bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinical Trial to Assess the Safety and Tolerability of Anti‐IL 23 Monoclonal Antibody Guselkumab in Patients With Alcohol‐Associated Liver Disease
Authors: Diaz Luis Antonio , Morris Sheldon , Dave Shravan , Kim Susy M. , Sarik Wathnita , Richards Lisa , Madamba Egbert , Bettencourt Ricki , Fulinara Christian , Pham Thuy , Miller Grant , Carvalho‐Gontijo Weber Raquel , Momper Jeremiah D. , He Feng , Jain Sonia , Jamieson Catriona , Kisseleva Tatiana , Brenner David , Loomba Rohit
Published: February 2025

Background

There are no FDA‐approved therapies for alcohol‐associated liver disease (ALD). Preclinical studies indicate that blocking IL‐23/IL‐17 signalling may reverse liver injury. Guselkumab, an IL‐23‐specific antibody approved for psoriasis, may be beneficial for ALD.

Aims

We aimed to assess the safety and tolerability of guselkumab in patients with ALD.

Methods

This phase‐1 dose‐escalation study included patients with ≥ 2 DSM‐5 criteria for alcohol use disorder, significant steatosis (MRI‐PDFF ≥ 8%) and MRE < 3.63 kPa (to exclude advanced disease). Guselkumab was given subcutaneously on Days 1 and 29 in 30, 70 or 100 mg dose cohorts. Primary endpoints were adverse events (AEs) and dose‐limiting toxicity.

Results

We enrolled 13 patients (three 30 mg, three 70 mg, and seven 100 mg). Eleven completed the study and two early discontinued in the 100 mg group. Of them, 77% were men, and the median age was 53 [IQR 49–61] years. The median MRI‐PDFF and MRE were 18.4% [IQR 8.4%–34.0%] and 2.5 [2.2–2.6] kPa, respectively. The most frequent AEs were hyperuricemia (13%, mild only) and elevated lipase (11%, mild and moderate). There were no serious adverse events or significant variations in liver enzymes. There was a suppression of peripheral interleukin (IL)‐17, IL‐23, IL‐1b and TNF‐α in the 70 and 100 mg groups, and a significant decrease in alcohol consumption over time (AUDIT‐C: 6 [3–7] vs. 5 [1–6], p = 0.023).

Conclusions

Guselkumab is safe in doses up to 100 mg and may reduce inflammation markers in ALD. These findings support further phase 2 studies to evaluate the efficacy of guselkumab in ALD, particularly in patients with severe phenotypes.
Mefloquine Suppresses Metastasis in Renal Cell Carcinoma Through Targeting SPC25
Authors: Wang Yongbo , Wang He , Xu Yipeng , Ling Jiawei , Zong Chuhong , Zhang Yan , Guo Xiaoxuan , Zhao Guanan , Zhou Yuan , Zhao Jiahui , Lou Pengrong , Liu Xigao , Xu Tengfei , Ma Qi
Published: February 2025

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the third most common malignant tumor in the urinary system, often presenting with distant metastases at diagnosis. Approximately one‐quarter of patients undergoing nephrectomy experience distant recurrence. Despite the recent advancements in combination‐targeted and immune checkpoint inhibitor therapies, the development of new therapeutic strategies and the identification of biomarkers for metastatic risk remain crucial. The study found that high SPC25 expression is closely associated with poor clinical outcomes, and knocking down SPC25 significantly inhibits tumor cell proliferation and migration. Non‐targeted metabolomics analysis also revealed that SPC25 knockdown reduces tumor cell activity, resulting in a low‐invasive state. Additionally, this study utilized high‐throughput molecular docking to screen small molecule drugs targeting SPC25, aiming to find drugs that inhibit RCC metastasis. The research discovered that mefloquine, at concentrations that do not significantly kill tumor cells, can markedly inhibit RCC metastasis. It was the first to report that mefloquine achieves its anti‐metastatic effects by binding to SPC25 and inhibiting epithelial‐mesenchymal transition. These results suggest that SPC25 has the potential to serve as an early biomarker for metastatic risk in RCC and highlight a novel strategy where mefloquine inhibits RCC metastasis through SPC25 binding, offering new avenues to improve the prognosis of RCC patients.
Granulomatous Eccrine Hidradenitis. A New Histopathological Entity?
Authors: Yavuz Göksu , Toprak Mehtap , Zemheri Ebru , Can Kuru Burçe
Published: February 2025

The term “hidradenitis” designates diseases with inflammatory infiltrate around a sweat gland. Neutrophilic eccrine hidradenitis (NEH) is a reactive disorder usually induced by malignancy or chemotherapeutics, characterized by typically erythematous, edematous papules and plaques on the extremities, trunk, face, and palmar and plantar regions. In histopathology, dense neutrophilic infiltration around the eccrine gland can be seen. In this case, we report a rare case of granulomatous eccrine hidradenitis in a 3‐year‐old girl with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), with intense granulomatous inflammation around the eccrine ducts in histopathology.
Multi‐Taxon Predictions of Deep‐Sea Corals and Sponges From Stacked Species Distribution Models in the United States West Coast Exclusive Economic Zone and Relation to Trawl Closure Zones
Authors: Shantharam Arvind , Poti Matthew , Winship Arliss , Lau Yee , Coleman Heather , Weissman Danielle , Eaton Renee , McGuinn Robert , Cebrian Just , Hourigan Thomas
Published: February 2025

Aim

Abundant species distribution models (SDMs) of deep‐sea corals and sponges (DSCS) allow one to make community‐level predictions about DSCS. Pairing that with the conservation information of Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems (VMEs) due to their sensitivity to seafloor trawling, one can assess the efficacy of established seafloor protections, known as Essential Fish Habitat and Conservation Areas (trawl closure areas), in the United States West Coast on a multi‐taxon basis. From this, we seek to answer the following questions: (1) can accurate multi‐taxon, trawl‐sensitive DSCS distribution predictions be made for the US West Coast and (2) to what extent do current trawl protections overlap with multi‐taxon distribution predictions and what are the conservation and management implications?

Location

United States West Coast marine waters.

Methods

A cluster analysis was run on 40 SDMs of DSCS, identifiable as VME indicators and assigned a VME indicator score based on criteria used by regional fisheries management organisations. SDMs of taxa in clusters were stacked and averaged to produce stacked SDM (S‐SDM) prediction maps. All prediction maps were classified into five habitat suitability classes to facilitate interpretation. The total area within benthic ecoregion‐bathymetric boundaries and the percentage overlap with the bottom trawl closure zone were computed for spatial contextualization and to determine protection coverage for S‐SDMs, respectively.

Results

Cluster analysis identified 10 groups that represent unique S‐SDMs for the region. Taxa clustered together have previously been documented together in surveys but some novel associations are reported. Geographically, the predicted occurrences can range along the entire western continental margin, be highly restricted, or constrained by recognised biogeographic boundaries. VME indicator metrics ranged from low to moderate. When trawl coverage was computed relative to the suitability's prevalence in the modelling domain, trawl protection was shown to be large for the highest suitability classes for most of the S‐SDMs.

Main Conclusions

Results indicate the clustering approach has some strengths in identifying known and documented associations between DSCS taxa but some are problematic and produce low to moderate VME indicator scores for S‐SDMs, undercutting the conservation information the metric should convey. Coupled with the small predicted areas of the highest suitability classes, the wholesale recommendation for this approach for management purposes is difficult. We discuss avenues for methodological improvements.
Multiomics analysis of O‐GlcNAcylation in podocytes of diabetic kidney disease
Authors: Zou Yun , Zhuo Mengyao , Chen Wen , Song Wenze , Jiang Yanxia , Xu Jixiong , Wang Jiao
Published: February 2025

Aim

To investigate the role of O‐GlcNAc transferase (OGT)‐mediated protein O‐GlcNAcylation in podocyte injury during the progression of diabetic kidney disease (DKD).

Materials and Methods

Proteomic and O‐glycoproteomic analyses were conducted on high glucose (HG)‐stimulated podocytes with OGT knockdown. Differentially expressed proteins and O‐GlcNAcylated peptides/proteins were identified, and functional enrichment (GO, KEGG, COG/KOG) and motif analysis (motif‐x) were performed using bioinformatics analysis. Co‐immunoprecipitation (Co‐IP) was used to validate O‐GlcNAcylation of candidate proteins.

Results

OGT knockdown in HG‐treated podocytes resulted in 128 upregulated and 45 downregulated proteins. Glycoproteomics revealed 32 glycopeptides/21 glycoproteins upregulated and 37 glycopeptides/22 glycoproteins downregulated. The focus was on down‐regulated glycosylated proteins without changes in their protein levels. These proteins are predominantly enriched in translation factor activity, RNA binding, and ECM‐receptor interactions pathways. Among these proteins, Caprin1, Lrp1, and Sil1 were modified by O‐GlcNAcylation.

Conclusion

OGT‐driven O‐GlcNAcylation exacerbates podocyte injury in DKD by post‐translationally modifying key regulators of translational machinery and ECM signalling. Precision targeting of O‐GlcNAc dynamics represents a promising therapeutic strategy to attenuate DKD.
Triggering the Duty to Act: Teachers' Approach to the Norwegian Law on Students' Psychosocial Environment
Authors: Denfeld Annette‐Pascale , Canrinus Esther Tamara , Dalehefte Inger Marie
Published: February 2025

Chapter 9A of the Norwegian Education Act obligates teachers to act upon any suspicion of deficits in the school environment. This cross‐sectional study explores teachers' (n = 140) perceptions and motivations in terms of initiating cases according to 9A, considering both accountability and responsibility. Teachers' job satisfaction and self‐efficacy are associated with their approach to 9A. The strongest predictor of case initiation is how difficult teachers perceive taking action to be. Other significant predictors are their content knowledge and the law's perceived effect. These findings have significance for policymakers, teacher education, and professional communities in schools.
From Pandemic Legacy to Serious Games: A Systematic Review of Cooperative Board Games Under the Educational Perspective
Authors: Katsantonis Menelaos N.
Published: February 2025

Cooperative board games promote engagement, teamwork, and strategic problem‐solving, making them useful in educational contexts. This Systematic Literature Review employs the PRISMA methodology to identify cooperative board game mechanisms and design considerations along with their adaptation potential in serious contexts and the alignment with learning theories such as social constructivism and experiential learning. Key mechanisms, such as variable player powers and role‐playing, are examined for their impact on player engagement and collaboration. The study also addresses the design challenges of complexity and duration of gameplay, proposing solutions such as the gradual rule introduction, tutorial scenarios, and the provision of scalable game modes. The review includes 65 screened articles and a detailed analysis of 24, along with insights from non‐academic sources, such as BoardGameGeek database and professional reviewers. The findings highlight the potential of such games to enhance serious game design and educational outcomes, offering strategies for adapting these games to educational environments.
Intercultural Relationships in an Internationalised Undergraduate Classroom: Do They Influence Transcultural Competence?
Authors: Pastena Andreana
Published: February 2025

Higher education institutions aspire to integrate international and intercultural dimensions. Yet, internationalisation is too often confined to policies and rankings, overlooking the actual experiences of students. This study investigates how in‐class intercultural relationships influence transcultural competence within a multi‐dimensionally internationalised undergraduate degree in Barcelona. Focusing on 23 first‐year students, the study adopts a mixed‐method approach, with quantitative data setting the ground for qualitative exploration. Findings reveal five descriptive patterns of interaction between transcultural competence and in‐class intercultural relationships, highlighting how agency, previous experiences, and institutional support shape positive, negative, or neutral outcomes. The study emphasises the significance of reciprocal transformative opportunities in non‐English‐speaking environments and challenges the binary categorisation of students as ‘local’ and ‘international’. It reveals the unique nature of individual experiences, calling for a more nuanced understanding of internationalised classrooms.
Outcome of horses with chronic gastric dilatation and delayed gastric emptying treated with oral metoclopramide
Authors: Bätjer F. , Bäuerlein V. , Vervuert I. , Venner M.
Published: February 2025

Background

Chronic gastric dilatation and delayed emptying in horses are rarely diagnosed diseases with a supposedly poor prognosis and no promising treatment options.

Objectives

To describe the clinical presentation of horses diagnosed with chronic gastric dilatation and delayed emptying, and evaluate the effects of oral metoclopramide on the clinical signs of included horses.

Study design

Retrospective observational case series.

Methods

Forty‐two affected horses were included. Data was collected from clinical records between January 2011 and April 2023. A survey sent to the owners evaluated presenting complaints, percentage improvement of clinical signs associated with metoclopramide treatment and observed side effects of the treatment.

Results

The most common presenting complaints were recurrent signs of colic (51.7%, of which 66.7% postprandially), followed by poor performance (41.4%). The mean age at initial diagnosis was 13.2 years (min: 0.5; max: 30). Horses were treated with a mean dose of 0.15 ± 0.03 mg/kg bwt p.o. q.12 h of metoclopramide (min: 0.1; max: 0.22). The mean therapy duration at the time of data collection was 31.9 months (min: 3; max: 108). Twenty‐nine owners replied to the survey: 73% of the cases showed a clinical improvement of ≥50%, 50% an improvement of ≥75%. One horse developed colic signs after the initiation of metoclopramide treatment. The treatment was not associated with a decreased size of the stomach in 33.3% of patients reevaluated at sonography (p = 0.2). Eight horses were euthanised because of the chronic gastric dilatation. The median survival time of the euthanised horses was 22 months (min: 12; max: 108).

Main limitations

Retrospective character, owner‐answered survey, no control group.

Conclusion

The clinical improvement by oral metoclopramide treatment with only a few side effects shown by this report suggests that this could be a treatment option for horses with chronic gastric dilatation and delayed emptying.
Fuzzy Decision‐Making Framework for Evaluating Hybrid Detection Models of Trauma Patients
Authors: Hamid Rula A. , Zahid Idrees A. , Albahri A. S. , Albahri O. S. , Alamoodi A. H. , Alzubaidi Laith , Sharaf Iman Mohamad , Joudar Shahad Sabbar , Gu YuanTong , Al‐qaysi Z. T.
Published: February 2025

This study introduces a new multi‐criteria decision‐making (MCDM) framework to evaluate trauma injury detection models in intensive care units (ICUs). This research addresses the challenges associated with diverse machine learning (ML) models, inconsistencies, conflicting priorities, and the importance of metrics. The developed methodology consists of three phases: dataset identification and pre‐processing, hybrid model development, and an evaluation/benchmarking framework. Through meticulous pre‐processing, the dataset is tailored to focus on adult trauma patients. Forty hybrid models were developed by combining eight ML algorithms with four filter‐based feature‐selection methods and principal component analysis (PCA) as a dimensionality reduction method, and these models were evaluated using seven metrics. The weight coefficients for these metrics are determined using the 2‐tuple Linguistic Fermatean Fuzzy‐Weighted Zero‐Inconsistency (2TLF‐FWZIC) method. The Vlsekriterijumska Optimizcija I Kompromisno Resenje (VIKOR) approach is applied to rank the developed models. According to 2TLF‐FWZIC, classification accuracy (CA) and precision obtained the highest importance weights of 0.2439 and 0.1805, respectively, while F1, training time, and test time obtained the lowest weights of 0.1055, 0.0886, and 0.1111, respectively. The benchmarking results revealed the following top‐performing models: the Gini index with logistic regression (GI‐LR), the Gini index with a decision tree (GI_DT), and the information gain with a decision tree (IG_DT), with VIKOR Q score values of 0.016435, 0.023804, and 0.042077, respectively. The proposed MCDM framework is assessed and examined using systematic ranking, sensitivity analysis, validation of the best‐selected model using two unseen trauma datasets, and mode explainability using the SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) method. We benchmarked the proposed methodology against three other benchmark studies and achieved a score of 100% across six key areas. The proposed methodology provides several insights into the empirical synthesis of this study. It contributes to advancing medical informatics by enhancing the understanding and selection of trauma injury detection models for ICUs.
Quantitative proteomics identifies possible flow of metastatic cues between progressive stages of colorectal cancer via transfer of ceramide‐dependent exosomal cargoes
Authors: Ghosh Dipanjana , Lim Teck Kwang , Basu Anindya , Gross Julia Christina , Lin Qingsong
Published: February 2025

Cancer metastasis is largely influenced by cell–cell communication, to which exosomes play a vital role. Exosomes are small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) that originate as intraluminal vesicles (ILVs) within multivesicular bodies (MVBs) during endosome maturation. ILV formation depends on several pathways, including that of ceramide synthesis by neutral sphingomyelinase 2 [nSMase2]. Colorectal cancer (CRC)‐derived sEVs are reported to carry a diverse range of metastatic cargo proteins; however, segregation of them in the ceramide‐dependent sEV pool (sEVCer) remains unexplored. The current study aimed to identify the metastatic proteins that are secreted through sEVCer, from CRC cells of variable metastatic potentials. Primary (SW480) and metastatic (SW620) CRC cells were treated with nSMase2 blocker and sEVs were isolated, followed by extraction of the sEV proteins for a quantitative proteomic profiling using isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ). In total, 1781 proteins were identified with unused protein score > 1.3. Of these identified proteins, 22.8% and 17.01% were found to be depleted within sEVs of the treated SW480 and SW620 cells, respectively. These depleted protein pools represented the cargo that are preferentially secreted through sEVCer in respective cell types (CargoCer‐SW480 and CargoCer‐SW620). CargoCer‐SW480 overrepresented integrin signaling pathway members and CargoCer‐SW620 overrepresented integrin as well as platelet‐derived growth factor (PDGF) signaling pathway members. Interestingly, the uniquely overrepresented CargoCer‐SW480 and CargoCer‐SW620 were biologically connected, rendering possible transfer of metastatic cues via sEVCer. Overall, this study identified CargoCer and their dynamics over progressive CRC stages, and thereby opens up a new research direction for exploring the flow of metastatic cues through uptake and release of sEVCer.
Therapists, Vending Machines, and Winding Roads: Race and Mental Health in Olivia Wenzel's 1000 Serpentinen Angst
Authors: McCarron Lorna
Published: February 2025

This essay explores the damaging effects of racism on the mental health of the Black German protagonist of Olivia Wenzel's autofictional novel 1000 Serpentinen Angst (2020). Informed by close readings and decolonial trauma theory, this article shows how Wenzel forges connections on the semantic and formal levels of the text between the social conditions affecting people of color living in Germany and her protagonist's experience of anxiety and trauma. 1000 Serpentinen Angst serves as a literary contribution to discourse surrounding the relationship between racism and mental health in the German‐speaking world, while also considering the personal toll of disclosure through life writing.
Bleeding Episodes in Patients With Haemophilia B Receiving Prophylactic Factor IX Treatment: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Franchini Massimo , Pasca Samantha , Mengoli Carlo , Focosi Daniele , Mannucci Pier Mannuccio
Published: February 2025

Background

Prophylaxis with coagulation factor concentrates is the mainstay of treatment in severe hemophilia A and B. Data on bleeding rates in persons with congenital haemophilia B (PwcHB) receiving prophylaxis are inconsistent.

Aim

This systematic review and meta‐analysis were aimed at assessing bleeding outcomes, including annualised bleeding rates (ABR) and the proportion of patients with zero bleeding events, in PwcHB receiving prophylaxis with plasma‐derived or recombinant FIX products with standard (rSHL) or extended half‐life (rEHL).

Methods

A systematic search was conducted using the bibliographic database Medline, Embase and Cochrane Central Register. The protocol was registered on PROSPERO (registration number: CRD42024592785).

Results

The search yielded 2440 citations and a total of 42 studies (2 randomised and 40 nonrandomised) were included in the final analysis. The pooled estimated mean (95% confidence interval [CI]) ABR was significantly lower in PwcHB treated prophylactically with rEHL FIX than in those receiving rSHL FIX products (1.29 [95% CI: 0.91, 1.66] vs. 3.12 [95% CI: 2.63, 3.62], p < 0.01). The proportion of participants with zero bleeding events was significantly higher in PwcHB treated prophylactically with rEHL FIX than in those receiving rSHL FIX (0.53 [95% CI: 0.37, 0.69] vs. 0.24 [95% CI: 0.14, 0.39], p = 0.01). The ABR did not differ according to age groups (more or less than 12 years).

Conclusion

The results of this meta‐analysis suggest that compared to standard half‐life FIX concentrates, prophylaxis with rEHL FIX products is associated with a reduction in ABR and a higher proportion of patients with no bleeding episodes.
What I Wish I'd Known: The Transition From Graduate Student to Tenure Track Faculty to Tenured Faculty
Authors: Gala Prachi B. , Ezell Derek , Tillman Franklin
Published: February 2025

The aim of this paper is to discern the difficulties tenure track faculty face as they attempt to balance their new faculty roles amid a transition from PhD student to faculty. Based on the theoretical Lazarus model of stress, this research analyzes the stressful transition of a PhD student to a tenure track professor and the underlying reasons and outcomes, as well as how a full‐time professor balances responsibilities between research, teaching, and service. Qualitative research and specifically, inductive analyses were used to categorise interviews collected from various faculty across departments and schools and then encoded into themes. Six themes were found in Study 1: Self‐Awareness, Time Management, Professional Independence, Politics, Professional Flexibility, and Professional Skill Development. Study 2 reveals three major themes: The Plague of the Vague, Publish or Perish, and It's Not All Work, But It Is.
Academic Performance of Persistent University Students in Chile
Authors: Espinoza Oscar , González Luis , McGinn Noel , Sandoval Luis , Corradi Bruno , Larrondo Yahira
Published: February 2025

Academic performance (GPA) is a fundamental factor in student success in college. Therefore, knowing the factors that influence it is important for universities. The objective of this research is to identify the determinants of university student academic performance during the first 3 years of its trajectory. The conclusions are based on data describing characteristics and behaviour of students who successfully completed three consecutive years of study in 10 public and private universities in Chile. The student participants were drawn from a selected list of all non‐repeating students who entered the university in 2016 or in 2017. Data were collected from admission files and using a self‐administered 39‐item questionnaire. The questionnaire was applied during the first semester of 2021. Data were analysed using multilevel linear regression to control for similarities between students in the same programme. The findings show that both pre and post‐enrolment variables affect performance. However, the influence of each factor varies according to the year of study. While, over the years, the importance of gender and secondary school grades increases and remains the same, respectively, selection tests are particularly important in the first year. In turn, variables associated with university experience, such as the relationship with professors or the occurrence of disruptive situations, affect performance from the first to the third year.
Condition‐dependent immune response in a migrating shorebird, the common snipe Gallinago gallinago
Authors: Włodarczyk Radosław , Kamiński Maciej , Minias Piotr
Published: February 2025

Bird migration, as an energy‐demanding activity, is expected to generate allocation trade‐offs between important biological processes. For example, long‐distance migratory flights may require redirection of resources from immune response and promote temporal immunosuppression. Individuals in high body condition may have the capacity to cope with the costs of migration while maintaining adequate levels of immune activity. Here, we investigated the covariation of immune response and two measures of condition in a short‐distance migratory shorebird, the common snipe Gallinago gallinago. We captured and experimentally induced immune response using phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) in 148 snipes during the autumn migration. We found a positive relationship of PHA‐induced immune response with indices of body condition reflecting aerobic capacity (total blood haemoglobin concentration) and the level of accumulated energy reserves (size‐corrected body mass). The results provided evidence for a condition‐dependent immune response in migrating snipes, indicating that high‐quality individuals are capable of sustaining immune response during migration. We suggest that abundant food resources at high‐quality stopover sites may help individuals rapidly replenish body reserves essential for the effective functioning of the immune system. It also seems likely that the maintenance of adequate immune function or its upregulation may confer significant adaptive advantages under ecological conditions of increased pathogenic exposure during migration.
Recognition and utilization of egg maculation signals by two sympatric host species
Authors: Zhong Guo , Wang Longwu , Liang Wei
Published: February 2025

Egg color polymorphism and egg mimicry are important adaptations in the game process between hosts and brood parasites at the egg stage. The ability of hosts to recognize and reject parasitic eggs based on effective egg characteristics is a crucial factor in determining the outcome of this arms race. The evolution of linear markings on eggs has been identified in several parasitic systems of common cuckoos Cuculus canorus, yet little is known about the functional adaptation of this egg characteristic. Here, we examined the recognition and utilization methods of maculation signals of eggs in the common cuckoo hosts, south rock bunting Emberiza yunnanensis, which lays eggs with linear mimetic spots, and yellow‐throated bunting Emberiza elegans, which lays eggs with dotted mimetic spots. The results demonstrated that both species of bunting hosts show moderate recognition and rejection levels towards interspecific eggs (spotted versus streaked). Moreover, during recognition, they utilized the contrast between the maculation and the egg background rather than the contrast between the maculations themselves. Our study is the first to demonstrate that two species of open‐nesting buntings use achromatic contrast (not chromatic contrast) between pattern features and egg background color to identify and reject foreign eggs. However, whether other differences in pattern features, such as pattern density, distribution, and proportion are utilized by the hosts requires further verification.
Role of Amine and/or Tin‐Containing Dentifrices on Tooth Discoloration and Surface Properties
Authors: Maia Mariana Beraldo , Tawil Tammy , Vardasca Isabela Souza , de Lima Leonardo Custódio , Bezerra Savio José Cardoso , Aranha Ana Cecília Correa , Scaramucci Taís
Published: February 2025

Objective

This study evaluated the impact of dentifrices containing amine fluoride (AmF) and/or tin on tooth discoloration and surface roughness under cycles of staining and abrasion.

Materials and Methods

Specimens of enamel (n = 10) and dentin (n = 19) were allocated into six groups: (1) Negative control (Distilled water), (2) NaF (regular fluoridated dentifrice without amine and tin), (3) AmF, (4) AmF/NaF/SnCl2, (5) SnF2/SnCl2, and (6) SnF2. Daily staining‐toothbrushing cycling was performed: staining solution (30 min), toothbrushing (45 strokes), and human saliva (1 h), 2×/day, for 21 days. Tooth color change (ΔE, ΔL, Δa, and Δb) was determined using a spectrophotometer (CIEDE2000), while surface roughness (ΔRa) was measured with an optical profilometer, and the data were statistically analyzed (α = 0.05).

Results

For enamel, no significant differences in ΔE were observed among groups; however, for dentin, AmF exhibited the highest ΔE value, differing from all groups except Negative control (p > 0.05). Both substrates showed a decrease in luminosity (−ΔL), with significant differences in dentin for the AmF group (p < 0.05). For dentin, all groups showed an increase in tooth yellowness (+Δb); while for enamel, only the tin‐containing groups showed this effect. All groups showed an increase in surface roughness after cycling. Enamel Ra showed significant differences post‐treatment, with AmF differing from NaF/AmF/SnCl2 (p = 0.012) and control (p = 0.042). Correlations between ΔRa and ΔE were weak in both substrates (ρ = 0.12 for enamel; ρ = 0.22 for dentin).

Conclusions

Brushing with AmF/NaF/SnCl2, SnF2/SnCl2, and SnF2‐containing toothpastes promoted a yellowing of enamel. Brushing with AmF resulted in the greatest darkening of dentin compared with other fluoride salts.

Clinical Significance

Some components in dentifrices can induce tooth discoloration, which seems to impact dental aesthetics; therefore, clinicians should advise patients on potential color alterations when choosing specific dentifrice products.
Parent–teen dyadic experiences of racism: Implications for Black familial racial socialization
Authors: Jones Shawn C. T. , McNeil Smith Sharde , Sutton Naya , Winchester Lesley Blair , Shepard Broquelynn
Published: February 2025

Objective

Using a linked lives perspective, the current study sought to understand how patterns of racism experiences within Black parent–teen dyads affected the frequency and competency of racial socialization transmission.

Background

Racism in America has been pervasive, impacting Black families from cradle to grave. Acts of anti‐Black racism influence the ways in which parents communicate about race to their children (i.e., racial socialization); however, research has not explored whether the linkages of racism experiences between parent and child are also influential for this process.

Method

Data were collected from Black parent–child dyads (N = 201) through Qualtrics Panel Management. Parents and youth each completed surveys about racial/ethnic identity, race‐related stress, and racial socialization practices. A three‐step latent profile analysis was conducted using MPlus software.

Results

Four distinguishable dyadic racism subgroups were identified: Low Parent–Teen Racism, Moderate Parent–Teen Racism, Moderate–High Parent, Low Teen Racism, and High Parent–Teen Racism. More racial socialization messages were transmitted in dyads with parents and teens reporting moderate to high levels of racism compared to dyads where teens reported low levels of racism. There were variations in parents' competency in delivering racial socialization messages across the four subgroups.

Conclusion

The consequences of racism may be underestimated by focusing on individual experiences and not accounting for the linked lives of Black parents and their adolescents.
Effect of Pro‐, Pre‐ and Synbiotic Supplementation on the Growth of Infants and Children: An Umbrella Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis
Authors: An Shengnan , Kong Jinfeng , Ghorbani Asghar , Dehghani Azadeh , Alizadeh Shahab
Published: February 2025

Background

In recent years, pro‐, pre‐ and synbiotics have been suggested to positively influence the growth outcomes of infants and children. However, the findings have been inconsistent. This umbrella meta‐analysis was conducted to evaluate this effect.

Methods

The PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus databases were systematically searched until June 2024 to identify relevant studies. Weight gain, length gain, head circumstance (HC) gain, body mass index (BMI) as well as weight‐for‐height (WHZ), height‐for‐age (HAZ), weight‐for‐age (WAZ) and BMI‐for‐age (BMIAZ) Z‐scores were considered as the outcomes. Standardised mean differences (SMD) along with the 95% confidence interval (CI) were utilised to estimate the overall effect size. Subgroup analyses were conducted to identify the sources of heterogeneity among the studies.

Results

We included 26 meta‐analyses, which encompassed a total of 72 285 participants. The pooled umbrella analysis revealed positive effects of pro‐, pre‐ and synbiotics on weight gain (SMD = 0.17, 95% CI: 0.09–0.25) and height gain (SMD = 0.10, 95% CI: 0.01–0.19) in both healthy individuals and preterm infants, although significant heterogeneity was observed across the studies (p < 0.001). Furthermore, the subgroup analyses indicated very weak evidence for an increase in BMI and WAZ following microbiome‐based interventions.

Conclusion

Supplementation with pro‐, pre‐ and synbiotics has the potential to enhance weight and height gain in infants and children. Additional large‐scale studies are needed to confirm their clinical applications.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is Effective in Reducing Strong Opioid Use in a Patient with Chronic Pain after Spinal Cord Injury: A Case Study
Authors: Sakai Mie , Kimura Tomomasa , Sugiura Takeshi , Aoki Kota , Nagata Tomiyoshi , Yamamoto Emiko , Kondo Masaki , Akechi Tatsuo
Published: February 2025

Strong opioids are used for chronic pain conditions, often long‐term, to improve the overall quality of life. Psychological approaches, such as acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), are effective in preventing long‐term opioid use. However, studies exploring their efficacy among patients who have used strong opioids over an extended period are lacking. We present a case concerning chronic pain following spinal cord injury wherein ACT sessions were conducted for a patient with long‐term use of strong opioids. The patient was a Japanese man in his 80s with chronic pain due to a spinal cord injury 12 years earlier, despite being treated with daily fentanyl patches. The patient underwent 11 ACT sessions spanning approximately 6 months, complemented by two follow‐up sessions. The fentanyl patch dose was reduced by the conclusion of the ACT. The patient had improvements in locomotive syndrome, anxiety, and pain catastrophizing after the intervention and at the follow‐up session, compared with the pre‐intervention phase. These results suggest that ACT might be effective in helping patients discontinue strong opioids after long‐term use.
Cracks in the Foundation: How Relational Communication Dynamics Predict Performance Improvement in Cross‐Functional Teams
Authors: Schweitzer Vera M. , Gerpott Fabiola H. , Lehmann‐Willenbrock Nale , de Leeuw Sander , Schippers Michaéla , Lu Jiachun
Published: February 2025

Cross‐functional teams are vital decision‐making units in supply chain management, and scholars emphasize the need to understand how team processes shape performance improvement. Despite promising research on communication within cross‐functional teams, scant attention has been paid to real‐time communication patterns—integral to behavioral supply chain management—which are fundamental to team processes in practice. This article posits, drawing on interaction ritual theory, that early communication patterns are correlated with the performance trajectories of cross‐functional teams, suggesting a potential influence. The authors tested this idea in a complex supply chain management simulation featuring cross‐functional teams. They employed a novel coding approach to capture temporal interactions, which yielded 25,641 coded verbal behaviors from cross‐functional team meeting interactions. To identify systematic communication patterns, lag sequential analysis was performed on this corpus of data. The results show that the frequency of relational communication was associated with weaker performance improvement in cross‐functional teams across six simulation iterations. Even more interestingly, when relational communication was frequently followed by task‐oriented communication, no association with team performance improvement was observed. Further, cross‐functional teams in which relational communication was more frequently followed by counterproductive communication showed notably weaker performance improvements. Focusing on interactional flow within team dynamics, this research challenges the common belief regarding the value of broadly evaluating cross‐functional teams. As such, it advocates for adopting both a behavioral and a temporal lens to uncover how cross‐functional teams can prevent detrimental interactions in their daily operations.
Association Mapping for Components of Reaction Norms to Environmental Covariates in Public Tropical Maize (Zea mays) Panel Under Water Stress
Authors: Lobo Antonio Lucas Aguiar , Silveira Maria Valnice de Souza , Pontes Fernanda Carla Ferreira de , Machado Ingrid Pinheiro , Fritsche‐Neto Roberto , DoVale Júlio César
Published: February 2025

Using reaction norm components instead of traditional phenotypic data in genetic association studies (GWAS) may allow the identification of genomic regions that are more influenced by environmental variables in terms of tolerance and responsiveness to water stress. To test this hypothesis, we used a public genetic diversity panel of tropical maize inbred lines, evaluated in eight environments, four in well‐watered (WW) and four in water stress (WS) conditions. Most SNPs explained at least 40% of the genetic variability, and some reached 67%. The identified genes and genomic regions revealed physiological responses and direct or indirect molecular mechanisms related to water deficit tolerance and responsiveness. This information will enable more assertive selections and subsidize breeding programs aimed at obtaining cultivars for water deficit conditions while reducing the costs of the evaluation processes of reaction standards.
A Multi‐Omics Meta‐Analysis of Rhizosphere Microbiome Reveals Growth‐Promoting Marker Bacteria at Different Stages of Legume Development
Authors: Sahil Rishav , Pal Vivek , Kharat Arun S. , Jain Mukesh
Published: February 2025

Plant‐microbe interactions have been studied extensively in legumes, but the influence of host developmental stages on its microbiome remains poorly understood. The rhizospheric region enriched with microbial diversity presents an optimal environment to investigate this relationship. We employed a multi‐omics meta‐analysis approach to identify the rhizospheric bacteria co‐existing with legumes at different developmental stages. The data from eight different legume species across various geographical locations, soil conditions and developmental stages (vegetative, reproductive and maturation) were included in the study. A total of 10 developmental stage‐specific marker bacteria were identified and found to be positively associated with plant growth phenotypes. The functional profiling elucidated the expression of these marker bacterial genes, indicating the active presence of marker bacteria. Co‐expression network analysis revealed the involvement of gene clusters in biological processes such as cobalt and nitrogen metabolism. Further, pathway enrichment analysis illustrated the role of these bacteria in plant metabolic pathways, such as biosynthesis of various plant secondary metabolites, biotin metabolism and carbon fixation in photosynthetic organisms. Our study identified a positive relationship between marker bacteria and the host plant, suggesting their crucial role in legume growth and development that could further aid in crop improvement strategies.
Variation in Layer-Specific Tear Properties of the Human Aorta Along Its Length and Circumference: Implications for Spatial Susceptibility to Dissection Initiation
Authors: Sokolis Dimitrios P.
Published: February 2025

Hemodynamic variations influence the location of entry tears in aortic dissection. This study investigates whether variations in tear strength across the human aorta contribute to these clinical manifestations. Circumferential and axial strips were collected from nine axial and two circumferential sites along each autopsied aorta, yielding 1,188 samples (11 aortas × 18 sites × 2 directions × 3 layers per site). These samples underwent tear testing to assess tear strength and tear energy, constituting resistance to tear propagation. Adventitial tear parameters were significantly higher than those of the intima and media, with no significant differences between the latter two, supporting the observation that entry tears typically occur in the inner wall. Tear propagation angles were approximately 15 and 75 degrees for circumferential and axial medial strips, and 30 and 45 degrees for circumferential and axial strips of the intima and adventitia, with minimal variation along the aorta. These findings indicate that the media, and to a lesser extent the other layers, have higher resistance to axial tearing compared to circumferential tearing, aligning with the clinical observation of circumferentially directed tears. Intimal and adventitial tear parameters increased modestly along the aorta, while medial parameters varied less, explaining why entry tears rarely originate in the abdominal aorta. Tear parameters in inner and outer quadrants were similar at most axial locations, except for dissimilar tear propagation angles of the intima and adventitia in the proximal aorta (especially the arch), explaining why entry tears seldom involve the entire circumference.
Study on Microstructure, SCC Crack Propagation Paths, and Mechanical Field at the Tip of the Stationary-Propagating Crack of Pipeline Steel Girth Welded Joint
Authors: Wang Zheng , Xue He , Wang RongXin , Wu Jun , Wu Zhe
Published: February 2025

During the service life of oil and gas pipelines, welded joints are critical areas that are susceptible to fracture. This study aims to investigate the influence of mechanical heterogeneity on the mechanical fields at the crack tip and the crack propagation paths in welded joints. Firstly, the microstructure of the welded joint was analyzed, and the distribution of mechanical properties in specific local areas was determined through hardness tests. Subsequently, the mechanical properties of the dissimilar materials within the welded joint were characterized using the “Field” subroutine, and the influence of mechanical heterogeneity on the mechanical fields at the crack tip was examined. Additionally, the crack propagation paths at various locations of welded joints, influenced by mechanical heterogeneity, were analyzed from a mechanical perspective. Finally, based on the identified crack propagation paths, the variation of mechanical fields at the crack tip during the propagation process was captured using de-bonding techniques. The results reveal significant differences in the microstructure across different regions, affecting the distribution of mechanical properties. Mechanical heterogeneity influences the distribution of mechanical fields at the crack tip, thereby affecting the trajectory of crack propagation. Stress corrosion cracking tends to propagate toward regions with higher yield strength, as increased yield strength facilitates crack propagation. Crack propagation redistributes the stress-strain field at the crack tip, resulting in an unloading process that relieves stress at the crack tip. Consequently, the stress-strain at the tip of the propagating crack is lower than that at the stationary crack tip.
A Content Analysis of the Sport Management Education Journal: 2007–2023
Authors: Miller John , Pierce David , Gregg Elizabeth , Price Blake
Published: February 2025

Since its inception, no formal content analysis of the Sport Management Education Journal has been conducted. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine article characteristics, assess topic diversity, determine predominant themes and methodological frameworks, and identify editorship and authorship gender differences. A total of 185 articles published by the Sport Management Education Journal from 2007 to 2023 were analyzed. The authors found that research articles were the most prevalent. A significant relationship between gender and article type and content was identified, as women were more likely to publish research-oriented articles than men. Women also accounted for 54.1% of first authors and 48.8% of all identified authors. As the first content analysis conducted on the Sport Management Education Journal, this study provides a needed inspection of the only sport management journal committed to disseminating pedagogical knowledge.