bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Polish Reactions to Russian Aggression Against Ukraine
Authors: Dyduch Joanna , Góra Magdalena
Published: December 2023

The Russian war of aggression against Ukraine shattered the post-Cold War security architecture and destroyed the sense of security of the entire continent. Poland responded immediately with political and military support for Ukraine as well as with efforts to provide a safe shelter for millions of Ukrainian civilians fleeing the country. Our analysis focuses on how the established features of Polish foreign policy guided the responses and what frames were employed in reaction to the war by governing and opposition actors in Poland. We demonstrate that Polish reaction resulted from Warsaw’s established role as an advocate for Ukraine’s integration with Western structures, especially the EU. In addition to that, the key long-standing elements of Polish foreign policy, such as strong Atlanticism, proved stable and served as a stabilizing factor in responding to the heightened threat to the continental security. We highlight strategic choices to strengthen allied response within NATO and the EU and mobilize international public opinion to help Ukraine. Furthermore, we demonstrate how the internal, highly politicized debate on European integration was silenced and domestic political conflict mitigated.
German, French, and Polish Perspectives on the War in Ukraine
Authors: Kapp Caroline L. , Fix Liana
Published: December 2023

In 2022, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine came as a shock to European countries, who unanimously condemned it as a war of aggression and acted to bolster Ukraine’s defense. Europeans have different understandings of the endgame in Ukraine and the risk of escalation. Three of the European Union’s (EU) key member states, Germany, France, and Poland, have taken varied approaches to this question. This diversity is reflected in the deliverance of military support to Ukraine and the history of the country's relations with Russia. Understanding these divergences will play an essential role in determining the war's outcome and shaping the future of European security.
Estonian Fears, Hopes, and Efforts–Russian War Against Ukraine
Authors: Veebel Viljar , Ploom Illimar
Published: December 2023

Debates following the events in February 2022 in Estonian society have shown diverging opinions about the war in Ukraine. There is, nevertheless, a mainstream viewpoint on how to assist Ukraine, how to respond to Russia, what to expect from NATO allies, and how to deal with the inner cohesion of Estonia's multi-ethnic and multi-lingual society. The least problematic has been understanding how to help Ukraine, with Estonia emerging as the leading donating nation per capita in 2022. As for the response to Russian aggression in Ukraine, most Estonian public and elite support significantly more severe sanctions than have been enacted. In this chapter, we will illustrate that although there have been voices that have demanded the straightforward intervention of NATO in the conflict, there is a consensus that the West  should not get directly involved but should indirectly support Ukraine to a greater degree than it has managed to thus far. Despite its membership in NATO, the Estonian political and military elite and the Estonian-speaking society remains afraid that Russia will use the same logic and action against the Baltic States. The main question for Estonia is if and when, after the war in Ukraine, Russia might be ready and motivated to challenge NATO in the Baltic states.
Tarafsız: Turkey’s Impartial Stance Vis-a-Vis Russia’s War Against Ukraine
Authors: Ambrosetti Eleonora Tafuro
Published: December 2023

Turkish officials stress that their neutral and impartial, tarafsız, position enables Ankara to mediate in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. The country has been one of the key external political and diplomatic players in the context of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine since February 2022. Ankara has acted as a mediator since the early days of the invasion and tried—so far, successfully—to balance being pro-Ukrainian without being openly anti-Russian. This chapter maintains that Turkey’s attitude confirms the academic literature’s descriptions of Turkey’s foreign policy as growing more independent and seeking to balance its external relations. In particular, the Turkish government’s motives revolve around three main foreign policy objectives: boosting status (through mediation activities), carrying out a balancing strategy in its external relations, and pursuing economic interests through trade engagement with Moscow. Meanwhile, diffuse anti-Western sentiments and a severe economic crisis seemingly have led the Turkish society towards more inward-looking positions and a certain lack of empathy towards Ukrainians. All in all, questions remain on the sustainability of Turkey’s neutral approach, especially in the case of a further military—and, possibly, nuclear—escalation.
The United Nations and the Russian-Ukrainian War
Authors: Kostakos Georgios
Published: December 2023

Whatever was left of the good feelings resulting from the end of the Cold War came crashing down with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Intense fighting, uncompromising rhetoric, and even threats of nuclear war have been the characteristics of this conflict, which can potentially escalate to World War III. This chapter provides an overview of UN efforts to prevent and/or stop the Russian invasion of Ukraine and/or help de-escalate the violence and find a peaceful solution. With the war still raging as of January 2023, when this chapter is being finalized, the findings about the inability of the UN to prevent such a major and largely foreseen conflict are concerning, particularly the failure of the UN Security Council to deal with a conflict that involves one of its five permanent members as an aggressor. While robust political responses from the UN General Assembly and the Human Rights Council have partly compensated for this, the UN Secretary-General, the top-most official associated with global peacemaking, has been unable or unwilling to engage beyond statements of principle and humanitarian support. All this bodes poorly for the UN and, more importantly, the world, which faces increasing geopolitical rivalries among significant powers that undermine efforts to achieve global goals for peace and sustainable development.
OSCE’s Resilience in Times of War
Authors: Cupać Jelena
Published: December 2023

With Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and the subsequent war between two of its core participating states, the OSCE seems highly fragile, and many doubt it will survive. However, this paradigm needs to follow an assessment of the OSCE's resilience in times of crisis, grounded in International Relations research on international organizations. This chapter seeks to fill this gap, hoping to find a new perspective on what the OSCE can do to survive the Ukrainian war and remain relevant in the long term. To that end, it assesses the OSCE’s resilience using formal factors such as its issue area, membership, age, and the quality of its bureaucracy. The chapter also adopts a historical perspective, which evaluates the OSCE’s resilience through its relationship with the post-Cold War security environment. This perspective suggests that the OSCE might be more resilient than formal organizational factors indicate. Overall, assessing the OSCE’s resilience from these two perspectives calls for more optimism about its future amid the war in Ukraine. However, it also indicates that the likely price of the OSCE’s survival will be its contraction to a forum in which normative conflicts prevail over compromise.
Transitional Justice in Ukraine
Authors: Mihr Anja
Published: December 2023

From day one of the Russian aggression against Ukraine in February 2022, independent investigators and advocates for Transitional Justice (TJ) started to collect data and evidence of possible war crimes and to use these to hold perpetrators, war criminals, and politically responsible stakeholders accountable once the war ends. This has been the beginning of a TJ process in Ukraine that could last for decades, regardless of how long this war will last. It aims to hold perpetrators and war criminals to account, reckon with past injustice and war crimes, vet and lustrate perpetrators and bystanders and compensate victims for leveraging democratic institutions and processes in Ukraine. Before the war, the country suffered from high corruption levels and low rule of law. Holding perpetrators to account on all sides, regardless of nationality, could be a chance for Ukraine to restore and leverage the rule of law. Nevertheless, it is a unique process because it is multi-level and multi-stakeholder based, using evidence from NGOs, the UN, OSCE, the EU, and other governmental and non-governmental investigators. Such a process requires careful assessment of the data and evidence provided because fake data and manipulation of narratives and proof have been part of this war from day one. ‘Disinformation and cyber war’, the ‘cell phone war’, and ‘hybrid war’ are just a few of the metaphors used to describe this war thus far. In this chapter, I argue that disentangling the array and different levels of stakeholders in this process is pivotal for the success of TJ in Ukraine.
Patterns of Border Disputes Amongst OSCE Countries
Authors: Sapeha Halina , Ghorbaninejad Kasra , Finnsson Ari , Perrier Benjamin , Brunet-Jailly Emmanuel
Published: December 2023

Despite the general decline in territorial conquest and disputes over traditional land borders, 150 disputes world-wide continue to contribute to security instability. Given the scope and reach of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) as a security organization, this study aims to examine whether the patterns of border disputes in the OSCE region are significantly different from those in other regions and in what ways the OSCE patterns follow those in the rest of the world. With the help of the Borders in Globalization Dyads Database (BiG Dyads Database), the study shows that, while patterns of border disputes in the OSCE region follow those in the rest of the world, there is also regional specificity as most dyads are very young and many dyads still remain contested, which raises significant questions regarding the overall stability and governance in the OSCE region and the effectiveness and limitations of regional international organizations such as the OSCE.
Vetting as a Tool for Strengthening Judicial Integrity in the OSCE Region
Authors: Miljojkovic Teodora
Published: December 2023

Vetting procedures have gained momentum in Third Wave Democracies as a tool for rebuilding state capacity post-crisis or during regime shifts within the transitional justice framework. Vetting procedures are present in contemporary legal realities, but the discourse around them remains mainly in the transitional justice setting. This chapter’s central claims are that the aims and rationales of vetting procedures have changed considerably over time; unlike in the transitional justice framework, where the political and moral criteria for judicial assessment matter, contemporary vetting focuses on boosting judicial integrity to strengthen the rule of law. Secondly, there is a need for a novel lens on vetting to strengthen judicial integrity. Thirdly, a distinct framework should, on the one hand, observe the international standards of judicial independence and the rule of law and, on the other, account for the specificities of the local contexts in which vetting is applied. Finally, a short overview of the Serbian vetting saga shows that vetting as a strengthening tool may have detrimental outcomes, even when guided by presumably laudable intentions.
Human Rights and Social Media: Challenges and Opportunities for Human Rights Education
Authors: Kulesza Joanna
Published: December 2023

Social media and freedom of expression are intentionally ambiguous terms. Their meaning and scope change along with societies and the technologies they use. It is primarily for this reason that disinformation is a growing challenge faced by all forms of social media and its users. The fine line between freedom of expression and political propaganda raises increasing concerns during international unrest and hybrid threats. States and businesses strive to address this challenge promptly and effectively. Yet, the dogmatic distinction between free expression and journalistic due care must be made aware of the myriad new media channels and evolving means of communication. In 2022, the European Union proposed the Code of Practice on Disinformation (European Commission, 2022)—a nonbinding set of practical guidelines to support social media platforms to eliminate harmful online communications.
Singular spin structures and superstrings
Authors: Matone Marco
Published: December 2023

Abstract

There are two main problems in finding the higher genus superstring measure. The first one is that for g ≥ 5 the super moduli space is not projected. Furthermore, the supermeasure is regular for g ≤ 11, a bound related to the source of singularities due to the divisor in the moduli space of Riemann surfaces with even spin structure having holomorphic sections, such a divisor is called the θ-null divisor. A result of this paper is the characterization of such a divisor. This is done by first extending the Dirac propagator, that is the Szegö kernel, to the case of an arbitrary number of zero modes, that leads to a modification of the Fay trisecant identity, where the determinant of the Dirac propagators is replaced by the product of two determinants of the Dirac zero modes. By taking suitable limits of points on the Riemann surface, this holomorphic Fay trisecant identity leads to identities that include points dependent rank 3 quadrics in ℙg−1. Furthermore, integrating over the homological cycles gives relations for the Riemann period matrix which are satisfied in the presence of Dirac zero modes. Such identities characterize the θ-null divisor. Finally, we provide the geometrical interpretation of the above points dependent quadrics and show, via a new θ-identity, its relation with the Andreotti-Mayer quadric.
Closing in on new chiral leptons at the LHC
Authors: Barducci Daniele , Di Luzio Luca , Nardecchia Marco , Toni Claudio
Published: December 2023

Abstract

We study the phenomenological viability of chiral extensions of the Standard Model, with new chiral fermions acquiring their mass through interactions with a single Higgs. We examine constraints from electroweak precision tests, Higgs physics and direct searches at the LHC. Our analysis indicates that purely chiral scenarios are perturbatively excluded by the combination of Higgs coupling measurements and LHC direct searches. However, allowing for a partial contribution from vector-like masses opens up the parameter space and non-decoupled exotic leptons could account for the observed 2σ deviation in h → Zγ. This scenario will be further tested in the high-luminosity phase of the LHC.
Systematic classification of aGUT models in five dimensions: the SU(N) kinship
Authors: Cacciapaglia Giacomo
Published: December 2023

Abstract

Asymptotic Grand Unification theories (aGUTs) in five dimensions provide a valid alternative to standard quantitative unification. We define the pathway towards viable models starting from a general unified bulk gauge symmetry. Imposing the presence of ultra-violet fixed points for both gauge and Yukawa couplings strongly limits the possibilities. Within the SU(N) kinship, we identify and characterise only two realistic minimal models, both based on a bulk SU(6) symmetry. Both models feature the generation of either up or down-type Yukawas via gauge scalars, two Higgs doublets with build-in minimal flavour violation at low energies, and conservation of baryon number. We also propose interesting avenues beyond the minimality criterion.
A robust CRISPR interference gene repression system in Vibrio parahaemolyticus
Authors: Jiang Taoyuan , Li Yuhuan , Hong Wencong , Lin Mingyu
Published: December 2023

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a significant cause of seafood-associated gastroenteritis and pestilence in aquaculture worldwide. Despite extensive research, strategies for protein depletion in this pathogen remain limited. Herein, we constructed a new CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) system for gene repression based on the combination of a shuttle vector pVv3 and the nuclease-null Cas9 variant (dead Cas9, or dCas9) from Streptococcus pyrogens. This CRISPRi is induced by adding both IPTG and arabinose. We showed that gene repression is scalable via the use of multiple sgRNAs. We also demonstrated that this gene repression can be precisely tuned by adjusting the amount of two different inducers and can be reversed by removing the inducers. This system provides a simple approach for selective gene repression on a genome-wide scale in V. parahaemolyticus. Application of this system will dramatically accelerate investigations of this bacterium, including studies of physiology, pathogenesis, and drug target discovery.
The significance of admission blood lactate and fibrinogen in pediatric traumatic brain injury: a single-center clinical study
Authors: Zhang Kun-yuan , Li Pei-long , Yan Peng , Qin Cheng-jian , He Hao , Liao Chang-pin
Published: December 2023

Background

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in pediatric patients, leading to long-term physical, cognitive, and psychological impairments. Blood lactate and fibrinogen levels have emerged as potential biomarkers associated with tissue hypoperfusion and coagulation dysfunction, respectively. However, limited research has specifically focused on the significance of these biomarkers in pediatric TBI. This study aimed to investigate the clinical significance of blood lactate and fibrinogen levels upon admission in pediatric patients with traumatic brain injury.

Methods

The medical records of 80 children with a traumatic brain injury who were admitted from January 2017 to January 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. The two groups were compared according to whether the blood lactate in the admission arterial blood gas increased and the fibrinogen content in the coagulation function decreased. The clinical data of the children in the two groups were different, and then they were divided into a good prognosis group and a poor prognosis group according to the GOS prognostic score, and the differences in the clinical indicators of the two groups were compared.

Results

Among the 80 patients, 33 had elevated blood lactate levels, 34 had decreased fibrinogen levels, and 29 had an unfavorable outcome (GOS < 4). Compared to the normal blood lactate group, there were no statistically significant differences in age, sex ratio, or platelet count in the elevated blood lactate group (P > 0.05). However, the elevated blood lactate group had lower Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores upon admission, higher blood lactate levels, lower fibrinogen levels, longer hospital stay, lower GOS scores, and a higher proportion of GOS < 4 (P < 0.05). Compared to the normal fibrinogen group, there were no statistically significant differences in age, sex ratio, or platelet count in the decreased fibrinogen group (P > 0.05). However, the decreased fibrinogen group had lower GCS scores upon admission, higher blood lactate levels, lower fibrinogen levels, longer hospital stays, lower GOS scores, and a higher proportion of GOS < 4 (P < 0.05). Compared to the favorable outcome group, there were no statistically significant differences in age, sex ratio, or platelet count in the unfavorable outcome group (P > 0.05). However, the unfavorable outcome group had lower GCS scores upon admission, higher blood lactate levels, lower fibrinogen levels, longer hospital stays, a higher incidence of pulmonary infection, a higher incidence of stress ulcers, and lower GOS scores (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

The levels of blood lactate and fibrinogen may represent the severity of children with traumatic brain injury and may be risk factors for poor prognosis of children with traumatic brain injury.
Statistical relationships between the Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation and El Niño–Southern Oscillation
Authors: Heidemann Hanna , Cowan Tim , Power Scott B. , Henley Benjamin J.
Published: December 2023

The climate of the Pacific Ocean varies on interannual, decadal, and longer timescales. This variability is dominated by the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation (IPO), both of which have profound impacts on countries within and well beyond the Pacific. To date, previous studies have only examined a small subset of the possible links between ENSO, its diversity, and the IPO. Here we focus on the statistical relationship between decadal variability in ENSO properties and the IPO, testing the null hypothesis that the IPO arises from random decadal changes in ENSO activity, including ENSO diversity. We use observed sea surface temperature (SST) records since 1920 to investigate how the timing, structure, frequency, duration, and magnitude of El Niño and La Niña events differ between IPO phases. We find that using the relative frequency of El Niño and La Niña events and either the mean event duration or SST magnitude can reproduce up to 60% of the IPO Tripole Index timeseries. While the spatial SST patterns that represent the IPO and ENSO are similar, the IPO is meridionally broader in the central to eastern Pacific, which may be caused by a lagged relationship with low-frequency SST variability in the equatorial Pacific. In addition, North Pacific SST anomalies of opposite sign to the tropical Pacific SST anomalies is a unique feature of the IPO that cannot be explained by decadal ENSO variability. This suggests a clear IPO and ENSO relationship, but also independence in some of the IPO’s characteristics.
Striated preferentially expressed gene deficiency leads to mitochondrial dysfunction in developing cardiomyocytes
Authors: Li Gu , Huang He , Wu Yanshuang , Shu Chang , Hwang Narae , Li Qifei , Zhao Rose , Lam Hilaire C. , Oldham William M. , EI-Chemaly Souheil , Agrawal Pankaj B. , Tian Jie , Liu Xiaoli , Perrella Mark A.
Published: December 2023

A deficiency of striated preferentially expressed gene (Speg), a member of the myosin light chain kinase family, results in abnormal myofibril structure and function of immature cardiomyocytes (CMs), corresponding with a dilated cardiomyopathy, heart failure and perinatal death. Mitochondrial development plays a role in cardiomyocyte maturation. Therefore, this study investigated whether Speg deficiency ( – / – ) in CMs would result in mitochondrial abnormalities. Speg wild-type and Speg−/− C57BL/6 littermate mice were utilized for assessment of mitochondrial structure by transmission electron and confocal microscopies. Speg was expressed in the first and second heart fields at embryonic (E) day 7.5, prior to the expression of mitochondrial Na+/Ca2+/Li+ exchanger (NCLX) at E8.5. Decreases in NCLX expression (E11.5) and the mitochondrial-to-nuclear DNA ratio (E13.5) were observed in Speg−/− hearts. Imaging of E18.5 Speg−/− hearts revealed abnormal mitochondrial cristae, corresponding with decreased ATP production in cells fed glucose or palmitate, increased levels of mitochondrial superoxide and depolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential. Interestingly, phosphorylated (p) PGC-1α, a key mediator of mitochondrial development, was significantly reduced in Speg−/− hearts during screening for targeted genes. Besides Z-line expression, Speg partially co-localized with PGC-1α in the sarcomeric region and was found in the same complex by co-immunoprecipitation. Overexpression of a Speg internal serine/threonine kinase domain in Speg−/− CMs promoted translocation of pPGC-1α into the nucleus, and restored ATP production that was abolished by siRNA-mediated silencing of PGC-1α. Our results demonstrate a critical role of Speg in mitochondrial development and energy metabolism in CMs, mediated in part by phosphorylation of PGC-1α.
Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials evaluating the efficacy of non-surgical periodontal treatment in patients with concurrent systemic conditions
Authors: Joseph Prabhakar , Prabhakar Priya , Holtfreter Birte , Pink Christiane , Suvan Jeanie , Kocher Thomas , Pitchika Vinay
Published: December 2023

Objective

To conduct a systematic review of the published scientific evidence to evaluate the efficacy of nonsurgical periodontal therapy (NSPT) in treating periodontitis in patients with concurrent systemic conditions (diabetes, CVD, erectile dysfunction, chronic kidney disease, rheumatoid arthritis, polycystic ovarian syndrome, obesity, pregnancy). We hypothesised that NSPT results in better periodontal outcomes when compared to untreated controls after follow-up.

Materials and methods

A systematic search (PUBMED/EMBASE) was conducted from 1995 to 2023 to identify randomised controlled trials (RCTs) with a minimum follow-up of 3 months. The primary outcome was the difference in mean probing depth (PD), and the secondary outcomes were mean clinical attachment loss (CAL), percentage of sites with PD ≤ 3 mm (%PD ≤ 3 mm) and percentage of sites with bleeding on probing (%BOP) between the treated and untreated control group in patients with comorbidities.

Results

The electronic search resulted in 2,403 hits. After removing duplicates, 1,565 titles and abstracts were screened according to the eligibility criteria, resulting in 126 articles for full-text screening. Following this, 44 studies were analysed. Restricting to studies with low bias or some concerns, NSPT group demonstrated a 0.55 mm lower mean PD (95%CI: −0.69; −0.41) after 3 months compared to the control group.

Conclusion

Compared to the untreated controls, NSPT notably reduced mean PD, mean CAL, and %BOP while increasing %PD ≤ 3 mm in patients with concurrent systemic conditions. These findings suggest that NSPT is also an effective procedure in managing periodontitis in patients with concurrent systemic conditions.

Trial registration

This systematic review was registered under the protocol registration number CRD42021241517/PROSPERO.
Effects of pain associated with orthodontic tooth movement on tactile sensation of periodontal ligaments
Authors: Shimada Eriya , Kanetaka Hiroyasu , Hihara Hiroki , Kanno Akitake , Kawashima Ryuta , Nakasato Nobukazu , Igarashi Kaoru
Published: December 2023

Objectives

Pain associated with orthodontic tooth movement reportedly reduces periodontal ligament tactile sensation. However, the mechanism associated with the central nervous system remains unclear. This study was conducted by measuring somatosensory evoked magnetic fields (SEFs) during mechanical stimulation of teeth as they were being moved by separator elastics. Findings clarified the effects of pain on periodontal ligament tactile sensation during orthodontic tooth movement.

Materials and Methods

Using magnetoencephalography, SEFs were measured during the application of mechanical stimuli to the mandibular right first molars of 23 right-handed healthy participants (0 h). Separator elastics were subsequently inserted into the mesial and distal interdental portions of the mandibular right first molars. The same mechanical stimuli were applied again 24 h later while the SEFs were measured (24 h). After each SEF measurements, pain was also evaluated using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS).

Results

The VAS values were significantly higher at 24 h than at 0 h (p < 0.05). No significant difference in the peak latencies was found between those obtained at 0 h and 24 h, but the intensities around 40.0 ms in the contralateral hemisphere were significantly lower at 24 h than at 0 h (p < 0.01).

Conclusions

Pain associated with orthodontic tooth movement might suppress periodontal ligament tactile sensation in the primary somatosensory cortex.

Clinical Relevance

Pain associated with orthodontic tooth movement might affect periodontal ligament sensation, consequently causing discomfort during occlusion.
The supporting role of dogs in the inpatient setting: a systematic review of the therapeutic effects of animal-assisted therapy with dogs for children and adolescents in an inpatient setting
Authors: Fornefeld Dustin , Zellin Undine , Schmidt Peter , Fricke Oliver
Published: December 2023

Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) is becoming increasingly popular. The possibilities and guidelines for interventions and methods are very diverse. Currently, published studies mainly concentrate on effects in paediatrics, outpatient therapy and schools. Specific recommendations for AAT in the context of inpatient child and adolescent psychiatry do not exist. This systematic review will attempt to evaluate the existing studies in terms of their methodological quality and specify positive and negative effects, aiming to provide a decision-making aid for everyday clinical practice. A systematic literature search (PubMed/MEDLINE, APA PsycINFO, PubPsych, ProQuest, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Library) according to the PRISMA criteria resulted in 1,908 identified hits, of which 49 articles were reviewed in full text. Three raters contributed to the review of the articles using a criteria-guided codebook. This systematic review is listed in the PROSPERO database (CRD42022358909). Quality analysis was conducted using Effective Public Health Practice Project (EPHPP). Five studies were identified. The majority of these showed deficits in quality. Therapeutic effects and positive influences on the psychopathological status, interpersonal relationships and subjective well-being or attitudes towards canine-assisted therapy (CAT) could be identified. Current studies indicate positive therapeutic effects of CAT in the inpatient treatment of children and adolescents. A cautiously positive perspective is warranted, but a general recommendation for CAT cannot be given. CAT should be carefully considered, planned, and implemented by professionals. For the future, further randomised controlled studies including follow-up studies, larger subject groups and clinically evaluated interventions are necessary to validate the current results.
Family structure, socioeconomic status, and mental health in childhood
Authors: Grüning Parache Laura , Vogel Mandy , Meigen Christof , Kiess Wieland , Poulain Tanja
Published: December 2023

The changing landscape of family structures over the last decades has led to a growing need to investigate its impact on children's well-being. This study examined differences in mental health among children from different family compositions and how these differences may be affected by familial socioeconomic status (SES). Data were collected within the LIFE Child study. Participants included 2828 children aged 3–17 years raised in traditional families, stepfamilies, or single-parent families. Mental health was measured using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ (behavioral strengths and difficulties)) and the KIDSCREEN-27 questionnaire (quality of life). Linear regression analyses were applied to examine associations between family structure, SES, and mental health outcomes. Children from single-parent families exhibited worse mental health outcomes than those from traditional families across all domains of the SDQ and the KIDSCREEN-27. Children from stepfamilies showed significantly higher Total Difficulties scores (B = 1.29 and 1.42), with 3- to 10-year-olds displaying higher scores in the Hyperactivity & Inattention (B = 0.61) and Peer Relationship Problems (B = 0.36) subscales, and 11- to 17-year-olds showing higher Conduct Problems (B = 0.31), Emotional Symptoms (B = 0.58), and a worse Parent Relationship scores (B = − 1.82) than children from traditional families (all p < 0.05). After controlling for SES, several associations between family structure and mental health lost significance, while others persisted, particularly among older children. To promote mental health in non-traditional families, interventions should address socioeconomic disparities while also investigating factors contributing to the direct impact of family structure on mental well-being.

Trial registration The LIFE Child study is registered on clinicaltrials.gov (No. NCT02550236).
The self-perceived needs of adolescents with suicidal behaviour: a scoping review
Authors: Looijmans Milou , van Bergen Diana , Popma Arne , van Eijk Nikki , Mérelle Saskia , van Veen Sisco , Hawton Keith , Gilissen Renske
Published: December 2023

Suicidal behaviour in adolescents is a major public health problem. Much research on this issue has focused on epidemiology and risk factors for suicidal behaviour, paying less attention to the self-perceived needs of adolescents. However, to increase engagement in suicide prevention, it is important to include the views of adolescents. A scoping review was performed to identify the available empirical study findings, of any study design, related to the self-perceived needs of adolescents with suicidal behaviour. The literature databases Medline, Embase, Psycinfo, CINAHL, ERIC, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched. Twenty-nine studies from 14 predominantly Anglo countries were included in the scoping review. The review showed that girls were overrepresented and that studies predominantly used qualitative approaches. The identified needs of adolescents with suicidal behaviour can broadly be grouped into needs related to the following areas: the importance of connecting with other people; adolescents’ self-help strategies and personal growth after self-harm; mental healthcare; school or study programs; and needs related to society in relation to taboo on suicidal behaviour. Prevention of suicidal behaviour in adolescents will need to focus on development and strengthening of interventions fitting the needs of adolescents in these areas.
The exact worst-case convergence rate of the alternating direction method of multipliers
Authors: Zamani Moslem , Abbaszadehpeivasti Hadi , de Klerk Etienne
Published: December 2023

Recently, semidefinite programming performance estimation has been employed as a strong tool for the worst-case performance analysis of first order methods. In this paper, we derive new non-ergodic convergence rates for the alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM) by using performance estimation. We give some examples which show the exactness of the given bounds. We also study the linear and R-linear convergence of ADMM in terms of dual objective. We establish that ADMM enjoys a global linear convergence rate if and only if the dual objective satisfies the Polyak–Łojasiewicz (PŁ) inequality in the presence of strong convexity. In addition, we give an explicit formula for the linear convergence rate factor. Moreover, we study the R-linear convergence of ADMM under two scenarios.
A unified framework for backpropagation-free soft and hard gated graph neural networks
Authors: Pasa Luca , Navarin Nicolò , Erb Wolfgang , Sperduti Alessandro
Published: December 2023

We propose a framework for the definition of neural models for graphs that do not rely on backpropagation for training, thus making learning more biologically plausible and amenable to parallel implementation. Our proposed framework is inspired by Gated Linear Networks and allows the adoption of multiple graph convolutions. Specifically, each neuron is defined as a set of graph convolution filters (weight vectors) and a gating mechanism that, given a node and its topological context, generates the weight vector to use for processing the node’s attributes. Two different graph processing schemes are studied, i.e., a message-passing aggregation scheme where the gating mechanism is embedded directly into the graph convolution, and a multi-resolution one where neighboring nodes at different topological distances are jointly processed by a single graph convolution layer. We also compare the effectiveness of different alternatives for defining the context function of a node, i.e., based on hyperplanes or on prototypes, and using a soft or hard-gating mechanism. We propose a unified theoretical framework allowing us to theoretically characterize the proposed models’ expressiveness. We experimentally evaluate our backpropagation-free graph convolutional neural models on commonly adopted node classification datasets and show competitive performances compared to the backpropagation-based counterparts.
Predator recognition learning by northern redbelly dace Chrosomus eos from a small kettle lake with a dynamic predator community
Authors: Soukup Jack C. , Wisenden Brian D.
Published: December 2023

Predation, and the risk of predation, shape the ecology, behavior, and evolution of many species. Small fishes navigate a perilous landscape of risk in the shallow waters of the littoral zone. Moreover, in small lakes, the predator community can be dynamic due to stochastic colonization and extirpation events. These conditions select for the ability by small fish to acquire recognition of novel predators through associative learning. Chemical cues associated with predation events, such as damage-released chemical cues from conspecifics, and the odor of predators, inform prey of the presence of risk, and facilitate acquired recognition of novel predator odor. Deming Lake, MN, is a small meromictic lake with intermittent connections to neighboring lakes in the watershed. Annual sampling of the littoral fish community between the years 2000 and 2023 reveals a history of colonization and extirpation by relatively large-bodied species such as yellow perch Perca flavescens and pumpkinseed sunfish Lepomis gibbosus. Ice cover data, combined with limnological depth profiles of dissolved oxygen, confirm that dissolved oxygen is limiting during the winter and consistent with the hypothesis that extirpation of large-bodied species in Deming Lake is likely due to winter anoxia. These data set the stage for an experimental demonstration of acquired recognition of the odor of allopatric rock bass Ambloplites rupestris by bass-naïve northern redbelly dace Chrosomus eos from Deming Lake. Rock bass have been absent from Deming Lake since at least the year 2000. Predator-recognition learning allows redbelly dace, and many other small-bodied fishes that face variable predator species over ontogenetic, spatial, and temporal scales, a mechanism to adapt quickly to indicators of predation risk.
Cultivation of barley seedlings in a coffee silverskin-enriched soil: effects in plants and in soil
Authors: Salbitani Giovanna , Chianese Maria Rosaria , Bossa Rosanna , Bencivenga Tammaro , Carraturo Federica , Nappo Antonio , Guida Marco , Loreto Francesco , Carfagna Simona
Published: December 2023

Aims

Coffee silverskin (CS) is the most abundant waste from coffee roasting. In this research, the potential of CS as soil fertilizer for barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) cultivation was evaluated.

Methods

Barley plants were grown, for 10 days from the start of germination, in soils mixed with different CS percentages (0, 2, 6 or 10%). The effects of CS addition on soil capacity to retain water and on the mold/yeast community were evaluated. Physio-morphological and biochemical responses of leaves and roots of barley plants growing in CS-enriched soil were evaluated.

Results

Root and shoot length decreased in plants grown with CS, but biomass was less affected and even increased at 2% CS. Photosynthesis was higher in barley seedlings grown on CS-enriched soil than in control plants. However, Chl b was reduced in leaves of plants grown with CS. The total leaf protein content did not change with moderate CS additions in soil. However, when grown in soil with 10% CS, a significant reduction of total protein and Rubisco was observed. Extracts of barley shoots from plants grown in soil with 10% CS showed a greater antioxidant capacity with respect to all other experimental conditions.

Conclusions

We conclude that CS addition to soil may improve soil property to retain water and, at low concentrations (2% w/w) positively affects barley physiology and growth.
Occurrence and risk assessment of okadaic acid, dinophysistoxin-1, dinophysistoxin-2, and dinophysistoxin-3 in seafood from South Korea
Authors: Park Jong Bin , Cho Solyi , Lee Sang Yoo , Park Su Mi , Chun Hyang Sook
Published: December 2023

The okadaic acid (OA)-group toxins, including OA, dinophysistoxin-1 (DTX1), dinophysistoxin-2 (DTX2), and dinophysistoxin-3 (DTX3), cause diarrheic shellfish poisoning in humans. To manage OA-group toxins more strictly, Korean regulations were recently revised to consider OA, DTX1, DTX2, and DTX3 combined. Thus, our study characterized the occurrence of OA, DTX1, DTX2, and DTX3 in seafood distributed across South Korea, and a risk assessment of seafood consumption was conducted. Two hundred and seventeen samples from 16 bivalve and 7 non-bivalve species collected from three representative coastal areas in 2021 were analyzed via liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. OA, DTX1, and DTX3 were detected in 2.3%, 4.1%, and 9.2% of the examined samples, with positive mean levels of 11.3, 16.4, and 40.9 µg/kg, respectively. DTX2 was not detected in any of the samples. At least one OA-group toxin was detected in the bivalve samples, including blood clams, pan shells, hard clams, mussels, and scallops, whereas none were detected in non-bivalves. The estimated acute exposure to OA-group toxins through the intake of seafood in the Korean population and consumer groups was low, ranging from 24.7 to 74.5% of the recommended acute reference dose (ARfD) of 0.33 μg OA equivalents/kg body weight. However, for the scallop consumers aged 7–12 years, acute exposure to OA-group toxins exceeded the ARfD, indicating a possible health risk. These results suggest that including DTX3 in the new regulatory limits is appropriate to protect Korean seafood consumers from exposure to OA-group toxins.
A Proof of Concept Study to Assess the Imbalance of Self-Reported Wanting and Liking as a Predictor of Problematic Addictive Behaviors
Authors: File Domonkos , Bőthe Beáta , File Bálint , Griffiths Mark D. , Demetrovics Zsolt
Published: December 2023

Tolerance, one of the key features of addiction, is a highly debated criterion for behaviors, considered controversial and difficult to assess. The Incentive-Sensitization Theory of Addiction (IST) provides a robust empirical background on the dynamics of the motivational and hedonic systems underlying addiction, reflecting tolerance. The aim of this proof-of-concept study was to introduce wanting and liking as an IST-based measure of tolerance. Survey data were analyzed on two potentially problematic substance use behaviors (alcohol and nicotine use) and seven potentially problematic behaviors (eating, gaming, pornography use, social media use, internet use, television series watching, and working) of 774 participants (517 women, Mage = 35.8 years, SD = 11.84), using linear regression models. The models describing the relationship between usage frequency and the difference between self-reported wanting and liking were significant for all of the investigated substance use and potential behavioral addictions. As a general pattern, the balance of wanting and liking was disrupted with increasing usage/behavior frequency, with a steady increment in wanting in all investigated cases. The findings indicate that the proposed approach holds promise as an empirically robust tool for addiction research, offering the potential to compare substance and behavioral addictions on a unified dimension.
Antibiotic Residues and Zinc Concentrations in the Livers and Kidneys of Portuguese Piglets—Relationship to Antibiotic and Zinc Resistance in Intestinal Escherichia coli
Authors: Cardoso Olga , Assis Gabriela , Donato Maria M. , Henriques Sara Carolina , Freitas Andreia , Ramos Fernando
Published: December 2023

Metal ions such as zinc and copper have been used as alternatives to antibiotics, to improve animal health and growth rates in pig farming. This study aims to determine antibiotic residues and Zn concentration in piglets’ livers (n = 56) and kidneys (n = 60); and to examine the correlation between the use of Zn and antibiotics, and resistance to Zn and antibiotics of Escherichia coli isolated from piglets’ faeces (n = 60). Samples were collected from randomly selected healthy piglets (n = 60); antibiotic residues were quantified by ultra-high-performance-liquid-chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-ToF–MS); Zn was quantified using flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS); microbiological methods were used for E. coli isolation, antibiotic susceptibility, and Zn minimal inhibitory concentration; and Real-Time PCR was used for gene detection. The presence of antibiotic residues and Zn concentrations in the liver was found to be negatively correlated, whilst no significant difference was observed in the kidney. In E. coli isolated from piglet faeces considered to be susceptible or multi-drug-resistant, no significant difference was found between Zn concentrations in the liver and in the kidney, which appears to indicate that Zn accumulated in the liver and in the kidney does not promote resistance to antibiotics in E. coli. The isolates showed tolerance to Zn which would suggest that antibiotic resistance and phenotypic tolerance to Zn in these isolates are not related. The genes zitB and zntA associated to Zn tolerance, were predominantly found in the more resistant Zn isolates. The findings provide insights on how Zn use in pig production maintains antibiotic resistance and metal tolerance in bacteria, with implications for One Health.
Wnt7a Decreases Brain Endothelial Barrier Function Via β-Catenin Activation
Authors: Manukjan Narek , Chau Steven , Caiment Florian , van Herwijnen Marcel , Smeets Hubert J. , Fulton Daniel , Ahmed Zubair , Blankesteijn W. Matthijs , Foulquier Sébastien
Published: December 2023

The blood-brain barrier consists of tightly connected endothelial cells protecting the brain’s microenvironment from the periphery. These endothelial cells are characterized by specific tight junction proteins such as Claudin-5 and Occludin, forming the endothelial barrier. Disrupting these cells might lead to blood-brain barrier dysfunction. The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway can regulate the expression of these tight junction proteins and subsequent barrier permeability. The aim of this study was to investigate the in vitro effects of Wnt7a mediated β-catenin signaling on endothelial barrier integrity. Mouse brain endothelial cells, bEnd.3, were treated with recombinant Wnt7a protein or XAV939, a selective inhibitor of Wnt/β-catenin mediated transcription to modulate the Wnt signaling pathway. The involvement of Wnt/HIF1α signaling was investigated by inhibiting Hif1α signaling with Hif1α siRNA. Wnt7a stimulation led to activation and nuclear translocation of β-catenin, which was inhibited by XAV939. Wnt7a stimulation decreased Claudin-5 expression mediated by β-catenin and decreased endothelial barrier formation. Wnt7a increased Hif1α and Vegfa expression mediated by β-catenin. However, Hif1α signaling pathway did not regulate tight junction proteins Claudin-5 and Occludin. Our data suggest that Wnt7a stimulation leads to a decrease in tight junction proteins mediated by the nuclear translocation of β-catenin, which hampers proper endothelial barrier formation. This process might be crucial in initiating endothelial cell proliferation and angiogenesis. Although HIF1α did not modulate the expression of tight junction proteins, it might play a role in brain angiogenesis and underlie pathogenic mechanisms in Wnt/HIF1α signaling in diseases such as cerebral small vessel disease.