bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Direct election of education superintendents in Korea: dilemmas and improvement strategies
Authors: Huang Yueh-Chun , Park Soo Jung , Wang Ru-Jer
Published: March 2024

Purpose

This study analyzes the advantages and disadvantages of the electoral mechanism of local education superintendents in South Korea, draws conclusions and makes suggestions for future reforms.

Design/methodology/approach

The research method of this study included document analysis and interviews. Document analysis was used to collect and analyze the relevant official documents of education superintendents across countries. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with four professors and two superintendents.

Findings

The results of the interviews indicate the following: 1) Korean stakeholders are getting more familiar with the direct election of superintendents, as the interviews indicate a more mature direct election system due to previous experience and public officials taking direct election into account; 2) The direct election of superintendents has advantages and disadvantages. The advantages include increasing the participation of the general public in education, and the disadvantages include conflict between the central government and local superintendents belonging to different political parties. However, the current system is likely to be retained; 3) The superintendent systems in various countries differ due to their respective traditions and social contexts. However, the authors can always learn lessons and implications from foreign countries if the authors compare their education systems with their foreign counterparts.

Research limitations/implications

As far research limitations, although this was a small study, it shows the importance of collecting multiple stakeholders' views on the direct election of education superintendents as a basis for future reform of education management.

Practical implications

The Korean system for electing superintendents provides a good model for other countries reflecting on the educational autonomy and accountabilities of their own systems.

Social implications

The direct election of superintendents provides an example of professionalism, independence and political neutrality in education that other countries can learn from. The separation of general and educational administration in Korea through direct elections protects educational activities from political influence.

Originality/value

In terms of originality/value, this study adds a new perspective to the debate about whether the general public should directly elect education superintendents, as well as to the literature on local education management.
Social identification theory and the elaboration likelihood model: impact of strength of ethnic identification among African American consumers on services advertising evaluations
Authors: Madadi Rozbeh , Torres Ivonne M. , Fazli-Salehi Reza , Zúñiga Miguel Ángel
Published: March 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the effectiveness of ethnically targeted ads in developing consumer–brand relationships through an application of social identification theory and elaboration likelihood model among African American consumers in the service sector.

Design/methodology/approach

Study 1 used a 2 (service type: hedonic vs utilitarian) × 2 (strength of ethnic identification: high vs low) between-subjects experimental design. Study 2 used the same experimental design, procedure and ads as Study 1.

Findings

Taken together, the findings from these two studies demonstrate how ethnically targeted advertising, in conjunction with service type, can influence consumer–brand relationships. The results showed that those with high strength of ethnic identification had more brand love, as well as higher intentions to spread positive word-of-mouth, purchase intention and brand loyalty for hedonic services, but that this effect was not significant for utilitarian services.

Research limitations/implications

The environments in which advertisements appear (e.g. in an in-store display or a magazine advertisement) is important, and consumers’ reactions to targeted ads in various environments should be considered in future research. Future studies should also examine the role of individuals’ personality traits and level of acculturation in determining their relationships with brands.

Originality/value

Across two studies, the authors demonstrated that ethnic ads are more effective for African American individuals with high level of ethnic identification especially for hedonic services.
Factors of tacit knowledge acquisition and its mechanism of action on academic research performance: an empirical research from Chinese universities
Authors: Zhang Jianhua , Li Jiake , Alam Sajjad , Boamah Fredrick Ahenkora , Wen Dandan
Published: March 2024

Purpose

This study examines the relationship between higher education improvement and tacit knowledge importance. In this context, the scarcity of empirical and theoretical studies on acquiring tacit knowledge to enhance academic performance in higher education suggests that this research area holds significant importance for experts and policymakers. Consequently, this study aims to explore the factors that influence academic research performance at Chinese universities by acquiring tacit knowledge.

Design/methodology/approach

To achieve the study aims, the current approach utilizes the research technique based on the socialization, externalization, internalization and combination (SECI) model and knowledge management (KM) theory. To analyze the study objective, the authors collected data from post-graduate students at Chinese universities and analyzed it using structural equation modeling (SEM) to test the model and hypotheses.

Findings

The results indicated that social interaction, internalization and self-motivation have a positive impact on academic research performance through the acquisition of tacit knowledge. Furthermore, the findings suggest that academic researchers can acquire more knowledge through social interaction than self-motivation, thereby advancing research progress.

Originality/value

This study addresses the critical issues surrounding the acquisition of tacit knowledge and presents a comprehensive framework and achievements that can contribute to achieving exceptional academic performance.
Squeeze film derivation of the porous curved annular plates with variable magnetic field, Rosensweig’s viscosity and slip velocity in the Shliomis model
Authors: Devender  , Ram Paras , Sharma Kushal
Published: March 2024

Purpose

The present article aims to investigate the squeeze effects on hematite suspension-based curved annular plates with Rosensweig’s viscosity and Kozeny–Carman’s porous structure under the variable strong magnetic field and slip in the Shliomis model. The variable magnetic field is utilised to retain all magnetic elements within the model. The aforementioned mechanism would have the benefit of generating a maximal field at the system’s required active contact zone.

Design/methodology/approach

The Kozeny–Carman globular sphere model is used for porous facing. Rosensweig’s extension of Einstein’s viscosity is taken into consideration to enhance the fluid’s viscosity, and Beavers and Joseph’s slip boundary conditions are employed to assess the slip effect.

Findings

The pressure and lifting force under squeezing are computed through modification of the Reynolds equation with the addition of Kozeny–Carman’s model-based porosity, Rosensweig’s viscosity, slip and varying magnetic field. The obtained results for the lifting force are very encouraging and have been compared with Einstein’s viscosity-based model.

Originality/value

Researchers so far have carried out problems on lubrication of various sliders considering Einstein’s viscosity only, whereas in our problem, Rosensweig’s viscosity has been taken along with Kozeny–Carman’s porous structure model.
New evidence of the driving forces behind Brazil's agricultural TFP growth—A stochastic frontier analysis with climatic variables and land suitability index
Authors: Spolador Humberto Francisco Silva , Danelon André Felipe
Published: March 2024

Using panel data from 510 Brazilian micro‐regions in three census years (1995, 2006 and 2017), this study presents a productivity decomposition for the Brazilian agricultural sector using stochastic production frontier methods that account for the effects of rainfall, temperature and the land suitability index. We also calculated the total factor productivity (TFP) index and decomposed it into technical efficiency, technological change, scale efficiency and environmental efficiency. This article thus provides a new and more realistic assessment of recent Brazilian agricultural productivity growth. In recent decades, Brazilian agriculture has become widely known for presenting fast productivity growth; however, our results suggest that a lower TFP growth rate than previous estimates (1.96% per annum) and the overall effects of climate change could potentially compromise Brazilian agricultural TFP growth in the long run. Our findings might thus generate insights for agricultural and regional policies to increase efficiency in the sector and promote sustainable agricultural development in Brazil, which will contribute to the sector's competitiveness in international markets, the country's social and economic welfare, and environmental conservancy.
Are right‐wing populists more likely to justify political violence?
Authors: MATSUNAGA MIKU
Published: March 2024

Do individuals with right‐wing populist ideologies have higher violence‐justification attitudes than those supporting different political ideologies? While the literature has confirmed the association between political violence and populism, research on which components of populist ideologies relate to individual attitudes towards political violence is relatively scarce. Based on 18 European democracies, this research note examines whether right‐wing populist individuals are more likely to justify political violence to pursue their political goals. The analyses reveal that right‐wing populists are generally more likely to justify political violence compared to mainstream voters and non‐voters. Additionally, left‐wing populist voters also support political violence, although the effect size is comparatively smaller. This indicates that voters’ radicalisation depends on populist ideologies rather than left‐right ideological distinctions. The effect among right‐wing populists depends on city residence, gender and immigration status. Subsequent analyses suggest that right‐wing populists’ attitudes towards violence are not conditional on nativism or anti‐immigration perceptions. These findings contribute to the general understanding of the nature and consequences of populism.
Estimates of heterozygosity from single nucleotide polymorphism markers are context‐dependent and often wrong
Authors: Sopniewski Jarrod , Catullo Renee A.
Published: March 2024

Genetic diversity is frequently described using heterozygosity, particularly in a conservation context. Often, it is estimated using single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs); however, it has been shown that heterozygosity values calculated from SNPs can be biased by both study design and filtering parameters. Though solutions have been proposed to address these issues, our own work has found them to be inadequate in some circumstances. Here, we aimed to improve the reliability and comparability of heterozygosity estimates, specifically by investigating how sample size and missing data thresholds influenced the calculation of autosomal heterozygosity (heterozygosity calculated from across the genome, i.e. fixed and variable sites). We also explored how the standard practice of tri‐ and tetra‐allelic site exclusion could bias heterozygosity estimates and influence eventual conclusions relating to genetic diversity. Across three distinct taxa (a frog, Litoria rubella; a tree, Eucalyptus microcarpa; and a grasshopper, Keyacris scurra), we found heterozygosity estimates to be meaningfully affected by sample size and missing data thresholds, partly due to the exclusion of tri‐ and tetra‐allelic sites. These biases were inconsistent both between species and populations, with more diverse populations tending to have their estimates more severely affected, thus having potential to dramatically alter interpretations of genetic diversity. We propose a modified framework for calculating heterozygosity that reduces bias and improves the utility of heterozygosity as a measure of genetic diversity, whilst also highlighting the need for existing population genetic pipelines to be adjusted such that tri‐ and tetra‐allelic sites be included in calculations.
Third‐party reporting and cross‐border tax planning
Authors: Edwards Alexander , Hutchens Michelle , V. Persson Anh
Published: March 2024

In 2018, the European Union (EU) introduced a new mandatory reporting requirement for a wide range of cross‐border tax arrangements (EU Directive 2018/822, also known as DAC6). Unlike prior corporate transparency initiatives, which put the reporting responsibility primarily on the taxpayers, this directive puts the initial reporting responsibility on the third‐party intermediaries who are involved in the reportable arrangement at any stage during the planning and execution process. We exploit the adoption of DAC6 in the EU to examine the effectiveness of third‐party reporting in curbing cross‐border tax planning by multinationals. Using a difference‐in‐differences research design, we find that affected firms reduce income shifting and report higher effective tax rates in the post‐adoption period. The reduction in income shifting is stronger for affiliates operating in countries without legal professional privilege extensions and in countries where noncompliance penalties are higher. Our results highlight the importance of strong third‐party reporting requirements in constraining cross‐border tax planning.
Psychotherapy duration and work disability: A prospective Finnish register study
Authors: Selinheimo Sanna , Gluschkoff Kia , Kausto Johanna , Turunen Jarno , Väänänen Ari
Published: March 2024

Introduction

The influence of psychotherapy duration on common mental disorder (CMD) outcomes remains a topic of ongoing debate. Whereas most research has focused on CMD symptom change, the evidence on the psychotherapy duration of subsequent CMD‐related work disability and the change in psychotropic drug purchases is scarce.

Methods

We used a register‐based cohort representing 33% of the Finnish population. The participants included working‐age individuals (N = 12,047, 76% women, mean age = 36) who initiated long‐term psychotherapy, between 2014 and 2017. They were followed from 2011 to 2021 and psychotherapy duration ranged from less than a year to over 3 years. We used an interrupted time series design to analyze the psychotherapy duration‐dependent changes in CMD‐related work disability (primary outcome, operationalized as depression or anxiety‐related sickness absence, SA, days) and the annual number of psychotropic drug purchases or distinct drugs purchased (secondary outcomes).

Results

There were no differences in the levels of work disability or drug purchases before the psychotherapy. We observed a decreasing level and trend in all outcomes across all psychotherapy duration groups. The largest decline in level was observed in the <1‐year duration group (88% decline for SA and 43%–44% for drug purchases) while the smallest decline was in the 3+ years duration group (73% for SA and 27% for drug purchases).

Conclusion

Work disability outcomes and duration varied among individuals, even with similar initial mental health‐related work disability or use of auxiliary psychotropic treatments. Compared to longer psychotherapy, shorter psychotherapy was associated with sharper improvements.
On the willingness to pay for food sustainability labelling: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Piracci Giovanna , Lamonaca Emilia , Santeramo Fabio Gaetano , Boncinelli Fabio , Casini Leonardo
Published: March 2024

Sustainability labelling is an extremely complex, multifaceted, and debated topic. Through a systematic and meta‐analytical approach, we disentangled the informative contents of environmental and social labels and investigated their effect on the consumer willingness to pay for food products. The premium prices for sustainability labels are largely heterogeneous depending on the information disclosed. Generic and specific messages seem not to differ in terms of consumer acceptance. Not all facets are equally important as social issues tend to be less considered. Policy interventions should combine hard and soft measures to holistically achieve sustainability in the food system.
Inhibition of tibialis anterior spinal reflex circuits using frequency‐specific neuromuscular electrical stimulation
Authors: Arai Suzufumi , Sasaki Atsushi , Tsugaya Shota , Nomura Taishin , Milosevic Matija
Published: March 2024

Background

Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) can generate muscle contractions and elicit excitability of neural circuits. However, the optimal stimulation frequency for effective neuromodulation remains unclear.

Methods

Eleven able‐bodied individuals participated in our study to examine the effects of: (1) low‐frequency NMES at 25 Hz, (2) high‐frequency NMES at 100 Hz; and (3) mixed‐frequency NMES at 25 and 100 Hz switched every second. NMES was delivered to the right tibialis anterior (TA) muscle for 1 min in each condition. The order of interventions was pseudorandomized between participants with a washout of at least 15 min between conditions. Spinal reflexes were elicited using single‐pulse transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation applied over the lumbar enlargement to evoke responses in multiple lower‐limb muscles bilaterally and maximum motor responses (Mmax) were elicited in the TA muscle by stimulating the common peroneal nerve to assess fatigue at the baseline and immediately, 5, 10, and 15 min after each intervention.

Results

Our results showed that spinal reflexes were significantly inhibited immediately after the mixed‐frequency NMES, and for at least 15 min in follow‐up. Low‐frequency NMES inhibited spinal reflexes 5 min after the intervention, and also persisted for at least 10 min. These effects were present only in the stimulated TA muscle, while other contralateral and ipsilateral muscles were unaffected. Mmax responses were not affected by any intervention.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that even a short‐duration (1 min) NMES intervention using low‐ and mixed‐frequency NMES could inhibit spinal reflex excitability of the TA muscle without inducing fatigue.
SPAK inhibitor ZT‐1a attenuates reactive astrogliosis and oligodendrocyte degeneration in a mouse model of vascular dementia
Authors: Bhuiyan Mohammad Iqbal H. , Habib Khadija , Sultan Md Tipu , Chen Fenghua , Jahan Israt , Weng Zhongfang , Rahman Md Shamim , Islam Rabia , Foley Lesley M. , Hitchens T. Kevin , Deng Xianming , Canna Scott W. , Sun Dandan , Cao Guodong
Published: March 2024

Background

Astrogliosis and white matter lesions (WML) are key characteristics of vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID). However, the molecular mechanisms underlying VCID remain poorly understood. Stimulation of Na‐K‐Cl cotransport 1 (NKCC1) and its upstream kinases WNK (with no lysine) and SPAK (the STE20/SPS1‐related proline/alanine‐rich kinase) play a role in astrocytic intracellular Na+ overload, hypertrophy, and swelling. Therefore, in this study, we assessed the effect of SPAK inhibitor ZT‐1a on pathogenesis and cognitive function in a mouse model of VCID induced by bilateral carotid artery stenosis (BCAS).

Methods

Following sham or BCAS surgery, mice were randomly assigned to receive either vehicle (DMSO) or SPAK inhibitor ZT‐1a treatment regimen (days 14–35 post‐surgery). Mice were then evaluated for cognitive functions by Morris water maze, WML by ex vivo MRI‐DTI analysis, and astrogliosis/demyelination by immunofluorescence and immunoblotting.

Results

Compared to sham control mice, BCAS‐Veh mice exhibited chronic cerebral hypoperfusion and memory impairments, accompanied by significant MRI DTI‐detected WML and oligodendrocyte (OL) death. Increased activation of WNK‐SPAK‐NKCC1‐signaling proteins was detected in white matter tissues and in C3d+GFAP+ cytotoxic astrocytes but not in S100A10+GFAP+ homeostatic astrocytes in BCAS‐Veh mice. In contrast, ZT‐1a‐treated BCAS mice displayed reduced expression and phosphorylation of NKCC1, decreased astrogliosis, OL death, and WML, along with improved memory functions.

Conclusion

BCAS‐induced upregulation of WNK‐SPAK‐NKCC1 signaling contributes to white matter‐reactive astrogliosis, OL death, and memory impairment. Pharmacological inhibition of the SPAK activity has therapeutic potential for alleviating pathogenesis and memory impairment in VCID.
The influence of social identity on attitudes toward wildlife
Authors: Birdsong Max H. , Metcalf Alexander L. , Metcalf Elizabeth Covelli , Nesbitt Holly Kathleen , Gude Justin A.
Published: March 2024

Wildlife conservation depends on supportive social as well as biophysical conditions. Social identities such as hunter and nonhunter are often associated with different attitudes toward wildlife. However, it is unknown whether dynamics within and among these identity groups explain how attitudes form and why they differ. To investigate how social identities help shape wildlife‐related attitudes and the implications for wildlife policy and conservation, we built a structural equation model with survey data from Montana (USA) residents (n = 1758) that tested how social identities affect the relationship between experiences with grizzly bears (Ursus arctos horribilis) and attitudes toward the species. Model results (r2 = 0.51) demonstrated that the hunter identity magnified the negative effect of vicarious property damage on attitudes toward grizzly bears (β = −0.381, 95% confidence interval [CI]: −0.584 to −0.178, p < 0.001), which in turn strongly influenced acceptance (β = −0.571, 95% CI: −0.611 to −0.531, p < 0.001). Our findings suggested that hunters’ attitudes toward grizzly bears likely become more negative primarily because of in‐group social interactions about negative experiences, and similar group dynamics may lead nonhunters to disregard the negative experiences that out‐group members have with grizzly bears. Given the profound influence of social identity on human cognitions and behaviors in myriad contexts, the patterns we observed are likely important in a variety of wildlife conservation situations. To foster positive conservation outcomes and minimize polarization, management strategies should account for these identity‐driven perceptions while prioritizing conflict prevention and promoting positive wildlife narratives within and among identity groups. This study illustrates the utility of social identity theory for explaining and influencing human–wildlife interactions.
Maw money, maw problems: A lucrative fish maw fishery in Papua New Guinea highlights a global conservation issue driven by Chinese cultural demand
Authors: Amepou Yolarnie , Chin Andrew , Foale Simon , Sant Glenn , Smailes Olivia , Grant Michael I.
Published: March 2024

Fish maw (teleost swim bladder) is a dried seafood product valued highly by Chinese cultures in East Asia, though global supply chains are poorly understood. Here, we describe the rapid development of a fish maw fishery in a low‐income nation to illustrate how globalization can affect sustainability. In Papua New Guinea (PNG), fish maw developed into a fishery valued at ∼$831,000 USD annually between 2014–2018. Its development has been driven by Asian expatriates, who provide market access and fishing gear to local communities. The highest valued local species, scaly croaker Nibea squamosa, has a maximum value of $15,615 USD kg−1 (dried) at first‐point‐of‐sale, potentially the highest first‐point‐of‐sale fish maw product globally. Its value has led to high incidental catch rates of threatened species in an area that is a globally significant conservation stronghold. International trade databases need to recognize fish maw as a high value and globally traded product and consider a specific fish maw commodity code to assist nations in identifying emerging fish maw fisheries. Additionally, the Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna (CITES) could assist in protecting vulnerable fish maw species and facilitate management practices for incidentally caught threatened species.
Effects of meal type on the bioavailability of vutiglabridin, a novel anti‐obesity agent, in healthy subjects
Authors: Won Heejae , Yoon Deok Yong , Lee Sangmi , Cho Joo‐Youn , Oh Jaeseong , Jang In‐Jin , Yoo Sang‐Ku , Yu Kyung‐Sang
Published: March 2024

Vutiglabridin, which affects the pharmacokinetics (PKs) of food, is currently under clinical development for the treatment of obesity. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of low‐ and high‐fat meals on PKs of vutiglabridin in healthy male subjects. A randomized, open‐label, single‐dose, three‐period, six‐sequence crossover study was conducted. The subjects received a single oral dose of vutiglabridin 480 mg in a fasted state, 30 min after the intake of a low‐fat meal (total 500–600 kcal, fat content 100–125 kcal) and high‐fat meal (total 800–1000 kcal, fat content 500–600 kcal), with a 21‐day washout period. Geometric mean ratios (GMRs) and 90% confidence intervals (CIs) for maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) and area under the plasma concentration‐time curve to the last measurable timepoint (AUClast) were calculated. After intake of low‐ and high‐fat meals, systemic exposure to vutiglabridin was increased, and the time to reach Cmax (Tmax) was delayed compared to that in the fasted state. The GMRs (90% CIs) of low‐fat meal to fasted state for Cmax and AUClast were 2.14 (1.76–2.60) and 2.15 (1.92–2.42), respectively, and those of high‐fat meal to fasted state were 3.07 (2.53–3.72) and 3.00 (2.67–3.37), respectively. The median Tmax was delayed by 1.5 h in both fed states compared with that in the fasted state. The study drug was well‐tolerated after administration in both the fed and fasted states. Food ingestion substantially increased the extent of oral vutiglabridin absorption in healthy subjects, and this enhancement increased with the fat content of the meal.
Art in circulation: Creating content and context for digital reproduction of artworks
Authors: Dhaenens Laurens , Truyen Frederik
Published: March 2024

The use of digital museum objects has become an essential part of museums' communication and marketing strategies, research and teaching, and curatorial practices. This new visibility, amplified by the COVID‐19 crisis, has not only revealed the possibilities of digital museum objects but has also underscored significant challenges, including the intricate relationship between digital museum objects and physical objects, the impact of digital museum objects on knowledge creation, and the online interaction with art and cultural heritage. Furthermore, it has drawn attention to the digital platforms that host digital museum objects, ranging from museum collection databases to online encyclopedias, cultural heritage platforms, and social media. The present paper explores these issues by examining how digital platforms are changing the way digital reproductions of artworks are used and reimagined, both inside and outside the institutions that house the artworks. To illuminate these dynamics, it looks at specific case studies, including the Getty Challenge, the online circulation of Delacroix's La liberté guidant le peuple, and the collection databases of Belgian museums and of the Mauritshuis. Theoretically, it combines the art historical concept of circulation with the notion of gray and colored memory drawn from digital memory studies. In doing so, it conceives of museum databases and cultural heritage platforms, as spaces of participation and neglect, of memory and oblivion, with a vast potential for producing new perspectives on art and cultural heritage and telling new (art) histories. In conclusion, the paper advocates for “circulation” as a key concept for revitalizing online collections of digital reproductions of artworks.
Efficacy of texture and color enhancement imaging for short‐type single‐balloon enteroscopy‐assisted biliary cannulation in patients with Roux‐en‐Y gastrectomy: Multicenter study (with video)
Authors: Tanisaka Yuki , Takenaka Mamoru , Mizuide Masafumi , Fujita Akashi , Jinushi Ryuhei , Shin Takahiro , Sugimoto Kei , Kamata Ken , Minaga Kosuke , Omoto Shunsuke , Yamazaki Tomohiro , Ryozawa Shomei
Published: March 2024

Objectives

Texture and color enhancement imaging (TXI) reportedly improves the identification of the papilla of Vater for selective biliary cannulation compared with white light imaging (WLI). This multicenter study evaluated the efficacy of short‐type single‐balloon enteroscopy (SBE)‐assisted biliary cannulation using a new‐generation image‐enhanced endoscopy processing system equipped with TXI in patients who underwent Roux‐en‐Y gastrectomy.

Methods

Patients with Roux‐en‐Y gastrectomy with a native papilla, and underwent short SBE‐assisted biliary cannulation during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography‐related procedures between January 2019 and April 2023 were retrospectively reviewed. Outcomes of biliary cannulation using TXI and WLI were compared. The primary outcome was time to successful biliary cannulation.

Results

Thirty‐three patients underwent biliary cannulation with TXI and 98 underwent WLI. The biliary cannulation success rates and median time to successful biliary cannulation with TXI and WLI were 93.9% (95% confidence interval [CI] 79.8–99.3%) and 83.7% (95% CI 74.8–90.4%), respectively (P = 0.14), and 10 min (interquartile range [IQR] 2.5–23.5) and 18 min (IQR 9.75–24), respectively (P = 0.04). Biliary cannulation with TXI required a shorter cannulation time than that required with WLI. Adverse event rates with TXI and WLI did not differ significantly (P = 0.58). Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that the use of TXI and short length of oral protrusion were associated with a shorter successful biliary cannulation time.

Conclusion

Short SBE‐assisted biliary cannulation was effective and safe on TXI in patients who underwent Roux‐en‐Y gastrectomy, and achieved shorter successful biliary cannulation time.
Infant vocal productions coincide with body movements
Authors: Borjon Jeremy I. , Abney Drew H. , Yu Chen , Smith Linda B.
Published: March 2024

Producing recognizable words is a difficult motor task; a one‐syllable word can require the coordination of over 80 muscles. Thus, it is not surprising that the development of word productions in infancy lags considerably behind receptive language and is a known limiting factor in language development. A large literature has focused on the vocal apparatus, its articulators, and language development. There has been limited study of the relations between non‐speech motor skills and the quality of early speech productions. Here we present evidence that the spontaneous vocalizations of 9‐ to 24‐month‐old infants recruit extraneous, synergistic co‐activations of hand and head movements and that the temporal precision of the co‐activation of vocal and extraneous muscle groups tightens with age and improved recognizability of speech. These results implicate an interaction between the muscle groups that produce speech and other body movements and provide new empirical pathways for understanding the role of motor development in language acquisition.

Research Highlights

The spontaneous vocalizations of 9‐ to 24‐month‐old infants recruit extraneous, synergistic co‐activations of hand and head movements.

The temporal precision of these hand and head movements during vocal production tighten with age and improved speech recognition.

These results implicate an interaction between the muscle groups producing speech with other body movements.

These results provide new empirical pathways for understanding the role of motor development in language acquisition.
Retinal vascular density as a potential biomarker of diabetic cerebral small vessel disease
Authors: Huang Yinqiong , Wang Siyun , Cai Chi , Huang Xinwei , Chen Yan , Wu Xiaohong , Zhang Yiping , Zhang Yan , Lin Xiahong
Published: March 2024

Aim

The retina and brain share similar anatomical and physiological features. Thus, retinal imaging by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) might be a potential tool for the early diagnosis of diabetic cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD). In this study, we aimed to evaluate retinal vascular density (VD) in diabetic CSVD by OCTA imaging and explore the associations between retinal VD and cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) markers and cognitive function.

Methods

In total, 131 patients were enrolled, including CSVD (n = 43) and non‐CSVD groups (n = 88). The VD and foveal avascular zone of the retinal capillary plexus were measured with OCTA. A brain MRI was performed.

Results

MRI imaging showed that in the diabetic CSVD group, white matter hyperintensities (WMHs), particularly deep WMHs (58.82%), are the most common MRI marker, followed by cerebral microbleeds in the subtentorial and cortical areas (34.78%). The CSVD group showed increases in the prevalence of cognitive dysfunction (p = .034) and depression (p = .033) and decreases in visuospatial/executive ability and delayed recall ability. In the CSVD group, VDs of the macular superficial vascular plexus (32.93 ± 7.15% vs. 36.97 ± 6.59%, p = .002), intermediate capillary plexus (20.87 ± 4.30% vs. 23.08 ± 4.30%, p = .005) and deep capillary plexus (23.54 ± 5.00% vs. 26.05 ± 4.20%, p = .003) were lower than those of the non‐CSVD group. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that VD of the macular superficial vascular plexus was independently associated with cerebral microbleeds. Meanwhile, VD of the macular intermediate capillary plexus was associated with white matter lacunar infarcts after adjustment.

Conclusions

Diabetic CSVDs are characterized by MRI markers, including deep WMHs and cerebral microbleeds, and showed impaired cognition with decreased visuospatial/executive ability and delayed recall ability. OCTA imaging revealed a significant decrease in retinal microvascular perfusion in diabetic CSVD, which was related to MRI markers and cognitive function. OCTA might be a valuable potential measurement for the early diagnosis of CSVD.
The extent of regeneration is impacted by the stage of amputation in ladybird beetles: A case study in Cheilomenes sexmaculata
Authors: Alam Hera , Rai Shriza , Verma Praveen C. , Mishra Geetanjali
Published: March 2024

Regeneration has been a topic of interest across a range of taxa for centuries, and arthropods are no exception. Trade‐offs associated with regeneration are likely to involve the reallocation of resources away from other metabolic activities such as growth, development or reproduction. This might be reflected in costs to some developmental traits of the organism, despite regeneration being advantageous. These associated costs might also differ with the stage of injury or amputation. Here, we hypothesise that the extent of regeneration and trade‐offs associated with it may be stage‐specific. To test this hypothesis, the right forelimb of four larval stages of the ladybird beetle Cheilomenes sexmaculata (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) was amputated. Amputated individuals were reared until adulthood, and all developmental transitions were recorded. Regenerated legs in all the treatments were smaller than the controls, which did not experience the amputation, and the regenerative potency of early larval stages was higher than that of late larval stages. Limb regeneration caused delays in post‐amputation developmental duration in all the treatments, increasing their total developmental period. The length of the unamputated left foreleg as well as the wing and antenna size were also reduced in regenerated beetles, showing some internal trade‐off. However, there were no significant differences observed between regenerated and control adults in their fresh body weight and body size. Thus, limb regeneration depends upon the stage of larval development at which the amputation was performed. Amputation also affects the development of other appendages. The delay in normal beetle development might have been observed because of extra resource requirement, their allocation as well as reprogramming of the expression of some genes during regeneration.
Student flow visualization
Authors: Loder Alexander Karl Ferdinand
Published: March 2024

Universities aim at increasing student retention, with evidence‐based and data‐based governance of universities becoming best practice. In this context, managing large amounts of data in university management is a challenge. Sankey diagram visualizations of student flows per time unit (e.g. semesters) have been used as method for structuring but lacked the ability to go beyond program level. This study aims to advance this method by displaying multiple student lifecycles from school to doctorate, while including user‐based input. Data of 83,264 students enrolled into 140,593 programs between 2012/13 and 2022/23 with 657.615 distinct rows in the raw data were used. A self‐synchronizing web interface was provided, including filter and stratification variables. The diagrams could be mapped to students' lifecycles and extended over all degree levels and fields of study. Limitations were data availability and the lack of indicators for each stage of the student lifecycle. Improvements in the mapping are warranted.
School and family ecosystem: Incentives and barriers to school–family communication
Authors: Guedes Fábio Botelho , Cerqueira Ana , Marques‐Pinto Alexandra , Branco Amélia , Galvão Cecília , Sousa Joana , Goulao Luis F. , Bronze Rosário , Viegas Wanda , Gaspar Tania , Moreno Carmen , de Matos Margarida Gaspar
Published: March 2024

The aim of the study was to explore the factors and barriers related to the incentive and opportunity of school–family communication. This work is part of the HOUSE‐Colégio F3 Project, ULisbon, which included 1,143 first‐year university students from the University of Lisbon, with average age of 19.61 ± 3.96 years. The young people who had better communication with their parents, greater family support and better family relationship were the ones who reported greater incentives for school–family communication. School–family communication and relationship were associated with the incentives for school–family communication and greater parental monitoring. These results align with the literature stating that parents' communication and presence in all areas of young people's lives, including the school context, foster better social and family relationships and academic results. This result should not be read as a call for non‐autonomy. Instead, it highlights that monitoring and supporting family presence promotes that autonomy.
Reframing Research and Assessment Practices: Advancing an Antiracist and Anti‐Ableist Research Agenda
Authors: Johnson Angela , Barker Elizabeth , Cespedes Marcos Viveros
Published: March 2024

Educators and researchers strive to build policies and practices on data and evidence, especially on academic achievement scores. When assessment scores are inaccurate for specific student populations or when scores are inappropriately used, even data‐driven decisions will be misinformed. To maximize the impact of the research‐practice‐policy collaborative, every stage of the assessment and research process needs to be critically interrogated. In this paper, we highlight the need to reframe assessment and research for multilingual learners, students with disabilities, and multilingual students with disabilities. We outline a framework that integrates three critical perspectives (QuantCrit, DisCrit, and critical multiculturalism) and discuss how this framework can be applied to assessment creation and research.
Lymphatic expression of the proliferation marker Ki67 is linked to sentinel node positivity, recurrence and mortality in primary cutaneous melanoma
Authors: Tan Samuel X. , Chong Sharene , Rowe Casey , Galbraith Jack , Dight James , Zhou Chenhao , Malt Maryrose , Smithers Bernard Mark , Khosrotehrani Kiarash
Published: March 2024

Lymphangiogenesis is a precursor to lymphovascular invasion, and may therefore signal a higher risk of metastasis and mortality in primary cutaneous melanoma. This retrospective longitudinal study aimed to evaluate whether emergent lymphangiogenesis, as measured through co‐expression of endothelial proteins with the proliferation marker Ki67, was associated with poorer prognosis in a cohort of patients with single primary cutaneous melanoma. We screened all patients with a single locally invasive primary cutaneous melanoma who received sentinel lymph node biopsy at a tertiary dermatology centre in Brisbane, Australia between 1994 and 2007. Primary melanoma sections were stained via Opal multiplex immunofluorescence, and categorized according to the presence of Ki67 within either CD31+ or D2‐40+ endothelial cells. Multivariate Cox regression modelling was used to evaluate associations between endothelial Ki67 positivity and clinical outcomes, with adjustment for age, sex, Breslow depth, ulceration, and anatomical location. Overall, 264 patients were available for analysis, with a median follow‐up duration of 7.1 years. The presence of D2‐40+/Ki67+ co‐expression was associated with greater melanoma‐specific mortality (adjusted hazard ratio [HR]: 2.03; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.33–3.10; p = 0.001) and recurrence (adjusted HR: 1.70; 95% CI: 1.33–3.10; p = 0.001) relative to absence. CD31+/Ki67+ co‐expression was not prognostic in this cohort. Lymphatic proliferation, as measured through D2‐40+/Ki67+ co‐expression, predicted greater melanoma‐specific mortality and recurrence in this cohort of primary cutaneous melanoma.
Temperature and CO2 interactively drive shifts in the compositional and functional structure of peatland protist communities
Authors: Kilner Christopher L. , Carrell Alyssa A. , Wieczynski Daniel J. , Votzke Samantha , DeWitt Katrina , Yammine Andrea , Shaw Jonathan , Pelletier Dale A. , Weston David J. , Gibert Jean P.
Published: March 2024

Microbes affect the global carbon cycle that influences climate change and are in turn influenced by environmental change. Here, we use data from a long‐term whole‐ecosystem warming experiment at a boreal peatland to answer how temperature and CO2 jointly influence communities of abundant, diverse, yet poorly understood, non‐fungi microbial Eukaryotes (protists). These microbes influence ecosystem function directly through photosynthesis and respiration, and indirectly, through predation on decomposers (bacteria and fungi). Using a combination of high‐throughput fluid imaging and 18S amplicon sequencing, we report large climate‐induced, community‐wide shifts in the community functional composition of these microbes (size, shape, and metabolism) that could alter overall function in peatlands. Importantly, we demonstrate a taxonomic convergence but a functional divergence in response to warming and elevated CO2 with most environmental responses being contingent on organismal size: warming effects on functional composition are reversed by elevated CO2 and amplified in larger microbes but not smaller ones. These findings show how the interactive effects of warming and rising CO2 levels could alter the structure and function of peatland microbial food webs—a fragile ecosystem that stores upwards of 25% of all terrestrial carbon and is increasingly threatened by human exploitation.
The effect of virtual reality glasses on dental anxiety during scaling and root planing in patients with periodontitis: A randomized controlled clinical trial
Authors: Ceylan Ezgi , Gurbuz Ezgi
Published: March 2024

Objectives

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of virtual reality distraction (VRD) on dental anxiety during scaling and root planing (SRP) in periodontitis patients.

Materials and Methods

This randomized controlled split‐mouth study included 60 patients who scored 9 or above on the dental anxiety scale (DAS) and required SRP in at least two quadrants with at least five teeth and two sites with a probing depth of ≥4 mm. Randomly chosen quadrants were treated using virtual reality glasses, and other quadrants were treated without glasses at the same visit. During VRD, a video of nature scenes was projected onto the screen in front of the patient's eyes. DAS and a visual analogue scale about patient feelings were applied at the end of the procedure.

Results

With VRD, the scale value of pain and discomfort level (VASP) was significantly reduced (p = 0.01, d = 0.57). Starting treatment without glasses significantly decreased VASP in both control and test sides (p = 0.00, d = 0.85; p = 0.00, d = 0.80, respectively) and increased the sensation of immersion and realism (p = 0.03, d = 0.45; p = 0.02, d = 0.46, respectively). Intraoperative and postoperative DAS values were significantly lower in patients who started treatment without VRD (p = 0.04, d = 0.34; p = 0.02, d = 0.44, respectively). Of the patients, 63.3% preferred VRD in the subsequent treatment. While patient preference did not correlate with sex, it correlated with age (r = −0.48, p = 0.01).

Conclusions

The VRD and initiating SRP procedure with VRD affected the pain and discomfort level in anxious periodontitis patients. In addition, the anxiety level was also affected by starting the procedure with glasses.
Sludge‐based geopolymer materials: A review
Authors: Kong Xiangqing , Shi Jiarong , Shen Yidan , Zhang Wenjiao , Fu Ying
Published: March 2024

Sludge refers to the solid waste produced after sewage treatment. Unreasonable disposal of sludge can cause environmental pollution. Nonetheless, the sludge contains large amounts of silica‐aluminate, which has pozzolanic activity by treatment, and the sludge can be used as a sustainable building material. The previous studies have recommended that it is reasonable to produce geopolymers, that is, a green low‐carbon cementitious material with excellent mechanical and durability properties, from sludge. This article provides an overview of recent advancements in the study of sludge‐based geopolymer. It delves into the mechanisms behind alkali‐activated geopolymer, examines the feasibility of preparing geopolymer from sludge, and discusses various preparation methods. Additionally, it elaborates on the impact of incorporating different auxiliary materials on sludge‐based geopolymer. The comprehensive performance of sludge‐based geopolymer, encompassing mechanical properties, durability, and setting time, is thoroughly summarized. An environmental assessment is conducted, evaluating heavy metal leaching and the lifecycle of sludge‐based geopolymer. Finally, we briefly discuss some problems in the current research and development trends in the future on sludge‐based geopolymer. The aim of this article is to provide comprehensive support and guidance for both the research and practical engineering applications of sludge‐based geopolymer.