bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Arid erosion mapping: comparing LiDAR and structure from motion
Authors: Retallack Angus , Campbell Dillon , Finlayson Graeme , Raja Segaran Ramesh , Ostendorf Bertram , Hennekam Molly , Rifai Sami , Lewis Megan
Published: March 2024

Rapid development and uptake in uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) for environmental monitoring, specifically using three-dimensional data from LiDAR and structure from motion (SfM), has enabled improved condition assessment, including fine-scale erosion monitoring. Comparing the precision of LiDAR and SfM for measuring erosion is essential in enabling appropriate method selection. Additionally, knowledge regarding optimal flight heights allows for consideration of the trade-off among survey areas, flight times and precision. We assessed UAV-based LiDAR and SfM for providing high-precision digital surface models (DSM) of substantial gully erosion on a conservation reserve in the southern Australian arid rangelands. The gullies exist in low-slope chenopod shrublands with calcareous soils, and are of significant management concern, with erosion occurring rapidly over short periods following irregular and intense rainfall events. Root mean squared error (RMSE) values for SfM-derived DSMs with resolutions of 2, 4 and 6 cm were lower than comparable LiDAR datasets (SfM = 0.72–1.39 cm; LiDAR = 2.08–3.15 cm). Additionally, 2 cm SfM-derived datasets exhibit notably lower RMSE values than 4 and 6 cm datasets (2 cm = 0.72 cm; 4–6 cm = 2.08–3.15 cm). Change detection over the 1-year study period highlighted erosion in locations of management concern. We propose that, although both methods are of value, SfM is preferred over LiDAR because of its simplicity, reduced cost, and the additional monitoring capabilities of visible-colour imagery, with no notable sacrifice in precision. Visible-colour survey areas and times can be optimised by increasing flight height without dramatic losses in precision. The use of either method will be of great benefit for the monitoring of arid gully erosion and assessing the effectiveness of management interventions, allowing adaptive management and leading to improved condition of arid rangelands into the future.
The effects of mnemonic variability and spacing on memory over multiple timescales
Authors: Cowan Emily T. , Zhang Yiwen , Rottman Benjamin M. , Murty Vishnu P.
Published: March 2024

The memory benefit that arises from distributing learning over time rather than in consecutive sessions is one of the most robust effects in cognitive psychology. While prior work has mainly focused on repeated exposures to the same information, in the real world, mnemonic content is dynamic, with some pieces of information staying stable while others vary. Thus, open questions remain about the efficacy of the spacing effect in the face of variability in the mnemonic content. Here, in two experiments, we investigated the contributions of mnemonic variability and the timescale of spacing intervals, ranging from seconds to days, to long-term memory. For item memory, both mnemonic variability and spacing intervals were beneficial for memory; however, mnemonic variability was greater at shorter spacing intervals. In contrast, for associative memory, repetition rather than mnemonic variability was beneficial for memory, and spacing benefits only emerged in the absence of mnemonic variability. These results highlight a critical role for mnemonic variability and the timescale of spacing intervals in the spacing effect, bringing this classic memory paradigm into more ecologically valid contexts.
Promoting Planetary Health at Regional Level: A Qualitative Analysis of a Multisectoral Health and Environment Program
Authors: Siltanen U. , Prass M. , Puhakka R. , Lehtimäki J. , Haveri H.
Published: March 2024

The central idea of planetary health is a strong interdependency between human health and the environment. Thus far, practical initiatives often focus on a few narrow sectors at a time. We are lacking knowledge on the efficacy of broader interorganizational collaborations at the city or regional level.

Nature Step to Health – Lahti Regional Health and Environment Programme 2022–2032 in Finland is a planetary health program. It provides a practical example of regional collaboration between various organizations such as public healthcare, municipalities, and educational and research organizations in order to achieve tangible results in striving for more sustainable futures. The program facilitates collaboration and communicates to actors that can initiate projects and implement planetary health in their everyday work. This case study aims to find out how the program has succeeded in coordinating initiatives that could support different organizations to enhance sustainability and planetary health.

We conducted six semi-structured interviews about the experiences of practical actors participating in projects that relate to Nature Step to Health. The goal was to find out strengths as well as potential challenges or barriers in implementing planetary health in their organizations. The participants were generally positive about the measures, collaboration, and networking. The organization’s comprehensive approach to health promotion was considered a strength. Challenges raised by the participants were related to the difficulty to uptake the concept of combining health and sustainability in their work. There were also shortcomings in, for example, communication of the project, and lack of time and expertise.

Information

© The Authors 2024
Convergence of non-linear diagonal frame filtering for regularizing inverse problems
Authors: Ebner Andrea , Haltmeier Markus
Published: March 2024

Inverse problems are key issues in several scientific areas, including signal processing and medical imaging. Since inverse problems typically suffer from instability with respect to data perturbations, a variety of regularization techniques have been proposed. In particular, the use of filtered diagonal frame decompositions (DFDs) has proven to be effective and computationally efficient. However, existing convergence analysis applies only to linear filters and a few non-linear filters such as soft thresholding. In this paper, we analyze filtered DFDs with general non-linear filters. In particular, our results generalize singular value decomposition-based spectral filtering from linear to non-linear filters as a special case. As a first approach, we establish a connection between non-linear diagonal frame filtering and variational regularization, allowing us to use results from variational regularization to derive the convergence of non-linear spectral filtering. In the second approach, as our main theoretical results, we relax the assumptions involved in the variational case while still deriving convergence. Furthermore, we discuss connections between non-linear filtering and plug-and-play regularization and explore potential benefits of this relationship.
Relating permeability and electrical conductivity in partially saturated porous media by means of the Johnson–Koplik–Schwartz characteristic length
Authors: Duy Thanh Luong , Jougnot Damien , Solazzi Santiago G , Luo Haoliang , Hung Nguyen Manh , Van Nghia Nguyen , Van Do Phan , Huong Luong Thi Thanh
Published: March 2024

In this work, we revisit the seminal concept of Johnson–Koplik–Schwartz (JKS) length Λ, that is a characteristic length representing an effective pore size which controls various transport-related properties of porous media, such as, the permeability and the electrical conductivity. We present a novel closed-form equation that predicts the behaviour of Λ in partially saturated media, for different saturation states. Using previous models in the literature that predict the intrinsic and relative electrical conductivities under partially saturated conditions, we infer the JKS length Λ and the electrical formation factor F as functions of water saturation and properties associated with the pore-size distribution of the probed porous medium. The proposed method permits to estimate the effective permeability and the relative permeability directly from electrical conductivity measurements, thus opening new-avenues for the remote characterization of partially saturated media. We believe that this new model will prove useful for various characterization and modelling applications from reservoir (CO2 or hydrogen storage) to vadose zone studies.
Healthy lifestyle interventions within the curriculum in school-age children: systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Balderas-Arteaga Nydia , Mendez Kenia , Gonzalez-Rocha Alejandra , Pacheco-Miranda Selene , Bonvecchio Anabelle , Denova-Gutiérrez Edgar
Published: March 2024

Childhood obesity is a major public health challenge. Previous research has identified the impact of school-based interventions for preventing and treating obesity; we hypothesized that when curricular changes are integrated, results could be exponentiated. This study aimed to systematically review and conduct a meta-analysis of the published literature analyzing information about school-based interventions inserted in the curriculum. The Cochrane Handbook methodology was followed. An electronic search was conducted in five databases, with a specific design strategy per database. Randomized controlled trials or quasi-experimental studies of children with nutrition and physical activity (PA) interventions inserted into the school curricula were included. The risk of bias was assessed with the Risk of Bias tool. The mean differences were pooled using a fixed-effects model for the meta-analysis. The certainty of the evidence was evaluated according to the guidelines of the Grading of the Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations working group (Protocol ID: CRD42021270557). After the screening and selection process, 12 studies were included. The interventions identified, based on the school curricula, include classroom activities and homework, among others. A meta-analysis with five intervention groups presented an overall mean difference of −0.14 body mass index (BMI) Z-score (95% CI: −0.25, −0.03) after this intervention with high certainty of the evidence. This systematic review and meta-analysis suggest that nutrition and PA lessons inserted into the curricula and supported with additional activities (i.e. homework, workshops, etc.) could increase nutrition knowledge and improve attitudes toward fruit, vegetables, and water consumption, and BMI Z-score reduction.
In vitro and in silico analysis unravelled clinically desirable attributes of Bacillus altitudinis L-asparaginase
Authors: Lailaja V P , Hari Vishnu , Sumithra T G , Anusree V N , Suresh Gayathri , Sanil N K , Sharma S.R Krupesha , Gopalakrishnan A
Published: March 2024

Aims

To identify a marine L-asparaginase with clinically desirable attributes and characterize the shortlisted candidate through in silico tools

Methods and results

Marine bacterial strains (number = 105) isolated from marine crabs were evaluated through a stepwise strategy incorporating the crucial attributes for therapeutic safety. The results demonstrated the potential of eight bacterial species for extracellular L-asparaginase production. However, only one isolate (Bacillus altitudinis CMFRI/Bal-2) showed clinically desirable attributes, viz. extracellular production, type-II nature, lack of concurrent L-glutaminase and urease activities, and presence of ansZ (functional gene for clinical type). The enzyme production was 22.55 ± 0.5 µM/mg protein/min within 24 h without optimization. The enzyme also showed good activity and stability in pH 7–8 and temperature 37°C, predicting the functioning inside the human body. The Michealis-Menten constant (Km) was 14.75 µM. Detailed in silico analysis based on functional gene authenticating the results of in vitro characterization and predicted the nonallergenic characteristic of the candidate. Docking results proved the higher affinity of the shortlisted candidate to L-asparagine than L-glutamine and urea.

Conclusion

Comprehensively, the study highlighted B. altitudinis type II asparaginase as a competent candidate for further research on clinically safe asparaginases.
Tectonic and Crustal Processes Drive Multi-Million Year Arc Magma Evolution Leading up to Porphyry Copper Deposit Formation in Central Chile
Authors: Large Simon J E , Nathwani Chetan L , Wilkinson Jamie J , Knott Thomas R , Tapster Simon R , Buret Yannick
Published: March 2024

Subduction zone magmatism is a major control of volcanism, the generation of modern continental crust and the formation of economically important porphyry Cu–(Mo–Au) deposits. Reading the magmatic record of individual arc segments and constraining the rates of magmatic changes are critical in order to fully understand and quantify the processes that drive magma evolution in subduction settings during arc growth. This study focuses on the San Francisco Batholith and the Rio Blanco-Los Bronces porphyry deposit cluster in central Chile, which provides an igneous rock record over ~13.5 Myr of arc evolution. We use whole-rock geochemistry, zircon geochronology and Hf isotope geochemistry to track changes in the crustal magmatic system of this arc segment during crustal thickening and porphyry Cu deposit formation. By combining the analytical dataset with Monte Carlo fractional crystallisation and assimilation fractional crystallisation modelling, we test a model for significant crustal involvement during magma evolution. Systematic and continuous increases in Dy/Yb, La/Yb, V/Sc and Sr/Y in the magmas over time indicate a transition in the main fractionation assemblage from plagioclase-dominated to amphibole-dominated that reflects deeper crystallisation and/or a higher meltwater content. Concomitant decreases in εHf and Th/La as well as increasing Ba/Th are best explained by assimilation of progressively deeper crustal lithologies from low (Chilenia) to high Ba/Th (Cuyania) basement terranes. Our study highlights that an increasingly hydrous magma and a deepening locus of crustal magma differentiation and assimilation, driven by crustal thickening contemporaneous with increased tectonic convergence and ingression of the aseismic Juan Fernandez ridge, can account for all investigated aspects of the multi-Myr magmatic evolution leading up to the formation of the Rio Blanco-Los Bronces porphyry Cu deposits. Our findings corroborate the importance of high-pressure differentiation of hydrous magma for the formation of Andean-style porphyry deposits. Once magmas favourable for porphyry Cu mineralisation were generated in the lower crust, multiple episodes of efficient magma migration into the upper crust fed several, discrete, shallow magmatic-hydrothermal systems over ~3.5 Myr to form the world’s largest known Cu resource at Rio Blanco-Los Bronces.
Ethics guidelines for environmental epidemiologists: 2023 revision
Authors: Etzel Ruth A. , Abbas Nivine H. , Anastario Michael P. , Mustapha Adetoun , Osuolale Olayinka , Sarkar Atanu , Soyiri Ireneous N. , Whaibeh Emile , Soskolne Colin L.
Published: March 2024

Recognition of the importance to environmental epidemiology of ethical and philosophical deliberation led, in 1996, to the establishment of Ethics Guidelines for the profession. In 1999, these guidelines were adopted by the International Society for Environmental Epidemiology. The guidelines were revised in 2012 and again in 2023 to ensure continued relevance to the major issues facing the field. Comprising normative standards of professional conduct, the guidelines are structured into four subsections: (1) obligations to individuals and communities who participate in research; (2) obligations to society; (3) obligations regarding funders/sponsors and employers; and (4) obligations to colleagues. Through the 2023 revision of the Ethics Guidelines, the International Society for Environmental Epidemiology seeks to ensure the highest possible standards of transparency and accountability for the ethical conduct of environmental epidemiologists engaged in research and public health practice.
The heritability and structural correlates of brain entropy
Authors: Zhen Yi , Yang Yaqian , Zheng Yi , Wang Xin , Liu Longzhao , Zheng Zhiming , Zheng Hongwei , Tang Shaoting
Published: March 2024

Brain entropy (BEN) quantifies the temporal complexity of spontaneous neural activity, which has been increasingly recognized as providing important insights into cognitive functions and psychiatric disorders. However, its heritability and structural underpinnings are not well understood. Here, we utilize sample entropy to calculate BEN in healthy young adults using resting-state fMRI from the Human Connectome Project. We show that BEN is significantly heritable in broad brain regions. Heritability estimates exhibit regional variability, with lower heritability in the limbic and subcortical networks than in other networks. We further relate BEN to structural features including surface area (SA), cortical myelination (CM), cortical thickness (CT), and subcortical volumes (SV). We find that BEN is negatively correlated with SA in most cortical regions, but is positively correlated with CM in the prefrontal cortex, lateral temporal lobe, precuneus, lateral parietal cortex, and cingulate cortex. Only a few cortical regions show significant correlations between BEN and CT. By decomposing correlations into genetic and environmental components, we observe that most of BEN-SA correlations are associated with shared genetic and environmental effects. BEN-CM correlations are mainly attributed to shared environmental effects. BEN-CT correlations are partly related to shared environmental effects. We find no significant associations between BEN and SV. Collectively, our work establishes the genetic basis and structural correlates of resting-state fMRI-based BEN, supporting its potential application as an endophenotype for psychiatric disorders.
Depth of technological capability: a new approach to the technological development of latecomer oil service companies
Authors: Tarighi Sina
Published: March 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to define and develop a new technological development path for latecomer firms in developing countries.

Design/methodology/approach

An analytical framework for development based on the technological capability (TC) dimensions is developed and examined in the drilling sector. Since the process of TC accumulation is dynamic, the case study approach is the best method for an exploratory theory-building study. Through a comparative case study of two Iranian drilling contractors, a new path for the technological development of latecomer oil service companies is proposed.

Findings

The study of two cases indicates that despite having similar scope and levels of TC, one of them demonstrated superior technical performance. To address this difference, the concept of operational efficiency is introduced which is considered the outcome of increasing the depth of TC.

Practical implications

Although upgrading the level of technological and innovation capability is an important path for technological development, latecomers that suffer from various disadvantages can perform their routine activities with superior performance and develop through their basic operational/production capabilities. Also, specialized indicators designed for assessing the level and depth of TC in the drilling industry have important insights for evaluating the technological and competitive position of oil service companies.

Originality/value

To the best of the author’s knowledge, this study takes the first step in defining and elaborating on the concept of depth of TC as a development path for latecomers. It also introduced a novel approach to the global operational/production efficiency frontier as a target for their catch-up.
Team coaching using LSP and team facilitation: a randomized control trial study measuring team cohesion and psychological safety
Authors: Passmore Jonathan , Tee David , Gold Richard
Published: March 2024

Purpose

To date, little research has been undertaken to test the effectiveness of team coaching, with past work focusing on models, frameworks and competencies. This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of team coaching within real world organizational teams and its impact on individual perceptions of team cohesion and psychological safety.

Design/methodology/approach

A randomized control trial (RCT) using the comparable interventions: (1) team coaching (intervention) and (2) team facilitation (control) was employed with multiple teams and multiple facilitators, measuring the impact on team cohesion and psychological safety.

Findings

The data indicate participants engaging in the team coaching intervention made greater gains in terms of their individual perceptions of psychological safety and team cohesion than individuals who received the team facilitation intervention (T1–T2).

Practical implications

Facilitators should apply a team coaching approach when seeking to address issues of cohesion and psychological safety within workplace teams.

Originality/value

This study provides the first evidence, using an RCT method, of the effectiveness of team coaching as a workplace intervention for enhancing individual perceptions of psychological safety and team cohesion.
The autonomic nerves around the vein of Marshall: a postmortem study with clinical implications
Authors: Depes Denis , Mennander Ari , Immonen Paavo , Mäkinen Artturi , Huhtala Heini , Paavonen Timo , Kholová Ivana
Published: March 2024

This study aims to analyze the vein of Marshall (VOM) in human autopsy hearts and its correlation with clinical data to elucidate the morphological substrates of atrial fibrillation (AF) and other cardiac diseases. Twenty‐three adult autopsy hearts were studied, assessing autonomic nerves by immunohistochemistry with tyrosine hydroxylase (sympathetic nerves), choline acetyltransferase (parasympathetic nerves), growth‐associated protein 43 (neural growth), and S100 (general neural marker) antibodies. Interstitial fibrosis was assessed by Masson trichrome staining. Measurements were conducted via morphometric software. The results were correlated with clinical data. Sympathetic innervation was abundant in all VOM‐adjacent regions. Subjects with a history of AF, cardiovascular cause of death, and histologically verified myocardial infarction had increased sympathetic innervation and neural growth around the VOM at the mitral isthmus. Interstitial fibrosis increased with age and heart weight was associated with AF and cardiovascular cause of death. This study increases our understanding of the cardiac autonomic innervation in the VOM area in various diseases, offering implications for the development of new therapeutic approaches targeting the autonomic nervous system.
Uneven geographies of power in UK higher education's conjunctural crisis: A response to Gandy
Authors: Cupples Julie
Published: March 2024

This article constitutes a response to Matthew Gandy’s article ‘Books under threat: Open access publishing and the neo‐liberal academy in the form of a conjunctural analysis’. It discusses the UKRI (UK Research and Innovation) open‐access proposal for book publications in the context of broader and chilling attacks on academic freedom driven in large part by the current government and supported by UKRI. It argues that there is a lot at stake, not just our ability as academics to publish in university and activist presses, but also our ability to express our solidarity with Palestine, to defend the rights of transgender people, to withdraw our labour and engage in other political actions and forms of expression in the face of oppression.
An examination of the 2012–2022 empirical ethical decision‐making literature: A quinary review
Authors: Craft Jana L. , Shannon Kimberly R.
Published: March 2024

This review summarizes the empirical ethical decision‐making (EDM) research in business published between 2012 and 2022. Utilizing Rest's (Moral development: advances in research and theory, Praeger, New York, 1986) four‐step model for EDM and Jones' (Acad Manag Rev, 16(2): 366‐395, 1991) theory of moral intensity, 85 articles, resulting in 388 findings, were analyzed. Empirical findings in awareness, intent, judgment, and behavior were categorized by their application to individual and organizational factors resulting in the application of 624 and 62 factors, respectively. A maturing of the research environment is seen through the need for grouping individual factors into themes, essentially forming new connections within EDM research. This article prioritizes new factors and themes, such as bad behaviors, customers and selling, fantasy and imagination, and negative experiences. Additionally, new research in reoccurring themes such as demographics, feelings, personality, and power have elements that were seen in prior reviews but are more nuanced in the current. Furthermore, this quinary review discusses the evolution of EDM research highlighting the relationships studied and modifiers and mediators used. These themes help shape the landscape of EDM research by illustrating the intersectionality of variables. This article advances the understanding of how these foundational models are being nuanced to understand more deeply the EDM process. A call for future research incorporating intersectionality, the continued pursuit of complex relationships, longitudinal research, and major societal and organizational movements is included. Research into the effects of underrepresented demographics such as gender identity, veteran status, and ability is suggested. Furthermore, we question whether Rest (1986) and Jones' (1991) models are inherently Western and if comparing outcomes with a decolonialized research method might give insight into EDM. We present this latest 10‐year collection of EDM empirical research based on Rest (1986) and Jones (1991) as a tool for new and future scholars to utilize in their research endeavors.
Autozygome‐guided exome‐first study in a consanguineous cohort with early‐onset retinal disease uncovers an isolated RIMS2 phenotype and a retina‐enriched RIMS2 isoform
Authors: Del Pozo‐Valero Marta , Almoallem Basamat , Dueñas Rey Alfredo , Mahieu Quinten , Van Heetvelde Mattias , Jeddawi Laila , Bauwens Miriam , De Baere Elfride
Published: March 2024

Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA) and early‐onset retinal degeneration (EORD) are inherited retinal diseases (IRD) characterized by early‐onset vision impairment. Herein, we studied 15 Saudi families by whole exome sequencing (WES) and run‐of‐homozygosity (ROH) detection via AutoMap in 12/15 consanguineous families. This revealed (likely) pathogenic variants in 11/15 families (73%). A potential founder variant was found in RPGRIP1. Homozygous pathogenic variants were identified in known IRD genes (ATF6, CRB1, CABP4, RDH12, RIMS2, RPGRIP1, SPATA7). We established genotype‐driven clinical reclassifications for ATF6, CABP4, and RIMS2. Specifically, we observed isolated IRD in the individual with the novel RIMS2 variant, and we found a retina‐enriched RIMS2 isoform conserved but not annotated in mouse. The latter illustrates potential different phenotypic consequences of pathogenic variants depending on the particular tissue/cell‐type specific isoforms they affect. Lastly, a compound heterozygous genotype in GUCY2D in one non‐consanguineous family was demonstrated, and homozygous variants in novel candidate genes ATG2B and RUFY3 were found in the two remaining consanguineous families. Reporting these genes will allow to validate them in other IRD cohorts. Finally, the missing heritability of the two unsolved IRD cases may be attributed to variants in non‐coding regions or structural variants that remained undetected, warranting future WGS studies.
Navigating the rights of intersex children in Zimbabwe
Authors: Gambiza Pearl , Venganai Hellen
Published: March 2024

Despite the seemingly progressive strides made in promoting the rights of children in many African countries, the rights of intersex children remain hidden. This paper explores the lived experiences of intersex children in Zimbabwe drawing from in‐depth interviews conducted with intersex children aged between 8 and 16 years. The paper reveals a myriad of overlapping challenges faced by intersex children compounded by a lack of legal recognition and influence of cultural and religious discourses which threaten intersex children's sexual and reproductive health rights including their right to bodily autonomy and integrity, as well as their right to education.
Rotational fishery closures could enhance coral recovery in systems with alternative states
Authors: Rassweiler Andrew , Wall Lee M.
Published: March 2024

Rotational closures have potential fisheries benefits, yet their impact on coral cover is unknown. Research has shown that permanent closures can protect herbivorous fish, indirectly benefiting corals, but these observations may not apply when closed periods alternate with fishing. Here, we examine how rotational closures affect coral, focusing on systems with the potential to switch between alternative stable states, a context in which temporary closures may have persistent effects. We show that rotational closures can trigger coral recovery, and in some contexts lead to better coral recovery than fixed closures of similar size. Such benthic effects are only possible if closures last long enough for change to occur. We also note that very large fixed or rotating closures may concentrate fishing effort in areas where fishing remains permitted, leading to lower overall coral cover. Our findings offer crucial guidance to managers regarding rotational closures’ potential advantages and drawbacks.
Clinical findings of hyperechoic substantia nigra in patients with Parkinson's disease
Authors: Fan Yongyan , Ma Jianjun , Yang Dawei , Li Xiaohuan , Liang Keke , She Zonghan , Qi Xuelin , Shi Xiaoxue , Gu Qi , Zheng Jinhua , Li Dongsheng
Published: March 2024

This study aims to analyse hyperechoic substantia nigra (HSN) characteristics and the correlation of HSN with clinical features and blood biomarkers in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Transcranial sonography (TCS) evaluations of the substantia nigra (SN) were performed in 40 healthy controls and 71 patients with PD, including patients with SN hyperechogenicity (SN+) and those with normal SN echogenicity (SN−). Evaluation of motor and non‐motor symptoms was assessed by a series of rating scales. The uricase method was used to determine serum uric acid (UA) levels, and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure plasma interleukin (IL)‐1β levels. TCS showed 92.50% specificity and 61.97% sensitivity in differentiating PD patients from controls. The area of SN+ contralateral to the side of initial motor symptoms (SNcontra) was larger than that ipsilateral to the side of initial motor symptoms (SNipsi). The PDSN+ group had lower Argentine Hyposmia Rating Scale (AHRS) scores and UA levels than the PDSN− group. Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that AHRS scores and UA levels could be independent predictors for HSN. The larger SN echogenic area (SNL) sizes positively correlated with plasma IL‐1β levels in PD patients with SN+. The present study provides further evidence of the potential of SN echogenicity as an imaging biomarker for PD diagnosis. PD patients with HSN have more severe non‐motor symptoms of hyposmia. HSN in PD patients is related to the mechanism of abnormal iron metabolism and microglial activation.
VEXAS syndrome: A review of cutaneous findings and treatments in an emerging autoinflammatory disease
Authors: Saad Anis J. , Patil Mihir K. , Cruz Nicolas , Lam Chloe S. , O'Brien Connor , Nambudiri Vinod E.
Published: March 2024

VEXAS (vacuoles, E1 enzyme, X‐linked, autoinflammatory and somatic mutation) syndrome is a novel autoinflammatory, late‐onset, disorder first identified in 2020. It is caused by mutations in the UBA1 gene. The most prominent clinical features reported by VEXAS patients are cutaneous and haematological, having characteristic skin features reported as the initial presenting findings of the disease. VEXAS is a severe and treatment‐resistant condition with high morbidity and mortality rates. Here, we examine all case reports and case series of VEXAS syndrome through March 2023 focusing on those presenting cutaneous manifestations. We discuss these manifestations and their reported treatment strategies. In many cases, it might be first suspected and diagnosed by dermatologists, highlighting their vital role in initiating timely multidisciplinary care.
Health‐related quality of life for pediatric patients with end‐stage kidney disease: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL)
Authors: Doshi Kush , Raina Rupesh , Ng Kar Hui , Koch Vera , Bhatt Girish C. , Nada Arwa , Foresi Brian , Kamalakkannan Sibee Sambandam , McCulloch Mignon , Sethi Sidharth , de Ferris Maria Díaz‐González
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) studies demonstrate the impact of end‐stage renal disease (ESRD) on the physical and psychosocial development of children. While several instruments are used to measure HRQoL, few have standardized domains specific to pediatric ESRD. This review examines current evidence on self and proxy‐reported HRQoL among pediatric patients with ESRD, based on the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) questionnaires.

Methods

Following PRISMA guidelines, we conducted a systematic review and meta‐analysis on HRQoL using the PedsQL 4.0 Generic Core Scale (GCS) and the PedsQL 3.0 ESRD Module among 5‐ to 18‐year‐old patients. We queried PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, CINAHL, and Cochrane databases. Retrospective, case‐controlled, and cross‐sectional studies using PedsQL were included.

Findings

Of 435 identified studies, 14 met inclusion criteria administered in several countries. Meta‐analysis demonstrated a significantly higher total HRQoL for healthy patients over those with ESRD (SMD:1.44 [95% CI: 0.78–2.09]) across all dimensional scores. In addition, kidney transplant patients reported a significantly higher HRQoL than those on dialysis (PedsQL GCS, SMD: 0.33 [95% CI: 0.14–0.53]) and (PedsQL ESRD, SMD: 0.65 [95% CI: 0.39–0.90]) concordant with parent‐proxy reports.

Discussion

Patients with ESRD reported lower HRQoL in physical and psychosocial domains compared with healthy controls, while transplant and peritoneal dialysis patients reported better HRQoL than those on hemodialysis. This analysis demonstrates the need to identify dimensions of impaired functioning and produce congruent clinical interventions. Further research on the impact of individual comorbidities in HRQoL is necessary for developing comprehensive, integrated, and holistic treatment programs.
Effects of nurse managers' inclusive leadership on nurses' psychological safety and innovative work behavior: The moderating role of collectivism
Authors: Lee Seung Eun , Seo JK
Published: March 2024

Introduction

In the rapidly evolving healthcare landscape, the capacity to foster innovative work behavior among nurses is increasingly important. This study examined the dynamics between inclusive leadership, psychological safety, collectivism, and innovative work behavior among nurses.

Design

The study used a cross‐sectional, correlational design.

Methods

This study utilized data from 730 medical‐surgical nurses who provided direct care to patients. Standardized instruments were used to assess key study variables. Statistical analyses, including moderated mediation regressions, were employed to investigate the complex interplay among these variables.

Results

We found a positive association between inclusive leadership and innovative work behavior, and psychological safety mediated this relationship. Collectivism moderated inclusive leadership's direct relationship with psychological safety and its indirect relationship with innovative work behavior. The results revealed that nurses with lower levels of collectivism were more responsive to their managers' inclusive behaviors, strengthening the relation between inclusive leadership, psychological safety, and innovative work behavior.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that promoting inclusive leadership behaviors among nurse managers to create a psychologically safe environment can motivate nurses to engage in innovative work behavior. However, it is also important to understand that the effectiveness of leadership may differ depending on the collectivist values of individual nurses.

Clinical Relevance

Nurse managers should adopt inclusive leadership behaviors, such as valuing trust, open communication, and diversity, in order to foster psychological safety and innovative work behavior among nurses.
Closed‐loop auditory stimulation of slow‐wave sleep in chronic insomnia: a pilot study
Authors: Dudysová Daniela , Janků Karolina , Piorecký Marek , Hantáková Veronika , Orendáčová Mária , Piorecká Václava , Štrobl Jan , Kliková Monika , Ngo Hong‐Viet V. , Kopřivová Jana
Published: March 2024

Insomnia is a prevalent and disabling condition whose treatment is not always effective. This pilot study explores the feasibility and effects of closed‐loop auditory stimulation (CLAS) as a potential non‐invasive intervention to improve sleep, its subjective quality, and memory consolidation in patients with insomnia. A total of 27 patients with chronic insomnia underwent a crossover, sham‐controlled study with 2 nights of either CLAS or sham stimulation. Polysomnography was used to record sleep parameters, while questionnaires and a word‐pair memory task were administered to assess subjective sleep quality and memory consolidation. The initial analyses included 17 patients who completed the study, met the inclusion criteria, and received CLAS. From those, 10 (58%) received only a small number of stimuli. In the remaining seven (41%) patients with sufficient CLAS, we evaluated the acute and whole‐night effect on sleep. CLAS led to a significant immediate increase in slow oscillation (0.5–1 Hz) amplitude and activity, and reduced delta (1–4 Hz) and sigma/sleep spindle (12–15 Hz) activity during slow‐wave sleep across the whole night. All these fundamental sleep rhythms are implicated in sleep‐dependent memory consolidation. Yet, CLAS did not change sleep‐dependent memory consolidation or sleep macrostructure characteristics, number of arousals, or subjective perception of sleep quality. Results showed CLAS to be feasible in patients with insomnia. However, a high variance in the efficacy of our automated stimulation approach suggests that further research is needed to optimise stimulation protocols to better unlock potential CLAS benefits for sleep structure and subjective sleep quality in such clinical settings.
Environmental scanning, resource orchestration, and disruptive innovation
Authors: Jin Shumo , Wang Juanru , Zhu Peiyu
Published: March 2024

Environmental scanning is an important way for firms to realize disruptive innovation. However, how environmental scanning impacts disruptive innovation is still unclear. Based on resource orchestration theory and foresight theory, this study divides environmental scanning into prospective scanning and responsive scanning according to scanning time, explores the relationship between two types of environmental scanning and disruptive innovation, and tests the mediating role of resource orchestration and the moderating role of environmental dynamism. The results based on 284 intelligent manufacturing firms show that there are inverted U‐shaped effects not only between prospective scanning and new‐market disruption but also between responsive scanning and low‐end market disruption. Resource orchestration plays a mediating role in the inverted U‐shaped relationships between prospective scanning and new‐market disruption, responsive scanning, and low‐end market disruption. Moreover, environmental dynamism moderates and steepens the inverted U‐shaped relationship between prospective scanning, responsive scanning, and resource orchestration, and the mediating effect of resource orchestration is also moderated by environmental dynamism. The results reveal that environmental scanning can help firms achieve disruptive innovation to a certain extent, and firms must be alert to the “overload trap.”
Dissolution of presumed calcareous corneal degeneration with 13.8% ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid solution in 17 dogs
Authors: Pytak Richard A. , Wasserman Neal T.
Published: March 2024

Purpose

To describe a novel treatment for dissolving calcareous corneal degeneration (CCD)‐associated mineral in 17 dogs with 13.8% ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) solution.

Methods

Cases seen between 2021 and 2023 were reviewed. Seventeen dogs with CCD associated with corneal ulcerations were treated with a mineral dissolution procedure using 13.8% EDTA solution. A diamond burr keratotomy (DBK) was subsequently performed in some cases when residual mineralization remained present.

Results

Of the 19 eyes (17 dogs) included in the study, 10 eyes (8 dogs) required a DBK procedure. One eye (one dog) required a repeat procedure 26 weeks following the initial procedure and two eyes (one dog) required a repeat procedure 24 and 37 weeks following initial treatment in the left and right eye, respectively. Mean follow‐up time to last recheck for eyes not requiring a second chelation procedure was 20.4 weeks (range, 10–47 weeks). At the last follow‐up examination for all 17 dogs, the CCD resolved in 26.3%, improved in 57.9%, and recurred in 15.8% of eyes. Complications occurred in two eyes (two dogs) and included an infected stromal ulcer at 2‐week recheck and the creation of a 40% depth stromal defect immediately following debridement. Both complications were successfully addressed with medical management.

Conclusions

The utilization of 13.8% EDTA solution appears to be an effective and safe means of treating lesions associated with CCD.
Equivariant Lagrangian Floer homology via cotangent bundles of EGN$EG_N$
Authors: Cazassus Guillem
Published: March 2024

We provide a construction of equivariant Lagrangian Floer homology , for a compact Lie group acting on a symplectic manifold in a Hamiltonian fashion, and a pair of ‐Lagrangian submanifolds . We do so by using symplectic homotopy quotients involving cotangent bundles of an approximation of . Our construction relies on Wehrheim and Woodward's theory of quilts, and the telescope construction. We show that these groups are independent of the auxiliary choices involved in their construction, and are ‐bimodules. In the case when , we show that their chain complex is homotopy equivalent to the equivariant Morse complex of . Furthermore, if zero is a regular value of the moment map and if acts freely on , we construct two ‘Kirwan morphisms’ from to (respectively, from to ). Our construction applies to the exact and monotone settings, as well as in the setting of the extended moduli space of flat ‐connections of a Riemann surface, considered in Manolescu and Woodward's work. Applied to the latter setting, our construction provides an equivariant symplectic side for the Atiyah–Floer conjecture.
Estimating the direction of arrival of spatially spread sources using block-sparse Bayesian learning with an extended dictionary
Authors: Zhao Anbang , Wang Keren , Hui Juan , Song Pengfei , Guo Jiabin
Published: March 2024

Estimating the direction of arrival (DOA) of spatially spread sources is a significant challenge in array signal processing. This work introduces an effective method within the sparse Bayesian framework to tackle this issue. A spatially spread source is modeled using a multi-dimensional Slepian signal subspace that expands the dictionary and results in a block-sparse structured solution. By taking advantage of block-sparse Bayesian learning, parameter estimation becomes feasible. A complex Gaussian posterior is derived under a multi-snapshot block-sparse framework with a complex Gaussian prior and varying noise conditions. The hyperparameters are estimated using the expectation-maximization algorithm. Through numerical tests and sea test data evaluations, the proposed method shows superior energy focusing for spatially spread signals. Under limited snapshots and challenging signal-to-noise ratios, the current method can still offer precise DOA determination for spatially spread sources.
Beliefs of German Prospective Physical Education Teachers: A Qualitative Examination Through the Lens of Teaching Quality
Authors: Engelhardt Sophie , Hapke Julia
Published: March 2024

Purpose: Prospective physical education teachers (PPETs) acquire beliefs during acculturation, which is the time before teacher education begins. Beliefs are based on shared experiences and influential in PPETs’ professional development. We examined German PPETs’ shared beliefs through the lens of teaching quality, comprising classroom management, student support, and cognitive activation. Method: Three focus group discussions were conducted, in which 13 German PPETs were instructed to work on shared lesson planning. The data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Findings: The PPETs believed that physical education should enable students’ participation in sports. Therefore, classroom management was reflected as “managing a physical education class as a prerequisite for the complexity of teaching.” Student support was reflected as “providing easy access to sports for all students.” Cognitive activation was reflected as “disregarding cognitive activation in favor of transmissive teaching.” The PPETs drew on their own physical education experiences as former students. Conclusion: Longitudinal studies focusing on cognitive activation are recommended.
Aging from adipose accumulation of antibodies
Authors: Wong Wei
Published: March 2024

IgG accumulation in white adipose tissue contributes to aging-associated metabolic dysfunction.
Supplemental Material: Landscapes on the edge: River intermittency in a warming world
Authors: McLeod Jonah S. , al. et
Published: March 2024

Additional background on climate, extended methodology, and extended intermittency results.  
Role of Alternative Food in Controlling Chaotic Dynamics in an Eco-Epidemiological Model with Strong Allee Effects in Prey Populations
Authors: Sarkar Abhishek , Das Krishna Pada , Agnihotri Kulbhushan
Published: March 2024

This paper explores a predator–prey system with disease in the predator population, focusing on the impact of alternative food sources. Investigating the eco-epidemiological systems with strong Allee effects in prey populations, the study analyzes local stability, introduces ecological and disease basic reproduction numbers, and observes the community structure. Extensive numerical simulations reveal varied global behaviors, including stable focus, limit cycles, period-doubling, and chaos in response to changes in the infection levels. The research emphasizes the role of alternative food in mitigating chaotic dynamics, noting that increased availability promotes stability, while decreased availability leads to a shift from chaos to a stable focus. Overall, the study underscores the significance of incorporating alternative food sources in conservation efforts for ecosystems with predator populations experiencing strong Allee effects, offering insights into the complex dynamics of eco-epidemiological systems and their implications for biodiversity conservation and disease management.