bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transcriptomic evaluation of skin tape‐strips in children with allergic asthma uncovers epidermal barrier dysfunction and asthma‐associated biomarkers abnormalities
Authors: Del Duca Ester , Dahabreh Dante , Kim Madeline , Bar Jonathan , Da Rosa Joel Correa , Rabinowitz Grace , Facheris Paola , Gómez‐Arias Pedro Jesús , Chang Annie , Utti Vivian , Chowdhury Amira , Liu Ying , Estrada Yeriel D. , Laculiceanu Alexandru , Agache Ioana , Guttman‐Yassky Emma
Published: February 2024

Introduction

Tape‐strips, a minimally invasive method validated for the evaluation of several skin diseases, may help identify asthma‐specific biomarkers in the skin of children with allergic asthma.

Methods

Skin tape‐strips were obtained and analyzed with RNA‐Seq from children with moderate allergic asthma (MAA) (n = 11, mean age 7.00; SD = 1.67), severe allergic asthma (SAA) (n = 9, mean age 9.11; SD = 2.37), and healthy controls (HCs) (n = 12, mean age 7.36; SD = 2.03). Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified by fold change ≥2 with a false discovery rate <0.05. Transcriptomic biomarkers were analyzed for their accuracy in distinguishing asthma from HCs, their relationships with asthma‐related outcomes (exacerbation rate, lung function‐FEV1, IOS‐R5‐20, and lung inflammation‐FeNO), and their links to skin (barrier and immune response) and lung (remodeling, metabolism, aging) pathogenetic pathways.

Results

RNA‐Seq captured 1113 in MAA and 2117 DEGs in SAA. Epidermal transcriptomic biomarkers for terminal differentiation (FLG/filaggrin), cell adhesion (CDH19, JAM2), lipid biosynthesis/metabolism (ACOT2, LOXL2) were significantly downregulated. Gene set variation analysis revealed enrichment of Th1/IFNγ pathways (p < .01). MAA and SAA shared downregulation of G‐protein‐coupled receptor (OR4A16, TAS1R3), upregulation of TGF‐β/ErbB signaling‐related (ACVR1B, EGFR, ID1/2), and upregulation of mitochondrial‐related (HIGD2A, VDAC3, NDUFB9) genes. Skin transcriptomic biomarkers correlated with the annualized exacerbation rate and with lung function parameters. A two‐gene classifier (TSSC4‐FAM212B) was able to differentiate asthma from HCs with 100% accuracy.

Conclusion

Tape‐strips detected epithelial barrier and asthma‐associated signatures in normal‐appearing skin from children with allergic asthma and may serve as an alternative to invasive approaches for evaluating asthma endotypes.
Preterm infants experience a nadir in cerebral oxygenation during sleep three months after hospital discharge
Authors: Yee Alicia K. , Shetty Marisha , Siriwardhana Leon S. , Walter Lisa M. , Wong Flora Y. , Horne Rosemary S. C.
Published: February 2024

Aim

Preterm infants are at increased risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and frequently experience short central apnoeas which can occur in isolation or a repetitive pattern (periodic breathing). We investigated the relationship between central apnoeas experienced before and over the 6 months after hospital discharge and cerebral oxygenation.

Methods

Preterm infants born between 28 and 32 weeks gestational age (GA) were studied during supine daytime sleep at 32–36 weeks post menstrual age (PMA) (n = 40), 36–40 weeks PMA (n = 27), 3‐months corrected age (CA) (n = 20) and 6‐months CA (n = 26). Cerebral tissue oxygenation (TOI), peripheral oxygenation (SpO2) and heart rate were recorded continuously. The percentage total sleep time (%TST) spent having central apnoeas at each study and cerebral fractional oxygen extraction (SpO2‐TOI/SpO2) were calculated.

Results

%TST spent with central apnoeas decreased with increasing age in both active sleep (AS) and quiet sleep (QS). TOI tended to be lower and cerebral fractional oxygen extraction higher at 3 months compared to the other studies and this reached statistical significance compared to 32–36 weeks in QS.

Conclusion

The nadir in cerebral tissue oxygenation at 3 months of age coincides with the peak risk period for SIDS and this may contribute to increased risk in these infants.
Negative Omnipotence
Authors: Ginkell Andreas
Published: February 2024

This paper aims to advance a theoretical and clinical perspective on the developmental origin and role of omnipotence in early object relations, and a differentiation of the adult sequelae of these maturational dynamics. The focus is on negative omnipotence as inherent in the constitution and impact of the psychotic part of the personality. The case history of the psychoanalytic psychotherapy of a man with a psychiatric diagnosis of obsessive–compulsive disorder illustrates the self and treatment defeating impact of negative omnipotence. Diplomatic therapeutic engagement, based on the understanding that these negative therapeutic dynamics represent unfinished maturational processes, is presented as enabling treatment to progress and facilitate gradual beneficial modification in the use of omnipotence intra‐psychically and inter‐personally.
Trauma and Dissociation in Young Offenders
Authors: Di Cori Renzo
Published: February 2024

Although countless studies provide evidence that many juvenile offences originate from traumatic episodes and consistently demonstrate that exposure to adverse childhood experiences is a significant risk factor for antisocial development, our understanding of the processes that lead some but not all traumatized children to become juvenile offenders is still in progress. By presenting some clinical cases regarding juvenile offenders, the author aims to illustrate how different growth paths, marked by omissive or break‐in experiences, can lead to the same criminal end‐point. The dissociative spectrum mechanisms, the standstill of figurative and symbolic capacity, and the lack of thought resulting from adverse experiences account for the economic and functional underpinnings that lead to juvenile delinquency. For these adolescents, criminal acting represents the ultimate means to neutralize the trauma's attractive force or to mark a boundary to the emotional void left behind by violence or an unsuccessful primary caregiving experience.
Ranking and filtering of neuropathology features in the machine learning evaluation of dementia studies
Authors: Rajab Mohammed D. , Taketa Teruka , Wharton Stephen B. , Wang Dennis ,   Cognitive Function and Ageing Neuropathology Study, and for the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative
Published: February 2024

Early diagnosis of dementia diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, is difficult because of the time and resources needed to perform neuropsychological and pathological assessments. Given the increasing use of machine learning methods to evaluate neuropathology features in the brains of dementia patients, it is important to investigate how the selection of features may be impacted and which features are most important for the classification of dementia. We objectively assessed neuropathology features using machine learning techniques for filtering features in two independent ageing cohorts, the Cognitive Function and Aging Studies (CFAS) and Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI). The reliefF and least loss methods were most consistent with their rankings between ADNI and CFAS; however, reliefF was most biassed by feature–feature correlations. Braak stage was consistently the highest ranked feature and its ranking was not correlated with other features, highlighting its unique importance. Using a smaller set of highly ranked features, rather than all features, can achieve a similar or better dementia classification performance in CFAS (60%–70% accuracy with Naïve Bayes). This study showed that specific neuropathology features can be prioritised by feature filtering methods, but they are impacted by feature–feature correlations and their results can vary between cohort studies. By understanding these biases, we can reduce discrepancies in feature ranking and identify a minimal set of features needed for accurate classification of dementia.
Improving the accuracy of social work judgements: A proof‐of‐concept study of a training programme
Authors: Wilkins David
Published: February 2024

Child and family social workers routinely make professional judgements involving significant legal and moral questions (e.g. whether a child has been abused) and more ‘everyday’ issues (e.g. will the child be re‐referred again if we close the case now?) Yet the world is capricious, and we rarely know with certainty what is going to happen in future or the likely impact of our different choices. Given the consequences of their judgements and decisions, it is imperative that social workers are provided with the best possible support. This paper reports a proof‐of‐concept study of a set of interventions to improve the judgemental accuracy of social workers: (i) a survey to identify respondents with above‐average existing abilities, (ii) training sessions on cognitive debiasing and (iii) structured group working and (iv) three methods for aggregating individual judgements. Findings indicate that it is possible to measure the accuracy of social work judgements in relation to case‐study materials and retrospective questions, while the feedback about the training was largely positive. Any future studies should aim to recruit a more diverse set of respondents, test judgemental accuracy in relation to prospective judgements and explore what types of questions would be most helpful for real‐world decision‐making.
The sacred deer conflict of management after a 1000‐year history: Hunting in the name of conservation or loss of their genetic identity
Authors: Takagi Toshihito , Torii Harumi , Kaneko Shingo , Tamate Hidetoshi B.
Published: February 2024

Human–wildlife conflict involves diverse stakeholders with conflicting values. Resolving such conflicts necessitates the development of management plans rooted in scientific knowledge and establishing of social consensus. In Nara City, situated within the Japanese Archipelago, wild sika deer (Cervus nippon) hold sacred significance due to religious reasons and have been protected for over a millennium, resulting in a distinct genetic identity. However, the escalating deer population has caused significant agricultural damage in the areas surrounding the sanctuary. Consequently, a debate has arisen regarding the advantages and disadvantages of implementing lethal measures to address individuals that might be considered sacred deer but are regarded as pests in the vicinity of the sanctuary. Here, we used mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region and nuclear simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers to detect the origin of deer in the areas neighboring the sanctuary (management areas). As a result, two genetic populations of deer were detected in Nara City. In the sanctuary, we detected only one specific mtDNA haplotype (S4). On the other hand, seven haplotypes, including S4, were detected in the management area. SSR analysis also suggested that the sika deer in the management area may be an admixed population of multiple origins from the sanctuary and out of Nara City. Interbreeding populations may expand into the sanctuary, and unique genetic populations for more than 1000 years may disappear. This study suggests that ordinary deer could soon replace the deer revered and protected by the people of Nara. Additionally, the proximity of sanctuary deer to tourists worldwide and the interaction with wild deer in other areas pose a potential risk of spreading zoonotic diseases. Urgent decisions are required to determine whether to advocate for extermination in managed areas for ‘conservation’ purposes or risk losing the genetic identity of the sacred deer.
KILLER ACQUISITIONS AND BEYOND: POLICY EFFECTS ON INNOVATION STRATEGIES
Authors: Letina Igor , Schmutzler Armin , Seibel Regina
Published: February 2024

This article provides a theory of strategic innovation project choice by incumbents and start‐ups which serves as a foundation for the analysis of acquisition policy. We show that, in spite of countervailing incentives on incumbents and entrants, prohibiting acquisitions has a weakly negative overall innovation effect. We provide conditions determining the size of the effect and conditions under which it is zero. We further analyze the effects of less restrictive policies, including merger remedies and the tax treatment of acquisitions and initial public offerings. Such interventions tend to prevent acquisitions only if the entrant has sufficiently high stand‐alone profits.
Predicting flow cytometry crossmatch results from single‐antigen bead testing
Authors: Flynn Patrick A. , Fernando Sebastian , Worthington Judith E. , Poulton Kay V.
Published: February 2024

The aim of this study was to devise an algorithm that would predict flow cytometry crossmatch (FCXM) results using single‐antigen bead (SAB) mean fluorescent intensity (MFI) levels using samples received through the National External Quality Assurance Scheme (NEQAS) 2B external proficiency testing scheme between 2019 and 2023. A total of 159 serum samples were retrospectively screened using LABScreen Single Antigen Class I and II (SAB), and 40 peripheral blood samples were human leucocyte antigen (HLA) typed with LABType SSO. Donor‐specific antibodies were identified for each cell–serum combination tested, and cumulative MFI values were calculated for each test before correlating the screening result with the consensus crossmatch results for this scheme. HLA Class I MFIs were combined to predict the T cell crossmatch. For the B cell crossmatch prediction, two options were considered: (i) HLA Class II MFI values alone and (ii) HLA Class I + Class II MFIs. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was carried out to identify the combined MFI threshold that predicted NEQAS consensus results with the greatest sensitivity and specificity. HLA Class I combined MFI >5000 predicted T cell crossmatch results with 96% sensitivity, 100% specificity, 100% positive predictive value (PPV) and 92% negative predictive value (NPV). For B cell results, HLA Class I + Class II combined MFIs >11,000 gave the best model, showing 97% sensitivity, 82% specificity, 96% PPV and 85% NPV. However, for samples with only HLA Class II sensitization, combined MFIs >13,000 improved the B cell crossmatch predictions: 92% sensitivity, 95% specificity, 96% PPV and 91% NPV. Using this model, combined MFI can be used to predict the immunological risk posed by donor‐specific antibodies when it is not possible to carry out an FCXM.
Invasion status of hatchery‐origin pink salmon in an unstocked river at the Shiretoko World Natural Heritage Site in northern Japan
Authors: Yamada Taihei , Nobetsu Takahiro , Urabe Hirokazu , Nakamura Futoshi
Published: February 2024

Hatchery fish and their offspring (including hatchery‐wild hybrids) have lower reproductive success than wild fish. Thus, the straying of hatchery fish may negatively impact wild populations, depending on the number of wild salmon returning and hatchery strays. We investigated the straying status of hatchery‐origin pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha), which have a higher straying rate than other salmonids, in an unstocked river at the Shiretoko World Natural Heritage Site, Japan. The hatchery strays accounted for 40.0% and 19.0% of the total samples in 2021 and 2022, respectively. These results indicate that hatchery pink salmon have invaded unstocked rivers and potentially genetically affect wild populations.
More than just ‘added value’: The perils of not establishing shared core facilities in resource‐constrained communities
Authors: Rahmoon Mai A. , Hobson Chad M. , Aaron Jesse S. , Balasubramanian Harikrushnan , Chew Teng‐Leong
Published: February 2024

The accelerating pace of technological advancements necessitates specialised expertise and cutting‐edge instruments to maintain competitive research in life sciences. Core facilities – collaborative laboratories equipped with state‐of‐the‐art tools and staffed by expert personnel – are vital resources that support diverse scientific endeavours. However, their adoption in lower‐income communities has been comparatively stagnant due to both financial and cultural challenges. This paper explores the perils of not supporting core facilities on national research enterprises, underscoring the need for balanced investments in discovery science and crucial infrastructure support. We explore the implications from the perspectives of funders, university leaders and lab heads. We advocate for a paradigm shift to recognise these facilities as essential components of national research efforts. Core facilities are positioned not as optional but as strategic investments that can catalyse breakthroughs, particularly in environments with limited resources.
A prospective clinical study evaluating the efficacy and safety of a Laminin‐5 fragment contained soothing cream in post‐laser treatment care
Authors: Khan Galina , Cho Junyoung , Cha Han Gyu , Choi Yean Su , Park Eun Soo
Published: February 2024

Background

Photothermolysis effect, resulting from laser procedures, can cause redness/erythema, skin irritation and burning sensation, these symptoms may persist more than several days after the procedure and leading to discomfort for patients. Proper management is necessary for the better outcome, especially in early period after the laser procedure. Laminin‐5 fragment contained soothing cream (CEBELIA Extreme Care®), is believed to have the calming/soothing effect on overheated/irritated skin after undergoing the laser treatment. It is assumed that cream can help alleviate the redness, erythema and burning sensation commonly experienced after laser treatments.

This study aimed to assess the effectiveness and safety of Laminin‐5 fragment contained soothing cream (CEBELIA Extreme Care®) during the early post‐laser care period.

Materials and Methods

This prospective split‐face study involved 28 patients who underwent CO2 laser procedures and met inclusion criteria. The laser treatment was performed on both sides of the midface, and subsequently, the Laminin‐5 fragment contained soothing cream (CEBELIA Extreme Care®) was applied to one side of the midface.

The efficacy of the cream was evaluated through objective measures, including photographic evaluation by two independent evaluators and assessment using an automatic skin analysis device. Subjective evaluations were also conducted.

Results

The objective evaluation, based on the erythema score, revealed a statistical significant difference (p < 0.05) between the side treated with Laminin‐5 fragment contained soothing cream (CEBELIA Extreme Care®) and the control side. The erythema score was 1.34 ± 2.469 after the laser treatment with subsequent application of the cream for 10 min and 0.7 ± 2.28 on the second day after the procedure. The subjective evaluation showed a statistically significant high of patient satisfaction. No complications were observed during the follow‐up period.

Conclusion

The application of Laminin‐5 fragment contained soothing cream (CEBELIA Extreme Care®) after the CO2 laser treatment was found to be effective, particularly when applied for 10 min after the laser treatment and on the second day after the procedure. Both objective and subjective evaluations yielded significantly different results. Patients reported a high satisfaction rate with the characteristics of the cream during the follow‐up period.
Arc‐poration improves transdermal delivery of biomolecules
Authors: Kim Sewoon , Han Ji‐Ho , Park Eunji , Kim Hoy Gun , Lee Jeongho , Shin Dasom , Oh Eok‐Soo , Shin Jae‐Woo
Published: February 2024

Background

To increase skin permeability, various transdermal delivery techniques have been developed. However, due to the stratum corneum as a skin barrier, transdermal delivery remains limited.

Aims

In this study, we evaluated efficacy and safety of arc‐poration as a novel technique disrupting the stratum corneum.

Results

Optical images and histological analysis using reconstituted human skin and porcine skin showed that the treatment of arc‐poration created micropores with an average diameter of approximately 100 μm only to the depth of the stratum corneum, but not viable epidermis. In addition, the Franz diffusion cell experiment using reconstituted human skin showed a remarkable increase in permeability following pretreatment with arc‐poration. Clinical results clearly demonstrated the enhancement of the skin‐improving effect of cosmetics by pretreatment of arc‐poration in terms of gloss, hydration, flakiness, texture, tone, tone evenness, and pigmentation of skin, without causing abnormal skin responses. The concentration of ozone and nitrogen oxides generated by arc‐poration was below the permissible value for the human body.

Conclusions

Arc‐poration can increase skin permeability by creating stratum corneum‐specific micropores, which can enhance the skin‐improving effect of cosmetics without adverse responses.
Cross‐Sector Partnerships to Address Societal Grand Challenges: Systematizing Differences in Scholarly Analysis
Authors: Stadtler Lea , Seitanidi M. May , Knight Helena H. , Leigh Jennifer , Clarke Amelia , Le Ber Marlene Janzen , Bogie Jill , Brunese Priyanka , Hustad Oda , Krasonikolakis Ioannis , Lioliou Eleni , MacDonald Adriane , Pinkse Jonatan , Sehgal Sarita
Published: February 2024

Research on how cross‐sector partnerships (CSPs) contribute toward addressing societal grand challenges (SGCs) has burgeoned, yet studies differ significantly in what scholars analyze and how. These differences matter as they influence the reported results. In the absence of a comprehensive framework to expose the analytical choices behind each study and their implications, this diversity challenges interpretation and consolidation of evidence upon which novel theory and practical interventions can be developed. In this study, we conduct a systematic review of scholarly analysis in CSP management studies to develop a framework that contextualizes the SGC‐related evidence and reveals scholars’ analytical choices and their implications. Conceptually, we advance the term ‘SGC interventions’ to illuminate the black box leading to SGC‐related effects, thus helping to differentiate between transformative versus mitigative interventions in scholars’ analytical focus. Moreover, the framework stresses the logical interplay between the framing of the SGC‐related problem and the reporting of the intervention's effects. Through this, we juxtapose what we call problem‐centric versus solution‐centric SGC analysis and so differentiate between their analytical purpose. We discuss the framework's implications for advancing an SGC perspective in scholarly analysis of CSPs and outline avenues for future research.
The effects of robots on internal migration: Evidence from China
Authors: Bian Xiaoyu , Zhou Guangsu
Published: February 2024

China has experienced a boom of industrial robots in the past decade. Under the shock of robotization on labor market, migration is a critical way to rebalance the economy. While many studies have investigated the influence of robotization on labor market in the automation‐advanced countries, few works shed light on the situation in the emerging market. We provide empirical evidence on the effect of industrial robots on intercity migration in China. We find that, industrial robot adoption has a significant negative effect on the net inflow migration by reducing population inflows, while has little effect on population outflows. The decline in population inflows is concentrated among low‐skilled migrants who are younger, less educated and in manufacturing sectors, because they are more likely to experience unemployment and wage declines in the face of industrial robots. The analysis of migration cost demonstrates that the negative impact of industrial robots on population inflows increases with the longer migration distances, higher living costs, and greater institutional entry barriers caused by Hukou Registration System in China.
Improving the hepatitis C virus care cascade with the in‐hospital Reflex tEsting ALarm‐C (REAL‐C) model
Authors: Choi Jonggi , Park Jina , Choi Won‐Mook , Lee Danbi , Shim Ju Hyun , Kim Kang Mo , Lim Young‐Suk , Lee Han Chu , Kwon Sujin , Hwang Sang‐Hyun
Published: February 2024

Background

The World Health Organization (WHO) has set targets to eliminate viral hepatitis, including hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, by 2030. We present the results of the in‐hospital Reflex tEsting ALarm‐C (REAL‐C) model, which incorporates reflex HCV RNA testing and sending alerts to physicians.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective study analysing the data of 1730 patients who newly tested positive for anti‐HCV between March 2020 and June 2023. Three distinct periods were defined: pre‐REAL‐C (n = 696), incomplete REAL‐C (n = 515) and complete REAL‐C model periods (n = 519). The primary outcome measure was the HCV RNA testing rate throughout the study period. Additionally, we assessed the referral rate to the gastroenterology department, linkage time for diagnosis and treatment and the treatment rate.

Results

The rate of HCV RNA testing increased significantly from 51.0% (pre‐REAL‐C) to 95.6% (complete REAL‐C). This improvement was consistent across clinical departments, regardless of patients' comorbidities. Among patients with confirmed HCV infection, the gastroenterology referral rate increased from 57.1% to 81.1% after the REAL‐C model. The treatment rate among treatment‐eligible patients was 92.4% during the study period. The mean interval from anti‐HCV positivity to HCV RNA testing decreased from 45.1 to 1.9 days. The mean interval from the detection of anti‐HCV positivity to direct‐acting antiviral treatment also decreased from 89.5 to 49.5 days with the REAL‐C model.

Conclusion

The REAL‐C model, featuring reflex testing and physician alerts, effectively increased HCV RNA testing rates and streamlined care cascades. Our model facilitated progress towards achieving WHO's elimination goals for HCV infection.
Conservation implications of hibernation in mammals
Authors: Scopes Eleanor R. , Broome Alice , Walsh Katherine , Bennie Jonathan J. , McDonald Robbie A.
Published: February 2024

Hibernation is a life history strategy for conservation of energy during adverse conditions, primarily of temperature or resource availability. Whilst energy conservation is beneficial in itself, it is less clear whether hibernation confers wider conservation benefits or mitigates or exacerbates a wide range of threats.

We briefly review how hibernation manifests in mammalian biology, primarily through energy budgets, activity levels and resource requirements, but then ask how these interact with existing pressures to affect conservation risk. We also explore conservation actions that could alleviate the negative relations between some pressures and hibernation biology and review the available evidence for these measures.

Hibernation can convey some protection from disease and predation, though there are notable exceptions, for example white‐nose syndrome. There is well‐established evidence that hibernators are prone to hazards of disturbance during hibernation, necessitating careful mitigation. Hibernators exhibit diverse responses to the pressures related to climate change, including temperature variability and phenological and range mismatches. Yet for each aspect, there are examples of species and populations responding negatively, such as with reduced survival, which suggests that hibernation could exacerbate the negative consequences of climate change.

Though there are times when hibernators do not respond as expected, we find several positive conservation actions, such as modern grilles and regulations reducing the disturbance of cave‐hibernating bat species. Understanding and working with hibernation biology can, therefore, successfully mitigate the additional risks it confers.
Teachers’ multimodal resources for delegated peer repair: Maximizing interactional space in whole‐class interaction in the foreign language classroom
Authors: Batlle Rodríguez Jaume , Evnitskaya Natalia
Published: February 2024

In classrooms, teachers play a fundamental role in managing students’ participation. As part of their classroom interactional competence to maximize interactional space for students’ learning, teachers use multimodal resources to orchestrate turn‐taking, allocate the next speaker, and manage repair sequences. However, little is known about how teachers employ these resources to engage learners in delegated peer repair, that is, repair sequences initiated by a student and solved by another classmate. Adopting a multimodal conversation analysis approach, this study aims to investigate how Spanish‐as‐a‐foreign‐language teachers multimodally manage delegated peer repair in whole‐group interaction by increasing interactional space to promote students’ participation. The findings show that teachers often resort to embodied resources such as gaze, gestures (pointing), and hand and body movements (stepping backward) to engage students in delegated peer repair, leading to increased student participation and autonomy. We end with some reflections on the relevance of the adopted methodology for better understanding how teachers employ multimodal resources to create interactional space and engage students in delegated peer repair, thus promoting learners’ interactional competence in the foreign language. It also suggests some potential implications for teachers’ professional development.
Nursing's professional character: A chimera?
Authors: Lipscomb Martin
Published: February 2024

Does nursing possess a character? The idea that professions have characters is hard to sustain, and the possibility that nursing as a collectively or occupation lacks a character is worth considering. To this end it is argued that absent robust theoretical and/or evidential scaffolding it is implausible to suppose that nursing has an objectively real (reality describing) character, and if ‘nursing's character’ is chimeric or illusory, aspects of our conception of professionalism require reappraisal. Specifically, traits and values that attach to nursing and are implicated in the concept of character are, shorn of their moorings, untethered. This may be significant.
Fire governance research in the tropics: A configurative review and outline of a research agenda
Authors: Neger Christoph , Monzón‐Alvarado Claudia María , Guibrunet Louise
Published: February 2024

Fire is a highly relevant governance challenge in the tropics: altered fire regimes, among other phenomena, threaten the persistence of various ecosystems. Fire is also widely used by smallholders. Yet, wildfires can put people's livelihoods in danger through direct damages and by impoverishing ecosystem services. Conventional approaches have sought to suppress any type of fire in the landscape. However, since the late twentieth century, researchers and practitioners have recognized the benefits of strategic fire use and, in some cases, of local fire use traditions. In many tropical areas, the coexistence and interaction of the conventional (‘suppression‐only’) approach, integrated approaches, and communities’ traditional ways of using fire, create a complex network of actors with different interests and outlooks. The ways these actors make decisions and interact can be summed up under the notion of fire governance. There is a growing body of literature dealing with this kind of situations, although they do not always mention the term governance. This paper thematically analyses 38 studies in this field, showing that research has been scattered and often addresses the issue partially, leaving out key aspects of environmental governance. Based on this analysis, the paper proposes a more connected and holistic research agenda.
The ‘Euphoria’ effect: A popular HBO show, Gen Z, and drug policy beliefs
Authors: Gierzynski Anthony , Blaber Madeleine , Brown Marjorie , Feldman Sophie , Gottschalk Hannah , Hodin Peninah , Hoechner Emma
Published: February 2024

Objective

Can a fictional show affect its audience's perspectives on the issue of drug use and addiction in society? This article aims to answer that question.

Methods

We use a survey with an embedded experiment to assess the relationship between the popular HBO show Euphoria and attitudes of Gen Z on the issue of drugs, including: feelings toward drug users and those caught up in drug addiction; beliefs regarding the causes of drug addiction; and, attitudes toward harm reduction, treatment, and punitive drug policies. Subjects were recruited from Amazon's Mechanical Turk.

Results

We found that reevoking the show by showing photos of two of the main characters led to drug attitudes consistent with the messages about drugs found in Euphoria. We also found that self‐reported exposure to the show was associated with perspectives on drugs consistent with the content of the show for respondents who scored higher on individual transportability—results that conform closely to theoretical expectations. The fact that these results were found in a study 8 months after the final episode of Euphoria was aired hints at the durability of the show's effects.

Conclusions

The results add to the growing body of research on the political effects of entertainment media and provide additional validation of new and important measures of the propensity of individuals to be transported by narratives and eudaimonic motivation in entertainment media choice.
A case study in underspecification of UG: External Pair Merge of v and T
Authors: Blümel Andreas
Published: February 2024

Previous works have explored the options of Pair Merging R and v as well as T and C, respectively, yielding R‐v and T‐C with various consequences. This paper proposes that v and T can yield the complex head v‐T, an amalgam formed by external Pair Merge. Some empirical ramifications for the verb cluster and the middle field in German are explored. If tenable, the current approach supports the idea that heads can Merge freely, either by internal or external Set Merge, as well as by internal or by external Pair Merge.
Biology of the invasive species Eragrostis plana in Southern Brazil: What have we learned and how may this help us manage it?
Authors: Zabala‐Pardo Diana , Lamego Fabiane Pinto
Published: February 2024

Since its accidental introduction in 1951, the South African species Eragrostis plana has invaded a large part of the Pampa biome in South America, a highly diverse grassland ecosystem that has coexisted with livestock since its introduction at the beginning of the 17th century. E. plana, a perennial tussock grass with a deep and abundant root system, is resistant to frost and cattle grazing, and a successful competitor for environmental resources. The species is diploid, C4 dispersed endozoochorically, and flowers in late spring and early summer, with optimal germination occurring at 35°C and viability up to 39–40°C. It is allelopathic because it produces several phenols and alkaloids. Extreme soil disturbance or intense grazing favours initial invasion. Nonetheless, grazing exclusion enhances E. plana competition and affects the grassland community and diversity. E. plana is highly tolerant to interspecific competition, especially with grasses exhibiting a similar growth habit. Under water stress, it responds faster by increasing its root system by 66% more than native grass. Moreover, antioxidant system activity increases, and the species recovers quickly through osmolyte production. In non‐invaded fields, avoiding soil disturbance and intensive grazing are key strategies to preserving Biome Pampa. Nonetheless, in fields where the invasion has already occurred, grazing must be maintained, cattle quarantined practiced, along with strategies that reduce cover and prevent the spread of E. plana. Liming and fertilising native grasslands improve their potential to compete with E. plana. The wiper applicator, a device that allows glyphosate herbicide application selectively to E. plana, is an important component of the integrated weed management system, especially with very severe infestations. Establishing strategies to contain or manage E. plana should be a priority to preserve the biodiversity of the Pampa. In the future, innovative options could also help prevent new invasions.
How does gratitude relate to nurses' job satisfaction? The mediating role of resilience and stress
Authors: Bai Chengzhi , Bai Baoyu , Zhang Hongxia , Kong Feng , Wang Song
Published: February 2024

Background

Nurse job satisfaction is a critical area of study with far‐reaching implications for healthcare organizations, patient care, and the retention of nursing staff.

Aims

This study aimed to investigate the association of gratitude with job satisfaction among Chinese nurses and examine the potential mediating roles of resilience and stress in this relationship.

Methods

Two separate studies were conducted to examine our research hypotheses. In Study 1, a total of 460 nurses completed the questionnaire related to gratitude, resilience, stress, and job satisfaction. A validation study was conducted in Study 2, which consisted of 709 nurses who also completed the same measures of gratitude, resilience, and stress to ensure the repeatability of the Study 1 results. Furthermore, a different scale was used to measure nurses' job satisfaction.

Results

The two studies consistently found that both resilience and stress mediated gratitude–job satisfaction independently among Chinese nurses. Furthermore, resilience was found to be a significantly stronger mediator than stress in the association of gratitude with job satisfaction. Finally, we found that gratitude predicted nurses' job satisfaction via the serial mediating effects of resilience and stress.

Conclusion

These findings highlight the complex interplay between gratitude, resilience, stress, and job satisfaction by demonstrating that resilience and stress act as parallel and sequential mediators between nurses' gratitude and job satisfaction. The healthcare sector can improve nurses' job satisfaction by increasing gratitude, building resilience, and reducing feelings of stress.

Linking Evidence to Action

Nurse managers have the potential to enhance job satisfaction among nurses by implementing measures that increase gratitude, build resilience, and reduce stress levels.
Identification of the Aeromechanical Parameters of a Compressor Rotor from Blade Tip Timing Data
Authors: Hall Kenneth C. , Hall Steven R.
Published: February 2024

This article presents a maximum likelihood approach to identifying the mistuning, aerodynamic forcing functions, and aerodynamic influence coefficients of compressor rotor blades from noisy experimental measurements of blade deflection. The maximum likelihood estimation approach leads naturally to a nonlinear least squares optimization problem that can be solved using numerical optimization techniques such as quasi-Newton methods. An eigenmode decomposition approach is presented that permits the optimization objective function and gradient to be efficiently calculated so that the optimization is computationally feasible, even for experiments involving very large data sets. Simulation results show that the method has the potential to accurately identify the mistuning and aerodynamic nodal diameter forcing functions, but obtaining accurate results for influence coefficients may not be possible if there is significant disk flexibility. We demonstrate the method using both simulated and experimental blade vibration data from rotor 2 of the Purdue University three-stage axial compressor research facility collected using a light probe tip timing system as the rotor is slowly accelerated or decelerated through a Campbell diagram crossing.
A Reflective Account of Delivering Multilevel Sport Psychology Support in Professional League of Legends
Authors: Ashford Matthew , Swettenham Laura
Published: February 2024

This article has been retracted as of August, 29, 2024. The Editorial Office was contacted by an external party with the request to withdraw this article while informing the Editor that the authors had not obtained permission to publish it. As the authors have no documentary evidence of permission or consent to publish the case and there is a concern that confidentiality was not effective, we were compelled to retract this publication.
Mixed-Method Precooling Enhances Self-Paced 20-km Cycling Time-Trial Performance When Apparent Temperature Is >46 °C but May Not Be a Priority in <46 °C
Authors: Ramos Julian Andro P. , Ducker Kagan J. , Riddell Hugh , Girard Olivier , Landers Grant J. , Brade Carly J.
Published: February 2024

Purpose: Precooling (PreC) may only benefit performance when thermal strain experienced by an individual is sufficiently high. We explored the effect of mixed-method PreC on 20-km cycling time-trial (CTT) performance under 3 different apparent temperatures (AT). Methods: On separate days, 12 trained or highly trained male cyclists/triathletes completed six 20-km CTTs in 3 different ATs: hot-dry (35 °C AT), moderately hot-humid (40 °C AT), and hot-humid (46 °C AT). All trials were preceded by 30 minutes of mixed-method PreC or no PreC (control [CON]). Results: Faster 2.5-km-split completion times occurred in PreC compared with CON in 46 °C AT (P = .02), but not in 40 °C AT (P = .62) or 35 °C AT (P = .57). PreC did not affect rectal and body temperature during the 20-km CTT. Skin temperature was lower throughout the CTT in PreC compared with CON in 46 °C AT (P = .01), but not in 40 °C AT (P = 1.00) and 35 °C AT (P = 1.00). Heart rate had a greater rate of increase during the CTT for PreC compared with CON in 46 °C AT (P = .01), but not in 40 °C AT (P = .57) and 35 °C AT (P = 1.00). Ratings of perceived exertion (P < .001) and thermal comfort (P = .04) were lower for PreC compared with CON in 46 °C AT only, while thermal sensation was not different between PreC and CON. Conclusion: Mixed-method PreC should be applied prior to 20-km CTTs conducted in hot-humid conditions (≥46 °C AT). Alternatively, mixed-method PreC may be a priority in moderately hot-humid (∼40 °C AT) conditions but should not be in hot-dry (∼35 °C AT) conditions for 20-km CTT.
A phase 1 study in healthy volunteers to investigate the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of VIR-2482: a monoclonal antibody for the prevention of severe influenza A illness
Authors: Plotnik David , Sager Jennifer E. , Aryal Madhukar , Fanget Marie C. , Peter Alessia , Schmid Michael A. , Cebrik Deborah , Mogalian Erik , Boundy Keith , Yeh Wendy W. , Griffin Paul , Reyes Maribel
Published: February 2024

The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics (PK), and immunogenicity of VIR-2482 in healthy adult subjects. A phase 1, first-in-human, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled dose-escalation study was conducted. One hundred participants were allocated to four cohorts (60 mg, 300 mg, 1,200 mg, and 1,800 mg). In each cohort, participants were randomized in a 4:1 ratio (active:placebo) to receive either VIR-2482 or volume-matched placebo by gluteal intramuscular injection. Participants remained at the investigative site under observation for 48 h, and adverse events (AEs) were collected for 56 days. PK and immunogenicity were measured up to 52 weeks post-dose. VIR-2482 was well tolerated at all doses studied. The overall incidence of AEs was comparable between VIR-2482 (68.8%) and placebo (85.0%). Nineteen VIR-2482 (23.8%) and six placebo (30.0%) recipients had Grade 1 or 2 AEs that were considered to be related to the study intervention. There were no treatment-related serious AEs. Injection-site reactions (ISRs) were reported in six (7.5%) VIR-2482 recipients, while no such reactions were reported among the placebo recipients. All ISRs were Grade 1, and there was no relationship with the dose. Median VIR-2482 serum elimination half-life ranged from 56.7 to 70.6 days across cohorts. The serum area under the curve and
C
max
were dose-proportional. Nasopharyngeal VIR-2482 concentrations were approximately 2%–5% of serum levels and were less than dose-proportional. The incidence of immunogenicity across all cohorts was 1.3%. Overall, the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetic profile of VIR-2482 at doses up to 1,800 mg supported its further investigation as a long-acting antibody for the prevention of influenza A illness. This study has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov under identifier NCT04033406.
The C-terminal protein interaction domain of the chromatin reader Yaf9 is critical for pathogenesis of
Candida albicans
Authors: Lo Tricia L. , Wang Qi , Nickson Joshua , van Denderen Bryce J. W. , Deveson Lucas Deanna , Chai Her Xiang , Knott Gavin J. , Weerasinghe Harshini , Traven Ana
Published: February 2024

Fungal infections cause a large health burden but are treated by only a handful of antifungal drug classes. Chromatin factors have emerged as possible targets for new antifungals. These targets include the reader proteins, which interact with posttranslationally modified histones to influence DNA transcription and repair. The YEATS domain is one such reader recognizing both crotonylated and acetylated histones. Here, we performed a detailed structure/function analysis of the
Candida albicans
YEATS domain reader Yaf9, a subunit of the NuA4 histone acetyltransferase and the SWR1 chromatin remodeling complex. We have previously demonstrated that the homozygous deletion mutant
yaf9Δ/Δ
displays growth defects and is avirulent in mice. Here we show that a YEATS domain mutant expected to inactivate Yaf9’s chromatin binding does not display strong phenotypes
in vitro
, nor during infection of immune cells or in a mouse systemic infection model, with only a minor virulence reduction
in vivo
. In contrast to the YEATS domain mutation, deletion of the C-terminal domain of Yaf9, a protein–protein interaction module necessary for its interactions with SWR1 and NuA4, phenocopies the null mutant. This shows that the C-terminal domain is essential for Yaf9 roles
in vitro
and
in vivo
, including
C. albicans
virulence. Our study informs on the strategies for therapeutic targeting of Yaf9, showing that approaches taken for the mammalian YEATS domains by disrupting their chromatin binding might not be effective in
C. albicans
, and provides a foundation for studying YEATS proteins in human fungal pathogens.

IMPORTANCE

The scarcity of available antifungal drugs and rising resistance demand the development of therapies with new modes of action. In this context, chromatin regulation may be a target for novel antifungal therapeutics. To realize this potential, we must better understand the roles of chromatin regulators in fungal pathogens. Toward this goal, here, we studied the YEATS domain chromatin reader Yaf9 in
Candida albicans
. Yaf9 uses the YEATS domain for chromatin binding and a C-terminal domain to interact with chromatin remodeling complexes. By constructing mutants in these domains and characterizing their phenotypes, our data indicate that the Yaf9 YEATS domain might not be a suitable therapeutic drug target. Instead, the Yaf9 C-terminal domain is critical for
C. albicans
virulence. Collectively, our study informs how a class of chromatin regulators performs their cellular and pathogenesis roles in
C. albicans
and reveals strategies to inhibit them.