bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Peripheral ulcerative keratitis secondary to tuberculosis: A case report and literature review
Authors: Wang Shuang , Gong Yajie , Huang Keke , Huang Jun
Published: August 2024

Rationale:

Compared with intraocular tuberculosis, ocular tuberculosis with ocular surface involvement is rare. Corneal involvement in ocular tuberculosis may include interstitial keratitis or peripheral ulcerative keratitis. We report a case of peripheral ulcerative keratitis directly caused by tuberculosis.

Patient concerns:

A 20-year-old man complained of vision loss and pain in the left eye that had lasted for 1 week. A slit lamp examination of the left eye showed a corneal epithelial defect, interstitial corneal edema, and a white irregular infiltrative lesion and ulcer (with the dimension of 2 × 2.5 mm) in the inferior temporal region.

Diagnoses:

The corneal ulcer was scraped, and the Mycobacterium tuberculosis deoxyribonucleic acid polymerase chain reaction was positive.

Interventions and outcomes:

After a month of oral antituberculosis treatment, the corneal ulcer resolved, and the intraocular inflammation improved.

Lessons:

Peripheral ulcerative keratitis secondary to tuberculosis can be directly caused by M tuberculosis.
Thoracoscopic resection of a giant esophageal schwannoma: A case report and review of literature
Authors: Chen Shu , Zhao Yixuan , Zhao Yinghao
Published: August 2024

Introduction:

Benign esophageal tumors are uncommon, accounting for approximately 2% of esophageal tumors. Esophageal schwannoma is a much rarer solid tumor with few cases reported in the literature. Open surgery is the surgical approach of choice for the treatment of esophageal tumors. With the advent of thoracoscopy, more and more countries are adopting a thoracoscopic approach to treat esophageal tumors, but there is still no clear surgical standard or modality for the treatment of esophageal tumors.

Patient concerns:

A 50-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital. Over the past 2 months, her clinical presentation has included progressively worse swallowing disorder and weight loss. Gastroscopy showed an elevated lesion with a smooth surface visible 18 cm out from the incisors. An electron circumferential ultrasound endoscopy showed a hemispherical bulge with a smooth surface 18 to 23 cm from the incisor; the bulge originated from the intrinsic muscular layer and showed a heterogeneous mixed moderate ultrasound with a little blood flow signal and blue-green elastography in 1 of the sections measuring approximately 4 cm × 3 cm. Chest computed tomography (CT) showed a mass-like soft tissue shadow in the upper esophagus measuring approximately 39 mm × 34 mm, with a CT The lumen was compressed and narrowed, and the lumen of the upper part of the lesion was dilated, and the adjacent trachea was compressed and displaced to the right.

Interventions:

After completion of the examination, assisted by artificial pneumothorax and thoracoscopic resection of esophageal masses were performed.

Diagnosis and Outcomes:

Postoperative pathology report: Mesenchymal-derived tumor (esophagus), combined with immunohistochemical staining results and morphologic features supported schwannoma. The patient’s postoperative course was calm. The patient’s postoperative dysphagia subsided.

Conclusion:

We describe a case of successful treatment of a schwannoma of the upper esophagus using artificial pneumothorax-assisted VATS. The combined use of Sox10 and S100 helps to improve the sensitivity and specificity of schwannoma diagnosis. Damage to the esophageal lining was avoided by mixed thoracoscopic and endoscopic exploration. This approach can also be applied to benign esophageal tumors in the thoracic and subthoracic segments, leading to better minimally invasive results.
Factors associated with the use of pharmacopuncture in addition to acupuncture in South Korea: An analysis of a nationally representative panel
Authors: Kwon Chan-Young , Park Ilsu
Published: August 2024

Pharmacopuncture is a widely used Korean medicine treatment, but its usage patterns and associated factors remain unclear. This study aimed to explore factors related to the use of pharmacopuncture alongside acupuncture and investigate the associated medical cost burden in South Korea. We analyzed the 2019 Korea Health Panel Annual Data, focusing on adult outpatients who received acupuncture alone or both acupuncture and pharmacopuncture (PA). We employed individual-level and visit-level approaches, using chi-square tests, t-tests, and binary logistic regression for analysis. Among 1280 patients, 10% were PA users. Logistic regression showed that PA use was significantly associated with being aged 30 to 49 (odd ratio [OR] = 2.531; P = .009), having an education level of elementary school or lower (OR = 2.571; P = .011), and being in the 2nd (OR = 1.914; P = .041) or 3rd income percentile (OR = 1.925; P = .020). Of 13,101 medical visits, 5.80% involved PA, with PA visits incurring significantly higher costs than acupuncture only visits (KRW 4438.33 vs 14,700.16; P < .001). Arthritis, shoulder disorders, and other joint conditions were more prevalent among PA visits (P < .001). This study reveals socioeconomic factors influencing pharmacopuncture use and highlights potential health inequalities in its access in South Korea. The higher costs associated with PA visits suggest a need for considering its inclusion in health insurance coverage. Future research should focus on the effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, and standardization of pharmacopuncture to address unmet healthcare needs and inform policy decisions.
An introduction to International Traditional Medicine Clinical Trial Registry (ITMCTR): A cross-regional registry focusing on theme of traditional medicine
Authors: Zhang Xuefei , Liang Ning , Zhang Yujing , Zhao Chen , Yan Lijiao , Hu Ziteng , Yang Sihong , Ye Zehui , Shi Nannan , Wang Yanping , Huang Luqi
Published: August 2024

Clinical trials play a crucial role in advancing the field of human health care. The registration of clinical trials can effectively identify potential publication bias and prevent unnecessary duplication of research efforts, serving as a source of transparent data for health care professionals and researchers, enhancing the quality of clinical research, and presenting more transparent, standardized, authentic, and useful clinical trials. To enhance the capacity for evidence production in traditional medicine from the source, the International Traditional Medicine Clinical Trial Registry (ITMCTR), a cross-regional registry focusing on the theme of traditional medicine, was established. Under the current registration background, this study aims to introduce the problems and current status related to clinical trial registration, as well as the features and functions of the ITMCTR. The results of this study illustrate the necessity of establishing a specialized registration platform for traditional medicine to assist researchers in understanding the basic background of registration and relevant information regarding registration platforms, regardless of whether their research is related to traditional medicine or not. Ultimately, the results of this work will help researchers choose the appropriate platform for more efficient and transparent registration.
Capturing clinically relevant Campylobacter attributes through direct whole genome sequencing of stool
Authors: Djeghout Bilal , Le-Viet Thanh , Martins Leonardo de Oliveira , Savva George M. , Evans Rhiannon , Baker David , Page Andrew , Elumogo Ngozi , Wain John , Janecko Nicol
Published: August 2024

Campylobacter is the leading bacterial cause of infectious intestinal disease, but the pathogen typically accounts for a very small proportion of the overall stool microbiome in each patient. Diagnosis is even more difficult due to the fastidious nature of Campylobacter in the laboratory setting. This has, in part, driven a change in recent years, from culture-based to rapid PCR-based diagnostic assays which have improved diagnostic detection, whilst creating a knowledge gap in our clinical and epidemiological understanding of Campylobacter genotypes – no isolates to sequence. In this study, direct metagenomic sequencing approaches were used to assess the possibility of replacing genome sequences with metagenome sequences; metagenomic sequencing outputs were used to describe clinically relevant attributes of Campylobacter genotypes. A total of 37 diarrhoeal stool samples with Campylobacter and five samples with an unknown pathogen result were collected and processed with and without filtration, DNA was extracted, and metagenomes were sequenced by short-read sequencing. Culture-based methods were used to validate Campylobacter metagenome-derived genome (MDG) results. Sequence output metrics were assessed for Campylobacter genome quality and accuracy of characterization. Of the 42 samples passing quality checks for analysis, identification of Campylobacter to the genus and species level was dependent on Campylobacter genome read count, coverage and genome completeness. A total of 65% (24/37) of samples were reliably identified to the genus level through Campylobacter MDG, 73% (27/37) by culture and 97% (36/37) by qPCR. The Campylobacter genomes with a genome completeness of over 60% (n=21) were all accurately identified at the species level (100%). Of those, 72% (15/21) were identified to sequence types (STs), and 95% (20/21) accurately identified antimicrobial resistance (AMR) gene determinants. Filtration of stool samples enhanced Campylobacter MDG recovery and genome quality metrics compared to the corresponding unfiltered samples, which improved the identification of STs and AMR profiles. The phylogenetic analysis in this study demonstrated the clustering of the metagenome-derived with culture-derived genomes and revealed the reliability of genomes from direct stool sequencing. Furthermore, Campylobacter genome spiking percentages ranging from 0 to 2% total metagenome abundance in the ONT MinION sequencer, configured to adaptive sequencing, exhibited better assembly quality and accurate identification of STs, particularly in the analysis of metagenomes containing 2 and 1% of Campylobacter jejuni genomes. Direct sequencing of Campylobacter from stool samples provides clinically relevant and epidemiologically important genomic information without the reliance on cultured genomes.
Factors Associated with Acceptance of Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) among Residents of Luwingu District, Northern Province of Zambia
Authors: Mkosha Moses , Ngenda Brown , Nawa Mukumbuta
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) is a crucial intervention for malaria control, yet its acceptability in urban areas remains understudied, particularly in Luwingu District, Zambia. This research aimed to estimate acceptance of IRS and identify the factors associated with its acceptability in an urban setting of this area that has holoendemic transmission of malaria.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted using a structured questionnaire administered to 344 households. Data was analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS. 28.0) included descriptive statistics and logistic regression to identify factors associated with IRS acceptability.

Results

A total of 344 household heads were interviewed in this study, out of which only a third (93/344) were female. Among the surveyed households, 53.3% reported being sprayed with IRS, while 46.8% were not and the difference was not statistically significant. The analysis revealed several key factors influencing IRS acceptability. Age was found to be significant, with younger individuals more likely to accept IRS. Similarly, those in formal employment and those with good attitudes towards IRS were likely to accept IRS implementation. On the other hand, sex and marital status were not associated with IRS acceptability.

Conclusion

This study found that Indoor Residual Spraying in an urban community of an area that has holoendemic transmission of malaria covered only about half of the households. The factors associated with acceptance of IRS included younger age group below 35 years compared to those aged 36 years and older, those in formal employment compared to those in informal employment and those with moderate and good attitudes towards IRS. On the other hand, sex, marital status and educational levels if the heads of the households were not statistically associated with acceptance of IRS implementation in their households.
Longitudinal mapping of cortical change during early adolescence associated with prenatal tobacco and/or alcohol exposure in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive DevelopmentSMStudy
Authors: Marshall Andrew T. , Adise Shana , Kan Eric C. , Sowell Elizabeth R.
Published: August 2024

Importance

The effects of prenatal alcohol (PAE) and tobacco exposure (PTE) on adolescent neuroanatomical development are typically evaluated cross-sectionally. It is unclear if observed effects persist throughout life or reflect different developmental trajectories.

Objective

To determine how PAE and PTE are associated with cortical structure and development across two timepoints in early adolescence.

Design

Observational, longitudinal analyses of data within the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development□ Study

Setting

21 study sites in the United States

Participants

5,417 youth participants, aged ∼9-12 years old

Exposures

PAE and PTE based on caregiver (self) reports of alcohol/tobacco use during pregnancy, before and after pregnancy recognition.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Cortical thickness (mm) and cortical surface area (mm2) measured approximately 2 years apart in early adolescence, across 68 bilateral cortical regions.

Results

At baseline data collection, youth participants were ∼9.9 years old (SD=0.6). At the second neuroimaging appointment, youth participants were ∼11.9 years old (SD=0.6). When modelling cortical thickness, we controlled for individuals’ whole-brain volume; when modelling cortical surface area, individuals’ total surface area. Cortical thickness generally declined with age. Cortical surface area either expanded or contracted with age, depending on region. PAE had minimal effects on cortical structure (main effects) and development (PAE×Age interactions). PTE had robust effects on cortical thickness and was associated with faster rates of cortical thinning in several regions within the frontal lobe. Post hoc analyses on (1) the effects of PTE for those who continued tobacco use after pregnancy recognition and (2) the effects of PTE in those who did not also use alcohol revealed weaker effects.

Conclusions and Relevance

PTE had robust effects on neuroanatomical structure and longitudinal development, particularly cortical thickness. Analyzing developmental cortical trajectories informs how PTE and/or PAE not only affects cortical structure but how it develops long after those prenatal exposures occurred. Future analyses involving cotinine biomarkers of PTE would enhance the temporal resolution of the ABCD Study®’s PTE-related queries of tobacco use before and after learning of the pregnancy.

Key Points

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How does prenatal tobacco and/or alcohol exposure affect brain structure and longitudinal development in early adolescence?

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Prenatal tobacco exposure was robustly associated with faster rates of cortical thinning in the frontal lobe; prenatal alcohol exposure had more minimal effects.

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Prenatal substance exposure, especially prenatal tobacco exposure, not only affects cortical structure but how it develops long after those prenatal exposures occurred.
The gut microbiota is a determinant of sexual dimorphism in ALS-linked TDP43 mice
Authors: Beraldi Evandro J. , Lee Sukyoung , Jiang Yulan , Rea Isabel M. , Phull Rushda , Keenan Catherine M. , Stephens Matthew , Bardhi Martin , Bankole Oluwamolakun , Pfeffer Gerald , Biernaskie Jeff , McCoy Kathy D. , Elinav Eran , Sharkey Keith A. , Nguyen Minh Dang
Published: August 2024

The mechanisms underlying the earlier onset and male predominance of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the most common form of human motoneuron disease, are poorly understood. Here we show that the gut microbiota protects against TDP43 toxicity and contributes to the sexual dimorphism in mice expressing a mutant form of TDP43 (A315T) linked to ALS. TDP43 mice raised under germ-free conditions, or treated with antibiotics to deplete the gut microbiota, develop motoneuron disease earlier and show no sex differences in onset and lifespan. Behavioral and histopathological analyses confirm the exacerbation in neurodegeneration caused by the absence of gut microbiota. Castration did not alter disease course of male TDP43 mice, suggesting that male sex hormones do not interact with the gut microbiota to confer disease phenotype. Future identification of gut bacteria species and their mechanisms of action offers a unique opportunity to understand sexual dimorphism in ALS, with the ultimate goal to develop non-invasive and sex-specific treatments for ALS.
Coherent X-ray diffraction imaging of single particles: background impact on 3D reconstruction
Authors: Wollter August , Ekeberg Tomas
Published: August 2024

Coherent diffractive imaging with X-ray free-electron lasers could enable structural studies of macromolecules at room temperature. This type of experiment could provide a means to study structural dynamics on the femtosecond timescale. However, the diffraction from a single protein is weak compared with the incoherent scattering from background sources, which negatively affects the reconstruction analysis. This work evaluates the effects of the presence of background on the analysis pipeline. Background measurements from the European X-ray Free-Electron Laser were combined with simulated diffraction patterns and treated by a standard reconstruction procedure, including orientation recovery with the expand, maximize and compress algorithm and 3D phase retrieval. Background scattering did have an adverse effect on the estimated resolution of the reconstructed density maps. Still, the reconstructions generally worked when the signal-to-background ratio was 0.6 or better, in the momentum transfer shell of the highest reconstructed resolution. The results also suggest that the signal-to-background requirement increases at higher resolution. This study gives an indication of what is possible at current setups at X-ray free-electron lasers with regards to expected background strength and establishes a target for experimental optimization of the background.
Information-seeking pathways of Chinese parents of children with autism spectrum disorder in the context of seeking project-specific information
Authors: Zhong Huan , Han Zhengbiao
Published: August 2024

Purpose

To explore the project-specific information-seeking pathways of Chinese parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and understand the information seeking in their daily lives.

Design/methodology/approach

This study utilized the interview, critical incident technique and information horizon mapping to gather data from 27 Chinese parents of children with ASD during project-specific information seeking. These data were then examined using content analysis and descriptive statistics methods.

Findings

First, the information-seeking pathways of parents of children with ASD show the significant importance of both interpersonal and online sources, characterized by the combined use of multiple types of information sources. Second, information-seeking pathways considerably vary across project contexts. For diagnosis and school selection, parents had fewer pathways and primarily relied on interpersonal sources. Meanwhile, they utilized interpersonal and online sources combined for selecting rehabilitation institutions and methods, with the most information-seeking pathways for rehabilitation methods.

Originality/value

This study presents novel insights into the information-seeking pathways of Chinese parents of children with ASD in seeking project-specific information. It provides valuable references for relevant governments and rehabilitation institutions in building information service platforms, strengthening information quality regulation and providing information resources for parents of children with ASD.
Star architecture in online public discourse: exploring Reddit user-generated content on the Vessel, New York, through a text analytics approach
Authors: Pourahmad Ghalejough Ali , Abbasi Avval Sadegh , Haghparast Farzin , Gharehbaglou Minou
Published: August 2024

Purpose

User-generated content was explored to understand the public discourse surrounding the Vessel, a star architecture in New York. Through text analytics, the study aims to uncover topics, sentiments and themes in public opinion regarding this controversial building from social media data.

Design/methodology/approach

This study utilized a big data and text analytics approach, employing topic modeling with the BERTopic technique, sentiment analysis with roBERTa and thematic analysis on 10,259 Reddit comments pertaining to the Vessel.

Findings

The comments were grouped into 20 topics and seven themes, shedding light on discussions regarding the Vessel’s philosophy of existence, critiques of the architect’s approach, evaluations of project success or failure and considerations of the project’s future. Negative sentiments dominate the discourse, reflecting widespread criticism and skepticism towards the project.

Research limitations/implications

The manual data collection method, due to API restrictions, precluded tracking evolving trends over time. Nevertheless, the study provides insights for architects, urban planners, policymakers and stakeholders involved in public space design and management, highlighting the importance of considering user feedback from social media platforms.

Originality/value

This study enriches our comprehension of how users perceive star architecture in the age of social media, focusing on hidden layers of discourse surrounding a controversial iconic building. By combining topic modeling and sentiment analysis, the study offers a novel approach to analyzing architectural public debates on social media platforms like Reddit.
Students with disabilities (SWDs) and facilities accessibility in a northern Nigerian public university: dismantling exclusion in achieving SDG4
Authors: Agbabiaka Hafeez Idowu , Olatunji Solomon Ayodeji , Saleh Muhammad , Sodangi Abubakar Bawa , Muhammad Haruna
Published: August 2024

Purpose

Using the social model of disability and social cognitive theory, this study aims to examine Students With Disabilities (SWDs) and facilities accessibility to dismantle exclusion in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4.

Design/methodology/approach

Three sets of data were collected for the study, first, detailed inventory and actual measurements of basic accessibility to infrastructure (ramp, staircases, handrails, drop-kerb and toilets), estimating barriers and breakers and checking conformity with The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG) standards. Second, perceptual data was collected from SWDs through questionnaire administration on 56 SWDs based on consent and willingness to partake in the survey, and finally, 5 key informants were selected for interview. Data collected were analyzed using mean index, cross-tabulation and content analysis.

Findings

The study revealed that accessibility to buildings and facilities is a major problem faced by SWDs within the campus, and this is attributed to insufficient provision of facilities such as ramps, drop kerbs, tactile, traffic/auditory signals, crossing aids in the campus physical environment. Also, no building on campus is disability friendly, with barriers such as step and stair landings, circulations and narrow corridors within the campus buildings and no provision for disabled priority seating, toilets and elevators among others. These accessibility limitations contribute greatly to the disadvantage and marginalization faced by SWDs, leading to deprivation and exclusion.

Practical implications

Creating an inclusive environment, especially for SWDs, requires access to adequate and standard barrier-free facilities within university campuses. These barriers create accessibility limitations and contribute greatly to the disadvantage and marginalization faced by SWDs, leading to deprivation and exclusion, in the form of fatigue, restriction from educational opportunities, frustrations and hinder the right to freedom of movement, unequal participation and lack of access to various facilities such as health. Hence, disabled-friendly design components play a vital role in creating inclusion within the campus environment.

Originality/value

The study focuses on the minority and less privileged students whose voices and fundamental human rights have been trampled upon indirectly through exclusion in policy formulation. This has to a large extent hampered their access to public buildings such as classrooms and libraries, which may transcend to affecting their academic excellence. A study of this nature aimed at breaking exclusion for proper accessibility to school infrastructure, which will aid the achievement of SDG4.
Deformable patch-based garment design in immersive virtual reality
Authors: Kang Minjoo , Kim Sungmin
Published: August 2024

Purpose

This study aims to create and deform 3D garment apparel in an immersive virtual reality using head-mounted display and controllers. For this, adequate design methods for immersive virtual environment were explored and developed in order to confirm the suitability of the developed methods.

Design/methodology/approach

An immersive virtual environment was prepared using Unreal Engine (UE) version 5.1 and Meta Human Lexi to create template garment that corresponds to the sizes of a human model. Dual quaternion skinning was adopted for pose deformation. For size deformation, patches were constructed with the measurement lines defined on Lexi. This patch-based approach was adopted not only for automatic generation but also for flat pattern projection of the template garment.

Findings

The research found that garment-making process can be brought into immersive virtual reality. Free use of one's hands and body made apparel deformation in an immersive environment conform with the real garment draping process.

Originality/value

Simulating garment making in an immersive virtual reality has not previously been explored in detail. This research discovered, implemented and tested methods that best suit the environment where head-mounted display and controllers are essential in detail.
Determination of the influence of FDM printing parameters on tensile strength and fracture occurrence of additively manufactured ABS material
Authors: Delić Marko , Mandić Vesna , Aleksandrović Srbislav , Arsić Dušan , Ivković Djordje
Published: August 2024

Purpose

The impact of the application of hollow structures through variations of infill patterns and their density on the tensile properties was considered. The mechanical properties of the parts have a significant influence on the behavior and reliability of the parts in exploitation.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, the mechanical properties of the additively manufactured ABS material were investigated depending on the FDM printing parameters, which relate both to process parameters such as printing velocity and layer thickness, but also to coupled influence with the change of specimen orientation, that is raster angle. A standard tensile test was applied so that the specimens were prepared according to the ASTM D638 standard.

Findings

The results of the conducted experimental research enable the identification of the optimal choice of printing parameters for additively produced ABS materials with the highest values of strain at break and tensile strength. The significance of the obtained results is reflected in the recommendations for the selection of appropriate combination of process parameters for additive manufacturing of ABS parts using FDM technology.

Originality/value

This paper evaluates influence of FDM printing parameters on the tensile strength of parts and therefore on the reliability of the parts.
Drivers and mechanisms of consumer attitudes toward global brand activists: a mediated approach
Authors: Tsougkou Eleni , Karampela Maria , Balabanis George
Published: August 2024

Purpose

The phenomenon of global brands taking a stance on crucial, yet polarizing, socio-political issues, namely global brand activism, is rising. However, how consumer views on this practice are shaped when global branding elements are factored in remains unclear. Drawing from the functional theory of attitude formation, this study investigates the relationships of consumer characteristics (political ideology, consumer ethnocentrism) and brand factors (global brand attitudes and perceived motivation of global brand activists) with attitudes toward global brand activists.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a survey of a UK nationally representative sample (n = 439), we test our hypothesized model via structural equation modeling and mediation analysis.

Findings

Our findings reveal direct and indirect effects of political ideology on attitudes toward global brand activists (AttGBACTIVs). While consumer ethnocentrism and global brand attitudes do not directly drive AttGBACTIVs, they do influence them indirectly. Perceived motivation of global brand activists emerges as a key mechanism activating these effects and affecting AttGBACTIVs.

Originality/value

First, this study constitutes a novel examination of consumer views of brand activism through a global branding lens. Second, our investigation uniquely combines important determinants of brand activism outcomes with key international marketing factors (namely consumer ethnocentrism and global brand attitudes). Third, the concurrent exploration of individual and brand factors in our mediated model reveals the complex mechanisms through which attitudes toward global brand activists are formed.
Two studies evaluating the Stoicism programme at a foreign national prison
Authors: Frost Gavin , Trant Rebecca , Seaward Jacob
Published: August 2024

Purpose

Understanding of wellbeing has improved in recent years, and the literature has established some links between wellbeing and aggression, which appears to be theoretically supported. “Hedonia” (maximising positive emotions and minimising negative emotions) and “eudaimonia” (living well and with meaning), two core components of wellbeing, are targeted by the Stoicism programme, which is currently being run in a prison for male foreign national offenders. The purpose of these studies was therefore to measure the impact of the programme on self-reported participant wellbeing and aggression.

Design/methodology/approach

Two studies have been completed with foreign national offenders who participated in the Stoicism programme. The studies aimed to evaluate the impact of this programme using pre- and post-programme self-report measures of wellbeing and aggression. Supplementary manifest content analysis was also used with sub-samples of participants.

Findings

Both studies found significant improvements in participant wellbeing. Study 1 found significant improvement on self-reported hostility (a subscale of the aggression measure), but not in the other subscales or in aggression overall. Study 2 found improvements across all scales. The findings suggest that the Stoicism programme is achieving changes in wellbeing, could be contributing to aggression reduction and provides support for the relationship between wellbeing and aggression.

Practical implications

It is possible the findings suggest the Stoicism programme may provide a further approach to improving safety in His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Services (HMPPS), that the gymnasium environment may in itself be conducive to prisoner wellbeing and engagement, and that philosophical approaches may have meaningful benefits in the prison setting.

Originality/value

There are limitations to these studies, most notably in the sample sizes, lack of control group and the research design focused solely on participant self-report. However, the programme has not been previously evaluated, so these initial findings are important in understanding the possible impact of the programme. Future research would therefore benefit from evaluating the programme itself (including the environment in which it is run), examining the specific sub-types of wellbeing separately and examining participant aggression in further depth and with a larger sample.
Why and how the interpersonal stressors influence nurses' intention to stay and job satisfaction: the JD-R model perspective
Authors: Kao Feng Hsia , Kao Chen-Ching
Published: August 2024

Purpose

Interpersonal stressors are a major source of stress for East Asian workers. It is still a major management issue in hospital management. This study focuses on clarifying the stress response processes of interpersonal stressors. The moderating effects of gratitude and employee assistance programs were considered.

Design/methodology/approach

Questionnaires were distributed to hospital workers in a regional hospital in the city; a total of 288 valid and matched surveys were collected.

Findings

The results showed interpersonal stressors negatively affected job satisfaction, and interpersonal resources positively affected intention to stay and job satisfaction. In addition, gratitude had a moderating effect on the relationship between interpersonal stressors and emotional burnout, and awareness of employee assistant programs had a moderating effect on the relationship between interpersonal resources and work engagement.

Originality/value

This study seeks to elucidate the working conditions of nurses and may serve as a reference for hospitals in implementing or drafting labor conditions and policies for stress management.
Contributions of greenery toward student residential mobility: findings from purpose-built university student housing in Northern Ghana
Authors: Attakora-Amaniampong Elvis , Appau Williams Miller , Dwamena Quansah Joseph Yaw
Published: August 2024

Purpose

The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of greenery on residential mobility within purpose-built student housing facilities in Northern Ghana.

Design/methodology/approach

This research employed a structured questionnaire and utilized an experimental block design, encompassing 124 comparative greened and non-greened student housing facilities, with a total of 995 resident participants. The impact of greenery on residential mobility was analyzed using a repeated sales model and t-test analysis.

Findings

Results revealed that residential mobility was significantly higher in non-greened student housing facilities than their greened counterparts. The study further indicated that the presence of greenery had a substantial effect on residential mobility, attributed to residents' preferences for the ecological, social and economic benefits associated with greenery, rather than merely infrastructure considerations.

Practical implications

Enhancing the aesthetic appeal, economic viability, safety, security and health benefits of greened student housing facilities while managing the influence of greenery on infrastructure was found to affect residential mobility. The findings suggest that improving occupancy rates in these facilities through the incorporation of greenery could yield higher rental income and better cash flows for investors involved in student housing operations.

Originality/value

This study highlights the ecological, social and economic advantages of greenery for residents. While the benefits of greenery in residential contexts are increasingly recognized, the specific impact of greenery on residential mobility within the Sub-Saharan African context represents a novel contribution. The application of neighborhood effects theory to the examination of greenery benefits and residential mobility in this region adds a new dimension to existing research.
Fronting in Old Catalan: Asymmetries between Narration and Reported Speech1
Authors: Campeny Afra Pujol i
Published: August 2024

This article explores the distribution, syntax, and information structure of XVS clauses in the narrative text and the reported speech of a thirteenth‐century Old Catalan chronicle, the Llibre dels Fets. It is shown that XVS occurs mainly within reported speech and in embedded clauses. This corresponds with the conservative nature of these syntactic domains (the former reproducing syntactic structures echoing epic literature, the latter being inherently conservative syntactically), while XVS is less frequent in narrative text, which, in this chronicle, is more innovative and closer to spoken language. The data presented demonstrate that by the thirteenth century, XVS constructions were mainly used to express verum focus within the scope of nonveridical operators and their use only connected with a structural V2 requirement que in conservative domains. This variation captures the loss of V2 in Old Catalan and the emergence of modern SVO grammar.
Inhibition of FoxO1 ameliorates hepatic steatosis and hepatitis in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis mice through regulation of gut microbiota
Authors: Shou Di Wen , Quan Ying , Cheng Jie Min , Yang Si Qi , Chen Jia Wei , Li Yong Qiang , Huang Chen , Chen Hui Ting , Zhou Yong Jian
Published: August 2024

Objective

We aimed to investigate the role of forkhead box O1 (FoxO1) inhibitor AS1842856 (AS) in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) mice and the potential mechanisms.

Methods

Mice were given methionine‐choline‐sufficient (MCS), or methionine‐ and choline‐deficient (MCD) diet for 5 weeks, along with AS (60 mg/kg) or vehicle gavage treatment (0.2 mL/day). Body and liver weight, serum triglyceride (TG), low‐density lipoprotein‐cholesterol (LDL‐C), high‐density lipoprotein‐cholesterol (HDL‐C), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), fasting glucose and insulin levels were measured. Liver macrophage infiltration and ileal ZO‐1 protein expression were also detected. Interleukin (IL)‐6, IL‐1β, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α, sterol regulatory element binding protein (SREBP)‐1c, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK), and glucose‐6‐phosphatase (G6Pase), α‐smooth muscle actin (SMA), recombinant collagen type III α1 (Col3a1), and connective tissue growth factor (Ctgf) expressions were measured. Stool samples were collected for 16S rDNA sequencing.

Results

Compared to the MCD group, AS attenuated liver weight, reduced serum TG, ALT, and AST levels, increased HDL‐C levels, mitigated hepatic steatosis, decreased macrophage infiltration, and augmented ileal ZO‐1 proteins in NASH mice. It also reduced the levels of IL‐6, IL‐1β, and TNF‐α, alongside with the Srebp‐1c mRNA expression. However, no significant effects on Pepck, G6Pase, α‐SMA, Col3a1, or Ctgf were observed. Furthermore, AS promoted diversity and altered gut microbiota composition in NASH mice, causing increased beneficial bacteria like Akkermansia muciniphila, Parabacteroides distasonis, and Prevotellamassilia, which were associated with metabolic functions.

Conclusion

FoxO1 inhibitor AS ameliorated hepatic steatosis, inflammation, and intestinal dysbiosis in NASH mice, making it a potentially promising treatment for NASH.
Rooting for success: Evolutionary enhancement of Bacillus for superior plant colonization
Authors: Charron‐Lamoureux Vincent , Lebel‐Beaucage Sandrine , Pomerleau Maude , Beauregard Pascale B.
Published: August 2024

Many strains from the Bacillus subtilis species complex exert strong plant growth‐promoting activities. However, their efficacy in relevant conditions is variable, due in part to their inability to establish a strong interaction with roots in stressful environmental conditions. Adaptative laboratory evolution (ALE) is a powerful tool to generate novel strains with traits of interest. Many Bacillus evolved isolates, stemming from ALE performed with plants, possess a stronger root colonization capacity. An in‐depth analysis of these isolates also allowed the identification of key features influencing the interaction with plant roots. However, many variables can influence the outcome of these assays, and thus, caution should be taken when designing ALE destined to generate better root colonizers.
The accuracy of predicting maladaptation to new environments with genomic data
Authors: Lind Brandon M. , Lotterhos Katie E.
Published: August 2024

Rapid environmental change poses unprecedented challenges to species persistence. To understand the extent that continued change could have, genomic offset methods have been used to forecast maladaptation of natural populations to future environmental change. However, while their use has become increasingly common, little is known regarding their predictive performance across a wide array of realistic and challenging scenarios. Here, we evaluate the performance of currently available offset methods (gradientForest, the Risk‐Of‐Non‐Adaptedness, redundancy analysis with and without structure correction and LFMM2) using an extensive set of simulated data sets that vary demography, adaptive architecture and the number and spatial patterns of adaptive environments. For each data set, we train models using either all, adaptive or neutral marker sets and evaluate performance using in silico common gardens by correlating known fitness with projected offset. Using over 4,849,600 of such evaluations, we find that (1) method performance is largely due to the degree of local adaptation across the metapopulation (LA), (2) adaptive marker sets provide minimal performance advantages, (3) performance within the species range is variable across gardens and declines when offset models are trained using additional non‐adaptive environments and (4) despite (1) performance declines more rapidly in globally novel climates (i.e. a climate without an analogue within the species range) for metapopulations with greater LA than lesser LA. We discuss the implications of these results for management, assisted gene flow and assisted migration.
Kuedinskie Kluchiki, a Unique Middle Permian Biota Locality as a Key‐point for Reconstruction of Late Paleozoic Terrestrial Ecosystems of the Urals, Russia
Authors: NAUGOLNYKH Serge V.
Published: August 2024

Field work focused on the Kuedinskie Kluchiki locality, Perm region, Urals, Russia, which contains a rich assemblage of diverse fossil organisms including higher plants (equisetophytes, pteridosperms, ginkgophytes, conifers, vojnovskyans) represented by stems, leaves and reproductive organs; invertebrates (mollusks, arthropods), and tetrapods (temnospondyl amphibians, seymouriamorphs, cotylosaurs, synapsids, diapsids), as well as bony fishes. General characteristics of the taxonomical composition of the Kuedinskie Kluchiki locality are given. A new peltaspermalean pteridosperm taxon, Compsopteris longipinnata sp. nov., and a voltzialean conifer Archaeovoltzia kuedensis sp. nov. are described. General considerations on the paleoecologic and paleogeographic conditions of the Kuedinskie Kluchiki locality origin are given.
Stress Mindset Relates to Better Mental Health in Parents of Children With Special Needs: A Path Analysis Study
Authors: Datu Jesus Alfonso D. , Tai Alan Pui Lun , Valdez Jana Patricia M. , To Pang Chung , Fung Wing Yee , Poon Kean , Leung Mei‐kei , Lau Way Kwok Wai
Published: August 2024

Parents of children with special needs commonly encounter obstacles to effectively support their child's academic and social–emotional development. Despite the difficulties in parenting children with diverse types of exceptionalities, there has been scant research on psychological resources that can promote their mental health functioning. This research explores the direct and indirect (via perceived social support to different social partners and generalized self‐efficacy) associations of stress mindset with mental health problems and parental stress in 253 parents of children with special needs via a cross‐sectional design. A survey measuring stress mindset, perceived social support, generalized self‐efficacy, parental stress and mental health problems was administered. The results demonstrated that stress‐is‐enhancing mindset was linked to milder mental health problems and parental stress via its positive associations with generalized self‐efficacy and perceived social support. This research coheres with existing evidence on how stress‐is‐enhancing mindset in specific domains facilitates optimal psychological outcomes, especially in challenging family contexts.
Biological variability of human intraepithelial lymphocytes throughout the human gastrointestinal tract in health and coeliac disease
Authors: Fiz‐López Aida , De Prado Ángel , Arribas‐Rodríguez Elisa , García‐Alonso Francisco Javier , Izquierdo Sandra , Martín‐Muñoz Álvaro , Garrote José A. , Arranz Eduardo , Barrio Jesús , Fernández‐Salazar Luis , Bernardo David
Published: August 2024

Background

Intraepithelial lymphocytes are the first line of defence of the human intestinal immune system. Besides, their composition is altered on patients with coeliac disease (CD), so they are considered as biomarkers with utility on their diagnose and/or monitoring. Our aim is to address their variability through the human gastrointestinal tract in health and characterized them in further depth in the coeliac duodenum.

Methods

Intraepithelial lymphocytes were isolated from human gastric, duodenal, ileal and colonic biopsies, then stained with specific antibodies and acquired by flow cytometry.

Results

Our results confirmed that the profile of Intraepithelial lymphocytes change through the length of the human gastrointestinal tract. Besides and given the central role that Interleukin‐15 (IL‐15) elicits on CD pathogenesis; we also assessed the expression of its receptor revealing that there was virtually no functional IL‐15 receptor on duodenal Intraepithelial lymphocytes. Nevertheless and contrary to our expectations, the active IL‐15 receptor was not increased either on Intraepithelial lymphocytes from CD patients.

Conclusions

IL‐15 might require additional stimulus to activate intraepithelial lymphocytes. These findings may provide novel tools to aid on a CD diagnosis and/or monitoring, at the time that provide the bases to perform functional studies in order of getting a deeper insight in the specific function that Intraepithelial lymphocytes elicit on CD pathogenesis.
Precipitation and temperature primarily determine the reptile distributions in China
Authors: Mi Chunrong , Han Xingzhi , Jiang Zhongwen , Zeng Zhigao , Du Weiguo , Sun Baojun
Published: August 2024

Reptiles make up one‐third of tetrapods, however they are often omitted from global conservation analyses. Understanding the determinants of reptile distribution is the foundation for reptile conservation research. We assembled a dataset on the distribution of 231 reptile species (nearly 50% of recorded species in China). We then investigated the association of species range filling (the proportion of observed ranges compared to species potential climate distributions) with climate, range size, topography and human activity, using three regression methods. At the species level, we found the most primary factors influencing the recent distribution pattern of reptiles across China were the mean annual precipitation (MAP) and the mean annual temperature (MAT). In contrast, human activity came in last. Similarly, at a spatial level, MAP and MAT were still the most important factors. Geographically, the south and east of China support the highest reptile diversity, partially due to high precipitation. Contrary to the prevailing notion that reptile distributions are primarily shaped by human activities, our study re‐emphasizes the importance of climate in determining reptile distribution. It accentuates the necessity of integrating climate variables into future animal conservation strategies in China. Our findings also offer valuable insights for informing conservation practices, including the site planning of natural reserves and national parks, as well as monitoring of environmental factors in protected areas.