bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Looking Beyond Jerusalem: A Fifteenth-Century Exercise in Image Comparison
Authors: Vorholt Hanna
Published: October 2023

Critical image comparison is a widespread art-historical practice. This essay explores why a Brabantine artist encouraged viewers to exercise it in the late fifteenth century. At the time, northern European artists tested out how images could be means of transcending the visible world while simultaneously showcasing their very constructedness. The self-reflexivity that characterises such images has engendered a particularly rich field of art-historical studies. This essay focuses on a little-known image which was designed to combine two visual concepts devised more than three centuries apart – a twelfth-century map of Jerusalem, and a cityscape popularised in the fifteenth century – and required viewers to realise this combination in their minds, using external images recollected before their internal eyes. In its complex conception, the image becomes a unique contributor to the vibrant debate about the right use of images in late medieval devotion, and to the long history of image comparisons.
Staging Grounds: Loutherbourg and Warley
Authors: Bonehill John
Published: October 2023

In 1778, Philippe-Jacques de Loutherbourg began work on a pair of companion pictures marking George III's attendance at a spectacular military review on the broad expanse of Essex wasteland that was Warley Common. Scholars of the painter's art have largely overlooked these ambitious, large-scale landscapes, but their commission and subsequent display at the Royal Academy played a key role in advancing Loutherbourg's career. Strikingly novel, the paintings attracted a good deal of critical attention for their curious mix of the patriotic and the satirical, the topographic and the scenographic. Taking its cue from this latter stage set-like quality, this essay situates Loutherbourg’s Warley scenes in relation to a series of dramatic spaces, moving from the ‘battlefield’ depicted to the London stage to the Academy exhibition room, highlighting a series of connections and interactions that shed new light on the performativity of Georgian art, culture and spaces of display.
Social determinants of health as a framework to identify and assess cross‐sector funding opportunities
Authors: Leonard Margaret , Bernhardt Christina , DiPetrillo Brooke , Hemming Japera , Minyard Karen
Published: October 2023

Objective

To present a content analysis and method for applying a social determinants of health (SDOH) analytical framework to legislation.

Data Sources and Study Setting

Secondary data include 215 sections of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) and related information from federal government websites (e.g., press releases, notices of funding announcements, and funding tables).

Study Design

Researchers conducted a qualitative content analysis of legislative text, recording all sections, appropriations, allocations, and administrators. Using an SDOH analytical framework defined by Healthy People 2030, researchers coded each section, appropriation, and allocation within the legislation.

Data Collection/Extraction Methods

Researchers reviewed all ARPA sections, appropriations, and allocations separately, resulting in 328 entries. Descriptive characteristics were calculated using Tableau and Microsoft Excel. Researchers coded each appropriation or allocation using definitions and key words presented in the SDOH analytical framework.

Principal Findings

Applying an SDOH analytical framework to the legislation's funding amounts reveals an overlap of investment opportunities that cross‐sector initiatives can leverage. This overlap is seen primarily in two ways: (1) specific allocations and appropriations that can be used to meet multiple SDOH goals and (2) federal administrators receiving money that can be categorized according to multiple SDOHs. For example, approximately 99% of tracked ARPA funds can be used to support one or more SDOHs. Thirty‐five appropriations or allocations can support programs categorized for more than one SDOH category. Eight departments received funds that could be designated for two or more SDOHs. All five SDOH categories can potentially receive funding from 3 to 11 federal administrators.

Conclusions

Using an SDOH analytical framework is an innovative approach to conceptualizing and synthesizing the contents of complex legislation. This approach demonstrates funding patterns across SDOH that can encourage cross‐sector collaborations. Future content analysis of legislation can employ this SDOH framework to demonstrate cross‐sector initiative funding opportunities.
Assessing nation‐state‐sponsored cyberattacks using aspects of Situational Crime Prevention
Authors: Holt Thomas J. , Griffith Mae , Turner Noah , Greene‐Colozzi Emily , Chermak Steven , Freilich Joshua D.
Published: October 2023

Research Summary

This study utilized a quantitative analysis of 246 cyberattack incidents reported in the Extremist CyberCrime Database to identify significant predictors of nation‐state‐sponsored cyberattacks relative to those performed by non‐nation‐state‐sponsored ideological actors. Clarke and Newman's Situational Crime Prevention framework for terrorism was used to identify differential opportunities to successfully affect targets on the basis of tools, weapons, and the ability to access targets in online settings. The analysis noted nation‐state‐sponsored attacks were less likely to use high‐visibility attack methods and more likely to utilize attack methods leading to data breaches. In addition, they were more likely to target state governments and military entities relative to ideological actors.

Policy Implications

Nation‐state attacks are more difficult to identify or mitigate while in process, requiring a more robust national cybersecurity policy framework to be implemented that moves beyond current practices. There is a need to better utilize all aspects of government, from legislation to grant funding, in order to deter cyberattacks from continuing into the future.
Holistic view of heat acclimation alleviated intestinal lesion in mice with heat stroke based on microbiome‐metabolomics analysis
Authors: Huang Xueyan , Luo Zhen , Shen Tingting , He Genlin , Yu Xueting , Liu Yishan , Tan Yulong , Wang Zeze , Li Ping , Zhang Boyi , Zhou Huan , Chen Xiangyu , Wang Ying , Yu Shasha , Luo Xue , Yang Xuesen
Published: October 2023

The severity of heat stroke (HS) is associated with intestinal injury, which is generally considered an essential issue for HS. Heat acclimation (HA) is considered the best strategy to protect against HS. In addition, HA has a protective effect on intestinal injuries caused by HS. Considering the essential role of gut microbes in intestinal structure and function, we decided to investigate the potential protective mechanism of HA in reducing intestinal injury caused by HS. HA model was established by male C57BL/6J mice (5–6 weeks old, 17–19 g) were exposed at (34 ± 0.7)°C for 4 weeks to establish an animal HA model. The protective effect of HA on intestinal barrier injury in HS was investigated by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and nontargeted liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry (LC‐MS) metabolomics. According to the experimental results, HA can change the composition of the gut microbiota, which increases the proportion of lactobacilli, faecal bacteria, and urinobacteria but decreases the proportion of deoxycholic acid. Moreover, HA can reduce liver and kidney injury and systemic inflammation caused by HS and reduce intestinal injury by enhancing the integrity of the intestinal barrier. In addition, HA regulates inflammation by inhibiting NF‐κB signalling and increasing tight junction protein expression in HS mice. HA induces changes in the gut microbiota, which may enhance tight junction protein expression, thereby reducing intestinal inflammation, promoting bile acid metabolism, and ultimately maintaining the integrity of the intestinal barrier. In conclusion, HA induced changes in the gut microbiota. Among the gut microbiota, lactobacilli may play a key role in the potential protective mechanism of HA.
Effect of left paratracheal pressure on left carotid blood flow
Authors: Javillier Benjamin , Grandjean Flavien , Ounas Karim , Gautier Nicolas , Meunier Paul , Bonhomme Vincent , Deflandre Eric
Published: October 2023

Introduction

Gautier et al. demonstrated that a compression in the left paratracheal region (left paratracheal pressure, LPP) can be used to seal the oesophagus. However, at this level, the left common carotid artery is very close to the carotid that could be affected during the manipulation. This study aimed to assess the hemodynamic effects of LPP on the carotid blood flow.

Methods

We prospectively included 47 healthy adult volunteers. We excluded pregnant women and people with anomalies of the carotid arteries. The common and internal carotid arteries were preliminarily studied with ultrasounds to exclude atheromatous plaques or vascular malformation. A planimetry of the common and internal carotid arteries was performed. Doppler echography served to measure the peak systolic (PSV) and end‐diastolic velocities (EDV) in the common and internal carotid arteries. All measurements were repeated while applying LPP.

Results

Forty‐seven participants were enrolled (32 women; mean [SD] age: 42 [13] years).

The mean PSV difference [95% CI] in the left common carotid artery before and after LPP at the group level was −15.30 [−31.09 to 0.48] cm s−1 (p = .14). The mean surface difference [95% CI] in the left common carotid artery before and after LPP was 24.52 [6.11–42.92] mm2 (p = .11). Similarly, the same surface at the level of the left internal carotid artery changed by −18.89 [−51.59 to 13.80] mm2 after LPP (p = .58).

Conclusions

Our results suggest that LPP does not have a significant effect on carotid blood flow in individuals without a carotid pathology. However, the safety of the manoeuvre should be evaluated in patients at risk of carotid anomalies.
The virulence of Dichelobacter nodosus, measured by the elastase test, is an important predictor for virulent footrot diagnosis in New South Wales sheep flocks
Authors: Collins A , Collins D , Dhungyel O
Published: October 2023

Ovine footrot is a contagious bacterial disease that causes foot lesions, and depending on the virulence of the causative strains, may lead to severe underrunning of the hoof and lameness. Virulent footrot can be identified, treated and controlled more effectively than less virulent benign forms. The in vitro elastase test for virulence of the causative bacteria, Dichelobacter nodosus, has been used to support clinical diagnosis. However, not all laboratory‐designated virulent D. nodosus strains cause clinical signs of virulent footrot. This study evaluated retrospectively how well the elastase test supported clinical footrot diagnosis in 150 sheep flocks examined for suspect footrot in New South Wales between August 2020 and December 2021. Flocks were included if measures of clinical disease, environmental conditions and the virulence of D. nodosus isolates were available. Variation in the elastase activity result between D. nodosus isolated from the same flock made bacterial virulence hard to interpret, but calculating the mean elastase rate for all isolates from the same flock made correlations between bacterial virulence and flock footrot diagnosis possible. Simplifying bacterial virulence into whether there were any elastase‐positive D. nodosus isolates before 12 days increased the predictive value of elastase results for virulent diagnosis, compared with using the first day that any isolate was elastase positive or the percentage of elastase‐positive isolates by 12 days, but not all clinically virulent flocks had isolates with elastase activity before 12 days. Logistic regression models were fitted to identify the minimum number of predictors for virulent footrot diagnosis, with models suggesting that virulent footrot diagnosis was best predicted by adding the elastase test result and environmental conditions to the prevalence of severe foot lesions (score 4 and 5). However, performing the same analysis with different breeds, ages of sheep and seasons might highlight other factors important in the diagnosis of virulent footrot.
A network model of referent identification by toddlers in a visual world task
Authors: Duta Mihaela , Plunkett Kim
Published: October 2023

We present a neural network model of referent identification in a visual world task. Inputs are visual representations of item pairs unfolding with sequences of phonemes identifying the target item. The model is trained to output the semantic representation of the target and to suppress the distractor. The training set uses a 200‐word lexicon typically known by toddlers. The phonological, visual, and semantic representations are derived from real corpora. Successful performance requires correct association between labels and visual and semantic representations, as well as correct location identification. The model reproduces experimental evidence that phonological, perceptual, and categorical relationships modulate item preferences. The model provides an account of how language can drive visual attention in the inter‐modal preferential looking task.
Improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle strength and body composition to modest weight loss are similar in those with adult‐ versus childhood‐onset obesity
Authors: Almeida Lucas Guimarães , Dera Abdulrahman , Murphy Jessica , Santosa Sylvia
Published: October 2023

Adults who have had obesity from childhood are at greater risk of obesity‐related comorbidities compared to those who only develop obesity in adulthood. The main way of mitigating these risks in obesity is with weight loss, which has been shown to positively affect the cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and body composition of adults. However, it is unclear whether the response of these outcomes to weight loss may be influenced by age of obesity onset. The objective of our study was to investigate how age of obesity onset mitigates the responsiveness of CRF, muscle strength and body composition to modest weight loss. Measurements were conducted at baseline and 12 weeks. In total, 37 participants (childhood‐onset = 19, adult‐onset = 18) lost 3.7% ± 0.4% through aerobic exercise and diet. The YMCA cycle ergometer test (YMCA) and the 20‐m shuttle run test (20MSR) were used to estimate CRF (mL kg−1 min−1) and a handgrip dynamometer was used to estimate muscle strength. Total body composition was assessed by dual‐energy x‐ray absorptiometry (DEXA). Overall, CRF and body composition improved (time effect: p < 0.05) after 12 weeks. There was no group‐by‐time interaction for YMCA, 20MSR, muscle strength and body composition variables. Therefore, the present study suggests that individuals with childhood‐onset obesity and adult‐onset obesity can improve their CRF and body composition similarly after mild weight loss.
Glycaemic control, body weight, and safety of tirzepatide versus dulaglutide by baseline glycated haemoglobin level in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes: A subgroup analysis of the SURPASS J‐mono study
Authors: Osonoi Takeshi , Oura Tomonori , Hirase Tetsuaki
Published: October 2023

Aim

To evaluate glycaemic control, body weight, and safety outcomes following treatment with tirzepatide or dulaglutide in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) with a baseline haemoglobin (HbA1c) level of ≤8.5% (≤69 mmol/mol) versus >8.5% (>69 mmol/mol).

Materials and Methods

SURPASS J‐mono was a 52‐week, multicentre, randomized, double‐blind, parallel, active‐controlled, phase 3 study conducted in Japan. In this exploratory subgroup analysis of SURPASS J‐mono, we examined mean change in HbA1c and body weight and the incidence of adverse events (AEs) in patients with a baseline HbA1c of ≤8.5% versus >8.5% after treatment with tirzepatide (5, 10 or 15 mg) or dulaglutide 0.75 mg.

Results

Of 636 randomized participants, 203 had a baseline HbA1c of >8.5% and 433 had a baseline HbA1c of ≤8.5% (range ≥7.0% to ≤10.0%). Both subgroups showed significantly greater reductions in HbA1c and body weight with any‐dose tirzepatide versus dulaglutide 0.75 mg, with greater HbA1c reductions observed in patients with a baseline HbA1c of >8.5% treated with tirzepatide (least squares mean [LSM] differences of −3.13% to −3.86%) or dulaglutide (LSM −1.81%) compared with patients with a baseline HbA1c of ≤8.5% (LSM −2.00% to −2.32%) or dulaglutide (LSM −1.05%; treatment‐by‐baseline HbA1c subgroup interaction P ≤ 0.001). For the tirzepatide treatment arms, LSM change from baseline in body weight ranged from −6.7 to −10.7 kg for the baseline HbA1c ≤8.5% subgroup and from −4.0 to −10.6 kg for the baseline HbA1c >8.5% subgroup, compared with −0.6 kg and −0.4 kg, respectively, for the dulaglutide arm. The incidence of hypoglycaemia was low, with no substantial difference in hypoglycaemia or treatment‐emergent AEs between subgroups.

Conclusions

Regardless of baseline HbA1c (≤8.5% or >8.5%), tirzepatide at doses of 5, 10 and 15 mg is effective in Japanese patients with T2D compared with dulaglutide 0.75 mg in terms of glycaemic control and body weight reduction, with an adequate safety profile consistent with previous reports.
Polygenic risk scores and the prediction of onset of mood and psychotic disorders in adolescents and young adults
Authors: Scott Jan , Crouse Jacob J. , Medland Sarah , Byrne Enda , Iorfino Frank , Mitchell Brittany , Gillespie Nathan A. , Martin Nicholas , Wray Naomi , Hickie Ian B.
Published: October 2023

Aim

To examine whether polygenic risk scores (PRS) for neuroticism, depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia are higher in individuals manifesting trans‐diagnostic risk factors for the development of major mental disorders and whether PRS enhance prediction of early onset full‐threshold disorders.

Methods

Using data from the Brisbane Longitudinal Twin Study, we examined individual PRS for neuroticism, depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, recorded evidence of subthreshold syndromes and family history of mood and/or psychotic disorders and noted progression to trans‐diagnostic clinical caseness (onset of major mental disorders) at follow‐up. We undertook multivariate, receiver operating curve and logistic regression analyses that were adjusted for known variables of influence (age, twin status, and so on).

Results

Of 1473 eligible participants (female = 866, 59%; mean age 26.3 years), 28% (n = 409) met caseness criteria for a mood and/or psychotic disorder. All PRS were higher in cases versus non‐cases but associations with different levels of risk were inconsistent. The prediction of caseness (reported as area under the curve with 95% confidence intervals [CI]) improved from 0.68 (95% CI: 0.65, 0.71) when estimated using clinical risk factors alone up to 0.71 (95% CI: 0.69, 0.73) when PRS were added to the model. Logistic regression identified five variables that optimally classified individuals according to caseness: age, sex, individual risk characteristics, PRS for depression and mental health case status of cotwins or siblings.

Conclusions

The findings need replication. However, this exploratory study suggests that combining PRS with other risk factors has the potential to improve outcome prediction in youth.
Oviposition preference for spherical surfaces is shared among multiple Drosophila species except D. melanogaster (Diptera: Drosophilidae)
Authors: Akutsu Junichi , Matsuo Takashi
Published: October 2023

Oviposition preference for spherical substrates has been reported in some insects but not in Drosophila species until the recent finding that Drosophila suzukii preferentially lays eggs on spherical surfaces with a smaller radius, whereas D. melanogaster does not. This finding raised two questions: (i) Was this trait specifically acquired in D. suzukii or lost in D. melanogaster? (ii) In the latter case, is it due to the long‐term laboratory culture using oviposition substrates with flat surfaces? To answer these questions, we examined the oviposition preference of three Drosophila species using the stocks recently established from wild individuals. As with D. suzukii, D. simulans and D. takahashii showed significant preference for spherical surfaces with a smaller radius, suggesting that this trait is shared by multiple Drosophila species. In contrast, D. melanogaster did not show any preference for either smaller or larger radii, showing that the preference already has been lost in the natural population of D. melanogaster. It may be possible that the loss of oviposition preference for spherical surfaces is involved in the evolutionary process of D. melanogaster becoming a human commensal.
Novel genetic tools improve Penicillium expansum patulin synthase production in Aspergillus niger
Authors: Dai Ziyu
Published: October 2023

Since the first CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats)‐Cas (CRISPR‐associated) system was developed for creating double‐stranded DNA breaks, it has been adapted and improved for different biotechnological applications. In this issue of The FEBS Journal, Arentshorst et al. developed a novel approach to enhance transgene expression of a specific protein, patulin synthase (PatE) from Penicillium expansum, in the important industrial filamentous fungus Aspergillus niger. Their technique involved the disruption of selected genes with counter‐effects on targeted protein production and simultaneous integration of glucoamylase landing sites into the disrupted gene locus such as protease regulator (prtT) in an ATP‐dependent DNA helicase II subunit 1 (kusA or ku70)‐deletion strain. Multiple copies of the PatE transgene expression cassette were introduced by CRISPR‐Cas9‐mediated insertion. The purified PatE was further used for structural and functional studies, and the technique laid the foundation for elevating the overall production of various proteins or chemicals in those industrially important fungi.
Corrosion surface morphology‐based methodology for fatigue assessment of offshore welded structures
Authors: Okenyi Victor , Afazov Shukri , Mansfield Neil , Eder Martin Alexander , Abrahamsen Asger Bech , Fæster Søren , Klingaa Christopher Gottlieb , Siegkas Petros , Bodaghi Mahdi
Published: October 2023

This work employed a novel corrosion‐based fatigue model to determine the fatigue life of offshore welded structures to enable the fatigue assessment of welds under corrosive conditions. In addition to the material's ultimate strength, endurance limit, and stress ratio (mean stress effect), the model includes a corrosion factor concept to account for the impact of corrosion pits on the fatigue performance of welded S355 steel, which is the novel contribution in this paper. X‐ray computed tomography scans of corroded S355 specimens in a salt spray chamber were characterized. Surface texture characterization was employed to obtain surface roughness, size, and aspect ratio of corrosion pits. The corrosion factor was determined based on notch and surface fatigue theories using the characterized pit size, aspect ratio, and surface roughness. Fatigue S‐N curves were then predicted for critical pits and compared against the fatigue code DNVGL‐RP‐C203 and experimental data from the literature. The novel approach combining corrosion characterization method with corrosion‐based fatigue model for the prediction of fatigue S‐N curves provided a minor deviation of only 2.8% between predicted and measured data. This approach can potentially be integrated into predictive frameworks for the remaining life assessment of offshore structures.
Prosthesis use and the change in activities of daily living following below‐knee amputation in patients undergoing hemodialysis
Authors: Yamazaki Hayato , Matsufuji Shota , Nishikawa Aina , Ashida Masahiro , Yamaguchi Masao , Sato Motohiko , Tanimura Nobuhiro , Tsujimoto Yoshihiro , Ubai Takanobu , Shoji Tetsuo
Published: October 2023

Introduction

Patients undergoing hemodialysis are at an increased risk of peripheral arterial disease, amputation of lower extremities, and decline of activities of daily living. Although a prosthesis is used to support activities of daily living, no previous study reported the association of prosthesis use with the change in activities of daily living following leg amputation in hemodialysis patients. The purpose of this study was to compare the changes in activities of daily living following amputation between those who created a prosthesis and those who did not.

Methods

This study was a single‐center, retrospective observational study. We screened medical records for hemodialysis patients who underwent below‐knee amputation (BKA) and activities of daily living were examined two times with the functional independence measure (FIM) before BKA and at discharge. They were divided into two groups according to the creation of a prosthesis.

Findings

We identified 28 eligible patients, among whom 12 patients used a prosthesis (prosthesis group), whereas 16 patients did not (non‐prosthesis group). The FIM score was significantly decreased following BKA in the non‐prosthesis group, whereas it was not significantly changed in the prosthesis group. The change in FIM score was significantly different between the two groups, and the difference remained significant after considering potential confounders.

Discussion

The results of this study showed that use versus nonuse of a prosthesis was an independent factor associated with changes in activities of daily living in hemodialysis patients following BKA, supporting the important role of a prosthesis in maintaining activities of daily living in hemodialysis patients who need BKA.
Impact of monthly headache days on migraine‐related quality of life: Results from the Chronic Migraine Epidemiology and Outcomes (CaMEO) study
Authors: Lipton Richard B. , Pozo‐Rosich Patricia , Orr Serena L. , Reed Michael L. , Fanning Kristina M. , Dabruzzo Brett , Buse Dawn C.
Published: October 2023

Objective

To characterize the direct impact of monthly headache days (MHDs) on health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) in people with migraine and the potential mediating effects of anxiety, depression, and allodynia.

Background

Although the general relationship between increased migraine frequency (i.e., MHDs) and reduced HRQoL is well established, the degree to which reduced HRQoL is due to a direct effect of increased MHDs or attributable to mediating factors remains uncertain.

Methods

Cross‐sectional baseline data from participants with migraine who completed the Core and Comorbidities/Endophenotypes modules in the 2012–2013 US Chronic Migraine Epidemiology and Outcomes (CaMEO) study, a longitudinal web‐based survey study, were analyzed. The potential contribution of depression, anxiety, and/or allodynia to the observed effects of MHDs on HRQoL as measured by the Migraine‐Specific Quality‐of‐Life Questionnaire version 2.1 (MSQ) was evaluated.

Results

A total of 12,715 respondents were included in the analyses. The MSQ domain scores demonstrated progressive declines with increasing MHD categories (B = −1.23 to −0.60; p < 0.001). The observed HRQoL decrements associated with increasing MHDs were partially mediated by the presence of depression, anxiety, and allodynia. The MHD values predicted 24.0%–32.4% of the observed variation in the MSQ domains. Depression mediated 15.2%–24.3%, allodynia mediated 9.6%–16.1%, and anxiety mediated 2.3%–6.0% of the observed MHD effects on the MSQ.

Conclusions

Increased MHD values were associated with lower MSQ scores; the impact of MHDs on the MSQ domain scores was partially mediated by the presence of depression, anxiety, and allodynia. MHDs remain the predominant driver of the MSQ variation; moreover, most of the variation in the MSQ remains unexplained by the variables we analyzed. Future longitudinal analyses and studies may help clarify the contribution of MHDs, comorbidities, and other factors to changes in HRQoL.
University social responsibility and sustainability. How they work on the SDGS and how they communicate them on their websites
Authors: Carrillo‐Durán María Victoria , Blanco Sánchez Tania , García María
Published: October 2023

This paper shows how the leading Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the UI GreenMetric World University Ranking communicate their environmental sustainability policies through their websites. Specifically, this paper analyses the presence of sustainability‐related sustainable development goals on the websites of the top 100 universities in the UI GreenMetric World University Ranking (2021). In the area of university social responsibility, sustainability is less commonly communicated, hence the need to delve deeper into the presence of these messages, carrying out a descriptive study using content analysis as a form of data extraction. The conclusion is that neither position in the ranking nor geographic area are decisive for developing better communication about sustainability. In terms of content, sustainability features on the websites are in three key dimensions of the communication of HEIs worldwide (Climate change, Efficiency of sustainable cities and communities and Striving for peace and justice). Thus, the areas for improvement are around the positioning of this sustainability‐related content on their home pages, improving location and format (especially video). Moreover, reinforcing reputational messages, through plans or programmes, as well as improving engagement working on the multi‐directionality to other social media, is required.
Successful endodontic treatment reduces serum levels of cardiovascular disease risk biomarkers—high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein, asymmetric dimethylarginine, and matrix metalloprotease‐2
Authors: Al‐Abdulla Noor , Bakhsh Abdulaziz , Mannocci Francesco , Proctor Gordon , Moyes David , Niazi Sadia Ambreen
Published: October 2023

Aim

To investigate serum biomarkers of inflammation 2 years following non‐surgical root canal re‐treatment (Re‐RCT) and peri‐apical surgery (PS). The results were correlated with signs and symptoms, treatment outcome, metabolic syndrome factors, infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 SARS‐CoV‐2 (COVID‐19) infection and COVID‐19 vaccination.

Methodology

Subjects from our previous study were recalled for 2 years post‐treatment follow‐up. Changes to the patient's history (medical, dental, social) were noted. Periapical health of the treated teeth was examined both clinically and radiographically. Blood pressure, fasting HbA1C and low‐density lipoprotein (LDL), high‐density lipoprotein (HDL), triglycerides and total cholesterol (TC) levels were measured. Serum inflammatory marker levels were assayed using a Bio‐Rad Bio‐Plex 200 analyser and values at different time points within the same group were compared using a Wilcoxon signed‐rank test and differences between groups with a Mann–Whitney test. Linear associations were tested using Pearson's correlations.

Results

The recall percentage at 2 years was 56.9% (n = 37), with a 100% radiographic success rate using periapical radiographs. In total, 21 cases (56.8%) were completely healed, and 16 cases (43.2%) were healing. Higher matrix metalloprotease 2 (MMP2) levels were present in the healing group compared to the healed group. Serum levels of high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hs‐CRP), asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and MMP‐2 were significantly reduced (p ≤ .001) whereas other biomarkers showed significant increases at 2 year compared to pre‐operative levels, while FGF‐23 and ICAM‐1 were not significantly increased. HbA1C (p = .015), TC (p = .003), LDL (p = .003) and HDL (p = .003) reduced significantly at 2 years post‐treatment compared to their preoperative levels. COVID infection showed a significant association with MMP‐9 (p = .048).

Conclusions

hs‐CRP, ADMA and MMP‐2 can be regarded as prognostic biomarkers of successful Re‐RCT and PS as they reduced at 2 year recall in cases which showed evidence of clinical and radiographic success. The successful treatment of chronic apical periodontitis is correlated with improvements in metabolic syndrome indicators, better glycemic control, and reduction at 2 year of some systemic inflammatory markers which are related to risks of cardiovascular disease events.
Is immunology doing well? A look at 100 immune‐mediated inflammatory diseases for 100 years of the Journal
Authors: Riminton D Sean
Published: October 2023

It is now 60 years since Ian Mackay and Macfarlane Burnet published their seminal text “The Autoimmune Diseases” in which they examined the full scope of human inflammatory pathology as a manifestation of the underlying structure and function of the immune system. Here I revisit this approach to ask to what extent has the promise of Mackay and Burnet's work been exploited in clinical medicine as currently practiced. In other words, is immunology doing well? Despite spectacular headline contributions of immunology in clinical medicine, I present evidence suggesting a performance ceiling in our capacity to answer the relatively straightforward questions that patients frequently ask about their own diseases and find that this ceiling exists across almost all of the 100 immune‐mediated inflammatory diseases examined. I propose that these questions are difficult, not so much because the immune system is overwhelmingly complex but rather that we have more to learn about the relatively simple agents and rules that may underpin self‐organizing complex interacting systems as revealed in studies from other disciplines. The way that the immune system has evolved to exploit the ancient machinery determining three independent cell fate timers as described in this Journal would be a great place to start to decode the self‐organizing principles that underpin the emergent pathology that we observe in the clinic.
Determinants of market‐assessed sovereign default risk: Macroeconomic fundamentals or global shocks?
Authors: Cho Dooyeon , Rhee Dong‐Eun
Published: October 2023

This paper investigates the macroeconomic fundamentals that international investors consider crucial when assessing a country's default risk. Using panel data for 41 countries over the period 2002–2019, we find that the macroeconomic determinants of a sovereign credit default swap (CDS) are heterogeneous across developed and developing economies after controlling for potential endogeneity. While international investors consider government budget balance and inflation as crucial elements in the evaluation of the CDS of developed economies, more stress is placed on economic growth and foreign reserves in the assessment of the creditworthiness of developing economies. Furthermore, we document that better institutional quality reduces the sovereign default risk in both developed and developing economies. However, global shocks appear to have a strong impact in developing economies. The results remain robust to various specifications.
Characteristics of tissue temperature during ablation with THERMOCOOL SMARTTOUCH SF versus TactiCath versus QDOT MICRO catheters (Qmode and Qmode+): An in vivo porcine study
Authors: Otsuka Naoto , Okumura Yasuo , Kuorkawa Sayaka , Nagashima Koichi , Wakamatsu Yuji , Hayashida Satoshi , Ohkubo Kimie , Nakai Toshiko , Takahashi Rie , Taniguchi Yoshiki
Published: October 2023

Introduction

High‐power short‐duration (HPSD) ablation at 50 W, guided by ablation index (AI) or lesion size index (LSI), and a 90 W/4 s very HSPD (vHPSD) setting are available for atrial fibrillation (AF) treatment. Yet, tissue temperatures during ablation with different catheters around venoatrial junction and collateral tissues remain unclear.

Methods

In this porcine study, we surgically implanted thermocouples on the epicardium near the superior vena cava (SVC), right pulmonary vein, and esophagus close to the inferior vena cava. We then compared tissue temperatures during 50W‐HPSD guided by AI 400 or LSI 5.0, and 90 W/4 s‐vHPSD ablation using THERMOCOOL SMARTTOUCH SF (STSF), TactiCath ablation catheter, sensor enabled (TacthCath), and QDOT MICRO (Qmode and Qmode+ settings) catheters.

Results

STSF produced the highest maximum tissue temperature (Tmax), followed by TactiCath, and QDOT MICRO in Qmode and Qmode+ (62.7 ± 12.5°C, 58.0 ± 10.1°C, 50.0 ± 12.1°C, and 49.2 ± 8.4°C, respectively; p = .005), achieving effective transmural lesions. Time to lethal tissue temperature ≥50°C (t−T ≥ 50°C) was fastest in Qmode+, followed by TacthCath, STSF, and Qmode (4.3 ± 2.5, 6.4 ± 1.9, 7.1 ± 2.8, and 7.7 ± 3.1 s, respectively; p < .001). The catheter tip‐to‐thermocouple distance for lethal temperature (indicating lesion depth) from receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was deepest in STSF at 5.2 mm, followed by Qmode at 4.3 mm, Qmode+ at 3.1 mm, and TactiCath at 2.8 mm. Ablation at the SVC near the phrenic nerve led to sudden injury at t−T ≥ 50°C in all four settings. The esophageal adventitia injury was least deep with Qmode+ ablation (0.4 ± 0.1 vs. 0.8 ± 0.4 mm for Qmode, 0.9 ± 0.3 mm for TactiCath, and 1.1 ± 0.5 mm for STSF, respectively; p = .005), correlating with Tmax.

Conclusion

This study revealed distinct tissue temperature patterns during HSPD and vHPSD ablations with the three catheters, affecting lesion effectiveness and collateral damage based on Tmax and/or t−T ≥ 50°C. These findings provide key insights into the safety and efficacy of AF ablation with these four settings.
Assessment of post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in elderly survivors of the Wenchuan earthquake: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Peng Yang , Lu Bingqing , Wen Jin
Published: October 2023

Objective

Post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a prevalent condition characterized by prolonged psychological distress following traumatic events encompassing serious health threats, domestic abuse, and natural disasters. The onset and persistence of PTSD can be attributed to advanced age. This study aimed to explore the occurrence and influencing factors of enduring post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in survivors aged 60 years and over in the main area of the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake 10 years after the disaster.

Methods

Data were collected using a multistage sampling method from individuals aged 60 years and older living in the main impacted areas of Wenchuan 10 years after the Wenchuan earthquake. The PTSD Checklist‐Civilian Version (PCL‐C) was used to evaluate PTSD symptoms. We evaluated participants based on their PTSD symptoms: those exhibiting and those without. The latter group was four times the size of the former and was matched based on gender and age (within ± 2 years). Conditional logistic regression was used to discern the risk factors.

Results

Out of the total, 56 participants were recognized as having probable PTSD as per the PCL‐C checklist, leading to a rate of 9.4% (56/588). The univariate conditional logistic regression values showed that playing Mahjong/poker (odds ratio (OR) = 0.394, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.171–0.911) and displacement (OR = 0.446, 95% CI = 0.220–0.907) were protective factors for the long‐term mental health of survivors in the hard‐hit areas, while the presence of a 2‐week illness (OR = 3.605, 95% CI = 1.751–7.424), possessing insurance (OR = 0.250, 95% CI = 0.072–0.864), suffering from a chronic ailment (OR = 3.132, 95% CI = 1.2–8.174), and having an injured family member (OR = 2.26, 95% CI = 1.136–4.496) emerged as risk factors for PTSD symptoms. Multivariate analysis indicated that the absence of insurance and prevalence of 2‐week illness correlated with increased PTSD symptoms.

Conclusions

Ten years after the Wenchuan earthquake, the prevalence of probable PTSD remained significantly high in the elderly population. The major risk factors were the absence of insurance and the occurrence of a 2‐week illness. Policymakers should incorporate these findings when devising strategies for aging societies.
Site‐specific phosphorylation of tau impacts mitochondrial function and response to stressors
Authors: Isei Michael O. , Girardi Peter A. , Rodwell‐Bullock Joel , Nehrke Keith , Johnson Gail V. W.
Published: October 2023

Phosphorylation of tau at sites associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) likely plays a role in the disease progression. Mitochondrial impairment, correlating with increased presence of phosphorylated tau, has been identified as a contributing factor to neurodegenerative processes in AD. However, how tau phosphorylated at specific sites impacts mitochondrial function has not been fully defined. We examined how AD‐relevant phosphomimetics of tau impact selected aspects of mitochondrial biology. To mimic phosphorylation at AD‐associated sites, the serine/threonine (Ser/Thr) sites in wild‐type green fluorescent protein (GFP)‐tagged tau (T4) were converted to glutamic acid (E) to make pseudo‐phosphorylated GFP‐tagged Ser‐396/404 (2EC) and GFP‐tagged Thr‐231/Ser‐235 (2EM) constructs. These constructs were expressed in immortalized mouse hippocampal neuronal cell lines, and their impact on specific mitochondrial functions and responses to stressors were measured. Phosphomimetic tau altered mitochondrial distribution. Specifically, mitochondria accumulated in the soma of cells expressing either 2EC or 2EM and neurite‐like extensions in 2EC cells were shorter. Additionally, adenosine triphosphate levels were reduced in both 2EC‐ and 2EM‐expressing cells, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production increased in 2EC cells during oxidation of succinate when compared to T4‐expressing cells. Thapsigargin reduced mitochondrial membrane potential and increased ROS production in both 2EC and 2EM cells relative to T4 cells, with no significant difference in the effects of rotenone. These results show that tau phosphorylation at specific AD‐relevant epitopes negatively affects mitochondria, with the extent of dysfunction and stress response varying according to the sites of phosphorylation. Altogether, these findings show that phosphorylated tau increases mitochondrial susceptibility to stressors and extend our understanding of potential mechanisms whereby phosphorylated tau promotes mitochondria dysfunction in tauopathies, including AD.

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Matrix metalloproteinase‐9: A magic drug target in neuropsychiatry?
Authors: Kaczmarek Krzysztof T. , Protokowicz Karolina , Kaczmarek Leszek
Published: October 2023

Neuropsychiatric conditions represent a major medical and societal challenge. The etiology of these conditions is very complex and combines genetic and environmental factors. The latter, for example, excessive maternal or early postnatal inflammation, as well as various forms of psychotrauma, often act as triggers leading to mental illness after a prolonged latent period (sometimes years). Matrix metalloproteinase‐9 (MMP‐9) is an extracellularly and extrasynaptic operating protease that is markedly activated in response to the aforementioned environmental insults. MMP‐9 has also been shown to play a pivotal role in the plasticity of excitatory synapses, which, in its aberrant form, has repeatedly been implicated in the etiology of mental illness. In this conceptual review, we evaluate the experimental and clinical evidence supporting the claim that MMP‐9 is uniquely positioned to be considered a drug target for ameliorating the adverse effects of environmental insults on the development of a variety of neuropsychiatric conditions, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression, autism spectrum disorders, addiction, and epilepsy. We also identify specific challenges and bottlenecks hampering the translation of knowledge on MMP‐9 into new clinical treatments for the conditions above and suggest ways to overcome these barriers.

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Is it really bridging the gap? Fiber internet's impact on housing values and homebuyer demographics
Authors: Wolf David , Irwin Nicholas
Published: October 2023

Fiber internet expansion represents a path to improved economic vitality for Americans, but it is unclear who benefits from it and by how much. We examine the effects of subsidized fiber internet expansion on home prices and homebuyer demographics using data from Wisconsin and an IV approach to correct for fiber network endogeneity. We find fiber internet increases urban and rural housing values by 1.83% ($3,462) and decreases the likelihood a homebuyer is white by 2.88%, but in urban areas only. Fiber internet therefore does not appear to drive minority homebuyers away but may contribute to the urban‐rural racial divide.
Survey of the feeding management of giant anteaters (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) and tamanduas (Tamandua tetradactyla) in the EAZA ex‐situ programme
Authors: Steinecker‐Quast Johanna , Osmann Christine , Liesegang Annette
Published: October 2023

Feeding giant anteaters and tamanduas as insectivorous species provides a lot of challenges for zoological institutions. In the last decades an in‐house mixture, called ‘Dortmund mixture’, was the most common feed used in giant anteaters and tamanduas in many countries within the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria ex‐situ Programme (EEP). Some nutritional problems occurred due to imbalances in the diets. The more recent nutritional recommendations for both species advise an adapted and balanced complete feed formulated for insectivorous species due to different problems arising with an in‐house mixed feed as Dortmund mixture. To objectify the present situation a questionnaire was designed and sent out to 78 institutions of the EEPs for giant anteater(s) and tamandua(s). The questionnaire was divided into different sections and asked for data on husbandry, health status, feeding, especially feed composition, feed supplementation and faecal consistency. It was completed by 45 institutions with data for 130 animals, 89 giant anteaters and 41 tamanduas. The data thus represent 54% and 59% of the EEP populations. For both species, a complete feed is mainly utilised. Especially institutions that have integrated anteaters and tamanduas into their facilities during the last 10 and 20 years, use a complete feed. Regarding the in‐house mixtures, there are distinct differences, both in composition and amount of each ingredient used. The evaluation of the feeds used for enrichment, for example, shows a clear species difference. While in tamanduas mainly insects are used for this purpose, in giant anteaters it is mainly fruits and avocado. In contrast to the past, many anteaters today are fed an adapted complete feed. Surprisingly, concerning feeding supplements the use of fat‐soluble vitamins and combined vitamin–mineral preparations is still common in both species. More effort needs to be put into enforcing current feeding recommendations, especially for the giant anteaters.
Family quality of life application among older caregivers of adults with intellectual/ developmental disabilities
Authors: Samuel Preethy S.
Published: October 2023

Family quality of life (FQOL) is a multidimensional social construct that can be used to enhance a family's well‐being by providing a framework to plan interventions and evaluate outcomes. Although researchers and policymakers see value in the FQOL domains and dimensions, families and practitioners are often skeptical of lengthy evaluations and aggregate scores. Furthermore, many practitioners find that family caregivers who require support and services overwhelmingly focus on the family member needing the most care. In doing so, they perceive their situations in a “spaghetti‐like” way. This strong focus on one aspect of the situation, or one “spaghetti” strand, can result in conversations about planning and implementing interventions becoming cyclical, like a messy tangle of strands. The FQOL lens can be used in intervention planning to transform overlapping spaghetti‐like thoughts into a waffle‐like system of interconnected and compartmentalized thoughts. The purpose of this paper was to describe the individual‐level application of the FQOL theory to plan and evaluate the benefits of a peer‐mediated family empowerment project for aging caregivers of adults with intellectual/ developmental disabilities in Michigan, USA. The study provides examples of how individual‐level FQOL evaluation at pretest informed the development of individualized action plans that focused on the strengths, desires, and challenges of 100 aging families in this statewide project.