fluconazole.

Conclusions

Our results show that inhibition of de novo sphingolipid biosynthesis increases the susceptibility of C. auris to amphotericin B. This may potentially enhance antifungal treatment options fighting this often resistant yeast pathogen.
The missing study groups: Liminality and communitas in the time of COVID‐19
Authors: Rodríguez‐Mejía Fredy R. , Briody Elizabeth K. , Copple Ethan L. , Berger Edward J.
Published: March 2024

We examine the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on teaching and learning in an Engineering School of a large US research university. We focus on the adjustment of instructors as they converted their courses to distance teaching and learning formats (e.g., virtual sessions, online forums) and on bachelor student experiences with those changes. While both instructors and students experienced liminality, the pandemic affected these groups differently. Instructors attempted to form communitas with their students by prioritizing their teaching responsibilities, increasing the accessibility of course materials, and being more available to students compared to pre‐pandemic times. However, students struggled to adapt to online learning contexts which lacked the sense of togetherness previously offered by in‐person classes, study‐groups, tutorial sessions, and communal study spaces. Unable to interact with their peers and create communitas, learning online proved to be an ineffective “solution.” Interacting with classmates and working in study groups are among the practices that can help students adjust to course delivery changes, even if it means those cultural practices go virtual. We argue that higher learning institutions, regardless of type (e.g., R1, R2, liberal arts, community colleges), should strengthen their remote teaching approaches. However, those strategies should incorporate: building strong relationships within and across roles, designing inclusive teaching and learning practices that take the contexts in which students learn into account, increasing spaces for peer‐to‐peer learning, and becoming proficient in the technologies needed to teach virtually.
Adequacy of basal metabolic rate prediction equations in individuals with severe obesity: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Campos Tatiana Almeida de Moraes , Mariz Virginia Gaissionok , Mulder Alessandra Pinheiro , Curioni Cintia Chaves , Bezerra Flávia Fioruci
Published: March 2024

The determination of energy requirements in clinical practice is based on basal metabolic rate (BMR), frequently predicted by equations that may not be suitable for individuals with severe obesity. This systematic review and meta‐analysis examined the accuracy and precision of BMR prediction equations in adults with severe obesity. Four databases were searched in March 2021 and updated in May 2023. Eligible studies compared BMR prediction equations with BMR measured by indirect calorimetry. Forty studies (age: 28–55 years, BMI: 40.0–62.4 kg/m2) were included, most of them with a high risk of bias. Studies reporting bias (difference between estimated and measured BMR) were included in the meta‐analysis (n = 20). Six equations were meta‐analyzed: Harris & Benedict (1919); WHO (weight) (1985); Owen (1986); Mifflin (1990); Bernstein (1983); and Cunningham (1980). The most accurate and precise equations in the overall analysis were WHO (−12.44 kcal/d; 95%CI: −81.4; 56.5 kcal/d) and Harris & Benedict (−18.9 kcal/d; 95%CI ‐73.2; 35.2 kcal/d). All the other equations tended to underestimate BMR. Harris & Benedict and WHO were the equations with higher accuracy and precision in predicting BMR in individuals with severe obesity. Additional analyses suggested that equations may perform differently according to obesity BMI ranges, which warrants further investigation.
The influence of everyday emotions on mucosal immunity: An intensive longitudinal modeling approach
Authors: Seizer Lennart , Löchner Johanna
Published: March 2024

Mucosal immunity is a multifaceted system of immunological responses that provides a barrier against pathogenic invasion and can be regulated by psychosocial and neuroendocrine factors. The present study aims to elucidate the association between everyday emotional states, emotion regulation skills, and mucosal immunity by utilizing an ambulatory assessment approach. 30 healthy subjects (61% male; M = 30.18 years old) completed an emotion questionnaire (PANAS) and collected saliva samples via passive drool to determine salivary immunoglobulin‐A (S‐IgA) excretion rate three times a day over a period of 1 week. In a multi‐level model, the influence of emotions on S‐IgA, both on a within‐subject and between‐subject level, was estimated. We found that most of the variation in S‐IgA (74%) was accounted for by within‐subject changes rather than stable between‐subject differences. On a within‐subject level, negative emotions had a significant positive effect on S‐IgA levels (b = 1.87, p = .015), while positive emotions had no effect. This effect of negative emotions was moderated by the individual emotion regulation skills, with higher regulation skills corresponding to smaller effects (b = −2.67, p = .046). Furthermore, S‐IgA levels decreased over the course of a day, indicating circadian rhythmicity (b = −0.13, p = .034). These results highlight the possibilities of intensive longitudinal data to investigate the covariance between psychological and immunological states over time.
The use of social media in different phases of the new product development process: a systematic literature review
Authors: Han Runyue , Brennecke Julia , Borah Dhruba , Lam Hugo K. S.
Published: March 2024

Using social media is high on the list of priorities for many firms looking to enhance their innovation performance in the different phases of the new product development (NPD) process. Mirroring this rising practical importance of using social media for NPD, scholars have presented a diverse range of perspectives and underscored the need for a systematic literature review. Accordingly, this study reviews 110 papers from 2002 to 2023, to synthesize the use of social media across three phases: discovery, development, and launch. Our analysis identifies nine NPD objectives that social media addresses and discusses challenges encountered. Building on this analysis, we develop an organizing framework to guide practitioners on how to adopt social media to achieve better NPD performance and propose directions for future research.
Cross‐clausal scrambling and subject case in Balkar: On multiple specifiers and the locality of overt and covert movement
Authors: Bondarenko Tatiana , Davis Colin
Published: March 2024

We use fieldwork data about cross‐clausal scrambling in Balkar (Turkic) to clarify the nature of movement and its constraints. Balkar has a variety of embedded nominalized clauses, with different subject cases and possibilities for movement. Clauses with nominative (nom) subjects permit cross‐clausal object extraction but not subject extraction. In contrast, clauses with accusative subjects permit both such movements, although movement of the subject is required for object extraction. Finally, clauses with genitive subjects permit only subject extraction. We argue that these facts provide evidence for the following proposals: (i) multiple specifiers are usually possible provided that tucking‐in applies; (ii) the highest of a phase's multiple specifiers is privileged for accessibility; (iii) movement is constrained by anti‐locality (a ban on short movements); and (iv) Balkar DPs do not permit multiple specifiers. These factors are intertwined informatively in Balkar, and are supported by additional facts about possessors, binding, and covert movement.
Revisiting attitudes toward English in present‐day Italy
Authors: Pulcini Virginia
Published: March 2024

English is the most popular foreign language in present‐day Italy. Most Italians believe that it is useful in the job market and a symbol of modernity, professionalism and technological advancement. Italy has been in contact with English‐speaking countries for centuries, but only after the end of World War II have the English language and Anglo‐American culture influenced Italian society in a visible way. English has transferred many loanwords into Italian, especially in the specialized terminologies of ICT, economy and finance. English buzzwords, slogans or pseudo‐English neologisms are ubiquitous in the Italian linguistic landscape. Starting from a picture of the current situation, this paper tries to outline the status of English today, considering the growing pressures of internationalization in business, education and media communication. Favourable attitudes are widespread in the younger generations, while more conservative views on the hegemony of English in Italy are held by some linguists, institutions and nationalist opinion‐makers.
John Charlton Polkinghorne, 1930–2021
Authors: Fairlie David
Published: March 2024

John Charlton Polkinghorne was very successful in two careers: as a theoretical physicist and as a theologian. As a physicist at Cambridge, he was one of the pioneers of applying complex variable theory to the study of properties of scattering amplitudes and contributed to the theory of strong (nuclear) interactions. In addition, he was a successful teacher, with many of his students gaining senior academic positions in universities. A postmaster's son from Weston‐super‐Mare, he married Ruth Martin, also a mathematics student at Cambridge. They had three children. John surprised many, apart from those who knew him closely, by resigning from his Chair at Cambridge to study for ordination in the Anglican Church. He became an influential theologian devoting much study to the interaction of science and religion. His position might be summed up in a phrase he was fond of, “God holds the Universe in being”, which was John's solution to what is called the fine‐tuning problem in physics: that the parameters of Nature turn out to be exquisitely adjusted to allow our universe to exist in its richness. John was a formidable administrator, became President of Queens' College, Cambridge, and chaired UK government committees on research ethics.
Effects of furosemide, acetazolamide and amiloride on renal cortical and medullary tissue oxygenation in non‐anaesthetised healthy sheep
Authors: Ow Connie P. C. , Okazaki Nobuki , Iguchi Naoya , Peiris Rachel M. , Evans Roger G. , Hood Sally G. , May Clive N. , Bellomo Rinaldo , Lankadeva Yugeesh R.
Published: March 2024

It has been proposed that diuretics can improve renal tissue oxygenation through inhibition of tubular sodium reabsorption and reduced metabolic demand. However, the impact of clinically used diuretic drugs on the renal cortical and medullary microcirculation is unclear. Therefore, we examined the effects of three commonly used diuretics, at clinically relevant doses, on renal cortical and medullary perfusion and oxygenation in non‐anaesthetised healthy sheep. Merino ewes received acetazolamide (250 mg; n = 9), furosemide (20 mg; n = 10) or amiloride (10 mg; n = 7) intravenously. Systemic and renal haemodynamics, renal cortical and medullary tissue perfusion and , and renal function were then monitored for up to 8 h post‐treatment. The peak diuretic response occurred 2 h (99.4 ± 14.8 mL/h) after acetazolamide, at which stage cortical and medullary tissue perfusion and were not significantly different from their baseline levels. The peak diuretic response to furosemide occurred at 1 h (196.5 ± 12.3 mL/h) post‐treatment but there were no significant changes in cortical and medullary tissue oxygenation during this period. However, cortical tissue fell from 40.1 ± 3.8 mmHg at baseline to 17.2 ± 4.4 mmHg at 3 h and to 20.5 ± 5.3 mmHg at 6 h after furosemide administration. Amiloride did not produce a diuretic response and was not associated with significant changes in cortical or medullary tissue oxygenation. In conclusion, clinically relevant doses of diuretic agents did not improve regional renal tissue oxygenation in healthy animals during the 8 h experimentation period. On the contrary, rebound renal cortical hypoxia may develop after dissipation of furosemide‐induced diuresis.