bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Processing untraditional healthy crackers formula by using sprouted flour mixes for children
Authors: Negm Shaimaa H. , Barakat Ekram H. , Eid Walaa A. M.
Published: September 2024

This study aimed to improve the nutritional content of crackers made from a germinated flour mixture for children affected by Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Chemical, physical, and sensory properties of crackers processed from germinated grain composite flours (maize, quinoa, finger millet, and fenugreek seeds) were compared to 100% maize crackers. Chemical analysis revealed that germinated mixture flour crackers (GMFCs) were higher in ash (2.14–2.40%), fiber (1.26–1.75%), protein (5.59–8.31%), and energy (379.64–404.77 kcal/100g) but lower in carbohydrates (70.51–61.05%). Five cracker formulas were prepared. Formula F5 (75% maize, 10% millet, and 5% fenugreek) had the highest calcium, magnesium, and total phenolic content. Formula F3 (85% maize, 10% quinoa, 10% millet, and 5% fenugreek) had the highest iron content, while Formula F4 (85% maize, 20% millet, and 5% fenugreek) had the highest zinc content and antioxidant activity. Maize crackers exhibited higher color characteristics (L*, a*, and b*) compared to the other GMFCs. Mean sensory evaluation indicated that the GMFCs were generally accepted by panelists. Overall acceptability and taste of crackers in Formula F4 were preferred by the panelists, particularly with the increased ratio of millet flour. This study demonstrated the potential of composite flours from GMFCs to produce acceptable, healthy, and nutritious crackers. All cracker formulas significantly contributed to the recommended dietary allowances for key nutrients in children, compared to the control. Therefore, it is recommended to use the studied grains to develop healthy bakery products suitable for people with celiac disease and ADHD.

Graphical abstract
Wat moet de volwassenuroloog weten van de kinderurologie?
Authors: Stillebroer Alexander B. , Trompetter Marleen , de Kort Laetitia M. O.
Published: September 2024

Samenvatting

Aangeboren urologische afwijkingen variëren van veelvoorkomende ziektebeelden, zoals hypospadie of niet ingedaalde testis, tot extreem zeldzame afwijkingen, zoals blaasexstrofie. Als deze patiënten volwassen worden houdt de zorg rond deze afwijkingen meestal op. Complicaties op latere leeftijd van deze ziektebeelden zijn echter niet ongewoon. In dit artikel willen wij een overzicht geven van enkele urologische ziektebeelden met bijbehorende risico’s en de manier waarop deze op volwassen leeftijd behandeld kunnen worden.
Von der liberalen Wissenschaftsfreiheit zum akademischen Sozialismus
Authors: Selk Veith
Published: September 2024

Der Essay erläutert zunächst den Sinn der Wissenschaftsfreiheit im Lichte struktureller Probleme des Wissenschaftssystems. Anschließend wird der gegenwärtige Kulturkampf in der academic community dafür kritisiert, dass er von diesen strukturellen Problemen ablenkt und kollektives Handeln erschwert. Abschließend werden eine dystopische und eine utopische Alternative zum gegenwärtigen Bildungs- und Wissenschaftssystem umrissen.
COVID-19 hand hygiene practices and its barriers among health care workers in a low-resource setting: a cross-sectional study in Nigeria
Authors: Ekediegwu Ezinne Chika , Onyeso Ogochukwu Kelechi , Nwanne Chiamaka , Nwosu Ifeoma Blessing , Alumona Chiedozie James , Onyeso Kelechi Mirabel , Ekechukwu Echezona Nelson Domnic , Ihegihu Ebere Yvonne , Amaechi Ifeoma Adaigwe , Aruma Okwukweka Emmanuela , Odole Adesola Christiana
Published: September 2024

Background

Poor hand hygiene (HH) among health care workers (HCWs) in low-resource healthcare settings has continued to increase the spread of infectious diseases, including COVID-19. The present study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, adherence, and barriers to HH practices among HCWs during the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria.

Methods

The study was an online cross-sectional survey using a tailored questionnaire distributed through chain referral sampling among southern Nigerian HCWs during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic (February to August 2020). The primary outcomes were knowledge, attitude, adherence to HH guidelines, and the barriers limiting compliance with the guidelines. Data were analysed using percentage, frequency, mean, standard deviation, one-way ANOVA, and multiple linear regression. The study timeline was from 15 April to 31 July 2020.

Results

Four hundred and fifty-four HCWs (236 males and 218 females) participated in the study. The participants had a moderate knowledge of standard HH protocol (mean ± SD) 62.45 ± 10.82%, positive attitude 84.34 ± 11.32%, and high adherence to the standard guidelines 81.21 ± 9.49%. There was no significant difference in knowledge, attitude, and adherence across the healthcare professions. Increasing age (β = 0.186, p < 0.003) and knowledge (β = 0.229, p < 0.001), and decreasing negligence (β = − 0.178, p = 0.004), and forgetfulness (β = − 0.159, p = 0.012) were the significant predictors of effective HH practices.

Conclusion

Nigerian HCWs had moderate knowledge, a positive attitude, and adhered to the standard HH practices during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the major barriers were institutional-based factors such as the inadequate supply of HH items, competing job demands, emergencies, increased workload, and personal characteristics such as age, poor knowledge, negligence, and forgetfulness. We recommend that hospital management provide their staff with adequate HH materials and continued infectious disease training.
Low soil pH enhances fruit acidity by inhibiting citric acid degradation in lemon (Citrus lemon L.)
Authors: Wu Songwei , Gao Guozhen , Du Yuxia , Mo Xiaomo , Tan Qiling , Sun Xuecheng , Dong Zhihao , Hu Chengxiao
Published: September 2024

Fruit acidity significantly influences fruit flavor, but the specific impact of soil pH on fruit acidity remains unclear. This study investigated the effects of various soil pH levels on fruit acidity and citric acid (CA) metabolism in lemon (Citrus limon L.). High soil pH (pH 8) decreased total soluble solids concentrations in lemon fruits, while low soil pH (pH 4) increased titratable acid and CA concentrations. Although low soil pH reduced the synthesis of CA due to the decreased citrate synthase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase activities, the elevated fruit acidity under low soil pH conditions is not directly related to CA synthesis. Instead, low soil pH was found to suppress the activity of cytosolic aconitase (Cyt-ACO), an iron-dependent enzyme, indicating a potential role for CA degradation inhibition in low soil pH-induced CA accumulation. Furthermore, low soil pH significantly reduced cytosolic iron (Cyt-Fe) concentration, which was positively correlated with Cyt-ACO activity. In conclusion, low soil pH contributes to increasing fruit acidity in lemon, partially by inhibiting CA degradation due to the reduced Cyt-Fe concentrations. Our work unravels the influence of soil pH on CA accumulation and provides important clues for modulating CA levels through microelement fertilization in citrus.
Categorising inclusive education and disability narratives, actors and expertise on Instagram, YouTube and Twitter
Authors: Barroso-Moreno Carlos , de las Heras-Cuenca Ana María , Bañares-Marivela Elena , Rayón-Rumayor Laura
Published: September 2024

Social networks play a relevant role in the construction of narratives on disability and inclusive education. This paper categorises the themes of the most viral publications on Instagram, YouTube and Twitter X, with a twofold objective: to identify the social actors associated with them and to comparatively analyse the value of thematic use for the three digital platforms. Social listening techniques developed using the Twitter X API and web scraping techniques for Instagram and YouTube are applied to store the publications with the keywords education, inclusion and/or disability in Spanish and English. The database consists of 100,091 posts captured from October 2021 to September 2022, a full year. Subsequently, the 100 most viral publications from each social network are selected and a content analysis is applied. The results show a tendency towards thematic specialisation: Instagram defines the demand for rights and disseminates empathetic attitudes; YouTube collects experiences of good practices in informal contexts with a reflective function; Twitter X disseminates reports on the barriers and prejudices experienced by people with disabilities with a critical tone. The main social actors are diverse and varied with different profiles, therapists, politicians and parents with children with disabilities, among others. The impact of the narratives to face the new educational challenges that require an understanding of the network to establish long-term strategies for building a critical digital citizenship is discussed.
Addressing social needs in oncology practices: A case study of a patient-centered approach using health information technology
Authors: Parsons Helen M. , Haynes David , Blaes Anne , Church Timothy R. , Halberg Julia , Johnson Steven G. , Karaca-Mandic Pinar
Published: September 2024

Given the dramatic growth in the financial burden of cancer care over the past decades, individuals with cancer are increasingly susceptible to developing social needs (e.g., housing instability and food insecurity) and experiencing an adverse impact of these needs on care management and health outcomes. However, resources required to connect individuals with needed social and community services typically exceed the available staffing within clinical teams. Using input from focus groups, key informant interviews, user experience/user interface testing, and a multidisciplinary community advisory board, we developed a new technology solution, ConnectedNest, which connects individuals in need to community based organizations (CBOs) that provide services through direct and/or oncology team referrals, with interfaces to support all three groups (patients, CBOs, and oncology care teams). After prototype development, we conducted usability testing, with participants noting the importance of the technology for filling a current gap in screening and connecting individuals with cancer with needed social and community services. We employ a patient-empowered approach that engages the support of an individual’s healthcare team and community organizations. Future work will examine the integration and implementation of ConnectedNest for oncology patients, oncology care teams, and cancer-focused CBOs to build capacity for effectively addressing distress in this population.
Birkhoff attractors of dissipative billiards
Authors: BERNARDI OLGA , FLORIO ANNA , LEGUIL MARTIN
Published: September 2024

We study the dynamics of dissipative billiard maps within planar convex domains. Such maps have a global attractor. We are interested in the topological and dynamical complexity of the attractor, in terms both of the geometry of the billiard table and of the strength of the dissipation. We focus on the study of an invariant subset of the attractor, the so-called Birkhoff attractor. On the one hand, we show that for a generic convex table with ‘pinched’ curvature, the Birkhoff attractor is a normally contracted manifold when the dissipation is strong. On the other hand, for a mild dissipation, we prove that, generically, the Birkhoff attractor is complicated, both from the topological and the dynamical points of view.
Rank-one non-singular actions of countable groups and their odometer factors
Authors: DANILENKO ALEXANDRE I. , VIEPRIK MYKYTA I.
Published: September 2024

For an arbitrary countable discrete infinite group G, non-singular rank-one actions are introduced. It is shown that the class of non-singular rank-one actions coincides with the class of non-singular

$(C,F)$

-actions. Given a decreasing sequence of cofinite subgroups in G with

$\bigcap _{n=1}^\infty \bigcap _{g\in G}g\Gamma _ng^{-1}=\{1_G\}$

, the projective limit of the homogeneous G-spaces

$G/\Gamma _n$

as

$n\to \infty $

is a G-space. Endowing this G-space with an ergodic non-singular non-atomic measure, we obtain a dynamical system which is called a non-singular odometer. Necessary and sufficient conditions are found for a rank-one non-singular G-action to have a finite factor and a non-singular odometer factor in terms of the underlying

$(C,F)$

-parameters. Similar conditions are also found for a rank-one non-singular G-action to be isomorphic to an odometer. Minimal Radon uniquely ergodic locally compact Cantor models are constructed for the non-singular rank-one extensions of odometers. Several concrete examples are constructed and several facts are proved that illustrate a sharp difference of the non-singular non-commutative case from the classical finite measure preserving one: odometer actions which are not of rank-one and factors of rank-one systems which are not of rank one; however, each probability preserving odometer is a factor of an infinite measure preserving rank-one system, etc.
General practitioner referrals to a child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS): pre and post COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: FitzPatrick P. , George A. , Lynch F. , McNicholas F.
Published: September 2024

Objectives:

To compare the characteristics of GP referrals to CAMHS prior to and over the entire pandemic.

Methods:

All accepted referrals to a Dublin-based CAMHS between January 1, 2019, and June 30, 2023, were examined. Referral letters were anonymised in batches, and information was extracted directly onto a designated proforma.

Results:

Before the pandemic (January 2019–February 2020), an average of 17.8 referrals were accepted per month, while during and after the pandemic (March 2020–June 2023), this rose to 18.7 accepted referrals per month. Increases were observed in the clinic’s prioritisation of cases during the pandemic period (54.8% v. 41%, p < .001).

Referrals post COVID-19 were older (13.1–13.64 years, p = .010) with a higher proportion of females (50.2% v. 62.1%, p < .001). Internalising disorders increased during the pandemic (68.7% v. 78.7%, p = .001), with self-harm referrals also being notably more frequent (18.5% v. 36.3%, p < .001). Referrals for anxiety (43.0% v. 78.2%, p = .004) and eating disorders (0% v.. 6.2%, p < .001) increased significantly. Referrals for psychosis (8.4% v. 4.8%, p = .032) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) (26.5% v. 18.7%, p = .008) decreased after the onset of the pandemic.

Conclusions:

Notable increases in referrals for anxiety, depression, self-harm, and eating disorders underscore the impact of the pandemic on youth mental health. Understanding these shifts is crucial for CAMHS to adapt resources and interventions effectively. Clinicians must remain vigilant in assessing and addressing the evolving mental health needs of youths in the post-COVID era, ensuring timely and appropriate interventions, and resources to mitigate long-term consequences.
Scale dependence and non-isochoric effects on the thermohydrodynamics of rarefied Poiseuille flow
Authors: Ravichandir Shashank , Alam Meheboob
Published: September 2024

The plane Poiseuille flow of a rarefied gas in a finite length channel, driven by an axial pressure gradient, is analysed numerically to probe (i) the role of ‘dilatation’ (

$\varDelta ={\boldsymbol \nabla }\boldsymbol {\cdot }{\boldsymbol u}\neq 0$

) on its thermohydrodynamics as well as to clarify (ii) the possible equivalence with its well-studied ‘dilatation-free’ or ‘isochoric’ (

${\rm D}\rho /{\rm D}t=0$

) counterpart driven by a constant acceleration. Focussing on the mass flow rate

${\mathcal {M}}({Kn})$

, which is an invariant quantity for both pressure-driven and acceleration-driven Poiseuille flows, it is shown that while

${\mathcal {M}}\sim \log {{Kn}}$

at

${Kn}\gg 1$

in the acceleration-driven case, the mass flow saturates to a constant value

${\mathcal {M}}\sim {{Kn}}^0$

at

${Kn}\gg 1$

in the pressure-driven case due to the finite length (

$L_x<\infty$

) of the channel. The latter result agrees with prior theory and recent experiments, and holds irrespective of the magnitude of the axial pressure gradient (

$G_p$

). The pressure-dilatation cooling (

$\varPhi _p=-p\varDelta <0$

) is shown to be responsible for the absence of the bimodal shape of the temperature profile in the pressure-driven Poiseuille flow. The dilatation-driven reduction of the shear viscosity and the odd signs of two normal stress differences (

${\mathcal {N}}_1$

and

${\mathcal {N}}_2$

) in the pressure-driven flow in comparison with those in its acceleration-driven counterpart are explained from the Burnett-order constitutive relations for the stress tensor. While both

${\mathcal {N}}_1$

and

${\mathcal {N}}_2$

appear at the Burnett order

$O({{Kn}}^2)$

in the acceleration-driven flow, the leading term in

${\mathcal N}_1$

scales as

$(\mu/p)\varDelta$

due to the non-zero dilatation in the pressure-driven Poiseuille flow which confirms that the two flows are not equivalent even at the Navier–Stokes–Fourier order

$O({{Kn}})$

. The heat-flow rate (

${{\mathcal {Q}}_q}_x=\int q_x(x,y) \,{{\rm d} y}$

) of the tangential heat flux is found to be negative (i.e. directed against the axial pressure gradient), in contrast to its positive asymptotic value (at

${Kn}\gg 1$

) in the acceleration-driven flow. Similar to the scale-dependence of the mass flow rate,

${{\mathcal {Q}}_q}_x({{Kn}}, L_x)$

is found to saturate to a constant value at

${Kn}\gg 1$

in finite length channels. The double-well shape of the

$q_x(y)$

-profile in the near-continuum limit agrees well with predictions from a generalized Fourier law. On the whole, the dilatation-driven signatures (such as the pressure-dilatation work and the ‘normal’ shear-rate differences) are shown to be the progenitor for the observed differences between the two flows with regard to (i) the hydrodynamic fields, (ii) the rheology and (iii) the flow-induced heat transfer.
Responsible Religious Freedom: Factual Scrutiny in Free Exercise Doctrine
Authors: Earley Brady
Published: September 2024

The state of the Free Exercise Clause in U.S. constitutional law is uncertain. With an opportunity in Fulton v. Philadelphia to clarify the vitality of the current standard from Employment Division v. Smith, the United States Supreme Court has declined to do so. The lasting impact of Smith has been to move away from directly requiring government justifications for infringing free exercise. Instead, courts now use neutrality and general applicability as heuristics for government justification. Yet, relying solely on neutrality and general applicability to proxy for government justification when infringing religious exercise distracts courts from conducting a fact-based inquiry. This article demonstrates how more scrutiny of the legislative facts in free exercise doctrine may serve as a viable alternative to Smith’s flawed approach for evaluating government justifications. The author first shows empirically how more factual scrutiny—directly requiring the government to justify its actions with evidence—can benefit government and religious claimants and then discusses the normative advantages of a fact-intensive approach to constitutional scrutiny. During a moment of sharp division over religious freedom and other competing rights, factual scrutiny can be a powerful tool for handling free exercise challenges and promoting responsible religious freedom.
Revisiting Douai Ms 785: Musical Cultures of Exiled English Convents through the Lens of a Miscellany
Authors: Lesemann-Elliott Caroline
Published: September 2024

Scholarship on early modern English Catholic music after the reformations tends to focus on the activities of male musicians and male institutions. Despite increased study of English convent culture by scholars of religious, social, and literary history, there remains little specialist examination of music at post-Reformation English convents in exile, and their role in wider musical networks in early modern Europe is markedly under-acknowledged. This article aims to highlight how complex miscellanies with links to English monastic institutions in exile can offer insight into the convents’ otherwise elusive musical world. Using a hitherto unanalysed miscellany – Douai Ms 785 – this article will show how codicological study of manuscripts, combined with study of concordances and unica, can illuminate the role of English convents in early modern musical networks. In doing so, it will demonstrate the need to understand miscellanies like Douai Ms 785 as witness to interacting, overlapping musical and religious ecosystems in early modern Europe.
Artificial Flowers in the Credit Records of an Eighteenth-Century French Fashion Merchant
Authors: Kesterton Zara
Published: September 2024

In recent decades, historians have acknowledged the role that women played in shaping and disseminating scientific knowledge during the Enlightenment. Current scholarship also suggests that fashion was a means through which haptic, economic, and practical knowledge was shared among women. This article focuses on one particular fashion accessory – the artificial flower – to explore its contribution to our understanding of women’s knowledge of botany in eighteenth-century France. An analysis of the receipts preserved in the credit records of France’s most famous fashion merchant, Marie-Jeanne (Rose) Bertin (1747–1813), demonstrates high levels of specificity in the flowers that women chose to adorn their outfits. Seventy-five different types of flowers are mentioned using their vernacular names, suggesting that knowledge about a wide variety of flowers was exchanged between fashion merchants and their clients during conversations about clothing. This article therefore casts the fashion merchant’s shop as a site of botanical knowledge generation and exchange.
British Government Officials in the Ottoman Empire and Evolving Humanitarianism after the Balkan Wars and the First World War
Authors: Murray Elisabeth Hope , Grubb Amy
Published: September 2024

This article assesses the changes in humanitarianism by locally stationed British government officials after the Balkan Wars and after the First World War. Studies have examined British humanitarian goals in the Ottoman Empire in relation to the First World War, but lacking is an assessment of efforts from locally stationed British officials, with a particular absence of research regarding the Balkan Wars. We find that while British humanitarianism was expanded after the First World War, the framework for those changes was established during the Balkan Wars. Comparing evolving humanitarianism during these time periods is best seen via changes in the range of intervention strategies to create ‘good government’, to prevent and stop atrocities, and to care for refugees. Unlike the British relationship with the Ottoman government during the Balkan Wars, Britain’s humanitarian stance in 1918 and 1919 was matched by a stronger grasp on power in Constantinople and over the Ottoman Porte. However, as the political, social, financial, and military demands of the post-war landscape undermined Constantinople’s power, so too was British humanitarianism undermined.
Die Gottesherrschaft steht unmittelbar vor der Tür, die sich gerade öffnet (vgl. Mk 1,15): Auslösung und Einhegung einer theologisch hochrelevanten Mehrdeutigkeit als Baustein im markinischen Krisenmanagement
Authors: Blumenthal Christian , Lüttgenau Benedikt
Published: September 2024

German Abstract

Markus nimmt seine Gegenwart als dunkle, düstere Zeit wahr und bearbeitet mit seiner Jesuserzählung die krisenbehaftete Gegenwart. Ein zentraler Baustein in seinem Krisenmanagement ist ein strategischer Einsatz literarisch-theologischer Mehrdeutigkeiten. Die vorliegenden Beobachtungen illustrieren diesen strategischen Einsatz am Beispiel der programmatischen Basileiaaussage in Mk 1,15. Unsere Kernthese lautet: Markus bändigt die Ambiguität der ἤγγικɛν-Aussage in 1,15 durch die ἤγγικɛν-Aussage in 14,42 und beansprucht damit Deutungshoheit inmitten einer existentiellen krisenhaften Zuspitzung in der erzählten Welt. Dieser Gewinn an Deutungshoheit marginalisiert weder die Krisenerfahrung am Vorabend des Todes Jesu noch die Krisenerfahrung in den 70er Jahren, sondern dient dazu, ein wenig festen Boden in all der verbleibenden Unklarheit und Ungewissheit unter die Füße zu bekommen.
Combined visualization of genomic and epidemiological data for outbreaks
Authors: Suster Carl J. E. , Watt Anne E. , Wang Qinning , Chen Sharon C.-A. , Kok Jen , Sintchenko Vitali
Published: September 2024

In epidemiological investigations, pathogen genomics can provide insights and test epidemiological hypotheses that would not have been possible through traditional epidemiology. Tools to synthesize genomic analysis with other types of data are a key requirement of genomic epidemiology. We propose a new ‘phylepic’ visualization that combines a phylogenomic tree with an epidemic curve. The combination visually links the molecular time represented in the tree to the calendar time in the epidemic curve, a correspondence that is not easily represented by existing tools. Using an example derived from a foodborne bacterial outbreak, we demonstrated that the phylepic chart communicates that what appeared to be a point-source outbreak was in fact composed of cases associated with two genetically distinct clades of bacteria. We provide an R package implementing the chart. We expect that visualizations that place genomic analyses within the epidemiological context will become increasingly important for outbreak investigations and public health surveillance of infectious diseases.
Interleukins in the pathogenesis of influenza and other acute respiratory viral infections
Authors: Andreychyn Mykchaylo , Melnyk Larysa , Zavidniiuk Nataliia , Nychyk Natalya , Iosyk Iaryna
Published: September 2024

Influenza and other acute respiratory viral infections (ARVIs) are among the most common human diseases. In recent decades, the discovery of cytokines and their significance in the pathogenesis of diseases has led to extensive research on these compounds in various pathologies including ARVIs. The aim of the research was to study the cytokine profile in patients with ARVIs. The cases of 30 patients were investigated. Etiological diagnosis was performed by polymerase chain reaction. Different classes of cytokines in the serum were defined by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The level of cytokines depended on the number of pathogens. The highest levels of pro-inflammatory interleukins and the lowest levels of anti-inflammatory IL-4 were observed in patients with a combination of five or more viruses compared to those with a monoinfection. Analysis of the data showed that in the acute phase, the levels of all studied pro-inflammatory cytokines – IL-2, IL-6, and TNF-α – increased by 8, 39, and 9 times, respectively, compared to those in healthy individuals. In the acute phase of ARVI, the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines were significantly higher and depended on the severity of the disease. The imbalance of cytokines in the serum has been established in cases of ARVIs, depending on the severity of the disease.
Metaphor as Method in the Writings of Isaiah Berlin
Authors: Ferrell Jason
Published: September 2024

The conventional approach to Isaiah Berlin's writings has been to treat them discursively, as philosophical texts. While such approaches are insightful, there is more to Berlin's writings than his arguments. Among his literary strategies is a comparative approach that involves the use of metaphors, similes, and analogies. As I will argue, Berlin's use of metaphor constitutes a core component of his work, where his meaning is often suggestive more than precise. Berlin's intention seems to be to exhibit those aspects of experience reflective of uncertainty, where our choices are not determined by necessity. Such an intention ostensibly exhibits his value pluralism, as well as an oft-neglected sensitivity to the forms of language. By resorting to metaphors Berlin accomplishes several things: he shows how the intelligibility of experience is partially imagistic, he illustrates how meaning can be structured comparatively but nondiscursively, and he exemplifies the importance of these things for decision making.
The common sense model in Raynaud’s phenomenon: do illness perceptions account for variance in symptom severity and quality of life?
Authors: Broughton Jessica , Irving Dulcie , Daniels Jo
Published: September 2024

People with Raynaud’s phenomenon (RP) experience poorer mental health and quality of life than the general population, and there is limited evidence for treatment options in RP. The Common Sense Model of illness representations (CSM) is a well-established theoretical model, which has not yet been robustly investigated in RP, but may provide potential avenues for psychological interventions with the ability to explore perceptions and beliefs, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). The study aims were to investigate illness perceptions and examine the relationship between illness perceptions and symptom severity and quality of life in RP to explore a theoretical basis for potential treatment avenues. A cross-sectional online questionnaire design was employed and 169 adults with RP (primary or secondary) were analysed. Illness perceptions significantly differed between primary and secondary RP types on all but one domain (p < .05). Hierarchical multiple regressions indicated that illness perception subscales made a significant unique contribution to the models explaining 65% variance in symptom severity (R2 = .65, p < .001) and 30% variance in quality of life (R2 = .30, p < .001). This novel study provides preliminary evidence regarding the applicability of the CSM to RP in a clinically meaningful way. CBT, which can specifically target illness perceptions within a wider psychological formulation, may be helpful for individuals with RP who are experiencing psychological distress in relation to symptom severity. Further work is needed to develop outcome measures specific to RP and tailor interventions to manage distress and impaired quality of life.

Key learning aims

(1)

The Common Sense Model is applicable and relevant to Raynaud’s phenomenon (RP) and there are important differences between illness perceptions in those with primary and secondary RP subtypes.

(2)

Findings show that illness-specific cognitions make a significant contribution to the variance in symptom severity and quality of life in those with both subtypes of RP, which has notable implications for the assessment, formulation and treatment of psychological difficulties in RP.

(3)

This offers a basis for further replication and development and adaptation of an intervention for this group, drawing on the evidence base for long-term conditions.
Acute dose-dependent effects of mescaline in a double-blind placebo-controlled study in healthy subjects
Authors: Klaiber Aaron , Schmid Yasmin , Becker Anna M. , Straumann Isabelle , Erne Livio , Jelusic Alen , Thomann Jan , Luethi Dino , Liechti Matthias E.
Published: September 2024

Classic psychedelics have regained interest in research and therapy. Despite the long tradition of the human use of mescaline, modern data on its dose-dependent acute effects and pharmacokinetics are lacking. Additionally, its mechanism of action has not been investigated in humans. We used a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover design in 16 healthy subjects (8 women) who received placebo, mescaline (100, 200, 400, and 800 mg), and 800 mg mescaline together with the serotonin 5-hydroxytryptamine-2A (5-HT2A) receptor antagonist ketanserin (40 mg) to assess subjective effects, autonomic effects, adverse effects, and pharmacokinetics up to 30 h after drug administration. Mescaline at doses >100 mg induced dose-dependent acute subjective effects. Mescaline increased systolic and diastolic blood pressure at doses >100 mg, with no difference between doses of 200-800 mg. Heart rate increased dose-dependently. Pharmacokinetics of mescaline were dose-proportional. Maximal concentrations were reached after approximately 2 h, and the plasma elimination half-life was approximately 3.5 h. The average duration of subjective effects increased from 6.4 to 14 h with increasing doses of 100-800 mg mescaline. Nausea and emesis were frequent adverse effects at the 800 mg dose. Co-administration of ketanserin attenuated and shortened acute effects of 800 mg mescaline to become comparable to the 100 and 200 mg doses. There were no ceiling effects of the subjective response within the investigated dose range, but tolerability was lower at the highest doses. These results may assist with dose finding for future research and suggest that acute effects of mescaline are primarily mediated by 5-HT2A receptors.
Proinflammatory immune cells disrupt angiogenesis and promote germinal matrix hemorrhage in prenatal human brain
Authors: Chen Jiapei , Crouch Elizabeth E. , Zawadzki Miriam E. , Jacobs Kyle A. , Mayo Lakyn N. , Choi Jennifer Ja-Yoon , Lin Pin-Yeh , Shaikh Saba , Tsui Jessica , Gonzalez-Granero Susana , Waller Shamari , Kelekar Avani , Kang Gugene , Valenzuela Edward J. , Birrueta Janeth Ochoa , Diafos Loukas N. , Wedderburn-Pugh Kaylee , Di Marco Barbara , Xia Wenlong , Han Claudia Z. , Coufal Nicole G. , Glass Christopher K. , Fancy Stephen P. J. , Alfonso Julieta , Kriegstein Arnold R. , Oldham Michael C. , Garcia-Verdugo Jose Manuel , Kutys Matthew L. , Lehtinen Maria K. , Combes Alexis J. , Huang Eric J.
Published: September 2024

Germinal matrix hemorrhage (GMH) is a devastating neurodevelopmental condition affecting preterm infants, but why blood vessels in this brain region are vulnerable to rupture remains unknown. Here we show that microglia in prenatal mouse and human brain interact with nascent vasculature in an age-dependent manner and that ablation of these cells in mice reduces angiogenesis in the ganglionic eminences, which correspond to the human germinal matrix. Consistent with these findings, single-cell transcriptomics and flow cytometry show that distinct subsets of CD45+ cells from control preterm infants employ diverse signaling mechanisms to promote vascular network formation. In contrast, CD45+ cells from infants with GMH harbor activated neutrophils and monocytes that produce proinflammatory factors, including azurocidin 1, elastase and CXCL16, to disrupt vascular integrity and cause hemorrhage in ganglionic eminences. These results underscore the brain’s innate immune cells in region-specific angiogenesis and how aberrant activation of these immune cells promotes GMH in preterm infants.
Antibiotic prescribing patterns in pediatric patients using the WHO access, watch, reserve (AWaRe) classification at a quaternary hospital in Nampula, Mozambique
Authors: Xavier Sancho Pedro , da Silva Ageo Mario Cândido , Victor Audêncio
Published: September 2024

Antibiotics are often prescribed inappropriately, either when they are not needed or with an unnecessarily broad spectrum of activity. This is a serious problem that can lead to the development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This study was conducted to assess the antibiotic prescribing pattern in pediatric patients hospitalized at a quaternary hospital in Nampula, Mozambique, using the WHO indicators and Framework as a reference. A retrospective study was conducted using secondary data obtained from medical records. The study population consisted of children aged 0–10 years who were hospitalized in a quaternary-level hospital ward in Nampula, Mozambique. The pattern of antibiotic prescriptions was assessed using indicators and the WHO classification of antibiotics into AWaRe categories. Descriptive statistics were applied. A total of 464 antibiotics were prescribed during the study. The age groups of 1–3 years and 28 days-12 months were prescribed more antibiotics. The most common antibiotics were ceftriaxone and crystallized penicillin, which were frequently prescribed for patients suffering from bronchopneumonia, gastroenteritis, and malaria. 74.8% of the antibiotics prescribed belonged to the Access group, while 23.7% belonged to the Watch group. There were no prescriptions of antibiotics from the Reserve group. The average number of antibiotics per prescription was 1.51 (SD ± 0.725). The percentage of antibiotic prescribing was 97.5%, with 96.20% by injection. All antibiotics prescribed were on the essential medicines list and prescribed by generic name. These results are concerning and highlight the urgency of strengthening antimicrobial optimization measures, as well as implementing the AWaRe framework in antibiotic prescribing as an essential strategy to combat AMR.
Adaptive strategies in architecture and allocation for the asymmetric growth of camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora L.)
Authors: Guo Chenbing , Hu Yonghong , Qin Jun , Wu Duorun , Leng Hanbing , Wang Hongbing
Published: September 2024

The stability-related asymmetry in roots, trunk, and crown is always found as a typical effect of biomechanical design under heterogeneous stimulus environment. However, it appears to be a conflict between the biomechanical principle and the source-sink distance of nutrient allocation strategies when the orientational asymmetry occurs. Adaptive growth strategies associated with biomass and nutrient allocation remain to be explored. This study used both the minirhizotron and harvest methods to test the effect of trunk inclination of camphor trees (Cinnamomum camphora) and found that the asymmetry coefficient of root biomass was − 0.29, showing more root biomass distributed on the other side of trunk inclination. This side had larger surface area and volume of fine roots, the smaller in diameter and the larger in length of the first level roots, higher leaf total nitrogen (TN) and slightly higher root TN content, higher activities of antioxidant enzymes SOD, POD, and CAT in leaves, and lower soluble sugar and protein. The biomass, morphological and physiological characteristics suggest that trees may follow both the biomechanical design and source-sink distance of nutrient allocation strategies. The research results expand the connotation of root-shoot balance in the orientational allocation of biomass and physiological responses.
Modeling the burden of long COVID in California with quality adjusted life-years (QALYS)
Authors: Zhu Sophie , McCullough Kalyani , Pry Jake M. , Jain Seema , White Lauren A. , León Tomás M.
Published: September 2024

Individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2 may develop post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (“long COVID”) even after asymptomatic or mild acute illness. Including time varying COVID symptom severity can provide more informative burden estimates for public health response. Using a compartmental model driven by confirmed cases, this study estimated long COVID burden by age group (0–4, 5–17, 18–49, 50–64, 65+) in California as measured by the cumulative and severity-specific proportion of quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) lost. Long COVID symptoms were grouped into severe, moderate, and mild categories based on estimates from the Global Burden of Disease study, and symptoms were assumed to decrease in severity in the model before full recovery. All 10,945,079 confirmed COVID-19 cases reported to the California Department of Public Health between March 1, 2020, and December 31, 2022, were included in the analysis. Most estimated long COVID-specific QALYs [59,514 (range: 10,372–180,257)] lost in California were concentrated in adults 18–49 (31,592; 53.1%). Relative to other age groups, older adults (65+) lost proportionally more QALYs from severe long COVID (1,366/6,984; 20%). Due to changing case ascertainment over time, this analysis might underestimate the actual total burden. In global sensitivity analysis, estimates of QALYs lost were most sensitive to the proportion of individuals that developed long COVID and proportion of cases with each initial level of long COVID symptom severity (mild/moderate/severe). Models like this analysis can help translate observable metrics such as cases and hospitalizations into quantitative estimates of long COVID burden that are currently difficult to directly measure. Unlike the observed relationship between age and incident severe outcomes for COVID-19, this study points to the potential cumulative impact of mild long COVID symptoms in younger individuals.
Generalized redshift formula through an energy-based framework
Authors: Ortiz C. , Ibarra-Castor F.
Published: September 2024

Redshift is a crucial concept in physics; it has significant implications for our understanding of the dynamics and evolution of the cosmos. In this article, we introduce a generalized formula to determine the redshift parameter. The unified framework, which relates the redshift to the energy of the system, eliminates the need to derive the redshift parameter on a case-by-case basis, uncovering the relationships between different mechanisms. Furthermore, the generalization allows us to extend the redshift to non-considered mechanisms.
Acute estradiol and progesterone therapy in hospitalized adults to reduce COVID-19 severity: a randomized control trial
Authors: Lovre Dragana , Qadir M. M. Fahd , Bateman Kristin , Saltzman Leia Y , Sherman Mya , Mauvais-Jarvis Franck
Published: September 2024

COVID-19 outcomes are less severe in women than men suggesting that female sex is protective. The steroids estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) promote anti-inflammatory immune responses and their therapeutic use for COVID-19 has been under investigation. The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of a short systemic E2 and P4 combination in mitigating COVID-19 severity in hospitalized men and women. In a phase 2, single center, double blind, randomized placebo-controlled trial, ten male and female participants hospitalized for COVID-19 with scores 3–5 on the 9-point WHO ordinal scale were randomized to receive either (1) E2 cypionate (5 mg, IM) and micronized P4 (200 mg, PO), or (2) placebo-equivalent, in addition to standard of care (SOC). The primary outcome was the proportion of patients whose WHO scores improved to 1–2 on the day of discharge. Secondary outcomes included length of hospital stay (LOS), days on oxygen therapy (DOT), readmission rates (RR), adverse events (AEs), and change in circulating biomarkers using untargeted proteomics and cytokine profiling. There were no significant changes between the groups in primary outcome, LOS, DOT, RR or AEs. The E2P4 group exhibited a decrease in biomarker pathways of respiratory and gastrointestinal disease inflammation, infection by coronavirus, and immune cell trafficking and inflammatory response. A short-term E2P4 treatment in patients hospitalized for COVID-19 decreases biomarkers of inflammation. Considering the availability, low cost, and safety of E2 and P4, our results warrant additional studies to explore their effects in mitigating other viral pandemics. Clinical Trial Registration NCT04865029, ClinicalTrials.gov; (First trial registration 29/04/2021).
Cationic fluorinated micelles for cell labeling and 19F-MR imaging
Authors: Jirát-Ziółkowska Natalia , Panakkal Vyshakh Manayath , Jiráková Klára , Havlíček Dominik , Sedláček Ondřej , Jirák Daniel
Published: September 2024

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) relies on appropriate contrast agents, especially for visualizing transplanted cells within host tissue. In recent years, compounds containing fluorine-19 have gained significant attention as MRI probe, particularly in dual 1H/19F-MR imaging. However, various factors affecting probe sensitivity, such as fluorine content and the equivalency of fluorine atoms, must be considered. In this study, we synthesized fluorinated micelles with adjustable surface positive charge density and investigated their physicochemical properties and MRI efficacy in phantoms and labeled cells. While the micelles exhibited clear signals in 19F-MR spectra and imaging, the concentrations required for MRI visualization of labeled cells were relatively high, adversely affecting cell viability. Despite their favourable physicochemical properties, achieving higher labeling rates without compromising cell viability during labeling remains a challenge for potential in vivo applications.
Trends in 5-year cancer survival disparities by race and ethnicity in the US between 2002–2006 and 2015–2019
Authors: Chen Chongfa , Yin Lingdi , Lu Chunhui , Wang Guangfu , Li Zhenyu , Sun Feihu , Wang Huijuan , Li Chenchen , Dai Shangnan , Lv Nan , Wei Jishu , Lu Zipeng , Guo Feng , Tu Min , Xiao Bin , Xi Chunhua , Zhang Kai , Li Qiang , Wu Junli , Gao Wentao , Feng Xu , Jiang Kuirong , Miao Yi
Published: September 2024

Racial and ethnic disparities persist in cancer survival rates across the United States, despite overall improvements. This comprehensive analysis examines trends in 5-year relative survival rates from 2002–2006 to 2015–2019 for major cancer types, elucidating differences among racial/ethnic groups to guide equitable healthcare strategies. Data from the SEER Program spanning 2000–2020 were analyzed, focusing on breast, colorectal, prostate, lung, pancreatic cancers, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, acute leukemia, and multiple myeloma. Age-standardized relative survival rates were calculated to assess racial (White, Black, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian/Pacific Islander) and ethnic (Hispanic, Non-Hispanic) disparities, utilizing period analysis for recent estimates and excluding cases identified solely through autopsy or death certificates. While significant survival improvements were observed for most cancers, notable disparities persisted. Non-Hispanic Blacks exhibited the largest gain in breast cancer survival, with an increase of 5.2% points (from 77.6 to 82.8%); however, the survival rate remained lower than that of Non-Hispanic Whites (92.1%). Colorectal cancer survival declined overall (64.7–64.1%), marked by a 6.2% point drop for Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Natives (66.3–60.1%). Prostate cancer survival declined across all races, with Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Natives showing a decrease of 7.7% points (from 96.9 to 89.2%). Lung cancer, acute leukemia, and multiple myeloma showed notable increases across groups. Substantial racial/ethnic disparities in cancer survival underscore the notable need for tailored strategies ensuring equitable access to advanced treatments, particularly addressing significant trends in colorectal and pancreatic cancers among specific minority groups. Careful interpretation of statistical significance is warranted given the large dataset.
Structural phase transition in NH₄F under extreme pressure conditions
Authors: Ranieri Umbertoluca , Bellin Christophe , Conway Lewis J. , Gaal Richard , Loveday John S. , Hermann Andreas , Shukla Abhay , Bove Livia E.
Published: September 2024

Ammonium fluoride (NH₄F) exhibits a variety of crystalline phases depending on temperature and pressure. By employing Raman spectroscopy and synchrotron X-ray diffraction beyond megabar pressures (up to 140 GPa), we have here observed a novel dense solid phase of NH₄F, characterised by the tetragonal P4/nmm structure also observed in other ammonium halides under less extreme pressure conditions, typically a few GPa. Using detailed ab-initio calculations and reevaluating earlier theoretical models pertaining to other ammonium halides, we examine the microscopic mechanisms underlying the transition from the low-pressure cubic phase (P-43m) to the newly identified high-pressure tetragonal phase (P4/nmm). Notably, NH₄F exhibits distinctive properties compared to its counterparts, resulting in a significantly broader pressure range over which this transition unfolds, facilitating the identification of its various stages. Our analysis points to a synergistic interplay driving the transition to the P4/nmm phase, which we name phase VIII. At intermediate pressures (around 40 GPa), a displacive transition of fluorine ions initiates a tetragonal distortion of the cubic phase. Subsequently, at higher pressures (around 115 GPa), every second ammonium ion undergoes a rotational shift, adopting an anti-tetrahedral arrangement. This coupled effect orchestrates the transition process, leading to the formation of the tetragonal phase.