bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of harvesting strategy of second‐cut orchardgrass silage on feed intake, digestion, and milk production in dairy cows
Authors: Miyaji Makoto , Yajima Akira , Yagi Takanori , Shinoda Yuka , Komatsu Masaya , Asakuma Sadaki , Ueda Yasuko
Published: July 2024

We investigated the effects of regrowth interval and first‐cut timing on the dietary characteristics of second‐cut orchardgrass silage and feed intake and milk production in dairy cows fed second‐cut orchardgrass silage. The second‐cut grasses were harvested 7w after the first‐cut at the early stage (E7w) or at the heading stage (H7w), or harvested 6w after the first‐cut at the early stage (E6w) from orchardgrass sward, and then ensiled. We evaluated the effect of regrowth interval by comparing E7w and E6w, and the effect of first‐cut timing by comparing E7w and H7w. Six multiparous Holstein cows were used in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design, with three dietary treatments: diets containing E7w, E6w, or H7w silage at 30% dietary dry matter. We observed that feeding E6w silage instead of E7w silage increased fiber digestibility, dry matter intake, and milk production; however, the first‐cut timing (E7w vs. H7w) did not affect nutrient content and digestibility, feed intake, or lactation performance. These results show that harvesting at short regrowth intervals for second‐cut orchardgrass can be an effective strategy for improving feed utilization and milk yield; however, the first‐cut timing for second‐cut orchardgrass has little impact.
International Joint Venture Governance Mechanisms: The Role of Institutional Environment on Contract Design
Authors: Choi Jeongho , Velez‐Calle Andres , Contractor Farok J.
Published: July 2024

Research Question/Issue

What contract provisions and clauses should be emphasized in international joint venture (IJV) contracts to mitigate the challenges arising from the host country's institutional environment? This study examines how the institutional environment of the host country influences the design of IJV contracts and their governance.

Research Findings/Insights

We analyzed 23 contract provisions and clauses across 390 IJVs established between 2000 and 2016. Our findings indicate that control clauses detailing legal remedies and safeguards are used more frequently in host countries with more flexible and less formalized legal systems. Additionally, management structure clauses specifying internal governance mechanisms are more often used when contract enforcement in the court of a host country takes longer. Furthermore, host countries that lack abilities to control corruption increase the use of management structure clauses in IJV contract agreements.

Theoretical/Academic Implications

By delving into the IJV contract structure, this study enhances our understanding of the role of a host country's institutional environment in the use of different types of IJV contract provisions/clauses.

Practitioner/Policy Implications

Alliance negotiators and practitioners should be aware of the contract clauses that are particularly essential in specific foreign legal environments. Management structure clauses should be incorporated more often when the foreign nation is prone to corruption, government favoritism, and inefficient legal processes. The greater use of control clauses is necessary when the host country controls corruption well and the legal system is less formalized.
Comparison Between Black Non‐Hispanic and White Non‐Hispanic Simultaneous Pancreas‐Kidney Transplant Candidates and Recipients
Authors: Green Shawna M. , Spaulding Aaron C. , Brennan Emily R. , Jarmi Tambi
Published: July 2024

Introduction

This study examined simultaneous pancreas–kidney transplant (SPKt) in Black and White patients to identify disparities in transplantation, days on the waitlist, and reasons for SPKt waitlist removal.

Methods

Using the United Network for Organ Sharing Standard Transplant Analysis and Research file, patients between January 1, 2009, and May 31, 2021, were included. Three cohorts (overall, SPKt recipients only, and those not transplanted) were selected using propensity score matching. Conditional logistic regression was used for categorical outcomes. Days on the waitlist were compared using negative binomial regression.

Results

Black patients had increased odds of receiving a  SPKt (OR, 1.25 [95% CI, 1.11–1.40], p < 0.001). White patients had increased odds of receiving a kidney‐only transplant (OR 0.48 [95% CI, 0.38–0.61], p < 0.001), and specifically increased odds of receiving a living donor kidney (OR 0.34 [0.25–0.45], p < 0.001).

Conclusion

This study found that Black patients are more likely to receive a SPKt. Results suggest that there are opportunities for additional inquiry related to patient removal from the waitlist, particularly considering White patients received or accepted more kidney‐only transplants and were more likely to receive a living donor kidney‐only transplant.
Muscle contracture in children with cerebral palsy: Mechanosensitive pathways and cellular dysfunction
Authors: Domenighetti Andrea A.
Published: July 2024

This commentary is on the original article by Loomis et al. on pages 77–86 of this issue.
Branching into adulthood when you live with cerebral palsy
Authors: Henry Georgina
Published: July 2024

This commentary is on the original article by Ding et al. on pages 1369–1379 of this issue.
Metformin beyond type 2 diabetes: Emerging and potential new indications
Authors: Petrie John R.
Published: July 2024

Metformin is best known as a foundational therapy for type 2 diabetes but is also used in other contexts in clinical medicine with a number of emerging and potential indications. Many of its beneficial effects may be mediated by modest effects on weight loss and insulin sensitivity, but it has multiple other known mechanisms of action. Current clinical uses beyond type 2 diabetes include: polycystic ovarian syndrome; diabetes in pregnancy/gestational diabetes; prevention of type 2 diabetes in prediabetes; and adjunct therapy in type 1 diabetes. As metformin has been in clinical use for almost 70 years, much of the underpinning evidence for its use in these conditions is, by definition, based on trials conducted before the advent of contemporary evidence‐based medicine. As a result, some of the above‐established uses are ‘off‐label’ in many regulatory territories and their use varies accordingly in different countries. Going forward, several current ‘repurposing’ investigational uses of metformin are also being investigated: prevention of cancer (including in Li Fraumeni syndrome), renal protection, Alzheimer's disease, metabolic dysfunction‐associated steatotic liver disease and promotion of healthy ageing. Despite the longevity of metformin and its important current roles beyond type 2 diabetes in clinical medicine, it has further potential and much research is ongoing.
Mediating roles of burnout and work–life balance in the relationships between COVID‐19 anxiety and life satisfaction among Filipino teachers working remotely
Authors: Koçak Orhan , Yavuz Kübra , Yıldırım Murat
Published: July 2024

Amid global constraints imposed by COVID‐19, the education sector witnessed sudden transformations, including school closures and the adoption of distance learning, leading to heightened anxiety among Filipino teachers and impacting their overall well‐being. This study explores the mediating roles of burnout and work–life balance in the associations between COVID‐19 anxiety and life satisfaction among teachers. Data were collected from 532 teachers (73.3% women; meanage = 27.93 ± 1.27 years) engaged in remote work through an online survey using self‐reported questionnaires. Results indicated a significant and adverse influence of COVID‐19 anxiety on life satisfaction. Also, COVID‐19 anxiety showed an effect on both burnout and work–life balance. A significant association between work–life balance and life satisfaction was found, with work–life balance playing a significant mediating role in the relationship between COVID‐19 anxiety and life satisfaction. These results suggest that the anxiety induced by COVID‐19 disrupts the equilibrium between work–life balance and increases burnout, leading to reduced life satisfaction. To mitigate these negative effects on life satisfaction, policymakers and school authorities should devise effective strategies aimed at alleviating teachers' anxiety related to COVID‐19. This approach aims to ultimately diminish burnout, fostering an improvement in work–life balance and life satisfaction for educators.
Integration of green techniques into undergraduate‐level chemical design courses for practising the concept of sustainable development and developing green education
Authors: Yue Chuan‐Jun , Zhang Zhen‐Wei
Published: July 2024

Green engineering is an important direction for engineering education, especially in the field of chemical engineering, where green chemical is a necessary guarantee for achieving sustainable development in the industry. How to practice the principles of green engineering in curriculum education is a problem that needs to be faced in engineering education, due to the currently educated persons are the future practitioners. The aim of this study is to integrate green techniques into an undergraduate‐level chemical design course, demonstrating how green engineering principles can be embedded in the curriculum to practice green engineering education, and thus disseminate the sustainability concept, resulting in a framework for achieving sustainable development. According to the training programme and design procedure, each student receives a product process design project and is guided by a teacher through the data review and discussion and then integrates green technologies in all aspects of the design, and the design result is evaluated. The good results of the students' design show that the undergraduate‐level chemical design course can well integrate green engineering principles and green technologies in the design, enhance the green standard of process design, broaden the students' design vision and mobilize their engineering creativity. It is a good form of green engineering education that the integration of engineering green technologies into an undergraduate‐level chemical design course, as demonstrated by the design results, which achieve effective practice of the sustainability concept and develop green education.
Teachers' perceptions of the barriers to effective teaching in Qatar's government schools
Authors: Abu‐Shawish Reem Khalid
Published: July 2024

This study sought to identify the barriers to effective teaching from the perspective of teachers in Qatar's government schools. This study used survey questionnaire data from the Qatar Education Study 2018, a nationally representative sample of 424 school teachers, to determine what they consider the top barriers facing them as they work to provide effective instruction. The current study seeks to understand how the five different systems of the ecological systems theory influence effective teaching in the context of Qatar. Based on Stata 16 data analyses, percentages and mean ratings were used to identify salient barriers to effective teaching. Results indicated that student‐related barriers, such as motivation and differing student abilities, and school‐related barriers, including teachers' workload, influence effective instruction. A discussion of pertinent results is offered, and relevant recommendations for policy‐making intervention and calls for future study and research are provided.
‘We are not babysitters’: Meaningfulness and meaninglessness in homeroom teachers' identity work
Authors: Sapir Adi , Mizrahi‐Shtelman Ravit
Published: July 2024

This study explores how homeroom teachers construct meaningfulness in their work and in their professional identity, and how this meaningfulness serves them as they interpret and react to public criticism of their profession. Our study relies on interviews with 95 teachers working in Israeli elementary‐, middle‐ and high schools, and draws on the theoretical lens of discursive identity work. We argue that meaningfulness is at the heart of homeroom teachers' identity. Accordingly, when faced with public criticism that questions the meaningfulness of their work, teachers experience threats to their professional identity. Notably, such identity threats are of a gendered nature, as teachers make sense of public criticism by conceptualising it through the gendered stereotype of ‘babysitting’. Furthermore, female teachers are much more likely than male teachers to face criticism from family members and friends. We identify remedial identity work strategies that teachers employ in the face of such identity threats.
Prevalence and characteristics of rapid eye movement sleep behaviour disorder in adults with migraine: a cross‐sectional screening study
Authors: Lange Kristin Sophie , Mecklenburg Jasper , Overeem Lucas Hendrik , Fitzek Mira Pauline , Siebert Anke , Steinicke Maureen , Triller Paul , Neeb Lars , Dreier Jens Peter , Kondziella Daniel , Reuter Uwe , Raffaelli Bianca
Published: July 2024

Background and purpose

Migraine and sleep disorders share a bidirectional relationship, but little is known about the specific association between migraine and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behaviour disorder (RBD). The aim was to assess the prevalence of RBD and associated clinical characteristics in adults with migraine.

Methods

This analysis is part of a cross‐sectional survey study conducted at the Headache Centre of the Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin between August 2020 and March 2023. At the end of their regular medical consultation, patients with migraine filled out (1) the validated RBD Screening Questionnaire (RBDSQ), (2) a questionnaire on REM sleep intrusions and (3) the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale 21. The primary endpoint was the percentage of patients with a positive RBD screening. A multivariate analysis was performed to identify characteristics independently associated with features of RBD.

Results

A total of 751 patients (44.1 ± 13.2 years; 87.4% female) with complete RBDSQ were included in this analysis, of which 443 (58.9%) screened positive for RBD. In multivariate analysis, a positive screening for RBD was associated with younger age (odds ratio [OR] 0.9, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.8–0.9 per 10‐year increase; p = 0.005) and with features suggestive of REM sleep intrusions (OR 4.3, 95% CI 1.8–10.4; p = 0.001). Migraine aura remained in the model without reaching statistical significance (OR 1.3, 95% CI 0.9–1.8; p = 0.079).

Discussion

Symptoms of RBD are frequent in adults with migraine. Further studies including polysomnography are required to confirm this association, and to explore potential common pathophysiological mechanisms.
Structural investigation of lithium bismuth borate glasses through Raman and infrared spectroscopies
Authors: Tsekrekas Elizabeth M. , Carretto Sophia J. , Möncke Doris C. , Clare Alexis G.
Published: July 2024

The structure of lithium bismuth borate glasses in the compositional series xBi2O3–25Li2O–(75 − x) B2O3 was studied with the use of Raman and infrared (IR) spectroscopies. Transparent glasses formed between x = 0 and 55, whereas glass–ceramics formed between x = 60 and 75 mol% Bi2O3. Structural investigation on the borate network showed that the glasses were undermodified at high Bi2O3 compositions with metaborate, pyroborate, and orthoborate triangles and tetrahedra being present past the stoichiometric orthoborate compositions (O/B = 3). Bi2O3 was found to participate in the glass as both a network former and modifier, as observed in the Raman and IR spectra. Optical absorption spectra of the glasses show a redshift of the absorption edge with increased Bi2O3. Optical, thermal, and physical properties of the glasses were examined and correlated to the structural evolution.
Ulcerative erythematous papules and plaques on the face and lower legs of a man living with HIV: a clinicopathological challenge
Authors: McKenzie Ning C. , Hickey Matthew D. , De la Sancha Carlo , Coates Sarah J. , Leslie Kieron S.
Published: July 2024

A 44‐year‐old male presented with a 2‐month history of erythematous ulcerative papules and plaques on the scalp, face, and bilateral lower legs. He had a 5‐year history of well‐controlled HIV on antiretroviral therapy and recurrent syphilis infections. His face had violaceous plaques, while bilateral ankles and calves had ulcerative lesions with necrotic centers and purple borders. The morphologies clinically mimicked pyoderma gangrenosum on the lower extremities and cutaneous lymphoma on the face. Biopsy and reactive rapid plasma reagin confirmed a diagnosis of lues maligna, and the patient was successfully treated with penicillin G benzathine.
Diaspora and development: The IOM's role in diaspora mapping in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Authors: Karabegović Dženeta
Published: July 2024

Diaspora governance strategies are part of an increasingly vibrant academic and policy debate. International organisations play a significant role in promoting diaspora institutions, collaborating with home states, diaspora communities, and other stakeholders. In post‐conflict states, the involvement, and evolving roles of international organisations, among a variety of actors in diaspora institution building, is implicit but has been underresearched. This article analyses a diaspora mapping exercise led by the IOM to demonstrate how an institutional logics perspective can help to better understand how such processes unfold. Taking an organisational perspective, it sheds light on the interplay among international organisations, state agencies, local government, and individual actors in diaspora and development. By focusing on Bosnia and Herzegovina, the study offers insights into the challenges and opportunities in diaspora engagement in post‐conflict countries. It underscores the need for further research and the long‐term implications of international organisations' efforts in diaspora development programs and diaspora governance.
Real‐world experience of immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with solid tumours in the Top End of the Northern Territory, Australia from 2016 to 2021: a retrospective observational cohort study
Authors: Miller Abigail R. , Balino Aries , Tun Min Sandy , Downton Teesha , Karanth Narayan V. , Backen Alison , Charakidis Michail
Published: July 2024

Background

Use of immune checkpoint inhibitors is growing, but clinical trial data may not apply to Indigenous patients or patients living in remote areas.

Aims

To provide real‐world incidence of immune‐related adverse events (irAE) in the Top End of the Northern Territory and compare incidence between demographic subgroups.

Methods

This retrospective, observational, cohort study collected data from electronic records of patients living in the Top End with solid organ cancer treated with immunotherapy between January 2016 and December 2021. The primary outcome was cumulative incidence of any‐grade and severe irAE. Secondary outcomes were overall survival, treatment duration and reason for treatment discontinuation.

Results

Two hundred and twenty‐six patients received immunotherapy. Forty‐eight (21%) lived in a remote or very remote area, and 36 (16%) were Indigenous. Cumulative incidence of any‐grade irAE was 54% (122/226 patients); incidence of severe irAE was 26% (59/226 patients). Rates were similar between Indigenous and non‐Indigenous patients of any‐grade (42% vs 56%, P = 0.11) and severe (11% vs 18%, P = 0.29) irAE. However, Indigenous patients had shorter treatment duration, more frequently discontinued treatment due to patient preference and appeared to have shorter median overall survival than non‐Indigenous patients (17.1 vs 30.4 months; hazard ratio (HR) = 1.5, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.92–2.66). There was no difference in mortality between remote and urban patients (median overall survival 27.5 vs 30.2 months; HR = 1.1, 95% CI = 0.7–1.7).

Conclusions

Rates of irAE in our cohort are comparable to those in the published literature. There was no significant difference in any‐grade or severe irAE incidence observed between Indigenous and non‐Indigenous patients.
Psychosocial and emotional management of work experience in palliative care nurses: A qualitative exploration
Authors: Espejo‐Fernández Victoria , Martínez‐Angulo Pablo
Published: July 2024

Background

Palliative care, a crucial aspect of healthcare, faces challenges in psychosocial and emotional management among nurses. With an increasing need for palliative services globally, addressing the emotional well‐being of nurses becomes pivotal.

Aim

To explore nurses' psychosocial and emotional work experiences in a palliative care department. The focus is on understanding the challenges, identifying coping strategies, and assessing the impact on professional and private life when facing those experiences.

Methods

A phenomenologic‐hermeneutical study involving semi‐structured interviews was conducted to comprehend the lived experiences of ten nurses working in a hospital's palliative care department in Spain. Hermeneutic analysis was employed to extract patterns and insights from their experiences. The COREQ checklist was used to report this study.

Findings

Palliative care nurses perceived insufficient preparation in emotional management, grappling with complex family interactions and unique work dynamics. They highlighted the significance of self‐protection strategies, experience, clinical sessions, and external resources. Limited training in emotional resilience and challenges posed by the COVID‐19 pandemic emerged as organisational barriers. Nurses expressed a desire for enhanced training and resources.

Conclusion

The study uncovered a deficiency in the emotional preparedness of palliative care nurses, impacting their professional and personal lives. Despite positive aspects, the emotional toll necessitates attention and intervention.

Implications for nursing policy

Comprehensive emotional training for palliative care nurses, addressing barriers, providing resources, and acknowledging emotional labour is necessary. Reinstating paused training sessions and considering specific challenges like those posed by the pandemic are vital. Supporting nurses in their professional and private lives is crucial for sustaining quality care in palliative care departments.
Time spent on activities that can be delegated and reasons for not delegating among acute care nurses: A mixed‐methods study
Authors: Conti Alessio , Gonella Silvia , Berardinelli Daniela , Dimonte Valerio , Campagna Sara
Published: July 2024

Aim

To describe the activities nurses perceived to be delegable to other staff (delegable activities) in order to estimate the time nurses spend on delegable activities and explore nurses' reasons for not delegating these activities.

Design

Mixed‐methods explanatory sequential.

Methods

In total, 236 nurses from 27 medical and surgical wards of five hospitals in northern Italy completed a web‐based survey during a single shift between June and July 2022. Minutes spent on delegable activities, staff member to whom participants could have delegated and reason(s) for not delegating were reported. Chief nurses provided specific wards' characteristics using a paper‐and‐pencil questionnaire. Twenty semi‐structured interviews were conducted to explore delegable activities and reasons for not delegating. Quantitative and qualitative results were merged using joint displays.

Results

Participants spent approximately one‐quarter of their time performing delegable activities, mainly delegable to nurse aides or nurse clerks, and performed due to a lack/shortage of staff or their concurrent participation in other activities. Participants recognized that activities requiring clinical assessment and decision‐making skills cannot be delegated, whereas technical activities and indirect care should be delegated. Organizational, structural and cultural factors, as well as patient characteristics, available staff and experience affected delegation, leading nurses to perform delegable activities to ensure patient care.

Conclusion

Nurses spend a considerable part of their time on delegable activities due to a lack of staff or support services and suboptimal organization, which could be addressed by optimal staff management, but also to the complexity of the contexts, including individual and cultural factors that should be addressed through policy interventions.

Impact

This study estimates the time nurses spend on delegable activities in acute care settings. Our findings highlighted the reasons that sustain the decision not to delegate that policymakers, healthcare managers, and nurse educators should consider to promote nurses' delegation skills.

Reporting Methods

MMR checklist.

Patient/Public Contribution

None.
Association between high‐density mapping of atypical atrial flutter, clinical outcomes and healthcare utilization
Authors: Sink Joshua , Culler Kasen , Uppalapati Lakshmi , Lancki Nicola , Peigh Graham , Lohrmann Graham , Elsayed Mahmoud , Carneiro Herman , Baman Jayson , Pfenniger Anna , Patil Kaustubha D. , Verma Nishant , Arora Rishi , Kim Susan S. , Chicos Alexandru B. , Lin Albert C. , Knight Bradley P. , Passman Rod S.
Published: July 2024

Background

Success of atypical atrial flutter (AAFL) ablation has historically been limited by difficulty mapping the complex re‐entrant circuits involved. While high‐density (HD) mapping has become commonplace in clinical practice, there are limited data on outcomes of HD versus non‐HD mapping for AAFL ablation.

Objective

To compare clinical outcomes and healthcare utilization using HD mapping versus non‐HD mapping for AAFL ablation.

Methods

Retrospective analysis of all AAFL procedures between 2005 and 2022 at an academic medical center was conducted. Procedures utilizing a 16‐electrode HD Grid catheter and Precision mapping system were compared to procedures using prior generation 10–20 electrode spiral catheters and the Velocity system (Abbott, IL). Cox regression models and Poisson regression models were utilized to examine procedural and healthcare utilization outcomes. Models were adjusted for left ventricular ejection fraction, CHA2DS2‐VASc, and history of prior ablation.

Results

There were 108 patients (62% HD mapping) included in the analysis. Baseline clinical characteristics were similar between groups. Use of HD mapping was associated with a higher rate of AAFL circuit delineation (92.5% vs. 76%; p = .014) and a greater adjusted procedure success rate, defined as non‐inducibility at procedure end, (aRR (95% CI) 1.26 (1.02–1.55) p = .035) than non‐HD mapping. HD mapping was also associated with a lower rate of ED visits (aIRR (95% CI) 0.32 (0.14–0.71); p = .007) and hospitalizations (aIRR (95% CI) 0.32 (0.14–0.68); p = .004) for AF/AFL/HF through 1 year. While there was a lower rate of recurrent AFL through 1 year among HD mapping cases (aHR (95% CI) 0.60 (0.31–1.16) p = .13), statistical significance was not met likely due to the low sample size and higher rate of ambulatory rhythm monitoring in the HD group (61% vs. 39%, p = .025).

Conclusion

Compared to non‐HD mapping, AAFL ablation with HD mapping is associated with improvements in the ability to define the AAFL circuit, greater procedural success, and a reduction in the number of ED visits and hospitalization for AF/AFL/HF.
Numerical simulation of continuous microwave drying of rice grains
Authors: Li Bin , Feng Shaopeng , He Qiyu , Zhu Yansong , Wu Jiali , Yang Jingfan , Hu Zhigang , Ma Ming
Published: July 2024

To comprehensively understand temperature and moisture changes in a continuous microwave rice grain drying system, this study proposes a simulation strategy that facilitates the continuous movement of rice grains. The study establishes a three‐dimensional model concerning multiple physical fields, including electromagnetism, heat, and mass transfer. It examines the effects of rice grain layer thickness and microwave intensity on the moisture and temperature of rice grains. The results indicate that the drying rate is negatively correlated with material thickness but positively correlated with temperature. The optimal thickness for the rice grain layer is 8 mm. Furthermore, both the microwave drying rate and temperature increase with microwave intensity. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the hydrothermal change mechanisms in rice grains during microwave drying.

Practical applications

Microwave drying, as an emergent drying technology, has garnered widespread attention for its selective heating, efficient drying, energy savings, and environmental protection. Nevertheless, enhancing uniformity during the microwave heating process constitutes an important research topic in scientific research and technological applications. Numerical simulation methods can visually analyze electric field distribution, thereby optimizing microwave heating uniformity and improving drying effects. This article aims to accurately predict the continuous microwave drying time of paddy and maximize energy usage by optimizing drying thickness and microwave power parameters establishing a mathematical model for the process. The study not only provides a solid theoretical basis for microwave dryer design but also scientifically guides the continuous microwave drying of rice and other food crops.
Innovative application of microencapsulated polyphenols in cereal products: Optimization of the formulation of dairy‐ and gluten‐free pastry
Authors: Bińkowska Weronika , Szpicer Arkadiusz , Stelmasiak Adrian , Wojtasik‐Kalinowska Iwona , Półtorak Andrzej
Published: July 2024

During the last decade, consumers pay much attention to the food they eat. They try to choose functional products that have a beneficial effect on health and well‐being, beyond their typical nutritional function. For this reason, the primary aim of the study was to create a gluten‐free and dairy‐free cereal product with increased polyphenol and fiber content. Microencapsulation technology using freeze‐drying method and trehalose as matrix material was used in order to protect the polyphenols from the degradation during processing. The effect of the content of beta‐glucan concentrate, polyphenol microencapsulation and acai oil on the physicochemical properties of pastry products was studied. Response surface methodology was used to optimize the product formulation. The scope of work included analysis of process efficiency, instrumental analysis of color and texture, analysis of total antioxidant capacity, assessment of the content of polyphenols, flavonoids, and beta‐glucan, volume testing, analysis of the profile of fatty acids and volatile compounds, and assessment of sensory acceptability. Based on the obtained data, a response surface model was developed to determine the optimal recipe for the final product. The predicted data were verified using empirical methods. It was found that the optimal formulation of the product involves incorporating 6.48% polyphenol microcapsules, 7.60% beta‐glucan concentrate and 3.71% acai oil. The final product had higher content of polyphenols and beta‐glucan, as well as higher antioxidant activity compare to conventional product. Moreover, it was characterized by physical characteristics similar to the standard product and high sensory acceptability.

Practical applications

Consumers are currently eager to purchase fortified products with beneficial effects on health and well‐being. The developed functional product with increased polyphenol and beta‐glucan content, high antioxidant activity, is anticipated to garner significant consumer acceptance. The product, with its significant health‐promoting and well‐being enhancing properties, along with characteristics similar to conventional products, is poised to effectively meet consumers' needs and expectations. Additionally, it addresses a market void for bakery items tailored specifically for individuals with gluten intolerance, celiac disease, or cow's milk protein allergy. It provides a safe consumption option for these groups, offering a product similar to conventional items found on shelves that they are unable to consume.
Optimization of encapsulation parameters for sodium alginate capsules: A study on the effect of temperature and gear pump rotation speed on capsule production and quality
Authors: Tashybayeva Marzhan , Kakimov Aitbek , Ibragimov Nadir , Zhumadilova Gulmira , Muratbayev Аlibek , Jumazhanova Madina , Idyryshev Berik , Kapshakbayeva Zarina , Bepeyeva Aigerim
Published: July 2024

This study designed and evaluated an encapsulator unit for producing biocomponent‐containing capsules using sodium alginate. The encapsulator's principle of operation involved maintaining the gel‐forming mixture at a controlled temperature (20–50°C) and utilizing a gear pump to deliver the mixture to a nozzle for capsule formation. Increasing temperature and gear pump rotation speed reduced viscosity, affecting the capsule number, size, and stability. The optimal capsule size and quality were achieved with a sodium alginate concentration of 1%, yielding capsules with rounded shapes, uniform sizes, and soft yet resistant structures. The encapsulation process yielded varying numbers of capsules depending on the rotational speed of the gear pump and the temperature of the gel‐forming mixture. Higher temperatures and rotation speeds generally resulted in increased capsule yields. This research advances encapsulation technology for delivering sensitive biomaterials like probiotics, aiding in process optimization.

Practical applications

The encapsulator is designed for the production of capsules using structure‐forming compounds and can be used in biotechnology, chemical, food and other industries. The encapsulator allows for the production of capsules with precise size and shell thickness, ensuring high quality.
Quantifying superimposed protein flow dynamics in live cells using spatial filtering and spatiotemporal image correlation spectroscopy
Authors: Migueles‐Ramírez Rodrigo A. , Cambi Alessandra , Hayer Arnold , Wiseman Paul W. , van den Dries Koen
Published: July 2024

Flow or collective movement is a frequently observed phenomenon for many cellular components including the cytoskeletal proteins actin and myosin. To study protein flow in living cells, we and others have previously used spatiotemporal image correlation spectroscopy (STICS) analysis on fluorescence microscopy image time series. Yet, in cells, multiple protein flows often occur simultaneously on different scales resulting in superimposed fluorescence intensity fluctuations that are challenging to separate using STICS. Here, we exploited the characteristic that distinct protein flows often occur at different spatial scales present in the image series to disentangle superimposed protein flow dynamics. We employed a newly developed and an established spatial filtering algorithm to alternatively accentuate or attenuate local image intensity heterogeneity across different spatial scales. Subsequently, we analysed the spatially filtered time series with STICS, allowing the quantification of two distinct superimposed flows within the image time series. As a proof of principle of our analysis approach, we used simulated fluorescence intensity fluctuations as well as time series of nonmuscle myosin II in endothelial cells and actin‐based podosomes in dendritic cells and revealed simultaneously occurring contiguous and noncontiguous flow dynamics in each of these systems. Altogether, this work extends the application of STICS for the quantification of multiple protein flow dynamics in complex biological systems including the actomyosin cytoskeleton.
REM sleep breathing: Insights beyond conventional respiratory metrics
Authors: Thomas Robert Joseph
Published: July 2024

Breathing and sleep state are tightly linked. The traditional approach to evaluation of breathing in rapid eye movement sleep has been to focus on apneas and hypopneas, and associated hypoxia or hypercapnia. However, rapid eye movement sleep breathing offers novel insights into sleep physiology and pathology, secondary to complex interactions of rapid eye movement state and cardiorespiratory biology. In this review, morphological analysis of clinical polysomnogram data to assess respiratory patterns and associations across a range of health and disease is presented. There are several relatively unique insights that may be evident by assessment of breathing during rapid eye movement sleep. These include the original discovery of rapid eye movement sleep and scoring of neonatal sleep, control of breathing in rapid eye movement sleep, rapid eye movement sleep homeostasis, sleep apnea endotyping and pharmacotherapy, rapid eye movement sleep stability, non‐electroencephalogram sleep staging, influences on cataplexy, mimics of rapid eye movement behaviour disorder, a reflection of autonomic health, and insights into cardiac arrhythmogenesis. In summary, there is rich clinically actionable information beyond sleep apnea encoded in the respiratory patterns of rapid eye movement sleep.
Education for Sustainability: The Role of Education and Neurosciences
Authors: Batista Patrícia , Ribeiro Pedro , Moreno Ana , Oliveira‐Silva Patrícia
Published: July 2024

The concept of sustainability has been gaining prominence due to its social, economic, and environmental implications. The urgency surrounding this issue continues to mount as we strive to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals outlined in the 2030 Agenda. To achieve these goals, it is imperative to harness scientific knowledge and innovative educational approaches. Pedagogical approaches can be a powerful ally to behavioral change, playing a decisive role in educating sustainable communities. Concurrently, neuroscientific basis has been used as a relevant tool to foster knowledge on human behavior, namely value attribution and decision‐making. In this work, we emphasize the construction of 1‐day workshops with high school students, focusing on neuro‐based processes underlying sustainable choices. Several innovative pedagogical methods have been employed to encourage the development of critical knowledge and promote the adoption of more sustainable behavior. This article discusses the connection between sustainable consumption and neuroscience, highlighting the vital role of education in shaping the consciousness of responsible citizens. The diversity of educational activities, the stimulation of creativity, and critical thinking cannot only improve the acquisition of concepts but also contribute to the education of citizens who are informed and capable of making responsible and conscious decisions.
Single generation epigenetic change in captivity and reinforcement in subsequent generations in a delta smelt (Hypomesus transpacificus) conservation hatchery
Authors: Habibi Ensieh , Miller Michael R. , Schreier Andrea , Campbell Matthew A. , Hung Tien‐Chieh , Gille Daphne , Baerwald Melinda , Finger Amanda J.
Published: July 2024

A refugial population of the endangered delta smelt (Hypomesus transpacificus) has been maintained at the Fish Conservation and Culture Laboratory (FCCL) at UC Davis since 2008. Despite intense genetic management, fitness differences between wild and cultured fish have been observed at the FCCL. To investigate the molecular underpinnings of hatchery domestication, we used whole‐genome bisulfite sequencing to quantify epigenetic differences between wild and hatchery‐origin delta smelt. Differentially methylated regions (DMRs) were identified from 104 individuals by comparing the methylation patterns in different generations of hatchery fish (G1, G2, G3) with their wild parents (G0). We discovered a total of 132 significant DMRs (p < .05) between G0 and G1, 132 significant DMRs between G0 and G2, and 201 significant DMRs between G0 and G3. Our results demonstrate substantial differences in methylation patterns emerged between the wild and hatchery‐reared fish in the early generations in the hatchery, with a higher proportion of hypermethylated DMRs in hatchery‐reared fish. The rearing environment was found to be a stronger predictor of individual clustering based on methylation patterns than family, sex or generation. Our study indicates a reinforcement of the epigenetic status with successive generations in the hatchery environment, as evidenced by an increase in methylation in hypermethylated DMRs and a decrease in methylation in hypomethylated DMRs over time. Lastly, our results demonstrated heterogeneity in inherited methylation pattern in families across generations. These insights highlight the long‐term consequences of hatchery practices on the epigenetic landscape, potentially impacting wild fish populations.
Recurrent ischemic strokes and elevated CA125 levels in a patient with Meigs syndrome: A case report
Authors: Takahashi Hisashi , Yasuda Rei , Kubota‐Hanya Misaki , Kitani Keisuke , Yamashita Suguru , Kuroboshi Haruo , Honda Mizuki , Imura Tetsuya , Ohara Tomoyuki , Kimura Tadashi
Published: July 2024

A 72‐year‐old woman developed left hemiparesis, and her initial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed multiple acute ischemic lesions. Although she was treated with antithrombotic therapies, follow‐up MRI showed a recurrent small ischemic stroke. Her serum CA125 level was markedly elevated, and abdominal computed tomography (CT) and MRI showed a pelvic mass lesion with pleural effusions and ascites, suggesting malignant ovarian tumor associated with Trousseau's syndrome. However, the surgical resection specimens were pathologically diagnosed as benign ovarian fibroma and serous cystadenoma, and she was finally diagnosed as having Meigs syndrome. This case suggested that Meigs syndrome with elevated CA125 levels might play a role in the development of recurrent ischemic strokes.
Recent advances in cancer therapy‐associated oral mucositis
Authors: Abdalla‐Aslan Ragda , Keegan Rebeca , Zadik Yehuda , Yarom Noam , Elad Sharon
Published: July 2024

Oral mucositis (OM) is a common and debilitating toxicity of cancer treatments – chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hematopoietic cell transplant, or combinations. OM is associated with severe oral pain and has negative impacts on patient function and quality of life. Additionally, OM has accompanying systemic complications that may have critical implications. These local and systemic consequences can alter cancer treatment, and add an economic burden. This review covers the clinical presentation and course of OM, differential diagnosis, clinical and economic impacts, pathogenesis, risk factors, assessment measures, biomarkers and prediction of OM, management, research advances in the development of new drugs and treatments, and big data.
A quantitative study to assess cardiovascular risks among older African American women living in rural black belt areas of Alabama
Authors: Andrabi Mudasir , Key Betty , Francisco Marqus , Jeremiah Matthews , Mumba Mercy , Radhakrishnan Kavita , Ball Karlene
Published: July 2024

Limited information is available regarding the knowledge of Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) risk factors and the actual risk behaviors among African American (AA) older women living in rural areas of Alabama. A pilot study of needs assessment for CVD prevention behaviors was conducted to collect such data from rural AA women. This paper reports the quantitative part of the needs assessment of this pilot study. We recruited participants (N = 30) using convenience sampling. Data collection measures included: i) American Heart Association's CVD‐related knowledge questionnaire, ii) Five Times Sit to Stand Test to measure dynamic balance and iii) Six minute walk test (6MWT) to assess exercise endurance iv) standard weighing scale to measure body weight and v) standard measurements scale to measure height.  Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. The majority (76%) of participants had hypertension (70%), diabetes (60%), poor balance (70%), and low exercise endurance (100%). Most of the participants had low knowledge related to CVD risk factors. This study demonstrated the need to conduct a large‐scale study to assess knowledge related to heart health and the actual needs and preferences of these individuals. Conducting such a study would lay the foundation for developing a need‐based program for these underserved individuals while incorporating their preferences and the strategies that would help engage them in a heart health intervention.
Effect of simulated extreme rainfall on the vegetative phenology of perennial and annual herbaceous plants from a Brazilian dry forest
Authors: Aguiar B. A. de S. , Lopes C. G. R. , de Sousa G. M. , e Medeiros M. J. L. , da Silva K. A. , Araújo E. de L.
Published: July 2024

Detecting changes in the phenological responses of herbaceous species as a function of predicted climate change is important for forecasting future scenarios for the functioning of dry tropical forests, especially when predicting an increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme droughts. Because of the sensitivity of plants to water availability, our study hypothesizes that if years become drier or wetter, herbaceous plants will synchronously change the onset, duration, and intensity of their vegetative phenophases.

We used a historical series of 60 years of precipitation observations for the Caatinga vegetation to define daily average of precipitation for rainy (Twet), median (Tcontrol), and dry (Tdry) years. We simulated past average daily rainfall (Twet, Tcontrol, and Tdry) while growing two herbaceous perennials and two herbaceous annuals. We monitored plant growth and measured the activity (absence or presence) and intensity of vegetative phenophases. We used circular statistical analysis to assess differences between treatments.

Our results revealed that leaf production was seasonal but relatively uniform for perennial species and highly seasonal (wet season) for annual species. Simulated dry years induced lower leaf emergence concentrated over a few months in annual species, but this effect was more strongly significant in one of the two perennial species. Both annual and perennial species can experience delayed and less intense leaf abscission during the rainy season in years with below‐average precipitation. In contrast, large voluminous rains in years with above‐average precipitation can accelerate and intensify the process of leaf renewal.

If future precipitation reductions occur, the changes in phenological response indicate that the cover of annual and perennial herbaceous species in this study will likely decrease, altering the landscape and functioning of dry tropical forests. However, the potential trade‐offs observed may help populations of these species to persist during years of severe drought in the Caatinga.