bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Associations between traumatic dental injuries due to violence and various drinking behaviors in Korea: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Son Ji‐Young , Lim Jaehyung , Han Dong‐Hun
Published: April 2024

Background and Aim

Various patterns of alcohol consumption are associated with trauma and violence. The aim of this study was to assess the association between traumatic dental injuries (TDI) due to violence and different patterns of alcohol consumption in Korean adults.

Materials and Methods

A cross‐sectional study was conducted with representative sample of Korean adults. Among the total participants, 11.8% (6489/58,999) experienced TDI, and 0.9% (520/58,999) experienced TDI due to violence. The associations between various types of alcohol consumption (frequency of drinking, frequency of binge drinking, age of first drinking) and TDI due to violence were assessed using logistic regression analyses. We confirmed differences in the prevalence experience of TDI due to violence with various types of alcohol consumption by confounders (socioeconomic status).

Results

All types of drinking (frequency of drinking, frequency of binge drinking, age of first drinking) were strongly associated with TDI due to violence. After adjusting for confounders, those who started drinking at the age of 18 or younger and drank 4 or more days a week (OR: 2.86, 95% CI: 1.68–4.88), those who started drinking at the age of 18 or younger and drank 3 days or less a week (OR: 2.37, 95% CI: 1.40–4.02), and those who started drinking at the age of 18 or younger and binge drinking at least once a week (OR: 3.18, 95% CI: 1.79–5.65) had higher prevalence of TDI due to violence compared to those with no alcohol drinking.

Conclusions

This study presents evidence of an association between various types of alcohol consumption and TDI due to violence in Korean adults. These findings suggest the necessity for policies aimed at reducing alcohol consumption, frequency of drinking, and access to drinking especially in adolescent to reduce the prevalence experience of TDI due to violence.
Choice overload interferes with early processing and necessitates late compensation: Evidence from electroencephalogram
Authors: Hu Xinye , Meng Zong , He Qinghua
Published: April 2024

Having a multitude of choices can be advantageous, yet an abundance of options can be detrimental to the decision‐making process. Based on existing research, the present study combined electroencephalogram and self‐reported methodologies to investigate the neural mechanisms underlying the phenomenon of choice overload. Behavioural data suggested that an increase in the number of options led to negative evaluations and avoidance of choice tendencies, even in the absence of time pressure. Event‐related potential results indicated that the large choice set interfered with the early visual process, as evidenced by the small P1 amplitude, and failed to attract more attentional resources in the early stage, as evidenced by the small amplitude of P2 and N2. However, the LPC amplitude was increased in the late stage, suggesting greater investment of attentional resources and higher emotional arousal. Multivariate pattern analysis revealed that the difference between small and large choice set began at around 120 ms, and the early and late stages were characterised by opposite activation patterns. This suggested that too many options interfered with early processing and necessitate continued processing at a later stage. In summary, both behavioural and event‐related potential (ERP) results confirm the choice overload effect, and it was observed that individuals tend to subjectively exaggerate the choice overload effect.
Predicting functional impairments with lesion‐derived disconnectome mapping: Validation in stroke patients with motor deficits
Authors: Khalilian Maedeh , Roussel Martine , Godefroy Olivier , Aarabi Ardalan
Published: April 2024

Focal structural damage to white matter tracts can result in functional deficits in stroke patients. Traditional voxel‐based lesion‐symptom mapping is commonly used to localize brain structures linked to neurological deficits. Emerging evidence suggests that the impact of structural focal damage may extend beyond immediate lesion sites. In this study, we present a disconnectome mapping approach based on support vector regression (SVR) to identify brain structures and white matter pathways associated with functional deficits in stroke patients. For clinical validation, we utilized imaging data from 340 stroke patients exhibiting motor deficits. A disconnectome map was initially derived from lesions for each patient. Bootstrap sampling was then employed to balance the sample size between a minority group of patients exhibiting right or left motor deficits and those without deficits. Subsequently, SVR analysis was used to identify voxels associated with motor deficits (p < .005). Our disconnectome‐based analysis significantly outperformed alternative lesion‐symptom approaches in identifying major white matter pathways within the corticospinal tracts associated with upper–lower limb motor deficits. Bootstrapping significantly increased the sensitivity (80%–87%) for identifying patients with motor deficits, with a minimum lesion size of 32 and 235 mm3 for the right and left motor deficit, respectively. Overall, the lesion‐based methods achieved lower sensitivities compared with those based on disconnection maps. The primary contribution of our approach lies in introducing a bootstrapped disconnectome‐based mapping approach to identify lesion‐derived white matter disconnections associated with functional deficits, particularly efficient in handling imbalanced data.
Functional redundancy of weed seed predation is reduced by intensified agriculture
Authors: Daouti Eirini , Neidel Veronika , Carbonne Benjamin , Vašková Hana , Traugott Michael , Wallinger Corinna , Bommarco Riccardo , Feit Benjamin , Bohan David A. , Saska Pavel , Skuhrovec Jiří , Vasconcelos Sasha , Petit Sandrine , van der Werf Wopke , Jonsson Mattias
Published: April 2024

Intensified agriculture, a driver of biodiversity loss, can diminish ecosystem functions and their stability. Biodiversity can increase functional redundancy and is expected to stabilize ecosystem functions. Few studies, however, have explored how agricultural intensity affects functional redundancy and its link with ecosystem function stability. Here, within a continental‐wide study, we assess how functional redundancy of seed predation is affected by agricultural intensity and landscape simplification. By combining carabid abundances with molecular gut content data, functional redundancy of seed predation was quantified for 65 weed genera across 60 fields in four European countries. Across weed genera, functional redundancy was reduced with high field management intensity and simplified crop rotations. Moreover, functional redundancy increased the spatial stability of weed seed predation at the field scale. We found that ecosystem functions are vulnerable to disturbances in intensively managed agroecosystems, providing empirical evidence of the importance of biodiversity for stable ecosystem functions across space.
Machine learning approaches for neurological disease prediction: A systematic review
Authors: Fatima Ana , Masood Sarfaraz
Published: April 2024

In this article, we present a systematic and exhaustive review regarding the trends, datasets employed, as well as findings achieved in the last 11 years in neurological disorder prediction using machine learning models. In this work we present a comparison between the biomarkers used in ML field with the biomarkers that are obtained through other non‐ml‐based research fields. This will help in identifying the potential research gaps for ML domain. As the study of neurological disorders is a far‐reaching task due to the wide variety of diseases, hence the scope of this study is restricted to the three most prevalent neurological diseases, that is, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). From our analysis, it has been found that over time deep learning techniques especially Convolutional Neural Networks have proved to be beneficial for the disease prediction task. For this reason, Magnetic Resonance Imaging have been a popular modality across all three considered diseases. It is also notable that the employment of a transfer learning approach and maintenance of a global data centre helps in dealing with data scarcity problems for model training. The manuscript also discusses the potential challenges and future scope in this field. To the best of our knowledge, unlike other studies, this work attempts to put forth a conclusion of every article discussed highlighting the salient aspects of the major studies for a particular problem.
Unresolved hemostasis issues in haemophilia
Authors: Sidonio Robert F. , Weisel John W. , Stafford Darrel
Published: April 2024

Despite rapid technological advancement in factor and nonfactor products in the prevention and treatment of bleeding in haemophilia patients, it is imperative that we acknowledge gaps in our understanding of how hemostasis is achieved. The authors will briefly review three unresolved issues in persons with haemophilia (PwH) focusing on the forgotten function that red blood cells play in hemostasis, the critical role of extravascular (outside circulation) FIX in hemostasis in the context of unmodified and extended half‐life FIX products and finally on the role that skeletal muscle myosin plays in prothrombinase assembly and subsequent thrombin generation that could mitigate breakthrough muscle hematomas.
Validity and reliability test of the Indonesian version of the PedHALshort questionnaire
Authors: Chozie Novie Amelia , Ayu Dewi Rosariah , Medise Bernie Endyarni , Marsubrin Putri Maharani Tristanita , Sari Teny Tjitra , Yuniar Irene , Wahyuni Luh Karunia
Published: April 2024

Introduction

The PedHAL questionnaire is employed in measuring the activities of haemophilia children. The PedHALshort was developed in 2022 to determine the most relevant item for the assessment. Haemo‐QoL questionnaire assesses the quality of life of haemophilia children.

Aim

Determine the validity and reliability of the PedHALshort Indonesia language version compared to the Haemo‐QoL in the Indonesian population.

Methods

A cross‐sectional study was conducted in Jakarta, Indonesia. The subjects were children (4‐16 years old) with moderate or severe haemophilia A or B with repeated joint bleeding. The daily activity was assessed using the PedHALshorts and Haemo‐QoL. The validity and reliability were tested. The validity was determined with Pearson correlation test, construct validity was assessed using convergent and discriminant validity. The Spearman correlation was used to determine which domains of Haemo‐QoL correlated with PedHALshort. The reliability was analyzed using test‐retest reliability. Cronbach's α was used to determined internal consistency.

Results

Fifty children were included in the study (78% haemophilia A, 70% severe group). All domains were valid (r > .284). The convergent validity test showed PedHALshort had a moderate negative correlation with physical health and sports school domain of Haemo‐QoL (r = ‐.479, p < .001). The discriminant validity test showed the PedHALshort demonstrated a moderate negative correlation with physical health (r = ‐.585), view (r = ‐.590), sport school domain (r = ‐.430) in severe haemophilia subjects. The internal consistency of the PedHALshort questionnaire was high (Cronbach's α of .85 (.74–.92)).

Conclusion

The PedHALshort is valid and reliable, hence, it can be used to measure the functional physical activity of children with haemophilia.
Haemophilic arthropathy: Diagnosis, management, and aging patient considerations
Authors: Bakeer Nihal , Saied Walid , Gavrilovski Antonio , Bailey Cindy
Published: April 2024

Gene therapy and universal use of safer, more effective, and personalised prophylactic regimens (factor, and nonfactor) are expected to prevent joint bleeding and promote joint health in persons with haemophilia (PwH). Growing evidence suggests that subclinical bleeding, with active and inactive synovial proliferation, continues and haemophilic arthropathy remains a major morbidity in PwH despite early institution of joint prophylaxis. Joint health assessment is evolving with physical examination scores complementing imaging scores. Point‐of‐care ultrasound is emerging as a safe, cost‐effective, and readily available tool for acute determination of musculoskeletal abnormalities, serial evaluation of joints for sonographic markers of haemophilic arthropathy, and in providing objective insight into the efficacy of new therapies. In acute haemarthrosis, arthrocentesis expedites recovery and prevent the vicious cycle of bleed‐synovitis‐rebleed. When synovial proliferation develops, a multidisciplinary team approach is critical with haematology, orthopaedics, and physiotherapy involvement. Synovectomy is considered for patients with chronic synovitis that fail conservative management. Non‐surgical and minimally invasive procedures should always be offered and considered first. Careful patient selection, screening and early intervention increase the success of these interventions in reducing bleeding, pain, and improving joint function and quality of life. Chemical synovectomy is practical in developing countries, but radioactive synovectomy appears to be more effective. When surgical synovectomy is considered, arthroscopic/minimally invasive approach should be attempted first. In advanced haemophilic arthropathy, joint replacement and arthrodesis can be considered. While excited about the future of haemophilia management, navigating musculoskeletal challenges in the aging haemophilia population is equally important.
Design and implementation of popular quality analysis system for dry red wines originating from Northwest China
Authors: Bai Xuebing , Dai Binxiu , Liu Xiuhai , Yang Hecai , Wu Yun , Li Yunkui , Tao Yongsheng
Published: April 2024

Chinese wine, especially those from the Northwest region, has received worldwide attention and consumer recognition. However, mislabelling the year and origin of wine is a major fraud challenging the wine industry, such as the deception on year or origin. Inspired by the Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (A.O.C) system, a feasible wine popular quality analysis system (WPQAS) has been established to supervise the selling. First, an investigation for all potential users was carried out to analyse their requirements for WPQAS. Then, the system framework was designed with the Browser/Server (B/S) 3‐tier architecture, including the data layer for saving data, the business logic layer for running the models, and the presentation layer for interacting with users. Meanwhile, a unified modelling language (UML) sequence diagram was used to monitor the dynamic behaviour of the WPQAS. The core for driving system operation was generated based on a series of machine learning algorithms, including K‐nearest neighbour (KNN) for detecting outlines, random forest (RF) for weighting the chemical indexes, and artificial neural network (ANN) for training the models. Finally, the WPQAS, implemented as a software, was applied to estimate the popular quality of 600 dry red wines from Northwest China. The mode of decoupling models from the system could ensure WPQAS simplicity and scalability, and make the models reusable. Thus, the present work proposes a lightweight system that can be easily popularised and applied in diverse scenarios, and would play a significant positive impact on the correct meeting the challenges associated with counterfeit wine.
Glycaemic outcomes in hospital with IDegAsp versus BIAsp30 premixed insulins
Authors: Walt Joshua R. , Loughran Julie , Fourlanos Spiros , Barmanray Rahul D. , Zhu Jasmine , Varadarajan Suresh , Kyi Mervyn
Published: April 2024

Background and Aims

IDegAsp (Ryzodeg 70/30), a unique premixed formulation of long‐acting insulin degludec and rapid‐acting insulin aspart, is increasing in use. Management of IDegAsp during hospitalisation is challenging because of degludec's ultra‐long duration of action. We investigated inpatient glycaemia in patients treated with IDegAsp compared to biphasic insulin aspart (BIAsp30; Novomix30).

Methods

We performed a retrospective observational study at two hospitals assessing inpatients with type 2 diabetes treated with IDegAsp or BIAsp30 prior to and during hospital admission. Standard inpatient glycaemic outcomes were analysed based on capillary blood glucose (BG) measurements.

Results

We assessed 88 individuals treated with IDegAsp and 88 HbA1c‐matched individuals treated with BIAsp30. Patient characteristics, including insulin dose at admission, were well matched, but the IDegAsp group had less frequent twice‐daily insulin dosing than the BIAsp30 group (49% vs 87%, P < 0.001). Patient‐days with BG <4 mmol/L were not different (10.6% vs 9.9%, P = 0.7); however, the IDegAsp group had a higher patient‐day mean BG (10.4 (SD 3.4) vs 10.0 (3.4) mmol/L, P < 0.001), and more patient‐days with mean BG >10 mmol/L (48% vs 38%, P < 0.001) compared to the BIAsp30 group. Glucose was higher in the IDegAsp group in the evening (4 PM to midnight) (11.6 (SD 4.0) vs 10.9 (4.6) mmol/L, P = 0.004), but not different at other times during the day.

Conclusions

Inpatients treated with IDegAsp compared to BIAsp30 had similar hypoglycaemia incidence, but higher hyperglycaemia incidence, potentially related to less frequent twice‐daily dosing. With the increasing use of IDegAsp in the community, development of hospital management guidelines for this insulin formulation is needed.
Comprehensive analysis of risk factors for postoperative wound infection following radical mastectomy in breast cancer patients
Authors: Hu Yujie , Mao Zhongbo , Xu Ying
Published: April 2024

Surgical site infections (SSIs) following radical mastectomy in breast cancer patients can significantly affect patient recovery and healthcare resources. Identifying and understanding the risk factors for postoperative wound infections (PWIs) are crucial for improving surgical outcomes. This retrospective study was conducted from June 2020 to June 2023, including 23 breast cancer patients who developed PWIs post‐radical mastectomy and a control group of 46 patients without such infections. Comprehensive patient data, including variables such as intraoperative blood loss, hospital stay duration, body mass index (BMI), operation time, anaemia, drainage time, diabetes mellitus, cancer stage, white blood cell (WBC) count, serum albumin levels and preoperative neoadjuvant chemotherapy, were meticulously gathered. Statistical analyses, including univariate and multivariate logistic regression, were performed using SPSS software (Version 27.0). The univariate analysis identified several factors significantly associated with an increased risk of PWIs, including preoperative neoadjuvant chemotherapy, low serum albumin levels, advanced cancer stage, diabetes mellitus and reduced WBC count. Multivariate logistic regression highlighted anaemia, prolonged drainage time, diabetes mellitus, advanced cancer stage, reduced WBC count, hypoalbuminemia and preoperative neoadjuvant chemotherapy as significant contributors to the increased risk of PWIs. Anaemia, extended drainage time, diabetes mellitus, advanced cancer stage, low WBC count, hypoalbuminemia and preoperative neoadjuvant chemotherapy are key risk factors for SSIs post‐radical mastectomy. Early identification and proactive management of these factors are imperative to reduce the incidence of postoperative infections and enhance recovery outcomes in breast cancer patients.
Surface ionic coordination of Al2O3–CaO–based molten slag induced by structural relaxation
Authors: Suzuki Masanori , Asano Yusuke , Ishii Yoshiki
Published: April 2024

The surface tensions of molten oxides depend strongly on the structural relaxation of the surface region. The mechanism of surface structural relaxation for molten oxide slags is complex. The surface tension of calcium aluminate slag is minimal at an intermediate composition, although the critical reason has not been identified. Here, two novel approaches were used to evaluate the features of surface ionic structures in the molten state for the range of 25–50 mol% Al2O3: (1) X‐ray absorption analysis of oxygen and cationic elements in glass samples after surface relaxation treatment, and (2) molecular dynamics simulations, based on a polarizable‐ion model, of the ionic distribution in a molten slag with vacuum/melt interfaces. The results indicate that bridging oxygen (BO) ions are preferred to non‐BOs in the surface region. In calcium aluminate slag, BOs are formed by connecting two AlO4 tetrahedrons with charge compensation of two Al3+ ions with one Ca2+ ion. Additionally, the above approaches were used to qualify the effect on the surface ionic structure of adding 1–20 mol% SiO2 to the calcium aluminate slag. The results indicated that the SiO4 tetrahedrons incorporate the vertex connection with AlO4 tetrahedrons to form BOs in the surface region.
Monodispersed hollow ceramic microspheres fabricated based on preceramic polymers and pulse‐controlled coaxial injection
Authors: Qin Chuhui , Hu Hongli , Zhang Bo‐xing
Published: April 2024

Hollow ceramic microspheres (HCMs) have widespread applications in aerospace and electronic areas owing to their multiple merits such as low density, low thermal conductivity, oxidation, and high‐temperature resistance. In this work, monodispersed HCMs were fabricated based on preceramic polymers and the pulse‐controlled coaxial injection approach. The size and shell morphology of hollow ceramic spheres can be flexibly tailored by adjusting the diameters of coaxial needles, and the composition and flow rates of inner and outer liquids. As‐obtained HCMs were comprised of ultrafine nanocrystals of ZrO2, SiO2, ZrC, and SiC, which can enhance the interfacial polarization effect. Through optimization of microstructure and composition, the electromagnetic shielding performance of HCMs reached up to 45 dB in the frequency range of 12–18 GHz. This work demonstrates a facile and general method for the fabrication of monodispersed HCMs.
Assessing the evolution of hypertension management in Gansu, China: A comparative study of prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control in 2012 and 2022
Authors: Liang Wei , Zhang Xiaowei , Wang Qiongying , Yu Heng , Yu Jing
Published: April 2024

The aim of this study is to evaluate the developments in the treatment and prevalence of hypertension by demographic subgroups in least developed area of China in 2012 and 2022. This population‐based cross‐sectional study was conducted in 2012 and 2022, we applied stratified multistage random sampling to investigate residents aged 18 years or older in Gansu, the least developed province in the northwest of China. Questionnaires and anthropometric measurements were given to all respondents. The standardized prevalence of hypertension in adults in Gansu increased from 26.1% in 2012 to 28.8% in 2022. Compared with 2012, the control rate remains decreased despite the significantly improved awareness and treatment rates of hypertension in 2022. Apart from the reversal of the control rate, the trend of higher prevalence in men and higher awareness and treatment rates in women has not changed. There was an obviously increase in the proportion of participants who had received health education and hypertension management services from medical workers. The treatment was still primarily monotherapy, and there was no significant improvement in the prescription of medication. The prevalence of hypertension has increased mildly in the least developed region of China over the past decade, and the challenge of hypertension management has shifted from increasing awareness and treatment rates to increasing control rates. The onset and control of hypertension are affected by education methods, BMI, local economic conditions and other factors, and targeted strategies can be adopted to strengthen the management of hypertension in economically underdeveloped areas of China.
Built‐environment stocks in the context of a master‐planned city: A case study of Chandigarh, India
Authors: Mihkelson William , Arbabi Hadi , Hincks Stephen , Tingley Danielle Densley
Published: April 2024

Construction materials accumulate in the built environment forming material stocks (MS) of buildings and infrastructure, providing various services to society that result in a nexus of human development and environmental impact. Meanwhile, unprecedented urbanization in the Global South is set to put significant demand on the resources required to ensure adequate standards of living in new and existing urban areas. This is particularly important within India; however, no study has yet explored MS within cities in India or within master‐planned urban areas designed to accommodate urbanization and a high standard of living. The present study begins to fill these gaps and aims to investigate patterns of built‐environment MS accumulation in Chandigarh, an exceptionally quickly developed city master planned to ensure universally high standards of living through a unique urban form. We adopt a bottom‐up approach to quantify the residential building and road MS at the city and sub‐city scale. The results reveal that the master plan, while enabling high standards of living, has resulted in a relative accumulation of road‐to‐building stock that is significantly larger than in other cities. This is shown to be environmentally detrimental as future urban development is limited and promotes the demolition of existing stocks, whose composition severely limits their potential as secondary resources. The study therefore provides empirical evidence to support the integration of material stock assessments into urban planning and development to ensure resource‐efficient provisioning of key services.
The circular economy rebound effect: Reconceptualizing rebound approaches and mitigation opportunities from an ordonomic perspective
Authors: Schultz Felix Carl , Valentinov Vladislav , Reinhardt Robert Jaroslav , Pies Ingo
Published: April 2024

Recent scholarship has advocated a conceptual investigation of rebound effect theory in the circular economy (CE) context. While the available body of knowledge on a circular economy rebound (CER) is rather scant, this forum article proposes a conceptual view of existing CER approaches. Our analysis reveals that the CER literature has largely bypassed an appreciation of how firm behavior is embedded in and canalized by governance arrangements. This forum article contributes to the literature by reconceptualizing the challenges of mitigating CERs. It proposes to re‐focus the CER debate toward: (i) the innovation need of functional collective commitments for CE to address free‐rider‐problems; (ii) the criticality of effective management of decoupling through innovative circular governance; (iii) the critical reflection of calls for degrowth and “non‐optimization” behavior; and (iv) the recognition of optimization behavior and circular governance frameworks as complementary rather than substitute approaches for facilitating CER mitigation.
Why step in? Shifting justifications for bystander behaviors through interventions with youth in the Middle East
Authors: Brenick Alaina , Zureiqi Malak , Wu Rui , Seraj Maisha , Kelly Megan Clark , Berger Rony
Published: April 2024

Research shows positive bystander intervention effectively mitigates bullying experiences. Yet, more evidence regarding bystander responses to bias‐based social exclusion (BSE) is needed in intergroup contexts, especially in the majority world and in areas of intractable conflict. This study assessed the effectiveness of skills and skills + contact‐based interventions for BSE among 148 Palestinian Citizens of Israel (Mage = 10.55) and 154 Jewish‐Israeli (Mage = 10.54) early adolescents (Girls = 52.32%) in Tel Aviv‐Yafo. Bystander responses were assessed by participants' reactions to hypothetical BSE scenarios over three time points. Repeated measures ANOVAs revealed both interventions significantly increased positive and decreased negative bystander responses, with changes maintained at the follow‐up. The opposite result pattern emerged for the control group. Findings suggest that both interventions can effectively encourage youth to publicly challenge BSE, even amidst intractable conflict.
The effect of sedimentation on spore settlement and recruitment of the endemic Arctic kelp, Laminaria solidungula (Phaeophyceae)
Authors: Phelps Jaide , Dunton Kenneth , Konar Brenda , Umanzor Schery , Muth Arley , Iken Katrin
Published: April 2024

Environmental changes associated with rapid climate change in the Arctic, such as the increased rates of sedimentation from climatic or anthropogenic sources, can enhance the impact of abiotic stressors on coastal ecosystems. High sedimentation rates can be detrimental to nearshore kelp abundance and distribution, possibly due to increased mortality at the spore settlement stage. Spore settlement and viability of the Arctic kelp Laminaria solidungula were examined through a series of lab‐based sedimentation experiments. Spores were exposed to increasing sediment loads in three experimental designs simulating different sedimentation scenarios: sediment deposition above settled spores, settlement of spores on sediment‐covered substrate, and simultaneous suspension of spores and sediments during settlement. Spore settlement was recorded upon completion of each experiment, and gametophyte abundance was assessed following a growth period with sediments removed to examine short‐term spore viability via a gametophyte‐to‐settled‐spore ratio. In all three types of sediment exposure, the addition of sediments caused a 30%–40% reduction in spore settlement relative to a no‐sediment control. Spore settlement decreased significantly between the low and high sediment treatments when spores were settled onto sediment‐covered substrates. In all experiments, increasing amounts of sediment had no significant effect on spore viability, indicating that spores that had settled under different short‐term sediment conditions were viable. Our results indicate that depending on spore‐sediment interaction type, higher rates of sedimentation resulting from increased sediment loading could affect L. solidungula spore settlement success with potential impacts on the long‐term persistence of a diverse and productive benthic habitat.
Predicting the effect of climate change on the geographic range of the Mediterranean relict tree Liquidambar orientalis Mill
Authors: Kenar Nihal
Published: April 2024

Climate change is anticipated to pose a significant danger to the habitats and spatial distribution of species in the Mediterranean region throughout the present century. The primary objective of this study was to predict the future geographic range of Liquidambar orientalis, commonly known as the oriental sweetgum under different climate change scenarios. This species is a relict riparian Mediterranean plant originating from the southwestern Anatolia region and Rhodos Island in Greece. To gain insights into the potential effects of climate change on the range of L. orientalis in the future, I used an ensemble modeling approach of species distribution models based on the shared socioeconomic pathways (SSP1‐2.6 and SSP5‐8.5 for the years 2035, 2055 and 2070). The models suggested that the level of precipitation during the wettest month has a crucial role in determining the occurrence of the oriental sweetgum tree. Future projections indicate that the oriental sweetgum will significantly contract its native distribution range due to warming and declining precipitation levels. The population of L. orientalis has previously undergone a decrease as a result of anthropogenic activity. Therefore, it is imperative to augment the degree of urgency in conservation endeavors for the oriental sweetgum species against the ramifications of human‐induced actions and the persistent effects of climate change.
Assessment of clinical validity of KPG index for 3D classification of impacted maxillary canines by cone beam computed tomography in patients
Authors: Bajjad A. A. , Ahemad M. S. , Gupta S. , Mehjabeen F. , Guin S. , Mehra S. , Rajesh R.
Published: April 2024

Objectives

The primary objective of this study was to assess the validity of the KPG index in predicting the difficulty of treatment involving impacted maxillary canines. The secondary objective was to assess the reliability and reproducibility of the index.

Materials and Methods

A retrospective study was conducted on 96 maxillary impacted canines (MIC) in 60 patients aged 13–35 years. Cone‐beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans were used to predict the treatment difficulty of MIC using the KPG index. Patient case files were assessed for the actual difficulty encountered in treating MIC. Cohen's kappa correlation coefficient was used for intra‐observer reliability and Kendell's W test was used for inter‐observer reliability. Spearman's correlation coefficient test was used to assess the correlation between predicted and actual treatment.

Results

Easy and moderately difficult cases exhibited a moderate correlation between actual and predicted treatment outcomes, whereas difficult cases displayed a weak correlation. The perfect correlation was observed exclusively in extremely difficult cases. The intra‐observer reliability for assessing CBCT scans using the KPG guide was found to be 0.88, and the inter‐rater reliability was 0.94.

Conclusion

The KPG index displayed 87%, 71%, 50% and 100% validity in easy, moderately difficult, difficult, and extremely difficult cases, respectively. This index showed good reliability and reproducibility. However, it is imperative to consider a multitude of other factors, including the patient's age, presence of associated root resorption in adjacent teeth, and duration of treatment, to make an informed decision between surgical exposure and extraction.
Gaze and behavioural metrics in the refractive correction of presbyopia
Authors: Smith Sarah L. , Maldonado‐Codina Carole , Morgan Philip B. , Read Michael L.
Published: April 2024

Purpose

To investigate gaze and behavioural metrics at different viewing distances with multifocal contact lenses (MFCLs), single vision contact lenses (SVCLs) and progressive addition lenses (PALs).

Methods

Fifteen presbyopic contact lens wearers participated over five separate study visits. At each visit, participants were randomly assigned to wear one of five refractive corrections: habitual PAL spectacles, delefilcon A (Alcon Inc.) MFCLs and three separate pairs of delefilcon A single vision lenses worn as distance, intermediate and near corrections. Participants wore a Pupil Core headset to record eye and head movements while performing three visual tasks: reading, visual search and scene observation. Data were investigated using linear regression and post‐hoc testing. Parameters of interest included gaze (fixation duration, head movement) and behavioural (reading speed, reading accuracy, visual search time) metrics.

Results

Reading speed in SVCLs was significantly faster than in MFCLs and PAL spectacles (F = 16.3, p < 0.0001). Refractive correction worn did not influence visual search times (F = 0.16, p = 0.85). Fixation duration was significantly affected by the type of visual task (F = 60.2, p < 0.001), and an interaction effect was observed between viewing distance and refractive correction (F = 4.3, p = 0.002). There was significantly more horizontal and vertical head movement (F = 3.2, p = 0.01 and F = 3.3, p = 0.01, respectively) during visual search tasks when wearing PAL spectacles compared to SVCLs or MFCLs.

Conclusion

This work showed that the type of refractive correction affects behavioural metrics such as reading speed and gaze behaviour by affecting horizontal and vertical head movements. The findings of this study suggest that under certain conditions, wearers of MFCLs make fewer head movements compared to PAL spectacles. Gaze behaviour metrics offer a new approach to compare and understand contact lens and spectacle performance, with potential applications including peripheral optical designs for myopia management.
Qualitative, rather than quantitative, differences between HLA‐DQ alleles affect HLA‐DQ immunogenicity in organ transplantation
Authors: Maguire Chelsea , Crivello Pietro , Fleischhauer Katharina , Isaacson Dylan , Casillas Aurora , Kramer Cynthia S. M. , Copley Hannah C. , Heidt Sebastiaan , Kosmoliaptsis Vasilis , Meneghini Maria , Gmeiner Michael , Schold Jesse , Louzoun Yoram , Tambur Anat R.
Published: April 2024

Prolonging the lifespan of transplanted organs is critical to combat the shortage of this life‐saving resource. Chronic rejection, with irreversible demise of the allograft, is often caused by the development of donor‐specific HLA antibodies. Currently, enumerating molecular (amino acid) mismatches between recipient and donor is promoted to identify patients at higher risk of developing HLA antibodies, for use in organ allocation, and immunosuppression‐minimization strategies. We have counseled against the incorporation of such approaches into clinical use and hypothesized that not all molecular mismatches equally contribute to generation of donor‐specific immune responses. Herein, we document statistical shortcomings in previous study design: for example, use of individuals who lack the ability to generate donor‐specific‐antibodies (HLA identical) as part of the negative cohort. We provide experimental evidence, using CRISPR‐Cas9‐edited cells, to rebut the claim that the HLAMatchmaker eplets represent “functional epitopes.” We further used unique sub‐cohorts of patients, those receiving an allograft with two HLA‐DQ mismatches yet developing antibodies only to one mismatch (2MM1DSA), to interrogate differential immunogenicity. Our results demonstrate that mismatches of DQα05‐heterodimers exhibit the highest immunogenicity. Additionally, we demonstrate that the DQα chain critically contributes to the overall qualities of DQ molecules. Lastly, our data proposes that an augmented risk to develop donor‐specific HLA‐DQ antibodies is dependent on qualitative (evolutionary and functional) divergence between recipient and donor, rather than the mere number of molecular mismatches. Overall, we propose an immunological mechanistic rationale to explain differential HLA‐DQ immunogenicity, with potential ramifications for other pathological processes such as autoimmunity and infections.
SARS‐CoV‐2 immunoassays in a predominantly vaccinated population: Performances and qualitative agreements obtained with two analytical approaches and four immunoassays
Authors: Renaud Christian , Lewin Antoine , Gregoire Yves , Simard Nathalie , Vallières Émilie , Paquette Maude , Drews Steven J. , O'Brien Sheila F. , Di Germanio Clara , Busch Michael P. , Germain Marc , Bazin Renée
Published: April 2024

Background and Objectives

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) serosurveys are typically analysed by applying a fixed threshold for seropositivity (‘conventional approach’). However, this approach underestimates the seroprevalence of anti‐nucleocapsid (N) in vaccinated individuals—who often exhibit a difficult‐to‐detect anti‐N response. This limitation is compounded by delays between the onset of infection and sample collection. To address this issue, we compared the performance of four immunoassays using a new analytical approach (‘ratio‐based approach’), which determines seropositivity based on an increase in anti‐N levels.

Materials and Methods

Two groups of plasma donors and four immunoassays (Elecsys total anti‐N, VITROS total anti‐N, Architect anti‐N Immunoglobulin G (IgG) and in‐house total anti‐N) were evaluated. First‐group donors (N = 145) had one positive SARS‐CoV‐2 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test result and had made two plasma donations, including one before and one after the PCR test (median = 27 days post‐PCR). Second‐group donors (N = 100) had made two plasma donations early in the Omicron wave.

Results

Among first‐group donors (97.9% vaccinated), sensitivity estimates ranged from 60.0% to 89.0% with the conventional approach, compared with 94.5% to 98.6% with the ratio‐based approach. Among second‐group donors, Fleiss's κ ranged from 0.56 to 0.83 with the conventional approach, compared with 0.90 to 1.00 with the ratio‐based approach.

Conclusion

With the conventional approach, the sensitivity of four immunoassays—measured in a predominantly vaccinated population based on samples collected ~1 month after a positive test result—fell below regulatory agencies requirement of ≥95%. The ratio‐based approach significantly improved the sensitivities and qualitative agreement among immunoassays, to the point where all would meet this requirement.
Non‐chemical weed management for sustainable rice production in the Ebro Delta
Authors: Palma‐Guillén Alfred , Salicrú Miquel , Nadal Ariadna , Serrat Xavier , Nogués Salvador
Published: April 2024

Weed control is one of the major challenges in rice cultivation, and the use of agrochemicals for this crop is severely restricted under the new European agricultural policy. Therefore, new effective non‐chemical weed control techniques are the key to sustain European rice production. We investigated four non‐chemical weed management strategies in the Ebro Delta in north‐eastern Spain, two in dry‐seeded rice fields and two in water‐seeded rice fields. In addition, two controls per sowing condition were included: a positive control consisting of chemical herbicides treatment and a negative control consisting of no weeding and no seeding. Mechanical weeding using a rotary harrow placed in front of the seeder was the best weeding technique for dry seeding, while ‘stale seed bed’ and transplanting was the best performing technique for wet seeding. Both techniques were as effective as the chemical weeding control, reducing the density of weeds and the supplementary manual weeding time needed for those weed species more abundant in Ebro Delta rice fields (i.e., Echinochloa oryzoides, Echinochloa crus‐galli, Bolboschoenus maritimus and Heteranthera reniformis). Thus, non‐chemical weeding alternatives have been proven effective for both, transplanting and dry seeding field management strategies.
Assessing Postural Control From Birth to Adulthood Among Individuals Born Preterm: A Systematic Review
Authors: Pereira Soraia , Silva Augusta , Santos Rubim , Costa Silva Cláudia
Published: April 2024

Premature life exposure, meaning an immature central nervous system, presents a significant challenge for the development of postural control and, in turn, overall motor development. Preventing motor delay thus requires identifying, characterizing, and quantifying deficit in postural control as early as possible. In our study, we reviewed the procedures used in past studies to assess postural control among individuals born preterm, specifically the characterization of participants, the instruments and motor tasks involved, the types of data collected and analyzed, and the outcomes. To that end, we performed a literature search on PubMed, Wiley Online Library, Web of Science, and Scopus using Boolean logic and assessed the quality of the studies with a standardized assessment based on the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology guidelines and the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. Of 35 potential studies, 24 were included; all evaluated infants born preterm, but six did not include a control group of full-term infants. Although the heterogeneity of measurements, variability of instruments, and divergence in motor tasks examined limit definitive conclusions based on quantitative synthesis and the generalization of the results, most studies revealed dysfunctional postural control among individuals born preterm.
Multi-omics analysis reveals that linoleic acid metabolism is associated with variations of trained immunity induced by distinct BCG strains
Authors: Xu Jin-Chuan , Chen Zhen-Yan , Huang Xue-Jiao , Wu Juan , Huang Huan , Niu Liang-Fei , Wang Hui-Ling , Li Jian-Hui , Lowrie Douglas B. , Hu Zhidong , Lu Shui-hua , Fan Xiao-Yong
Published: April 2024

Trained immunity is one of the mechanisms by which BCG vaccination confers persistent nonspecific protection against diverse diseases. Genomic differences between the different BCG vaccine strains that are in global use could result in variable protection against tuberculosis and therapeutic effects on bladder cancer. In this study, we found that four representative BCG strains (BCG-Russia, BCG-Sweden, BCG-China, and BCG-Pasteur) covering all four genetic clusters differed in their ability to induce trained immunity and nonspecific protection. The trained immunity induced by BCG was associated with the Akt-mTOR-HIF1α axis, glycolysis, and NOD-like receptor signaling pathway. Multi-omics analysis (epigenomics, transcriptomics, and metabolomics) showed that linoleic acid metabolism was correlated with the trained immunity–inducing capacity of different BCG strains. Linoleic acid participated in the induction of trained immunity and could act as adjuvants to enhance BCG-induced trained immunity, revealing a trained immunity–inducing signaling pathway that could be used in the adjuvant development.
Biofunctional lipid nanoparticles for precision treatment and prophylaxis of bacterial infections
Authors: Peng Xinran , Chen Jiaoyu , Gan Yingying , Yang Li , Luo Yuanjing , Bu Changxin , Huang Yi , Chen Xinhai , Tan Jeremy , Yang Yi Yan , Yuan Peiyan , Ding Xin
Published: April 2024

The lack of bacterial-targeting function in antibiotics and their prophylactic usage have caused overuse of antibiotics, which lead to antibiotic resistance and inevitable long-term toxicity. To overcome these issues, we develop neutrophil-bacterial hybrid cell membrane vesicle (HMV)–coated biofunctional lipid nanoparticles (LNP@HMVs), which are designed to transport antibiotics specifically to bacterial cells at the infection site for the effective treatment and prophylaxis of bacterial infection. The dual targeting ability of HMVs to inflammatory vascular endothelial cells and homologous Gram-negative bacterial cells results in targeted accumulation of LNP@HMVs in the site of infections. LNP@HMVs loaded with the antibiotic norfloxacin not only exhibit enhanced activity against planktonic bacteria and bacterial biofilms in vitro but also achieve potent therapeutic efficacy in treating both systemic infection and lung infection. Furthermore, LNP@HMVs trigger the activation of specific humoral and cellular immunity to prevent bacterial infection. Together, LNP@HMVs provide a promising strategy to effectively treat and prevent bacterial infection.
Prospective validation of a model-informed precision dosing tool for vancomycin treatment in neonates
Authors: Kalamees Riste , Soeorg Hiie , Ilmoja Mari-Liis , Margus Kadri , Lutsar Irja , Metsvaht Tuuli
Published: April 2024

We recruited 48 neonates (50 vancomycin treatment episodes) in a prospective study to validate a model-informed precision dosing (MIPD) software. The initial vancomycin dose was based on a population pharmacokinetic model and adjusted every 36–48 h. Compared with a historical control group of 53 neonates (65 episodes), the achievement of a target trough concentration of 10–15 mg/L improved from 37% in the study to 62% in the MIPD group (
P
= 0.01), with no difference in side effects.