bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Work and family conflicts, depressive symptoms and coparenting conflict behaviours: An interdependent approach
Authors: Ren Yizhen , Liu Aiyi , Zou Shengqi , Ying Jiefeng , Wang Xinyi , Wu Xinchun
Published: February 2024

This study aims to investigate the relationships between work and family conflicts, specifically work‐to‐family and family‐to‐work conflicts, parental depressive symptoms and coparenting conflict behaviours during the COVID‐19 pandemic. This national survey study involved the participation of 830 families in mainland China, including fathers, mothers and adolescents. Fathers and mothers provided self‐reports on their experiences of work‐to‐family conflicts, family‐to‐work conflicts and depressive symptoms. Meanwhile, adolescents reported their perceptions of coparenting conflict behaviours exhibited by both fathers and mothers. The Actor‐Partner Interdependence Mediation Model was employed to analyse these relationships. In the Actor‐Partner Interdependence Mediation Model, paternal family‐to‐work conflicts were found to be positively associated with both paternal and maternal coparenting conflict behaviours, mediated through paternal depressive symptoms. Similarly, maternal family‐to‐work conflicts were positively linked to both paternal and maternal coparenting conflict behaviours, mediated through maternal depressive symptoms. Additionally, paternal family‐to‐work conflicts exhibited a direct positive relationship with both paternal and maternal coparenting conflict behaviours. However, paternal work‐to‐family conflicts demonstrated a direct negative association with paternal coparenting conflict behaviours. This study sheds light on the complex interconnectedness between work and family conflicts, parental depressive symptoms and coparenting conflict behaviours during the COVID‐19 pandemic. The findings highlight the importance of addressing work and family conflicts in understanding and managing coparenting dynamics, particularly during challenging times such as a pandemic. Such insights can inform interventions and support systems to promote healthier coparenting relationships and family well‐being.
Co‐Designing Strategic Rituals in Craft Beer: Churches, Denominations, Sects, and Mystics
Authors: Parkman Ian D. , Holloway Samuel , Turnbloom David
Published: February 2024

As many business marketplaces have become increasingly oversaturated and driven toward commoditization, the concept of ritualized consumption has emerged as a potentially powerful method for organizations to imbue their products and services with distinctive meaning and value.

Take a journey into the craft beer industry of the Pacific Northwest to explore how the strategic rituals around tasting flights are co‐designed. You'll never look at beer the same!
Enabling Neurodiversity with Design
Authors: Wolfe Jeff
Published: February 2024

As a dyslexic person, I use divergent and convergent thinking to fit into the neurotypical world, which is why I was naturally drawn to design thinking.

Understanding the difficulties faced by neurodivergent people as well as the strengths they bring to the table can help welcome them into the workplace—which ultimately helps everyone by gaining their perspectives in looking at problems in new and different ways.
Clinical and biochemical predictors of longitudinal changes in left atrial structure and function: A general population study
Authors: Kuznetsova Tatiana , Daels Yne , Ntalianis Evangelos , Santana Everton J. , Sabovčik František , Haddad Francois , Cauwenberghs Nicholas
Published: February 2024

Purpose

There is a need for better understanding the factors that modulate left atrial (LA) dysfunction. Therefore, we determined associations of clinical and biochemical biomarkers with serial changes in echocardiographic indexes of LA function in the general population.

Methods

We measured LA maximal and minimal volume indexes (LAVImax and LAVImin) by echocardiography and LA reservoir strain (LARS) by two‐dimensional speckle‐tracking in 627 participants (mean age 50.8 years, 51.2% women) at baseline and after 4.8 years.

Results

During follow‐up, LARS decreased significantly in men (−.90%, P = .033) but not in women (−.23%, P = .60). In stepwise regression analysis, stronger decrease in LARS over time was associated with male sex, a higher age, body mass index (BMI), mean arterial pressure (MAP) and serum insulin at baseline and with a greater increase in BMI and MAP over time (P ≤ .018). Similarly, an increased risk of developing or retaining abnormal LARS was observed in older participants, in subjects with a higher baseline BMI, MAP, heart rate (HR), troponin T and ΔMAP, and in those who used β‐blockers at baseline. Both LAVImax and LAVImin increased significantly over time (P ≤ .0007). This increase was associated with a higher baseline age, pulse pressure and a lower HR at baseline and a greater increase in pulse pressure over time (P ≤ .029). Higher serum insulin and D‐dimer were independently associated with a stronger increase in LAVImin (P ≤ .0034).

Conclusion

Subclinical worsening in LA dysfunction was associated with older age, hypertension, obesity, insulin resistance and troponin T levels. Cardiovascular risk management strategies may delay LA deterioration.
Husserl on knowing essences: Transworld identity and epistemic progression
Authors: Butler Andrew P.
Published: February 2024

Husserl's proposed method for knowing the essences of universals, which he calls “free variation,” has been widely criticized for involving viciously circular reasoning. In this paper, I review existing attempts to resolve this problem, and I argue that they all fail. I then show that extant accounts are all guilty of a common mistake: they assume that circularity is inevitable as long as the exercise of free variation presupposes the ability to identify the universal whose essence is in question, that is, the ability to recognize entities as instances of it. I reject this assumption: I argue on both Husserlian and independent philosophical grounds that knowledge of a universal's essence is not required for identifying it, but only for re‐identifying it at every possible world in which it is instantiated. I then defend a reading on which free variation's purpose is to move its practitioner from non‐essentialistic knowledge of a universal's identity (its actual instantiation‐pattern) to essentialistic knowledge of its transworld identity (its instantiation‐pattern in every possible world in which it is present). And I show that such a transformation is a non‐circular progression from non‐modal to modal knowledge.
Pressurizing or encouraging: Health behaviors among long‐distance couples
Authors: Kumaria Shveta , Fivecoat Hayley , Li Jessie , Scott Brandon , Sher Tamara Goldman
Published: February 2024

Couples in long‐distance relationships face unique challenges that affect their health outcomes and relationship dynamics in ways that are different from couples in close proximal relationships (PR). The results of previous literature analyzing health outcomes for long‐distance relationship (LDR) couples have been mixed, and factors such as couple satisfaction and gender of the individuals contribute to the variance. This study examined the good health practices of couples in LDRs, the ways in which partners influence each other's health, and the health outcomes of these couples as compared to couples in PRs. Multilevel multivariate analysis showed that couples in LDRs had better health practices than those in PRs, and men overall had poorer health practices than women. There was no main effect seen for LDRs when we examined strategies used for influencing health. There was a main effect for gender, though, and we found that women tend to use more collaborative and pressurizing strategies for influencing their partner's health. On health indices, we found that LDR couples tended to have lower levels of fatigue and sleep disturbance as compared to PR couples. In the adjusted model with covariates, which included age, income, couple satisfaction, and married or unmarried couples, we found that lower couple satisfaction and lower income significantly predicted poorer health on all health indices. These results are discussed in light of unequal gender roles, social control, and positive aspects of LDRs on health in an attempt to understand LDRs better and destigmatize the narrative of these relationships as ‘less than’ PRs. Implications for health and mental health practitioners are also discussed.
An examination of the postgraduation benefits of earning a Seal of Biliteracy
Authors: Davin Kristin J. , Cruz Kristen R. , Hancock Charlotte R.
Published: February 2024

Across the United States, students have the opportunity to earn a Seal of Biliteracy (SoBL) when they graduate from high school. Awarded to students who demonstrate proficiency in two or more languages, the SoBL originated to confront English‐only ideologies and promote multilingualism. But critics question the impact of the policy on students and whether English‐dominant students experience greater impacts than their linguistically‐minoritized peers. To that end, this study posed the question, What do recipients report postgraduation as benefits of earning a SoBL? In this qualitative investigation, 33 SoBL earners were interviewed postgraduation to analyze the benefits that they experienced from SoBL attainment. Four themes characterized the findings: increased employability in sales and education, pride and acknowledgment for linguistically‐minoritized students, greater confidence and interest in postsecondary education, and difficulty receiving college credit. The article concludes with implications for strengthening the impact of the policy.
CO2 elevation and N fertilizer supply modulate leaf physiology, crop growth and water use efficiency of maize in response to progressive soil drought
Authors: Zhang Manyi , Wei Guiyu , Cui Bingjing , Liu Chunshuo , Wan Heng , Hou Jingxiang , Chen Yiting , Zhang Jiarui , Liu Jie , Wei Zhenhua
Published: February 2024

Elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration (e[CO2]) and varied nitrogen (N) fertilization levels may mediate the different responses of C4 crops to progressive soil drought. In this study, the effects of reduced N (N1, 0.8 g pot−1) and adequate N (N2, 1.6 g pot−1) supply on leaf physiology, plant growth and water use efficiency (WUE) of maize (C4 crop) exposed to progressive soil drought grown at ambient CO2 (a[CO2], 400 ppm) and elevated CO2 (e[CO2], 800 ppm) concentration were investigated. The results indicated that compared with a[CO2], net photosynthetic rate (An) and leaf water potential (Ψl) at e[CO2] were maintained in maize leaves, while stomatal conductance (gs), transpiration rate and leaf hydraulic conductance were decreased, leading to enhanced WUE from stomatal to leaf scale. Despite An and Ψl of e[CO2] plants were more sensitive to progressive soil drought under both N fertilization levels, e[CO2] would increase leaf ABA concentration ([ABA]leaf) but decline the gs response to [ABA]leaf under N1 supply. e[CO2] coupled with N1 fertilization was conducive to enlarging leaf area, promoting specific leaf area, root and total dry mass, whereas reduced stomatal aperture and plant water use under progressive drought stress, contributing to an improvement in plant WUE, implying a better modulation of maize leaf stomata and water status under reduced N supply combined with e[CO2] responding to progressive soil drought. These findings in the current study would provide valuable advice for N management on maize (C4) crop efficient water use in a drier and CO2‐enriched environment.
Parental material and climate jointly determine the biomass and diversity of soil microbial communities along an elevational gradient on a subtropical karst mountain
Authors: He Xianjin , Zeng Lian , Zhu Guangyu , Ellwood M. D. Farnon , Zhou Lihua , Huang Junlong , Wang Chenchen , Li Wei , Lin Dunmei , Wei Pei , Liu Shijun , Luo Min , Zhang Yonghua , Yang Yongchuan
Published: February 2024

Aim

Climate is widely understood to determine elevational patterns of soil microbial communities, whereas the effects of parental material are uncertain. Changes in the composition of parental materials along elevational transects could also affect soil microbial communities by influencing soil pH and nutrient availability. Here, we aim to illustrate the combined effects of climate and parental material on the biomass and composition of soil microbial communities along an elevational transect.

Location

A subtropical forest on a karst mountain (Mt. Jinfo), China.

Taxon

Bacteria and Fungi.

Methods

We use phospholipid fatty acid analysis (PLFA) and DNA amplicon high‐throughput sequencing to determine biomass and diversity patterns of soil microbial communities along a subtropical elevational gradient with contrasting parental materials (limestone and clasolite).

Results

We observed that the microbial communities were more diverse (α‐diversity) and productive (biomass) on limestone than on clasolite. Additionally, we found that parental material played a role in shaping the composition (β‐diversity) of soil microbial communities along the elevational gradient. The impact of climate on soil microbial communities was found to be significant, albeit relatively weak. Structural equation models provided evidence for both direct and indirect effects of climate and parental material on microbial biomass and α‐diversity along the elevational gradient. Notably, the changes in soil pH, influenced by both parental material and climate, were identified as a key factor driving these effects.

Main Conclusions

Our results underline the importance of both climate and parental material variations in space‐for‐time studies investigating soil microbial communities along elevational gradients.
Increased levels of advanced oxidation protein products (AOPPs) were associated with nociceptive behavior and clinical scores in an experimental progressive autoimmune encephalomyelitis model (PMS‐EAE)
Authors: Rodrigues Patrícia , Frare Julia Maria , Peres Diulle Spat , Viero Fernanda Tibolla , Ruviaro Náthaly Andrighetto , dos Santos Stein Carolina , da Silva Brum Evelyne , Moresco Rafael Noal , Oliveira Sara Marchesan , Bochi Guilherme Vargas , Trevisan Gabriela
Published: February 2024

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurodegenerative disease that affects the central nervous system (CNS) generating neuropathic pain and anxiety. Primary progressive MS (PPMS) is the most disabling clinical form, and the patients present an intense neurodegenerative process. In this context, the advanced oxidation protein products (AOPPs) are oxidized compounds and their accumulation in plasma has been related to clinical disability in MS patients. However, the involvement of AOPPs in neuropathic pain‐ and anxiety‐like symptoms was not previously evaluated. To assess this, female mice C57BL/6J were used to induce progressive experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (PMS‐EAE). Clinical score, weight, strength of plantar pressure, rotarod test, mechanical allodynia, and cold hypersensitivity were evaluated before induction (baseline) and on days 7th, 10th, and 14th post‐immunization. We assessed nest building, open field, and elevated plus‐maze tests 13 days post‐immunization. Animals were killed at 14 days post‐immunization; then, AOPPs levels, NADPH oxidase, and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity were measured in the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and spinal cord samples. The clinical score increased 14th post‐immunization without changes in weight and mobility. Reduced paw strength, mechanical allodynia, and cold allodynia increased in the PMS‐EAE animals. PMS‐EAE mice showed spontaneous nociception and anxiety‐like behavior. AOPPs concentration, NADPH oxidase, and MPO activity increase in CNS structures. Multivariate analyses indicated that the rise of AOPPs levels, NADPH oxidase, and MPO activity influenced the clinical score and cold allodynia. Thus, we indicated the association between non‐stimuli painful perception, anxiety‐like, and CNS oxidative damage in the PMS‐EAE model.

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2‐Mercaptonicotinoyl glycine prevents UV‐induced skin darkening and delayed tanning in healthy subjects: A randomized controlled clinical study
Authors: de Dormael R. , Sextius P. , Bourokba N. , Mainguene E. , Tachon R. , Gaurav K. , Jouni H. , Bastien P. , Diridollou S.
Published: February 2024

Background

Chronic nonextreme sun exposure induces two mechanisms of skin pigmentation, causing immediate darkening and delayed tanning. A new molecule, 2‐mercaptonicotinoyl glycine (2‐MNG), has been shown in vitro to inhibit both immediate darkening and new melanin synthesis via covalent conjugation of the thiol group of 2‐MNG to melanin precursors.

Objective

To evaluate 2‐MNG in preventing both mechanisms in vivo.

Methods

In a randomized, intra‐individual and controlled study, 33 subjects with melanin‐rich skin were exposed to UV daylight on designated areas on the back and treated with a cosmetic formula containing 0.5% or 1% 2‐MNG alone or 0.5% 2‐MNG in association with lipohydroxy acid (LHA, 0.3%) plus Mexoryl‐SX (MSX, 1.5%). The respective vehicles were used as controls and 4‐n‐butyl‐resorcinol (4‐n‐BR, 2.5%) as a positive reference.

Results

2‐MNG alone significantly reduced immediate darkening and inhibited new melanin production when compared with vehicle, with higher performance at 1% than at 0.5%. 2‐MNG at 0.5% in association with LHA and MSX showed significantly higher performance than 2‐MNG 0.5% alone. 2‐MNG at 0.5% and 1% showed significantly better performance than 4‐n‐BR.

Conclusions

2‐MNG inhibited both UV‐induced skin pigmentation mechanisms in vivo. The association of 2‐MNG with LHA plus MSX showed the highest efficacy on melanin‐rich skin with pigmentation induced by UV exposure.
Autologous follicular unit extraction transplant for postburn cicatricial alopecia: A single‐center's retrospective case series
Authors: Niu Yanchao , Ren Ci , Jin Zhoufeng , Qiao Min , Wang Xiaoxu , Zhang Jian , Zhu Ling
Published: February 2024

Background and Rationale

Cicatricial alopecia not only affects patients' appearance but also has negative effects on their physical and mental well‐being, as well as their daily lives. Therefore, it is essential to provide proactive treatment to patients.

Objective

To explore the clinical effects of autologous follicular unit extraction (FUE) transplantation in the treatment of secondary scarring alopecia caused by burn, and to evaluate its effectiveness.

Methods

A retrospective observational study has been conducted, which included 41 patients with secondary scarring alopecia caused by burn. All patients underwent initial autologous FUE hair transplantation surgery, and the occurrence of postoperative complications was monitored. Patient satisfaction was evaluated after 12 months post‐surgery.

Results

Satisfaction assessments were conducted for all 41 patients. Out of the total, 31 individuals expressed being very satisfied, 7 individuals reported being satisfied, and 3 individuals indicated being not very satisfied. Among the patients, 3 experienced complications, including herpes in the donor area for one patient, temporary hair loss for another patient, and thick scab for the third patient.

Conclusion

FUE hair transplantation yields positive results for secondary scarring alopecia caused by burn. It offers natural hair growth patterns, minimal trauma, quick recovery, high patient satisfaction, and few complications.
Direct and spillover effects of short‐ and long‐term land pricing drivers: Evidence from Italian districts, 1992−2019
Authors: Bruno Emma , Castellano Rosalia , Punzo Gennaro , Salvati Luca
Published: February 2024

The global economic and food crisis has increased the demand for land and rekindled the interest in farmland market investments worldwide. This study explores the Italian farmland market, investigating its main influencing factors from 1992 to 2019 using a spatial econometric framework. Traditional land characteristics and location‐specific agricultural factors, as well as non‐agricultural factors, are assessed. The average level of farmland prices and their growth are analyzed by modeling the potential types of spatial interactions, and the results are corroborated by considering different configurations of spatial weight matrices. The results show that farmland markets are influenced by land's current net returns as well as by its potential alternative uses. Therefore, factors considered external to the agricultural dimension, such as population pressure, climate change, and speculative expectations, increasingly shape farmland prices.
The role of atypical deglutition in children and adolescents with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome
Authors: Bokov Plamen , Dahan Jacques , Boujemla Imene , Dudoignon Benjamin , Delclaux Christophe
Published: February 2024

This cross‐sectional study aimed to assess the prevalence of atypical deglutition (tongue thrust) in children diagnosed with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and to explore its associations, particularly in relation to the type of dentition (mixed or permanent). The study was conducted over a 5 year period at a paediatric hospital in Paris, France. Children aged 6–18 years with moderate to severe OSAS (apnea–hypopnea index ≥5/h) underwent a comprehensive evaluation, including the recording of demographic data, symptoms of snoring and breathing issues, and otolaryngology examination. The swallowing pattern was assessed and orthodontic evaluations were performed. Cephalometric radiography and pharyngometry tests (pharyngeal collapsibility was computed) were conducted. The study found a high prevalence of atypical deglutition in children with mixed 74% [56–87] or permanent 38% [25–51] dentition. In children with mixed dentition and atypical deglutition, the pharyngeal compliance and lower facial dimensions were increased. In children with permanent dentition, atypical deglutition was associated with more severe OSAS and a lower hyoid bone position. Independent of the type of dentition, atypical deglutition was associated with an increase in the apnea–hypopnea index, an increase in the lower facial dimension, increased pharyngeal compliance, and a more caudal hyoid bone position. Atypical deglutition was strongly associated with increased pharyngeal collapsibility, more severe OSAS and altered facial measurements in children. The findings suggest that identifying atypical deglutition in children with OSAS could help to guide a personalised therapeutic approach, including myofunctional therapy.
Lacking Incentives, Not Information. Why Politicians tend to be Less Responsive to Lower‐Income Citizens
Authors: Soontjens Karolin , Persson Mikael
Published: February 2024

The principle that democracies give all citizens an equal voice is challenged by scholarly work showing that policies tend to be biased in favor of the more wealthy citizenry. One reason for such unequal representation lies in representatives being less responsive to the preferences of lower compared to higher‐income citizens in their policy actions. Drawing on surveys with local elected representatives in Belgium and Sweden, this study zooms in on two potential drivers of unequal responsiveness. We look at the possibility that politicians have less incentives to be responsive to the less affluent, and less accurate information to do so in the first place. Concretely, we question politicians about the anticipation of accountability from lower‐ versus higher‐income citizens (incentives) and make them estimate the policy positions of lower‐ and higher‐income citizens (information). Moreover, we explore whether descriptive representation factors into these two possible drivers of unequal responsiveness by leveraging variation in politicians’ backgrounds. First, we find that representatives anticipate significantly less electoral accountability from lower‐income than from higher‐income citizens. Moreover, politicians with a lower‐class background hold less unequal accountability beliefs, hinting at the importance of more equal descriptive representation in mitigating inequality in responsiveness. Second, unequal responsiveness does not seem to be a matter of representatives having less accurate information about the opinions of lower‐income citizens; politicians’ estimations of different income groups’ policy preferences are equally inaccurate.
Reproductive gerrymandering, bureaucratic violence, and the erosion of abortion access in the United States
Authors: Basmajian Alyssa L.
Published: February 2024

In the contemporary American political landscape, gerrymandering and the passage of anti‐abortion legislation are intimately connected in what I call reproductive gerrymandering. I develop this concept as an analytic tool to understand the disjuncture between the passage of laws restricting reproductive healthcare access and the will of the majority of voters. In this ethnographic project, Ohio serves as an important case study where efforts to elect a supermajority of extremist anti‐abortion Republican officials has allowed for the passage of unpopular legislation restricting abortion. I argue that the mundane bureaucratic processes involved in electoral redistricting and state budget procedures are forms of bureaucratic violence that result in structural harm experienced by pregnant people, especially those who are most marginalized. Reproductive gerrymandering provides a means for theorizing the connections across domains involving partisan redistricting, reproductive governance in the form of anti‐abortion legislation, and the structural violence experienced by pregnant people seeking abortion.
Household‐level water, sanitation and hygiene factors and interventions and the prevention of relapse after severe acute malnutrition recovery: A systematic review
Authors: MacLeod Clara , Ngabirano Laure , N'Diaye Dieynaba S. , Braun Laura , Cumming Oliver
Published: February 2024

Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) is the most serious form of acute malnutrition and is associated with high mortality risk among children under 5. While the Community‐based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) approach, recommended for treating cases of uncomplicated SAM, has increased treatment coverage and recovery outcomes, high relapse rates have been reported. Several risk factors for SAM relapse, such as insufficient food intake and high infectious disease burden in the community, have been identified. However, the role of household water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) conditions remains unclear. This systematic review: (1) assesses the effectiveness of WASH interventions on preventing SAM relapse and (2) identifies WASH‐related conditions associated with relapse to SAM among children aged 6–59 months discharged as recovered following SAM CMAM treatment. We performed electronic searches of six databases to identify relevant studies published between 1 January 2000 and 6 November 2023 and assessed their quality. After deduplication, 10,294 documents were screened by title and abstract, with 13 retrieved for full‐text screening. We included three studies ranging from low‐ to medium‐quality. One intervention study found that providing a WASH kit during SAM outpatient treatment did not reduce the risk of relapse to SAM. Two observational studies found inconsistent associations between household WASH conditions—unimproved sanitation and unsafe drinking water—and SAM relapse. Despite the paucity of evidence, the hypothesised causal pathways between WASH conditions and the risk of relapse remain plausible. Further evidence is needed to identify interventions for an integrated postdischarge approach to prevent relapse.
Flutter performance simulation on streamlined bridge deck with active aerodynamic flaps
Authors: Zhao Lin , Wang Zilong , Fang Genshen , Zheng Jie , Li Ke , Ge Yaojun
Published: February 2024

Active aerodynamic flaps can effectively improve the aerodynamic stability of bridges; however, the determination of optimal control parameters often requires a large number of experiments. This study proposes a method for determining the optimal control parameters of active flaps based on the surrogate model and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation technology. The computational fluid dynamics method is used to calculate the flutter derivatives of the deck–flap system under a small number of control parameters, and then the surrogate model is used to extend the flutter derivatives to the design domain of entire control parameters. Furthermore, the changing trend of flutter performance under flap control parameters can be obtained. This method can avoid complex and expensive active control wind tunnel tests and obtain more accurate optimal control parameters at less cost, which is helpful for the convenient application of active control technology in actual engineering.
Case report of the successful use of semaglutide to achieve target BMI prior to renal transplant in two patients with end‐stage‐kidney‐disease
Authors: Wallace Rory , Hamblin Peter Shane , Tully Emma , Tran Julina , Nelson Craig , Levidiotis Vicki
Published: February 2024

The following cases demonstrate a proof of concept for the safe and effective use of the glucagon‐like‐peptide‐1 receptor agonist (GLP‐1 RA) semaglutide for weight loss in obese, non‐diabetic, end stage kidney disease (ESKD) patients on haemodialysis (HD), who are unable to undergo renal transplantation due to obesity. Obesity is a common barrier to wait‐listing for renal transplantation with effective, broadly applicable weight loss strategies lacking. GLP‐1 RAs have been shown to be effective adjuncts to achieve weight loss in non‐diabetic obese people. However, the major clinical trials excluded patients with ESKD on dialysis. This paper outlines the successful use of semaglutide to achieve a target body mass index (BMI) prior to renal transplant wait‐listing in two obese, non‐diabetic, HD patients. These patients achieved a 16% and 12.6% weight loss in under 9 months with one now waitlisted and the other transplanted. This strategy has the potential for broader use in this patient cohort to improve wait‐list times by overcoming this common barrier to renal transplantation.
Evidence of combined flower thermal and drought vulnerabilities portends reproductive failure under hotter‐drought conditions
Authors: Aun Marina Alves , Farnese Fernanda , Loram‐Lourenço Lucas , de Abreu Igor Manoel Paulo Goulart , Silva Brenner Ryan Arantes , Freitas Jober Condé Evangelista , Filho Valdeir Martins Alves , Silva Fabiano Guimarães , Franco Augusto Cesar , Hammond William M. , Cochard Hervé , Menezes‐Silva Paulo Eduardo
Published: February 2024

Despite the abundant evidence of impairments to plant performance and survival under hotter‐drought conditions, little is known about the vulnerability of reproductive organs to climate extremes. Here, by conducting a comparative analysis between flowers and leaves, we investigated how variations in key morphophysiological traits related to carbon and water economics can explain the differential vulnerabilities to heat and drought among these functionally diverse organs. Due to their lower construction costs, despite having a higher water storage capacity, flowers were more prone to turgor loss (higher turgor loss point; ΨTLP) than leaves, thus evidencing a trade‐off between carbon investment and drought tolerance in reproductive organs. Importantly, the higher ΨTLP of flowers also resulted in narrow turgor safety margins (TSM). Moreover, compared to leaves, the cuticle of flowers had an overall higher thermal vulnerability, which also resulted in low leakage safety margins (LSM). As a result, the combination of low TSMs and LSMs may have negative impacts on reproduction success since they strongly influenced the time to turgor loss under simulated hotter‐drought conditions. Overall, our results improve the knowledge of unexplored aspects of flower structure and function and highlight likely threats to successful plant reproduction in a warmer and drier world.
A case of STING‐associated vasculopathy with onset in infancy with novel STING1 variant
Authors: Barry Kelly K. , Kranseler Julie S. , Robinson Sarah N.
Published: February 2024

STING‐associated vasculopathy with onset in infancy (SAVI) is a rare, monogenic interferonopathy caused by gain‐of‐function variants in STING1 (TMEM173) characterized by systemic inflammation, cutaneous vasculopathy, and interstitial lung disease. We report a case of SAVI attributed to a novel STING1 p.R284T variant who demonstrated characteristic cutaneous features including telangiectasias, livedo and acrocyanotic changes on face and extremities, as well as saddle nose deformity, failure to thrive, inflammatory arthritis and notable lack of pulmonary disease or autoantibody positivity. Due to the risk for progressive and irreversible lung and tissue damage and evolving therapeutic landscape involving the use of Janus kinase inhibitors, it is critical to recognize variable clinical phenotypes to diagnose and consider treatment options for SAVI patients early in their disease course.
Association of HLA gene polymorphisms with Helicobacter pylori related gastric cancer—a systematic review
Authors: Mahmud Md Toslim , Ahmed Feroz , Rana Md Jowel , Rahman Md. Arifur , Atta Afshan , Saif‐Ur‐Rahman KM
Published: February 2024

The appropriate host cell immune responses for the progression of several diseases, including gastric or stomach cancer (GC), are significantly influenced by HLA polymorphisms. Our objective was to systematically review the evidence linking HLA polymorphisms with the risk of Helicobacter. pylori related GC. We conducted a comprehensive literature search to identify studies published between 2000 and April 2023 on the association of HLA polymorphisms with H. pylori related GC using databases such as Medline through PubMed, Embase, Web of Science (core collection), The Cochrane Library, and Scopus. Two authors independently screened articles, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias using the Risk of Bias Assessment tool for Non‐randomized Studies. From 7872 retrieved studies, 19 met inclusion criteria, encompassing 1656 cases and 16,787 controls across four World Health Organization regions, with Japan contributing the most studies. We explored HLA‐A/B/C, HLA‐DRB1/DQA1/DQB1, HLA‐G, and MICA alleles. Of 29 significant HLA polymorphisms identified, 18 showed a positive association with GC, whereas 11 were negatively associated. HLA‐DQB1*06 allele was most frequently associated to susceptibility, as reported in four studies, followed by HLA‐DRB1*04 and HLA‐DQA1*01, each reported in two studies. Conversely, HLA‐G*01, HLA‐DQA1*01, HLA‐DQA1*05, and HLA‐DQB1*03 were identified as protective in two studies each. Additionally, five genotypes and six haplotypes were reported as positive, whereas three genotypes and two haplotypes were negative factors for the disease incidence or mortality. Despite heterogeneity in the study population and types of HLA polymorphisms examined, our analysis indicates certain polymorphisms are associated with H. pylori related GC progression and mortality in specific populations.
Two novel HLA‐DRB3 alleles identified in Brazilian bone marrow donors: HLA‐DRB3*01:122 and ‐DRB3*01:123
Authors: de Oliveira Anthony Marçal Leão , Massi Fernanda Pelisson , Pinto Larissa Danielle Bahls , de Lima Neto Quirino Alves , Visentainer Jeane Eliete Laguila
Published: February 2024

We identified two new HLA‐DRB3 alleles in Brazilian individuals using next generation sequencing.
Hyperechogenicity of the pyloroduodenal junction in small dogs: Population prevalence in 175 dogs and histological correlation in 14 specimens
Authors: Balducci Jamie , Piedra‐Mora Cesar , Jennings Samuel , Anson Agustina , Penninck Dominique
Published: February 2024

At the pyloroduodenal junction (PDJ), an increase in wall echogenicity is frequently observed. A prospective study was performed to assess the PDJ sonographically in 175 adults and small dogs (>1 year old, <11.4 kg (25 lb)) over 12 months to evaluate the prevalence of this finding. Additionally, changes in echogenicity were correlated with histology in 14 postmortem specimens. A scoring system of echogenicity change centered on the mucosa and submucosa of the PDJ was implemented; 0: no change, 1: mild, 2: moderate to marked. Other included parameters were age, sex, breed, gastric distention, gastric contents, and reported vomiting at the time of presentation. Hyperechogenicity of the PDJ was highly prevalent (scores 1 and 2: 85.7%). No statistical association between hyperechogenicity of the PDJ and age, sex, gastric distention, gastric contents, or vomiting was identified. Hyperechogenicity of the PDJ is thought to represent an anatomical transition zone, and based on histology, hyperechogenicity of the PDJ may represent a variation in distribution and amount of fibrous connective tissue, glandular number, and glandular dilation within the submucosa and mucosa.
Analysis of Stakeholders' Trust Level in the Nuclear Energy Domain in Japan
Authors: Yoshinaga Kyohei , Onodera Masaki , Shirai Kosuke , Yoshizawa Nobuaki , Yanagawa Harunaga , Kito Takamichi
Published: February 2024

In discussions on the nuclear restart policy in Japan, trust among stakeholders in nuclear power is often raised as an issue. However, the discussion has progressed without analyzing the trust demanded by the Japanese public. A questionnaire survey was conducted to analyze the level of trust that 4,700 Japanese citizens (100 from each of the 47 prefectures) have in nuclear stakeholders by breaking trust down into three elements: “Perceived Competence,” “Perceived Motivation,” and “Salient Value Similarity” (SVS), which have been reported in the literature. In the survey, nine stakeholders were targeted: the Nuclear Regulation Authority; the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry; the courts; the Diet; host municipalities; nuclear power operators and manufacturers; experts; research and international organizations; and the mass media. The analysis showed that the Japanese public is particularly interested in SVS with “nuclear power operators and manufacturers” among the various nuclear stakeholders. The SVS of “nuclear power operators and manufacturers” was highly correlated with that of organizations promoting nuclear power, suggesting that the public tends to perceive these organizations as sharing similar values. These results offer suggestions for actions that should be taken by each nuclear stakeholder to restore and improve trust.
Three-Dimensional General Solutions of Orthorhombic Quasicrystals With Constraints
Authors: Zhang Jinming , Zhang Liangliang , Xiang Mu , Gao Yang , Pan Ernian
Published: February 2024

This study employs the Lur'e operator method to derive generalized solutions for orthorhombic quasicrystals, incorporating anisotropy factors as constraints. The solutions derived contain the Lekhnitskii–Hu–Nowacki and Elliott–Lodge solutions as special cases. The corresponding fundamental solutions or Green's functions within the infinite space are also derived, offering a comprehensive characterization of quasicrystal anisotropy. It is noteworthy that Green's functions in orthorhombic quasicrystals can be simplified to those in hexagonal quasicrystals or conventional orthorhombic crystals, with possible broad engineering applications.
Elastic-Gap Free Formulation in Strain Gradient Plasticity Theory
Authors: Mukherjee Anjan , Banerjee Biswanath
Published: February 2024

This article presents an elastic-gap free isotropic higher-order strain gradient plasticity theory that effectively captures dissipation associated to plastic strain gradients. Unlike conventional methods that divide the higher-order stress, this theory focuses on dividing the plastic strain gradient into energetic and dissipative components. The moment stress that arises from minimizing a dissipating potential demonstrates a nonlinear evolution over time, resembling the Armstrong–Frederick nonlinear kinematic hardening rule in classical plasticity. The thermodynamically consistent framework establishes additional dissipation in the dissipation inequality. The energetic moment stress saturates as the effective plastic strain increases during plastic flow. In contrast to the Gurtin-type nonincremental model, the proposed model smoothly captures the apparent strengthening at saturation without causing a stress jump. A passivated shear layer is analytically assessed to demonstrate that the proposed theory exhibits the same amount of dissipation as the existing Gurtin-type model when they show similar shear responses at saturation. It is also shown that the plastic flow remains continuous under nonproportional loading conditions using an intermediately passivated shear layer problem. Finally, the proposed theory is validated against a recent experiment involving combined bending torsion of an L-shaped beam using a 3D finite element solution. Overall, the proposed model provides an alternative approach to evaluating the size effect within the nonincremental isotropic strain gradient plasticity theory without introducing any stress jump.
TCN-GAWO: Genetic Algorithm Enhanced Weight Optimization for Temporal Convolutional Network
Authors: Gu Shuhuai , Xi Qi , Wang Jing , Qiu Peizhen , Li Mian
Published: February 2024

This article proposes a genetic algorithm (GA)-enhanced weight optimization method for temporal convolutional network (TCN-GAWO). TCN-GAWO combines the evolutionary process of the genetic algorithm with the gradient-based training and can achieve higher predication/fitting accuracy than traditional temporal convolutional network (TCN). Performances of TCN-GAWO are also more stable. In TCN-GAWO, multiple TCNs are generated with random initial weights first, then these TCNs are trained individually for given epochs, next the selection-crossover-mutation procedure is applied among TCNs to get the evolved offspring. Gradient-based training and selection-crossover-mutation are taken in turns until convergence. The TCN with the optimal performance is then selected. Performances of TCN-GAWO are thoroughly evaluated using realistic engineering data, including C-MAPSS dataset provided by NASA and jet engine lubrication oil dataset provided by airlines. Experimental results show that TCN-GAWO outperforms existing methods for both datasets, demonstrating the effectiveness and the wide range applicability of the proposed method in solving time series problems.
Untrained and Unmatched: Fast and Accurate Zero-Training Classification for Tabular Engineering Data
Authors: Picard Cyril , Ahmed Faez
Published: February 2024

In engineering design, navigating complex decision-making landscapes demands a thorough exploration of the design, performance, and constraint spaces, often impeded by resource-intensive simulations. Data-driven methods can mitigate this challenge by harnessing historical data to delineate feasible domains, accelerate optimization, or evaluate designs. However, the implementation of these methods usually demands machine learning expertise and multiple trials to choose the right method and hyperparameters. This makes them less accessible for numerous engineering situations. Additionally, there is an inherent trade-off between training speed and accuracy, with faster methods sometimes compromising precision. In our paper, we demonstrate that a recently released general-purpose transformer-based classification model, TabPFN, is both fast and accurate. Notably, it requires no dataset-specific training to assess new tabular data. TabPFN is a prior-data fitted network, which undergoes a one-time offline training across a broad spectrum of synthetic datasets and performs in-context learning. We evaluated TabPFN’s efficacy across eight engineering design classification problems, contrasting it with seven other algorithms, including a state-of-the-art automated machine learning (AutoML) method. For these classification challenges, TabPFN consistently outperforms in speed and accuracy. It is also the most data-efficient and provides the added advantage of being differentiable and giving uncertainty estimates. Our findings advocate for the potential of pre-trained models that learn from synthetic data and require no domain-specific tuning to make data-driven engineering design accessible to a broader community and open ways to efficient general-purpose models valid across applications. Furthermore, we share a benchmark problem set for evaluating new classification algorithms in engineering design.
Hospital care in the first 10 years of life of children with congenital anomalies in six European countries: data from the EUROlinkCAT cohort linkage study
Authors: Morris Joan K , Loane Maria , Wahlich Charlotte , Tan Joachim , Baldacci Silvia , Ballardini Elisa , Cavero-Carbonell Clara , Damkjær Mads , García-Villodre Laura , Gissler Mika , Given Joanne , Gorini Francesca , Heino Anna , Limb Elizabeth , Lutke Renee , Neville Amanda , Rissmann Anke , Scanlon leuan , Tucker David F , Urhoj Stine Kjaer , de Walle Hermien EK , Garne Ester
Published: February 2024

Objective

To quantify the hospital care for children born with a major congenital anomaly up to 10 years of age compared with children without a congenital anomaly.

Design, setting and patients

79 591 children with congenital anomalies and 2 021 772 children without congenital anomalies born 1995–2014 in six European countries in seven regions covered by congenital anomaly registries were linked to inpatient electronic health records up to their 10th birthday.

Main outcome measures

Number of days in hospital and number of surgeries.

Results

During the first year of life among the seven regions, a median of 2.4% (IQR: 2.3, 3.2) of children with a congenital anomaly accounted for 18% (14, 24) of days in hospital and 63% (62, 76) of surgeries. Over the first 10 years of life, the percentages were 17% (15, 20) of days in hospital and 20% (19, 22) of surgeries. Children with congenital anomalies spent 8.8 (7.5, 9.9) times longer in hospital during their first year of life than children without anomalies (18 days compared with 2 days) and 5 (4.1–6.1) times longer aged, 5–9 (0.5 vs 0.1 days). In the first year of life, children with gastrointestinal anomalies spent 40 times longer and those with severe heart anomalies 20 times longer in hospital reducing to over 5 times longer when aged 5–9.

Conclusions

Children with a congenital anomaly consume a significant proportion of hospital care resources. Priority should be given to public health primary prevention measures to reduce the risk of congenital anomalies.