bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Actinomycin D reduces virulence factors and biofilms against Aeromonas hydrophila
Authors: Zeng Yuexiang , Liu Junsheng , Wang Wei , Wang Bo , Jia Aiqun
Published: September 2024

Aims

Aeromonas hydrophila, a Gram-negative bacterium, is ubiquitously found in many aquatic habitats, causing septicemia in humans and fishes. Attributed to abuse or misuse of conventional antimicrobial drug usage, antimicrobial resistance is at an alarming rise. There is an available alternative strategy to bacterial resistance to antimicrobials, which is inhibition of virulence and pathogenicity employing quorum sensing inhibitors (QSIs). Hence, actinomycin D’s effectiveness against A. hydrophila SHAe 115 as a QSI was investigated in decreasing virulence factors and preventing biofilm formation.

Methods and results

Actinomycin D, belongs to the QSI combating Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 originally isolated from an entophytic actinomycete (Streptomyces cyaneochromogenes RC1) in Areca catechu L. In the present work, further investigations were carried out to assess the effect of actinomycin D at subminimal inhibitory concentrations (sub-MICs), QS-regulated virulence factors, and biofilm inhibition strategies. Intrinsic properties encompassing inhibition of the production of protease and hemolysin and subsequent activities on biofilm formation and eradication of mature biofilm were established along with weakened swimming and swarming motilities in A. hydrophila SHAe 115. In the Tenebrio molitor survival assay, actinomycin D effectively reduced the virulence and pathogenicity of A. hydrophila, resulting in elimination of mortality. However, the hydrolysate of actinomycin D, 2-hydroxy-4,6-dimethyl-3-oxo-3H-phenoxazine-1,9-dicarboxylic acid (HDPD), had lost the QSI activity in A. hydrophila.

Conclusions

Actinomycin D was proved as a viable QSI in lessening A. hydrophila’s the virulence and pathogenicity, as evident from our research findings
Large branchiopods (Anostraca, Notostraca, Laevicaudata, Spinicaudata) from the semi-arid regions of western India
Authors: Vanjare Avinash Isaac , Katke Prashant Manohar , Padhye Sameer M
Published: September 2024

Large branchiopod crustaceans are flagship species of temporary water bodies, especially in arid and semi-arid regions. Less information is available about the large branchiopods of tropical Asia compared to other parts of the world such as the Americas. To reduce this disparity, we surveyed large branchiopods from the semi-arid region of Maharashtra state, India. Sampling at 29 sites over four years revealed nine species representing four orders. This is the highest diversity ever reported from a single regional study in India. Anostracans were the most commonly occurring group, whereas the spinicaudatans Leptestheria cf. nobilisSars, 1900, L. jaisalmerensisTiwari, 1962, and Eulimnadia michaeliNayar & Nair, 1968 were very rare. Leptestheria jaisalmerensis had been known previously only from its type locality nearly 1,200 km north of our study region. Congeneric assemblages of the anostracans Streptocephalus dichotomusBaird, 1860 + S. simplexGurney, 1906 and the spinicaudatans Leptestheria cf. nobilis + L. jaisalmerensis were collected. Temporary aquatic habitats are threatened due to adverse anthropogenic activities, especially in developing countries like India. The endemic species of large branchiopods in the Indian subcontinent should be red-listed, as is done elsewhere.
Sustainable aquaculture of West African freshwater prawns Macrobrachium vollenhovenii (Herklots, 1857) and M. macrobrachion (Herklots, 1851) (Decapoda: Caridea: Palaemonidae)
Authors: Taguemount Riyad
Published: September 2024

The river prawn Macrobrachium vollenhovenii (Herklots, 1857) and the brackish river prawn M. macrobrachion (Herklots, 1851) are economically and ecologically significant West African species. Recent molecular studies suggest they might be different ecotypes of the same species, complicating taxonomy and sustainable aquaculture practices. Both species face significant threats from human exploitation, leading to high exploitation rates and smaller average sizes within populations. Seasonal variations affect their abundance, with M. macrobrachion more prevalent during the rainy season and M. vollenhovenii thriving in the dry season. Their omnivorous detritivorous feeding habits involve consuming detritus, diatoms, phytoplankton, and insect larvae during juvenile stages. Aquaculture of M. vollenhovenii and M. macrobrachion encounters difficulties such as limited hatchery technology and low larval survival rates. Efforts to cultivate juveniles or adults in captivity face obstacles like high mortality rates due to moulting stress, handling, feeding, and cannibalism. Reintroducing captive-bred prawns into the wild offers dual benefits: controlling snail populations that host parasite causing schistosomiasis and restoring ecological balance while enhancing local fisheries and providing socio-economic benefits. To achieve sustainable aquaculture, it is crucial to address taxonomic complexities, implement management measures to mitigate overexploitation, improve hatchery technology, optimise feeding strategies, reduce stress during moulting and handling, and engage local communities through capacity building and awareness programs. This review aims to contribute to a better understanding of these prawns, promoting informed decision-making for sustainable management, conservation, and socio-economic benefits in West Africa.
Density-guided and adaptive update strategy for multi-objective particle swarm optimization
Authors: Zhang Xiaoyan , Liu Yanmin , Song Qian , Zhang Yansong , Yang Jie , Wang Xingtao
Published: September 2024

As a powerful optimization technique, multi-objective particle swarm optimization (MOPSO) has been paid more and more attention by scientists. However, in more complex problems, MOPSO faces the challenges of weak global search ability and easy-to-fall-into local optimality. To address these challenges and obtain better solutions, people have proposed many variants. In this study, a density-guided and adaptive update strategy for multi-objective particle swarm optimization (DAMOPSO) is proposed. First, an adaptive grid is used to determine the mutation particles and guides. Then, the Cauchy mutation operator is performed for the poorly distributed particles to expand the search space of the population. Additionally, the strategy of non-dominated sorting and hyper-region density are devised for maintaining external archives, which contribute to the uniform distribution of optimal solutions. Finally, an adaptive detection strategy based on the adjustment coefficient and conversion efficiency is designed to update the flight parameters. These approaches not only speed up the convergence of algorithms, but also balance exploitation and exploration more effectively. The proposed algorithm is compared with several representative multi-objective optimization algorithms on 22 benchmark functions; meanwhile, statistical tests, ablation experiments, analysis of stability, and complexity are also performed. The experimental results demonstrate DAMOPSO is more competitive than other comparison algorithms.
Parental self-efficacy and early language development in deaf and hard-of-hearing children
Authors: Davenport Carrie A , Smolen Elaine , Castellanos Irina , Dirks Evelien , Houston Derek M
Published: September 2024

This study examined the relationship between parental self-efficacy in parents of young deaf and hard-of-hearing (DHH) children and children’s spoken language skills. A retrospective within-subjects study design was used that included 24 mother–child dyads with DHH children. Parental self-efficacy was assessed using the Scale of Parental Involvement and Self-Efficacy–Revised. Children’s language abilities were assessed using the Preschool Language Scale–5th edition. Our data revealed no significant associations between global measures of parental self-efficacy and children’s auditory comprehension, expressive communication, and total language scores. However, positive correlations were found between child language skills and specific parents’ beliefs about their ability to support their child’s spoken language development, their ability to use strategies to help their child communicate, and their active involvement in intervention. Findings highlight the importance of examining discrete aspects of parental self-efficacy as it specifically relates to parents supporting their DHH child’s spoken language development. Future directions and implications are provided.
Language and executive function in Mandarin-speaking deaf and hard-of-hearing children aged 3–5
Authors: Pan Yuchen , Xiao Yongtao
Published: September 2024

The study aimed to explore spoken language and executive function (EF) characteristics in 3–5-year-old prelingually deaf and hard-of-hearing (DHH) children, and evaluate the impact of demographic variables and EF on spoken language skills. 48 DHH children and 48 typically developing children who use auditory-oral communication were recruited. All participants underwent EF tests, including auditory working memory (WM), inhibitory control, cognitive flexibility, and the EF performance reported by parents. Using Mandarin Clinical Evaluation of Language for Preschoolers (MCELP), vocabulary comprehension, sentence comprehension, vocabulary naming, sentence structure imitation, and story narration were evaluated only in the DHH group, and their results were compared with the typical developmental level provided by MCELP. Results showed that DHH children exhibit deficiencies in different spoken language domains and EF components. While the spoken language skills of DHH children tend to improve as they age, a growing proportion of individuals fail to reach the typical developmental level. The spoken language ability in DHH children was positively correlated with age and EFs, and negatively correlated with aided hearing threshold, while auditory WM could positively predict their spoken language performance.
Dispersal of the Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel (Callospermophilus lateralis)
Authors: Nguyen Nhan T T , Wells Caitlin P , Van Vuren Dirk H
Published: September 2024

Dispersal is common in mammals and can have an important role in shaping demography, genetics, distribution, and social structure. Dispersal entails potential costs but also potential benefits, and the dispersal decision is thought to be conditional; the potential disperser assesses prospects for success at its current location and disperses to improve its fitness. However, the costs and benefits of dispersal, as well as factors influencing the dispersal decision, are not well known. We used trapping and observation to study dispersal in the Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel (Callospermophilus lateralis), a species for which dispersal is largely unknown. We characterized the dispersal process by evaluating dispersal timing and distance, assessed factors that might influence the dispersal decision, and analyzed the fitness cost of dispersal after settlement. We found that most dispersal occurred during the summer of birth, as is expected for a small-bodied sciurid. However, some squirrels delayed dispersal until early in their yearling summer. Dispersal was male-biased in dispersal tendency, and it was also male-biased in dispersal distance, but only over shorter dispersal distances. The dispersal decision for juvenile females appeared to originate as soon as 10 days after they emerged from the natal burrow, and the decision was not associated with body mass or several measures of competition. Instead, dispersal of juvenile females was associated with the number of littermate sisters, with each sister present increasing the likelihood of dispersal by 26%. Littermate sisters might be a cue foretelling the effects of kin competition the following year. We did not find a significant difference in lifetime reproductive success between philopatric and dispersing females after settlement, suggesting that for golden-mantled ground squirrels, any cost of dispersal is experienced primarily during the transience phase.
Organizational communication for social change on social media: NPOs’ social media strategies based on their perception of three stakeholder networks in collective and connective action
Authors: Ihm Jennifer
Published: September 2024

Social media transform and complicate nonprofit organizations’ (NPOs) traditional communication to engage and lead stakeholders for collective action. Stakeholders can self-organize for connective action on social media and form stakeholder networks of varied potential and structures that NPOs may leverage for collective goals. Facing such networks, NPOs may communicate in diverse ways to accommodate and take advantage of the diverse stakeholder networks. Through two surveys conducted with 375 (Study 1) and 74 (Study 2) NPOs, this study suggests that NPOs diversify their communication to leverage different potential from each stakeholder network by crafting different types of social media activities based on their perception of different networks. This study develops a comprehensive theoretical understanding of NPOs’ transformed and complex communication strategies for stakeholder engagement in driving social change, opening up new avenues for organizational communication and collective and connective action scholarship.
Tracking the civilising mission’s continuities in externalised migration controls: a critical analysis of EU cooperation with third countries
Authors: Hocquet Céline
Published: September 2024

A critical perspective on EU externalisation policy reveals how cooperation on migration perpetuates key features of the ‘civilising mission’. This article focuses on the EU-Turkey, EU-Afghanistan, and Italy-Libya cooperation agreements as cornerstones of the EU racialised mobility regime. It shows how these frameworks legitimise externalised controls as a form of benevolence towards Third World migrants and states, and how the EU allocates the responsibility to deal with migration to its partners while keeping its status as a humanitarian actor.
The Gaia ultracool dwarf sample–IV. GTC/OSIRIS optical spectra of Gaia late-M and L dwarfs
Authors: Cooper W J , Jones H R A , Smart R L , Folkes S L , Caballero J A , Marocco F , Ortiz M C Gálvez , Burgasser A J , Kirkpatrick J D , Sarro L M , Burningham B , Cabrera-Lavers A , Tremblay P E , Reylé C , Lodieu N , Zhang Z H , Cook N J , Faherty J F , García-Álvarez D , Montes D , Pinfield D J , Rajpurohit A S , Shi J
Published: September 2024

As part of our comprehensive, ongoing characterization of the low-mass end of the main sequence in the Solar neighbourhood, we used the OSIRIS instrument at the 10.4 m Gran Telescopio Canarias to acquire low- and mid-resolution (R${\approx }$300 and R${\approx }$2500) optical spectroscopy of 53 late-M and L ultracool dwarfs. Most of these objects are known but poorly investigated and lacking complete kinematics. We measured spectral indices, determined spectral types (six of which are new) and inferred effective temperature and surface gravity from BT-Settl synthetic spectra fits for all objects. We were able to measure radial velocities via line centre fitting and cross correlation for 46 objects, 29 of which lacked previous radial velocity measurements. Using these radial velocities in combination with the latest Gaia DR3 data, we also calculated Galactocentric space velocities. From their kinematics, we identified two candidates outside of the thin disc and four in young stellar kinematic groups. Two further ultracool dwarfs are apparently young field objects: 2MASSW J1246467+402715 (L4β), which has a potential, weak lithium absorption line, and G 196–3B (L3β), which was already known as young due to its well-studied primary companion.
True unicorns and false positives: simulated probabilities of dark massive companions to bright stars
Authors: Miller Andrew M , Stephan Alexander P , Martin David V
Published: September 2024

Many compact objects (black holes and neutron stars) exist in binaries. These binaries are normally discovered through their interactions, either from accretion as an X-ray binary or collisions as a gravitational wave source. However, the majority of compact objects in binaries should be non-interacting. Recently proposed discoveries have used radial velocities of a bright star (main sequence or evolved) that are indicative of a massive but dark companion, which is inferred to be a compact object. Unfortunately, this burgeoning new field has been hindered by false positives, including the ‘Unicorn’ (V723 Mon) which was initially believed to be a red giant/black hole binary before being refuted. In this work, we investigate the evolution of stellar binary populations over time, using the binary evolution code COSMIC to simulate binary populations and determine the probability of a candidate object being either a ‘true Unicorn’ (actual compact objects in binaries) or a false positive. We find that main-sequence (MS) stars have a higher true Unicorn probability than red giants or naked helium stars (an exposed core of an evolved star), particularly if the companion is more massive and is $\ge$3 times less luminous than the MS star. We also find that a top-heavy initial mass function raises the true Unicorn probability further, that super-solar metallicity reduces the probability, and that most true Unicorns are found at periods $\le$100 d. Finally, we find that a significant fraction of true Unicorns do not evolve into X-ray binaries during the age of the Universe.
Tense blisters and haemorrhagic bullae as the first manifestation of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis
Authors: Inokuchi Hajime , Akiyama Mitsuhiro , Horikawa Hiroto , Kondo Yasushi , Saito Shuntaro , Kikuchi Jun , Hanaoka Hironari , Kaneko Yuko
Published: September 2024

Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis poses a significant diagnostic challenge due to its varied clinical presentation. Here, we present a case of a 59-year-old female with a history of asthma and sinusitis, who manifested with an extremely rare presentation of drastic tense blisters and haemorrhagic bullae alongside purpuric lesions and peripheral neuropathy. Examinations revealed eosinophilia, positive antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody, and characteristic pathological findings with small-vessel vasculitis in the purpura. Treatment with glucocorticoids and cyclophosphamide led to rapid improvement in peripheral eosinophilia, skin manifestations, and motor neuron deficits. Although rare, our case underscores that bullous skin lesions should be recognised as a potential cutaneous hallmark of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis to aid timely diagnosis, since prompt treatment initiation is crucial given the potential irreversible organ damage and poor prognosis of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis.
Effects of dietary interventions for metabolic acidosis in chronic kidney disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Mahboobi Sepideh , Mollard Rebecca , Tangri Navdeep , Askin Nicole , Ferguson Thomas , Rahman Tahmina , Rabbani Rasheda , Abou-Setta Ahmed M , MacKay Dylan
Published: September 2024

Background

Metabolic acidosis is a common complication of kidney disease and can result in further disease progression. Alkali therapy has been used to treat metabolic acidosis for decades. However, some concerns have been raised regarding its safety and long-term tolerability. Existing data suggest that dietary interventions can be beneficial in the management of chronic kidney disease (CKD). This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to summarize findings from studies comparing dietary interventions with placebo/usual care/no treatment in the management of metabolic acidosis in outpatient adults with CKD.

Methods

Medline, Embase, Cochrane Central, CINAHL and Web of Science Core Collection were searched from inception to June 2022. Our primary outcome measure was change in serum bicarbonate. Any dietary intervention looking to manipulate dietary acid load was considered as an intervention. Data screening and extraction were performed by two independent reviewers. Random effects meta-analysis was performed to pool data.

Results

Dietary interventions resulted in clinically significant improvement in serum bicarbonate [mean difference 2.98 (95% confidence interval 0.77, 5.19); I2: 91%] and higher estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) levels [mean difference 3.16 (95% confidence interval 0.24, 6.08); I2: 67%] compared with controls. Serum potassium, albumin and body mass index remained unchanged. Dietary interventions were reported to be safe. Subgroup analyses indicated a superiority of plant-based over non-plant-based interventions in the improvement of acid–base balance and eGFR; however, these findings are from low-quality and heterogenous studies.

Conclusion

Our findings support the beneficial effects of dietary interventions aimed at reducing acid or adding base in the management of metabolic acidosis and kidney function in adults with CKD, with no adverse effects on serum potassium and nutritional status. Well-designed clinical trials looking at the treatment of metabolic acidosis with dietary interventions with a focus on adding base through fruit and vegetables are required.
Empagliflozin lowers serum uric acid in chronic kidney disease: exploratory analyses from the EMPA-KIDNEY trial
Authors: Mayne Kaitlin J , Sardell Rebecca J , Staplin Natalie , Judge Parminder K , Zhu Doreen , Sammons Emily , Cherney David Z I , Green Jennifer B , Levin Adeera , Pontremoli Roberto , Hauske Sibylle J , Emberson Jonathan , Preiss David , Landray Martin J , Baigent Colin , Wanner Christoph , Haynes Richard , Herrington William G
Published: September 2024

Background

Hyperuricaemia and gout are common in chronic kidney disease (CKD). We aimed to assess the effects of sodium–glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibition on uric acid (urate) and gout in patients with CKD.

Methods

The EMPA-KIDNEY trial randomised 6609 patients with CKD to receive either empagliflozin 10 mg daily or matching placebo over a median of 2 years of follow-up. Serum uric acid was measured at randomisation then at 2 and 18 months of follow-up and the effects of empagliflozin were analysed using a pre-specified mixed model repeated measures approach. Participant-reported gout events were analysed in Cox regression models (first events) with the Andersen–Gill extension (total events). A post hoc composite outcome included new initiation of uric acid–lowering therapy or colchicine. EMPA-KIDNEY primary and kidney disease progression outcomes were also assessed in subgroups of baseline serum uric acid.

Results

Baseline mean ± standard deviation serum uric acid concentration was 431 ± 114 µmol/l. Allocation to empagliflozin resulted in a study-average between-group difference in serum uric acid of −25.6 µmol/l [95% confidence interval (CI) −30.3 to −21.0], with larger effects in those with higher eGFR (trend P < .001) and without diabetes (heterogeneity P < .001). Compared with placebo, empagliflozin did not significantly reduce first or total gout events [hazard ratio 0.87 (95% CI 0.74–1.02) for the 595 first events and 0.86 (0.72–1.03) for the 869 total events] with similar hazard ratios for the post hoc composite and across subgroups, including by diabetes and eGFR. The effect of empagliflozin on the primary outcome and kidney disease progression outcomes were similar irrespective of the baseline level of uric acid.

Conclusions

SGLT2 inhibition reduces serum uric acid in patients with CKD, with larger effects at higher eGFR and in the absence of diabetes. However, the effect on uric acid is modest and did not translate into reduced risk of gout in EMPA-KIDNEY.
Sub-millikelvin-resolved superconducting nanowire single-photon detector operates with sub-pW infrared radiation power
Authors: Chen Qi , Zhou Fei , Wei Chen , Dai Yue , Gan Haiyong , Zhang Labao , Wang Hao , Yuan Hang , Li Haochen , Tan Jingrou , Feng Guojin , Tu Xuecou , Jia Xiaoqing , Zhao Qingyuan , Kang Lin , Chen Jian , Wu Peiheng
Published: September 2024

The noise equivalent temperature difference (NETD) indicates the minimum temperature difference resolvable by using an infrared detector. The lower the NETD, the better the sensor can register small temperature differences. In this work, we proposed a strategy to achieve a high temperature resolution using a superconducting nanowire single-photon detector (SNSPD) with ultra-high sensitivity. We deduced the model for calculating the NETD of a photon-counting-type detector and applied it to our SNSPD-based set-up. Experimentally, we obtained an NETD as low as 0.65 mK, which is limited by the background radiation of the environment, and the required infrared radiation power is calculated to be <1 pW. Furthermore, the intrinsic NETD of this SNSPD is estimated to be <0.1 mK. This work demonstrated a sub-mK temperature resolution when using the SNSPD, paving the way for future remote infrared thermal imaging with high temperature resolution.
Expanding the Russian allele frequency reference via cross-laboratory data integration: insights from 7452 exome samples
Authors: Barbitoff Yury A , Khmelkova Darya N , Pomerantseva Ekaterina A , Slepchenkov Aleksandr V , Zubashenko Nikita A , Mironova Irina V , Kaimonov Vladimir S , Polev Dmitrii E , Tsay Victoria V , Glotov Andrey S , Aseev Mikhail V , Shcherbak Sergey G , Glotov Oleg S , Isaev Arthur A , Predeus Alexander V
Published: September 2024

Population allele frequency is crucially important for accurate interpretation of known and novel variants in medical genetics. Recently, several large allele frequency databases, such as the Genome Aggregation Database (gnomAD), have been created to serve as a global reference for such studies. However, frequencies of many rare alleles vary dramatically between populations, and population-specific allele frequency is often more informative than the global one. Many countries and regions, including Russia, remain poorly studied from the genetic perspective. Here, we report the first successful attempt to integrate genetic information between major medical genetic laboratories in Russia. We construct RUSeq, an open, large-scale reference set of genetic variants by analyzing 7452 exome samples collected in two major Russian cities—Moscow and St. Petersburg. An ∼10-fold increase in sample size compared to previous studies allowed us to characterize extensive genetic diversity within the admixed Russian population with contributions from several major ancestral groups. We highlight 51 known pathogenic variants that are overrepresented in Russia compared to other European countries. We also identify several dozen high-impact variants that are present in healthy donors despite being annotated as pathogenic in ClinVar and falling within genes associated with autosomal dominant disorders. The constructed database of genetic variant frequencies in Russia has been made available to the medical genetics community through a variant browser available at http://ruseq.ru.
The contribution of employer changes to aggregate wage mobility
Authors: Hollandt Nils Torben , Mueller Steffen
Published: September 2024

Wage mobility reduces the persistence of wage inequality. We develop a framework to quantify the contribution of employer-to-employer movers to aggregate wage mobility. Using three decades of German social security data, we find that inequality increased while aggregate wage mobility decreased. Employer-to-employer movers exhibit higher wage mobility, mainly due to changes in employer wage premia at job change. The massive structural changes following German unification temporarily led to a high number of movers, which in turn boosted aggregate wage mobility. Wage mobility is much lower at the bottom of the wage distribution, and the decline in aggregate wage mobility since the 1980s is concentrated there. The overall decline can be mostly attributed to a reduction in wage mobility per mover, which is due to a compositional shift toward lower-wage movers.
The correlates of environmental initiatives in sports organizations with climate change attitudes and subjective well-being
Authors: Kraft Christian , Bühren Christoph , Wicker Pamela
Published: September 2024

Background

To recognize the interplay between climate change and public health, this study examines the impact of sports organizations’ environmental initiatives on members’ subjective well-being (SWB) and climate change attitudes (CCA). Drawing on the theoretical tenets of pro-social behavior, organizational initiatives aiming at protecting and improving the natural environment can be viewed as altruistic. This altruism can in turn increase SWB.

Methods

The analysis uses survey data from the 2022 Eurobarometer, including 27 European countries and 6311 members of different types of sports organizations. Seemingly unrelated regression models were employed to assess the associations of various environmental initiatives with members’ SWB and CCA.

Results

The total number of initiatives and specific initiatives, such as promoting green energy and waste reduction, are positively correlated with members’ CCA. However, there is no effect on SWB.

Conclusion

Organizational environmental initiatives may shape members’ attitudes towards climate change but do not seem to affect their SWB. This would suggest that environmental protection does not come at the expense of SWB. Thus, sports organizations represent a context to promote environmental protection along with public health.
Four Years of Anti-COVID-19 Regulations in Greece: Overview of the Legislative and Regulatory Process and of an Exemplary Administrative Codification
Authors: Ntalakou Vasiliki , Theodorakou Foteini , Karakatsanis Ilias , Traianos Pantelis
Published: September 2024

In the 25th of February 2024, four years since the first Act of Legislative Content of the Greek Government concerning the prevention and limitation of the spreading of coronavirus COVID-19 were completed. The regulatory production of this period is huge and has a series of unique characteristics with prevailing one the use of means of extraordinary legislation as foreseen in the Greek Constitution. All these measures are presented in a consolidated form in the “Special Administrative Codification of urgent regulatory measures to prevent and limit the spreading of coronavirus COVID-19 and to deal with relevant problems” under the short name of PANDEKTIS, conducted by the Department of Administrative Codifications – Raptarchis of the Secretariat General for Legal and Parliamentary Affairs of the Presidency of the Greek Government. The study of this monumental work gives rise to very interesting findings, about the way Hellenic Government handled the Pandemic crisis. This article presents the law-making process and the process of issuing secondary legislation during the Pandemic, its quantitative and qualitative characteristics with special comment on the fulfillment of the rules and principles of Better Regulation and discusses the use of administrative codification as a means of reflecting an holistic picture of the regulatory production during a period of crisis.
Cross-border planning for Brazilian families
Authors: de Haro Sanches Humberto , Pacheco Danilovic Adriane Cristina Spicciati
Published: September 2024

This article aims to provide an overview of cross-border planning for Brazilian Families, addressing key topics to be taken into consideration, especially those related to marital asset regimes, forced heirship rights, private, corporate, tax and international laws, from a Brazilian perspective. It also addresses the significant impacts of the 2023 Brazilian tax reform, encompassing the taxation of investment funds in Brazil, income derived by individuals resident in the country, controlled entities and trusts abroad, the introduction of CFC rules for individuals and further anti-deferral rules.
Steroid-responsive anemia with bony dysplasias: What lurks behind!
Authors: Khandelwal Shipra , Khurana Ritika , Kanvinde Purva , Khan Sanaa , Shah Dhara , Dhabale Trupti , Chadha Vaibhav , Shah Nitin , Desai Mukesh , Bodhanwala Minnie , Swami Archana , Mudaliar Sangeeta
Published: September 2024

Ghosal hematodiaphyseal dysplasia (GHDD) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by diaphyseal dysplasia of long bones, bone marrow fibrosis, and steroid-responsive anemia. Patients with this disease have a mutation in the thromboxane-AS1 (TBXAS1) gene located on chromosome 7q33.34. They present with short stature, varying grades of myelofibrosis, and, hence cytopenias. Patients with the above presentation were evaluated through clinical presentation, X-ray of long bones, bone marrow examinations, and confirmed by genetic testing. In this article, we present two cases: The first case is a 3-year-old boy who presented with progressive pallor and ecchymotic patches for a year. On investigation, he had bicytopenia and bone marrow fibrosis. His anemia was steroid responsive and was finally diagnosed as GHDD. The second case is a 20-month-old girl who presented with blood in stools, developmental delay, anemia, and increased intensity of long bones on X-ray. Since other investigations were normal, suspicion of GHDD was raised, and a genetic workup was conducted which suggested mutation in TBXAS1 gene, confirming the diagnosis of GHDD. Children with refractory anemia and cortical thickening on skeletogram should always be evaluated for dysplasias. Timely treatment with steroids reduces transfusion requirements and halts bone damage, thus leading to better growth and improved quality of life.
Osteology and relationships of the Late Triassic giant dicynodont Lisowicia
Authors: Sulej Tomasz
Published: September 2024

Unexpectedly abundant remains of herbivorous therapsids in the Late Triassic strata of southern Poland have significantly supplemented knowledge of their evolution. The skeletal morphology of the Late Norian (or Rhaetian) dicynodont Lisowicia bojani supports its close relationship to the Carnian Woznikella, both known from the Polish part of the Germanic Basin. Three evolutionary lineages of dicynodonts—Laurasian–Gondwanan Rhadiodromus klimovi → Jachaleria candelariensis lineage, Laurasian lineage Shaanbeikannemeyeria xilougouensis → Lisowicia bojani, and the Gondwanan lineage Kannemeyeria simocephalus → Dinodontosaurus brevirostris—are distinguished based on characters of cranial and postcranial elements. In the lineages characterized by the parietal oval in cross-section and the two distinct articulations on the sternum, there is a tendency to exclude the frontal from the orbital margin and to reduce the number of sacral vertebrae. In the lineage with the parietal narrow and triangular in cross-section, the frontal forms part of the orbit margin, there is a single joint on the sternum, and there is a tendency towards flattening the skull roof. In both lineages the shoulder girdle is convergently modified, the acromion process decreased, and joints on the sternum moved posteriorly.
Strategic Learning Strategies of Doctor of Physical Therapy Students
Authors: Minahan Carrie A. , Reynolds Breanna , Martin Jennifer G. , Seale Jill
Published: September 2024

Introduction.

The use of strategic learning strategies has been positively associated with academic performance in several graduate health profession programs. This finding suggests that it may be an important construct to explore in Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) education. The Learning and Study Strategies Inventory (LASSI) summarizes a student's perception and use of 10 learning and study strategies.

Review of Literature.

Although the LASSI has limited reporting in DPT education, other health care education programs have shown correlation with academic performance. The purpose of this study was to examine DPT students' early perceptions of strategic learning with descriptive summaries of LASSI data and examine correlations between demographic and admissions-related data.

Subjects.

Matriculated DPT students (n = 294) at a 2-year hybrid program who completed the LASSI at orientation in 2020 and 2021.

Methods.

This was a descriptive study that retrospectively analyzed LASSI scores in entry-level DPT students. LASSI score differences among demographic groups and Spearman's rho correlations between the LASSI, Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores, grade point averages, grit, and emotional intelligence (EI) were explored.

Results.

LASSI score means were in the 50th–75th percentile (moderate category) suggesting a need for further development in strategic learning. Group differences in LASSI scores were noted for gender identity (male higher Anxiety management, P < .001; female higher Attitude, P < .001, Time Management, P = .003, and Use of Academic Resources, P = .003), racial–ethnic minoritized group (higher Self-regulation, P = .013), first-generation college students (higher Attitude, P = .047), physical therapy assistants (higher Information Processing, P = .047), students with a primary language other than English (higher Time Management, P = .046), and older students (higher Anxiety management, P = .026). Weak but significant correlations were identified between LASSI scale and component scores and several admissions variables. Highest correlations were with grit (Will, ρ = 0.319, P < .001; Concentration, ρ = 0.312, P < .001), EI (Will, ρ = 0.328, P < .001; Attitude, ρ = 0.302, P < .001; Self-regulation, ρ = 0.382, P < .001; Use of Academic Resources ρ = 0.331, P < .001), and quantitative GRE scores (Anxiety management, ρ = 0.341, P < .001).

Discussion/Conclusion.

All LASSI scale scores and components were in the moderate category, potentially indicating a need to coach and develop strategic learning strategies. Group differences in LASSI scores may represent varied student needs. The weak relationship between LASSI scores and admissions variables could suggest that the constructs measured by LASSI are not currently captured through typical DPT admissions practices.
Blooming Through the Evolution of DEI+
Authors: Brown Dawn S. , Chesser Brianna
Published: September 2024

The lexicon and language surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are evolving with new and nuanced meanings arising, depending on historical and current contexts. Notably, the DEI initialism has evolved to incorporate justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion to create the acronym JEDI, excluding key terms such as accessibility, belonging, or antiracism. Adding a plus sign (+) to the DEI initialism embraces a more comprehensive and intersectional approach, creating space for transformative and evolving language. DEI+ aims to include and invite everyone into ongoing conversations where all are respected, supported, and feel a sense of belonging. Using Bloom's Taxonomy for cognitive learning as a framework, the authors advocate incorporating the DEI+ initialism within physical therapy education, research, and practice.
Elements of episodic memory: lessons from 40 years of research
Authors: Martin-Ordas Gema , Easton Alexander
Published: September 2024

40 years ago, Endel Tulving published his hugely influential
Elements of Episodic Memory
(Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1983). For the first time, this discussed the details of episodic memory (i.e. the ability to remember personal past events), including a specific conscious experience. Ten years later, Tulving defined the ability to mentally project oneself in time to be the critical feature distinguishing episodic from semantic memory (‘What is episodic memory?’
Curr
.
Dir
.
Psychol
.
Sci
.
2
, 67–70, doi:10.1111/1467-8721.ep10770899). In this conception, the conscious experience of episodic memory captures the experience of reliving a personal event as it was experienced in the past, while the same ability allows a potential symmetry between remembering the past, and our ability to project into an imagined future. With the recent passing of Endel Tulving, this theme issue offers an opportunity to question our understanding of mental time travel in full.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Elements of episodic memory: lessons from 40 years of research’.
The history of episodic memory
Authors: Hoerl Christoph , McCormack Teresa
Published: September 2024

Over the course of his research, Endel Tulving offered a number of somewhat different characterizations of episodic memory. Do they indicate that he changed his mind over time as to what episodic memory is, or did his core understanding of the nature of episodic memory stay the same? In this article, we offer some support for the latter claim, and in particular for thinking that, throughout his life, Tulving took as a defining feature of episodic memory the distinctive awareness of the self in time it involves. We argue that it is easier to see the continuities rather than the discontinuities in Tulving’s writings once their historical context is taken into account, where this involves both the authors who influenced his thinking, as well as the intellectual climate at the different times he was writing. We also discuss two recent bodies of work on episodic memory that take aspects of Tulving’s writings as their point of departure, but try to factor out into separate ingredients what he arguably saw as a unitary phenomenon. Considering aspects of the dialectic between them and Tulving’s view might shed further light on some of the motivations behind the latter.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Elements of episodic memory: lessons from 40 years of research’.
Is episodic-like memory
like
episodic memory?
Authors: Davies James R. , Clayton Nicola S.
Published: September 2024

Episodic memory involves the conscious recollection of personally experienced events and when absent, results in profound losses to the typical human conscious experience. Over the last 2.5 decades, the debate surrounding whether episodic memory is unique to humans has seen a lot of controversy and accordingly has received significant research attention. Various behavioural paradigms have been developed to test episodic-
like
memory; a term designed to reflect the behavioural characteristics of episodic memory in the absence of evidence for consciously experienced recall. In this review, we first outline the most influential paradigms that have been developed to assess episodic-like memory across a variety of non-human taxa (including mammals, birds and cephalopods), namely the what–where–when memory, incidental encoding and unexpected question, and source memory paradigms. Then, we examine whether various key features of human episodic memory are conceptually represented in episodic-like memory across phylogenetically and neurologically diverse taxa, identifying similarities, differences and gaps in the literature. We conclude that the evidence is mixed, and as episodic memory encompasses a variety of cognitive structures and processes, research on episodic-like memory in non-humans should follow this multifaceted approach and assess evidence across various behavioural paradigms that each target different aspects of human episodic memory.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Elements of episodic memory: lessons from 40 years of research’.
Mental time travel in animals: the ‘when’ of mental time travel
Authors: Latham Andrew J. , Miller Kristie , Pedersen Rasmus
Published: September 2024

While many aspects of cognition have been shown to be shared between humans and non-human animals, there remains controversy regarding whether the capacity to mentally time travel is a uniquely human one. In this paper, we argue that there are four ways of representing
when
some event happened: four kinds of
temporal representation
. Distinguishing these four kinds of temporal representation has five benefits. First, it puts us in a position to determine the particular benefits these distinct temporal representations afford an organism. Second, it provides the conceptual resources to foster a discussion about which of these representations is necessary for an organism to count as having the capacity to mentally time travel. Third, it enables us to distinguish
stricter
from more
liberal
views of mental time travel that differ regarding which kind(s) of temporal representation is taken to be necessary for mental time travel. Fourth, it allows us to determine the benefits of taking a stricter or more liberal view of mental time travel. Finally, it ensures that disagreement about whether some species can mentally time travel is not merely the product of unrecognized disagreement about which temporal representation is necessary for mental time travel. We argue for a more liberal view, on the grounds that it allows us to view mental time travel as an evolutionarily continuous phenomenon and to recognize that differences in the ways that organisms mentally time travel might reflect different temporal representations, or combinations thereof, that they employ. Our ultimate aim, however, is to create a conceptual framework for further discussion regarding what sorts of temporal representations are required for mental time travel.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Elements of episodic memory: lessons from 40 years of research’.
Children’s mental time travel into the future: a functional perspective
Authors: Ayson Gladys , Atance Cristina M.
Published: September 2024

Children’s episodic future-thinking is typically assessed using experimental tasks that measure whether children select an item with future utility. Although these tasks—inspired by Tulving’s seminal ‘spoon test’ (Tulving E. 2005 Episodic memory and autonoesis: uniquely human? In
The missing link in cognition: origins of self-reflective consciousness
[eds HS Terrace, J Metcalfe], pp. 3–56. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. [doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195161564.001.0001])—are passed around age 4, they tell us little about the functional significance of children’s episodic future-thinking in their day-to-day lives. We highlight how a naturalistic approach can shed light on this issue, and present a small study where we recruited mothers to report on their children’s (
N
= 12, 3- and 4-year-olds and 6- and 7-year-olds) future-thinking over a 7-day period. We used a thematic analysis to understand why children express future thoughts and derived the following themes: (1) expressing future desires and/or intentions, (2) future-oriented information-seeking, (3) connecting present actions with future outcomes, and (4) predicting future mental/physiological states. We compare these themes with recent accounts of the functional significance of future-thinking in adults and conclude that children largely express their future-thinking verbally to request information or support from their parent—likely because they do not yet possess enough control/autonomy to independently act for their own future. Our findings both complement and extend an experimental approach and further elucidate the functional significance of mental time travel in children.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Elements of episodic memory: lessons from 40 years of research’.