bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effect of methylphenidate on the reproductive function of female rats
Authors: Cim Numan , Cim Bunyamin , Akyuz Cim Emine Fusun , Bulut Seval , Mammadov Renad , Suleyman Bahadır , Yucel Nurinisa , Mendil Ali Sefa , Coban Taha Abdulkadir , Suleyman Halis
Published: November 2024

Aim

Research on the effects of methylphenidate on female fertility is limited. This study evaluated the effects of methylphenidate on reproductive function, oxidants, antioxidants, proinflammatory cytokines, prolactin, and cortisol in female rats.

Methods

Forty‐eight albino Wistar female rats were divided into four groups consisting of 12 rats, which were given pure water orally once daily for 7 days (HG‐1), 10 mg/kg methylphenidate orally once daily for 7 days (MP‐1), pure water orally once daily for 30 days (HG‐2), and 10 mg/kg methylphenidate orally once daily for 30 days (MP‐2). At the end of the treatment periods, tail vein blood was collected from six rats per group for prolactin and cortisol determination. Subsequently, euthanasia was performed and the ovaries were removed. Ovaries were analyzed for malondialdehyde (MDA), total glutathione (tGSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), interleukin‐1 beta (IL‐1β), and tumor necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α), and immunohistochemically. For breeding, the remaining six rats were mated with male rats for 1 month. Rats that failed to give birth were classed as infertile.

Results

A comparison of MP‐1 and MP‐2 groups to healthy controls revealed an elevation in MDA and corticosterone levels, and a decline in tGSH, SOD, and CAT levels (p < 0.001). Methylphenidate did not affect prolactin, IL‐1β, and TNF‐α levels (p > 0.05). MP‐1 and MP‐2 exhibited immunopositivity for 8‐hydroxy‐2'‐deoxyguanosine (8‐OHDG). MP‐2 rats developed 66.7% infertility while MP‐1, HG‐1, and HG‐2 rats did not.

Conclusion

In ovaries, methylphenidate caused oxidative stress, but did not induce inflammation. Long‐term use of methylphenidate caused increased cortisol levels and infertility.
Perceptions of service providers on available care for paediatric feeding disorder: A survey study
Authors: Brown Elizabeth , Forsingdal Shareen , Marshall Jeanne
Published: November 2024

Aim

This study aimed to describe current strengths and gaps in services for children with feeding needs in Southeast Queensland, Australia from the perspective of key professionals involved in service design and provision.

Methods

A web‐based survey was distributed to health professionals involved in providing services to children with feeding needs, staff who triaged/managed referrals, and/or service team leaders in Southeast Queensland.

Results

There were 79 responses to the survey, with 61 of these responses included in the analysis. Respondents identified several strengths in paediatric feeding disorder (PFD) service provision, particularly in the quality of care available for children who met service eligibility requirements. However, respondents also described services as disjointed, with limited coordinated multidisciplinary care available. Respondents frequently described service limitations relating to public service eligibility criteria, long waiting lists, and scant communication between services. Gaps were reported in the care available for children with ‘mild’ feeding difficulties and/or children who were not considered medically complex. Respondents also identified gaps in services secondary to a limited number of confident and trained professionals offering PFD care, particularly in the private sector.

Conclusions

This study described service providers' perceptions of available care for children with PFD in Southeast Queensland. Overall, the availability of PFD services appeared to be limited by eligibility criteria, service design, and staff capacity, suggesting that children with PFD are not receiving timely, multidisciplinary care in this geographical area. Further research into ideal service design is required to support preventative PFD care.
Impact of Collaborative Nursing Care on Health Outcomes of Mental Health Day Hospital Users: A Mixed Methods Study
Authors: Ventosa‐Ruiz Ana , Moreno‐Poyato Antonio R. , Cañete‐Massé Cristina , Rolduà‐Ros Júlia , Feria‐Raposo Isabel , Campoverde Karina , Puig Llobet Montserrat
Published: November 2024

Introduction

Given that recovery‐oriented care focuses on empowering individuals with mental health challenges, collaborative care can be an effective tool for nurses in mental health day hospitals.

Aim

To deepen knowledge about the impact of collaborative nursing care for improving health outcomes of mental health day hospital users.

Methods

A sequential and transformative mixed methods study was designed. In the first phase of this mixed methods study, quantitative data were collected from 144 users of mental health day hospitals. In phase two, a group of users underwent an intervention based on collaborative nursing care, through participatory action research, and qualitative data were collected. Finally, quantitative data were again collected from all users.

Results

The users who participated in the intervention group improved quantitatively in terms of the quality of the therapeutic relationship. They also improved at different stages of the recovery process, thus the qualitative results confirmed that collaborative nursing care was an essential component in their recovery process.

Discussion

The findings highlight the critical role of collaborative nursing care in health outcomes. The therapeutic relationship was identified as a key factor in facilitating patient empowerment.

Implications

The study supports implementing collaborative nursing care models in mental health settings to enhance patient outcomes.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04814576
The lived experiences and unmet needs of prostate and colorectal male cancer survivors in rural Virginia: A qualitative study
Authors: Tariq Fariha , Lucas Alexander R. , Hill Sherrick , Philips Malik , Sheppard Vanessa B.
Published: November 2024

Background

The goal of this study was to gain an in‐depth understanding about the lived experiences and unmet needs of rural male cancer survivors.

Methods

Focus groups were conducted with male survivors of prostate (N = 14) and colorectal cancers (N = 10), from rural Virginia. Demographic and clinical information were collected via surveys. A focus group guide contained questions about needs, lifestyles, and social networks of rural male cancer survivors. Focus group data were analyzed using Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis guidelines.

Results

Four primary themes emerged from the data: (1) contending with health problems, (2) quality and availability of health care services, (3) coping strategies to navigate survivorship, and (4) advocating for cancer prevention. Survivors had to contend with physical and emotional problems, which were a result of their cancer treatments. Due to their rural location, survivors had difficulty accessing health care services and had a limited understanding of the cancer‐related resources that existed in their counties. Family support, religiosity and acceptance served as important coping strategies. Many felt strongly about promoting cancer‐related education and awareness.

Conclusion

The lived experiences and unmet needs of rural male cancer survivors comprised several challenges, which included health problems and lack of health care access. Coping mechanisms comprised reliance on familial bonds and religion. Findings from this study reveal the need for tailored interventions to target the health care, psychosocial, and informational needs of rural male cancer survivors.
Evolution and Impact of Hepatitis A Epidemiology in Europe—Systematic Literature Review of the Last 20 Years
Authors: Andani Anar , Mellou Kassiani , Dewda Pavitra , Eeuwijk Jennifer , Kassianos George , Van Damme Pierre , Steffen Robert
Published: November 2024

While globally hepatitis A (hepA) infections occur in 150 million people annually, European high‐income countries now have a low endemicity. However, this results in a more susceptible adult population which is prone to severe illness. To determine current epidemiological characteristics, we performed a systematic literature review to assess the severity of hepA disease in the past two decades in 11 European countries (i.e., Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom). Literature search was performed using PubMed and Embase between 1 January 2001 and 14 April 2021. Search terms included the disease (hepA), the 11 selected countries, the term ‘outbreaks’ and its synonyms, outcomes and terms for hepA virus circulation. In total, 43 records reported data on hepA disease outcomes. Hospitalisation rates varied between the countries, with annual rates exceeding 50% at least once in seven countries. The lowest hospitalisation rates were reported for the Netherlands (≤ 32%) and the highest for Greece (≥ 81%). Liver failure, haemorrhagic and other complications were rarely reported, and case fatality rates were low (0.03%–0.26%). Our findings are consistent with the trends observed globally. This systematic literature review highlights the need to increase awareness of hepA risks and to strengthen prevention strategies. Continuous monitoring of epidemiological data is crucial to assess which populations would most benefit from prevention, mainly with respect to future vaccination recommendations.
What does religion have to do with it: Exploring noninstitutional arguments for effective enforcement of IPR
Authors: Choudhary Latika , Daga Hardik
Published: November 2024

Through this paper the authors intend to establish a connect between religion and Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) particularly how various religions have justified IPRs and analyze whether religion can prove to be the much‐needed enforcement tool to fight infringement of IPRs. Intellectual Property is a domain which is governed purely by creativity and technology and has traditionally been justified by utilitarianism. However, the evidence we are in possession of does not entirely justify the rationale of exclusive rights granted under the current IPR regime. While questioning the contradictory evidence seems as a logical move, instead scholars are turning to nonindustrial faith‐based arguments which justify intellectual property as a moral end in itself. A growing number of academics are choosing to devote at least a portion of their research to examining how religious thought can influence approaches to difficult intellectual property questions because they find the religious texts to be a rich source of inspiration on both temporal and eternal issues. A major obstacle in the enforcement of IPR is that people are not entirely convinced that infringing IPR is unethical. This enforcement challenge, surprisingly in the presence of legislations, may be tackled by informal institutions such as religious commitments.
Noninvasive Monitoring of Steatotic Liver Disease in Western Diet‐Fed Obese Mice Using Automated Ultrasound and Shear Wave Elastography
Authors: Czernuszewicz Tomasz J. , Wang Yanhan , Jiang Lu , Kim Kenneth , Mikulski Zbigniew , Aji Adam M. , Rojas Juan D. , Gessner Ryan C. , Schnabl Bernd
Published: November 2024

Background and Aims

Ultrasound imaging and shear wave elastography (SWE) can be used to noninvasively stage hepatopathologies and are widespread in clinical practice. These techniques have recently been adapted for small animal use in a novel 3D in vivo imaging system capable of high‐throughput automated scanning. Our goal was to evaluate the feasibility of using this imaging tool in the murine Western diet (WD) model, a highly translatable preclinical model of obesity, metabolic disease and liver fibrosis.

Methods

Female C57BL/6 mice (N = 48) were placed on WD or chow diet and imaged longitudinally for a period of 48 weeks. Imaging consisted of 3D B‐mode and targeted SWE captures. Liver volume, liver echogenicity and liver stiffness were quantified from in vivo imaging data. A subset of mice was sacrificed at various timepoints (0, 12, 24 and 48 weeks) for histological workup. Correlation analysis was performed between in vivo imaging and histological measurements to determine level of agreement.

Results

Noninvasive imaging showed statistically significant increases in liver volume and echogenicity, but non‐significant increase in liver stiffness in the WD‐fed cohort, suggesting development of hepatomegaly and steatosis, but negligible fibrosis. Ex vivo analysis confirmed significant increases in liver weight, liver triglycerides and ALT, but limited increases in fibrosis corroborating noninvasive imaging results. Correlation analysis between imaging and histology demonstrated good agreement between liver volume/liver weight (R2 = 0.85) and echogenicity/triglycerides (R2 = 0.76).

Conclusions

This study demonstrated that noninvasive ultrasound liver assessments are feasible in the WD mouse model and closely reflect the underlying pathological state of the animal. Automated ultrasound can serve as a high‐throughput noninvasive screening method for preclinical liver disease research and drug development.
A multiplex qPCR followed by high‐resolution melting analysis for the detection of blood‐feeding sources in Culex sp. mosquitoes
Authors: Vilela Thamyris Sampaio , Senne Nathália Alves , Paulino Patrícia Gonzaga , Araújo Thamires Rezende , de Lima Pamella Pryscila de Alvarenga Bissoli Maciel , Gonçalves Natalia Pedra , Guedes‐Junior Daniel da Silva , Angelo Isabele da Costa , Massard Carlos Luiz , Peixoto Maristela Peckle , Santos Huarrisson Azevedo
Published: November 2024

Culex species, such as Culex quinquefasciatus and Culex nigripalpus display a range of feeding habits and act as vectors for pathogens that can cause diseases in both humans and animals. Understanding their feeding habits is pivotal for enhancing disease prevention strategies. The present study introduces the application of two multiplex real‐time PCR (qPCR) followed by high‐resolution melting (HRM) as a cost‐effective and time‐efficient alternative. This investigation involved the development of two multiplex qPCR‐HRM: assay 1 detects human, dog and chicken, while assay 2 detects cat, cattle and horse in Culex sp. engorged female mosquitoes. The qPCR‐HRM reactions showed a detection limit of one copy of genomic DNA when performed as single and multiplex qPCR‐HRM. The reaction efficiencies were 97.96% for human, 100.60% for dog, 99.03% for chicken, 99.92% for feline, 99.18% for cattle and 97.68% for horse. The qPCR‐HRM method, employing multiplex 1 and 2, was applied to field‐collected mosquitoes and demonstrated the ability to detect DNA from multiple blood sources within a single sample. By analysing both multiplexes, it was possible to identify up to five distinct blood sources in Cx. quinquefasciatus and Cx. nigripalpus, and up to two sources in Culex coronatus. Sequencing corroborated the qPCR‐HRM results, confirming the presence of DNA from one to four different blood sources with 100% accuracy. The development of these molecular methods may contribute for identification of blood‐feeding patterns in mosquitoes. It contributes to studies on the dissemination and transmission of pathogens among various animals and humans, thereby bridging the gap between epidemiology and vector monitoring.
Meat and the future of sustainable diets—Challenges and opportunities
Authors: Spiro A. , Hill Z. , Stanner S.
Published: November 2024

The British Nutrition Foundation convened a roundtable event in January 2024 entitled ‘Meat and the Future of Sustainable Diets: Turning Challenges into Opportunities’, bringing together multi‐sector stakeholders to discuss the social, nutritional, public health and environmental aspects of meat consumption within a sustainable food system. Participants explored the challenge of the complexity of balancing nutrition and planetary goals, emphasising the need to navigate trade‐offs between various dimensions of sustainability. Whilst recognising the global nature of the issue, the roundtable primarily focussed on a UK perspective. The discussion highlighted the urgency of transforming the food system to achieve net zero, whilst ensuring broader environmental benefits, nutritional adequacy and dietary and health equity across all life stages. Concerns about poor dietary patterns, particularly among vulnerable groups were raised, with participants stressing the need for policies that promote healthy, sustainable and equitable diets without worsening inequalities. These policies should also enhance livelihoods and community wellbeing, foster resilience and support local economies.

On the supply side, participants called for better data within the agri‐food system, particularly at the farm level. They advocated for a multidimensional, holistic approach that goes beyond greenhouse gas emissions to encompass wider environmental impacts and whole‐farm benefits, such as enhancing soil health, promoting biodiversity, improving water management, supporting nutrient cycling and boosting farm‐level resilience through diversified cropping systems.

Roundtable participants acknowledged existing recommendations to reduce meat consumption for both environmental reasons, such as land use and greenhouse gas emissions, and health concerns, as evidence links red, particularly processed, meat consumption with increased colorectal cancer risk. Given the variation in meat consumption globally and even locally between individuals, the discussion explored the potential of targeted campaigns to reduce high meat intake, along with the role of public food procurement and the food industry in decreasing processed meat consumption. The consensus was that dietary changes must be framed within the context of a balanced diet and broader sustainability concerns. Despite some differing viewpoints on implementation, participants agreed that transitioning to healthier, more sustainable diets is a priority. Collaboration across the entire food chain, from farm to fork, with investment in innovation, robust data collection and research, alongside policy support, was emphasised as essential to achieving this goal.
Ultrastructural overlap between immunotactoid and cryoglobulin glomerulopathy: A case report
Authors: Hirsch Daniel , McIlroy Kirsten , Tsui Roxana , Krishnaswamy Mrudula , Roxburgh Sarah
Published: November 2024

Immunotactoid glomerulopathy (ITG), a condition characterised by highly organised microtubules on electron microscopy, and cryoglobulin glomerulopathy (CG) are rare forms of kidney injury that may be encountered in patients with cryoglobulinaemia. It has been proposed these two entities are part of the same disease process following observed clinical and histological similarities.
MYC2‐SUMO protease feedback loops boost salt tolerance in wheat
Authors: Conti Lucio , Perrella Giorgio
Published: November 2024

This article is a Commentary on Xiao et al. (2025), 245: 2540–2552.
Comparison of Suture Anchor Repair and Suture Tape Augmentation for Reconstruction of the Anterior Talofibular Ligament: A Biomechanical Study
Authors: Shao Qingfeng , Hu Dahai , Chen Xinru , Wang Huajun , Xiao Lei , Teng Qiang , Hong Jinsong , Hou Huige , Zheng Xiaofei
Published: November 2024

Objectives

Currently, there are various surgical options for the treatment of lateral ankle sprains, and deciding which surgical option to use is a question worth considering. Furthermore, there is a relative scarcity of mechanical research comparing suture anchor repair (SAR) and suture tape augmentation (STA) internal brace for the repair of the anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL). Therefore, this study aimed to compare the efficacy of arthroscopically all‐inside ATFL SAR and STA for reconstruction to treat lateral ankle sprains through biomechanical testing.

Methods

Eighteen fresh‐frozen cadaver ankles were used for the study and divided into one of three groups: (1) intact ATFL group, (2) arthroscopically reconstructed with suture tape augmentation internal brace of the ATFL (STA group), and (3) arthroscopically repaired ATFL with suture anchors (SAR group). We used custom fixtures to test the specimens for loading to ultimate failure and stiffness.

Results

The mean load to failure of the STA group (311.20 ± 52.56 N) was significantly higher than that of the intact ATFL group (157.37 ± 63.87 N; p = 0.0016) and the SAR group (165.27 ± 66.81 N; p = 0.0025). The mean stiffness of the STA group (30.10 ± 5.10 N/mm) was significantly higher than that of the intact ATFL (14.17 ± 6.35 N/mm; p = 0.0012) and the SAR group (15.15 ± 6.89 N/mm; p = 0.0021). The suture anchor repair withstood failure loads and stiffness similar to the intact ATFL.

Conclusions

In terms of failure load and stiffness, the reconstructive outcome of ATFL reconstruction with STA is markedly superior to that of SAR reconstruction of the ATFL and the intact ATFL. Additionally, the novel technique of the SAR was a reliable technique that offered biomechanical properties similar to intact ATFL.
Retrospective Cohort Study of Associated Factors for Intestinal Complications in Pediatric Liver Transplantation
Authors: Pires Sindy , McLin Valérie A. , Rock Nathalie , Calinescu Ana‐Maria , Wildhaber Barbara E.
Published: November 2024

Background

Intestinal complications (IC) represent serious adverse events after liver transplantation (LT), however limited research has been conducted in pediatric cohorts. This study aims to describe IC after pediatric LT and to identify associated factors.

Methods

Retrospective review of 153 patients having undergone LT, aged 0–18 years, treated in the Swiss Pediatric Liver Center in Geneva. Pre‐, per‐ and postoperative data were analyzed. IC were defined as pathologies or lesions directly associated with LT and attributable to the surgical procedure.

Results

16/153 (11%) patients developed IC: 10/16 mechanical obstructions, 4/16 intestinal perforations and 2/16 sub‐mesocolic abscesses. IC patients had a significantly lower Body Mass Index (BMI) (15.5 vs. 16.4, p = 0.019). Children with IC had significantly higher incidence of previous Kasai hepatoportoenterostomy associated with Ladd procedure (13% vs. 2%, p = 0.055), a history of intraoperative iatrogenic intestinal perforation(s) (31% vs. 5%, p = 0.003) and prolonged LT surgery duration (536 vs. 415 min, p = 0.007). Significantly more children with IC had received basiliximab (69% vs. 40%, p = 0.048). Patients with IC exhibited a higher incidence of post‐LT sub‐occlusions (p < 0.001) and an increased requirement for post‐LT parenteral nutrition (p = 0.027). Additionally, IC patients underwent significantly more reoperations (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

One in 10 children post‐LT experiences IC, which are associated with significant morbidity. Pre‐LT nutritional status appears as an associated factor with IC, along with the necessity for adhesiolysis during LT, often leading to prolonged operative time. These associated factors should alert medical teams to promote early IC diagnosis in patients after LT.
Short Bowel Syndrome Is Not a Contraindication for Kidney Transplantation
Authors: Tastemel Ozturk Tugba , Gulhan Bora , Gumus Ersin , Hizarcioglu‐Gulsen Hayriye , Kurt‐Sukur Eda Didem , Bozaci Ali Cansu , Aki Fazil Tuncay , Duzova Ali , Topaloglu Rezan , Ozaltin Fatih
Published: November 2024

Background

Short bowel syndrome (SBS) is a malabsorptive condition that develops as a result of massive resection of the small intestine and causes morbidities such as chronic diarrhea, dehydration attacks, parenteral nutrition (PN) dependence, and recurrent infections. Kidney transplantation in this patient group may be complicated by aforementioned morbidities, as well as the absorption problems of immunosuppressive drugs.

Methods

We report the first pediatric patient (18‐month‐old male) with SBS secondary to volvulus who underwent a successful living related kidney transplantation with a primary diagnosis of autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease and had a successful 4‐year follow‐up without intestinal transplantation.

Results

Tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), and prednisolone were administered for maintenance of immunosuppression after transplantation. The patient reached therapeutic trough levels of tacrolimus with usual doses. The 4‐year renal survival was excellent without a clinical evidence of rejection, despite long‐term necessity of PN and intravenous fluids.

Conclusions

Kidney transplantation should not be avoided in patients with SBS solely because of concerns about the effectiveness of immunosuppressive therapy. Prednisolone, tacrolimus, and MMF combination was effective in our case, and these drugs can be considered as first‐line agents in these patients.
Brain biopsy and pathological diagnosis for drug‐associated progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) with inflammatory reactions
Authors: Shishido‐Hara Yukiko
Published: November 2024

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a demyelinating disease of the central nervous system caused by JC virus (JCV) infection. Although recognized as an AIDS complication in the 1980s, PML has emerged as a serious adverse event of immunosuppressive therapies since 2005, particularly disease‐modifying drugs (DMDs) for multiple sclerosis (MS). PML can also occur in patients with collagenous diseases receiving steroid therapy or with age‐related immunosuppression. In some cases, the etiology of immunosuppression remains unclear. These cases often present with early manifestations of PML, which, while common, are less well recognized, as PML was identified at more advanced stages in AIDS‐related cases. Early diagnosis poses difficulty due to unfamiliar magnetic resonance (MR) images and low viral loads in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and brain biopsy may be conducted. This review summarizes the PML pathology identified through biopsy. Early cytopathological changes of JCV‐infected cells, with the importance of dot‐shaped inclusions associated with promyelocytic leukemia nuclear bodies (PML‐NBs), are described. The variability of host immune responses, including PML immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (PML‐IRIS), is addressed. The potential role of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), such as pembrolizumab, is also explored. Understanding the pathology of early PML helps to optimize diagnostic strategies and therapeutic interventions, ultimately improving prognosis.
Visual search attentional bias modification reduced the attentional bias in socially anxious individuals
Authors: Yuan Jing , Shi Guangyuan , Zhang Qin , Cui Lixia
Published: November 2024

Recent years have raised questions about the effectiveness of attentional bias modification (ABM) in individuals with social anxiety. In the current study, we employed a novel training method—ABM‐positive‐search training—to modify attentional bias in socially anxious individuals. The attentional bias was measured using the dot‐probe task, and brain electrical activity was recorded. The ABM‐positive‐search group was instructed to search for a happy face in a 3 × 3 visual array. The placebo control group was asked to find out whether the only male from the female or the only female from the male. In terms of behavioral indicators, the results showed a significant reduction in the variability of trial level‐bias score (TL‐BS) in the ABM‐positive‐search group post‐training. However, there was no significant change observed in the placebo control group. The electrophysiological results were consistent with the behavioral findings. To be specific, both groups displayed the N2pc effect in response to threatening faces before the training. After training, the N2pc effect disappeared in the ABM‐positive search group, while it remained in the placebo control group. In conclusion, ABM‐positive‐search training can effectively modify the attentional bias of socially anxious individuals, and cognitive control plays an important role in this process.
Geriatric dentistry course effect against ageism among dental students: A cohort study
Authors: Mendes Mariana Sarmet Smiderle , de Oliveira Ana Gabriela Logatto , Jardini Maria Aparecida Neves , Qian Fang , Marchini Leonardo
Published: November 2024

Purpose

The aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of geriatric dentistry courses as a combating strategy against ageism among dental students.

Methods

A pre‐post prospective study was conducted in three different dental schools located in the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil, that offered geriatric dentistry courses in their curricula. A questionnaire specifically developed for this research and the “Ageism Scale for Dental Students” (ASDS) were applied before and after geriatric dentistry courses in all three dental schools.

Results

Among 184 dental students, 51.6% (n = 95) improved their ageism scores. Dental students who improved ASDS scores were more likely to be from a public dental school (56 .7% vs. 40.4%; p = .040), in their 8th and 10th semesters (56 .7% vs. 40.4%; p = .040), and females (55 .6% vs. 36.8%; p = .040). Other factors such as age, ethnicity, history of living with older adults, history of taking care of older adults, and knowledge of ageism were not significantly associated with ageism score improvement. Only institutional affiliation and age remained significant predictors in the final model.

Conclusion

In this study, the main variables correlated with reducing ageism among dental students were institutional affiliation and age.
Children and Adults Hold Leaders as Both Responsible and Entitled
Authors: Wang Qian , Chen Yifei , Li Yanfang
Published: November 2024

Leadership hierarchies are one form of social hierarchical relationships that are ubiquitous in human social lives. Little is known about children's perceptions of leadership hierarchies in the context of group collaboration and how these perceptions change with age. Across three studies, we examined these questions in 5–8‐year‐old children (N = 175; 49.14% girls) and adults (N = 79; 53.16% women). Children and adults heard stories about group cooperation involving both resource allocation and labor contributions. Studies 1 and 2 showed that in resource allocation situations, 5–8‐year‐olds and adults expected leaders to take more resources from a joint pool than non‐leaders and expected authoritative figures (i.e., teachers) to allocate more resources to leaders than non‐leaders. In labor contribution situations, where participants were asked who would clean an additional desk, children and adults expected leaders to undertake additional tasks compared to non‐leaders. Study 3 ruled out the possibility that younger children's responses were driven by the social salience of the leader compared to non‐leaders, rather than the leadership status. Overall, these results provide evidence that children and adults hold leaders both as both more responsible and entitled individuals than non‐leaders.
Topography‐driven variability in soil greenhouse gas emissions during potato growth season
Authors: Yaqoob Nauman , Malekian Raheleh , Farooque Aitazaz A. , Harder Phillip , Esau Travis J. , Zaman Qamar U. , Hu Yulin , Dwyer Ross
Published: November 2024

Topographical variations strongly influence the spatial variability of soil physicochemical properties by affecting water retention, nutrient distribution and biochemical activity. These topography‐driven differences in soil dynamics can significantly impact greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Understanding the variation in GHG emissions over the growing season across topographic changes can facilitate the development of targeted precision agriculture strategies to mitigate GHG emissions. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the influence of topographical variations on soil properties and to assess the spatiotemporal variations of CO2 and N2O emissions throughout the various crop‐growing stages (CGS) of the potato growing season. Moreover, the impact of topography on potato yield was also examined. The experiment was conducted at Victoria Potato Farm, Prince Edward Island, Canada. A substantial N2O flux (80 g ha−1 day−1) was emitted after fertilizer application over the early CGS, and the upper positions had the highest cumulative N2O emissions (993 g ha−1), which aligned with the higher observed soil moisture in this zone. This finding highlights the critical importance of managing fertilizer application, as well as implementing mitigation strategies based on the spatial variability of soil properties to reduce emissions following fertilization. During the mid and late CGS, the depressional positions showed the highest cumulative N2O emissions (90 and 70 g ha−1, respectively). The highest cumulative CO2 emission was observed from the upper positions during the early CGS (1580 kg ha−1); however, the highest emissions were observed in the depressional areas during the mid and late CGS (1415 and 605 kg ha−1, respectively). Overall, the total N2O emission from the three zones accounting for both the differences in each zone's GHG fluxes and the length of each CGS indicated 43% emission in the upper areas, 32% and 25% for the depressional and mid‐slope positions, respectively. These values were 32%, 36% and 32% for CO2 in the upper, depressional and mid‐slope positions. This emission pattern aligns with the elevated soil‐activated carbon (AC), biological nitrogen availability (BNA) values and soil respiration rates in upper and depressional areas. In this study, significantly higher yields were also observed in depressional areas.
A 2‐year Review of the Diagnostic Performance of Serum and Bronchoalveolar Lavage Galactomannan Testing in Lung Transplant Recipients in a National Heart and Lung Transplant Centre
Authors: O'Donnell Clare , Lynch Breda , O'Sullivan Louise , Killarney Assumpta , Murray Michelle , Riddell Peter , Hannan Margaret M.
Published: November 2024

Background

The 2015 International Society for Heart and Lung Transplant (ISHLT) fungal guidelines recommend the use of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) galactomannan over serum galactomannan for the diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis (IA) in lung transplant (LTx) recipients, based on limited evidence. Galactomannan testing is costly.

Methods

A single‐center, retrospective cohort study reviewing all 814 serum and BAL galactomannan samples received from 184 LTx recipients in our center between 2021 and 2022 and assessing their diagnostic performance in the diagnosis of IA.

Results

Over the study period, 394 serum galactomannan samples were received from 144 patients and 420 BAL galactomannan samples from 143 patients. Using a cut‐off of ≥ 1.0 for BAL galactomannan, the sensitivity and specificity were 65.9% and 98.4%, respectively. In total, 30 patients had positive BAL galactomannan. Antifungal therapy was commenced or continued in 29 of these patients either as targeted or pre‐emptive treatment. Using a cut‐off of ≥ 0.5 for serum galactomannan, the sensitivity and specificity were 9.7% and 99.7%, respectively. In total, four patients had a positive serum galactomannan. All four patients were either already on antifungal treatment for IA or were started before the serum galactomannan result was available, supported by laboratory, clinical, and radiological findings. A positive serum galactomannan was used to monitor treatment response in one patient.

Conclusion

Serum galactomannan is not a valuable test in the diagnosis of IA in our LTx recipients, is costly, and does not remove the need for bronchoscopy and BAL galactomannan. This supports the ISHLT recommendation.
Homesign Research, Gesture Studies, and Sign Language Linguistics: The Bigger Picture of Homesign and Homesigners
Authors: Coppola Marie
Published: November 2024

Studies of homesigns have shed light on the human capacity for language and on the challenging problem of language acquisition. The study of homesign has evolved from a perspective grounded in gesture studies and child development to include sign language linguistics and the role of homesigns in language emergence at the community level. One overarching finding is that homesigns more closely resemble sign languages used by linguistic communities than they resemble the gestures produced by hearing people along with spoken language. Homesigns may not exhibit all of the linguistic properties of community languages, but the properties they do exhibit are language properties, and for the people who use them, homesigns are their language. Further, the linguistic structures in homesigns are innovated by the deaf people who use them and are imperfectly learned by their hearing communication partners. I close with a call to action: We cannot celebrate discoveries about the mind made possible by studies of homesigns and emerging languages while ignoring the pervasiveness of language deprivation among deaf people, and the relative lack of deaf participation in science, even in studies of sign languages. While the scientific community learns much from studying homesigns and sign languages, we also have a responsibility to work toward ensuring that every deaf person has access to language, communication, and education.
Simultaneous Hypotheses in Cognitive Agents: Commentary on Paxton, Necaise et al., and the Dynamical Hypothesis in Cognitive Science
Authors: Gorman Jamie C.
Published: November 2024

The 1998 article by van Gelder proposed a Dynamical Hypothesis (DH) in cognitive science consisting of Nature (cognitive agents are dynamical systems) and Knowledge (cognitive agents should be understood dynamically) hypotheses in contrast to the Computational Hypothesis (CH) that cognitive agents are computers. My commentary focuses on the contributions of Paxton and Necaise et al. in interpersonal motor coordination and radicalization across social media. I do not think that either contribution supports the Nature hypothesis but does conform with the Knowledge hypothesis. I conclude by describing cognitive agents as living systems (or nonliving systems that mimic aspects of living systems) that can be alternately viewed to support the DH or CH or both at the same time.
Globalisation and national commodity cycles: The case of wine in Australia
Authors: Anderson Kym
Published: November 2024

Globalisation may have reduced but certainly has not eliminated differences in national commodity cycles. This article examines the case of Australia's wine industry. Over the past four decades, all annual indicators of that industry's international competitiveness have traced a steep inverted V. This paper draws on recently compiled data to first summarise such indicators and contrast them with those of other key wine‐exporting countries. It then offers a series of partial explanations for the industry's sharp rise and then equally steep fall in its international competitiveness (and its several bumps along the way). The New Zealand and Californian wine industry's prolonged expansions in particular are contrasted with Australia's. Despite the current downturn in the industry's fortunes, and notwithstanding the likelihood of further boom–slump cycles in the decades ahead, the paper concludes that a return to profitability is possible if vignerons and wine exporters were to raise their current rates of investments in R&D, quality improvements and promotion, and if the AUD remains relatively weak.
Framing Pro-Palestine Protests: A Comparative Analysis of News Coverage by The Guardian and USA Today
Authors: Jaber Fadi
Published: November 2024

This study examines the framing strategies employed by The Guardian and USA Today in their coverage of the pro-Palestine protests in American universities during April and May 2024. Accordingly, the corpus comprises 213 news texts, with The Guardian contributing 106 articles and USA Today contributing 107 articles from April 17 to May 17, 2024. The research identifies and contrasts the dominant frames used by these two newspapers by conducting a framing content analysis on the selected news articles. The Guardian frequently utilizes conflict and adversarial frames, emphasizing university-wide ideological and political struggles. Conversely, USA Today focuses on broader political confrontations and administrative accountability, often highlighting institutional responses and governance issues. The analysis process is guided by framing theory to reveal how news representations influence public perception and interpretation and media agenda-setting theory to explore how media news coverage prioritizes specific issues within the same event. The findings underscore the decisive role of media framing in shaping public opinion and priorities, particularly in the context of global and political issues.
Artificial intelligence driven clustering of blood pressure profiles reveals frailty in orthostatic hypertension
Authors: Owen Claire M. , Bacardit Jaume , Tan Maw P. , Saedon Nor I. , Goh Choon‐Hian , Newton Julia L. , Frith James
Published: November 2024

Gravity, an invisible but constant force
, challenges the regulation of blood pressure when transitioning between postures. As physiological reserve diminishes with age, individuals grow more susceptible to such stressors over time, risking inadequate haemodynamic control observed in orthostatic hypotension. This prevalent condition is characterized by drops in blood pressure upon standing; however, the contrary phenomenon of blood pressure rises has recently piqued interest. Expanding on the currently undefined orthostatic hypertension, our study uses continuous non‐invasive cardiovascular data to explore the full spectrum of blood pressure profiles and their associated frailty outcomes in community‐dwelling older adults. Given the richness of non‐invasive beat‐to‐beat data, artificial intelligence (AI) offers a solution to detect the subtle patterns within it. Applying machine learning to an existing dataset of community‐based adults undergoing postural assessment, we identified three distinct clusters (iOHYPO, OHYPO and OHYPER) akin to initial and classic orthostatic hypotension and orthostatic hypertension, respectively. Notably, individuals in our OHYPER cluster exhibited indicators of frailty and sarcopenia, including slower gait speed and impaired balance. In contrast, the iOHYPO cluster, despite transient drops in blood pressure, reported fewer fallers and superior cognitive performance. Surprisingly, those with sustained blood pressure deficits outperformed those with sustained rises, showing greater independence and higher Fried frailty scores. Working towards more refined definitions, our research indicates that AI approaches can yield meaningful blood pressure morphologies from beat‐to‐beat data. Furthermore, our findings support orthostatic hypertension as a distinct clinical entity, with frailty implications suggesting that it is worthy of further investigation.
Experimental Identification of Blade Tip Rub Forces at Engine Relevant Temperatures and Speeds
Authors: Reifsnyder Robin , Mathison Randall , D'Souza Kiran
Published: November 2024

Abradable casing liners are used to safely minimize the clearance between rotating turbomachinery blades and outer casings. Reduced clearance improves engine efficiency but can lead to more blade tip rub events. These blade tip rub interactions need to be well understood at engine relevant speeds and temperatures to safely design the engine. Advancements in experimental capabilities to meet these engine relevant conditions and the corresponding measurement and analysis tools will enable these developments. The Ohio State University Gas Turbine Laboratory (OSU GTL), in collaboration with Pratt & Whitney, has expanded its capability in carrying out blade tip rubs to vary the temperature of the casing and blades for temperatures seen in a fan before rubs occur. This expansion of experimental capabilities requires a matching expansion of the methodologies used to analyze and interpret experimental data. In analyzing rubs at varying temperatures, it becomes imperative to understand how the temperature in the rub shoe affects the force transfer functions between the blades contacting the abradable liner and the load cells recording vibrations behind the casing. These transfer functions are necessary for obtaining the actual forces exerted upon the blades during the experiment but are originally obtained at room temperature. This paper examines how the load measuring unit's frequency response function changes based on different temperature conditions and how force measurements are altered between similar tests at significantly different temperatures.
The Behavior of Elbow Elements at Pure Bending Applications Compared to Beam and Shell Element Models
Authors: Elgazzar Mohamed , Luiz Edgar , Reda Ahmed , Sultan Ibrahim A. , Phung Truong
Published: November 2024

This paper studies the response of ELBOW31 and ELBOW31B element types under pure bending conditions, using shell and beam element models for benchmarking. Various model lengths are evaluated, showing that a model length of six pipe diameters exhibits a hardening effect when total strain exceeds 3.5%, though a strain up to 1% is deemed sufficient for pipeline design. The study examines the effects of ovality modes and boundary conditions such as NOWARP and NOOVAL on the bending response. ELBOW31 with one or two ovality modes yields accurate results, while additional ovality modes or zero ovality mode can lead to overprediction of the elastic bending moment capacity. The introduction of the NOWARP condition enhances the accuracy of the ELBOW31 model, while the NOOVAL condition alone produces unrealistic results. The simplified ELBOW31B model shows good agreement with the ELBOW31-NOWARP model but similarly overpredicts the bending moment when zero ovality mode is used. The study also finds that Poisson's ratio and model length have no significant impact on the bending response when no restrictions are applied. Additional analyses, as presented in Appendices A and B, highlight the importance of D/t ratios in pipeline performance. A D/t ratio of 20 offers a stiffer response with reduced ovalization, while a D/t ratio of 50 results in greater flexibility and increased ovalization. These findings provide valuable insights for the selection of element types, boundary conditions, and D/t ratios in robust pipeline design.
Data-Driven Prediction of Coefficient of Friction in Wet Friction Components: A Model Development and Interpretability Analysis
Authors: Wu Jianpeng , Zhao Peng , Cui Jiahao , Wang Liyong , Yang Chengbing , Ouyang Jianping
Published: November 2024

Predicting the coefficient of friction (COF) is essential for enhancing the efficiency and reliability of mechanical systems. Nevertheless, traditional mechanistic models relying on fixed values or fitted curves fail to accurately capture this complexity. To address this issue, this paper proposes a model for predicting the COF of wet friction components using an extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) algorithm optimized by the sparrow search algorithm (SSA). This model effectively captures the nonlinear relationships among relative speed, pressure, temperature, and COF. As a result, the proposed SSA-XGBoost model exhibits excellent predictive performance with a root mean square error (RMSE) of only 0.063, and 88.3% of the COF predictions have a relative error of less than 1%, significantly outperforming other deep-learning algorithms. Additionally, to enhance the understanding of the COF prediction results for wet friction components, the SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) model is used to explore the influence of relative speed, pressure, and temperature on the predicted COF values.