bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characterization of TCF‐1 and its relationship between CD8+ TIL densities and immune checkpoints and their joint influences on prognoses of lung adenocarcinoma patients
Authors: Jiang Kanqiu , Liu Shasha , Chen Yongbing , Xu Zhonghen , Xu Zhonghua , Qian Bo , Ding Qifeng , Cui Hongxia , Sui Yiqun , Cao Defu , Xu Weihua , Shen Mingjing
Published: August 2023

Background

T cell factor‐1 (TCF‐1) + stem‐like tumor‐infiltrating lymphocytes (stem‐like TILs) are important memory cells in the tumor microenvironment. However, their relationship with clinicopathological features, CD8+ TIL densities, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICs), and prognostic values remain unknown for lung adenocarcinomas (LUADs). In this study, we aimed to characterize TCF‐1+ TILs and their prognostic significance in patients with surgically resected LUADs.

Methods

Expression of TCF‐1, CD8, and ICs including programmed death‐1 (PD‐1), lymphocyte activating‐3 (LAG‐3), and T cell immunoglobulin and mucin‐domain containing‐3 (TIM‐3) in TILs were estimated using immunohistochemistry of resected LUADs. The association between TCF‐1 expressions and clinicopathological characteristics of patient prognoses were analyzed.

Results

Positive TCF‐1 expression significantly correlated with advanced pathological stage, tumor grade, CD8+ TILs density, TIM‐3 expression, LAG‐3 expression, and PD‐1 expression. TCF‐1 positivity was significantly associated with a better recurrence‐free survival (RFS), and overall survival (OS). Subgroup analysis revealed that the TCF‐1+/CD8+ group had the best RFS and OS, while the TCF‐1‐/CD8‐ group had the worst RFS and OS. Similarly, patients with TCF‐1 + PD‐1‐ had the best prognoses and patients with TCF‐1‐PD‐1+ had the worst prognoses.

Conclusion

TCF‐1 had relatively high positive expression and special clinicopathological features in patients with LUAD. TCF‐1+ TILs were related to CD8 density, TIM‐3 expression, LAG‐3 expression, and PD‐1 expression, and were associated with better prognoses in LUAD patients. A combination of TCF‐1 and CD8 densities or PD‐1 expression further stratified patients into different groups with distinct prognoses.
Investigation of response factors for monotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors in non‐small cell lung cancer patients with PD‐L1 expression <50%
Authors: Takahara Yutaka , Abe Ryudai , Sumito Nagae , Tanaka Takuya , Ishige Yoko , Shionoya Ikuyo , Yamamura Kouichi , Nishiki Kazuaki , Nojiri Masafumi , Kato Ryo , Shinomiya Shohei , Oikawa Taku
Published: August 2023

Background

Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) monotherapy is currently approved for the treatment of advanced non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with programmed death ligand‐1 (PD‐L1) expression ≥50%. However, the efficacy of ICI monotherapy in patients with PD‐L1 expression <50% has not yet been fully elucidated.

The aim of this study was to identify the clinical characteristics of NSCLC patients with PD‐L1 expression <50% who respond to single‐agent ICIs and factors that predict response.

Methods

Patients with advanced or recurrent NSCLC with a PD‐L1 tumor proportion score (TPS) of 50% or less who received new monotherapy with an ICI between July 2012 and December 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients with response were compared with those without response in the post‐treatment response assessment.

Results

Among the 37 patients, six (16.2%) NSCLC patients in the response group responded to ICI monotherapy and had a significantly lower body mass index (BMI) (p = 0.003). Significantly more patients in the response group developed immune‐related adverse events (irAEs) than in the nonresponse group (p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis identified high BMI as a significant independent risk factor predicting nonresponse to ICI monotherapy in NSCLC patients with PD‐L1 < 50%.

Conclusions

Among NSCLC patients with PD‐L1 < 50%, those with a higher BMI were more likely to be nonresponders to ICI monotherapy. In addition, the group that responded to ICI monotherapy may have been at higher risk of developing irAEs, suggesting that careful follow‐up is warranted.
Control Expropriation Via Rights Offers
Authors: Ofer Leeor
Published: August 2023

Rights offers are a relatively common capital‐raising method. In a rights offer, the company's existing shareholders are given the opportunity to purchase newly‐issued shares in proportion to the amount of shares they already own for a specific subscription price per share. Because all shareholders can participate in the issuance under the same terms, rights offers are often regarded as fair to all shareholders. However, this article demonstrates that rights offers do not always place shareholders on equal footing. In particular, this article shows that dominant, non‐controlling shareholders (“insiders”) can utilize a rights offer to expropriate control. By setting a deliberately high subscription price, insiders can deter other shareholders from buying into the offer. Insiders can then purchase a disproportionate amount of shares via the rights offer, thereby securing absolute control. Once in control, insiders will be in a position to extract value from the firm, and will be immune to future control challenges. These expected benefits of control make the high subscription price worth paying from insiders' perspective, so that the rights offer is effectively underpriced for insiders but overpriced for other shareholders. When a rights offer acts as a change‐of‐control tool, it should be governed by Delaware takeover law. Courts should closely scrutinize such issuances, and require boards to maximize the premium insiders pay for control. This article further suggests that stock exchanges adopt a mandatory price‐adjusting mechanism for rights offers, which will guarantee that the subscription price is lower than or equal to the underlying share's trading price.
Optimal test Procedures for Multiple Hypotheses Controlling the Familywise Expected Loss
Authors: Maurer Willi , Bretz Frank , Xun Xiaolei
Published: August 2023

We consider the problem of testing multiple null hypotheses, where a decision to reject or retain must be made for each one and embedding incorrect decisions into a real-life context may inflict different losses. We argue that traditional methods controlling the Type I error rate may be too restrictive in this situation and that the standard familywise error rate may not be appropriate. Using a decision-theoretic approach, we define suitable loss functions for a given decision rule, where incorrect decisions can be treated unequally by assigning different loss values. Taking expectation with respect to the sampling distribution of the data allows us to control the familywise expected loss instead of the conventional familywise error rate. Different loss functions can be adopted, and we search for decision rules that satisfy certain optimality criteria within a broad class of decision rules for which the expected loss is bounded by a fixed threshold under any parameter configuration. We illustrate the methods with the problem of establishing efficacy of a new medicinal treatment in non-overlapping subgroups of patients.
Maternity care experiences and breastfeeding at discharge among Maryland WIC participants: A qualitative analysis
Authors: Augustyn Marycatherine , Haskins Danielle , Gross Susan , Resnik Amy Kovar , Ducharme‐Smith Kirstie , Orta‐Aleman Dania , Silbert‐Flagg JoAnne , Rosenblum Nadine , Caulfield Laura E.
Published: August 2023

Background

Breastfeeding imparts numerous health and social benefits for families. Barriers deter some individuals from breastfeeding. Rates are lower among certain populations, including participants of the federally funded Women, Infants, and Children's Program (WIC). Women, Infants, and Children's Program provides low‐income pregnant and postpartum women and children under 5 with nutrition education, supplemental foods, breastfeeding education and support, and resource linkages. Investigation of WIC participants' hospital experiences and breastfeeding decisions is limited. We explore qualitative themes associated with breastfeeding‐related hospital maternity care practices experienced by WIC participants.

Methods

Thirty pregnant individuals intending to breastfeed were recruited at WIC clinics to complete in‐depth interviews at 2 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months of postpartum. Using the Thematic Framework methodology, we analyzed data from the two‐week interviews of 29 participants with respect to hospital breastfeeding experiences.

Results

Fourteen participants were exclusively breastfeeding at discharge (EBFD). Fifteen were partially breastfeeding at discharge (PBFD). Differences between groups were found in hospital breastfeeding experiences, particularly in staff support. All participants EBFD reported positive breastfeeding‐related staff experiences. Most participants PBFD reported limited and ineffective staff interaction, leading to formula introduction.

Conclusions

Individuals EBFD and those PBFD reported about the same rate of hospital breastfeeding difficulties, yet half introduced formula within the first few days postpartum. Results reiterate the importance of hospital staff support to breastfeeding exclusivity at 2–3 days postpartum. The challenges that these individuals faced may have been resolved through available, responsive, and effective intervention. Data‐driven breastfeeding education programs for hospital health professionals are critical to affect patient breastfeeding outcomes.
Introducing conceptual geological information into Bayesian tomographic imaging
Authors: Bloem Hugo , Curtis Andrew , Tetzlaff Daniel
Published: August 2023

Geological process models typically simulate a range of dynamic processes to evolve a base topography into a final two‐dimensional cross section or three‐dimensional geological scenario. In principle, process parameters may be updated to better align with observed geophysical or geological data. However, it is hard to find any process model realisations that fit all observations if data sets are complex and sparse in space or time because the simulations typically depend highly non‐linearly on base topography and dynamic parameters. As an alternative, geophysical probabilistic tomographic methods may be used to estimate the family of models of a target subsurface structure that are consistent both with information obtained from previous experiments and with new data (the Bayesian posterior probability distribution). However, this family seldom embodies geologically reasonable images. Here we show that the posterior distribution of tomographic images obtained from travel time data can be fully geological by injecting geological prior information into Bayesian inference and that we can do this near‐instantaneously by using trained mixture density networks (MDNs). We invoke two geological concepts as prior information about the possible depositional environment of an imaged target structure: a braided river system and a set of marine parasequences. Each concept is parameterised by the latent parameters of a generative adversarial network. Data from a target structure can then be used to infer the family of compatible latent parameter values using either geological concept using MDNs. Our near‐instantaneous MDN solutions closely resemble those found using relatively expensive Monte Carlo methods. We show that while the use of incorrect geological conceptual models provides significantly less accurate results, a classifier neural network can infer which geological conceptual model is most consistent with the data. It is thus demonstrated that even apparently barely related geophysical data may contain information about abstract geological concepts, and that geological conceptual models are key to creating reasonable images from geophysical data.
Stepwise modulation of apical orientational cell adhesions for vertebrate neurulation
Authors: Zhang Lili , Wei Xiangyun
Published: August 2023

Neurulation transforms the neuroectoderm into the neural tube. This transformation relies on reorganising the configurational relationships between the orientations of intrinsic polarities of neighbouring cells. These orientational intercellular relationships are established, maintained, and modulated by orientational cell adhesions (OCAs). Here, using zebrafish (Danio rerio) neurulation as a major model, we propose a new perspective on how OCAs contribute to the parallel, antiparallel, and opposing intercellular relationships that underlie the neural plate–keel–rod–tube transformation, a stepwise process of cell aggregation followed by cord hollowing. We also discuss how OCAs in neurulation may be regulated by various adhesion molecules, including cadherins, Eph/Ephrins, Claudins, Occludins, Crumbs, Na+/K+‐ATPase, and integrins. By comparing neurulation among species, we reveal that antiparallel OCAs represent a conserved mechanism for the fusion of the neural tube. Throughout, we highlight some outstanding questions regarding OCAs in neurulation. Answers to these questions will help us understand better the mechanisms of tubulogenesis of many tissues.
Concepts in Space: Enhancing Lexical Search With a Spatial Diversity Prime
Authors: Malaie Soran , Karimi Hossein , Jahanitabesh Azra , Bargh John A. , Spivey Michael J.
Published: August 2023

Informed by theories of embodied cognition, in the present study, we designed a novel priming technique to investigate the impact of spatial diversity and script direction on searching through concepts in both English and Persian (i.e., two languages with opposite script directions). First, participants connected a target dot either to one other dot (linear condition) or to multiple other dots (diverse condition) and either from left to right (rightward condition) or from right to left (leftward condition) on a computer touchscreen using their dominant hand's forefinger. Following the spatial prime, they were asked to generate as many words as possible using two‐letter cues (e.g., “lo” → “love,” “lobster”) in 20 s. We hypothesized that greater spatial diversity, and consistency with script direction, should facilitate conceptual search and result in a higher number of word productions. In both languages, word production performance was superior for the diverse prime relative to the linear prime, suggesting that searching through lexical memory is facilitated by spatial diversity. Although some effects were observed for the directionality of the spatial prime, they were not consistent across experiments and did not correlate with script direction. This pattern of results suggests that a spatial prime that promotes diverse paths can improve word retrieval from lexical memory and lends empirical support to the embodied cognition framework, in which spatial relations play a crucial role in the conceptual system.
Areas of strength and opportunities for growth in translational science education and training: Results of a scoping review from the NCATS Education Branch
Authors: Vogel Amanda L. , Haynes Brittany M. , Hussain Shadab F. , Akacem Lameese D. , Hodges Marcus G. , Duberman Josh A. , Butera Gisela , Faupel‐Badger Jessica M.
Published: August 2023

Translational science education and training (E&T) aims to prepare the translational workforce to accelerate progress along the translational pipeline toward solutions that improve human health. In 2020–2021, the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) Education Branch conducted a scoping review of the E&T literature with this focus. The review used the methodological framework proposed by Arksey and O'Malley. PubMed, Education Resources Information Center (ERIC), and Embase were searched, and forward citations conducted. Screening of titles, abstracts, and full text identified 44 included articles. Data extraction facilitated analysis of E&T content, audiences, modalities, evaluations, and recommendations. The NCATS Translational Science Principles were used to identity described or recommended E&T content. Twenty‐nine articles described a translational science E&T opportunity or its evaluation, and another 15 articles offered recommendations for translational science E&T. The most prevalent NCATS Translational Science Principles were boundary‐crossing partnerships (77%) and cross‐disciplinary team science (75%). Among publications describing E&T opportunities, the most reported modalities were experiential learning (64%) and courses (61%) and the most reported participants were graduate students (68%) and postdoctoral fellows (54%). About half of these articles (n = 15) reported an evaluation, covering a range of proximal to distal outcomes. Recommendations emphasized the value of translational science E&T across training and career stages and the use of varied modalities to reach diverse audiences. This review highlights strengths and opportunities for growth in translational science E&T. Enhancements to content, expansion of participants and modalities, and rigorous evaluations will contribute to building a highly qualified, diverse translational science workforce.
In praise of pioglitazone: An economically efficacious therapy for type 2 diabetes and other manifestations of the metabolic syndrome
Authors: Bell David S. H. , Jerkins Terri
Published: August 2023

Pioglitazone improves glycaemic control, not only by lowering insulin resistance, but also by improving beta cell function. Because of the improved beta cell function the glycaemic control that occurs with pioglitazone is prolonged. Pioglitazone has positive effects not only on cardiac risk factors and surrogate measures of cardiovascular disease, it also lowers the incidence of cardiac events in patients with diabetes. The recurrence of transient ischaemic attack and ischaemic stroke is also reduced in non‐diabetic, insulin‐resistant subjects. Utilized at preclinical stages (but not later) of heart failure, pioglitazone improves diastolic function and avoids progression to heart failure. Pioglitazone, through suppression of atrial remodelling, also decreases the incidence of atrial fibrillation. The manifestations of diseases associated with insulin resistance (non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis and polycystic ovary disease) are also improved with pioglitazone. Pioglitazone may possibly improve psoriasis and other dermopathies. Pioglitazone is therefore an inexpensive and efficacious drug for the insulin‐resistant subject with diabetes that is underutilized because of biases that have evolved from the toxicities of other thiazolidinediones.
Association of FOXO3A with right ventricular myocardial fibrosis and its detection by speckle‐tracking echocardiography in pulmonary hypertension
Authors: Song Rui , Wang Ping , Yang Lianji , Liu Juan , Chen Zhuo , Ding Yunchuan
Published: August 2023

Background

Myocardial fibrosis can result in right ventricular (RV) dysfunction, a critical factor in poor clinical outcomes and high mortality rates among patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH). Decreased RV myocardial strain rates have been reported in PH patients. The expression of FOXO3A may play a crucial role in myocardial fibrosis; however, the relationship between myocardial fibrosis, speckle‐tracking echocardiography (STE), and the transcription factor FOXO3A remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the relationship between the molecular mechanisms of myocardial fibrosis and noninvasive ultrasound evaluation indices to provide a reliable molecular foundation for the early diagnosis of right heart dysfunction in clinical settings.

Methods

A progressive right heart failure (RHF) rat model was established through subcutaneous injections of monocrotaline. Rats were divided into baseline, 2‐week, 4‐week, and 6‐week groups based on the disease course. RV structure, function, and myocardial strain were assessed via echocardiography. Myocardial fibrosis severity was determined using PSR staining. The correlation between myocardial strain and RV myocardial fibrosis was analyzed. FOXO3A, collagen I, collagen III, and BNP expressions were tested using western blotting.

Results

As the disease progressed, the right ventricle significantly expanded, and the RV fractional area change (FAC), tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), RV global longitudinal strain (RVLS global), and RV free wall longitudinal strain (RVLS FW) gradually declined. However, the reductions in RVLS global and RVLS FW occurred earlier than that of RVFAC, TAPSE. Significant correlations were observed between RVLS global, RVLS FW, and collagen deposition. FOXO3A expression gradually decreased with disease progression, while BNP, collagen I, and collagen III expressions gradually increased.

Conclusions

Decreases in RVLS global and RVLS FW in RHF rats occurred earlier than RVFAC and were associated with RV myocardial fibrosis. Furthermore, FOXO3A may have a protective role in the process of RV myocardial fibrosis.
Epidemiology and clinical outcomes of light‐chain amyloidosis in Sweden: A nationwide population‐based study
Authors: Mellqvist Ulf‐Henrik , Cai Qian , Hester Laura L. , Grövdal Michael , Börsum Jakob , Rahman Iffat , Ammann Eric M. , Hansson Markus
Published: August 2023

Objectives

This study evaluated data from six Swedish national registries to fill current evidence gaps on the epidemiology, clinical burden, and overall survival (OS) associated with light‐chain (AL) amyloidosis.

Methods

Patients newly diagnosed with AL amyloidosis were identified using six linked Swedish nationwide population‐based registers. For each case, individuals from the general population were selected and matched with a maximum ratio of 1:5 based on age, sex, calendar year, and county.

Results

846 patients newly diagnosed with AL amyloidosis and 4227 demographically matched individuals were identified. From 2011 to 2019, annual AL amyloidosis incidence increased from 10.5 to 15.1 cases per million. At baseline, patients with AL amyloidosis had a significantly higher disease burden including higher rates of cardiac and renal failure relative to the comparison group. Among patients with AL amyloidosis, 21.5% had incident heart failure and 17.1% had incident renal failure after initial diagnosis. Median OS for patients with AL amyloidosis was 56 months versus not reached in the matched general population comparison group.

Conclusion

The incidence of newly diagnosed AL amyloidosis in Sweden increased over time with AL amyloidosis being associated with a higher risk of cardiac/renal failure and all‐cause mortality compared with the general population.
External tournament incentives and corporate social irresponsibility
Authors: Zhong Xi , Chen Weihong , Ren Ge
Published: August 2023

We integrate the perspectives of tournament and agency theories to examine whether, how, and when external tournament incentives influence firms' corporate social irresponsibility (CSI). Using data on Chinese listed companies from 2003 to 2020, we show that external tournament incentives positively affect firms' CSI. Essentially, CEOs can use CSI to rapidly improve the firm's short‐term performance and thus increase their chances of winning external tournaments. Therefore, CEOs have an incentive to push companies to implement more CSI in response to external tournament incentives. Meanwhile, we find that good external corporate governance mechanisms (short‐selling pressure, marketization, and social trust) inhibit CEOs' opportunistic tendency to use CSI in response to external tournament incentives, thus attenuating the positive impact of external tournament incentives on CSI. This study extends the literature on external tournament incentives and CSI and provides important insights for shareholders and policymakers to effectively curb CSI.
Racing performance of Thoroughbred racehorses with suspensory ligament branch desmitis treated with mesenchymal stem cells (2010–2019)
Authors: Hansen Stefanie H. , Bramlage Lawrence R. , Moore George E.
Published: August 2023

Background

Suspensory ligament branch desmitis (SLBD) is a common injury in Thoroughbred racehorses. Orthobiologic treatment of these injuries is a relatively new approach, and there is limited information available on post injury racing performance in racehorses treated with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).

Objectives

To assess racing performance post injury in Thoroughbred racehorses with SLBD treated with MSCs.

Study design

Retrospective case series.

Methods

Medical records of racehorses with SLBD treated with MSCs from 2010 to 2019 were reviewed. All horses were treated with allogeneic stem cells injected locally at the time of diagnosis and subsequently received 3–4 treatments with autologous bone‐marrow derived MSCs. Ultrasonographic and radiographic images were evaluated to determine the degree of suspensory branch injury and sesamoiditis of the associated proximal sesamoid bone. Race performance was assessed by career length, class of races, number of starts and earnings post injury. Race performance of horses that raced pre and post injury were compared.

Results

Of 69 treated horses, 71% (49/69) [95% CI: 59%–81%] raced post injury. Horses that had raced pre injury were more likely to race post injury (90% [18/20]) than horses that did not race pre injury (63% [31/49]; p = 0.03). Females were less likely to race post injury than males (52% [11/21] vs. 79% [38/49], respectively; p = 0.02). In the 18 horses that raced pre and post injury, the number of races, earnings and earnings per start were not significantly different pre and post injury. The average career length of all horses that raced post injury was 29.5 months.

Main limitations

Retrospective study design and lack of controls.

Conclusions

Treatment with MSCs resulted in a majority of Thoroughbred racehorses with SLBD racing post treatment. Racing pre injury and being male was positively associated with racing post injury.
Dermatologist versus artificial intelligence confidence in dermoscopy diagnosis: Complementary information that may affect decision‐making
Authors: Van Molle Pieter , Mylle Sofie , Verbelen Tim , De Boom Cedric , Vankeirsbilck Bert , Verhaeghe Evelien , Dhoedt Bart , Brochez Lieve
Published: August 2023

In dermatology, deep learning may be applied for skin lesion classification. However, for a given input image, a neural network only outputs a label, obtained using the class probabilities, which do not model uncertainty. Our group developed a novel method to quantify uncertainty in stochastic neural networks. In this study, we aimed to train such network for skin lesion classification and evaluate its diagnostic performance and uncertainty, and compare the results to the assessments by a group of dermatologists. By passing duplicates of an image through such a stochastic neural network, we obtained distributions per class, rather than a single probability value. We interpreted the overlap between these distributions as the output uncertainty, where a high overlap indicated a high uncertainty, and vice versa. We had 29 dermatologists diagnose a series of skin lesions and rate their confidence. We compared these results to those of the network. The network achieved a sensitivity and specificity of 50% and 88%, comparable to the average dermatologist (respectively 68% and 73%). Higher confidence/less uncertainty was associated with better diagnostic performance both in the neural network and in dermatologists. We found no correlation between the uncertainty of the neural network and the confidence of dermatologists (R = −0.06, p = 0.77). Dermatologists should not blindly trust the output of a neural network, especially when its uncertainty is high. The addition of an uncertainty score may stimulate the human‐computer interaction.
Tourist ethnocentrism: A bibliometric analysis based on Web of Science (WoS)
Authors: Cardador Jaime José Orts , Pérez‐Gálvez Jesús Claudio , Gomez‐Casero Gema , Alba Carol Angélica Jara
Published: August 2023

The scientific literature regarding ethnocentrism is quite extensive in the fields of marketing, politics and psychology; however, in the realm of tourism it is barely mentioned and there is even less research. This study intends to fill the current bibliometric void in terms of the relationship between ethnocentrism and tourism. Its main goal is to display qualitative and quantitative analysis of ethnocentrism and tourism research from 1991 until September 2022, which enables an inventory of its scientific production. The results show the need for extensive intercultural research in order to obtain a more extensive view of tourist ethnocentrism.
Teachers' perspectives on pedagogy in short‐term language study abroad
Authors: Fischer Brett , Viens Danielle
Published: August 2023

Study abroad (SA) in North America is changing in two ways: short‐term trips are becoming more popular, and more students are traveling in teacher‐facilitated groups. These changes raise questions about how teaching methods can help to improve outcomes in short stays abroad, particularly in the case of language learners. To better understand teachers' perspectives on pedagogy, we conducted a series of group and individual interviews with 18 college teachers who facilitate short‐term language SA. The results of a constructivist grounded theory analysis showed that teachers believed pedagogy in short‐term SA could be improved by integrating the SA program into the at‐home curriculum, by targeting both measurable and process‐based objectives, by adopting a variety of teaching strategies including experiential teaching, and by integrating interactions between students and locals in different ways.
What is Evagrian ΓΝΩΣΙΣ?
Authors: Muller Fabien
Published: August 2023

Abstract: Evagrius famously characterises divine nature as γνῶσις οὐσιώδης, ‘substantial knowledge’. In the Alexandrian, Cappadocian, and other intellectual contexts informed by Platonic, Aristotelian, and Philonic thought, characterisations of God as a noetic or intellectual being are fairly common. However, these traditions concur in using the term νοῦς rather than γνῶσις. How can we explain that Evagrius deviates from the metaphysical mainstream? In this paper, I review this question from an historical and systematic point of view. I propose to examine ancient theories of Mind about the function and structure of the νοῦς, compare them to the Evagrian theory, and identify a possible explanation for the substitution of γνῶσις to the νοῦς. Since God is the key element in Evagrius's metaphysics, a clearer vision of the divine essence will help us appreciate the whole system more fully.
Development of stable and functional encapsulated chrysin using casein–polysaccharide complexes for food applications
Authors: Parappa Kruthika , Krishnapura Prajna Rao , Iyyaswami Regupathi , Belur Prasanna D.
Published: August 2023

Chrysin is a hydrophobic flavonoid with multiple health benefits. The various applications of chrysin are challenged by its poor solubility, instability and loss of bioactivity. Casein–chrysin complex and casein–polysaccharide–chrysin complexes have developed to overcome these limitations. Very high encapsulation efficiency of 98.23 ± 0.22% was achieved with casein–inulin–chrysin complex. The chrysin was able to form a stable casein–polysaccharide–chrysin complex suspension with a hydrodynamic diameter of 382.3 nm, zeta potential value of −12.3 mV and a Polydispersity Index (PDI) of 27.7. The antioxidant activity of chrysin increased about threefold after encapsulation. The release of chrysin from its encapsulated complexes to different buffers in the pH range of 3 to 10 was studied at 1:10 ratio. At the end of 48 h, only 6%–8% of chrysin was released in the pH range 3–4, 33%–58% at pH 5–9 and 62% at pH 10. The chrysin encapsulated in casein–inulin–chrysin complex was able to overcome the rapid release of chrysin from the casein–chrysin complex. The results indicate the successful development of a stable encapsulated chrysin complex which can overcome the various limitations of chrysin in its potential applications.
Technical assessment of nanofiltration process for concentration of cranberry juice and recovery of benzoic acid
Authors: Lai Dat Quoc , Tagashira Nobuhiro , Hagiwara Shoji , Nakajima Mitsutoshi , Kimura Toshinori , Nabetani Hiroshi
Published: August 2023

This work investigated cranberry juice nanofiltration using a plate and frame pilot plant equipped with NF99 membrane to concentrate cranberry juice and simultaneously separate benzoic acid from cranberry juice. The influences of ultrafiltration pretreatment were also considered. The results indicated that UF pretreatment can improve permeate flux and consequently the concentration factor and concentration degree. In both cases, the dominant fouling mechanism of cranberry juice nanofiltration was complete blocking. However, the UF pretreatment could reduce the fouling phenomena. With nanofiltration of ultrafiltration pretreated cranberry juice at pH 2.5 and 4 MPa of operating pressure; concentration factor, concentration degree, final solid content, the total rejection of benzoic acid and recovery yield of soluble solid were 4.23, 4.14, 21.3 oBrix, 0.703 and 0.938 respectively. In the permeate, the benzoic acid content on dry matter increased more than 10 times compared with the feed. These results indicate that it is promising to apply nanofiltration for not only recovering benzoic acid from cranberry juice but also concentrating that juice simultaneously with benzoic acid recovery.
Using wheat flour mixing technology: the relationship between dough rheological properties and oil content in frying behaviour
Authors: Wang Jing , Li Mengmeng , Guan Erqi , Liu Yuanxiao , Wen Jiping
Published: August 2023

This study investigated the potential of six wheat flour mixing schemes for reducing the oil content of fried dough sticks and provided a new idea for the production of special wheat flour. The results showed that the FP‐4, FP‐5 and FP‐6 mixing schemes showed some degree of oil reduction, while the FP‐1, FP‐2 and FP‐3 mixing schemes did not perform well in terms of oil reduction. Overall, the compounded wheat flour with relatively high‐protein content had a good oil reduction effect. Dough with higher water absorption, longer development time, stability time and higher deformation capacity had a denser gluten network structure, which was attributed to the presence of membranes in the gluten structure that acted as a barrier to the intrusion of oil. The principal component analysis results also showed that FP‐5 and FP‐6 had relatively high overall scores and had better dough characteristics that were conducive to the reduction of oil content in fried dough sticks. To some extent, the wheat flour mixing scheme proposed in the study has a positive effect on the reduction of oil content in fried dough sticks and can be used as a data reference for the development of low‐fat fried dough sticks.
Contextual factors influencing the implementation of advanced practice nursing in Catalonia, Spain
Authors: Rivera Darinka , Prades Joan , Sevilla Guerra Sonia , Borras Josep M.
Published: August 2023

Background

Advanced practice nurse (APN) roles bring great added value to health systems. However, their integration into the health workforce and the sustainability of the role depend on contextual factors surrounding their implementation.

Aim

To explore the contextual factors that influence the organization, implementation, and performance of clinical practice among oncology APNs in Catalonia (Spain).

Methods

This is a descriptive qualitative study. A framework of contextual factors was applied to explore the perspectives of 14 oncology APNs in public hospitals in Catalonia by means of semistructured interviews. Data were analyzed according to the thematic analysis approach. The COREQ checklist was used to report the study.

Results

APNs in cancer care strongly depend on the hospital environment where they are introduced. Recognition by the multidisciplinary team, the existence of mentoring experiences, and networking between APNs are critical factors that can help or hinder the development and autonomy of the APNs. Likewise, support from nursing managers and directors is decisive in defining the professional profile, establishing accountability mechanisms, and securing financial resources, including economic recognition. Factors related to the external environment can also contribute, including a standardized national APN model and scientific societies.

Conclusions

Contextual factors around clinical practice, institutional structures, and professional networks are crucial determinants for adequately integrating APNs at the health system level.

Implications for nursing policy

Professional bodies and national nursing organizations should lay the groundwork for defining standards of practice and advocate for specific regulations. In addition, financial recognition and accountability mechanisms to assess the impact of their contribution should be a priority to ensure sustainability and APN satisfaction.
Thermal stability of ReB2‐type transition metal diborides
Authors: Long Ying , Lin Shiming , Lin Hua‐Tay
Published: August 2023

The thermal stability of metastable ReB2‐type transition metal diborides (TMB2), which are considered as new type of superhard material, is of vital importance to obtain bulk samples. In the present work, thermal stability of four kinds of ReB2‐type TMB2 powders, ReB2, OsB2, Os1–xRexB2, and Os1‐xWxB2, were synthesized with varied transition metal (TM)‐to‐B molar ratio by mechanochemical methods and the subsequent annealing was compared. The as‐synthesized powders were then consolidated using a pressureless sintering technique. The results showed that the B content required to obtain the pure hexagonal ReB2‐type Os1–x(TM)xB2 phase varied, which indicated different thermal stabilities, such as OsB2 < Os0.1W0.1B2 < Os0.9Re0.1B2 < Os0.8W0.2B2 < ReB2 < Os0.6W0.4B2 and Os0.5W0.5B2. Among them, Os0.6W0.4B2 and Os0.5W0.5B2 were found to be relatively thermally stable and could be synthesized with a stoichiometric molar ratio of (Os + W):B = 1:2. It was also found that the thermal stability of TMB2 with a hexagonal ReB2 structure could be mainly governed by the length of lattice constant c. The results have guiding significance for the design and preparation of new type of TM borides. In addition, the hardness of TMB2 can be increased by tailoring the B content in the raw materials more precisely.
The EMeRGE theory of emerging adult‐aged women's sexual and reproductive health self‐management: A grounded theory study
Authors: Schlegel Emma C. , Pickler Rita H. , Tate Judith A. , Williams Karen Patricia , Smith Laureen H.
Published: August 2023

Aims

To explore how emerging adult‐aged women self‐manage their sexual and reproductive health and to generate a grounded theory of these self‐management processes.

Design

Grounded theory methods using a constructivist approach.

Methods

Between September 2019 and September 2020, 18‑ to 25‐years‐old women (n = 13) were recruited from a 4‐year university, a 2‐year community college, and neighbourhoods surrounding the institutions of higher education. Individual interviews were transcribed verbatim and qualitatively analysed using a constant comparative method and inductive coding.

Results

The theory purports that core processes of sexual and reproductive health self‐management used by the women in this study included both passive and (re)active processes. These processes expanded upon and/or maintained the women's accessible sexual and reproductive health knowledge, behaviour and beliefs, defined as the sexual and reproductive health repertoire. The processes appeared to be cyclical and were often initiated by a catalysing event or catalyst and resulted in conversations with confidantes, or trusted individuals. A catalyst was either resolved or normalized by expanding or maintaining the sexual and reproductive health repertoire.

Conclusion

The resulting theory, EMeRGE Theory, offers insight into the complex and cyclical processes emerging adult‐aged women use to simultaneously develop and adapt their foundational sexual and reproductive health knowledge, behaviours and beliefs.

Implications for the Profession and/or Patient Care

This explication of emerging adult‐aged women's sexual and reproductive health self‐management processes can be used by nurses and nurse researchers to better address this population's unique health needs.

Impact

The EMeRGE Theory provides valuable guidance for future exploratory and intervention research aimed at improving the health and well‐being of emerging adult‐aged women.

Reporting Method

The authors adhered to the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative studies (COREQ) in preparation of this publication.

Patient or Public Contribution

No patient or public contribution.
What predicts variation in reliability and validity of online peer assessment? A large‐scale cross‐context study
Authors: Xiong Yao , Schunn Christian D. , Wu Yong
Published: August 2023

Background

For peer assessment, reliability (i.e., consistency in ratings across peers) and validity (i.e., consistency of peer ratings with instructors or experts) are frequently examined in the research literature to address a central concern of instructors and students. Although the average levels are generally promising, both reliability and validity can vary substantially from context to context. Meta‐analyses have identified a few moderators that are related to peer assessment reliability/validity, but they have lacked statistical power to systematically investigate many moderators or disentangle correlated moderators.

Objectives

The current study fills this gap by addressing what variables influence peer assessment reliability/validity using a large‐scale, cross‐context dataset from a shared online peer assessment platform.

Methods

Using multi‐level structural equation models, we examined three categories of variables: (1) variables related to the context of peer assessment; (2) variables related to the peer assessment task itself; and (3) variables related to rating rubrics of peer assessment.

Results and Conclusions

We found that the extent to which assessment documents varied in quality on the given rubric played a central role in mediating the effect from different predictors to peer assessment reliability/validity. Other variables that are significantly associated with reliability and validity included: Education Level, Language, Discipline, Average Ability of Peer Raters, Draft Number, Assignment Number, Class Size, Average Number of Raters, and Length of Rubric Description. The results provide information to guide practitioners on how to improve reliability and validity of peer assessments.
Efficacy of Metarhizium anisopliae (Mechnikov) Sorokin ICIPE 69 against the melon fly Zeugodacus cucurbitae (Coquillett) infesting courgette (Cucurbita pepo L.) in field cages
Authors: Dubois Thomas , Onsongo Susan K. , Odhiambo Joseph A. , Omuse Evanson R. , Akutse Komivi S. , Mohamed Samira A.
Published: August 2023

Effective integrated pest management (IPM) of the melon fly Zeugodacus cucurbitae (Coquillett), a devastating pest threatening horticultural production in Africa, is urgently needed. In this study, a caged field experiment was implemented in Thika, Kenya to test the efficacy of Metarhizium anisopliae (Mechnikov) Sorokin ICIPE 69 for Z. cucurbitae control in courgette Cucurbita pepo L. Treatments included: (1) dry conidia of M. anisopliae ICIPE 69 applied in an autodissemination device (fungus); (2) dry conidia of M. anisopliae ICIPE 69 in an autodissemination device combined with cuelure, a male attractant (fungus + cuelure); (3) a commercial insecticide (profenofos + cypermethrin) (insecticide); and (4) an untreated control (control). Each treatment was replicated thrice and the experiment was conducted twice during two seasons. Flies (300/tunnel) and treatments were introduced at flowering. One day later, 25 flies/tunnel were randomly collected from each cage to assess conidial acquisition (for fungus and fungus + cuelure treatments only) and mortality during a 10‐day interval in the laboratory. Flies in the fungus + cuelure treatment acquired more conidia (18.02 ± 0.48 conidia/fly) than those in the fungus treatment (11.93 ± 0.40 conidia/fly). Flies in the fungus + cuelure treatment experienced the highest mortality (95.31% ± 1.69%), while those in the insecticide treatment experienced the lowest (38.70% ± 4.32%). Dry conidia were collected from the autodissemination devices (in the fungus and fungus + cuelure treatment) daily for 7 days after flowering to check for compatibility through germination tests. Percentage germination reduced over time from 86.45% ± 1.77% and 87.72% ± 1.71% on day 1 to 16.39% ± 2.11% and 42.76% ± 1.74% on day 7 (seasons 1 and 2, respectively). The yield was significantly different among treatments and was, across seasons, highest in the fungus + cuelure (6961 ± 550 kg/ha) and insecticide (7267 ± 352 kg/ha) treatments and lowest in the control treatment (2089 ± 155 kg/ha).
First record of the bull shark Carcharhinus leucas (Valenciennes, 1839) from the Maldivian archipelago, central Indian Ocean
Authors: Parmegiani Andrea , Gobbato Jacopo , Seveso Davide , Galli Paolo , Montano Simone
Published: August 2023

Verified records of the bull shark Carcharhinus leucas are lacking in the Maldives. This study provides the first confirmed evidence of 23 sightings observed from 2013 to 2023 in the central and southern atolls of this archipelago. Most of the sightings occurred in close proximity to inhabited areas, where food waste is often discarded into the water, or in several dive sites, suggesting the presence of this species in different locations around central and southern atolls. Although further research is required to fully investigate the C. leucas population in the Maldives, this report documents and confirms its presence in this region.
Uniparental and biparental markers unravel invasion pathways, population admixture, and genetic structure in naturalized rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
Authors: Benavente Javiera N. , Véliz David , Quezada‐Romegialli Claudio , Gomez‐Uchida Daniel
Published: August 2023

The present study combined uniparental mtDNA and biparental SNPs to illuminate the invasion and colonization pathways of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, one of the world's most widespread invasive fishes, that has been intensively propagated in Chile, South America. The specific aims of the study were (i) to evaluate potential donor populations, which could be either from the species' native range in North America or from introduced populations in Europe, by comparing mtDNA D‐loop/control region haplotypes; and (ii) to assess the factors that have shaped genetic diversity and contemporary genetic structure of rainbow trout populations introduced to Chile through SNP genotyping. The authors comprehensively sampled 24 sites in 12 basins ranging from the High Andean Plateau (Altiplano, 18° S) to northern Patagonia (41° S). Results of the mtDNA data of naturalized trout populations from rivers in the Altiplano (northern Chile) differed from those collected in central and southern Chile, suggesting an origin from North American hatcheries. Naturalized trout populations in central and southern Chile, on the contrary, shared haplotypes with specimens found in European hatcheries. The southern and central Chile populations also contained rare haplotypes, possibly indicating potential spread through aquaculture escapes. Results of the SNP analysis revealed higher allelic richness for trout sampled in sites influenced by commercial aquaculture than sites without commercial aquaculture, likely due to increased admixture between aquaculture broodstock and naturalized trout. The analysis further uncovered some complex patterns of divergent trout populations with low genetic diversity as well as increased relatedness between individuals from isolated sites, suggesting possible local populations. A comprehensive characterization of genetic diversity and structure of rainbow trout should help identify management areas that may augment socioeconomic benefits while preventing the spread and further impacts on biodiversity.