bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Urea Split Application to Maize (Zea mays L.) Growth Stages of Medium Maturities, Influenced on Grain Yield and Parameter for Yield at Bako, East Wollega, Ethiopia
Authors: Debele Megersa , Taressa Belay
Published: December 2023

Appropriate timing of application can improve crop nutrient consumption efficiency. Maize production is still significantly below than its potential output, even though it is comparatively better than other main cereal crops. One of the main abiotic variables affecting crop growth is the timing of urea split application. Due to these gaps, an experiment was carried out at the Bako Agricultural Research Center during the 2019 and 2020 cropping seasons in order to ascertain the best time to apply urea split in order to maximize the yield and yield attributes of the maize varieties BH-546 and BH-547 in a study area and in countries with comparable agroecologies. Six levels of urea split application time (T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, and T6) were arranged in factorial combinations with two levels of maize varieties. In addition, a randomized complete block design with three replications was used for the previously advised urea split application. The harvest index of maize, grain yield, number of kernels per ear, ear dimension, and number of ears per plant all significantly differed depending on when nitrogen split administration occurred. Mean dry biomass, cob diameter, cob length, cob weight, and thousands seed weight of maize were all highly impacted by the interaction varietals and split time of nitrogen treatment. Compared to the previously recommended (1/2 dose at planting and 1/2 dose at knee height stage of maize), the time of N split application resulted in a significantly higher grain yield (9003.88 kg·ha−1): 1/4 dose at planting + 1/2 dose of N at knee height + 1/4 dose at tasseling of maize. However, three urea application regimes 1/4 dosage at planting time, 1/2 dose at knee height, and 1/4 dose of split application should be utilized in the event of irregular and intensely rainy seasons in order to maximize grain output and yield attributable.
Targeting Tumor Heterogeneity with Neoantigen-Based Cancer Vaccines
Authors: Pounraj Saranya , Chen Shuxiong , Ma Linlin , Mazzieri Roberta , Dolcetti Riccardo , Rehm Bernd H.A.
Published: December 2023

Neoantigen-based cancer vaccines have emerged as a promising immunotherapeutic approach to treat cancer. Nevertheless, the high degree of heterogeneity in tumors poses a significant hurdle for developing a vaccine that targets the therapeutically relevant neoantigens capable of effectively stimulating an immune response as each tumor contains numerous unique putative neoantigens. Understanding the complexities of tumor heterogeneity is crucial for the development of personalized neoantigen-based vaccines, which hold the potential to revolutionize cancer treatment and improve patient outcomes. In this review, we discuss recent advancements in the design of neoantigen-based cancer vaccines emphasizing the identification, validation, formulation, and targeting of neoantigens while addressing the challenges posed by tumor heterogeneity. The review highlights the application of cutting-edge approaches, such as single-cell sequencing and artificial intelligence to identify immunogenic neoantigens, while outlining current limitations and proposing future research directions to develop effective neoantigen-based vaccines.
ERBB4-Mediated Signaling Is a Mediator of Resistance to PI3K and BTK Inhibitors in B-cell Lymphoid Neoplasms
Authors: Arribas Alberto J. , Napoli Sara , Cascione Luciano , Barnabei Laura , Sartori Giulio , Cannas Eleonora , Gaudio Eugenio , Tarantelli Chiara , Mensah Afua A. , Spriano Filippo , Zucchetto Antonella , Rossi Francesca M. , Rinaldi Andrea , Castro de Moura Manuel , Jovic Sandra , Bordone Pittau Roberta , Stathis Anastasios , Stussi Georg , Gattei Valter , Brown Jennifer R. , Esteller Manel , Zucca Emanuele , Rossi Davide , Bertoni Francesco
Published: December 2023

BTK and PI3K inhibitors are among the drugs approved for the treatment of patients with lymphoid neoplasms. Although active, their ability to lead to long-lasting complete remission is rather limited, especially in the lymphoma setting. This indicates that tumor cells often develop resistance to the drugs. We started from a marginal zone lymphoma cell line, Karpas-1718, kept under prolonged exposure to the PI3Kδ inhibitor idelalisib until acquisition of resistance, or with no drug. Cells underwent transcriptome, miRNA and methylation profiling, whole-exome sequencing, and pharmacologic screening, which led to the identification of the overexpression of ERBB4 and its ligands HBEGF and NRG2 in the resistant cells. Cellular and genetic experiments demonstrated the involvement of this axis in blocking the antitumor activity of various BTK/PI3K inhibitors, currently used in the clinical setting. Addition of recombinant HBEGF induced resistance to BTK/PI3K inhibitors in parental cells and in additional lymphoma models. Combination with the ERBB inhibitor lapatinib was beneficial in resistant cells and in other lymphoma models already expressing the identified resistance factors. An epigenetic reprogramming sustained the expression of the resistance-related factors, and pretreatment with demethylating agents or EZH2 inhibitors overcame the resistance. Resistance factors were also shown to be expressed in clinical specimens. In conclusion, we showed that the overexpression of ERBB4 and its ligands represents a novel mechanism of resistance for lymphoma cells to bypass the antitumor activity of BTK and PI3K inhibitors and that targeted pharmacologic interventions can restore sensitivity to the small molecules.
Combination Therapy with EGFR Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors and TEAD Inhibitor Increases Tumor Suppression Effects in EGFR Mutation–positive Lung Cancer
Authors: Ogimoto Tatsuya , Ozasa Hiroaki , Tsuji Takahiro , Funazo Tomoko , Yamazoe Masatoshi , Hashimoto Kentaro , Yoshida Hiroshi , Hosoya Kazutaka , Ajimizu Hitomi , Nomizo Takashi , Yoshida Hironori , Hamaji Masatsugu , Menju Toshi , Yoshizawa Akihiko , Date Hiroshi , Hirai Toyohiro
Published: December 2023

EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) are the first-line therapies for EGFR mutation–positive lung cancer. EGFR-TKIs have favorable therapeutic effects. However, a large proportion of patients with EGFR mutation–positive lung cancer subsequently relapse. Some cancer cells survive the initial treatment with EGFR-TKIs, and this initial survival may be associated with subsequent recurrence. Therefore, we aimed to overcome the initial survival against EGFR-TKIs. We hypothesized that yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1) is involved in the initial survival against EGFR-TKIs, and we confirmed the combined effect of EGFR-TKIs and a YAP1–TEAD pathway inhibitor. The KTOR27 (EGFR kinase domain duplication) lung cancer cell lines established from a patient with EGFR mutation–positive lung cancer and commercially available PC-9 and HCC827 (EGFR exon 19 deletions) lung cancer cell lines were used. These cells were used to evaluate the in vitro and in vivo effects of VT104, a TEAD inhibitor. In addition, YAP1 involvement was investigated in pathologic specimens. YAP1 was activated by short-term EGFR-TKI treatment in EGFR mutation–positive lung cancer cells. In addition, inhibiting YAP1 function using siRNA increased the sensitivity to EGFR-TKIs. Combination therapy with VT104 and EGFR-TKIs showed better tumor-suppressive effects than EGFR-TKIs alone, in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, the combined effect of VT104 and EGFR-TKIs was observed regardless of the localization status of YAP1 before EGFR-TKI exposure. These results suggest that combination therapy with the TEAD inhibitor and EGFR-TKIs may improve the prognosis of patients with EGFR mutation–positive lung cancer.
Correlation between Bilirubin Elimination with the Cytokine Adsorber CytoSorb® and Mortality in Critically Ill Patients with Hyperbilirubinemia
Authors: Gräfe Caroline , Paal Michael , Winkels Martin , Irlbeck Michael , Liebchen Uwe , Scharf Christina
Published: December 2023

Introduction: Hyperbilirubinemia is often the first evidence for any kind of liver disorder and over one-third of all patients in intensive care units (ICU) show elevated bilirubin concentrations. In critically ill patients, high concentrations of serum bilirubin are correlated with a poor outcome. Therapies to lower bilirubin concentrations are often just symptomatically and their effect on the patients’ outcome is hardly evaluated. Therefore, this study investigates whether the extracorporeal elimination of bilirubin with the cytokine adsorber CytoSorb® (CS) reduces mortality in patients with hyperbilirubinemia. Methods: Patients with bilirubin concentrations >10 mg/dL at the ICU were screened for evaluation from 2018 to 2020. Patients with kidney replacement therapy and older than 18 years were included. Patients with continuously decreasing bilirubin concentrations after liver transplantation or other liver support systems (i.e., Molecular Adsorbents Recirculating System [MARS®], Advanced Organ Support [ADVOS]) were excluded. CS therapy was used in clinical routine and was indicated by the treating physicians. Statistical analysis was performed with IBM SPSS statistics utilizing a multivariate model. Primary outcome measure was the effect of CS on the 30-day mortality. Results: Data from 82 patients (mean Simplified Acute Physiology Score [SAPS] II: 74 points, mean bilirubin: 18 mg/dL, mean lactate: 3.7 mmol/L) were analyzed. There were no significant differences in patients with and without CS treatment. The multivariate model showed no significant effect of CS therapy (p = 0.402) on the 30-day mortality. In addition, a significant effect of bilirubin concentration (p = 0.274) or Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score (p = 0.928) on the 30-day mortality could not be shown. In contrast, lactate concentration (p = 0.001, b = 0.044) and SAPS II (p = 0.025, b = 0.008) had significant impact on 30-day mortality. Conclusion: The use of CS in patients with hyperbilirubinemia did not result in a significant reduction in 30-day mortality. Randomized and controlled studies with mortality as primary outcome measure are needed in the future to justify their use.
Targeted Cell Labeling and Sorting of Prokaryotes for Cultivation and Omics Approaches
Authors: Sturm Gunnar , Mojarrad Mohammad , Kaster Anne-Kristin
Published: December 2023

To date, the vast majority of prokaryotic organisms escapes detailed characterization because they cannot be isolated in axenic cultures. These organisms are referred to as microbial dark matter. Targeted labelling and sorting of these microorganisms pave the way for single-cell, enrichment, or cultivation approaches. In this review, we describe an array of different methods ranging from labeling-free to specific labelling techniques. In addition, different cell sorting methods and their combinations with targeting strategies are summarized and downstream applications like sequencing and cultivation are reviewed. Recent advances, challenges, and limitations of the particular methods are discussed with respect to cell viability, genome integrity as well as throughput, in order to help researchers select the most suitable methods for their specific research questions.
Método da tomografia elétrica para investigação subsuperficial de um lixão no município de Jaciara-MT
Authors: Moraes Beatriz Yanagi Mendes de , Xavier Fernanda Vieira , Fachin Sérgio Junior da Silva , Guireli Netto Leonides
Published: December 2023

No Brasil, em torno de 15,9 milhões de toneladas de resíduos urbanos são depositados em lixões. O líquido proveniente da decomposição da fração orgânica dos resíduos sólidos domiciliares, conhecido como chorume e lixiviado, pode ocasionar sérios problemas ambientais e para a saúde pública. O método da eletrorresistividade permite detectar contaminação e inferir a profundidade de deposição de resíduos por meio de injeções de eletricidade no solo e interpretar as diferenças de potencial medidas, que são capazes de fornecer informações sobre a distribuição da resistividade elétrica abaixo da superfície. O método da eletrorresistividade foi empregado neste trabalho por ser uma alternativa rápida, de baixo custo e não invasiva, ou seja, a princípio, não altera o meio físico. As resistividades mais elevadas (entre 1.670 e 875.5 ohm.m) foram relacionadas às formações Furnas e Ponta Grossa e os segmentos mais condutivos (< 875.5 ohm.m) interpretados como influenciados pela disposição de resíduos sólidos. Os valores de resistividade sugeriram não haver presença aparente de lixiviado, contudo considerou-se a hipótese de que o lixiviado estivesse presente em alguns pontos e determinadas profundidades da área do lixão.
Effects of cover crops on hatching of and root penetration by Heterodera glycines
Authors: Neupane Kamal , Yan Guiping
Published: December 2023

The use of non-host cover crops can be a viable strategy for managing soybean cyst nematode (SCN) Heterodera glycines. Cover crops may affect SCN biology and reduce populations by acting as trap crops that promote the hatching and/or penetration by second-stage juveniles (J2) without supporting their development. Two growth chamber experiments were conducted to assess ten cover crops for their impacts on SCN hatching and penetration into the roots. For each experiment, with four replications per treatment, crops were planted in naturally-infested soil in two separate sets to be harvested 15 and 30 days after planting (DAP). SCN susceptible soybean ‘Barnes’ and non-planted natural soil (fallow) were used as controls. Faba bean ‘Petite’, a non-host of SCN, induced the greatest hatching among the cover crops and was statistically similar to soybean. Winter rye ‘ND Dylan’ also induced significant hatching compared to fallow. Root staining revealed that the highest number of J2 penetrated the faba bean roots at 15 DAP, followed by soybean and winter rye. While J2 penetrated all tested crops, they completed their development to become adult females only in soybean and turnip. Soybean cyst nematode development to adult females did not occur in faba bean, and the number of SCN inside the faba bean roots 30 DAP was significantly lower than at 15 DAP and also lower than in soybean. These results suggest that the faba bean affects SCN biology and has the greatest potential to act as a trap crop for managing SCN.
The role of bushpigs (Potamochoerus larvatus) as seed dispersers in indigenous forests in the Soutpansberg Mountain range, South Africa
Authors: Hikel Kerstin B. , Peters Marcell K. , Linden Jabu , Linden Birthe
Published: December 2023

Seed dispersal influences the survival and distribution of plant species and is an important mechanism for maintaining floristic diversity. Bushpigs (Potamochoerus larvatus) are large mammals of indigenous forests and well-wooded areas of eastern and southern Africa and may play an important role as seed dispersers. However, the diversity of fruits consumed and the effect of digestion on seeds remains poorly understood. This study was conducted from October 2018 to January 2019 and gives first insights into seed dispersal by bushpigs in the Soutpansberg Mountain range, South Africa. Here, we collected bushpig faeces and assessed the number of seeds and seed species found. Furthermore, germination experiments with digested and nondigested seeds and fruits were conducted. Our results show that bushpigs are omnivorous, consuming fruits and seeds of 126 different plant species. The proportion of seeds per plant species found in faeces was unhomogeneously distributed with a few hyperabundant species, in particular Searsia chirindensis (55%). The germination experiments showed that gut passage did, overall, not influence germination or seedling growth rates. However, seeds remaining within fruits showed reduced growth, pointing to a high importance of fruit consumption for seed fate. Our results suggest that bushpigs are major seed dispersers of a large variety of fruiting plant species in wooded areas of Africa.
Na Today?
Authors: David Stephen Temitope
Published: December 2023

The Lekki Tollgate massacre, which was part of the brutal tactics used to put down the #EndSARS protests, underscored the incorrigibly violent nature of the Nigerian state. It also ruptured the sense of linear progressive time which governs the hegemonic conception of history and memory in Nigeria—for instance, time as post-civil war, post-dictatorship, etc. The boundary of this idea of a nation on a progressive march, made up of people healed of all traumas, and cured of their historical scars is fiercely and violently policed. A case in point is the fervour with which Biafra as a form of collective memory is being resisted and silenced. However, the murderous incident at the tollgate brought to the fore the fact that each violent moment in Nigeria’s turbulent history has created a fractured sense of history for many victims, and consequently hampered the possibility of forging a settled sense of belonging and national unity. One site where this sense of history as violently fractured has been adequately imagined is the creative arts, especially poetry. Poems have archived, mediated, and remediated memories of violence that are mostly excised from official history. Thus, in this article I read selected poems from Soro Soke, a poetry collection curated by Brittle Paper in collaboration with James Yeku and Jumoke Verissimo. My aim is to examine how the poetic responses to the Lekki massacre generate alternative, unvarnished historiographies that call attention to the haunting and brooding presence of Nigeria’s brutal past in the present. I am also interested in the ways in which the selected works act as archives of violent memories and how they seek to recover the humanity of those killed by naming them and grieving their loss.
Macrosiphoniella (Asterobium) herczeki sp. nov.—a new aphid species from Bulgaria (Hemiptera, Aphididae)
Authors: KANTURSKI MARIUSZ , BARJADZE SHALVA , KASZYCA-TASZAKOWSKA NATALIA
Published: December 2023

Here we present a description of a new aphid species from the subgenus Asterobium Hille Ris Lambers, 1938 of the genus Macrosiphoniella Del Guercio, 1911 in the tribe Macrosiphini Wilson, 1910 (Aphididae). The new species—Macrosiphiniella (Asterobium) herczeki sp. nov. living on Galatella villosa (Asteraceae) in Tolbuchin region, Bulgaria, is described based on apterous viviparous females. The new species is morphologically similar to M. (Asterobium) konyratica Kadyrbekov, 2018 from Kazakhstan from which it differs in several morphological and metric characters. We provided an updated key to “Blackman’s & Eastop” online key to Aster-feeding aphids.
Thirty years of progress in research on jumping tree bugs and the World checklist of Isometopinae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Miridae)
Authors: TASZAKOWSKI ARTUR , KIM JUNGGON , BUGAJ-NAWROCKA AGNIESZKA , JUNG SUNGHOON
Published: December 2023

A comprehensive synopsis of isometopine plant bugs, highlighting the thirty-year progress made with information on morphology, biology and zoogeography of extant and extinct taxa, is introduced. In addition, the feeding habit of isometopines is suggested to be at least partially spent as a lichen feeder. A total of 289 Isometopinae species are presented in the world checklist with the zoogeographical information. The direction of further studies on isometopine taxa is also suggested.
The New Caledonian endemic geocorine bug genus, Nannogermalus is not monotypic anymore (Heteroptera: Lygaeoidea: Geocoridae)
Authors: KÓBOR PÉTER
Published: December 2023

Three new species of the big-eyed bug genus Nannogermalus Kondorosy & Kóbor, 2020 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Lygaeoidea: Geocoridae: Geocorinae) are now described: N. herczeki sp. nov., N. pallgergelyi sp. nov. and N. webbi sp. nov. Additions and corrections to the generic description of the genus were made based on the newly acquired morphological knowledge. Key, diagnoses and distribution data for new species of the genus are provided. Ecological notes are given based on collection site data and literature regarding other geocorid taxa.
Heissophila macrotheleae Schuh, 2006, the first record of the subfamily Heissophilinae from China (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Plokiophilidae)
Authors: YIN JIA-DONG , BU WEN-JUN , XIE QIANG
Published: December 2023

Heissophila Schuh, 2006, a monotypic genus of Heissophilinae (Hemiptera: Plokiophilidae), is newly recorded from Oriental China based on Heissophila macrotheleae Schuh, 2006 collected from Yunnan Province, China. The diagnosis of the species is expanded based on the newly collected materials. In addition, a DNA barcode of H. macrotheleae and host spider are provided. Photographs of the co-existing web-loving bugs and the natural habitat are also present.
Updraft Width Implications for Cumulonimbus Growth in a Moist Marine Environment
Authors: Powell Scott W.
Published: December 2023

An idealized large-eddy simulation of a tropical marine cloud population was performed. At any time, it contained hundreds of clouds, and updraft width in shallow convection emerging from a subcloud layer appeared to be an important indicator of whether specific convective elements deepened. In an environment with 80%–90% relative humidity below the 0°C level, updrafts that penetrated the 0°C level were larger at and above cloud base, which occurred at the lifting condensation level near 600 m. Parcels rising in these updrafts appeared to emerge from boundary layer eddies that averaged ∼200 m wider than those in clouds that only reached 1.5–3 km height. The deeply ascending parcels (growers) possessed statistically similar values of effective buoyancy below the level of free convection (LFC) as parcels that began to ascend in a cloud but stopped before reaching 3000 m (nongrowers). The growers also experienced less dilution above the LFC. Nongrowers were characterized by negative effective buoyancy and rapid deceleration above the LFC, while growers continued to accelerate well above the LFC. Growers occurred in areas with a greater magnitude of background convergence (or weaker divergence) in the subcloud layer, especially between 300 m and cloud base, but whether the convergence actually led to eddy widening is unclear.

Significance Statement

Cumulonimbus clouds are responsible for many extreme weather phenomena and are important contributors to Earth’s energy balance. However, the processes leading to the growth of individual clouds are not completely understood nor well-represented in weather prediction models. We find that the clouds containing updrafts that start out wider at early stages of their life cycles grow taller, possibly because they are protected more from drier air outside the cloud than narrow clouds. In addition, this work shows how the initial width of clouds might be related to convergence in the lowest part of the atmosphere, at heights where clouds initially develop. However, meteorologists must be careful not to overinterpret these results because numerical simulations inherently include assumptions that may not reflect reality. This reinforces the need to also observe processes occurring at the scales of individual clouds.
Racial Distribution and Associated Outcomes for Patients With and Without Severe-Isolated Traumatic Brain Injuries Following Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis
Authors: Elkbuli Adel , Patel Heli , Breeding Tessa , Nasef Hazem , Chin Brian , Wright D-Dre , Zito Tracy , Poulin Stephen R. , Rhodes-Lyons Heather X.
Published: December 2023

Introduction

Disparities in venous thromboembolism (VTE) incidence and prophylaxis have been observed across racial groups. This study investigates the relationship between race, injury type, and the timing of VTE prophylaxis in severe trauma patients, both with and without isolated traumatic brain injuries. The primary goal is to analyze how these factors interact and their potential impact on clinical outcomes.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study of the American College of Surgeons Trauma Quality Program Participant Use File (ACS-TQIP-PUF) from 2018 to 2021. Patient demographics, injury categories, VTE prophylaxis timing, injury severity, and in-hospital complications were collected. Multivariable regression models explored associations between race, injury type, VTE prophylaxis, and in-hospital mortality. Groups were analyzed by injury profile (isolated TBI vs non-TBI) and then by VTE prophylaxis timing (early ≤24 hours, late >24 hours).

Results

Of 68,504 trauma patients analyzed, the majority were non-Hispanic or Latino (83.3%), White (71.2%), and male (69.6%). Patients receiving late VTE prophylaxis had higher rates of DVT and PE across race groups than patients with early prophylaxis. Logistic regression showed Asian patients with TBI receiving early prophylaxis were significantly more likely to have in-hospital mortality (OR 16.27, CI = 1.11-237.43, P = .04) than other races.

Conclusion

Patients who received late prophylaxis had higher VTE rates than early prophylaxis, independent of injury pattern or race. Additionally, assessing the implications of race in early VTE prophylaxis for isolated TBI showed that adult Asian patients had 16 times higher odds of in-hospital mortality compared to other races.
An Iterative Curve-Fitting Baseline Correction Method for Raman Spectra Driven by Neural Network
Authors: Dong Sicen , Liu Yuping , Yu Hanxiang , Wang Yuqing , Wu Junchi
Published: December 2023

Baseline correction is a vital part of spectral preprocessing, especially for Raman spectra. Iterative polynomial fitting is an easy but less accurate way to find baselines compared to other methods such as wavelet transform and penalized least squares (PLS) methods. The polynomial fitting methods can also get distorted results in certain conditions. In this paper, a neural network model for detecting the trend of the baseline was proposed to improve the correction accuracy of the fitting methods. The model selects the function basis according to the baseline trend instead of using a fixed polynomial function to match the baseline for a more precise fit. We also propose a way to generate simulation data, these data can be used to train the neural network model. The model provides reliable results for real spectral data with noise. Our method provides a new idea to correct the baseline with a strange shape. In addition, we examine the limitations of conventional iterative polynomial fitting, adaptive iteratively reweighted PLS and explain why our approach surpasses these methods.
Making kin: Indigenous relationality in promoting public and political knowledge about religion
Authors: Gareau Paul L
Published: December 2023

Religion is a problematic category when understanding the different sociopolitical dynamics that impact and influence settler Canadian identity and society. However, against the modern western struggles around religion, like that of religion and non-religion, anti-Indigenous racism and Indigenous elimination remain a constant and unifying factor of settler colonialism. Yet Indigenous knowledges are framed by what is called religion through relationality, which informs situated knowledges, the ethos and world views, and the governance of distinct yet related nations/peoples who are human and other-than-human. The problem is that discussions on the intersectional nature of religion and relationality fall short of a critical treatment. This article outlines the issues of settler colonialism in perpetrating Indigenous dispossession, and asks scholars of religion to focus on how ‘making kin’ supports a critical disruption to settler-colonial definitions of religion that promotes public and political understandings of Indigenous relational knowledges.
Shifting Trends in Diagnosis of Asthma, Bronchiolitis, and Viral Pneumonia in Young Children
Authors: Brajcich Michelle R. , Bau Gabrielle E. , Tsai William , Birkholz Megan , Gaensbauer James
Published: December 2023

Over the last decade, there have been widespread efforts to reduce non-evidence-based therapies for viral bronchiolitis. We question whether this change in practice has inadvertently impacted the diagnosis and management of other pediatric lower-respiratory-tract illnesses. We used the Pediatric Health Information System (PHIS) and logistic regression to describe trends in relative diagnosis frequency of bronchiolitis, viral pneumonia, and reactive airway disease (RAD)/asthma as well as systemic corticosteroid use among children of the age range 1 to 4 years over a 10-year period. Among 169,207 children, the relative frequency of asthma/RAD diagnoses declined over a 10-year period, while bronchiolitis and viral pneumonia diagnoses increased among children of the age range 1 to 3 years and 2 to 4 years, respectively. Frequency of systemic corticosteroid use declined. We question whether the observed shift in diagnosis from asthma/RAD to bronchiolitis or viral pneumonia is reflective of true disease pathophysiology or if it represents an unintended consequence of campaigns surrounding bronchiolitis.
Adapting Ferrante's My Brilliant Friend for television: Faithfulness and authenticity
Authors: Heltzel Kaila , Verzella Massimo
Published: December 2023

My Brilliant Friend (MBF) is a television adaptation of Elena Ferrante's Neapolitan novels. This study focuses on the first season of the series, which transposes L’amica geniale, the first of four novels. Our goal is to go beyond traditional comparisons between source texts and adaptations to explore the discourse on the production and development of MBF. We collected and analyzed newspaper and magazine articles, YouTube interviews, and studies that focus on the adaptation of L’amica geniale. Drawing on this corpus, we use discourse analysis to interrogate the two concepts that inform discussions on the artistic and cultural value of this adaptation: faithfulness and authenticity. Far from being unproblematic, these interrelated concepts are ambiguous and elusive because they are entangled with their semantic opposites. The quest for faithfulness clashes with the transformations that occur when adjusting a source text to the affordances of another medium. Similarly, the authentic and the inauthentic are frequently intermingled. Viewers might believe that they are experiencing the ‘real’ until they discern that the real was, in fact, staged.
NATO in the Global Commons: Defending Outer Space Against Threats from China
Authors: Berge Jonas Vidhammer , Odgaard Liselotte
Published: December 2023

In this article, we analyse the deterrence relationship between NATO and China in the space domain. As the alliance's newest operational domain, NATO remains heavily dependent upon its nation states’ space assets. At the same time, China is developing advanced counterspace capabilities designed to exploit this dependency by holding NATO members’ space assets at risk. We argue that NATO deterrence in the space domain is hampered by internal reliance on US patronage in space. This is evident in the lack of intra-alliance burden sharing in space, as well as the lack of clear transatlantic unity in how to approach space at a strategic level. We propose steps to strengthen NATO deterrence in space vis-à-vis China. Particularly, increased burden sharing in space through inter-operable capabilities and strategic coherency between Europe and North America on defence in the space domain would bolster both capability and resolve for NATO's deterrent in space.
A Systematic Review of Evidence-Based Interventions for Afghan Refugee Mental Health: A Cultural Adaptation Analysis
Authors: Hosseini Zainab , Syed Hamza , Raza Zainab , Mansouri Moones , Magan Ifrah Mahamud , Awaad Rania
Published: December 2023

Under the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees’ (UNHCR) seven-decade mandate, Afghan refugees have faced some of the largest and most protracted experiences with forced displacement. This intergenerational exposure to forced migration has had innumerable consequences for the mental health of this population across different stages of their displacement. Afghan refugees who have resettled into Western nations face a unique set of challenges as they must navigate resettlement into societies that are linguistically, culturally, and spiritually distinct from their own backgrounds. This systematic review explores the (a) effectiveness and (b) cultural adaptation of interventions that have addressed the mental health of Afghan refugees resettled into Western countries since the year 2000. This systematic review will employ the Cultural Treatment Adaptation Framework (CTAF) to organize the extent of cultural adaptations. Through the systematic search of four databases, 1709 studies emerged from our search terms, seven of which met the criteria for this review, for example, study includes more than 2/3 Afghan participants; study includes outcome variables. Studies included programs in Germany, Serbia, Sweden, and Austria. The most common outcomes that interventions addressed included posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) ( n = 5), depression ( n = 3), and quality of life ( n = 3). Program modalities ranged between Cognitive Behavioral Therapy ( n = 4), emotion regulation ( n = 1), family therapy ( n = 1), and multimodal interventions ( n = 2). Most studies only incorporated peripheral changes to interventions in the service of cultural adaptation, and only one intervention included core changes. This program reported the highest effect sizes in reducing PTSD and depressive symptoms when compared with the rest of the studies. These findings provide a direction for future studies as they consider whether the extent of cultural adaptations can influence the effectiveness of programs for Afghan refugee populations. We provide recommendations for mental health practice with this population, including a special attention to the role of daily stressors, the significance of faith and culture-based meaning making in the service of coping, and the salience of isolation.
The Language-Specificity of Phonetic Adaptation to Talkers
Authors: Cutler Anne , Burchfield L. Ann , Antoniou Mark
Published: December 2023

Listeners adapt efficiently to new talkers by using lexical knowledge to resolve perceptual uncertainty. This adaptation has been widely observed, both in first (L1) and in second languages (L2). Here, adaptation was tested in both the L1 and L2 of speakers of Mandarin and English, two very dissimilar languages. A sound midway between /f/ and /s/ replacing either /f/ or /s/ in Mandarin words presented for lexical decision (e.g., bu4fa3 “illegal”; kuan1song1 “loose”) prompted the expected adaptation; it induced an expanded /f/ category in phoneme categorization when it had replaced /f/, but an expanded /s/ category when it had replaced /s/. Both L1 listeners and English-native listeners with L2 Mandarin showed this effect. In English, however (with e.g., traffic; insane), we observed adaptation in L1 but not in L2; Mandarin-native listeners, despite scoring highly in the English lexical decision training, did not adapt their category boundaries for /f/ and /s/. Whether the ambiguous sound appeared syllable-initially (as in Mandarin phonology) versus word-finally (providing more word identity information) made no difference. Perceptual learning for talker adaptation is language-specific in that successful lexically guided adaptation in one language does not guarantee adaptation in other known languages; the enabling conditions for adaptation may be multiple and diverse.
A neoclassical realist model of overconfidence and the Japan–Soviet Neutrality Pact in 1941
Authors: Ito Ryuta
Published: December 2023

Why did Japan conclude the Japan–Soviet Neutrality Pact in 1941, even though it knew the German-Soviet relations were deteriorating and heading towards a disastrous war? Under the Tripartite Pact, it would be irrational for Japan to approach the USSR, which Germany had decided to invade. This article examines this long-standing puzzle in Japanese diplomatic history (also an anomaly of neorealism) by developing a new neoclassical realist model termed ‘neoclassical realist model of overconfidence’ based on self-deception in evolutionary psychology using scientific realism in the philosophy of science as a metatheoretical foundation. Drawing on neoclassical realism, I argue that Japan’s balancing strategy during 1940–41, which initially reflected the tripolar structure of the international system (independent variable), ultimately resulted in the suboptimal balancing of the Japan–Soviet Neutrality Pact (dependent variable) due to Yosuke Matsuoka’s (Japanese foreign minister) self-deception, including the positive illusion and cognitive dissonance effect (intervening variable).
Scaling-up Activities to Mitigate Against the Spread of the COVID-19 Virus: Appreciating the Role of Local Government Authorities in the Caribbean
Authors: Ragoonath Bishnu
Published: December 2023

In January 2020, several governments in the English-speaking Caribbean not only started sensitizing their populations about the novel coronavirus but triggered various public health provisions that would allow the state to better manage the disease once it arrives within the respective countries. With the confirmation of the first cases, some national governmental systems were primed to act. Central governments across the region announced various policies and strategies, such as the closing of borders and schools as well as lockdowns as was necessary to mitigate the spread of the virus. But whilst attention was focused on what the central government was doing, very little attention was paid to local government activities that supported the central government’s policies. Local governments scaled-up the policies as enunciated by the central government, to ensure a wider geographical reach as well as a more intensive implementation process. Scaling-up also allowed for some expansion beyond the national policies to effect a program to mitigate the spread of the virus. Using examples from across the region, the article appraises the role of local governments in the quest to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic.
Children’s Contact With Fathers Who Never Co-Resided With Them and Father–Child Relationship Quality at age 9
Authors: Fagan Jay
Published: December 2023

Using a sample of 868 unmarried fathers who did not live with their children from birth to age 9, this study focused on the association between patterns of father–child contact during infancy and early and middle childhood and children’s perceptions of their relationship with the father at age 9. Children perceived significantly better quality relationships with fathers at age 9 when they had regular contact with fathers during infancy and early and middle childhood, than fathers who never saw their children. Children who no longer saw their fathers after infancy perceived more negative relationship quality at age 9. Contact with fathers at ages 1 and 5 were associated with better quality relationships even if there was no contact at age 9. Implications for policy and programs are discussed.
A dyadic assessment of the association between sexual communication and daily sexual satisfaction
Authors: Bibby Emily S. , Davila Joanne
Published: December 2023

Although sexual communication’s association with sexual and relational functioning and satisfaction have been well established, to date only a small number of studies have used dyadic data, and all have used single time-point self-report measures of sexual outcomes. This study examined the unique association between sexual communication quality and daily levels of sexual satisfaction in couples. Participants included 81 couples comprised of mostly mixed-sex dyads of a diverse range of ages and relationship lengths. Using dyadic cross-sectional data on sexual communication quality in couples as well as 21-day daily diary data assessments of sexual satisfaction on days individuals reported having sex, our analyses revealed significant within-partner and cross-partner associations between individual’s perceived sexual communication quality in their relationship and average daily sexual satisfaction. Greater perceived sexual communication quality was also associated with less variability in individuals’ daily reports of sexual satisfaction on days they had sex. Additional models were run adding relationship satisfaction as a covariate and controlling for relationship length. Lastly, similarity in reports of sexual communication between partners did not moderate the association between sexual communication quality and average daily sexual satisfaction. Our findings suggest that greater quality sexual communication may be uniquely associated with better and more consistent daily sexual satisfaction in relationships. This research expands our current understanding of sexual communication’s impact in relationships day to day.
Reconceptualizing the Politics-Administration Dichotomy to Better Understand Public Leadership in the Twenty-First Century: A Multilateral Actors Model
Authors: Callahan Richard , Mau Tim A.
Published: December 2023

The long-standing discussion of the politics-administration dichotomy is as relevant in contemporary public administration as at any time in the past. The significant changing context and persistence of the discussion on the practice of the politics-administration dichotomy calls for addressing what Overeem observes as the need to better describe the highly complex relations between politicians and administrators. Two implicit assumptions drive the continued relevance of the discussion of political-administrative interactions. First, the discussion matters because the actors in question fulfill various public leadership roles. Second, the political-administrative dialogue matters to questions of constitutionalism, values of representative government, and facilitating institutions of democracy. In this article, we offer a model of public managers’ engagement in the “how” with a framework that explicitly outlines the range of relationships. We draw on empirical research to outline the current reality of at least five significant types of actors, often working collaboratively in multilateral relationships. The first section of the article discusses the genesis and implications of the politics-administration dichotomy. It then proceeds to establish its persistence over time, followed by an explanation of the logic of our approach. Next, the discussion shifts to the analytic advantage of a continuum model across five categories of actors within the governance process, each possessing the potential for public leadership, showing how this model illustrates paths for addressing the problem we have identified. Finally, we discuss the implications of our proposed model for future research design and practice.
Determination of the width of the presacral space on magnetic resonance imaging among adults in south-western Nigeria
Authors: Akinmade Akinola , Adekeye Oloruntoba A , Edem Ekpenyong E , Adegbehingbe Olugbenga , Adegbilero-Iwari Oluwaseun E
Published: December 2023

Background

The presacral space is a clinically relevant potential space and contents may give rise to a variety of benign and malignant conditions, hence the need for detailed knowledge of its dimensions.

Purpose

To determine the width of the presacral space and existing variations among adults in south-western Nigeria using a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique.

Material and Methods

A total of 369 consenting adults were included in the study. Measurements of the presacral space were then made electronically by consensus of two radiologists. Values derived were recorded and subjected to analyses of variance.

Results

The mean normal widths of the presacral space in men and women were 11.7 mm and 11.1 mm at the S1 level, 11.7 mm and 10.35 mm at the S2 level, and 12.3 mm and 9.7 mm at the S3 level, respectively. Measurements of the presacral space width were significantly larger in the male population. Variations in the dimensions due to age greater than 40 years, male sex, and increasing body mass index (BMI) were also noted.

Conclusion

This study provides baseline dimensions under more physiological conditions and gives more accurate information about the true width of the space in Nigerian adults. Variations due to age, sex, and BMI may also be considered while interpreting abnormal values.
Experience and performance type modify anticipatory stress in musicians
Authors: Campisi Jay , Guy Alex , Foss Christa , Kidane Feruth , Greco Sara , Szeliga Whitney , Spence Allyson
Published: December 2023

We examined the anticipatory stress response in musicians before a day of rehearsal and a concert and examined if experience levels modulated physiological and perception of stress responses. Twenty members of a professional orchestra had their heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), and galvanic skin response/conductance (GSR) measured as well as self-assessment of their anxiety surrounding their performance. HR was significantly elevated prior to a concert (87 bpm) compared with a rehearsal (80 bpm), whereas no differences were observed for BP. GSR responses prior to a concert were significantly elevated in less experienced musicians compared with their more experienced peers and a significant inverse correlation was also found between years of experience and GSR responses. Similarly, musicians with greater experience reported on average less perceived somatic anxiety during the concert and a significant inverse correlation was found between years of experience and perceived somatic anxiety. These results suggest that the type of performance and the experience level of the musician modulates anticipatory stress responses. Further understanding of the role of anticipatory stress in musicians could have a number of practical benefits.
Impact of ownership structure on stock liquidity in financial crisis
Authors: EL Houcine Rim
Published: December 2023

Ownership structure is one of the important issues faced by companies. Especially, it plays a vital role in stock market liquidity. Prior studies have established links between ownership structure, firm performance, and stock liquidity, but their results are mixed and inconclusive. The importance in this research is to study the effect of ownership structure on stock market liquidity in a context characterized by its concentration and where there is an excess of certain types of stockholders, including institutional investors or family members. Therefore, we choose to explore this relationship in French-listed companies. In addition, the role that ownership structure plays is considered as important. The expectation of managers and shareholders is to determine the optimal ownership structure that protects companies in normal situations, and in crisis as well. Therefore, this study explores the role ownership structure plays in determining the stock liquidity during and after the financial crisis period from 2003 to 2015. After employing the panel regression method, we report a nonlinear relationship between ownership structure and stock liquidity during and after the global financial crisis. Institutional ownership, although having a strong effect in the post-crisis period (2010–2015), shows no influence on liquidity during the crisis (2008––2009). We also find that family ownership shows no significant effect in the crisis period (2008–2009) and the post-crisis period (2010–2015). However, it has a significant coefficient during the period 2003–2015.