bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development of β‐SiAlON/12H composite and their cutting performance on Inconel 718 turning
Authors: Kula Gökhan , Kara Ferhat
Published: March 2024

In this study, the development of β‐SiAlON/12H polytype composites for the turning of Inconel 718 was investigated. Various sintering additives, including La2O3, Sm2O3, Y2O3, and their combinations, were used to obtain β‐SiAlON/12H polytype composites. It was found that β‐SiAlON/12H polytype composite with a reasonable amount (12%–14%) of the 12H phase was developed by using La2O3–Y2O3 as codopant and Sm2O3 as a single dopant. The presence of Y2O3 led to a substantial amount of undesired α‐SiAlON formation due to its smaller cation size. Although adjusting the AlN/Al2O3 ratio in the composition could entirely prevent α‐SiAlON formation, this approach is only applicable to Sm2O3 dopant due to its larger cation size. β‐SiAlON/12H cutting tools have significantly less flank wear than a commercial β‐SiAlON and quite comparable to Al2O3–SiCw, which is widely used in Inconel 718 turning. No significant differences in cutting performance were observed between cutting tools made of β‐SiAlON/12H obtained by using different dopants.
Dielectric properties of polycrystalline and single‐crystal magnesium oxide at high temperatures
Authors: Devoe Alan , Trinh Hung , Dogan Fatih
Published: March 2024

The electrical properties of high‐purity magnesium oxide (MgO) samples sintered between 1500 and 1650°C were investigated up to 800°C. Dielectric constant, loss tangent and electrical conductivity were measured between 25 and 800°C. Optimum electrical properties were obtained for the sample sintered at 1600°C. The impurities in polycrystalline and single crystal MgO were discussed to understand their effect on electrical properties and the role of grain boundaries. Higher dielectric losses of polycrystalline samples as compared to the single crystal MgO were attributed to the presence of grain boundaries. MgO could be a useful dielectric material for capacitor applications up to 600°C.
Improving the functional properties of rice glutelin: impact of succinic anhydride modification
Authors: Luo Junjie , Wang Songyu , Xie Hexiang , Ouyang Kefan , Wang Can , Yang Yurui , Xiong Hua , Zhao Qiang
Published: March 2024

Rice glutelin is poorly soluble which restricts its potential food application. Succinylation is a chemical modification that improves the solubility of proteins by derivatising the ɛ‐amino group of lysine residues. In this study, rice glutelin was modified by succinic anhydride at different succinic anhydride concentrations (10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50%). The succinylated rice glutelin samples showed enhanced solubility, reduced particle size, and increased absolute zeta potential values. The emulsifying and foaming properties of succinylated rice glutelin were also significantly improved. Moreover, SEM revealed that the surface of succinylated rice glutelin had small pits and protrusions. These results suggest that succinylation can effectively improve the functional properties of rice glutelin, which will facilitate its application in the food industry.
Spatial extent predicts Andean epiphyte biodiversity responses to habitat loss and fragmentation across human‐modified landscapes
Authors: Parra‐Sanchez Edicson , Edwards David P.
Published: March 2024

Aim

Human‐driven landscape processes such as habitat loss and fragmentation act on biodiversity, but their effects are mediated by the spatial scale at which they are observed. We aim to analyse the scale‐of‐effects (direction and spatial extent) of landscape‐scale processes that best explain species richness and abundance across epiphyte communities.

Location

Neotropics, Northern Andes, Colombia, Eastern cordillera.

Taxon

Vascular epiphytes, Orchidaceae.

Methods

We used field data to unravel the scale‐of‐effect of three landscape processes—habitat loss (forest cover), fragmentation (number of patches) and edge effects (edge density)—on epiphyte biodiversity. Vascular epiphytes were sampled in the understorey across 141 plots within 23 Andean forests in the eastern Colombian cordillera We focused on the community‐level responses (species richness and total abundance) of the hyperdiverse vascular epiphyte communities using generalized linear mixed models to quantify the direction and the spatial extent of the scale‐of‐effects.

Results

Habitat loss and edge effects act at fine spatial extents (scale‐of‐effects = 200 m), predicting low species richness and abundance across groups. Likewise, fragmentation negatively impacts communities, but operates at larger spatial extents (scale‐of‐effects = 2000–2400 m radius). The detection of these effects is contingent upon the spatial extent and specific landscape processes involved. Models of habitat loss within a spatial extent of 800–1500 m (large confidence intervals), fragmentation below 300 m, and edge effects above 800 m show weak statistical support (marginal r2 = 0.02–0.1). Thus, the impacts of these landscape processes may be overlooked if studied at inadequate spatial extents.

Main Conclusions

We showed that habitat loss, fragmentation and edge effects all play a negative role on understorey epiphytic communities, but their detectability is scale dependant. The scale‐of‐effects can assist landscape designs that are beneficial for epiphytic communities, by preserving forest cover, and reducing fragmentation and exposure to edge effects at small scales (200–300 m). Conversely, landscape‐scale actions directed at reducing habitat loss and fragmentation function at larger spatial extents (>2000 m). Selecting a priori or inadequate spatial extents of analysis can obscure the detectability of landscape processes.
Revealing the palaeoecology of silent taxa: selecting proxy species from associations in modern vegetation data
Authors: Vanderhoorn Jacqui M. M. , Wilmshurst Janet M. , Richardson Sarah J. , Etherington Thomas R. , Perry George L. W.
Published: March 2024

Aim

Species severely under‐represented in fossil pollen records leave gaps in interpretations and reconstructions of past vegetation. These ‘silent taxa’ leave little or no trace due to low pollen production, dispersal, preservation and taxonomic resolution. An approach for including them is through associating them with other species with reliable pollen representation. Here, we demonstrate a method for selecting such a proxy species for the Holocene using modern vegetation data.

Location

New Zealand.

Taxon

Beilschmiedia tawa (A.Cunn.) Benth. & Hook. F. ex Kirk (Lauraceae).

Methods

We used vegetation plot data to perform a pairwise co‐occurrence analysis of the New Zealand indigenous forest metacommunity to identify species with a strong positive association with Beilschmiedia tawa (tawa), a common tree severely under‐recorded in the pollen record. For those species, we then modelled their realised climatic niches to identify species with high niche overlap. We discuss how well those species could be interpreted from the Holocene fossil pollen record based on the representation of their pollen taxa.

Results

Knightia excelsa (rewarewa; Proteaceae) is a potential proxy for B. tawa in Holocene fossil pollen records, and other, range‐limited species may provide community‐specific proxies. We show combining resampling with sub‐sampling is a robust method for reducing the high false positive rate associated with large co‐occurrence analyses (1000+ sites) by limiting the sample size to 100 sites.

Main Conclusions

We show that the palaeoecology of silent taxa can be studied via proxy species, allowing their past distributions to be better understood. We highlight the importance of modelling many aspects of the realised niche to understand the usefulness and limitations of the silent–proxy association. Future research should focus on testing the underlying assumptions of the silent–proxy relationship so that models built on modern data can confidently be applied to palaeoecological data.
Association between metformin treatment and coronary artery inflammation based on pericoronary adipose tissue attenuation in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients
Authors: Liu Yuankang , Dong Yue , Wang Xiang , Xu Xiangyang
Published: March 2024

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. The role of metformin in reducing cardiovascular events is well‐established, but its effect on coronary artery inflammation in T2DM patients is still unclear. In this study, we evaluated 547 T2DM patients who underwent coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) at Wuhan Central Hospital. Using propensity score matching, we compared the attenuation of pericoronary adipose tissue (PCAT), an imaging marker of coronary artery inflammation, between patients treated with and without metformin. Multiple linear regression models were used to analyze the influence of metformin on PCAT attenuation. The results of the propensity‐matched analysis showed that patients on metformin therapy had significantly lower PCAT attenuation, indicating reduced coronary inflammation. Specifically, the PCAT attenuation in the left anterior descending artery (LAD) and right coronary artery (RCA) was lower in the metformin group compared to the non‐metformin group. Metformin use was independently associated with decreased LAD‐PCAT attenuation in the multivariate regression analysis. The association of metformin with PCAT attenuation differed significantly in populations analyzed in subgroups of patients with obesity and chronic kidney disease. In conclusion, our study shows a preliminary signal that metformin therapy may be associated with decreased coronary artery inflammation in T2DM patients, as indicated by PCAT attenuation on CCTA. And this correlation may vary depending on the patient population. This initial finding suggests that PCAT attenuation could be potentially used as an imaging biomarker to monitor the anti‐inflammatory effects of medication.
Nomogram‐based risk assessment model for left ventricular hypertrophy in patients with essential hypertension: Incorporating clinical characteristics and biomarkers
Authors: Wang Chuang‐chang , Liang Li‐Keng , Luo Sheng‐ming , Wang Hui‐Cheng , Wang Xiao‐li , Cheng Ya‐Hui , Pan Guang‐ming , Peng Jiang‐Yang , Han Shu‐jie , Wang Xia
Published: March 2024

Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is a hypertensive heart disease that significantly escalates the risk of clinical cardiovascular events. Its etiology potentially incorporates various clinical attributes such as gender, age, and renal function. From mechanistic perspective, the remodeling process of LVH can trigger increment in certain biomarkers, notably sST2 and NT‐proBNP. This multicenter, retrospective study aimed to construct an LVH risk assessment model and identify the risk factors. A total of 417 patients with essential hypertension (EH), including 214 males and 203 females aged 31–80 years, were enrolled in this study; of these, 161 (38.6%) were diagnosed with LVH. Based on variables demonstrating significant disparities between the LVH and Non‐LVH groups, three multivariate stepwise logistic regression models were constructed for risk assessment: the “Clinical characteristics” model, the “Biomarkers” model (each based on their respective variables), and the “Clinical characteristics + Biomarkers” model, which amalgamated both sets of variables. The results revealed that the “Clinical characteristics + Biomarkers” model surpassed the baseline models in performance (AUC values of the “Clinical characteristics + Biomarkers” model, the “Biomarkers” model, and the “Clinical characteristics” model were .83, .75, and .74, respectively; P < .0001 for both comparisons). The optimized model suggested that being female (OR: 4.26, P <.001), being overweight (OR: 1.88, p = .02) or obese (OR: 2.36, p = .02), duration of hypertension (OR: 1.04, P = .04), grade III hypertension (OR: 2.12, P < .001), and sST2 (log‐transformed, OR: 1.14, P < .001) were risk factors, while eGFR acted as a protective factor (OR: .98, P = .01). These findings suggest that the integration of clinical characteristics and biomarkers can enhance the performance of LVH risk assessment.
METTL3 as a novel diagnosis and treatment biomarker and its association with glycolysis, cuproptosis and ceRNA in oesophageal carcinoma
Authors: Liu Xu‐Sheng , Zhang Yu , Liu Zi‐Yue , Gao Yan , Yuan Ling‐Ling , Zeng Dao‐Bing , Tan Fan , Wan Hua‐Bing , Pei Zhi‐Jun
Published: March 2024

METTL3 has been shown to be involved in regulating a variety of biological processes. However, the relationship between METTL3 expression and glycolysis, cuproptosis‐related genes and the ceRNA network in oesophageal carcinoma (ESCA) remains unclear. ESCA expression profiles from databases were obtained, and target genes were identified using differential analysis and visualization. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining assessed METTL3 expression differences. Functional enrichment analysis using GO, KEGG and GSEA was conducted on the co‐expression profile of METTL3. Cell experiments were performed to assess the effect of METTL3 interference on tumour cells. Correlation and differential analyses were carried out to assess the relationship between METTL3 with glycolysis and cuproptosis. qRT‐PCR was used to validate the effects of METTL3 interference on glycolysis‐related genes. Online tools were utilized to screen and construct ceRNA networks based on the ceRNA theory. METTL3 expression was significantly higher in ESCA compared to the controls. The IHC results were consistent with the above results. Enrichment analysis revealed that METTL3 is involved in multiple pathways associated with tumour development. Significant correlations were observed between METTL3 and glycolysis‐related genes and cuproptosis‐related gene. Experiments confirmed that interfered with METTL3 significantly inhibited glucose uptake and lactate production in tumour cells, and affected the expression of glycolytic‐related genes. Finally, two potential ceRNA networks were successfully predicted and constructed. Our study establishes the association between METTL3 overexpression and ESCA progression. Additionally, we propose potential links between METTL3 and glycolysis, cuproptosis and ceRNA, presenting a novel targeted therapy strategy for ESCA.
Prevalence of self‐reported severe periodontitis: Data from the population‐based CONSTANCES cohort
Authors: Wiernik Emmanuel , Renuy Adeline , Kab Sofiane , Steg Philippe Gabriel , Goldberg Marcel , Zins Marie , Caligiuri Giuseppina , Bouchard Philippe , Carra Maria Clotilde
Published: March 2024

Aim

To assess the prevalence of severe periodontitis based on the population‐based CONSTANCES cohort using a validated self‐reported questionnaire.

Materials and Methods

Individuals were selected from the adult population in France using a random sampling scheme. Analyses were restricted to those invited in 2013–2014 who completed the periodontal health questionnaire at the 2017 follow‐up. The risk of severe periodontitis was assessed using the periodontal screening score (PESS) and weighting coefficients were applied to provide representative results in the general French population.

Results

The study included 19,859 participants (9204 men, mean age: 52.8 ± 12.6 years). Based on a PESS ≥ 5, 7106 participants were at risk of severe periodontitis, corresponding to a weighted prevalence of 31.6% (95% confidence interval: 30.6%–32.7%). This prevalence was higher among participants aged 55 and over, those with lower socio‐economic status as well as current smokers, e‐cigarette users and heavy drinkers. Among individuals at risk of severe periodontitis, only 18.8% (17.3%–20.4%) thought they had gum disease, although 50.5% (48.6%–52.5%) reported that their last dental visit was less than 6 months.

Conclusions

The present survey indicates that (1) self‐reported severe periodontitis is highly prevalent with marked disparities between groups in the general French adult population, and (2) periodontitis could frequently be under‐diagnosed given the low awareness.
Commentary on the power of predictability: patterns of signals in early life shape neurodevelopment and mental health trajectories
Authors: Jaffee Sara R.
Published: March 2024

As Davis and Glynn observe in the introduction to their review, early life adversity is a significant impediment to healthy child development. Whereas some theoretical accounts emphasize the sheer number of physical and psychosocial risk factors children experience (Evans, Li, & Whipple, Psychological Bulletin, 2013, 139, 1342), Davis and Glynn review a program of research that is aligned with models highlighting the types of adversity children encounter. They expand on accounts that differentiate threat from deprivation (McLaughlin & Sheridan, Current Directions in Psychological Science, 2016, 25, 239) to draw attention to the role of unpredictability in children's development.
Inactivation of polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase in pineapple juice during continuous ohmic heating and modeling of inactivation kinetics during isothermal holding
Authors: Kumar Amardeep , Srivastava Brijesh
Published: March 2024

Continuous ohmic heating (COH) is a novel thermal technology for fruit juice processing and preservation. The present work demonstrated the effect of COH parameters like electric field strength (EFS: 30–40 V/cm), isothermal holding (0–60 s), and temperature (70–90°C) on the inactivation of polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POD) in standardized pineapple juice. Statistical parameters and Akaike information criteria were used to compare kinetic models like the first order, distinct isozymes, Weibull distribution, sigmoidal logistic, and fractional conversion for PPO and POD inactivation. The findings revealed that the COH parameters significantly affected the activities of both enzymes. A maximum inactivation of 68.2% of PPO and 82.2% of POD was observed at 90°C, 60 s, and 40 V/cm. The Weibull distribution model, compared to other models, was found to describe the inactivation kinetics better for both PPO (R2 > 0.99; RMSE < 0.0101) and POD (R2 > 0.98; RMSE < 0.042). The accuracy factor (Af) and bias factor (Bf) for both PPO (Af = 1.003–1.010; Bf = 1.000–1.004) and POD (Af = 1.007–1.072; Bf = 0.992–1.009) were closer to simulation line suggesting the accuracy of the Weibull model in predicting the enzyme inactivation. Also, Akaike increment (∆i < 2) substantially supported the Weibull model. The shape factor (n < 1) explained the tailing phenomenon of the enzymes. The PPO's scale factor (δ values) was higher than POD, suggesting higher thermal stability of PPO than POD. Thus, the Weibull model is a good tool for predicting the enzyme inactivation in COH‐treated standardized pineapple juice.

Practical Applications

Continuous ohmic heating (COH) is a novel electro‐thermal technology that heats the fruit juice quickly, uniformly, and volumetrically. Generally, for inactivating spoilage enzymes like polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase during pineapple juice processing in an industrial set‐up, a conventional method of conduction and convection mode of heat transfer is used. This results in a high‐temperature gradient within the juice matrix, causing a problem of over‐ and under‐processing of juice. Ohmic heating is a potential and efficient way of inactivating these spoilage enzymes to a desired level in a shorter processing time. It can be used to preserve juice by extending its shelf life. COH can reduce the total heat damage to the juice by maintaining its flavor and nutrient compounds. Overall, ohmic heating is a versatile and effective technology for the continuous processing of fruit juice for improved product quality and production efficiency.
Online detection of eggshell cracks using adaptive light‐source intensity
Authors: Sun Li , Sun Qingyuan , Cai Jianrong , Wu Zehong , Ding Wei
Published: March 2024

Under the fixed light source intensity (LSI), eggshell thickness difference results in excessive exposure or darkening in imaging, which affects the accuracy of crack identification. To optimize it, a solution involves the utilization of an innovative adaptive light source for optical imaging is proposed. A multi function station is adopted. Among them, one station serves as a reference workstation is utilized to obtain the average grayscale value of the eggs image. The other sub stations serve as detection workstations to acquire and detect the panoramic images of the eggshell. By using the red component average grayscale as a reference to adjust the LSI in the remaining sub stations, imaging consistency is effectively. Moreover, a dual threshold segmentation algorithm was developed to attenuate the dark spot, thereby improving crack detection. Experiments results demonstrating the proposed method significantly improving the detection accuracy of non microcracked eggs while achieving approximately 90% and 92% detection accuracy for intact and cracked eggs, respectively.

Practical Applications

There are a few studies on the consistency of light for eggs, and in actual online detection, the light source is often set to a fixed light intensity value, which can lead to overexposure or over‐darkening of the egg image due to variations in the eggshell thickness, and both overexposed and over‐darkened images will result in decreased accuracy of crack recognition. This study designed and built an online detection system for eggshell cracks based on variable light intensity. Therefore, the system not only can help to improve the crack recognition rate of poultry eggs and improve their quality but also would help to promote the development of the commercialization of poultry eggs, which has a broad application prospect.
Preservation of fruits through drying—A comprehensive review of experiments and modeling approaches
Authors: Kilic Mustafa , Sahin Mahir , Hassan Aitazaz , Ullah Atta
Published: March 2024

A significant part of the world's population still has problems in accessing food. The growing world population will exacerbate this issue in the future. Innovative studies conducted in this field play a crucial role in addressing the issue of drying and storage of foods. Atmospheric drying methods, such as rotary, tunnel, conveyor, cabinet, tower, and kiln dryers, offer advantages in relation to high production capacities, cost‐effective initial setup, and economical operating conditions. However, concurrently, the weaknesses of these methods arise from factors such as drying duration, uneven moisture content, and space requirements. The solar dryer method is especially effective in dehydrating agricultural products, offering an energy‐saving advantage compared to other methods. However, it is important to note that this approach, which involves exposing crops to direct sunlight, comes with several drawbacks affecting both food quality and health. In cases where the quality of highly valued foodstuffs is crucial, subatmospheric drying methods like vacuum, freeze, and microwave freeze are typically preferred. However, the primary drawback of this approach lies in its high operating costs, particularly in terms of energy consumption. Artificial neural networks (ANNs) can be used for predictive modeling, helping to forecast drying behavior and optimize process parameters in food drying applications especially nonlinear connections among variables. ANNs are adept at managing nonlinearities, offering a more precise depiction of the intricate interactions within food drying systems. This review examines articles from the last 5 years in the literature, synthesizing research conducted in food drying. The findings indicate a predominant interest among researchers in methodologies with lower environmental impact, prompting increased attention to studies addressing this aspect. There is a notable emphasis on the frequent exploration of energy‐efficient systems. The ongoing research focuses on the development of methods utilizing ultrasonic, infrared radiation, and electrohydrodynamic techniques to achieve more effective, shorter‐duration, energy‐efficient drying processes with enhanced control over the final product.
Comparing a fecal immunochemical test and circulating tumor DNA blood test for colorectal cancer screening adherence
Authors: Laven‐Law Geraldine , Symonds Erin L , Winter Jean M , Chen Gang , Flight Ingrid H , Hughes‐Barton Donna , Wilson Carlene J , Young Graeme P
Published: March 2024

Background and Aim

Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening programs are most effective at reducing disease incidence and mortality through sustained screening participation. A novel blood test modality is being explored for CRC screening, but it is unclear whether it will provide sustained screening participation. This study aimed to investigate whether a circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) blood test improved CRC screening re‐participation when compared with a fecal immunochemical test (FIT) and to define the predictors of sustained CRC screening in an Australian population.

Methods

South Australians who initially participated in CRC screening using a ctDNA blood test (n = 36) or FIT (n = 547) were offered the same CRC screening test approximately 2 years later through an extended phase of a randomized controlled trial. Surveys collected demographic, psychosocial, and clinical information. Predictors of CRC screening re‐participation were explored using chi‐square, Wilcoxon tests, and logistic regression.

Results

Participants offered a second ctDNA blood test were equally likely to re‐participate in CRC screening as those who completed a FIT in the first round and who were offered the same test (61% vs 66% re‐participation respectively, P = 0.6). CRC fatalism, health activation, and self‐efficacy were associated with repeated screening participation. Test awareness was predictive of repeated FIT‐based CRC screening.

Conclusions

Targeted interventions to improve CRC screening awareness and increase patient health activation may improve CRC screening adherence. A ctDNA blood test may be a suitable CRC screening option to maintain CRC screening adherence in people who do not participate in screening with FIT.
Morphological variation, modularity and integration in the scapula and humerus of Lissotriton newts
Authors: Urošević Aleksandar , Budečević Sanja , Ljubisavljević Katarina , Tomašević Kolarov Nataša , Ajduković Maja
Published: March 2024

The modular organization of tetrapod paired limbs and girdles, influenced by the expression of Hox genes is one of the primary driving forces of the evolution of animal locomotion. The increased morphological diversification of the paired limbs is correlated with reduced between‐limb covariation, while correlation within the elements is usually higher than between the elements. The tailed amphibians, such as Lissotriton newts, have a biphasic lifestyle with aquatic and terrestrial environments imposing different constraints on limb skeleton. By employing the methods of computerized microtomography and 3D geometric morphometrics, we explored the pattern of morphological variation, disparity, modularity and morphological integration in the proximal parts of the anterior limbs of six species of Eurasian small bodied newts. Although the species significantly differ in limb shape, there is a great overlap in morphology of scapula and humerus, and there are no differences in morphological disparity. For the scapula, the shape differences related to the duration of the aquatic period are in length, depth and curvature. The shape of the humerus is not affected by the length of aquatic period, and shape differences between the species are related to robustness of the body. The length of aquatic period has statistically supported phylogenetic signal. The scapula and humerus are structures of varying modularity. For the humerus, the strongest support on the phylogenetic level was for the capitulum/shaft hypothesis, which can also be interpreted as functional modularity. For the scapula, the greatest support was for the antero‐posterior hypothesis of modularity in case of Lissotriton vulgaris, which can be explained by different functional roles and muscle insertion patterns, while there was no phylogenetic modularity. The modularity patterns seem to correspond with the general tetrapod pattern, with modularity being more pronounced in the distal structure. The future research should include more salamandrid taxa with different habitat preferences and both adult and larval stages, in order to explore how size, phylogeny and ecology affect the morphology and covariation patterns of limbs.
Size and shape heterodonty in the early Permian synapsid Mesenosaurus efremovi
Authors: Maho Tea , Maho Sigi , Bevitt Joseph J. , Reisz Robert R.
Published: March 2024

Paleozoic synapsids represent the first chapter in the evolution of this large clade that includes mammals. These fascinating terrestrial vertebrates were the first amniotes to successfully adapt to a wide range of feeding strategies, reflected by their varied dental morphologies. Evolution of the marginal dentition on the mammalian side of amniotes is characterized by strong, size and shape heterodonty, with the late Permian therapsids showing heterodonty with the presence of incisiform, caniniform, and multicuspid molariform dentition. Rarity of available specimens has previously prevented detailed studies of dental anatomy and evolution in the initial chapter of synapsid evolution, when synapsids were able to evolve dentition for insectivory, herbivory, and carnivory. Numerous teeth, jaw elements, and skulls of the hypercarnivorous varanopid Mesenosaurus efremovi have been recently discovered in the cave systems near Richards Spur, Oklahoma, permitting the first detailed investigation of the dental anatomy of a Paleozoic tetrapod using multiple approaches, including morphometric and histological analyses. As a distant stem mammal, Mesenosaurus is the first member of this large and successful clade to exhibit a type of dental heterodonty that combines size and morphological (shape) variation of the tooth crowns. Here we present the first evidence of functional differentiation in the dentition of this early synapsid, with three distinct dental regions having diverse morphologies and functions. The quality and quantity of preserved materials has allowed us to identify the orientation and curvature of the carinae (cutting edges), and the variation and distribution of the ziphodonty (serrations) along the carinae. The shape‐related heterodonty seen in this taxon may have contributed to this taxon's ability to be a successful mid‐sized predator in the taxonomically diverse community of early Permian carnivores, but may have also extended the ecological resilience of this clade of mid‐sized predators across major faunal and environmental transitions.
Mergers, Product Prices, and Innovation: Evidence from the Pharmaceutical Industry
Authors: BONAIMÉ ALICE , WANG YE (EMMA)
Published: March 2024

Using novel data from the pharmaceutical industry, we study product prices and innovation around mergers. Exploiting within‐deal variation in product market consolidation, we show that prices increase more for drugs in consolidating markets than for matched control drugs. Estimates indicate a 2% average price effect that persists for about one year. Price increases expand with acquirer‐target product similarity and are more pronounced within less competitive product markets with fewer players and no generic competition. Examination of trade‐offs reveals these deals generate significant shareholder value. They also spur labeling and other manufacturing‐related innovation, but not the development of new drugs.
Utilizing imaging parameters for functional outcome prediction in acute ischemic stroke: A machine learning study
Authors: Ozkara Burak B. , Karabacak Mert , Hoseinyazdi Meisam , Dagher Samir A. , Wang Richard , Karadon Sadik Y. , Ucisik F. Eymen , Margetis Konstantinos , Wintermark Max , Yedavalli Vivek S.
Published: March 2024

Background and Purpose

We aimed to predict the functional outcome of acute ischemic stroke patients with anterior circulation large vessel occlusions (LVOs), irrespective of how they were treated or the severity of the stroke at admission, by only using imaging parameters in machine learning models.

Methods

Consecutive adult patients with anterior circulation LVOs who were scanned with CT angiography (CTA) and CT perfusion were queried in this single‐center, retrospective study. The favorable outcome was defined as a modified Rankin score (mRS) of 0‐2 at 90 days. Predictor variables included only imaging parameters. CatBoost, XGBoost, and Random Forest were employed. Algorithms were evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC), the area under the precision‐recall curve (AUPRC), accuracy, Brier score, recall, and precision. SHapley Additive exPlanations were implemented.

Results

A total of 180 patients (102 female) were included, with a median age of 69.5. Ninety‐two patients had an mRS between 0 and 2. The best algorithm in terms of AUROC was XGBoost (0.91). Furthermore, the XGBoost model exhibited a precision of 0.72, a recall of 0.81, an AUPRC of 0.83, an accuracy of 0.78, and a Brier score of 0.17. Multiphase CTA collateral score was the most significant feature in predicting the outcome.

Conclusions

Using only imaging parameters, our model had an AUROC of 0.91 which was superior to most previous studies, indicating that imaging parameters may be as accurate as conventional predictors. The multiphase CTA collateral score was the most predictive variable, highlighting the importance of collaterals.
Enabling factors that facilitate recovery among survivors of gender‐based violence
Authors: Tarabih Sally , Arnault Denise Saint
Published: March 2024

Accessible Summary

What is known on the subject?

Gender‐based violence (GBV) has long‐term devastating effects on psychological health, resulting in depression, anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorder.

Beyond physical and mental health symptoms, GBV can affect survivors on many personal, social, and spiritual levels, impacting their ability to connect to themselves, others, and the world around them.

While most research on recovery following GBV has focused on recognizing factors associated with distress or adverse outcomes, there is limited information about how they recover.

What the paper adds to existing knowledge?

We know little about the internal characteristics that enable or support the healing journey (factors) or what the survivors do to build capacity or support for health and change (strategies). Therefore, this study discovered the main factors or strategies that GBV survivors used throughout their recovery process which included; social connection, self‐care, self‐understanding and spiritual connection.

What are the implications for practice?

Mental health nurses always encounter and deal with the GBV survivors as they always suffer from mental health issues related to their trauma. Therefore, mental health nurses can utilize our research findings to establish nursing interventions or psychoeducational programs with the aim of facilitating trauma recovery among the survivors.

Introduction

Gender‐based violence (GBV) is a severe worldwide phenomenon mainly affecting women. Little studies focus on the details of the recovery process that survivors of GBV go through.

Aim

To identify the enabling factors that facilitate recovery among survivors of GBV.

Method

We used the thematic qualitative analysis approach to analyse 20 interviews with the women survivors of GBV.

Results

Our study resulted in four factors that survivors used in their recovery process (social connection, self‐care, self‐understanding and spiritual connection).

Discussion

Recovering from an abusive relationship is a social, spiritual, cultural and psychological process. Current study confirmed the positive impact of our identified enabling factors in the recovery process of GBV survivors.

Implications for Practice

The current study illustrates findings that provide a deeper understanding of the journey to recovery following GBV, which can be helpful when guiding and supporting women who have suffered GBV to start and pursue their journey toward recovery.
The political process in nations: Civil society participation and income inequality
Authors: Sintos Andreas , Chletsos Michael , Kontos Konstantinos
Published: March 2024

This study delves into the influence of civil society participation on income inequality, a topic that has received limited scholarly attention. Civil society participation refers to the activities of citizens who organize into various groups, known as civil society organizations, to pursue common interests and goals. These organizations span a wide range, including interest groups, labor unions, spiritual bodies engaging in civic or political activities, social movements, professional associations, charities, and other nongovernmental entities. Our research utilizes an extensive panel dataset, encompassing a global sample of countries from 1975 to 2019. We aim to comprehensively analyze the direct effects of civil society participation on income inequality. Our findings reveal that higher levels of civil society participation are effective in reducing inequality over the short, medium, and long term. These results have significant implications for policymakers. They suggest that encouraging and facilitating civil society participation could be a viable strategy for addressing income inequality. By understanding the dynamics of how civil society engagement influences economic disparities, policymakers can better design and implement measures that promote more equitable economic outcomes. This research contributes to the broader discourse on economic inequality and the potential role of civil society in mitigating it.
Patent protection, externalities, and income inequality
Authors: Kao Heng‐Chuan , Hung Hsiao‐Wen
Published: March 2024

This paper develops a Schumpeterian growth model with considering consumption and leisure externalities. The main purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of patent protection policy on growth and inequality, as well as the interaction between policy effect and externalities. According to the log form utility function specification, this means that the elasticity of intertemporal substitution is unity. The following are the key findings of this paper. Patent protection policy encourages innovation and increases employment in the R&D industry, which enhances economic growth while increasing income inequality. In regard to externalities, an increase in the degree of consumption (leisure) externalities results in a higher (lower) growth rate and more (smaller) income inequality. When consumption (leisure) externality is greater intensity, the growth effect of patent protection policy becomes stronger (weaker), while its influence on expanding income inequality lessens (enhances). Finally, both the Pareto optimal patent protection policy and the optimal patent policy under the maximization of social welfare positively correlate with consumption externalities, but negatively correlate with leisure externalities.
Microbiome diversity and zoonotic bacterial pathogen prevalence in Peromyscus mice from agricultural landscapes and synanthropic habitat
Authors: Mistrick Janine , Kipp Evan J. , Weinberg Sarah I. , Adams Collin C. , Larsen Peter A. , Craft Meggan E.
Published: March 2024

Rodents are key reservoirs of zoonotic pathogens and play an important role in disease transmission to humans. Importantly, anthropogenic land‐use change has been found to increase the abundance of rodents that thrive in human‐built environments (synanthropic rodents), particularly rodent reservoirs of zoonotic disease. Anthropogenic environments also affect the microbiome of synanthropic wildlife, influencing wildlife health and potentially introducing novel pathogens. Our objective was to examine the effect of agricultural development and synanthropic habitat on microbiome diversity and the prevalence of zoonotic bacterial pathogens in wild Peromyscus mice to better understand the role of these rodents in pathogen maintenance and transmission. We conducted 16S amplicon sequencing on faecal samples using long‐read nanopore sequencing technology to characterize the rodent microbiome. We compared microbiome diversity and composition between forest and synanthropic habitats in agricultural and undeveloped landscapes and screened for putative pathogenic bacteria. Microbiome richness, diversity, and evenness were higher in the agricultural landscape and synanthropic habitat compared to undeveloped‐forest habitat. Microbiome composition also differed significantly between agricultural and undeveloped landscapes and forest and synanthropic habitats. We detected overall low diversity and abundance of putative pathogenic bacteria, though putative pathogens were more likely to be found in mice from the agricultural landscape. Our findings show that landscape‐ and habitat‐level anthropogenic factors affect Peromyscus microbiomes and suggest that landscape‐level agricultural development may be important to predict zoonotic pathogen prevalence. Ultimately, understanding how anthropogenic land‐use change and synanthropy affect rodent microbiomes and pathogen prevalence is important to managing transmission of rodent‐borne zoonotic diseases to humans.
Pan‐azole‐resistant Meyerozyma guilliermondii clonal isolates harbouring a double F126L and L505F mutation in Erg11
Authors: Moreau Jérémy , Noël Thierry , Point Kévin , Tewes Frédéric , Deroche Luc , Clarhaut Jonathan , Fitton‐Ouhabi Valérie , Perraud Estelle , Marchand Sandrine , Buyck Julien M. , Brunet Kévin
Published: March 2024

Background

Meyerozyma guilliermondii is a yeast species responsible for invasive fungal infections. It has high minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) to echinocandins, the first‐line treatment of candidemia. In this context, azole antifungal agents are frequently used. However, in recent years, a number of azole‐resistant strains have been described. Their mechanisms of resistance are currently poorly studied.

Objective

The aim of this study was consequently to understand the mechanisms of azole resistance in several clinical isolates of M. guilliermondii.

Methods

Ten isolates of M. guilliermondii and the ATCC 6260 reference strain were studied. MICs of azoles were determined first. Whole genome sequencing of the isolates was then carried out and the mutations identified in ERG11 were expressed in a CTG clade yeast model (C. lusitaniae). RNA expression of ERG11, MDR1 and CDR1 was evaluated by quantitative PCR. A phylogenic analysis was developed and performed on M. guilliermondii isolates. Lastly, in vitro experiments on fitness cost and virulence were carried out.

Results

Of the ten isolates tested, three showed pan‐azole resistance. A combination of F126L and L505F mutations in Erg11 was highlighted in these three isolates. Interestingly, a combination of these two mutations was necessary to confer azole resistance. An overexpression of the Cdr1 efflux pump was also evidenced in one strain. Moreover, the three pan‐azole‐resistant isolates were shown to be genetically related and not associated with a fitness cost or a lower virulence, suggesting a possible clonal transmission.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this study identified an original combination of ERG11 mutations responsible for pan‐azole‐resistance in M. guilliermondii. Moreover, we proposed a new MLST analysis for M. guilliermondii that identified possible clonal transmission of pan‐azole‐resistant strains. Future studies are needed to investigate the distribution of this clone in hospital environment and should lead to the reconsideration of the treatment for this species.
Glucocorticoids as a risk factor for infection and adverse outcomes in non‐HIV and non‐transplant patients with cryptococcal meningitis
Authors: Kim Luke , Ferraz Carolina , Corbisiero Michaele Francesco , Gorvetzian Sarah , Franco‐Paredes Carlos , Krsak Martin , Shapiro Leland , Thompson George R. , Chastain Daniel B. , Tuells Jose , Henao‐Martínez Andrés F.
Published: March 2024

Background

Cryptococcal meningitis (CM), an opportunistic fungal infection affecting immunocompromised hosts, leads to high mortality. The role of previous exposure to glucocorticoids as a risk factor and as an outcome modulator has been observed, but systematic studies are lacking.

Objective

The primary aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of glucocorticoid use on the clinical outcomes, specifically mortality, of non‐HIV and non‐transplant (NHNT) patients diagnosed with CM.

Methods

We queried a global research network to identify adult NHNT patients with CM based on ICD codes or recorded specific Cryptococcus CSF lab results with or without glucocorticoid exposure the year before diagnosis. We performed a propensity score‐matched analysis to reduce the risk of confounding and analysed outcomes by glucocorticoid exposure. We used a Cox proportional hazards model for survival analysis.

Results

We identified 764 patients with a history of glucocorticoid exposure and 1267 patients without who developed CM within 1 year. After propensity score matching of covariates, we obtained 627 patients in each cohort. The mortality risk in 1 year was greater in patients exposed to prior glucocorticoids (OR: 1.3, CI: 1.2–2.0, p = 0.002). We found an excess of 45 deaths among CM patients with previous glucocorticoid use (7.4% increased absolute risk of dying within 1 year of diagnosis) compared to CM controls without glucocorticoid exposure. Hospitalisation, intensive care unit admission, emergency department visits, stroke and cognitive dysfunction also showed significant, unfavourable outcomes in patients with glucocorticoid‐exposed CM compared to glucocorticoid‐unexposed CM patients.

Conclusions

Previous glucocorticoid administration in NHNT patients seems to associate with 1‐year mortality after CM adjusted for possible confounders related to demographics, comorbidities and additional immunosuppressive medications. Serial CrAg screening might be appropriate for higher‐risk patients on glucocorticoids after further cost–benefit analyses.
Hemorrhage from metastatic brain epithelioid hemangioendothelioma: A case report
Authors: Fusegawa Tatsuya , Tomita Takahiko , Okuno Noriko , Akai Takuya , Kuroda Satoshi
Published: March 2024

In this report, we describe a very rare case of metastatic epithelioid hemangio‐endothelioma (EHE) originating from other organs such as the lung and requiring craniotomy due to subsequent hemorrhage. A 50‐year‐old man was diagnosed with EHE in the bilateral lungs, the mediastinum, and the right adrenal gland 8 years earlier. One year earlier, he had developed spinal metastasis. Six months earlier, a screening brain MRI had revealed multiple brain metastases of tumor. He developed subcortical hemorrhage from the tumor in the right parietal lobe and successfully underwent removal of hematoma and tumor. Histopathological examinations revealed EHE. Metastatic EHE is very rare but may be at high risk of intracranial hemorrhage. It is quite important to consider the possibility of brain metastasis and subsequent bleeding when treating patients with EHE.
The effects of plant hormones on dispersal and predation of seeds by Leopoldamys edwardsi: the co‐evolutionary knot between acorns and rodents grows tighter
Authors: Steele Michael , Bogdziewicz Michal
Published: March 2024

This article is a Commentary on Li et al. (2024), 242: 2237–2250.
Electrophysiological evidence of right atrial epicardial connections in a case with recurrent common atrial flutter
Authors: Shinohara Masaya , Fujino Tadashi , Kikushima Hosei , Wada Ryo , Yao Shintaro , Yano Kensuke , Akitsu Katsuya , Ikeda Takanori
Published: March 2024

The majority of the cavotricuspid isthmus (CTI) region consists of discretely arranged muscle bundles separated by connective tissue. Heterogeneity in the anatomic arrangement of the muscle bundles results in differences in the endocardial and epicardial activation patterns. We present a case of recurrent atrial flutter (AFL) despite the presence of a complete endocardial CTI block. We found epicardial‐endocardial breakthrough (EEB) sites on the right atrial high septum. In addition, the epicardial excitation confirmed by endocardial activation mapping was detected as far‐field potentials. Radiofrequency ablation was performed at the EEB site. No AFL has recurred for 12 months after the present procedure.