bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influence of Parotid Saliva Composition on Phosphate Species' Chemical State in Relation to Dental Caries
Authors: Rovera Angela , Alzahrani Ali S. , Rovera Guido , Anderson Paul
Published: February 2025

Objectives

The aim of the present study was to analyze the influence of parotid saliva (PS) composition on the phosphate species' chemical state in relation to dental caries.

Methods

Unilateral stimulated PS samples were collected from 21 healthy adult subjects using a Lashley cup. Clinical caries scores of each subject were classified using the ICDAS score. The pH was recorded for each saliva sample. The concentration of specific inorganic elements (K+, Na+, Ca2+, Al3+, Sr2+, Li+, Zn2+, and Mg2+) was measured using an Inductively Coupled Plasma‐Optical Emission Spectrometer (ICP‐OES). The PS effective concentration of ions and the degree of saturation (DS) with respect to enamel mineral were determined by speciation calculation. The PS chemical environment was determined using 31P‐Nuclear‐Magnetic‐Resonance‐Spectroscopy (31P‐NMR). Pearson's correlation test was applied to evaluate the influence of PS composition on the ICDAS score.

Results

The pH varied from 5.9 to 7.6. The ICDAS scores varied from 0.03 to 2.48. PS was supersaturated with respect to HAp at all pH values. The 31P‐NMR peak position value reflects the phosphate chemical state within PS and its change in relation to pH. Only calcium ion concentration [Ca2+], aluminum activity {Al3+}, and DSHAp significantly correlated with the 31P‐NMR peak position value (ppm), whereas no correlation was observed between the 31P‐NMR peak position value and the activities of K+, Na+, Sr2+, Mg2+, Li+, and Zn2+.

Conclusions

This parotid saliva 31P‐NMR study has shown that calcium ion concentration [Ca2+], aluminum activity {Al3+}, and DSHAp significantly influence the phosphate species' chemical state existing within PS and provides extended knowledge on the main biochemical determinants of the caries process.
Treatment patterns, outcomes and healthcare resource utilization of obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in England
Authors: Osman Faizel , Zema Carla L. , Hurst Michael , Sandler Belinda , Brellier Florence , Utuama Ovie , Kirichek Oksana , Houghton John , Lemmer Teresa , Esteban Maite Tome
Published: February 2025

Aims

Describe patient characteristics, treatment patterns, clinical outcomes, healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and medical costs associated with patients who were diagnosed with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) in clinical practice in England.

Methods and results

This observational, retrospective, cohort study of adults who were diagnosed with obstructive HCM in routine clinical practice in England used electronic health records from Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) GOLD/Aurum and linked Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) databases (1 April 2007 to 30 October 2020). Adults (≥18 years at index date) with at least one diagnosis code (ICD‐10, Read, SNOMED, or OPCS) indicative of HCM with ≥1 year of continuous registration in CPRD, data of acceptable research quality and eligibility for HES linkage were included. Outcomes from the obstructive HCM cohort were stratified by New York Heart Association (NYHA) class at baseline and during follow‐up. Owing to the paucity of NYHA coding, patients with obstructive HCM and no record of NYHA class were assigned a proxy NYHA classification using an algorithm that considered patient symptoms and treatments. The study included 6440 patients in the overall HCM cohort with a mean follow‐up duration of 4.84 [standard deviation (SD): 2.95] years. The study population was predominantly male (61.9%) and white (79.1%), with a mean (SD) age of 61.02 (15.61) years. The proportion of patients with obstructive HCM who had a pre‐specified prior medical condition relevant to understanding disease burden increased with higher NYHA class (66.5% vs. 83.0% for NYHA class I and NYHA class II+, respectively), as did the proportion of patients with at least one baseline active prescription for cardiovascular‐related medication. Among patients with at least one record of a prescription for the treatment of symptomatic obstructive HCM, 41.7% experienced a treatment change during the follow‐up period. Atrial fibrillation or flutter, ischaemic stroke and heart failure were the most observed clinical events among patients in the obstructive HCM cohort, and the first in‐study incidence of these events increased with higher NYHA class. Total HCRU costs per patient‐year increased from £3033 to £4517 for NYHA classes I and II+, respectively, with secondary care costs consistently being the main driver in the obstructive HCM cohort.

Conclusions

Obstructive HCM is associated with a large clinical and economic burden in England, and this burden increases with higher NYHA class. These findings support the need for new and more effective strategies for the management of HCM.
Surfactant‐Based Polymer Microchip Electrophoresis of Ciprofloxacin Hydrochloride Monohydrate in Unfiltered Milk With Fluorescence Detection
Authors: Leclerc Camille A. , Ty Christopher G. D. , Worthington Sean S. , Richardson Malley B. , AlSawalhi Abdulla K. , Wood Larry , Moomand Khalid , Collier Christopher M.
Published: February 2025

This work describes a cross‐shaped PMMA ME system capable of detecting ciprofloxacin hydrochloride monohydrate (CPFH) in unfiltered milk samples. The cross‐shaped PMMA ME system utilizes a BGE consisting primarily of the surface‐active agent SDS to solubilize milk fat and improve the zeta potential of the PMMA microchannel surface. A theoretical lumped‐element circuit model for cross‐shaped ME is introduced in this work to calculate the migration time of CPFH. This manuscript improves the capabilities of PMMA‐based ME for CPFH in milk using an SDS‐based BGE. The presented ME system has a faster migration time, higher mean output voltage, and thinner full‐width at half‐maximum than previously reported dairy‐based biosensor systems. Most notably, the migration time of the new system is under 10 min, being the time associated with the milking of cattle. The system is also found to be able to detect the presence of milk fat. Discussion is included of potential future integration with existing high‐sensitivity methodologies to place the overall ME system's limit of detection below an established target. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first reported account of a PMMA ME system capable of detecting CPFH in unfiltered milk.
Single‐Cell Analysis of Endothelial Cell Injury in IgA Nephropathy
Authors: Yang Yong‐Chang , Zhu Lin , Zhao Jing‐Ying , Zhang Bo , Wang Xiao‐Meng , Cheung Wai W. , Zhao Cheng‐Guang , Zhou Ping
Published: February 2025

Background

The precise mechanisms responsible for renal injury in IgA nephropathy (IgAN) are not fully understood. Our study employed an extensive scRNA‐seq analysis of kidney biopsies obtained from individuals with IgAN, with a specific emphasis on investigating the involvement of renal endothelial cells.

Methods

We obtained data from the Gene Expression Omnibus database and conducted bioinformatics analysis, which included enrichment analysis of differentially expressed genes, AUCell analysis, and high‐dimensional weighted gene co‐expression network analysis (hdWGCNA). The results of these analyses were further validated using human renal glomerular endothelial cells (HRGECs).

Results

The ScRNA‐seq data uncovered notable variations in gene expression between IgAN and control kidney tissues. The enrichment analysis using AUCell demonstrated a high presence of adhesion molecules and components related to the mitogen‐activated protein kinase signaling pathway within the renal endothelial cells. Furthermore, through hdWGCNA analysis, it was discovered that interleukin (IL)‐6, Rac1, and cadherin exhibited associations with the renal endothelial cells. Stimulation of HRGECs with IL‐6/IL‐6 receptor resulted in a significant reduction in VE‐cad expression while inhibiting Rac1 led to a substantial decrease in Rac1‐GTP levels and an increase in VE‐cad expression.

Conclusion

This study presents novel findings regarding the contribution of renal endothelial cells to the development of IgAN, as it demonstrates that IL‐6 negatively regulates VE‐cad expression in HRGECs via Rac1. These results highlight the significant involvement of renal endothelial cells in the pathogenesis of IgAN.
Investigation of the validity and reliability of the maternal sex during pregnancy scale in Muslim women
Authors: Ashrafinia Farzaneh , Jawed‐Wessel Sofia , Haji‐Maghsoudi Saiedeh , Heydari Omolbanin , Shojaee Baghini Fateme
Published: February 2025

Objective

The aim of this study was to examine the maternal sex during pregnancy (MSP) score in a sample of Iranian pregnant women, while also evaluating the factor structure, validity, and reliability of the Persian version of the MSP.

Methods

A total of 400 pregnant women participated in the study. Of these, 30 were examined for their test–retest reliability and 370 for their construct validity. The participants completed a questionnaire on demographic characteristics as well as the MSP, the sexual function short form inventory (SFSI‐6), global measure of sexual satisfaction (GMSEX) and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Test–retest reliability was determined using the interclass correlation coefficient (ICC), while Cronbach's alpha coefficient was used to assess internal consistency. Construct validity was assessed by exploratory factor analysis (EFA) using principal axis factorization (PAF) with varimax rotation followed by confirmatory factor analysis.

Results

The Kaiser‐Meyer‐Olkin (KMO) measure demonstrated high sampling adequacy (KMO = 0.88), and Bartlett's test of sphericity confirmed the appropriateness of the correlation matrix for EFA (P < 0.001). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) indicated an excellent fit of the unifactorial model for the MSP, (χ2/df = 1.79) (P = 0.084), comparative fit index (CFI = 0.999), Tucker‐Lewis index (TLI = 0.979), root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA = 0.065), and standardized root mean square residual (SRMR = 0.078). MSP scale demonstrated good internal consistency (α = 0.86 and Omega coefficients = 0.88).

Conclusion

The Persian version of the MSP scale and its scoring system demonstrated strong validity and reliability in evaluating pregnant women's attitudes toward sex during pregnancy in the Iranian context.
Apigenin Ameliorates Insulin Resistance in 3T3‐L1 Adipocytes: Establishment of a New Insulin Resistance Model Induced by Combined Treatments
Authors: Guo Xiaoxuan , Xia Bing , Liu Sha , Dong Ying , Qian Yongzhong , Qiu Jing
Published: February 2025

Adipose tissue dysfunction due to insulin resistance (IR) plays a central role in the development of metabolic diseases. Obesity‐associated IR greatly attributes to low‐grade inflammation and high circulating levels of FFAs and sugar. 3T3‐L1 adipocytes exposed to a mixture of TNF‐α, fructose, and palmitate acid for 24 h were validated as a model to simulate the pathogenesis of IR in obese people under a high–fat–fructose diet. Results show that the combined induction medium (CIM) successfully induced IR in 3T3‐L1 adipocytes by impairing insulin signaling pathway. In the meantime, MAPK (JNK, ERK) pathway and NFκB p65 were activated, which are signs of inflammation response. Moreover, CIM caused mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress. In addition, endoplasmic reticulum stress (ER stress) was evoked by CIM through activating IRE1α/XBP1s, eIF2α, and ATF6. Apigenin could efficiently relieve IR in adipocytes through sensitizing insulin signaling pathway, exerting antioxidant activity, blocking the NFκB pathway, and suppressing ER stress. The present study may provide new tools in discovering preventive and intervention strategies for IR caused by low‐grade inflammation and high–fat–fructose diets and provide a basis for the application of apigenin in IR and other IR‐related diseases.
Establishing discordance rate of estimated glomerular filtration rate between serum creatinine‐based calculations and cystatin‐C‐based calculations in critically ill patients
Authors: Williams Victoria L. , Gerlach Anthony T.
Published: February 2025

Introduction

The use of serum creatinine (SCr) for drug dosing has significant limitations and is influenced by many non‐kidney factors. Cystatin C (cysC) is an alternative or additional marker of kidney function that is less affected by non‐kidney factors. Although cysC may be useful in hospitalized patients, the use of cysC to calculate drug dosing in critically ill patients has been incompletely investigated.

Objective

The objective of this study was to determine the rate of discordance in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) between SCr‐based calculations and SCr/cysC‐based calculations that affect drug dosing in critically ill patients.

Methods

This was a single‐center, retrospective, observational cohort study at an academic medical center including critically ill adult patients admitted in 2023 with SCr and cysC ordered. Data were collected via chart review. Demographic data were analyzed via descriptive statistics. Discordance, defined as the percentage of times at which there is at least one discrepancy in kidney dosing for a medication using Cockcroft‐Gault (CG) creatinine clearance versus Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD‐EPI) eGFR creatinine‐cystatin C (eGFRcr‐cys) equations, was analyzed via Wilcoxon matched pair signed ranked sum. eGFR calculations were normalized for patients' body surface area for comparison.

Results

The study population included 232 patients (53.02% female; mean age 58.7 +/− 14.9 years; with 62.5% in medical, 23.28% in surgical, and 8.62% in neurological intensive care) with a median SCr of 0.94 mg/dL IQR [0.57–1.58] and median cysC of 1.92 mg/L IQR [1.27–2.77]. The median clearance rates were 68.5 mL/min (45.3–111.5) for CG and 53.9 mL/min (30.9–80.7) for CKD‐EPI eGFRcr‐cys; p < 0.001. The discordance rate across all study drugs was 32.3% (75/232). The four most common study drugs demonstrating discordance were cefepime 40.6% (52/128), vancomycin 38.3% (46/120), levetiracetam 35.1% (13/37), and piperacillin/tazobactam 11.6% (5/43).

Conclusion

Clinically significant discordance exists between SCr and SCr/cysC‐based estimates of kidney function. This study established a discordance rate, as defined by drug dosing, of 32.3% in adult patients admitted to the ICU.
Comparative transcriptomics reveals different profiles between diflubenzuron‐resistant and ‐susceptible phenotypes of the mosquito Culex pipiens
Authors: Valentina Mastrantonio , Franco Liberati , Tiziana Castrignanò , Valentina Lucchesi , Sandra Urbanelli , Romeo Bellini , John Vontas , Daniele Porretta
Published: February 2025

Background

Chitin‐synthesis inhibitors (CSIs) represent a major tool in vector control. The intensive use of these compounds has led to the evolution of resistance against several CSIs, including diflubenzuron (DFB). DFB resistance has been associated to a target‐site mechanism; however, studies investigating the gene expression profile of resistant phenotypes are limited, preventing a full understanding of DFB resistance. Here, we analyzed the constitutive gene expression of susceptible and DFB‐resistant individuals of the mosquito Culex pipiens, a major disease vector in temperate areas.

Results

Comparative gene expression analysis between susceptible and DFB‐resistant individuals identified 527 differentially expressed genes (i.e., 432 up‐regulated and 95 down‐regulated genes). Among the up‐regulated genes, 87 genes belong to gene families associated with insecticide resistance in arthropods, such as cytochrome P450s, glutathione‐S‐transferases, UDP‐glucuronosyltransferases, heat shock proteins and cuticular proteins (CPs). Interestingly, the CP transcripts were the most abundant among up‐regulated genes (73 of 87), and furthermore they constitute 11 of the 20 most over expressed genes. The enrichment of transcripts associated with cuticle synthesis was also identified by the Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis.

Conclusions

Adaptation to insecticides can involve transcriptional changes in genes encoding for multiple defense mechanisms. Our results identified the over‐expression of transcripts associated with detoxification and cuticle synthesis in DFB‐resistant individuals of Cx. pipiens. Multiple mechanisms, beyond the known target‐site mechanism, may therefore contribute to the DFB‐resistant phenotype. Together these findings corroborate the complexity underpinning the resistant phenotypes and provide important information for the implementation of effective control strategies against mosquito vectors. © 2025 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
Inhibition of EPSPS overexpression of glyphosate‐resistant Lolium perenneL. with a clethodim and glyphosate mixture
Authors: Yanniccari Marcos , Gigón Ramón
Published: February 2025

BACKGROUND

Glyphosate‐resistant populations of some grass species have demonstrated high sensitivity to combinations of glyphosate and acetyl‐CoA carboxylase (ACCase)‐inhibiting herbicides. Nevertheless, it is unclear how glyphosate contributes to the control of glyphosate‐resistant plants when combined with other active ingredients such as clethodim. The current work aimed to detect if glyphosate‐resistant Lolium perenne L. biotypes associated with target‐site [5‐enolpyruvylshikimate‐3‐phosphate synthase (EPSPS)] overexpression and EPSPS mutation (P106S) as mechanisms of resistance are equally controlled by clethodim or clethodim plus glyphosate compared to a susceptible counterpart.

RESULTS

Plants of the EPSPS overexpression biotype were most sensitive to glyphosate when it was combined with clethodim, and the dose required to halve the maximal response (I50) calculated for glyphosate was reduced to a third. However, the ACCase inhibitor seems to be uniquely responsible for weed control in the P106S biotype. In response to clethodim, EPSPS expression was inhibited in the glyphosate‐resistant EPSPS overexpression biotype to a level like or lower than that of susceptible plants. The glyphosate plus clethodim mixture caused a 1.7‐fold increase in shikimate concentration in the leaves of susceptible and EPSPS overexpression biotypes compared to glyphosate alone.

CONCLUSION

The effects of glyphosate plus clethodim impact in different senses according to the mechanism of resistance involved, where the convergent action of both herbicides controlled the susceptible and EPSPS overexpression biotypes. In contrast, the P106S biotype died because of the clethodim component in the mixture. Mixing herbicides should not be considered a complete solution to herbicide resistance management, and its potential seems dependent on the resistance mechanism involved. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.
Understanding Agile Transformation With Critical Systems Heuristics in Soft Systems Methodology: A Study Case in Oil and Gas Company Operation
Authors: Darusulistyo Sidik , Wibisono Dermawan , Wandebori Harimukti , Novani Santi , Kencanasari Retna A. M.
Published: February 2025

Agile transformations in organizations are complex and multifaceted endeavours, heavily influenced by the cultural context in which they are undertaken. This paper underscores the pivotal role of cultural considerations in firms' agile transformation initiatives, affirming that agile transformation is, fundamentally, a cultural transformation. To address this, soft systems methodology (SSM) emerges as an action research methodology grounded in systems thinking, comprising two integral streams: the logical‐based stream and the cultural‐based stream. It aims to develop actions that are not only systematically feasible but also culturally desirable. This research employs semistructured interviews, focus group discussion (FGD) and observations as the primary research methodology. We strategically selected the critical systems heuristics (CSH) to enhance the analysis of intervention, social dynamics and political aspects within the organization. The analysis will facilitate the development of culturally desirable organizational changes. Specifically, CSH analysis delineates the boundaries within the transformation process, identifies key actors and resources in the agile journey, comprehends the motivating factors propelling change, elucidates metrics for measuring success and aligns stakeholders' worldviews. This study aims to fill the knowledge gap for researchers and industry practitioners on entering the problematic situation of agile transformation in the oil and gas industry by utilizing a robust multimethodological approach to action research and revealing crucial cultural factors that will be a guide for successful agile transformations in oil and gas operation organizations.
Truth, Situatedness, and Critique: Toward Religion and Worldview Education in the Anthropocene
Authors: Kvamme Ole Andreas
Published: February 2025

This chapter is written into a situation conceived of as the era of the Anthropocene, expressing the new position of the human species in earth history with an irreversible and massive impact on earth’s planetary systems. In the notion of the Anthropocene I include the conception of humankind as many and not one, acknowledging the interconnectedness with other forms of life. A premise in the following is that the current sustainability challenges involving climate crisis, ecological crisis and global injustice, prompt a rethinking of pedagogy and education. If so, how may religious and worldview education be reconsidered? I examine three accounts of religious and worldview education – Andrew Wright’s critical religious education, Robert Jackson’s interpretive approach, and Wanda Alberts’ didactics of the study of religions. I particularly identify their conceptions of the purpose of religious and worldview education, exploring how they accommodate the ecological, existential, and political contexts. While these approaches pay limited attention to the crises in the Anthropocene, by primarily situating and reflecting on religious and worldview education in increasingly plural societies, they contribute to social sustainability. Furthermore, in their attention to the search for truth and student situatedness, a recognition of a global element, an formative dimension of education accommodating a critical, reflexive element they provide possible spaces and entry points for rethinking of an integrative religious and worldview education in the Anthropocene.
AI metrics and policymaking: assumptions and challenges in the shaping of AI
Authors: Sioumalas-Christodoulou Konstantinos , Tympas Aristotle
Published: February 2025

This paper explores the interplay between AI metrics and policymaking by examining the conceptual and methodological frameworks of global AI metrics and their alignment with National Artificial Intelligence Strategies (NAIS). Through topic modeling and qualitative content analysis, key thematic areas in NAIS are identified. The findings suggest a misalignment between the technical and economic focus of global AI metrics and the broader societal and ethical priorities emphasized in NAIS. This highlights the need to recalibrate AI evaluation frameworks to include ethical and other social considerations, aligning AI advancements with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for an inclusive, ethical, and sustainable future.
Wood mechanical properties scale with distance to tree tip in the outermost growth ring of a Scots pine
Authors: Górska Marta , Piermattei Alma , Ruffinatto Flavio , Crivellaro Alan
Published: February 2025

Key message

Distance from the tree tip strongly influences axial variations in the elasticity (MOE) and strength (MOR) of fresh Scots pine wood, with both properties increasing towards the base of the stem.

Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), one of Europe's most used timber species, is valued in the construction, furniture, and paper industries. The anatomical structure of Scots pine wood follows the universal conduit widening model, where tracheid lumen size increases in each tree ring from the tip to the base of the stem, enhancing hydraulic efficiency. However, whether the physical and mechanical properties of the wood mirror its axial anatomical pattern remains unclear. For this study, we sampled an 8.6 m tall Scots pine and analysed its fresh wood mechanical, physical and anatomical properties of the outermost growth ring along the stem. In addition to the expected axial increase in tracheid size towards the base, we observed axial variations in latewood percentage and the density of rays and resin ducts. These anatomical differences correspond to axial trends in physical and mechanical properties, which show predictable patterns described by power law scaling. All three measured physical and mechanical traits, namely basic wood density, modulus of elasticity (MOE), and modulus of rupture (MOR), decrease from the stem base towards the tip. Mechanical properties correlate more strongly with distance from the tree tip than basic density or latewood proportion. These findings have practical implications for optimising timber selection in load-bearing applications and inspire new avenues for research and innovation in wood material science.
Attitudes of Peer Support Workers towards the Medical Model: A Qualitative Study from the Viewpoints of Peer Support Workers and Mental Health Staff
Authors: Ruiz-Pérez Guillermo , von Peter Sebastian
Published: February 2025

Attitudes of Peer Support Workers are generally expected to be grounded in recovery philosophy. They may encounter resistance from Mental Health Workers, which tend to be more closely aligned with the medical model. We aim to investigate how PSWs relate in clinical contexts to some main aspects of medical model-based attitudes. This research is part of the larger ImpPeer-Psy5 project, involving 57 interviews with PSWs, MHWs, and service users. The findings presented here were derived from a qualitative sub-study with 5 more interviews and one focus group with MHWs. Some PSWs view psychiatric diagnoses as helpful for their own recovery and interactions with clients, while others find them reductive and stigmatizing. Similarly, PSWs hold varying opinions on psychiatric drugs, with some seeing them as beneficial and necessary, while others have critical views. MHWs' expectations on PSWs may not always align with their attitudes.
Influence of extreme northward meandered Kuroshio Extension during 2023–2024 on ocean–atmosphere conditions in the Sanriku offshore region, Japan
Authors: Sugimoto Shusaku , Kojima Atsushi , Sakamoto Tatsuya , Kawakami Yuma , Nakano Hideyuki
Published: February 2025

The ocean off the Sanriku coast, Japan, where the Kuroshio Extension (KE) meets the Oyashio, has unique dynamics and hosts rich marine resources. Since April 2023, the KE, typically flowing eastward around 36°N, exhibited an extreme northward meander, reaching 40°N by the winter of 2024. An anticyclonic eddy pinched off from the KE’s northern edge in late May 2024. The Japan Meteorological Agency conducted hydrographic surveys that cross this eddy and the KE along about 145°E in late May 2024. The hydrographic data revealed that thick warm-salty subtropical water replaced the cold-fresh subarctic water off the Sanriku coast, with temperatures 10 °C warmer at depths of 50–400 dbar compared to past decades. The Subtropical Mode Water, characterized by vertical uniformity, existed north of 40°N, more than 500 km further north of its conventional distribution area. From April 2023 to August 2024, satellite data indicated record-high sea surface temperature off the Sanriku coast (+ 4.9 °C), with intense marine heatwave conditions almost every day. In the winter of 2024, over the very warm ocean off the Sanriku coast, 300 W m–2 more heat than usual in the form of turbulent heat flux was released from the ocean to the atmosphere, and air temperature and humidity increased up to around 800 hPa level, from atmospheric reanalysis data. In addition to monitoring these unprecedented ocean conditions off the Sanriku coast, it is important to assess their impact on the marine environment, fisheries, and, ultimately, the local economy.
Am I Eligible to Register? Registration Rules, Eligibility Uncertainty, and Youth Voter Turnout
Authors: Held Alexander
Published: February 2025

Is a lack of information about eligibility rules partly responsible for the particularly low youth voter turnout in U.S. elections? In a context where new voters usually have to register several weeks before Election Day and where registration rules vary by state, this article argues that there is substantial uncertainty among young Americans about their eligibility to register and vote in elections. It uses a natural experiment that leverages the as-if random assignment of a person’s 18th birthday around a state registration deadline to identify the causal effect of uncertainty about whether someone has to be 18 by the registration deadline or by Election Day to register and vote in an election on youth voter turnout. Drawing on fine-grained data from 19 U.S. state voter files, the study finds a sharp discontinuity in turnout in nine states. There are smaller or no effects in states with same day registration, a later registration deadline closer to Election Day or explicit information that 17-year-olds are eligible to register. Moreover, the effect persists over time, with people who are discouraged from voting due to eligibility uncertainty significantly less likely to vote in future elections. These findings have important implications for our understanding of youth turnout, election reforms, habit formation, and the study of citizens’ information and beliefs about electoral rules with administrative data.
Rathke’s cleft cyst: From history to molecular genetics
Authors: Hacioglu Aysa , Tekiner Halil , Altinoz Meric A. , Ekinci Gazanfer , Bonneville Jean-François , Yaltirik Kaan , Sav Aydin , Ture Ugur , Kelestimur Fahrettin
Published: February 2025

A Rathke’s cleft cyst (RCC) is a remnant of the embryologic Rathke’s pouch and a common pituitary lesion. A true RCC is lined with ciliated cuboidal or columnar epithelia with occasional goblet cells and squamous metaplasia. A RCC is frequently diagnosed incidentally through magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography of the brain or pituitary gland. Presentation can range from an asymptomatic clinical picture to a rapidly progressive disease. RCC are located most often in the sellar and suprasellar regions and a careful differential diagnosis is crucial, especially to exclude craniophryngioma. Recent studies illuminate novel molecular mechanisms and markers for understanding the pathogenesis of RCC. PROP-1, a paired-like homeodomain transcription factor, controls pituitary ontogeny and its high expression induces RCCs. Both transgenic mouse models and immunohistochemical analysis of human RCCs indicate that the leukemia inhibitory factor is involved in pathogenesis. The expression of cytokeratins 8 and 2 in RCCs, but not in craniopharyngiomas, and the presence of beta-catenin mutations in many craniopharyngiomas, but not in RCCs, help with the differential diagnosis. For asymptomatic and small RCCs, observation is appropriate, with serial magnetic resonance imaging and hormonal investigation depending on the patient’s clinical status. Surgical resection may be required for symptomatic RCC and recurrence rates are generally low. For patients with a recurrence, stereotactic radiosurgery is an effective approach with low risk.
How to Take Stock of Research Findings on Happiness in Regions Using the World Database of Happiness
Authors: Veenhoven Ruut
Published: February 2025

There is a demand for information on the quality of life in regions, among policymakers, business organizations and individuals. Much that information is available in the results of empirical studies, but it is difficult to get to that information. How to gather and select the available research findings and present these in a comparable way? In this paper I argue that the most inclusive indicator of quality-of-life in regions is how happy its inhabitants are. Happiness in the sense life-satisfaction is well measurable and comparable across place and time. Several survey studies provided information on the distribution of happiness in regions (average level and inequality) as well as on regional correlates of happiness. Reports of these studies are scattered, and the data are often presented in incomparable ways. Some of them used measures of happiness that do not fit the concept of happiness as life-satisfaction. Findings based on acceptable measures of happiness are gathered in the World Database of Happiness and presented in a standard format and terminology on electronic ‘finding pages’. By September 2024, this archive held 7666 findings on happiness in regions and cities, of which 4373 distributional findings and 2293 correlational findings. In this article, I demonstrate how these findings can be assessed and be used in review studies. Not all the available findings are entered in the World Database of Happiness as yet: about half as much are on the waiting list. Entering the existing findings may add more to our understanding than adding new data to the pile. In this paper, I show how colleagues can do that. I also point out how they use the technique of this findings archive to build a separate database on Happiness in Regions.
Enhancing workplace support digitally: evaluating the impact of a job crafting and a wise intervention
Authors: Böttcher Nora , Kauffeld Simone
Published: February 2025

Building on the well-established link between social support and well-being, this study, published in the journal Gruppe. Interaktion. Organisation., takes a targeted approach to enhancing workplace support through two distinct interventions. The first intervention, based on job crafting principles, empowers participants to set and implement goals to shape the support they receive at work. The second, a “wise intervention”, prompts individuals to reframe the support they receive. Using a robust randomized controlled design with four measurement points, we evaluated the effectiveness of these interventions compared to a control group. The wise intervention demonstrated significant improvements in perceived social support, particularly for individuals with low self-efficacy, and also enhanced life satisfaction. In contrast, the job crafting intervention did not show significant effects on social support or life satisfaction. Neither of the two intervention significantly reduced exhaustion as initially hypothesized. While our hypotheses were only partially confirmed, the success of the wise intervention underscores the importance of designing interventions that address the unique needs of employees. This nuanced approach offers a more effective strategy for enhancing workplace support, suggesting that a one-size-fits-all model may be insufficient for maximizing the benefits of such programs.
Correlation of Serum Zinc Levels with Hepatic Encephalopathy Severity in Patients with Decompensated Liver Cirrhosis: A Prospective Observational Study from Egypt
Authors: Semeya Atteyat A. , Elgamal Rasha , Othman Amira A. A.
Published: February 2025

A vital trace element, zinc, is involved in several metabolic and enzymatic functions, such as antioxidant defense and ammonia detoxification. Zinc metabolism is disturbed by liver cirrhosis, especially when it is decompensated, contributing to systemic complications, including hepatic encephalopathy (HE). This study aimed to assess serum zinc levels in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis and evaluate their correlation with the severity of cirrhosis and HE grades. This prospective observational study included 100 patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis and 100 healthy controls between December 2022 and June 2023. Serum zinc levels and other biochemical parameters were measured using standard laboratory methods. Liver cirrhosis severity was evaluated using the Child–Pugh score, and HE was graded using the West Haven criteria. Correlations between zinc levels, clinical parameters, and disease severity were analyzed statistically by Spearman’s correlation and Kruskal–Wallis tests. Serum zinc levels were significantly lower in cirrhotic patients compared to controls (21.7 ± 24.3 µg/dL vs. 85.9 ± 32.6 µg/dL, P < 0.0001). Zinc levels inversely correlated with both Child–Pugh class (r =  − 0.84, P < 0.001) and HE grade (r =  − 0.78, P < 0.001). Patients with advanced Child–Pugh Class C or HE Grade 3 had severe zinc deficiency. A strong positive correlation was observed between serum zinc and albumin levels (r = 0.843, P < 0.0001), underscoring albumin’s role in zinc transport. Serum zinc deficiency is strongly correlated with the severity of liver cirrhosis and HE. Therefore, routine zinc assessment and supplementation should be considered in cirrhotic patients, especially those with hypoalbuminemia or advanced HE for better outcomes.
The Impact of Peripheral Vascular Motion on Acute Drug Retention of Intravascular Devices
Authors: Ursillo Trey , Lowry Kayla , Allred Catherine , Phillips Mollie , Liu Linda B. , Chen Danyi , Yazdani Saami K.
Published: February 2025

Purpose

This goal of this study was to determine the impact of vascular motion on acute drug transfer and retention of drug-coated balloons (DCB) or drug-eluting stents (DES).

Methods

Commercially available paclitaxel DCBs (Lutonix & IN.PACT) and a paclitaxel DES (Zilver) were subjected to physiological flow and vascular motion conditions using a peripheral-simulating benchtop bioreactor system. Each DCB- or DES-treated artery was subjected to three sets of movement parameters including pulsatile flow with no twisting/bending (P1), pulsatile flow with 16.8° twist, 25° bend and 3.2 mm compression (P2), and pulsatile flow with 68° twist, 35° bend, 21 mm compression (P3). After 24 h, the treated segments were removed and paclitaxel concentrations were measured using pharmacokinetic analysis.

Results

In the group of arteries treated with the Lutonix DCB, there was a significant decrease in arterial paclitaxel concentrations between the P1 and both the P2 and P3 moving parameters (P1 = 404 ± 195 ng/mg, P2 = 14.9 ± 9.92 ng/mg, P3 = 19.2 ± 15.4 ng/mg; P1-P2 p = 0.007, P1-P3 p = 0.005). For the IN.PACT DCB group, no differences in the mean arterial paclitaxel concentrations were observed for the various movements (p = 0.55). Lastly, in the Zilver DES group, differences were only measured between the P2 and P3 moving parameters (P2 = 84.8 ± 32.7 ng/mg, P3 = 0.11 ± 0.06 ng/mg; P2-P3 p = 0.01).

Conclusion

Acute retention of arterial paclitaxel levels can be adversely impacted by vascular movement in both DES- and DCB- treated arteries.
A Framework to Guide Defining an Upper Threshold of Crystalline Vitamin B12 in Foods and Food Supplements
Authors: Obeid Rima , Geisel Juergen , Pietrzik Klaus , Andres Emmanuel
Published: February 2025

Purpose of review

To define an intake threshold of vitamin B12 from food supplements that is sufficient to maintain normal body functions, but it does not cause pharmacological effects.

Recent findings

We used studies on the amount of B12 absorbed following oral B12 application and non-comparative case-series studies to synthesize evidence on pharmacological effects of oral B12 (between < 10 µg and 3000 µg) in people with manifested deficiency. There is a dose-dependent intestinal absorption of B12 and in the same time effects on body metabolism and functions. Food supplements providing ≤ 20 µg B12 daily are unlikely to cause pharmacological effects, while 50 µg might correct abnormal biochemical markers in some deficient patients. Foods for special medical purposes for people who cannot absorb B12 may contain 100 µg to 150 µg B12. This dose may ensure 1–4 µg of the vitamin reaching the circulation on a daily basis independent of intrinsic factor. Dosages ≥ 200 µg/d should be considered as drugs that can correct anemia, metabolic markers and clinical symptoms.

The content of vitamin B12 in food supplements should not exceed 20 µg. In addition, people with deficiency should receive appropriate medical treatment with high dose B12.
Exploring the interplay of karyotype, hormones, sexuality, and body image perception in individuals with Turner syndrome
Authors: Tarantino Chiara , Vincenzi Ludovica , Angelini Francesco , Tomaselli Alessandra , Carlomagno Francesco , Rosato Elena , Pofi Riccardo , Lenzi Andrea , Pozza Carlotta , Minnetti Marianna , Spaziani Matteo , Isidori Andrea M. , Sbardella Emilia
Published: February 2025

Purpose

Most patients with Turner Syndrome (TS) require Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). Androgen levels could be compromised due to both ovarian insufficiency and HRT. Despite this, the association between androgen deficiency, sexual health, and body image perception remains underexplored in these patients. This study aimed to assess hormone levels, sexual function, and body image perception in women with TS, categorized by karyotype and HRT regimen.

Methods

A cross-sectional analysis of 29 patients with TS was performed. Clinical, hormonal, and ultrasonographic pelvic parameters were evaluated. Sexual function and body image perception were measured using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and the Body Uneasiness Test (BUT) questionnaires.

Results

The cohort included individuals with X chromosome monosomy (Group A), structural X chromosome alterations in some cell lines (Group B) or in all cell lines (Group C), and cells with 46, XX karyotype and monosomy (Group D). Group A and B compared to Group D displayed lower calculated free testosterone (p = 0.006, p = 0.032) and free androgen index levels (p = 0.007, p = 0.025). DHEA-S values differed between groups A and D (p = 0.043) and between groups A and C (p = 0.044). Sexual activity was reported by approximately half of patients (51.7%), with 57% of them presenting sexual dysfunction. Additionally, 44.8% exhibited possible body image disorder.

Conclusions

This study acknowledges significant phenotypic differences linked to karyotype in women with TS, highlighting the prevalence of sexual dysfunction and body image dissatisfaction. These findings emphasize the importance of addressing sexual health and body image issues in patients with rare diseases, often neglected in clinical practice.
Interplay of Gravity Waves and Disturbance Electric Fields to the Abnormal Ionospheric Variations During the 11 May 2024 Superstorm
Authors: Huang Fuqing , Lei Jiuhou , Yue Xinan , Li Zhongli , Zhang Ning , Cai Yihui , Zhang Shun‐Rong , Wang Yihan , Zhong Jiahao , Luan Xiaoli
Published: February 2025

The strongest geomagnetic storm in the preceding two decades occurred in May 2024. Over these years, ground‐based observational capabilities have been significantly enhanced to monitor the ionospheric weather. Notably, the newly established Sanya incoherent scatter radar (SYISR) (Yue, Wan, Ning, & Jin, 2022, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41550‐022‐01684‐1), one of the critical infrastructures of the Chinese “Meridian Project,” provides multiple parameter measurements in the upper atmosphere at low latitudes over Asian longitudies. Unique ionospheric changes on superstorm day 11 May were first recorded by the SYISR experiments and the geostationary satellite (GEO) total electron content (TEC) network over the Asian sector. The electron density or TEC displayed wavelike structures rather than a regular diurnal pattern. Surprisingly, two humps, a common feature in the daytime equatorial ionization anomaly structure, disappeared. The SYISR observations revealed that multiple wind surges accompanied the downward phase propagation caused by atmospheric gravity waves (AGWs) originating from auroral zones. Meanwhile, strong upward and large downward drifts were respectively observed in the daytime and around sunset. The Thermosphere‐Ionosphere Electrodynamics Global Circulation Model (TIEGCM) simulations demonstrated that abnormal ionospheric changes were attributed to meridional wind disturbances associated with AGWs and recurrent penetration electric fields corresponding to larger Bz southward excursions and disturbance dynamo. The complicated interplay between AGWs and disturbance electric fields contributed to this unique ionospheric variation.
Hinge-FM2I: an approach using image inpainting for interpolating missing data in univariate time series
Authors: Noufel Saad , Maaroufi Nadir , Najib Mehdi , Bakhouya Mohamed
Published: February 2025

Accurate time series forecasts are crucial for various applications, such as traffic management, electricity consumption, and healthcare. However, limitations in models and data quality can significantly impact forecasts’ accuracy. One common issue with data quality is the absence of data points, referred to as missing data values. It is often caused by sensor malfunctions, equipment failures, or human errors. This paper proposes Hinge-FM2I, a novel method for handling missing data values in univariate time series data. Hinge-FM2I builds upon the strengths of the Forecasting Method by Image Inpainting (FM2I). FM2I has proven effective, but selecting the most accurate forecasts remains a challenge. To overcome this issue, we proposed a selection algorithm. Inspired by door hinges, Hinge-FM2I drops a data point either before or after the gap (left/right-hinge), then uses FM2I for imputation. In fact, it selects the imputed gap based on the lowest error of the dropped data point. Hinge-FM2I was evaluated on a comprehensive sample composed of 1356 time series. These latter are extracted from the M3 competition benchmark dataset, with missing value rates ranging from 3.57 to 28.57%. Experimental results demonstrate that Hinge-FM2I significantly outperforms established methods such as linear/spline interpolation, K-Nearest Neighbors, and ARIMA. Notably, Hinge-FM2I achieves an average Symmetric Mean Absolute Percentage Error score of 5.6% for small gaps and up to 10% for larger ones. These findings highlight the effectiveness of Hinge-FM2I as a promising new method for addressing missing values in univariate time series data.
Lithium and oxygen engineered SiO0.5 materials for high performance lithium storage materials
Authors: Kim Ji Young , Chung Dong Jae , Lee Tae Rim , Youn Donghan , Kim Hansu
Published: February 2025

The porous prelithiated Si-rich SiOx consisting of dual-sized crystalline Si phases prepared by lithium and oxygen engineering showed significantly improved electrochemical performance.