bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Trends of chronic liver diseases by income level and socioeconomic factors in the United States: A population‐based study
Authors: Lee Eunice Yewon , Nguyen Vy H. , Cheung Ramsey , Nguyen Mindie H.
Published: September 2024

Background/Aims

With polarizing income disparities, this study investigated the prevalence and trends of liver disease in a U.S. population‐based sample based on income‐to‐poverty ratio (IPR).

Methods

This cross‐sectional study analysed survey data from the 1999–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey with highest (HIG), middle‐income (MIG), and lowest income (LIG) groups defined as IPR ≤ 1, 1 < IPR <5, and IPR ≥ 5, respectively.

Results

We analysed 59,204 adult participants with 48.2% male, 39.7% aged 18–39, 36.2% 40–59, and 24.1% ≥60 years. The weighted prevalence of hepatitis C (HCV), B (HBV) infection, non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), alcohol‐associated liver disease (ALD), and advanced fibrosis in LIG were 3.9% (n = 276), 7.4% (n = 527), 33.2% (n = 714), 5.2% (n = 401), and 9.0% (n = 694), respectively, compared to lower rates for HIG: 1.0% (n = 82), 3.2% (n = 263), 29.6% (n = 798), 3.9% (n = 354), and 5.0% (n = 638). After adjusting for age, sex, race and ethnicity, education, and birthplace, HIG had the lowest odds of having any liver disease [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 0.67, p < 0.0001], with similar findings for specific conditions including HCV, HBV, and advanced fibrosis (aOR 0.24, 0.52, and 0.64, all p < 0.0001, respectively). While viraemic HCV prevalence decreased over time for HIG, there were no changes for MIG nor LIG. Similarly, NAFLD prevalence was stable for HIG but increased for MIG and LIG.

Conclusion

LIG and MIG in the United States have higher liver disease burdens than HIG, with increasing NAFLD prevalence and lack of decline in current HCV infection prevalence over time as opposed to declining or stable trend in HIG.
The Cost of Procuring Deceased Donor Livers: Evidence From US Organ Procurement Organization Cost Reports, 2013–2018
Authors: Bragg‐Gresham Jennifer L. , Peters Thomas G. , Vaughan William P. , Held Philip , McCormick Frank , Roberts John P.
Published: September 2024

Deceased donor organs for transplantation are costly. Expenses include donor assessment, pre‐operative care of acceptable donors, surgical organ recovery, preservation and transport, and other costs. US Organ Procurement Organizations (OPOs) serve defined geographic areas in which each OPO has exclusive organ recovery responsibilities including detailed reporting of costs. We sought to determine the costs of procuring deceased donor livers by examining reported organ acquisition costs from OPO cost reports. Using 6 years of US OPO cost report data for each OPO (2013–2018), we determined the average cost of recovering a viable (i.e., transplanted) liver for each of the 51 independent US OPOs. We examined predictors of these costs including the number of livers procured, the percent of nonviable livers, direct procurement costs, coordinator salaries, professional education, and local cost of living. A cost curve estimated the relationship between the cost of livers and the number of locally procured livers. The average cost of procured livers by individual OPO‐year varied widely from $11 393 to $65 556 (average $31 659) over the six study years. An increase in the overall number of procured livers was associated with lower direct costs, administrative, and procurement overhead costs, but this association differed for imported livers. Cost per local liver decreased linearly for each additional liver, while importing more livers was only cost saving until 200 livers, with imported livers costing more ($39K vs. $31.7K). The largest predictor of variation in cost was the aggregate of direct costs (e.g., hospital costs) to recover the organ (57%). Cost increases were 2.5% per year (+$766/year). This information may be valuable in determining how OPOs might improve service to transplant centers and the patients they serve.
Attitudes and Knowledge of Dental Students in Bosnia and Herzegovina Towards Child Abuse and Neglect
Authors: Dolic Olivera , Obradovic Marija , Kojic Zeljka , Jankovic Svjetlana , Davidovic Bojana , Knezevic Natasa , Sukara Slava
Published: September 2024

Introduction

Child abuse and neglect (CAN) are social and public health problems. Access to oral health care for abused and neglected children is a challenge. The aim of this study was to assess the attitudes and knowledge of dental students from Bosnia and Herzegovina towards CAN.

Materials and Methods

A cross‐sectional survey was conducted among 263 dental students from two public universities in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The students answered 31 questions about the topic of CAN. The study population was categorised by year of study into six groups. Pearson's chi‐squared test was used to analyse differences among participants regarding the year of study. The level of significance was set at p < 0.05.

Results

The results show that 10.26% of total participants had experienced some knowledge about the topic of CAN during their studies, 17.87% had read about it in professional dental literature and 8.74% had some form of education and training on the topic. Over 50% of participants answered all of the questions about social indicators of CAN correctly. The knowledge of the study participants was found to be deficient concerning some physical signs of CAN found in the orofacial region. For a significant number of questions ‘I don't know’ was a frequent answer.

Conclusion

The level of knowledge of dental students from Bosnia and Herzegovina regarding the challenge of CAN is insufficient. An important strategy this to improve this is to increase the education and training of child abuse and neglect in dental curriculums.
Sorption retards remediation of clayey sulfuric soils with straw‐derived dissolved organic matter
Authors: Kölbl Angelika , Mosley Luke , Fitzpatrick Rob , Kaiser Klaus
Published: September 2024

When sulfidic soils become drained, oxidation of pyrite can cause acidification and formation of iron (Fe) oxyhydroxy sulfate phases such as jarosite. Remediation via re‐establishment of reducing conditions requires submergence and addition of biodegradable organic carbon (OC) to stimulate activity of reducing bacteria. Addition of straw‐derived dissolved organic carbon (DOC) has been shown to induce rapid microbial reduction in sandy sulfuric (pH <4) soils. In clayey sulfuric soil, DOC may be less efficient because of limited availability for microbes due to its sorption to reactive minerals. We tested the possible effect of sorption on the remediative potential of straw‐derived DOC using a set of incubation and sorption experiments, and used solid‐state 13C‐NMR spectroscopy for the chemical characterization of OC. The tested materials were a clayey, jarosite‐containing sulfuric soil (pH 3), and artificial model soils composed of synthesized jarosite either mixed with quartz powder or quartz powder + clay minerals. The results showed that addition of DOC from wheat straw induces reduction conditions varying with soil sorptivity. For the model soils, DOC sorption was little, and DOC additions of 0.8 mg OC g−1 were sufficient to achieve permanently reducing conditions and an increase in pH to >6.0. In the natural sulfuric soil, much higher DOC additions were needed (1.8 mg OC g−1) to facilitate continuous reducing conditions, but pH increased only to values no higher than 5.0–5.5. The natural soil revealed strong sorption of added DOC. Sorption preferentially reduced the proportion of proteins, while the proportion of lignin components, which can hardly be used by microorganisms under reducing conditions, remained relatively high in solution. Thus, high DOC additions were required to overcome the sorption‐induced limitations in OC availability. The results suggest that wheat straw‐derived DOC is a promising approach also for remediation of clayey sulfuric soils; however, OC additions need to be adjusted to compensate for possible sorption.
Unpacking cross‐country variations in domestic worker protection regimes: Adopting a policy regime perspective
Authors: PAUL Anju Mary
Published: September 2024

Domestic workers are some of the most vulnerable and least protected workers in the world. However, there is significant variation in domestic worker protections across countries. Using a policy regime perspective, I unpack how differing ideas, institutional arrangements and interest groups inform differences in the degree of legal protections that a country provides domestic workers. I posit that only if all three of these building blocks are present and supportive will a country institute a strong domestic worker protection regime. I apply this model to explain the incomplete/weak domestic worker protection regimes in Pakistan, Singapore, South Africa and Sweden.
“Legal certainty” for live‐in work in Germany: A strategy for formalization?
Authors: KOCHER Eva
Published: September 2024

Domestic workers who live in private households often lack access to decent work and labour rights. Formalization is widely understood as a normative strategy to improve working conditions. In Germany, the debate surrounding domestic live‐in work has centred on “legal certainty” and this article discusses whether and how legal certainty could contribute to formalization. Legal developments (for example, in Austria) show that legal certainty can actually have the opposite effect, by disguising bogus self‐employment more effectively. I argue that, similarly, not all claims to establish more legal certainty are likely to improve the situation of live‐in care workers in Germany.
«Sécurité juridique» et travail domestique à demeure en Allemagne: une stratégie de formalisation?
Authors: KOCHER Eva
Published: September 2024

Les travailleurs domestiques à demeure sont souvent privés d'accès au travail décent et aux droits au travail. La formalisation est généralement vue comme la voie à suivre pour y remédier et, en Allemagne, le débat sur cette question est axé sur la «sécurité juridique». Nous examinons si la sécurité juridique peut contribuer à la formalisation. Certaines évolutions juridiques (en Autriche par exemple) montrent que renforcer la «sécurité juridique» peut en réalité avoir l'effet inverse en permettant une dissimulation plus efficace du faux travail indépendant. Nous montrons qu'en Allemagne ce renforcement ne serait pas nécessairement positif pour cette catégorie de travailleurs.
Pour que la loi ne reste pas lettre morte: droits des travailleurs domestiques et «déformalité» au Pérou
Authors: PÉREZ Leda M. , GANDOLFI Andrea
Published: September 2024

Les auteurs évaluent dans quelle mesure la loi péruvienne n° 31047/2020, qui accorde à la main‐d‘œuvre domestique les mêmes droits et la même protection sociale qu'aux autres travailleurs, a réellement amélioré l'accès de ces employés à un contrat écrit et aux droits. À partir de données de l'enquête nationale auprès des ménages, d'entretiens et d'un groupe de discussion, ils constatent que les droits des travailleurs sont en grande partie restés théoriques, à la fois parce que l‘État ne fait pas respecter la loi et parce que les employeurs ne l'appliquent pas, une situation permise par la «déformalité» de la société péruvienne.
«Seguridad jurídica» para el trabajo en régimen interno en Alemania. ¿Una estrategia de formalización?
Authors: KOCHER Eva
Published: September 2024

Muchos de los trabajadores domésticos que viven en hogares privados carecen de acceso a un trabajo decente y a derechos laborales. La formalización suele concebirse como una estrategia normativa para mejorar las condiciones de trabajo. El debate sobre el trabajo doméstico interno en Alemania se ha centrado en la «seguridad jurídica». Aquí se analiza si este concepto puede contribuir a la formalización y de qué manera. El caso de Austria demuestra que el efecto puede ser contraproducente, al encubrir más a los falsos autónomos. Del mismo modo, la búsqueda de una mayor seguridad jurídica no necesariamente mejorará la situación de los cuidadores internos en Alemania.
¿De letra muerta a política funcional? Derechos de las trabajadoras domésticas y «desformalidad» en el Perú
Authors: PÉREZ Leda M. , GANDOLFI Andrea
Published: September 2024

En este artículo se estudia si ha mejorado el acceso de las trabajadoras del hogar remuneradas a contratos y prestaciones gracias a la Ley N° 31047/2020 del Perú, que les otorga plenos derechos legales y protección social. Se analizan datos obtenidos de la Encuesta Nacional de Hogares y de entrevistas con cinco empleadoras y un grupo focal de once trabajadoras, como complemento de estadísticas sobre la aplicación. Se investigan las deficiencias y se formulan recomendaciones de política. Los derechos de las trabajadoras no se respetan plenamente, por falta de control estatal y por un incumplimiento deliberado de los empleadores, situación propiciada por la «desformalidad» socioeconómica del Perú.
Nitrogen Fertilisation and Seed Rate Regulation Improved Photosynthesis, Grain Yield and Water Use Efficiency of Winter Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Under Ridge–Furrow Cropping
Authors: Dai Yulong , Liao Zhenqi , Pei Shengzhao , Lai Zhenlin , Liao Bin , Li Zhijun , Fan Junliang , Cui Yuanlai
Published: September 2024

Ridge–furrow cropping patterns, nitrogen fertilisation and seed rate regulation are popular management strategies for improving crop yields in the semi‐arid areas of Northwest China, but their interactive effects on grain yield and water use efficiency remain poorly understood. In 2020–2021 and 2021–2022, a two‐season field experiment was conducted on winter wheat. There were two cropping patterns (C), ridge–furrow cropping with film mulch (RC) and traditional cropping without mulch (TC), two nitrogen fertilisation rates (N), 0 and 200 kg N ha−1 (N0 and N1) and three seed rates (S), 240, 360 and 480 plants m−2 (S1, S2 and S3). The study was conducted in a split–split design with three replications (randomised blocks) and a total of 24 experimental plots. It was found that the interactive effects of C × N, C × S and N × S were significant on soil temperature (ST), leaf area index (LAI), relative chlorophyll content (SPAD), photosynthetic parameters, grain yield (GY) and water use efficiency (WUE) (p < 0.05), while C × N × S was significant only for LAI, aboveground biomass (AGB), GY and WUE (p < 0.05). Compared with TC and N0, RC and N1 significantly increased SPAD value (2.4% and 15.8%), net photosynthetic rate (Pn) (19.8% and 32.8%), net photosynthetic rate (Pn), transpiration rate (Tr) (7.0% and 15.7%) and the effective PSII quantum production (ΦPSII) (10.7% and 5.0%). The highest GY (6773 kg ha−1 over 2020–2021 and 8036 kg ha−1 over 2021–2022) and WUE (20.03 kg ha−1 mm−1 over 2020–2021, and 21.77 kg ha−1 mm−1 over 2021–2022) of winter wheat were observed under RC + N1 + S2. The findings showed that the RC cropping pattern with fertilisation and seed rate regulation (360 plants m−2) of winter wheat, which is appropriate for ensuring the long‐term sustainability of agricultural production in the semi‐arid regions of Northwest China, enhanced plant growth, photosynthetic traits, yield and water use efficiency. The study might give useful information for enhancing the productivity and water use efficiency of winter wheat in this and other similar climate locations.
Workplace Bullying Experiences of Nurses From Diverse Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Groups
Authors: Mohr David C. , Dade Shari N. , Yanchus Nancy J. , Bell Chloe A. , Sullivan Sheila Cox , Osatuke Katerine
Published: September 2024

Aim

To examine nurse workplace bullying relative to diverse sexual orientation and gender identity groups.

Design

Observational cross‐sectional study.

Methods

Using an annual organisational satisfaction survey from 2022, we identified free‐text comments provided by nurses (N = 25,337). We identified and themed comments for specific bullying content among unique respondents (n = 1432). We also examined close‐ended questions that captured organisational constructs, such as job satisfaction and burnout. We looked at differences by comparing diverse sexual orientation and gender identity groups to the majority using both qualitative and quantitative data.

Results

For the free‐text comments, themed categories reflected the type of bullying, the perpetrator and perceived impact. Disrespect was the most frequent theme with supervisors being the primary perpetrator. The reported bullying themes and workplace perceptions differed between nurses in the diverse gender identity and sexual orientation group compared to other groups. Nurses who reported bullying also reported higher turnover intent, burnout, lower workplace civility, more dissatisfaction and lower self‐authenticity.

Conclusion

Diverse sexual orientation and gender identity groups are understudied in the nurse bullying research, likely because of sensitivities around identification. Our design enabled anonymous assessment of these groups. We suggest practices to help alleviate and mitigate the prevalence of bullying in nursing.

Patient or Public Contribution

No Patient or Public Contribution.

Impact

We examined differences in perceptions of nurse bullying between diverse sexual orientation and gender identity groups compared to majority groups.

Group differences were found both for thematic qualitative content and workplace experience ratings with members of minority groups reporting less favourable workplace experiences.

Nurse leaders and staff can benefit from learning about best practices to eliminate bullying among this population.

Reporting Method

STROBE guidelines for cross‐sectional observational studies.
Parental Imprisonment and Children's Right Not to be Separated from Their Parents
Authors: Bülow William , Lindblom Lars
Published: September 2024

It is widely known that criminal punishment, especially imprisonment, has negative effects for innocent persons, most notably the families of prisoners. This is an issue attracting increasing attention from penal theorists and philosophers. Adding to this literature, this article examines the extent to which incarceration of a parent is consistent with fundamental rights that are often ascribed to children. In particular, we focus on children's rights against being separated from their parents. To this end, we begin with a discussion of the philosophical basis for children's rights against being separated from their parents against their will. Drawing from recent work by Kimberley Brownlee and Matthew Liao, we argue that children have such a right and that it is grounded in children's welfare interest and the importance of parent–child relationships for children to develop adequately into autonomous agents. We then examine three arguments why imprisoning a parent is justified despite the fact that children have a right against being separated from their parents. For each of these arguments, we argue that while they may show the imprisonment of a particular parent to be sometimes compatible with respecting the right against parent–child separation, an extensive use of imprisonment as punishment of the sort that persists in many states is not.
Association between diabetic status and risk of acute pancreatitis: A nationwide population‐based study
Authors: Chung Kwang Hyun , Cho In Rae , Choi Young Hoon , Cho Young Deok , Ryu Ji Kon , Lee Sang Hyub , Han Kyungdo
Published: September 2024

Objective

There have been several epidemiologic studies on the association between diabetes mellitus and acute pancreatitis. However, there is no solid evidence, and the effect of diabetes mellitus severity on acute pancreatitis incidence is not well known. This study aimed to evaluate the association between diabetic status and the risk of acute pancreatitis in a nationwide population‐based cohort.

Methods

Among the participants who underwent national health examinations between 2009 and 2012, patients with diabetes mellitus were included. Patients diagnosed with acute pancreatitis before the health examination or diagnosed with pancreatitis within 1 year following the examination were excluded. The association between the number of oral hypoglycemic agents (<3 or ≥3) or insulin use during examination and acute pancreatitis occurrence was analyzed after follow‐up until December 31, 2018.

Results

Overall, 2,444,254 patients were included in the final analysis. During the follow‐up period, acute pancreatitis occurred in 10,360 patients with an incidence ratio of 0.585 per 1,000 person‐years, and it was observed that the risk of acute pancreatitis sequentially increased between patients taking oral hypoglycemic agents <3 (incidence ratio = 0.546), those taking ≥3 (incidence ratio = 0.665), and those using insulin (incidence ratio = 0.872). The adjusted hazard ratios of patients taking three or more hypoglycemic agents and those using insulin were 1.196 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.123–1.273) and 1.493 (95% CI 1.398–1.594), respectively.

Conclusions

As diabetes mellitus severity increases, the risk of acute pancreatitis increases.
Differential expression of the type III secretion system genes in Yersinia ruckeri: Preliminary investigations in different environmental conditions
Authors: Rahmatelahi Hadis , Menanteau‐Ledouble Simon , Holzer Astrid S. , El‐Matbouli Mansour , Saleh Mona
Published: September 2024

Type III secretion system (T3SS) is an important virulence system in Gram‐negative bacteria. In this investigation, different environmental conditions that regulate the expression of T3SS genes in Yersinia ruckeri were investigated aimed at obtaining a better understanding about its modulation after various environmental challenges. Four isolates of Y. ruckeri CSF007‐82, ATCC29473, A7959‐11 and YRNC10 were cultivated under the diverse in vitro challenges iron depletion, high salt, low pH and in the presence of fish serum or in the fish cell culture (Chinook Salmon Embryo – CHSE). The transcriptional modulation of the chromosomal genes ysaV, ysaC, ysaJ and prgH of ysa were investigated using quantitative real‐time PCR. The expression of prgH, ysaV, ysaC and ysaJ was differentially expressed in all four strains under evaluation. The highest gene expression levels were observed for Y. ruckeri YRNC10 AN after addition of 0.3 M NaCl in Luria Bertani broth. The results obtained from this study provide initial insights into T3SS responses in Y. ruckeri, which pave the way for further studies aimed at expanding our knowledge on the functional roles of the T3SS genes in Y. ruckeri.
Diabetes risk reduction diet and risk of liver cancer and chronic liver disease mortality: A prospective cohort study
Authors: Chen Yun , Zhao Longgang , Jung Su Yon , Pichardo Margaret S. , Lopez‐Pentecost Melissa , Rohan Thomas E. , Saquib Nazmus , Sun Yangbo , Tabung Fred K. , Zheng Tongzhang , Wactawski‐Wende Jean , Manson JoAnn E. , Neuhouser Marian L , Zhang Xuehong
Published: September 2024

Background

We aimed to prospectively evaluate the association between a diabetes risk reduction diet (DRRD) score and the risk of liver cancer development and chronic liver disease‐specific mortality.

Methods

We included 98,786 postmenopausal women from the Women's Health Initiative‐Observational Study and the usual diet arm of the Diet Modification trial. The DRRD score was derived from eight factors: high intakes of dietary fiber, coffee, nuts, polyunsaturated fatty acids, low intakes of red and processed meat, foods with high glycemic index, sugar‐sweetened beverages (SSBs), and trans fat based on a validated Food‐Frequency Questionnaire administered at baseline (1993–1998). Multivariable hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for liver cancer incidence and chronic liver disease mortality were estimated using Cox proportional hazards regression models.

Results and conclusion

After a median follow‐up of 22.0 years, 216 incident liver cancer cases and 153 chronic liver disease deaths were confirmed. A higher DRRD score was significantly associated with a reduced risk of developing liver cancer (HRTertile 3 vs. Tertile 1 = 0.69; 95% CI: 0.49–0.97; Ptrend = 0.03) and chronic liver disease mortality (HRT3 vs. T1 = 0.54; 95% CI: 0.35–0.82; Ptrend = 0.003). We further found inverse associations with dietary fiber and coffee, and positive associations with dietary glycemic index, SSBs, and trans fat. A higher DRRD score was associated with reduced risk of developing liver cancer and chronic liver disease mortality among postmenopausal women.
Neuroticism is Associated With Greater Affective Variability at High Levels of Momentary Affective Well‐Being, but With Lower Affective Variability at Low Levels of Momentary Affective Well‐Being
Authors: Wenzel Mario , Ringwald Whitney R. , Kaurin Aleksandra , Tüscher Oliver , Kubiak Thomas , Wright Aidan G. C.
Published: September 2024

Objective

Research challenged the notion that neuroticism correlates with affective variability, suggesting that it may result from statistical artifacts due to the non‐normal distribution of negative affect. We aim to advance this line of research by (a) introducing affect balance as a normally distributed measure of affective well‐being and (b) examining current affect balance as a moderator of the relationship between neuroticism and affect balance variability.

Method

We meta‐analyzed the results of 14 ambulatory assessment datasets (N = 2389 participants, N = 174,423 observations).

Results

We found that while the associations between the mean and affective variability were large for negative affect, they were much smaller for affect balance. Moreover, the association between neuroticism and variability in negative affect was very small, yet medium‐sized for affect balance. Importantly, the latter association depended on current affect levels: Participants high relative to low in neuroticism showed stronger subsequent fluctuations in affect balance when currently feeling better than usual, but weaker subsequent fluctuations in (and thus more persistent) affect balance when currently feeling worse than usual.

Conclusion

Increased variability should not be seen as a bad sign but may be a sign that an affective system is changing, which may be adaptive or maladaptive for an individual, depending on the initial state of the system.
‘Like walking with someone as opposed to trying to catch up to them’—Dynamics at play when clinicians and young people formulate together
Authors: Douglas Laura J. , Aherne Cian , Ryan Patrick , Coughlan Barry , Fortune Donal G.
Published: September 2024

Objective

The aim of the present study was to explore the social process of formulation in talk therapy between young people and clinicians.

Design

Qualitative semi‐structured interview study.

Method

Ten young people (male = 6, female = 4, age range = 16–23 years) and nine clinicians from various disciplines within a youth mental health service were interviewed. Constructivist grounded theory was used for the analysis.

Results

Four themes were constructed from the data; a ‘level playing field’ between young person and clinician enables formulation, formulating is a constant process of getting it right and getting it wrong, emotional expression and attunement get us closer to each other and to understanding, and ‘formulation versus diagnosis’ can create tension in the therapy room. The constructivist grounded theory devised demonstrated how the dynamics of power, collaboration, openness, and the therapeutic relationship are constantly in flux during the process of formulation.

Conclusion

The paper presents a constructivist grounded theory which incorporates dynamics relating to power, collaboration, and openness. The importance of the therapeutic relationship is also emphasised. The theory encourages continuous and recursive personal reflection by the therapist as to how they can be optimally attuned to the dynamics of power, collaboration, and openness with young people.
Mentalizing individuals, families and systems: Towards a translational socioecological approach
Authors: Luyten Patrick , Malcorps Saskia , Bateman Anthony , Fonagy Peter
Published: September 2024

Mentalization‐based treatment (MBT) is a spectrum of interventions that share a central focus on improving the capacity for mentalizing. Although MBT was originally developed as a treatment for individuals with borderline personality disorder, its scope and focus have been broadened to become a socioecological approach that stresses the role of broader sociocultural factors in determining the closely related capacities for mentalizing and epistemic trust. This special issue brings together some of the newest developments in MBT that illustrate this shift. These contributions also highlight several current limitations in mentalization‐based approaches, providing important pointers for further research. In this editorial, we first outline the broadening scope of the mentalizing approach, and then provide a discussion of each of the contributions to this special issue in the context of the need for further research concerning some of the key assumptions of mentalization‐based approaches and their implementation in clinical practice. We close this editorial with considerations concerning future research.
Suburban Autonomy? The Case of Inter‐Suburban Commuting Outside Prague
Authors: Zévl Jiří‐Jakub , Ouředníček Martin
Published: September 2024

This paper aims to map daily mobility to work and services within the suburban zone of Prague and to explain temporal changes in the structuration of the suburban zone during the day. This involves the identification of local centres outside Prague's administrative boundaries, defining their catchment areas, and exploring the temporal variability of daily mobility. Using mobile phone data, the paper identifies the main flows of commuting to work and mobility for services or leisure activities. The focus on two distinct timeframes presented in two synthetic maps compares the mobility patterns of these activities. Empirical findings identify 53 local centres of inter‐suburban mobility and delimitate their commuting areas. Noticeable variation in mobility patterns throughout the day was observed. Beyond empirical insights relevant to Prague and similar Central and Eastern European cities, the paper contributes to theoretical knowledge by introducing a hierarchical classification of mobility relationships within metropolitan areas.
Structural variation discovery in wheat using PacBio high‐fidelity sequencing
Authors: Zhang Zhiliang , Zhang Jijin , Kang Lipeng , Qiu Xuebing , Xu Song , Xu Jun , Guo Yafei , Niu Zelin , Niu Beirui , Bi Aoyue , Zhao Xuebo , Xu Daxing , Wang Jing , Yin Changbin , Lu Fei
Published: September 2024

Structural variations (SVs) pervade plant genomes and contribute substantially to the phenotypic diversity. However, most SVs were ineffectively assayed due to their complex nature and the limitations of early genomic technologies. By applying the PacBio high‐fidelity (HiFi) sequencing for wheat genomes, we performed a comprehensive evaluation of mainstream long‐read aligners and SV callers in SV detection. The results indicated that the accuracy of deletion discovery is markedly influenced by callers, accounting for 87.73% of the variance, whereas both aligners (38.25%) and callers (49.32%) contributed substantially to the accuracy variance for insertions. Among the aligners, Winnowmap2 and NGMLR excelled in detecting deletions and insertions, respectively. For SV callers, SVIM achieved the best performance. We demonstrated that combining the aligners and callers mentioned above is optimal for SV detection. Furthermore, we evaluated the effect of sequencing depth on the accuracy of SV detection, revealing that low‐coverage HiFi sequencing is sufficiently robust for high‐quality SV discovery. This study thoroughly evaluated SV discovery approaches and established optimal workflows for investigating structural variations using low‐coverage HiFi sequencing in the wheat genome, which will advance SV discovery and decipher the biological functions of SVs in wheat and many other plants.
The efficacy and effectiveness of drinking interventions to reduce vasovagal reactions in blood donors: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Van Remoortel Hans , Van de Sande Dieter , Maes Dieter , Khoudary Jina , Tavernier Veerle , Tiberghien Pierre , De Buck Emmy , Compernolle Veerle
Published: September 2024

Background and Objectives

Blood establishments strive to ensure the safety and comfort of blood donors while minimizing adverse events. This review aims to assess the efficacy and effectiveness of eating and/or drinking interventions before, during and/or after blood donation in reducing vasovagal reactions (VVRs).

Materials and Methods

We analysed randomized and non‐randomized controlled trials comparing eating and/or drinking interventions to no intervention, placebo or usual practice on (pre‐)syncopal VVRs and related symptoms. The GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation) approach was used to assess the risk of bias and overall certainty of the evidence.

Results

Pre‐donation water ingestion likely results in reduced on‐site VVRs, compared to no water (2 fewer per 100 donors, moderate‐certainty evidence). A pre‐donation isotonic drink likely results in reduced VVRs, compared to usual practice (2 fewer per 100 donors, moderate‐certainty evidence). Pre‐donation salt‐loaded sweetened lemon water may result in fewer off‐site VVRs, compared to sweetened lemon water only (1 fewer per 100 donors, low‐certainty evidence). Pre‐donation water and a gel cap containing sucrose with 250 mg caffeine may result in fewer blood donor reaction ratings, compared to pre‐donation water only (low‐certainty evidence).

Conclusions

Pre‐donation plain water ingestion or isotonic drink probably results in a large reduction in on‐site and off‐site VVRs. Pre‐donation water ingestion with caffeine consumption or salt supplementation may result in a VVR reduction, compared to water ingestion only. Future large trials are required to increase the certainty of the effect of these and other interventions in the prevention of VVRs.
An Intra-Abdominal Catheter Placement Device With Automatic and Accurate Mechanical Indication of Abdominal Cavity Entry for Laparoscopic Telesurgery
Authors: Hirst Gregory S. , Crimmins Sean J. , Wankum Benjamin P. , Buesing Keely , Carlson Mark A. , Terry Benjamin S.
Published: September 2024

Telesurgery applications in laparoscopic surgeries are limited by the need for a surgeon to manually insert the trocar for access to the abdominal cavity. This feasibility study aims to solve this by capitalizing on the biomechanical properties of the abdominal wall to introduce the robotic automated peritoneal insertion device (RAPID), a novel mechanism employing a purely mechanical indication system for accessing the abdominal cavity. The RAPID leverages differences in insufflation pressure between the abdominal wall and the abdominal cavity to indicate entry. In the initial phase of this research, cadaver testing showed that concomitant insufflation can be used to identify peritoneal cavity access in humans, validating a previous finding in a porcine study. Using an optimal pressure value determined from the previous porcine study, the RAPID was then validated in live porcine models. The system operated correctly in 19 out of 21 placements, affirming the feasibility of the entry indication system. This shows that the RAPID can accurately and automatically indicate entry of the trocar into the abdominal cavity. This advancement has the potential to automate initial and subsequent trocar insertions, thus removing one more constraint on laparoscopic telesurgery.
A Portable Passive Ankle-Foot Orthosis for Walking Propulsion and Drop-Foot Prevention
Authors: Chen Bing , Wang Ruijin , Zhou Bin
Published: September 2024

Individuals with a drop-foot generally have issues of foot-slap and toe-drag, and ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs) have been developed for them to address the drop-foot gait. However, the currently available active AFOs usually have heavier mass, larger volume, and additional power sources, and almost all of the passive AFOs can achieve dorsiflexion assistance at the cost of making plantarflexion more difficult, which increases the wearer's metabolic cost of walking. This paper illustrates the development and validation of a passive AFO for walking propulsion and drop-foot prevention of individuals with a drop-foot gait. The AFO is primarily composed of a propulsion module, a drop-foot prevention module, and a support module. The propulsion module can detect the wearer's gait stages, and it can control the energy storage and release of an energy storage spring-A by switching the state of a clutch-A mechanism. The drop-foot prevention module is designed to correct the abnormal gait of individuals with a drop-foot gait during the swing phase. Experiments are conducted to evaluate the performance of the developed AFO. The experimental results demonstrate that during a gait cycle, reductions of 7.74%, 6.72%, and 16.36% of the average muscle activities of the gastrocnemius, soleus, and tibialis anterior are observed, respectively. The significance of this study is the development of a portable passive AFO that has the potential to provide plantarflexion assistance and dorsiflexion assistance for the wearers during the late stance phase and swing phase, respectively.
Predicting Basketball Shot Outcome From Visuomotor Control Data Using Explainable Machine Learning
Authors: Aitcheson-Huehn Nikki , MacPherson Ryan , Panchuk Derek , Kiefer Adam W.
Published: September 2024

Quiet eye (QE), the visual fixation on a target before initiation of a critical action, is associated with improved performance. While QE is trainable, it is unclear whether QE can directly predict performance, which has implications for training interventions. This study predicted basketball shot outcome (make or miss) from visuomotor control variables using a decision tree classification approach. Twelve basketball athletes completed 200 shots from six on-court locations while wearing mobile eye-tracking glasses. Training and testing data sets were used for modeling eight predictors (shot location, arm extension time, and absolute and relative QE onset, offset, and duration) via standard and conditional inference decision trees and random forests. On average, the trees predicted over 66% of makes and over 50% of misses. The main predictor, relative QE duration, indicated success for durations over 18.4% (range: 14.5%–22.0%). Training to prolong QE duration beyond 18% may enhance shot success.
Learning depends on the information conveyed by temporal relationships between events and is reflected in the dopamine response to cues
Authors: Balsam Peter D. , Simpson Eleanor H. , Taylor Kathleen , Kalmbach Abigail , Gallistel Charles R.
Published: September 2024

Contemporary theories guiding the search for neural mechanisms of learning and memory assume that associative learning results from the temporal pairing of cues and reinforcers resulting in coincident activation of associated neurons, strengthening their synaptic connection. While enduring, this framework has limitations: Temporal pairing–based models of learning do not fit with many experimental observations and cannot be used to make quantitative predictions about behavior. Here, we present behavioral data that support an alternative, information-theoretic conception: The amount of information that cues provide about the timing of reward delivery predicts behavior. Furthermore, this approach accounts for the rate and depth of both inhibitory and excitatory learning across paradigms and species. We also show that dopamine release in the ventral striatum reflects cue-predicted changes in reinforcement rates consistent with subjects understanding temporal relationships between task events. Our results reshape the conceptual and biological framework for understanding associative learning.
Water deficit and storm disturbances co-regulate Amazon rainforest seasonality
Authors: Lian Xu , Morfopoulos Catherine , Gentine Pierre
Published: September 2024

Canopy leaf abundance of Amazon rainforests increases in the dry season but decreases in the wet season, contrary to earlier expectations of water stress adversely affecting plant functions. Drivers of this seasonality, particularly the role of water availability, remain debated. We introduce satellite-based ecophysiological indicators to demonstrate that Amazon rainforests are constrained by water during dry seasons despite light-driven canopy greening. Evidence includes a shifted partitioning of photosynthetically active radiation toward more isoprene emissions and synchronized declines in leaf and xylem water potentials. In addition, we find that convective storms attenuate light-driven ecosystem greening in the late dry season and then reverse to net leaf loss in the wet season, improving rainforest leaf area predictability by 24 to 31%. These findings highlight the susceptibility of Amazon rainforests to increasing risks of drought and windthrow disturbances under warming.
Blended nexus molecules promote CO
2
to
l
-tyrosine conversion
Authors: Fan Lei , Zhu Zihan , Zhao Siyan , Panda Smaranika , Zhao Yilin , Chen Jingyi , Chen Lei , Chen Junmei , He Jianzhong , Zhou Kang , Wang Lei
Published: September 2024

Using CO
2
as the primary feedstock offers the potential for high-value utilization of CO
2
while forging sustainable pathways for producing valuable natural products, such as
l
-tyrosine. Cascade catalysis is a promising approach but limited by stringent purity demands of nexus molecules. We developed an abiotic/biotic cascade catalysis using blended nexus molecules for
l
-tyrosine synthesis. Specifically, we begin by constructing a solid-state reactor to reduce CO
2
electrochemically, yielding a mixture of acetic acid and ethanol, which serves as the blended nexus molecules. Subsequently, we use genetic engineering to introduce an ethanol utilization pathway and a tyrosine producing pathway to
Escherichia coli
to facilitate
l
-tyrosine production. The ethanol pathway synergistically cooperated with the acetic acid pathway, boosting
l
-tyrosine production rate (nearly five times higher compared to the strain without ethanol utilization pathway) and enhancing carbon efficiency. Our findings demonstrate that using blended nexus molecules could potentially offer a more favorable strategy for the cascade catalysis aimed at producing valuable natural products.
Surface molecular pump enables ultrahigh catalyst activity
Authors: Huang Jin , Peng Bosi , Zhu Cheng , Xu Mingjie , Liu Yang , Liu Zeyan , Zhou Jingxuan , Wang Sibo , Duan Xiangfeng , Heinz Hendrik , Huang Yu
Published: September 2024

The performance of electrocatalysts is critical for renewable energy technologies. While the electrocatalytic activity can be modulated through structural and compositional engineering following the Sabatier principle, the insufficiently explored catalyst-electrolyte interface is promising to promote microkinetic processes such as physisorption and desorption. By combining experimental designs and molecular dynamics simulations with explicit solvent in high accuracy, we demonstrated that dimethylformamide can work as an effective surface molecular pump to facilitate the entrapment of oxygen and outflux of water. Dimethylformamide disrupts the interfacial network of hydrogen bonds, leading to enhanced activity of the oxygen reduction reaction by a factor of 2 to 3. This strategy works generally for platinum-alloy catalysts, and we introduce an optimal model PtCuNi catalyst with an unprecedented specific activity of 21.8 ± 2.1 mA/cm
2
at 0.9 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode, nearly double the previous record, and an ultrahigh mass activity of 10.7 ± 1.1 A/mg
Pt
.
Thr
4
phosphorylation on RNA Pol II occurs at early transcription regulating 3′-end processing
Authors: Moreno Rosamaria Y. , Panina Svetlana B. , Irani Seema , Hardtke Haley A. , Stephenson Renee , Floyd Brendan M. , Marcotte Edward M. , Zhang Qian , Zhang Y. Jessie
Published: September 2024

RNA polymerase II relies on a repetitive sequence domain (YSPTSPS) within its largest subunit to orchestrate transcription. While phosphorylation on serine-2/serine-5 of the carboxyl-terminal heptad repeats is well established, threonine-4’s role remains enigmatic. Paradoxically, threonine-4 phosphorylation was only detected after transcription end sites despite functionally implicated in pausing, elongation, termination, and messenger RNA processing. Our investigation revealed that threonine-4 phosphorylation detection was obstructed by flanking serine-5 phosphorylation at the onset of transcription, which can be removed selectively. Subsequent proteomic analyses identified many proteins recruited to transcription via threonine-4 phosphorylation, which previously were attributed to serine-2. Loss of threonine-4 phosphorylation greatly reduces serine-2 phosphorylation, revealing a cross-talk between the two marks. Last, the function analysis of the threonine-4 phosphorylation highlighted its role in alternative 3′-end processing within pro-proliferative genes. Our findings unveil the true genomic location of this evolutionarily conserved phosphorylation mark and prompt a reassessment of functional assignments of the carboxyl-terminal domain.
IgE plasma cells are transcriptionally and functionally distinct from other isotypes
Authors: Vecchione Andrea , Devlin Joseph C. , Tasker Carley , Ramnarayan Venkat Raman , Haase Paul , Conde Eva , Srivastava Devin , Atwal Gurinder S. , Bruhns Pierre , Murphy Andrew J. , Sleeman Matthew A. , Limnander Andre , Lim Wei Keat , Asrat Seblewongel , Orengo Jamie M.
Published: September 2024

Understanding the phenotypic and transcriptional signature of immunoglobulin E (IgE)–producing cells is fundamental to plasma cell (PC) biology and development of therapeutic interventions for allergy. Here, using a mouse model of intranasal house dust mite (HDM) exposure, we showed that short-lived IgE PCs emerge in lung draining lymph nodes (dLNs) during early exposure (<3 weeks) and long-lived IgE PCs accumulate in the bone marrow (BM) with prolonged exposure (>7 weeks). IgE PCs had distinct surface and gene expression profiles in these different tissues compared with other Ig isotypes. IgE BMPCs up-regulated genes associated with prosurvival and BM homing, whereas IgE dLN PCs expressed genes associated with recent class switching and differentiation. IgE PCs also exhibited higher expression of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and protein coding genes and higher antibody secretion rate when compared with IgG1. Overall, this study highlights the unique developmental path and transcriptional signature of short-lived and long-lived IgE PCs.