bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A comparison of endodontic referrals and treatment in the public and private sectors in Western Australia
Authors: Thanissorn Charn , Ye Johnson , Girgis Daniel , van Dort Nathan , Abbott Paul V.
Published: April 2023

The aim was to compare referral patterns and treatment provided by specialist Endodontists and Endodontic Registrars. A retrospective review was conducted of the clinical records of the first 25 patients seen by seven private endodontic clinicians and the equivalent number (175) of patients seen by five public sector endodontic clinicians from 1 January 2017. The average age and range of medical co‐morbidities of patients in the public sector were statistically greater. Referred patients and referrers mainly worked in metropolitan Perth. The most frequent reasons for referral in both public and private sectors were to assess and manage non‐painful endodontic pathosis, to manage pain, and to manage calcified canals. There was a wide range of cases referred to both sectors but with similar patterns suggesting that the training of specialists adequately prepares them for private practice. The results also indicate that Endodontists must be proficient in all aspects of the speciality.
Febrile ulceronecrotic Mucha–Habermann disease during pregnancy: A case report
Authors: Avcı Ceylan , Gürbüz Özlem , Özbağçıvan Özlem , Lebe Banu
Published: April 2023

Febrile ulceronecrotic Mucha–Habermann disease (FUMHD) is a rare and severe form of ‘pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta’, with a progressive and potentially fatal course. To the best of our knowledge, there has been no reported case of FUMDH during pregnancy before. Due to life‐threatening nature of the disease and the lack of evidence‐based treatment, management of FUMHD in pregnancy is a therapeutic challenge. Additionally, some of the drugs that are effective in the treatment are contraindicated in pregnancy. Herein, we report a 27‐year‐old woman diagnosed with FUMHD in her 19th week of pregnancy and treated with ceftriaxone and erythromycin.
Keyword‐Assisted Topic Models
Authors: Eshima Shusei , Imai Kosuke , Sasaki Tomoya
Published: April 2023

In recent years, fully automated content analysis based on probabilistic topic models has become popular among social scientists because of their scalability. However, researchers find that these models often fail to measure specific concepts of substantive interest by inadvertently creating multiple topics with similar content and combining distinct themes into a single topic. In this article, we empirically demonstrate that providing a small number of keywords can substantially enhance the measurement performance of topic models. An important advantage of the proposed keyword‐assisted topic model (keyATM) is that the specification of keywords requires researchers to label topics prior to fitting a model to the data. This contrasts with a widespread practice of post hoc topic interpretation and adjustments that compromises the objectivity of empirical findings. In our application, we find that keyATM provides more interpretable results, has better document classification performance, and is less sensitive to the number of topics.
A multimillion‐dollar DARPA grant awarded to a team developing artificial whole blood product
Authors: Han Jason J.
Published: April 2023

Each year, countless individual die from not having immediate access to life‐saving blood products. A multi‐institutional team was awarded a $46.4 million grant to create an artificial alternative.
Limitations of using 16S rRNA microbiome sequencing to predict oral squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Delaney Christopher , Veena Chandra Lekha Ramalingam , Butcher Mark C. , McLean William , Shaban Suror Mohamad Ahmad , Nile Christopher J. , Ramage Gordon
Published: April 2023

A new era of next‐generation sequencing has changed our perception of the oral microbiome in health and disease, and with this there is a growing understanding that the oral microbiome is a contributing factor to oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), a malignancy of the oral cavity. This study aimed to analyse the trends and relevant literature based on the 16S rRNA oral microbiome in head and neck cancer using next‐generation sequencing technologies, and to conduct a meta‐analysis of the studies with OSCC cases and healthy controls. A literature search using the databases Web of Science and PubMed was conducted in a scoping‐like review to collect information based on the study design, and plots were generated using RStudio. We selected case–control studies using 16S rRNA oral microbiome sequencing analysis in OSCC cases versus healthy controls for re‐analysis. Statistical analyses were conducted using R. Out of 916 original articles, we filtered and selected 58 studies for review, and 11 studies for meta‐analysis. Differences between sampling type, DNA extraction methods, next‐generation sequencing technology and region of the 16S rRNA were identified. No significant differences in the α‐ and β‐diversity between health and oral squamous cell carcinoma were observed (p < 0.05). Random Forest classification marginally improved predictability of four studies (training set) when split 80/20. We found an increase in Selenomonas, Leptotrichia and Prevotella species to be indicative of disease. A number of technological advances have been accomplished to study oral microbial dysbiosis in oral squamous cell carcinoma. There is a clear need for standardization of study design and methodology to ensure 16S rRNA outputs are comparable across the discipline in the hope of identifying ‘biomarker’ organisms for designing screening or diagnostic tools.
Four errors and a fallacy: pitfalls for the unwary in comparative brain analyses
Authors: Dunbar Robin I. M. , Shultz Susanne
Published: April 2023

Comparative analyses are the backbone of evolutionary analysis. However, their record in producing a consensus has not always been good. This is especially true of attempts to understand the factors responsible for the evolution of large brains, which have been embroiled in an increasingly polarised debate over the past three decades. We argue that most of these disputes arise from a number of conceptual errors and associated logical fallacies that are the result of a failure to adopt a biological systems‐based approach to hypothesis‐testing. We identify four principal classes of error: a failure to heed Tinbergen's Four Questions when testing biological hypotheses, misapplying Dobzhansky's Dictum when testing hypotheses of evolutionary adaptation, poorly chosen behavioural proxies for underlying hypotheses, and the use of inappropriate statistical methods. In the interests of progress, we urge a more careful and considered approach to comparative analyses, and the adoption of a broader, rather than a narrower, taxonomic perspective.
Is STA really a low‐flow graft? A quantitative ultrasonographic study of the flow of STA for cerebral revascularization in MMD patients
Authors: Wen Yunyu , Gou Yanxia , Wang Baoping , Wang Zhibin , Chen Siyuan , Zhang Shichao , Zhang Guozhong , Li Mingzhou , Feng Wenfeng , Qi Songtao , Wang Gang
Published: April 2023

Objective

Direct revascularization remains an important tool in the treatment of patients with Moyamoya disease (MMD). The superficial temporal artery (STA) is the most commonly used donor vessel for direct bypass, and an STA graft has traditionally been considered a low‐flow graft for flow augmentation. This study aimed to quantitatively evaluate the blood flow of the STA after direct revascularization.

Methods

All direct revascularization procedures performed between 2018 and 2021 by one experienced neurosurgeon were screened. Quantitative ultrasound was used to measure the flow data of the patient's bilateral parietal branch of the STA(STA‐PB), the bilateral frontal branch of the STA(STA‐FB), and the left radial artery. Data on the patients' basic information, Suzuki grade, Matsushima type, anastomosis type, and blood biochemical parameters were collected and analyzed using univariate and multivariate models. An MBC Scale scoring system was proposed to evaluate the recipient artery network of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) tree. The relationship between MBC Scale score and STA graft flow was statistically analyzed.

Results

In total, 81 patients (43 males and 38 females) successfully underwent STA‐MCA bypass and were included in this study. The mean flow rates in the STA‐PB graft on 1 day preoperatively, 1 day postoperatively, 7 days postoperatively, and >6 months postoperatively (long‐term) were 10.81, 116.74, 118.44, and 56.20 mL/min respectively. Intraoperative graft patency was confirmed in all patients. Comparing the preoperative and all postoperative time points, the STA‐PB flow rates were statistically significant (p < 0.001). The MCA‐C score was significantly associated with postoperative flow rate on day 1 (p = 0.007).

Conclusion

The STA is a useful donor artery for direct revascularization inpatients with MMD and can provide sufficient blood supply to the ischemic cerebral territory.
Regional geometric differences between regurgitant and non‐regurgitant mitral valves in patients with coronary artery disease
Authors: Sharkey Aidan , Mahmood Feroze , Hai Ting , Khamooshian Arash , Gao Zhifeng , Amador Yannis , Khabbaz Kamal
Published: April 2023

Objective

Demonstrate that regional geometric differences exist between regurgitant and non‐regurgitant mitral valves (MV's) in patients with coronary artery disease and due to the heterogenous and regional nature of ischemic remodeling in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), that the available anatomical reserve and likelihood of developing mitral regurgitation (MR) is variable in non‐regurgitant MV's in patients with CAD.

Methods

In this retrospective, observational study intraoperative three‐dimensional transesophageal echocardiographic data was analyzed in patients undergoing coronary revascularization with MR (IMR group) and without MR (NMR group). Regional geometric differences between both groups were assessed and MV reserve which was defined as the increase in antero‐posterior (AP) annular diameter from baseline that would lead to coaptation failure was calculated in three zones of the MV from antero‐lateral (zone 1), middle (zone 2), and posteromedial (zone 3).

Measurements and Main Results

There were 31 patients in the IMR group and 93 patients in the NMR group. Multiple regional geometric differences existed between both groups. Most significantly patients in the NMR group had significantly larger coaptation length and MV reserve than the IMR group in zones 1 (p‐value = .005, .049) and 2 (p‐value = .00, .00), comparable between the two groups in zone 3 (p‐value = .436, .513). Depletion of the MV reserve was associated with posterior displacement of the coaptation point in zones 2 and 3.

Conclusions

There are significant regional geometric differences between regurgitant and non‐regurgitant MV's in patients with coronary artery disease. Due to regional variations in available anatomical reserve and the risk of coaptation failure in patients with CAD, absence of MR is not synonymous with normal MV function.
Individual, familial, and sociocontextual correlates of maternal caregiving among African American adolescents in public housing
Authors: Lombe Margaret , Newransky Chrisann , Nebbitt Von , Amano Takashi , Yu Mansoo , Enelamah Ngozi V. , Chu Yoosun , Walden Najjuwah
Published: April 2023

Objective

African American adolescents (N = 372), recruited from public housing in three large U.S. cities, participated in this study that explores individual, familial, and sociocontextual correlates of maternal caregiving profiles, based on supervision and encouragement.

Background

Maternal caregivers play an important role in ensuring the safety and welfare of adolescents as they encounter multiple challenges in their social environment. Public housing magnifies the risk of experiencing such challenges for African American adolescents. Evidence on the experiences of African American adolescents living in public housing is scarce. Our study contributes to this body of knowledge by exploring profiles of maternal caregivers, based on supervision and encouragement, their association with demographics, and familial and sociocontextual challenges among adolescents in public housing.

Method

Using multinomial logistic regression, we explore the associations between profiles of maternal caregiving, based on supervision and encouragement and adolescent characteristics, adolescents' experiences, and assessment of their family (e.g., quality of parent–child relationship, family conflict) and sociocontextual (e.g., peer influence, victimization, witnessing of community violence).

Results

Adolescents living in households with high levels of maternal encouragement and supervision reported a high‐quality relationship with their caregivers and less witnessing of community violence. These adolescents were also less likely to report victimization.

Conclusions

The study identified parenting strategies that could potentially reduce risks of adverse exposures among urban African American youth in public housing. Practitioners and policymakers must consider programs to bolster these strategies and further serve urban African American adolescents in challenging environments.
Family–Friendship Linkages in Youths With Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: Brown Cynthia E. , Sheerin Kaitlin M. , Quetsch Lauren B. , Borduin Charles M.
Published: April 2023

Objective

To examine the relative contribution of family functioning to friendship quality in youths with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Background

Youths with ASD often experience problems in their friendships. Although researchers have identified linkages between individual youth characteristics and friendship difficulties in youths with ASD, much less is known about the possible linkages between family and friendship problems in this population. However, the family system is an important context in which youths with ASD can learn skills that are necessary for developing friendships.

Method

The current study examined the relations of key dimensions of family functioning and caregiver romantic relationships to central domains of friendship quality in youths with ASD, while also accounting for individual characteristics of the youths. Participants included youths with ASD (N = 93) and their primary caregivers who completed measures that assessed family, caregiver, and friendship variables.

Results

Hierarchical linear regression models revealed that family functioning and caregiver romantic relationships explained significant variance in domains of youth friendship quality above and beyond individual youth characteristics.

Conclusion

Friendships in youths with ASD were more strongly related to important elements of the family system than to various characteristics of the individual youth.

Implications

Family relations should be considered in interventions that aim to improve peer relations for youth with ASD.
The MAD2B‐APC/C‐MDM2 axis mediates acute kidney injury by modulating p53
Authors: Hao Zhe , Yuan Qian , Tang Hui , Lei Chuntao , Chen Yu , Su Hua , Zhang Chun
Published: April 2023

P53 is a master regulator modulating the progression of acute kidney injury (AKI). However, the mechanism underlying p53 regulation in AKI needs further investigation. Mitotic arrest deficient 2 like 2 (MAD2B) is a subunit of DNA polymerase ζ. Its role in AKI remains unclear. Here, we demonstrated that MAD2B acted as an endogenous suppressor of p53. MAD2B conditional knockout augmented the upregulation of p53 in kidneys suffering from cisplatin‐induced AKI, therefore promoting the deterioration of renal function, G1 phase arrest and apoptosis of proximal tubular epithelial cells. Mechanistically, MAD2B deficiency activated the anaphase‐promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C), which is an inhibitor of the well‐characterized p53‐directed E3 ligase MDM2. The decreased MDM2 diminished the degradation of p53, resulting in the upregulation of p53. The APC/C antagonist proTAME ameliorated cisplatin‐induced AKI and blocked MAD2B knockdown‐induced p53 upregulation and reduced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in tubular epithelial cells by upregulating MDM2. These results indicate that MAD2B is a novel target for inhibiting p53 and ameliorating AKI.
Small rails from the late Quaternary of the Southern High Plains and their palaeoenvironmental context
Authors: Moretti John A. , Johnson Eileen
Published: April 2023

The fossil record of birds from the Quaternary Period (2.58 mya to present) of North America sheds light on modern patterns of diversity and geographical distribution. Fossils from the late Pleistocene and early Holocene document the presence of multiple species of small rails on the Southern High Plains. Black Rails, Virginia Rails and Soras occurred throughout regional drainages from ~ 11 000 to 8500 years ago. Age and palaeoenvironmental data associated with the rail remains provide temporal and ecological context. Those data link the past populations to extant populations occurring as migrants to the region today. The total record reveals that Black Rails, Virginia Rails and Soras occur on the Southern High Plains today despite major changes in climate, environments, biota and habitats since the late Pleistocene–early Holocene. Anthropogenic changes to regional wetlands in the present day threaten the occurrence of small rails across the Southern High Plains.
Rapid assessment of the extent of feral introgression in British and Irish Rock Dove (Columba livia) populations
Authors: Smith William J.
Published: April 2023

Interbreeding of related forms following anthropogenic activity can lead to genomic homogenization, contributing to decreasing biodiversity. Assessing spatiotemporal variation in the extent of introgression is important for conservation but can be expensive and logistically complex. The Rock DoveColumba liviais threatened by interbreeding with its feral conspecific and it is difficult to identify wild birds when wild, feral and mixed populations exist. Here, using British and Irish populations, I assess whether the proportion of birds with wild type plumage corresponds to distinctive head morphotypes differing between Rock Doves and feral pigeons, and whether plumage can be used to identify Rock Dove flocks and infer the extent of hybridization. I also determine whether plumage proportions have changed since a prior study was carried out in the 1960s. I show that flocks in which > 75% of individuals have wild type plumage consist of Rock Doves, as determined by head morphotype. Plumage proportions vary geographically, corroborating known genomic assessments of Scottish and Irish Rock Doves. Finally, the number of birds with aberrant plumages has increased since the 1960s, even in regions where no such birds were identified previously. This highlights the value of the Rock Dove as a current case study with which to explore the process of extinction by hybridization.
The characterization of Pluronic P123 micelles in the presence of sunscreen agents
Authors: Ragu Pauline , Ruparelia Ketan , Venero Diego Alba , Mansour Omar T.
Published: April 2023

Objectives

The triblock copolymer Pluronic® is widely used in the personal care industry, including sun protection, for its film‐forming and solubilization capabilities. In this study, the effect of three commonly used organic UV filters (ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate [EMC], ethylhexyl triazone [EHT], and avobenzone [AVB]) on the structure of Pluronic P123 micelles was investigated.

Methods

The Pluronic P123 micelle structure has been investigated using dynamic surface tension, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and small‐angle neutron scattering (SANS).

Results

Dynamic surface tension results show strong interactions between the UV filters and Pluronic® evident by sharp changes in the surface activity of the latter. The NMR results have revealed the creation of a hydrophobic microenvironment special to the Pluronic PPO core group in the presence of UV filters. Some interaction with the hydrophilic EO was also recorded, albeit weaker. This is further confirmed by SANS, where the Pluronic P123 micelles interacted with varying strengths with the UV filters, resulting in sharp changes in their size and shape.

Conclusions

We have demonstrated the sensitivity of the Pluronic P123 micelles to the presence of various UVA/B filters. The micelles shape varied from spherical to cylindrical as the concentration and type of the UV filters were varied. These variations in the shape are expected to have a significant effect on the sun protection factor (SPF), as it affects the solubilization of the UV filters within a formulation in addition to the formulations' rheological profile and film‐forming behaviour.
Dehydration‐driven mass loss from packs of sintering hydrous silicate glass particles
Authors: Vasseur Jérémie , Wadsworth Fabian B. , Lavallée Yan , Dingwell Donald B.
Published: April 2023

Glass sintering involves the densification of packs of particles and the expulsion of the interparticle pore gas. The pore space begins as a convolute interconnected interparticle network, and ends as distributed isolated bubbles; two configurations that are separated by the percolation threshold. Here, we perform experiments in which (i) the particles are initially saturated in H2O at 871 K, and (ii) they are then heated non‐isothermally at different rates to temperatures in excess of 871 K. In step (ii), H2O becomes supersaturated and the particles diffusively lose mass as they sinter together. We use thermogravimetry to track the loss of mass with time. We find that the mass loss is initially well predicted by solutions to Fick's second law in spherical coordinates with the appropriate material and boundary conditions. However, as the sintering pack crosses the percolation threshold at a time predicted by sintering theory, we find that the mass loss deviates from simple diffusional solutions. We interpret this to be the result of an increase in the diffusion distance from the particle‐scale to the scale of the sintering pack itself. Therefore, we conclude that the open‐ to closed‐system transition that occurs at the percolation threshold is a continuous, but rapid jump for diffusive and other transport properties. We use a capillary Peclet number Pc to parameterize for this transition, such that at low Pc diffusive equilibrium is achieved before the sintering‐induced transition to closed system, whereas at high Pcthere is a “diffusion crisis” and disequilibrium may be maintained for longer relative timescales that depend on the system size.
High‐temperature self‐lubricating properties of single‐phase high‐entropy carbides under a vacuum environment
Authors: Sun Qichun , Zhu Shengyu , Cheng Jun , Tan Hui , Chen Juanjuan , Chen Jiao , Yang Jun , Liu Weimin
Published: April 2023

It is an enormous challenge to develop single‐phase ceramics with satisfactory self‐lubricity because of the strong chemical bonding and difficult to shearing. In this study, (Hf0.2X0.2Nb0.2Ta0.2Ti0.2)C (X is Zr, W, and V, respectively) single‐phase high‐entropy ceramics can in situ formed tribo‐film on the contact region during sliding process to achieve an excellent self‐lubricating property. The friction coefficient is as low as 0.34 at 400°C. This originates from the carbon‐rich tribo‐films which are generated under the effect of high‐temperature tribo‐induced. With the test temperature increasing, the wear mechanism changes from abrasive wear to oxidative wear. For the 900°C, the tribo‐oxidative film limits the direct contact between tribo‐couple and enhances the tribological performances. Moreover, the compositions of the tribo‐films also have an important effect on the tribological behaviors. This novel design concept—using own constituent elements to generate a lubricating tribo‐film will provide a new strategy for the study of the single‐phase self‐lubricating ceramics.
The role of niche breadth in oak phylogeography: Quercus glaucoides as a study case
Authors: Gaytán‐Legaria Ricardo , Oyama Ken , Ruiz‐Sánchez Eduardo , González‐Rodríguez Antonio
Published: April 2023

Aim

The extent of genetic diversity and its distribution among populations have been associated with species attributes such as mating system, dispersal ability and geographic range size. Another attribute that could contribute to intraspecific phylogeographic patterns is niche breadth, but this has rarely been tested. Here, we ask whether a Mexican oak with a comparatively narrow climatic niche breadth has distinct genetic diversity patterns compared to other codistributed oaks with a broader climatic niche.

Location

Mexico.

Taxon

Quercus glaucoides M. Martens & Galeotti (Fagaceae).

Methods

Descriptors of genetic diversity and structure were calculated for 21 Q. glaucoides populations using chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) and nuclear microsatellites (nSSRs). Historical demographic dynamics were inferred with approximate Bayesian computation (ABC) and past potential distribution models. To test for an association between niche breadth and phylogeographic patterns, we used genetic diversity and differentiation values of Q. glaucoides plus those previously published for 10 other Mexican oak taxa. Niche breadth was estimated for all taxa and linear regressions were performed.

Results

Genetic diversity calculated from nSSRs (HO = 0.539; HE = 0.714) was among the lowest and cpDNA differentiation (NST = 0.88) was the highest so far obtained for comparable Mexican oaks. Moderate changes in demographic size and distribution shifts throughout the last glacial cycle were inferred, explaining some of the observed genetic patterns. A positive correlation of HO and a negative correlation of NST with niche breadth were detected across taxa.

Main Conclusions

Distinct phylogeographic patterns in Q. glaucoides could be explained because a narrower niche may cause lower historical effective population sizes and more fragmented distributions in comparison to species with a wider niche breadth, even with similar range sizes. Our results indicate that niche breadth would be an interesting ecological attribute to be included in future comparative phylogeographic studies.
Selection of patients for hybrid ablation procedure
Authors: De Lurgio David B.
Published: April 2023

Catheter ablation for treatment of symptomatic non‐paroxysmal atrial fibrillation remains challenging. Clinical failure and need for continued medical therapy or repeat ablation is common, especially in more advanced forms of atrial fibrillation. Hybrid ablation has emerged as a more effective and safe therapy than endocardial‐only ablation particularly for longstanding persistent atrial fibrillation as demonstrated by the randomized controlled CONVERGE trial. Hybrid ablation requires collaboration of electrophysiologists and cardiac surgeons to develop specific workflows. This review describes the Hybrid Convergent approach in the context of available ablation options and offers guidance for workflow development and patient selection.
First‐trimester plasma extracellular heat shock proteins levels and risk of preeclampsia
Authors: Robellada‐Zárate Claudia Melina , Luna‐Palacios Janelly Estefania , Caballero Carlos Agustín Zapata , Acuña‐González Juan Pablo , Lara‐Pereyra Irlando , González‐Azpeitia Diego Iván , Acuña‐González Ricardo Josué , Moreno‐Verduzco Elsa Romelia , Flores‐Herrera Héctor , Osorio‐Caballero Mauricio
Published: April 2023

Preeclampsia (PE) occurs annually in 8% of pregnancies. Patients without risk factors represent 10% of these. There are currently no first‐trimester biochemical markers that accurately predict PE. An increase in serum 60‐ and 70‐KDa extracellular heat shock proteins (eHsp) has been shown in patients who developed PE at 34 weeks. We sought to determine whether there is a relationship between first‐trimester eHsp and the development of PE. This was a prospective cohort study performed at a third level hospital in Mexico City from 2019 to 2020. eHsp levels were measured during the first‐trimester ultrasound in singleton pregnancies with no comorbidities. First‐trimester eHsp levels and biochemical parameters of organ dysfunction were compared between patients who developed preeclampsia and those who did not. All statistical analyses and model of correlation (r) between eHsp and clinical parameter were performed using bootstrapping R‐software. p‐values <0.05 were considered significant. The final analysis included 41 patients. PE occurred in 11 cases. eHsp‐60 and eHsp−70 were significantly higher at 12 weeks in patients who developed PE (p = 0.001), while eHsp‐27 was significantly lower (p = 0.004). Significant differences in first‐trimester eHsp concentration suggest that these are possible early biomarkers useful for the prediction of PE.
Structure–energy relationship of food materials using differential scanning calorimetry
Authors: Saadi Sami , Ariffin Abdul Azis , Ghazali Hasanah Mohd , Saari Nazamid , Mohammed Abdulkarim Sabo , Anwar Farooq , Hamid Azizah Abdul , Nacer Nor Elhouda
Published: April 2023

The use of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) in the food authentication and process‐chain traceability has raised significant amelioration in terms of structure and stability of some structured foods. In this review article DSC is used to raise other quantitative energy parameters related to structural reconformation and variation in the intra‐molecular dimension of studied materials. These properties are explained by the respective energy models involving (1) quantum energy, (2) quantum mass, and (3) quantum velocity. These models parameters are explored as well as on from enthalpy, entropy, heat capacity, and Gibbs free energy of transition in determining the nucleation energy relevant to crystallization and polymorphic transformation of some studied food‐materials.

Practical Application

Differential scanning calorimetry is remaining the powerful thermoanalytical tool used in studying the mechanism of crystallization, polymorphism, and structural reconformation of biological matters. The expression of energetic parameters on from enthalpy, entropy, heat capacity, and Gibbs free energy of transition help in determining the nucleation energy whether is stable or in the meta‐static forms. In addition these energy parameters are the key elements in understanding whether the food materials undergoing denaturation, unfolding or reversible folding, meaning that DSC is able in determining the status of food materials whether is stable or instable as well as the texture whether is soft, grainy, or coarse and also the polymorphic forms of the crystals and stability of the emulsions. Thus, gathering information on the thermal analysis using DSC helped in establishing some model correlation between energy and structure in association with the chemical composition changes of some model of oils and fats.
Platform Price Parity Clauses and Consumer Obfuscation*
Authors: Heresi José Ignacio
Published: April 2023

Several antitrust authorities have investigated platform price parity clauses around the world. I analyze the impact of these clauses when platforms design a search environment for sellers and buyers to interact. In a model where platforms choose the unit search cost faced by consumers, I show when platforms can profitably obfuscate consumers through high search costs. Then, I show that price parity clauses, when exogenously given, can increase or reduce obfuscation, prices, and consumer surplus. Finally, when price parity clauses are endogenous, they are only observed in equilibrium if they hurt consumers.
Effect of a protease‐activated receptor‐2 antagonist (GB88) on inflammation‐related loss of alveolar bone in periodontal disease
Authors: Francis Nidhish , Sanaei Reza , Ayodele Babatunde A. , O'Brien‐Simpson Neil M. , Fairlie David P. , Wijeyewickrema Lakshmi C. , Pike Robert N. , Mackie Eleanor Jean , Pagel Charles Neil
Published: April 2023

Background and Objective

Protease‐activated receptor‐2 (PAR2), a pro‐inflammatory G‐protein coupled receptor, has been associated with pathogenesis of periodontitis and the resulting bone loss caused by oral pathogens, including the keystone pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis). We hypothesised that administration of a PAR2 antagonist, GB88, might prevent inflammation and subsequent alveolar bone resorption in a mouse model of periodontal disease.

Methods

Periodontitis was induced in mice by oral inoculations with P. gingivalis for a total of eight times over 24 days. The infected mice were treated with either GB88 or vehicle for the duration of the trial. Following euthanasia on day 56, serum was collected and used for the detection of mast cell tryptase. The right maxillae were defleshed and stained with methylene blue to measure the exposed cementum in molar teeth. The left maxillae were prepared for cryosections followed by staining for tartrate‐resistant acid phosphatase to identify osteoclasts or with toluidine blue to identify mast cells. Reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT‐qPCR) was used to quantify the expression of inflammatory cytokines in the gingival tissue. Supernatants of T‐lymphocyte cultures isolated from the regional lymph nodes were assayed using a cytometric bead array to measure the Th1/Th2/Th17 cytokine levels.

Results

Measurement of the exposed cementum showed that GB88 reduced P. gingivalis‐induced alveolar bone loss by up to 69%. GB88 also prevented the increase in osteoclast numbers observed in the infected mice. Serum tryptase levels were significantly elevated in both the infected groups, and not altered by treatment. RT‐qPCR showed that GB88 prevented the upregulation of Il1b, Il6, Ifng and Cd11b. In T‐lymphocyte supernatants, only IFNγ and IL‐17A levels were increased in response to infection, but this was prevented by GB88 treatment.

Conclusions

GB88 significantly reduced osteoclastic alveolar bone loss in mice infected with P. gingivalis, seemingly by preventing the upregulation of several inflammatory cytokines. PAR2 antagonism may be an effective treatment strategy for periodontal disease.
Household animal ownership is associated with infant animal source food consumption in Bangladesh
Authors: Pasqualino Monica M. , Shaikh Saijuddin , Islam Md Tanvir , Parvin Shahnaj , Ali Hasmot , McGready John , Labrique Alain B. , Hossain Md Iqbal , Palmer Amanda C.
Published: April 2023

Context‐specific research is needed on the relationship between household animal production and nutrition outcomes to inform programmes intervening in small‐scale animal production. We examined associations between household animal/fishpond ownership and animal source food (ASF) consumption among 6‐ to 12‐month‐old infants enroled in the control arm of a cluster‐randomised controlled trial in rural Bangladesh. We measured ASF consumption using a 7‐day food frequency questionnaire at 6, 9 and 12 months and assessed household animal/fishpond ownership at 12 months. We developed negative binomial regression models with random intercepts for infant and cluster, controlling for infant age and sex, maternal age, socioeconomic status and season. Models were stratified by a dichotomised maternal decision‐making score. Compared with infants in households without each animal type, those with 4–10 and ≥11 poultry consumed eggs 1.3 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.1, 1.6) and 1.6 (95% CI: 1.3, 2.0) times more, respectively; 2–3 and ≥4 dairy‐producing animals consumed dairy 1.9 (95% CI: 1.3, 2.7) and 2.0 (95% CI: 1.3, 3.1) times more, respectively; and ≥12 meat‐producing animals consumed meat 1.4 (95% CI: 1.0, 1.8) times more. It was unclear whether there was an association between fishpond ownership and fish consumption. Our results did not suggest that maternal decision‐making power was a modifier in the relationship between animal/fishpond ownership and ASF consumption. In this South Asian context, strategies intervening in household animal production may increase infant consumption of eggs, dairy and meat, but not necessarily fish. Research is needed on the role of market access and other dimensions of women's empowerment.
Existence and the existential quantifier
Authors: Rabin Gabriel Oak
Published: April 2023

This paper draws a distinction between the existential quantifier and the symbol ‘∃’ used to express it, on the one hand, and existence and ‘exists’, on the other. It argues that some popular arguments in metaphysics, including arguments against vague existence and arguments against deflationary metaontology (which views ontological disputes as lacking substance), are guilty of fudging this distinction. The paper draws some lessons for metaphysical debate about existence and highlights some heretofore ignored and attractive positions in logical space.
Effect of manipulating the vergence/accommodation and image size mismatches of the ±2D flipper test on the frequency and precision of accommodative facility
Authors: Vera Jesús , Redondo Beatriz , Martínez‐Tovar José Miguel , Molina Rubén , Koulieris George A. , Allen Peter M. , Jiménez Raimundo
Published: April 2023

Purpose

The ±2.00 D accommodative facility test presents several limitations, including the lack of objective information and inherent characteristics such as vergence/accommodative conflict, change in apparent size of the image, subjective criteria for judging blur and motor reaction time. By using free‐space viewing conditions and an open‐field autorefractor to monitor the refractive state, we examined the impact of manipulating these factors on the qualitative and quantitative assessment of accommodative facility.

Methods

Twenty‐five healthy young adults (24.5 ± 4.5 years) took part in this study. Participants performed three accommodative facility tests (adapted flipper, 4D free‐space viewing and 2.5D free‐space viewing) under both monocular and binocular conditions in random order. A binocular open‐field autorefractor was used to assess the accommodative response continuously, and these data were used to characterise accommodative facility quantitatively and qualitatively.

Results

There were statistically significant differences between the three testing methods both quantitatively (p < 0.001) and qualitatively (p = 0.02). For the same accommodative demand, a lower number of cycles was obtained for the adapted flipper condition in comparison with the 4D free‐space viewing test (corrected p‐value < 0.001, Cohen's d = 0.78). However, this comparison did not reach statistical significance for qualitative measures of accommodative facility (corrected p‐value = 0.82, Cohen's d 0.05).

Conclusions

These data provide evidence that the qualitative assessment of accommodative facility is not influenced by the inherent limitations of the ±2.00 D flipper test. The use of qualitative outcomes by incorporating an open‐field autorefractor allows examiners to increase the validity of the accommodative facility test in both clinical and research settings.
Regulation of lipid metabolism by gut microbiota in aquatic animals
Authors: Wu Shangong , Pan Meijing , Zan Ziye , Jakovlić Ivan , Zhao Weishan , Zou Hong , Ringø Einar , Wang Guitang
Published: April 2023

Lipids are an essential component of living beings and an important group of nutrients. As the gut microbiota plays important roles in the intestinal absorption and extraintestinal metabolism of dietary lipids, the current review addresses the recent progress regarding the interactions between the gut microbiota and lipid metabolism in aquatic animals, with a focus on fish. We discuss in detail how dietary lipid sources and content affect the composition of the gut microbiome and the mechanism by which the gut microbiota affects the lipid metabolism of the host. This interaction is largely mediated via microbial lipases, short‐chain fatty acids and the gut‐liver axis. The latter refers to the metabolism of biliary salts and acids, the regulation of their synthesis by gut microbes and their impact on the lipid metabolism. Finally, we briefly discuss how probiotic supplementation modulates the host's microbiome, and how probiotics have a beneficial effect on health and welfare of farmed aquatic animals. Although the influence of intestinal microbiota on lipid metabolism has been explored before, further research is needed to profoundly investigate the molecular mechanisms by which microbial metabolites (SCFAs and bile acids) induce lipid metabolism.
How to convert whole‐blood donors to plasma donors: An investigation of the mechanisms of awareness of need for plasma and donors' perception of response efficacy
Authors: Saltzmann Carolin
Published: April 2023

Background

Blood donation services need to increase plasma donations to match the rising demand. However, evidence on how to best recruit donors among whole‐blood donors is limited. Therefore, this study evaluated the effectiveness of a conversion strategy based on two different mechanisms that drive donor behavior: (a) awareness of the need for plasma donation and (b) perception of response efficacy regarding plasma donation.

Study Design and Methods

An online experiment with 246 German Red Cross whole‐blood donors (possibility of plasma donation, blood group AB) was conducted using a 2 × 2 factorial, between‐subject setup, and a pre–post treatment measurement. The mechanisms varied and were addressed with experimental treatments and measured. Analyses of variance and hierarchical regression models were used to analyze the effects on intention and behavior.

Results

The intention to donate plasma was low, but increased with treatment (mean valueoverall of intentionbeforeTreatment = 2.63, SD = 1.73 vs. intentionafterTreatment = 3.28, SD = 1.92). Furthermore, 31% of participants expressed willingness to be forwarded to the appointment‐scheduling system of the blood donation service for further information. Only the mechanism of response efficacy was significantly associated with the intention to donate plasma (βEfficacy = .254, p = .001; βAwareness of Need = .126, p = .070).

Discussion

A conversion strategy based on making donors aware of their response efficacy is a promising way to optimize donor panels by shifting them to where they have the greatest impact. However, this study also substantiates the difficulty of such an effort. Blood donation services should invest in persuasion efforts and build personalized integrated marketing communications.
COVID-19: Secure Healthcare Internet of Things Networks, Current Trends and Challenges with Future Research Directions
Authors: Adil Muhammad , Ali Jehad , Jadoon Muhammad Mohsin , Alotaibi Sattam Rabia , Kumar Neeraj , Farouk Ahmed , Song Houbing
Published: April 2023

The number of affirmed COVID-19 cases showed an enormous increase in the recent past throughout the globe. Keeping in view the catastrophic destruction of this devastating virus, there is a must-need situation to maximize the use of existing healthcare technologies such as the healthcare Internet of Things (H-IoT). In healthcare, patient wearable devices are widely recognized as a dormant technology with enormous capabilities to assess and combat various diseases, e.g., cough, seizure, temperature, heartbeat, and so on. As we know, in the H-IoT, patient-wearable devices are dispersed in an infrastructure-free environment that exposes them to several private and public coercion while accumulating and transmitting high sensitive data over the wireless communication channel. Therefore, security is the main concern of these applications, and thus, the primary focus of this article to outline the limitations and challenges in the present literature from 2019 to 2021, to identify the requirements of H-IoT applications used in the context of COVID-19. Following this, we will move one step ahead to explore the current security techniques adopted in these applications. Consequently, we will identify the network architectural, cryptographic, protocols, and operational security challenges during our study to recommend viable research directions and opportunities, which could be helpful and capable to minimize the network architecture, deployment, and maintenance cost with more productive outcomes.
Privacy Policies across the Ages: Content of Privacy Policies 1996–2021
Authors: Wagner Isabel
Published: April 2023

It is well known that most users do not read privacy policies but almost always tick the box to agree with them. While the length and readability of privacy policies have been well studied and many approaches for policy analysis based on natural language processing have been proposed, existing studies are limited in their depth and scope, often focusing on a small number of data practices at single point in time. In this article, we fill this gap by analyzing the 25-year history of privacy policies using machine learning and natural language processing and presenting a comprehensive analysis of policy contents. Specifically, we collect a large-scale longitudinal corpus of privacy policies from 1996 to 2021 and analyze their content in terms of the data practices they describe, the rights they grant to users, and the rights they reserve for their organizations. We pay particular attention to changes in response to recent privacy regulations such as the GDPR and CCPA. We observe some positive changes, such as reductions in data collection post-GDPR, but also a range of concerning data practices, such as widespread implicit data collection for which users have no meaningful choices or access rights. Our work is an important step toward making privacy policies machine readable on the user side, which would help users match their privacy preferences against the policies offered by web services.
Frailty and Age-Associated Assessments Associated with Chronic Kidney Disease and Transplantation Outcomes
Authors: Fulinara Christian P. , Huynh Alina , Goldwater Deena , Abdalla Basmah , Schaenman Joanna
Published: April 2023

Background. Frailty is often defined as a decrease in physiological reserve and has been shown to be correlated with adverse health outcomes and mortality in the general population. This condition is highly prevalent in the chronic kidney disease (CKD) patient population as well as in kidney transplant (KT) recipients. Other age-associated changes include sarcopenia, nutrition, cognition, and depression. In assessing the contributions of these components to patient outcomes and their prevalence in the CKD and KT patient population, it can be determined how such variables may be associated with frailty and the extent to which they may impact the adverse outcomes an individual may experience. Objectives. We sought to perform a systematic literature review to review published data on frailty and associated age-associated syndromes in CKD and KT patients. Results. Over 80 references pertinent to frailty, sarcopenia, nutrition, cognition, or depression in patients with CKD or KT were identified. Systematic review was performed to evaluate the data supporting the use of the following approaches: Fried Frailty, Short Physical Performance Battery, Frailty Index, Sarcopenia Index, CT scan quantification of muscle mass, health-related quality of life, and assessment tools for nutrition, cognition, and depression. Conclusion. This report represents a comprehensive review of previously published research articles on this topic. The intersectionality between all these components in contributing to the patient’s clinical status suggests a need for a multifaceted approach to developing comprehensive care and treatment for the CKD and KT population to improve outcomes before and after transplantation.