bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
High‐Efficiency Genome Editing in Naturally Isolated Aeromonas hydrophila and Edwardsiella Piscicida Using the CRISPR‐Cas9 System
Authors: Feng Jun , Ma Yuechao , Zhang Dunhua , Wang Yi
Published: November 2024

Aeromonas hydrophila and Edwardsiella piscicida are significant bacterial pathogens in aquaculture, causing severe diseases and tremendous economic losses worldwide. Additionally, both of them can act as opportunistic pathogens in humans, leading to severe infections. Efficient genome editing tools for these pathogens are essential for understanding their pathogenic mechanisms and physiological behaviors, enabling the development of targeted strategies to control and mitigate their effects. In this study, we adapted the CRISPR‐Cas9 system for high‐efficiency, marker‐less genome editing in multiple naturally isolated strains of these two aquaculture pathogens. We developed a streamlined procedure that successfully generated deletion mutants of the aerA gene (encoding for aerolysin, a pore‐forming toxin that plays a critical role in the pathogenicity) and the gfp insertion mutants in three naturally isolated A. hydrophila strains. Additionally, we deleted five putative hemolysin‐encoding genes in both A. hydrophila ML10‐51K and its ∆aerA derivative. The same system was also applied to the naturally isolated E. piscicida S11‐285 strain, successfully deleting the ssaV gene (a component of the Type III Secretion System—a critical virulence mechanism in many pathogenic bacteria). The methodologies developed herein could be broadly applied to other pathogenic strains from natural environments, providing valuable tools for studying bacterial pathogenesis and aiding in the development of effective control strategies.
Therapy and Outcomes of Patients with Relapsed Nonmetastatic Rhabdomyosarcoma: A Report from the French Society of Pediatric Oncology Malignant Mesenchymal Tumor Committee
Authors: Sevrin François , Bogart Emilie , Orbach Daniel , Le Deley Marie Cécile , Berlanga Pablo , Bernier Valérie , Corradini Nadège , Fayard Cindy , Guerin Florent , Jannier Sarah , Karanian Marie , Proust Stéphanie , Rome Angélique , Verité Cécile , Minard‐Colin Véronique , Defachelles Anne‐Sophie
Published: November 2024

Background

The prognosis for patients with relapse of localized rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) remains poor, with limited evidence for optimal second‐line therapy. This study describes the management and outcomes of relapsed RMS patients in France.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed all nonmetastatic RMS patients enrolled in France in the RMS 2005 study who relapsed between 2006 and 2019 after achieving complete local control, defined as complete remission or stable residue ≥ 6 months after treatment completion. Data were extracted from the RMS 2005 database and medical records.

Results

Ninety‐five patients relapsed at a median age of 6.0 years (range: 1.0–27.0). The median time from diagnosis to relapse was 17.5 months (range: 7.4–82.0). Most patients had embryonal RMS (65.3%) and local/locoregional relapses (71.6%). The first relapse treatment included chemotherapy (all except two patients), radiotherapy (52.6%), and surgery (48.4%). Second‐line chemotherapy yielded a 58.5% objective response rate after 3 ± 1 cycles. Fifty‐five patients achieved second complete remission. With a median follow‐up of 7.2 years from the first relapse (range: 0.3–11.3), 5‐year progression‐free survival was 26% (95% CI: 18–36), and 5‐year overall survival was 35% (95% CI: 25–45). Importantly, no patient survived relapse without receiving locoregional treatment (surgery and/or radiotherapy).

Conclusion

This study confirmed the inconsistencies in therapy and the poor prognosis for relapsed RMS but highlighted the potential for long‐term survival in patients who received surgery and/or radiotherapy, emphasizing the crucial role of achieving local control in improving outcomes at relapse.
Individualized Prediction for Risk of Recurrence in Stage I/II Melanoma Patients With Negative Sentinel Lymph Node
Authors: Chang Shu‐Ching , Lourdault Kristel , Grunkemeier Gary L. , Hanes Douglas A. , Chiu Shih‐Ting , Stern Stacey , Essner Richard
Published: November 2024

Background

Despite the favorable prognosis of AJCC stage I/II melanoma patients, up to 20%–30% will develop metastases. Our objective is to predict long‐term risk (probability) of recurrence in early‐stage melanoma patients.

Methods

A Risk Score to predict long‐term recurrence was developed using Cox regression based on 2668 patients. Five clinicopathological risk factors were included. The association of the Risk Score with the risk of recurrence was evaluated using parametric models (exponential, Weibull, and Gompertz models) and compared to the Cox model using the Akaike information criterion. The discrimination of the model was measured by time‐dependent ROC analyses. A calibration curve was used to evaluate the agreement between predicted and observed recurrence probabilities.

Results

The bootstrap adjusted C‐index was 0.76 (95% CI, 0.74–0.79) overall and 0.87 (0.83–0.90) and 0.82 (0.78–0.85) at one and two years, respectively, and then remained above 0.70 up to 20 years. The Gompertz model for prediction of survival from the Risk Score showed the best performance and displayed good agreement with the Kaplan–Meier curves. The calibration curve of the Gompertz model showed a good agreement between predicted and observed 2‐, 5‐, and 10‐year risk of recurrence. Population‐level analysis demonstrated a significant association of Risk Score with risk of recurrence, with 10‐year risks of recurrence of 4.5%, 13.0%, and 33.7% in the first, second, and third tertiles, respectively.

Conclusion

We developed a Risk Score to predict long‐term risk of recurrence for early‐stage melanoma patients. A Gompertz survival model fit to the Risk Score allows for individualized prediction of time‐dependent recurrence risk.
‘It overshadowed everything’: Understanding working‐class clients' experiences of social class differences within the therapeutic relationship
Authors: Jones Anna Katie , Lecchi Tanya
Published: November 2024

Background

Little is known about the experiences of working‐class clients in psychological therapy. This qualitative study explores how social class differences are experienced within the therapeutic relationship by six clients from a working‐class background.

Materials & Methods

Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with women in Britain who self‐identified as working‐class and had engaged in therapy with clinicians whom they perceived to be from a higher class background than themselves. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to analyse the data.

Findings

The study identified three superordinate themes: a meeting of two worlds, class in the implicit relationship and managing difference. The findings indicate that class differences have a significant impact on both the therapeutic relationship and on participants' view of themselves.

Discussion

For some, addressing social class differences helped to alleviate internalised classism and address the impact of structural oppression. However, when clients felt judged, misunderstood or perceived a lack of empathy, they began to disengage and hide parts of their experiences related to social class. As such, the findings have significant implications for how class differences within the therapeutic relationship might be addressed in psychological therapy.
Synthesis and Evaluation of Antidiabetic Potential of Gliptin‐based Hybrid Scaffolds
Authors: Yahya Shaikh , Gour Vivek Kumar , Sangshetti Jaiprakash , Deshpande Prathamesh , Shafeeque Mohd , Sharma Nisha , Choudhary Akram , Shahar Yar M
Published: November 2024

Dipeptidyl peptidase‐4 (DPP4) inhibitors are promising therapeutic targets for the treatment of a catastrophic disease, especially diabetes mellitus (DM), which contributed to a massive rate of mortality. This research work succinctly covers the significance and vital role of gliptins in diabetes management and in the potential areas of further antidiabetic research, making it a strong drug candidate for antidiabetic drug development. We illustrated herein molecular docking, synthesis, and biological evaluation of selected potent synthesized molecules. Additionally, all the potent compounds were characterized by means of MASS and NMR spectral analysis, whereas the purity of these molecules were assessed by HPLC method. In order to determine the efficacy and cytotoxicity of synthesized gliptin‐based scaffolds, in‐vitro anti‐oxidant and MTT assays with the implantation of DPPH and THP‐1 cell lines, respectively, were performed. The results data disclose the anti‐oxidant and biosafety potential of the newly schemed compounds. Based on in‐vitro screening outcomes, only a derivative that exhibited potent efficacy was selected and subjected to an in‐vivo study. Among them, compounds 6 and 12 are the most potent ones, which exhibited % radical scavenge of 89.38 % and 91.58 % related to standard ascorbic acid (91.58 %). Surprisingly, these compounds also exhibited excellent anti‐diabetic efficacy at a dose of 4 mg/kg in an in‐vivo animal model. In conclusion, all studies suggested that the titled molecules could be promising lead compounds for the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Mucocutaneous Ulcerations and Pancytopenia Secondary to Methotrexate Toxicity in a Patient With Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Case Report
Authors: Dorji Thinley , Penjor Tshering , Tenzin Sangay , Pedon Tshering , Wangchuck Sangay , Yangchen Sonam
Published: November 2024

Toxicity from methotrexate overdosing is life threatening condition that requires prompt recognition and early treatment. A 71‐year‐old man from rural Bhutan with diabetes mellitus had symmetrical small joint pain for 3 years associated with early morning stiffness. He was evaluated and diagnosed with seropositive rheumatoid arthritis in a hospital in neighbouring India. He was initiated on Methotrexate and Hydroxychloroquine. The patient had inadvertently taken Methotrexate 10 mg OD for 2 weeks. Following this, he developed painful ulcers on the lips preventing him from swallowing and ulcers around the corona on the penis. He also had intermittent fever with chills. On examination, he had fluid responsive hypotension and pancytopenia without bleeding manifestations. He was managed with intravenous folinic acid, subcutaneous granulocyte colony stimulating factor and intravenous cloxacillin. He had an uneventful recovery and methotrexate has been restarted following adequate patient education. Education of patient and family members is key in preventing medication errors. Early identification and timely management of methotrexate toxicity is key in preventing mortality.
Role of Secondary Structure and Time‐Dependent Binding on Disruption of Phthalocyanine Aggregates by Guanine‐Rich Nucleic Acids
Authors: Windle Eleanor R. , Rennie Christopher C. , Edkins Robert M. , Quinn Susan J.
Published: November 2024

Phthalocyanines are versatile photodynamic therapy agents whose biological activity depends on their aggregation state, which is expected to be influenced by binding to biomolecules. Here, guanine‐rich nucleic acid binding of a water‐soluble cationic, regiopure C4h zinc phthalocyanine bearing four triethylene glycol methyl ether and four N‐methyl‐4‐pyridinium substituents (1) is reported. In contrast to double‐stranded DNA, guanine systems GpG, (GG)10, poly(G) and quadruplex DNA are shown to effectively disrupt phthalocyanine aggregates in buffered solution. This process is accompanied by evolution of the Q‐band absorbance and enhanced emission. Increasing the sequence length from GpG to (GG)10 increases the binding and confirms the importance of multiple binding interactions. Enhanced binding in the presence of KCl suggests the importance of nucleobase hydrogen‐bonded mosaics in phthalocyanine binding. Notably, the (GT)10 sequence is even more effective than quadruplex and pure guanine systems at disrupting the aggregates of 1. Significant time‐dependent binding of 1 with poly(G) reveals biexponential binding over minutes and hours, which is linked to local conformations of poly(G) that accommodate monomers of 1 over time. The study highlights the ability of biomacromolecules to disrupt phthalocyanines aggregates over time, which is an important consideration when rationalizing photoactivity of photosensitizers in‐vivo.
Unveiling the Long‐Awaited Aldehyde Intermediate in Oxidative Dephosphorylation: A Unique Approach to Access Useful Carboxaldehydes
Authors: Tripathi Shivani , Chakravarty Manab
Published: November 2024

Oxidative dephosphorylation reactions usually generate symmetrically substituted alkenes from organophosphonates. Even the ubiquitous presence of oxygen can produce such alkenes inadvertently as a side product in small amounts from Wittig/Horner‐Wadsworth‐Emmons (HWE) reactions. So far, aldehydes have been expected to be the on‐pathway intermediate since their discovery, but there was no substantial experimental evidence to support this. Herein, aldehyde intermediates are judiciously trapped before forming alkene on dephosphorylation reactions of diverse phosphonates. Consequently, a unique synthetic strategy has been established to access structurally diverse aldehydes by oxidizing phosphonate carbanions using molecular oxygen. This is the first report to trap and isolate aldehydes since the historical discovery of Wittig/HWE reactions. Only ketone/amide was isolated as a support, but no aldehyde. The optimization studies offer 48–84 % reaction yields of such aldehydes. The mechanistic studies are validated with reaction mixture 1H and 31P‐NMR studies. Along with other various aldehydes, a unique class of structurally diverse anthracenyl aldehydes exhibiting intense fluorescence has been identified. The extended process to bis‐phosphonates led to bis‐carboxaldehyde forming in 52–68 % yield within 30 min. The scope is further extended to achieve 2,1,3‐benzothiadiazole‐linked phosphonate, functionalized with carboxaldehyde.
Towards a more sustainable future: Transitioning from thermochemical to electrochemical processes in clean energy technologies relevant to hydrogen‐containing fuels
Authors: Jankovic Jasna , Wilkinson David P.
Published: November 2024

This review paper explores the transition from thermochemical to electrochemical processes in clean energy technologies, particularly focusing on hydrogen‐containing fuels, namely hydrogen, ammonia, and methanol. The main characteristics of the thermochemical and electrochemical technologies are compared, followed by a focus on specific approaches in production of each of these e‐fuels. Steam methane reforming, partial oxidation of hydrocarbons, coal and biomass gasification, as well as thermal decomposition and autothermal reforming processes are discussed for hydrogen thermochemical production. Electrochemical technologies for green hydrogen production are then described, including water electrolysis based on alkaline, proton exchange membrane, anion exchange, and solid oxide cells. The paper further compares the Haber–Bosch process with the electrochemical synthesis of ammonia, and discusses thermochemical technologies for methanol synthesis from syngas, comparing them to the two electrochemical approaches‐electrochemical CO2 reduction and methane oxidation reaction. Additionally, approaches for extracting hydrogen from ammonia and methanol by electrochemical reforming are briefly discussed. The paper closes with the future prospects and challenges of the transition from the traditional thermochemical technologies to the more sustainable electrochemical processes. Despite the promising prospects of the electrochemical technologies, challenges such as high initial capital costs, the need for advanced materials, and scalability must be addressed. Ongoing research, policy incentives, and collaborative efforts are essential to overcome these barriers and facilitate the transition to a low‐carbon economy. In the meantime, the integration of these technologies represents a transformative approach to chemical manufacturing and energy management, offering a pathway towards more sustainable and versatile industrial practices.
In‐Situ CeO2/CuO Heterojunction Electrocatalyst for CO2 Reduction to Ethylene
Authors: Luo QiuLin , Ma Lin , Yang Chenghan , Song Youchao , Xu Yingchen , Zhu Min , Zhou Yuming , Zhang Yiwei
Published: November 2024

CeO2/CuO heterojunction composite catalysts were synthesized using a one‐step method, achieving the introduction of Ce species on nanoscale copper oxide (CuO) particles during the hydrothermal process. CeO2 is primarily encapsulated the auxiliary catalyst CuO in the form of nanoparticles. On one hand, this protects the nanostructure of the substrate from damage and prevents the agglomeration of CuO nanoparticles. On the other hand, the bimetallic synergistic effect between Ce and Cu effectively improves the conductivity and catalytic activity of the catalyst, significantly enhancing the selectivity of the catalyst for electrochemical reduction of CO2 to C2H4, while effectively suppressing the competing hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). By regulating the amount of CeO2 introducing, a series of CeO2/CuO composite catalysts were designed. The results showed that the 15 % CeO2/CuO catalyst exhibited the best selectivity and catalytic activity for C2H4. At a low overpotential of −1.2 V, the 15 % CeO2/CuO catalyst demonstrated a current density of 14.2 mA cm−2 and achieved a Faradaic efficiency for ethylene as high as 65.78 %, which is 2.85 times the current density (j=4.98 mA cm−2) and 3.27 times the Faradaic efficiency for ethylene (FEC2H4=20.13 %) of the undoped catalyst at the same potential. This work provides a feasible basis for achieving efficient CO2RR to C2 products, and even multi‐carbon products.
A Sixth Mass Extinction? How Linguistic Uncertainty Shapes Our Understanding of the Biodiversity Crisis
Authors: Linke Lily , Clements Christopher F.
Published: November 2024

The term ‘sixth mass extinction’ has become synonymous with the current biodiversity crisis. However, despite a general agreement that current biodiversity declines are severe, no consensus has been reached on whether this constitutes a ‘mass extinction event’, and thus, whether our current situation is comparable to the catastrophic extinction events of deep time. Here, we suggest that our inability to gauge whether the current biodiversity crisis is a mass extinction event may lie less in quantifiable evidence and more in the language used to define such events. We highlight areas of linguistic contention, vagueness and epistemic dispute, and discuss the role of post hoc decision‐making and language in shaping our understanding and communication of biodiversity loss. Our discussion raises larger questions about how we communicate science to the public, funders and other scientists, and how we use language to both shape awareness and leverage action.
Calibrating Satellite Maps With Field Data for Improved Predictions of Forest Biomass
Authors: May Paul B. , Finley Andrew O.
Published: November 2024

Spatially explicit quantification of forest biomass is important for forest‐health monitoring and carbon accounting. Direct field measurements of biomass are laborious and expensive, typically limiting their spatial and temporal sampling density and therefore the precision and resolution of the resulting inference. Satellites can provide biomass predictions at a far greater density, but these predictions are often biased relative to field measurements and exhibit heterogeneous errors. We developed and implemented a coregionalization model between sparse field measurements and a predictive satellite map to deliver improved predictions of biomass density at a 1  resolution throughout the Pacific states of California, Oregon and Washington. The model accounts for zero‐inflation in the field measurements and the heterogeneous errors in the satellite predictions. A stochastic partial differential equation approach to spatial modeling is applied to handle the magnitude of the satellite data. The spatial detail rendered by the model is much finer than would be possible with the field measurements alone, and the model provides substantial noise‐filtering and bias‐correction to the satellite map.
Anxiety, Obsessive‐Compulsive, and Depressive Symptom Presentation and Change Throughout Routine Eating Disorder Treatment
Authors: Velimirović Mina , Robison Morgan , Abber Sophie , Duffy Alan , Rienecke Renee D. , Manwaring Jamie , Blalock Dan V. , Riddle Megan , Mehler Philip S. , Joiner Thomas E.
Published: November 2024

Objective

The present study examined whether patients with binge/purge and restricting anorexia nervosa (AN‐BP and AN‐R), bulimia nervosa (BN), binge eating disorder (BED), avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), and other specified feeding and eating disorder (OSFED) differ in generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), obsessive‐compulsive disorder (OCD), and depression symptom patterns and overall comorbid symptom severity at admission. We also assessed between‐group differences in the patterns of change and overall comorbid symptom severity change from admission to discharge from routine eating disorder (ED) treatment at higher levels of care (HLOC).

Method

The initial sample included 3730 adults routinely assessed for GAD, depression, and OCD at admission and discharge from treatment.

Results and Conclusions

ED diagnostic groups exhibited somewhat different symptom patterns (e.g., AN‐R and ARFID were more prone to GAD and OCD than depression symptoms; BED exhibited the opposite pattern) and overall symptom severity at admission (i.e., AN‐BP and OSFED had the highest overall comorbid symptom severity; BED had the lowest). Although the overall symptom improvement was significantly greater in ARFID and BED than in AN‐BP, AN‐R, and OSFED, ED patients collectively and within each diagnostic group improved significantly in GAD, OCD, and depression symptoms following routine ED treatment at HLOC.
Titanium Implant Modified With Zinc‐Doped Carbon Dot Layer as an Innovative Coating for the Development of Local Drug Delivery System for Ciprofloxacin
Authors: Reczkowski Jakub , Ławniczak Łukasz , Ratajczak Maria , Voelkel Adam , Sandomierski Mariusz
Published: November 2024

This study presents a new innovative drug delivery system for ciprofloxacin, which is based on the formation of a zinc‐doped carbon dots layer on the surface of a titanium alloy (TiAl4V6). In the study, the effectiveness of the synthesis method of a zinc‐doped carbon dots layer was determined. The distribution of the layer of carbon dots on the surface of the titanium alloy was investigated using the FT‐IR mapping technique, which confirmed the efficiency of the synthesis. The effective synthesis of carbon dots and the coordination of zinc ions on their surface opens the possibility of sorption of ciprofloxacin, which results in a high application potential of the obtained biomaterial. The introduction of zinc cations on the surface of the carbon dots layer resulted in high sorption results of the active substance (40 μg of drug per 1 cm2 of implant). The release profile of ciprofloxacin from the modified surface of the titanium alloy indicates that this active substance can be released for up to 4 h. The biomaterial obtained in this work is also hydrophilic (about 40°), which was shown by the contact angle tests. This is an important feature and indicates a high application potential of the performed modification. The resulting layer has antibacterial properties. Growth inhibition for microorganisms such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, and Candida albicans ranged from 74% to 96%. The creation of such a layer on the titanium alloy may reduce the risk of infection during the implantation procedure.
Reconceptualising emotion dysregulation in the context of middle childhood: A scoping review of reviews
Authors: Antony Evelyn Mary‐Ann , Beckmann Nadin , Higgins Steve
Published: November 2024

Background

Recent research has suggested that emotion dysregulation (ED) is a key mechanism which explains the associations between mental health illnesses, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and internalising problems, among youth. However, literature reviews have led to mixed and inconclusive findings on the conceptualisations of ED. Specifically, understanding ED in the context of middle childhood, otherwise known as ‘the forgotten years’, may be crucial, as it serves as a significant developmental stage, where children develop a sense of self and rationalise their emotions. This scoping review aims to address the present challenge of conceptualising ED during middle childhood.

Methods

ProQuest, PsycINFO, Scopus and Web of Science were searched in October 2024. Articles were included if ED and emotional dysregulation (including positive emotions) were conceptualised, if the paper was a review (i.e., scoping, literature, meta‐analysis etc), participants of the target age range (6–12‐year) were in the sample, and papers were in English. Studies were excluded if the sample included other age groups, such as infants and pre‐schoolers, alongside focussing on other phenomena, such as self‐regulation.

Results

The current scoping review explored the conceptualisations drawn from research studies conducted in the United States, Germany, Austria, France, and Australia. 11 studies were included in this review and two key themes were extrapolated (a) issues with processing emotions (i.e., emotion generation/reactivity) and (b) issues with adopting appropriate emotion regulation strategies and the failure in doing so, leading to issues in attaining goal‐directed behaviours.

Conclusions

The findings support the importance of considering how ED should be measured, based on holistic perspectives of the mechanism, alongside clinical screening for emotional deficits at earlier stages of life.
Multifunctional Fluorinated Copolymer Nanoparticles via a Cationic Dendritic‐Based Macromolecular RAFT‐CTA
Authors: Kulkarni Anuja , Yaddehige Mahesh Loku , Cooke Daniel J. , Hamadani Christine M. , Flynt Alex S. , Tanner Eden E. L. , Que Emily L. , Watkins Davita L.
Published: November 2024

As the field of theranostics expands, an imminent need arises for multifaceted polymer‐based nanotechnologies for clinical application. In this work, reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) aqueous emulsion polymerization is used to form 19F‐containing amphiphilic hybrid block copolymers (HBCs). Employing a cationic dendritic macromolecular chain transfer agent (mCTA), polymer frameworks comprised of chemically distinctive blocks of differing architectures (i.e., dendritic and grafted/linear) are strategically designed and synthesized. In aqueous media, self‐assembled polymer nanoparticles (PNPs) are formed. Their physicochemical properties and their potential as biomaterials for MRI applications are assessed. By showcasing a newly established mCTA and using these resulting PNPs as imaging probes, the work expands the design space of RAFT polymerization in biomedical research, paving the way for the development of more effective and versatile MRI imaging tools.
Is Darker More Effective? The Effect of Package Color Lightness on Consumer Judgment of Product Efficacy
Authors: Zheng Xiaoying , Liu Chunlei , Zheng Lijing
Published: November 2024

Product efficacy is a crucial consideration in consumer's purchasing decisions. However, assessing product efficacy is often challenging for consumers owing to its unobservability, thus prompting them to depend on observable cues for evaluation. This research examines the impact of a visually perceptible cue—package color lightness—on consumer judgment of product efficacy. Using a field study and three experimental studies, we demonstrate that consumers perceive products with darker‐colored (vs. lighter‐colored) packages as having a higher concentration of ingredients, leading them to judge the products as more (or less) effective. Nonetheless, this perception also leads to an associated concern regarding side effects. We further uncover that consumption goals—whether prioritizing effectiveness or safety—moderate consumer preference for products in darker‐colored versus lighter‐colored packaging. These findings enrich existing literature on color and product efficacy judgment and provide insights for marketers focused on efficacious products and visual design.
Experiences With a Substitution System for Clinical Nurses' Leave of Absence: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Kim Ae R. , Hong Jeong H. , Oh Seieun , Cho Sangwoon , Baek Hye J.
Published: November 2024

Insufficient staffing often makes it difficult for nurses in South Korea to adjust their schedules when they have illnesses or other health problems, resulting in presenteeism. This study aimed to explore the experiences of the Acknowledged Care Expert (ACE) team as a substitution system for clinical nurses taking leave because of illness or health problems from the perspectives of ACE nurses, nurse managers, and shift nurses. We collected data for this qualitative study through individual in‐depth interviews with six ACE nurses, a focus group interview with five nurse managers, and two focus group interviews with five nurses who shared their experiences with the ACE team. Thematic analysis of the data identified the following four themes: expected and unexpected benefits of the ACE team; challenges in operating the ACE team; characteristics and competencies required of the ACE team; and recommendations for the ACE program. The findings showed that the ACE team was highly valued and received positive feedback from colleagues and administrators with whom they worked. Such positive impacts were made possible by team members’ clinical expertise and the collective engagement of both coworkers and team members. Further research to evaluate such substitute systems is necessary to establish a more stable and encouraging environment for clinical nurses, as well as for patient care.
Bone Powder and Wild Plants: Subsistence Strategies of Early Neolithic Settlers in North China
Authors: Wei Xingtao , Sun Yibin , Li Jindou , Zhang Xiaohu , Sun Yongge , Cui Tianxing
Published: November 2024

The transition from hunting and gathering to agriculture is a major turning point in human history. In North China, although crops were cultivated as early as 10,000 BP, they only became staple foods with the establishment of a fully functional agricultural system between 6000 and 5000 BP. Thus, exploring the subsistence strategies of this transitional period is crucial for understanding how hunter‐gatherers gradually evolved into farmers. The Peiligang culture (c. 9000–7000 BP) is one of the most significant early Neolithic cultures in this region. In this study, we investigated the crust residues from the pottery Ding‐tripods (鼎) dating to the middle Peiligang culture (8800–8200 cal bp) at the Xielaozhuang site using a multidisciplinary approach that includes FTIR, XRD, SEM‐EDS, and starch granule analyses. Our results indicate that a mixture containing bone powder, Panicoideae, Triticeae, and acorns was prepared in these pottery Ding‐tripods. This finding represents one of the earliest known uses of bone powder globally, contributing valuable insights to the ongoing debate regarding fragmented bone assemblages and bone grease extraction. Moreover, combined with macrobotanical and zooarchaeological data, our findings suggest that agriculture had not yet fully supplanted hunting and gathering, as wild plants and animals continued to play a critical role in the diet at the Xielaozhuang site during the Peiligang culture. The use of bone powder alongside wild plant starches illustrates how these early communities invested significant time and effort into transforming inedible resources into consumable food, a strategy crucial for obtaining sufficient calories to sustain a sedentary lifestyle, especially during periods of resource scarcity. These insights illuminate the subsistence strategies of early Neolithic societies transitioning from reliance on hunting‐gathering to more settled practices.
Analysing perceptions of nature and nature's contributions to people for a Swiss ecological infrastructure
Authors: Cracco Marina , Walters Gretchen , Loup Romain
Published: November 2024

Understanding how a population perceives nature and nature's contributions to people is key to designing a society's ecological infrastructure. Narrative‐based research can capture how people perceive and value nature.

Using the Intergovernmental Science‐Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) framework, through a survey, we capture narratives to assess the value and perceptions of nature and its contributions of Swiss residents living inside and outside parks. We examined 924 narratives of experiences (26% response rate) in nature from a large representative sample of the study areas' populations. This research grants agency to study participants to assess the social value of nature through experience interpretation, thus reducing the interpretation bias of the researchers.

Residents in these regions perceive parks, and other areas where nature has been prioritized, provide more benefits than other areas; nature's intrinsic value is as equally important or, for some, even more important than its importance for the economy or culture; and that the perception on the state of nature and nature's contributions differ inside and outside parks.

As one of the few exploratory studies to examine perceptions of all types of contributions of nature, using the IPBES international framework, and looking at nature inside and outside parks, this work contributes to strengthening the design and management of parks and ecological infrastructure in Switzerland and beyond. People's values and perceptions of nature provide information to establish ecological infrastructure that could transcend the boundaries of the parks into the larger landscape.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
Molecular Propeller Tethering on a Dipeptide Induces a One‐Step Conversion of Its Secondary Structure on Water Surface Promoted by Chiral Supramolecular Assembly
Authors: Biswas Sandip , Umesh  , Das Bidisa , Koley Pradyot , Acharya Somobrata , Bhattacharya Santanu
Published: November 2024

Water provides a unique surface for the formation of directed self‐assembly and transformation of secondary structures of peptides and proteins as witnessed in the biological systems. Herein a one‐step transformation of an amyloid‐derived dipeptide is reported from β‐sheet to α‐helix structures on the water surface, facilitated by chiral supramolecular assembly. The study utilizes various analytical techniques to elucidate the structural transformation and the supramolecular packing of the peptide assemblies. Organizations such as spherical aggregates and molecular nanowires containing β‐sheet structure are converted into (2D) molecular sheets comprising a larger planar area yet with a molecular level thickness of α‐helix structure. The conformational features of the β‐sheet to α‐helix structural transformation are dominated by the intermolecular H‐bonding, π–π stacking, and C─H···π interactions. Strikingly, the dynamic changes in the dihedral (intramolecular) angle between the aromatic rings of the dipeptide at the water surface alter the molecular packing and shorten the intermolecular H‐bonds with larger binding energies required for the secondary structural transformation. Thus, the novel one‐step strategy reports herein offers a simple, efficient, and hitherto unprecedented way of chiral supramolecular assembly directed total secondary structural transformation of the dipeptide on water surface.
Discovering Multi‐Compositional Li‐Argyrodite Solid‐State Electrolytes via Experimental Active Learning
Authors: Cho Min Young , Pyo Kyunglim , Lee Byung Do , Kim Heejeong , Shin Jiyoon , Seo Jung Yong , Park Woon Bae , Sohn Kee‐Sun
Published: November 2024

Significant research has focused on doping third‐party elements into representative Li‐Argyrodites, which typically consist of a metal cation, a sulfide anion, and a halide. These efforts have generally been limited to doping or substituting a single element at each atomic site in the Argyrodite structure, resulting in, at most, binary combinations at each site. Multi‐elemental doping or substitution poses a challenge due to the so‐called combinatorial explosion issue. Here, the study reports quaternary and ternary combinations at either the cation or anion sites, optimizing the composition for ambient‐temperature ionic conductivity. Managing such a complex multi‐compositional system requires artificial intelligence that surpasses human intuition. A particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm is employed within an active learning framework to tackle this multi‐dimensional optimization problem. Unlike typical active learning approaches that rely on theoretical computational data, the process is driven by experimental data from the synthesis and characterization of a few hundred multi‐compositional Argyrodite samples This experimental active learning approach ultimately enables identifying a novel multi‐compositional Li‐Argyrodite, exhibiting ambient‐temperature ionic conductivity of 13.02 mS cm⁻¹ and enhanced cell performance, with the composition Li6.425Ge0.25Si0.375Sb0.375S4.8I1.2.
The Effect of Cold Ring Rolling on the Heat Treatment Microstructure and Wear Resistance of GCr15 Bearing Steel
Authors: Hao Tianci , Yu Xingfu , Yu Penghan , Wei Yinghua , Su Yong
Published: November 2024

By means of cold ring rolling (CRR), quenching and tempering treatments, microstructure observation, and mechanical‐property tests, the effects of CRR on the heat treatment microstructure and wear resistance of GCr15 bearing steel are studied. The results show that, CRR reduces the size of carbides in the spheroidized microstructure and increases their quantity. The carbide particle size before and after CRR are 1.264 and 0.697 μm, respectively. After solution treatment and quenching, the number of undissolved carbides significantly decreases in the CRR samples. When the solution treatment time is 20 min, the carbide size in the steel without and with CRR is 0.684 and 0.628 μm, indicating that CRR promotes carbide dissolution during solution treatment. After tempering, the CRR steel exhibits an increase in carbide precipitation, and a great number of particulate carbides are precipitated. The hardness of the CRR steel after tempering is notably enhanced, and the wear resistance is improved. When the solution treatment time is 15 min under the same quenching and tempering conditions, the CRR steel achieves the highest hardness of HRC 62.0 and the best wear resistance with the wear loss of only 4.73 × 10−5 mg (N m)−1.
Sensitivity of concrete network arch bridges to time‐dependent and thermal effects
Authors: Bagheriehnajjar Yasmin , Yousefpour Hossein
Published: November 2024

Network arches are efficient tied arch bridges with inclined hangers, in which some hangers cross each other twice or more. This paper is focused on one of the concerns regarding the use of concrete network arches, which is their sensitivity to environmental and time‐dependent effects. A validated 3D finite element model of a real‐world concrete network arch bridge that was instrumented during construction and over time was developed, in which shrinkage and creep of concrete, as well as solar radiation, daily and seasonal temperature changes, and heat transfer phenomena were simulated. Fifty‐four variants of this reference bridge, each with a different hanger arrangement, were developed and subjected to environmental and time‐dependent effects for 1 year, during which fluctuations in strains, stresses, axial forces, bending moments, and hanger forces were evaluated. Results showed that thermal changes affect network arches much more significantly than concrete creep and shrinkage. Network arches with the arrangement in which the distance between nodes on the tie varies according to the geometry of an ellipse, exhibited the least sensitivity to environmental and time‐dependent effects, whereas the radial and vertical arrangements showed smaller tendency for hanger relaxation due to such effects.
Memory as Touch: The Hand, Amputation, and Sensory Contagion
Authors: Jacob Ramalho Joana
Published: November 2024

In the highly multisensory process of re-collecting memories, the Gothic insistently privileges touch as a motif of both separation and intimacy. Whereas most scholars elect a study of the gaze, founded on ocularcentrism, as their preferred framework for studying character relations as well as our own positioning as viewers, I turn to the hand as a key vehicle of re-collection and a primary site of affect and affection. Looking at hand amputation as portrayed in Orlacs Hände (Wiene, 1924) and The Unknown (Browning, 1927), this chapter draws on disability studies to interrogate the complication of identity in relation to a body that has become othered and exilic through injury. Based on the work of, among others, Karen Barad, Monika Pietrzak-Franger, and Thomas Fahy, I analyse the wounded body as a discursive site that is fundamentally political. The sorrows and existential dilemmas of the differently-abled protagonists find visual reference in wounded war bodies, used and then disposed of by the state.
Pathological Journeys, Gloves, and ‘Affect-Logic’
Authors: Jacob Ramalho Joana
Published: November 2024

This chapter follows on from the idea of re-collection as a dangerous process and conceptualises the perils of preying on an other’s memory through the general postulates of Luc Ciompi’s (1982) affective-cognitive metatheory which, in the context of pathological conditions, examines how rational thought and logic depend on affects. A close reading of visual and manual hapticity in Rebecca (Hitchcock, 1940) and Peter Ibbetson (Hathaway, 1935) will illustrate these concerns. Mnemonic spaces, accessed through transgressive curiositas in Rebecca and shared telepathic dreams in Peter Ibbetson, devolve into imprisoning structures that feed the subject’s obsession with re-membering and provoke a change from an ‘everyday logic’ to a ‘psychotic logic’. Exclusion from a particular environment and, conversely, the construction of a sense of belonging are both signalled by the intervention of intensely manual memory-objects, such as gloves and rings. In both films, the need to touch, possess, and transgress spatial, temporal, and psychological boundaries is directly linked to the nexus between home and exile, one which is haunted by an acute preoccupation with memory. Ultimately, the cinematic Gothic draws forth a failed relationship with re-collection, which allows for a questioning of the overall desirability of memory.
Conclusion: Routes of Re-membering
Authors: Jacob Ramalho Joana
Published: November 2024

The cinematic gothic aesthetic, as I have described it in these pages, is an aesthetics of memory, accented in its transcultural authorial roots and displaced characters. The accented style of the films responds to the directors’ socio-cultural condition of displacement, inscribing into the mise-en-scène, atmosphere, and plotlines experiences of dislocation, trespassing, claustrophobia, unbelonging, loss, change, and motifs of itinerancy. In their paralleling of life and art, the films become visual archives of mourning: cinematic representations of personal memory sifted through the realisation that the past is forever lost, memory is always reconstructed and contaminated by the imagination, identity is porous, and happiness is either unattainable or resides in death. Driven by an overpowering and often maddening impetus to re-collect, the characters attempt to ground their lives in something tangible, something that can be held, preserved, and revisited to counteract the prevailing instability of their existence. Amid the ruptures and fissures of memory, objects represent fixity and continuity; yet, the characters’ affective, haptic encounters with memory-objects merely feed their obsession with re-membering and thus ultimately constitute a further motif of exile. Haunted, incomplete, often divorced or estranged from a sense of identity, the gothic subject that emerges from these films stands as an avatar of a fractured, postmodern selfhood, with its multiple, disjointed voices and fragmented personae.
The State of Marriage in Yemen
Authors: Al Salahi Fouad , Al Aazi Arwa
Published: November 2024

This chapter deploys an analytical method for approaching the issue of marriage in Yemen against the backdrop of a tumultuous social situation. For over five years now, Yemeni society has been going through a political and social crisis, where economic, social, and political challenges are on the rise. The latter cast their shadows over the family in Yemen and its roles and functions—and women are particularly affected. Marriage, as both concept and phenomenon, cannot be studied in the absence of a thorough understanding of its general social context. The significance of marriage and the dynamics of its formation cannot be separated from the context that functions as the structural force shaping individuals and their culture, and determining their interactions and interrelations. The point is particularly true of marriage and family filiation, since they form new kinds of bonds and construe people as relatives.
Toxicokinetics of benzotriazole UV stabilizer UV-P in humans after single oral administration
Authors: Fischer Corinna , Hiller Julia , Leibold Edgar , Göen Thomas
Published: November 2024

UV-P (2-(2H-Benzotriazol-2-yl)-p-cresol) is used as an ultraviolet (UV) light absorber in coating products, paints, adhesives, and sealants. Due to its widespread industrial and consumer uses, human exposure to UV-P is conceivable. In the study presented herein, initial data on its human in vivo metabolism were obtained for three study participants after single oral administration of 0.3 mg of UV-P/kg body weight. Urine and blood samples of two volunteers were collected up to 48 h after exposure. The third study participant donated urine and blood samples up to 72 h. Maximum levels of UV-P in blood of 184 ± 36 µg/l (85 ± 3% as conjugates) were reached 2.4 ± 1.2 h post-exposure. Maximum excretion rates of UV-P in urine of 2896 ± 884 µg/h (completely conjugated) were reached 3.5 ± 1.1 h post-exposure. 37.2 ± 5.4% of the orally administered dose of UV-P was recovered in urine within 48 h post-exposure. The present study provides insight into the complex absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination (ADME) processes of benzotriazole UV stabilizers (BUVS). The study also demonstrates differences in the ADME between sterically hindered BUVS, such as UV-327 and UV-328, and sterically unhindered BUVS, such as UV-P, in which the phenolic hydroxyl group is readily accessible for conjugation with glucuronic acid or sulfate.