bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rooftop gardening complexities in the Global South: Motivations, practices, and politics
Authors: Turner Sarah , Pham Thi‐Thanh‐Hiên , Ngô Hạnh Thúy , Zuberec Celia
Published: December 2023

An increasing number of urban residents in the Global South are turning to rooftop gardening, whether through soil or hydroponics, to cultivate their own vegetables, fruit, and herbs. In Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital, rooftop gardening serves as an important alternative to traditional wet markets and more recently established supermarkets. In this paper, we examine the motivations, practices, and constraints of Hanoi’s rooftop gardeners, along with the level of government support or disapproval for rooftop gardening. Our study is grounded in critical urban geography and urban political ecology and specific debates regarding informal life politics. Our findings reveal that Hanoi’s rooftop gardeners feel confronted by a critical food safety crisis, emphasising their need to access safe, fresh, and affordable produce through rooftop gardening. Simultaneously, they express scepticism about the capacity and willingness of formal political institutions at both the municipal and national levels to address and resolve these concerns. We explore whether Hanoi’s urban rooftop gardeners can be considered to be engaging in a form of everyday life politics and examine the dynamics emerging in this regard. We conclude by offering potential policy recommendations for Global South cities to support urban gardening communities.
Elevated proton motive force is a tetracycline resistance mechanism that leads to the sensitivity to gentamicin in Edwardsiella tarda
Authors: Li Shao‐hua , Xiang Jiao , Zeng Ying‐yue , Peng Xuan‐xian , Li Hui
Published: December 2023

Tetracycline is a commonly used human and veterinary antibiotic that is mostly discharged into environment and thereby tetracycline‐resistant bacteria are widely isolated. To combat these resistant bacteria, further understanding for tetracycline resistance mechanisms is needed. Here, GC–MS based untargeted metabolomics with biochemistry and molecular biology techniques was used to explore tetracycline resistance mechanisms of Edwardsiella tarda. Tetracycline‐resistant E. tarda (LTB4‐RTET) exhibited a globally repressed metabolism against elevated proton motive force (PMF) as the most characteristic feature. The elevated PMF contributed to the resistance, which was supported by the three results: (i) viability was decreased with increasing PMF inhibitor carbonylcyanide‐3‐chlorophenylhydrazone; (ii) survival is related to PMF regulated by pH; (iii) LTB4‐RTET were sensitive to gentamicin, an antibiotic that is dependent upon PMF to kill bacteria. Meanwhile, gentamicin‐resistant E. tarda with low PMF are sensitive to tetracycline is also demonstrated. These results together indicate that the combination of tetracycline with gentamycin will effectively kill both gentamycin and tetracycline resistant bacteria. Therefore, the present study reveals a PMF‐enhanced tetracycline resistance mechanism in LTB4‐RTET and provides an effective approach to combat resistant bacteria.
The New Development Bank in Africa: Mid‐term evaluation and lessons learned
Authors: Bradlow Daniel D. , Masamba Magalie L.
Published: December 2023

The New Development Bank (NDB) launched its first project in Africa on April 13, 2016, and on August 17, 2017, the Bank opened its Africa Regional Centre (ARC) in Johannesburg, South Africa. This article assesses the NDB's presence in Africa. It addresses the following questions: what role is the NDB playing in Africa? What is the ARC and why was its created? How well have the NDB and the ARC been performing? Have they delivered on their intended purpose? If the NDB or the ARC have not performed as well as hoped, or expected, what has stood in their way? We assess the NDB and the ARC within the context of the general experience of some of the projects that the NDB has been financing in Africa and determine whether there are lessons that can help the NDB as it expands further into the continent. The main policy recommendation is that the ARC be strengthened in ways that enhance the NDB's transparency and make it a truly new type of multilateral development bank.
Mental health service use and cost by Australian women in metropolitan and rural areas
Authors: Dolja‐Gore Xenia , Depczynski Julie , Byles Julie , Loxton Deborah
Published: December 2023

Introduction

The use and costs of mental health services by rural and remote Australian women are poorly understood.

Objective

To examine the use of the Better Access Scheme (BAS) mental health services across geographical areas.

Design

Observational epidemiology cohort study using a nationally representative sample of 14 247 women from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health born 1973–1978, linked to the Medical Benefits Schedule dataset for use of BAS services from 2006 to 2015. The number and cost of BAS services were compared across metropolitan and regional/remote areas for women using the mental health services.

Findings

31% of women accessed a BAS mental health service, 12% in rural populations. Overall, 90% of women with estimated high service need had contact with professional services (83% rural vs 92% metropolitan regions). Mean mental health scores were lower for women accessing a BAS service in remote areas compared with metropolitan, inner and outer regional areas (61.9 vs 65.7 vs 64.8 vs 64.2, respectively). Higher proportion of women in remote areas who were smokers, low/risky drinkers and underweight were more likely to seek treatment. Compared with metropolitan areas, women in inner, outer regional and remote areas accessed a lower mean number of services in the first year of diagnosis (6.0 vs 5.0 vs 4.1 vs 4.2, respectively). Actual mean overall annual costs of services in the first year of diagnosis were higher for women in metropolitan areas compared with inner, outer regional or remote areas ($733.56 vs $542.17 vs $444.00 vs $459.85, respectively).

Discussion

Women in rural/remote areas not accessing services need to be identified, especially among those with the highest levels of distress. In remote areas, women had greater needs when accessing services, although a substantial proportion of women who sought help through the BAS services lived in metropolitan areas.

Conclusion

Regardless of lower cost to services in rural/remote areas, geographic and economic barriers may still be major obstacles to accessing services.
Militant Research in the Housing Movement: The Community Action Tenants Union Rent Strike History Project
Authors: Tubridy Fiadh
Published: December 2023

Knowledge generated by and with radical housing movements is necessary to achieve a more just housing system. This article analyses a militant research project involving collective investigation of the history of rent strikes in Ireland undertaken within the Community Action Tenants Union Ireland. Drawing on the tradition of workers’ inquiry, it explores the relationships between militant research, class composition, and radical history, and how collective investigation of housing movement history might contribute to contemporary organising. The article is based on both oral history and archival research as well as reflections on the research process. The analysis focuses on how the project has or might contribute to current organising efforts through lessons drawn from historical analysis and connections developed through the research process, while also identifying tensions between research and organising. Overall, it highlights the value of radical history research as a form of organising and strategy for political recomposition.
Editorial: Bile acid diarrhoea – simplified clinico‐biochemical diagnosis
Authors: Camilleri Michael
Published: December 2023

LINKED CONTENT

This article is linked to Borup et al paper. To view this article, visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.17739
Letter: Estimating the incidence of HBsAg seroclearance after cessation of tenofovir and entecavir ‐ potential influence of censored observation
Authors: Tsai Ying‐Nan , Wu Jia‐Ling , Hsu Yao‐Chun
Published: December 2023

LINKED CONTENT

This article is linked to Chen et al papers. To view these articles, visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.17602 and https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.17788
Editorial: Moving towards prognostic endoscopic scoring in IBD
Authors: Pray Cara , Narula Neeraj
Published: December 2023

LINKED CONTENT

This article is linked to Lenfant et al paper. To view this article, visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.17753
Editorial: Monitoring methotrexate polyglutamates in Crohn's disease—Authors' reply
Authors: van de Meeberg Maartje M. , Fidder Herma H. , de Jonge Robert , Bouma Gerd , Bulatović Ćalasan Maja
Published: December 2023

LINKED CONTENT

This article is linked to van de Meeberg et al papers. To view these articles, visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.17719 and https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.17743
Online counter‐mobilisation via social media: Exploration of pro‐regime opinion leaders in Hong Kong under Chinese sovereignty
Authors: Kwong Ying‐ho
Published: December 2023

The literature has long recognised non‐democratic regimes that are increasingly using Internet manipulation to undermine the opposition. Apart from network control, content surveillance and paying for Internet commentators, the implications of the new trend of online counter‐mobilisation remain to be explored. By analysing 5124 YouTube videos of Hong Kong's Anti‐extradition Bill Protests, this study examines how pro‐regime opinion leaders counter‐mobilised pro‐regime contents and Internet users responded to their videos. The results indicate that the main concern of the pro‐regime opinion leaders was to (i) demobilise the protests, (ii) condemn opposition figures and (iii) show their support for the authorities. Users were mainly participative in videos related to (i) justify suppression, (ii) support for front‐line police officers against protesters and (iii) criticism of the opposition. These differences reflect the apparent asymmetry between opinion leaders, who provide more negative contents, and followers, who have better responses to positively framed contents. The findings further contribute to exploring the strategies of the pro‐regime counter‐framing to overcome the challenges of the opposition camp.
Magnolol supplementation alleviates diquat‐induced oxidative stress via PI3K–Akt in broiler chickens
Authors: Peng Wei‐Shi , Gao Ming , Yao Xiao‐Feng , Tong Yue‐Yue , Zhang Hai‐Han , He Xi
Published: December 2023

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of magnolol on the oxidative parameters and jejunum injury induced by diquat in broiler chickens. This test adopts a 2 × 2 factors design, a total of 288 one‐day‐old male AA broiler chicks randomly allocated to four groups, consisting of six replicates of 12 birds each, which was then denoted as CON group, diquat (DIQ) group (16 mg/kg BW diquat was injected into birds at the age of 21 days), magnolol (MAG) group (basic bird diet supplemented with 300 mg/kg magnolol), and MAG + DIQ group. At 21 days of age, broilers in the DIQ group and the MAG + DIQ group were intraperitoneally injected with 16 mg/kg BW diquat. Results showed that diet supplementing with MAG could alleviate the decrease of ADG to a certain extent after exposure to DIQ. Addition of magnolol to the diet alleviated the decrease of ADG during injection, antioxidant enzymes, and gene expression and increased the markers of oxidative damage induced by diquat induction. Magnolol supplement reversed the increase of apoptotic cells in the diquat‐induced chicken jejunum. RNA sequencing showed that PI3K–Akt, calcium, and NF‐kappa B signaling pathways were the main enrichment pathways between the DIQ group and the MAG + DIQ group. Our findings revealed that magnolol may improve antioxidant enzyme activity and expression of related genes through the PI3K–Akt pathway to alleviate oxidative stress.
Peer acceptance and rejection during secondary school: Do associations with subsequent educational outcomes vary by socioeconomic background?
Authors: Plenty Stephanie , la Roi Chaïm
Published: December 2023

Research shows that peer relationships are associated with students' school adjustment. However, the importance of advantageous and disadvantageous factors for students' educational outcomes may vary by socioeconomic positioning. Drawing on sociometric and register data from a nationally representative sample of Swedish youth (n = 4996, girls 50%; migration background 19%), this study asks if family socioeconomic status moderates associations between youth's peer relationships and their subsequent educational outcomes. Based on preregistered analyses, associations that peer acceptance and rejection at age 14–15 years share with school grades at ~16 years and completion of upper secondary school at ~20 years were tested. The findings showed that positive and adverse peer relationships are most consequential for the educational outcomes of socioeconomically disadvantaged youth.
The N400 is Elicited by Meaning Changes but not Synonym Substitutions: Evidence From Persian Phrasal Verbs
Authors: Stone Kate , Khaleghi Naghmeh , Rabovsky Milena
Published: December 2023

We tested two accounts of the cognitive process underlying the N400 event‐related potential component: one that it reflects meaning‐based processing and one that it reflects the processing of specific words. The experimental design utilized separable Persian phrasal verbs, which form a strongly probabilistic, long‐distance dependency, ideal for the study of probabilistic processing. In sentences strongly constraining for a particular continuation, we show evidence that between two low‐probability words, only the word that changed the expected meaning of the sentence increased N400 amplitude, while a synonym of the most probable target word did not. The findings support an account of the N400 in which its underlying process is driven by the processing of meaning rather than of specific words.
Impact of Share 35 liver transplantation allocation in Australia and New Zealand
Authors: Fink Michael A. , Gow Paul J. , McCaughan Geoffrey W. , Hodgkinson Peter , Chen John , McCall John , Jaques Bryon , Crawford Michael , Strasser Simone I. , Hardikar Winita , Brooke‐Smith Mark , Starkey Graham , Jeffrey Gary P. , Gane Ed , Stormon Michael , Evans Helen , Tallis Caroline , Byrne Amanda J. , Jones Robert M.
Published: December 2023

Patients with high model for end‐stage liver disease (MELD) scores waiting for liver transplantation in Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) have had limited access to deceased donor livers and therefore binational sharing of livers, for patients with a MELD score ≥35 was introduced in February 2016. Waiting list mortality, post‐transplant outcomes and intention‐to‐treat survival were compared between patients whose MELD score reached 35 on the waiting list between October 2013 and April 2015 (Pre‐Share 35 group, n = 23) and patients who were Share 35 listed between February 2016 and May 2022 (Share 35 group, n = 112). There was significantly reduced waiting list mortality in share 35 listed patients in comparison to the pre‐Share 35 group (11.7% vs. 52.2%, OR .120 95% CI .044–.328, P < .001). Post‐transplant patient and graft survival were not significantly different between the groups (5‐year patient survival 82% vs. 84%, P = .991, 5‐year graft survival 82% vs. 76%, P = .543). Intention‐to‐treat survival was superior in the Share 35 group (HR .302, 95% CI .149–.614, P < .001). Introduction of Share 35 in ANZ resulted in a 78% risk reduction in waiting list mortality, equivalent post‐transplant survival and an improvement in intention‐to‐treat survival.
Spindle cell porocarcinoma with a novel YAP1::MAML3 fusion
Authors: Li Philippa , Busam Klaus J.
Published: December 2023

Porocarcinomas are rare sweat gland cancers representing the malignant counterpart to benign poromas. Their diagnosis can be challenging, especially in the absence of an associated poroma or when the tumor is poorly differentiated. Since recurrent YAP1::MAML2 and YAP1::NUTM1 fusions have been identified in poroid tumors, molecular studies provide an opportunity to support the diagnosis in challenging cases. We describe a case of a female patient in her early 90s, with a polypoid mass of the hip. Histopathologically, there was a poorly differentiated malignant spindle cell tumor adjacent to a poroma. Because of the close association with a poroma and immunoreactivity for p40, a diagnosis of spindle cell porocarcinoma was rendered, which was further supported by YAP1 immunohistochemical studies. Antibodies targeting both the N‐terminus and C‐terminus confirmed YAP1 rearrangement in both the poroma and the spindle cell neoplasm. Subsequent targeted RNA sequencing revealed a YAP1::MAML3 gene fusion. MAML3 has previously not yet been reported as a YAP1 fusion partner in porocarcinoma. With the illustration of a rare spindle cell variant of porocarcinoma and the identification of a novel gene fusion, this case report expands the spectrum of morphologic and genomic aberrations associated with porocarcinoma.
Circulating haematopoietic stem cells and long‐term outcomes of COVID‐19
Authors: Bonora Benedetta Maria , Marassi Marella , Fogar Paola , Zuin Jenny , Cappellari Roberta , Marinello Serena , Ferrari Anna , Cattelan Annamaria , Avogaro Angelo , Basso Daniela , Fadini Gian Paolo
Published: December 2023

Background and Aims

An acute depletion of circulating haematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) occurs during COVID‐19, especially among patients with a poorer disease course. We herein examined whether HSPCs levels at hospital admission for COVID‐19 predict 1‐year mortality and the long‐COVID syndrome.

Materials and Methods

Patients hospitalized for COVID‐19 in an infectious disease ward were consecutively enrolled. Circulating HSPC levels were assessed by flow cytometry as cells expressing CD34 and/or CD133. Follow‐up was performed for 12 months after hospitalization through the review of electronic medical records and demographic local registers.

Results

The study included 100 patients, 36 of whom reported symptoms of long‐COVID and 20 died during follow‐up. The reduction of 1‐SD of HSPCs was associated with a 3‐ to 5‐fold increase in the risk of 1‐year mortality. Age, admission hyperglycaemia, C‐reactive protein peak, liver enzymes, the need of high‐flow oxygen and/or invasive ventilation were predictors of mortality at univariate analysis. Among pre‐existing comorbidities, coronary heart disease and chronic kidney disease, but not diabetes, were associated with 1‐year mortality. In multivariate analyses, HSPCs remained significantly associated with 1‐year mortality independently of confounders. The development of pneumonia an in‐hospital treatment with glucocorticoids and convalescent plasma were associated with long‐COVID symptoms at follow‐up. HSPCs, diabetes and other comorbidities were not predictors of long‐COVID.

Conclusions

In a cohort of patients hospitalized for COVID‐19, lower HSPC levels at the time of admission were independent predictors of 1‐year mortality. However, COVID‐19 severity, but not HSPC level, was significantly associated with the development of long‐COVID symptoms.
A method for unraveling the complexity of single disaster cases: Lessons for “normal” functioning
Authors: Allard‐Poesi Florence , Dul Jan
Published: December 2023

This article develops a new method for (re)analyzing data from a single disaster case to identify the temporal chain of collections of factors that was sufficient to lead to a disaster. The method combines elements of existing process methods with Mackie's (1965) interpretation of causal complexity; the INUS concept: An Insufficient but Necessary factor from a collection of factors that is Unnecessary but Sufficient for the effect. By systematically analyzing the factors that have changed shortly before the occurrence of the disaster, the method identifies not only the (collection of) factors that are sufficient for the disaster but also—by logical transformation—the collection of reversed factors that enable and ensure “normal” functioning without similar disasters and can be acted upon by management. We provide step‐by‐step guidelines for the graphical representation of the complexity of the disaster and the related “normal” functioning by showing the temporal relationships between collections of factors. The method may help develop an impact in two ways: first, in eliciting the factors necessary to avoid similar disasters, and second, in allowing dialogical sensemaking with practitioners at each step of the process.
Data augmentation using virtual word insertion techniques in text classification tasks
Authors: Long Zhigao , Li Hong , Shi Jiawen , Ma Xin
Published: December 2023

Labelling multiple training examples for text classification models is usually time‐consuming and complex. Data augmentation can be used to automatically expand the dataset by transforming the original data. However, it may cause semantic changes without modifying the labels, which reduces the effectiveness of the classifiers. In this paper, we propose a data‐augmentation method called the virtual word insertion technique, which generates new sentences by randomly inserting virtual words into existing sentences. Two methods are used to achieve virtual word embedding: unweighted average and weighted average. Furthermore, a new concept of weight is proposed: the class deviation factor, which demonstrates the correlation between words and classes. Based on this new concept, different weights are assigned to words of different classes. Experiments are conducted on five different classification tasks. Ablation experiments are also performed to explore the effects of random operation and number of augmented sentences for classification results. The results of these experiments show that our method improves the classification performance and outperforms two other contrasting data‐augmentation methods in automatically augmenting the dataset. Compared to raw datasets, the average accuracy improvement of our method is 3.5% for a small‐scale dataset and 1% for a large‐scale dataset.
Recent decline in tropical temperature sensitivity of atmospheric CO2 growth rate variability
Authors: Wang Kai , Wang Xuhui , Li Xiangyi , Tang Shuchang , Xu Hao , Sang Yuxing
Published: December 2023

A two‐fold enhancement in the sensitivity of atmospheric CO2 growth rate (CGR) to tropical temperature interannual variability () till early 2000s has been reported, which suggests a drought‐induced shift in terrestrial carbon cycle responding temperature fluctuations, thereby accelerating global warming. However, using six decades long atmospheric CO2 observations, we show that has significantly declined in the last two decades, to the level during the 1960s. The decline begs the question of whether the sensitivity of ecosystem carbon cycle to temperature variations at local scale has largely decreased. With state‐of‐the‐art dynamic global vegetation models, we further find that the recent decline is barely attributed to ecosystem carbon cycle response to temperature fluctuations at local scale, which instead results from a decrease in spatial coherence in tropical temperature variability and land use change. Our results suggest that the recently reported loss of rainforest resilience has not shown marked influence on the temperature sensitivity of ecosystem carbon cycle. Nevertheless, the increasing extent of land use change as well as more frequent and intensive drought events are likely to modulate the responses of ecosystem carbon cycle to temperature variations in the future. Therefore, our study highlights the priority to continuously monitor the temperature sensitivity of CGR variability and improve Earth system model representation on land use change, in order to predict the carbon–climate feedback.
Feasibility, safety, and effects of a Nintendo Ring Fit Adventure™ balance and strengthening exercise program in community‐dwelling older adults with a history of falls: A feasibility randomized controlled trial
Authors: Chan Wayne Lap Sun , Chan Cody Wing Lam , Lam Freddy Man Hin , Chan Howard Ho Wing , Chan Kelvin Chi Kin , Chan Jerry Sai Kit , Chan Oscar Lok Wang , Cheung Daphne Sze Ki
Published: December 2023

Aim

This pilot study examined the feasibility, safety, and effects of a Nintendo Ring Fit Adventure™‐based exercise program to enhance balance and lower limb muscle strength in community‐dwelling older adults with a history of falls.

Methods

In total, 42 older adults who experienced at least one fall in the past year were randomly assigned to an experimental or control group. Participants in the experimental group performed 60‐min sessions of the exercise program twice per week for 8 weeks. The control group received usual care. We assessed the feasibility (retention and adherence to the exercise program), safety (number of adverse events), and clinical outcomes: (1) balance (Mini‐BESTest); (2) functional lower limb muscle strength (Five‐Time Sit‐to‐Stand test); (3) mobility (Timed‐Up and Go test); (4) dual‐task ability (Timed‐Up and Go test – Dual Task); (5) fear of falling (Icon‐FES); and (6) executive function (Color Trails Test).

Results

Thirty‐one participants (74%) completed the 8‐week assessment. No adverse event associated with the exercise program was reported. There was a significant interaction in the anticipatory domain score of the Mini‐BESTest between the experimental and control groups over the 8 weeks (P = 0.019).

Conclusions

The Nintendo Ring Fit Adventure™‐based exercise program was feasible, safe, and potentially effective in improving anticipatory balance in community‐dwelling older fallers. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; 24: 334–341.
Experiential learning… remotely: Study abroad, global citizenship and NGO management
Authors: Thier Michael , Mason Dyana P. , Mattice Brittany
Published: December 2023

Experiential learning has become a fundamental pillar of higher education, particularly in public administration and nonprofit management programmes. This approach purposefully aims to engage learners directly in (a) concrete experiences; (b) focused, personal reflection; (c) abstract conceptualizations and (d) active experimentation. As universities have increased attention on experiential learning, they have also developed more study‐abroad opportunities that position global citizenship as a primary expected learning outcome. Following the cancellation of study‐abroad opportunities during the COVID‐19 pandemic, this study provides an opportunity to review the student outcomes of two courses with the same materials, course focus (NGOs in Southeast Asia) and learning objectives: a study‐abroad cohort in 2016 and a remote cohort in 2020. The findings suggest that the remote version may lead to similar outcomes in terms of global citizenship dispositions as the in‐person version, although students in the remote version exhibited a more superficial, homogenized response to course materials. Implications for online, on‐site and hybrid learning are discussed.
A good university or a good city?: Double considerations in the employment decisions of STEM doctoral graduates in China
Authors: Chen Yue , Lyu Jiayi , Shen Wenqin , Xyu Dandong , Zhai Yue
Published: December 2023

This study explores how doctoral graduates weigh considerations of employment sectors and cities in their career decision‐making processes. Guided by Social Cognitive Career Theory and a Four‐quadrant Model, researchers analysed interviews from 40 STEM doctoral graduates in China. Findings demonstrate that self‐efficacy, outcome expectations and goal‐setting were factors in participants' interests and selections of academic careers. Three types of doctoral graduates were identified: (1) highfliers, (2) academic loyalists and (3) city pickers. While participants prioritize employment sectors and cities differently, cities played a significant role in their career choices which intersected with gender and class factors. Female doctoral graduates were more inclined to follow their partners, while those from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds tended to prioritize cost of living factors at the expense of pursuing opportunities in top‐tier cities. Implications suggest that factors undergirding doctoral graduates' career choices rely on the interaction between geographical locations and employment sector opportunities.
Tailoring antimicrobial characteristic and mechanical behavior with silver in leucite–glass–ceramics for hard tissue engineering
Authors: Singh Shweta , Gurjar Ankit , Bhatia Eshant , Pareek Shiwani , Krishnatrey Ishita , Awasthi Lisha , Dani Parve , Srivastava Rohit , Kapoor Saurabh , Bhargava Parag
Published: December 2023

Leucite glass–ceramics are excellent dental restorative materials, but they have relatively poor fracture toughness and high hardness, which leads to lower damage tolerance and counter‐tooth wear, respectively. These materials are also susceptible to bacterial infections and biofilm formations. Here, we report a versatile material leucite–silver‐based glass–ceramic to address the aforementioned shortcomings. Silver was incorporated in leucite (K2O·Al2O3·4SiO2) glass–ceramic to improve the fracture toughness, reduce hardness, and impart antibacterial characteristics. Silver (2, 5, 10, and 15 wt.%) was added into the leucite glass matrix by two approaches, that is, using silver nanoflakes (AgNFs) and using precursor (AgNO3), via thermal decomposition, followed by a sintering process. The incorporation of silver was confirmed by X‐ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and energy‐dispersive spectroscopy. Results showed that the hardness of the leucite‐silver composite material was reduced by 30% and indentation toughness improved by 47% as determined by Vickers indentation. Antibacterial characteristics of the material were investigated against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli bacteria. Scanning electron microscopy was done to see the morphology of damaged bacteria and colonies. Further, antibacterial activity was quantified using the colony formation unit counting method. All the samples showed antibacterial activity and the sample with the highest silver content, that is, 15 wt.% showed maximum potential to damage the bacteria. Inductively coupled plasma‐atomic emission spectroscopy analysis is done in phosphate buffer saline solution to quantify the amount of silver leached out from the leucite‐silver glass–ceramic samples. It was seen that the cumulative leached‐out silver over 3 days was less than 4 μg/cm2 which is well within the daily tolerance limit (5 μg/kg/day) of silver for the human body. Further, to confirm the cell viability, a cytocompatibility test is performed using L929 fibroblast and AW8507 oral cell lines. Cell viability of more than 80% was achieved, suggesting their suitability for biomedical applications. It is believed that the developed material can be a potential candidate for various applications like dental restorations, implants, and coating material for different substrates (SS 304, SS 316, Ti6Al4V, etc.) to protect them from bacterial infections and biofilm formation, etc.
Addition of particle stabilised foams to optimise the quality of gluten‐free toast bread
Authors: Schmid Tamara , Steinegger Stefanie , Kinner Mathias , Müller Nadina
Published: December 2023

The number of people buying gluten‐free breads and baked goods is increasing. To optimise the quality of gluten‐free breads, fat and additives are still often used. This project investigated whether the use of particle‐stabilised foams could eliminate or at least reduce the need for large amounts of fat and additives in gluten‐free toast bread. Hence, particle‐stabilised foams were added to bread doughs, kneaded in, baked and then analysed. The breads containing particle‐stabilised foams had no significant difference in firmness nor in adhesiveness compared to gluten‐free toast bread with additives or to the gluten‐containing bread. While the volume of the toast bread containing foam was lower than for the gluten containing reference toast bread, it had up to 2.0–2.5 times the volume than the gluten‐free bread reference without additives. These results showed a positive influence of the use of particle‐stabilised foams in gluten‐free bread without addition of additives.
Utilisation, efficiency, health, and environmental performance assessment of Ethiopian Agro‐Processors
Authors: Kassahun Estifanos , Tibebu Solomon , Chaka Seblewongel , Seifu Yoktan , Wubetu Meseret
Published: December 2023

The manufacturing sector is vital to the blistering economic transformation of developing countries such as Ethiopia. According to Ethiopia's industrial development strategy, one of the priority sub‐sectors of the manufacturing sector is the agricultural processing industry. This study focuses on the utilisation prospects, health, and environmental performance of afro‐food processing industries. The data were collected from 71 industry‐level respondents. The data collectors used Open Data Kit (ODK) packages as a data collection mechanism. The average utilisation of the cereal processors in Ethiopia was calculated to be 50.84%, 57.39%, 72.18%, 58.44%, and 42.81% for biscuits, macaroni, maize flour, spaghetti, and wheat flour, respectively. The average efficiency was determined to be 68.27%, 73.72%, 90.49%, 83.38%, and 64.76% for biscuits, macaroni, maize flour, spaghetti, and wheat flour, respectively. It is also noted that among the edible oil processors, peanut oil has the highest average efficiency (90.49%) and utilisation (72.18%). The lowest average efficiency and utilisation were determined to be 64.76% and 42.81% respectively for sunflower oil. From a health and environmental performance perspective, it is noted that 70.83% of oil processors and 59.57% of cereals processors have quality control laboratories. Moreover, 91.48% of cereal processors and 87.5% of oil processors have solid waste disposal systems.
Effect of low frequency ultrasound on lactose‐protein interactions in protein solution containing different casein to whey protein ratios
Authors: Zhao Yuanyuan , Saxena Juhi , Cherian Vineetha , Silva Mayumi , Truong Tuyen , Chandrapala Jayani
Published: December 2023

Milk systems containing varying casein‐whey ratios (80:20, 60:40, 50:50, 40:60, 20:80) and lactose concentrations similar to those of bovine milk underwent ultrasound at 20 kHz for 1, 5 and 10 min. The influences of low‐frequency ultrasound on the physicochemical, structural, thermal and water mobility properties of lactose/protein systems were examined. The physiochemical properties, protein structural changes, water mobility and lactose crystallisation behaviour were mainly a function of the type of protein, the ratio of proteins and the sonication time. The particle size, turbidity and pH values of all milk systems decreased with the increase in sonication time. A higher proportion of whey in the system decreased the lactose crystallisation temperature without sonication. FTIR results indicated that the addition of lactose to the milk system delayed the protein‐protein aggregation until 5 min of sonication.
Does audit regulation improve corporate decision making? Evidence from the disclosure of tax‐related key audit matters
Authors: Lei Lijun (Gillian) , Shu Sydney Qing
Published: December 2023

Our study examines changes in corporate cash tax savings around the disclosure of tax‐related key audit matters (tax KAMs). We expect publicly disclosed tax KAMs to increase the visibility of a firm's tax complexity and uncertainty, thereby motivating the firm to improve its tax function. In turn, we expect to observe increased cash tax savings as an outcome of improvements to corporate tax functions. As predicted, we document that firms exhibit lower cash effective tax rates in the period after their auditors disclose tax KAMs. Additional tests suggest that disclosure of tax KAMs does not increase the likelihood of firms being aggressive in cash tax planning and increased cash tax savings are primarily driven by firms that adjust toward their optimal levels of cash tax savings. Cross‐sectional analyses support our expectation that post‐disclosure increases in cash tax savings are less pronounced when investors were better informed about firms’ tax strategies in the pre‐disclosure period and when firms faced stronger tax enforcement in the pre‐disclosure period. Collectively, our results highlight the role of KAM disclosure requirements in prompting firms to improve their internal operational decisions.
Investigation of the possibility of using an augmented reality‐based endotracheal aspiration simulation tool for nursing education
Authors: Arakida Mikako , Takahashi Tokiichiro , Matsuda Yuko , Yamabe Yuta , Miyamoto Chizuko , Aoki Emiko , Takahashi Sawako , Ando Mizuho , Moriya Tomoaki , Kodama Shuhei , Yamashita Ruriko , Igarashi Takahiro , Tanizaki Keito , Uchida Kenta
Published: December 2023

Aim

We developed an augmented reality technology‐based endotracheal aspiration simulation tool (the AR tool) consisting of three modes: a mode for nursing students to learn endotracheal aspiration by themselves (learning mode); a mode for repeated practice (practice mode); and a mode for confirmation testing (test mode). This study aimed to compare the learning outcomes of the AR tool with traditional training mannequins and identify potential uses and improvements of the AR tool.

Methods

We invited students, and faculty members from the three universities who agreed to cooperate in conducting this study. Fifty‐four students and nine faculty members agreed to participate in this study. The students were divided into two groups. One group was to study with the AR tool and the other group was to study with the traditional half‐body training mannequin for suction. The students in both groups were asked to demonstrate endotracheal aspiration on another full‐body type training mannequin which could be used as a patient with a tracheostomy (Skill test). Group interviews with faculty members focused on the topic of the AR tool's potential use in nursing education and improvement needed.

Results

There was little significant difference in the skill test results of endotracheal aspiration of students in both groups. The students and faculty members both expressed an interest in the AR tool. They said it was suitable for self‐study of endotracheal aspiration.

Conclusions

This AR tool is an effective teaching tool for learning the sequence of endotracheal suctioning, although there are some areas that need improvement.
Serum thymidine kinase 1 protein concentrations and presence of its autoantibody as biomarkers for screening dogs with malignant tumors
Authors: Kim Yoonhee , Park Jeongjoo , Kim Byunggak , Yu Kyung‐Rok , Kim Hong Sook , Oh Yein , Seo Kyoungwon , Ryu Minok , Park Chul , Bhang Dongha , Choi Ulsoo , Youn Hwayoung
Published: December 2023

Background

An accurate and easily accessible method for diagnosing malignancies in local veterinary clinics has not yet been established.

Objectives

To investigate the usefulness of serum thymidine kinase 1 (TK1) protein and its autoantibody as tumor biomarkers in dogs.

Animals

Serum samples from 1702 dogs were collected from local animal hospitals and referral animal medical centers in South Korea.

Methods

TK1 protein OD value and TK1 autoantibody ratio (TK1 autoantibody OD/total IgG OD) in serum samples of dogs classified into healthy controls, group with nontumor disease, group with benign and group with malignant tumors were measured using lateral flow immunochromatographic assay methods.

Results

TK1 autoantibody levels were significantly higher in malignant tumor group (median 0.71) than in healthy controls (median 0.34), group with nontumor disease (median 0.34), and group with benign tumor (median 0.32, Welch t test, P < .0001). They were also significantly different among dogs with carcinomas (median 0.77), hematopoietic tumors (median 0.71), and sarcomas (median 0.56) than in healthy controls (median 0.34, post hoc Games‐Howell test, P < .0001). In the receiver operating characteristic curve of TK1 protein, AUC was 0.633 (95% CI: 0.592‐0.675, P < .0001). The AUC of TK1 autoantibody ratio was 0.758 (95% CI: 0.723‐0.793, P < .0001).

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

TK1 autoantibody is a potentially useful biomarker for differentiating between healthy and tumor‐bearing dogs, better than TK1 protein measurement. However, both were inadequate when used as single biomarkers for screening dogs to discover occult malignant tumors.
Root‐exuded benzoxazinoids can alleviate negative plant–soil feedbacks
Authors: Gfeller Valentin , Thoenen Lisa , Erb Matthias
Published: December 2023

Plants can suppress the growth of other plants by modifying soil properties. These negative plant–soil feedbacks are often species‐specific, suggesting that some plants possess resistance strategies. However, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown.

Here, we investigated whether benzoxazinoids, a class of dominant secondary metabolites that are exuded into the soil by maize and other cereals, allow maize plants to cope with plant–soil feedbacks.

We find that three out of five tested crop species reduce maize (Zea mays L.) performance via negative plant–soil feedbacks relative to the mean across species. This effect is partially alleviated by the capacity of maize plants to produce benzoxazinoids. Soil complementation with purified benzoxazinoids restores the protective effect for benzoxazinoid‐deficient mutants. Sterilization and reinoculation experiments suggest that benzoxazinoid‐mediated protection acts via changes in soil biota. Substantial variation of the protective effect between experiments and soil types illustrates context dependency.

In conclusion, exuded plant secondary metabolites allow plants to cope with plant–soil feedbacks. These findings expand the functional repertoire of plant secondary metabolites and reveal a mechanism by which plants can resist negative effects of soil feedbacks. The uncovered phenomenon may represent a promising avenue to stabilize plant performance in crop rotations.
Exploration in the Mechanism of Ginsenoside Rg5 for the Treatment of Osteosarcoma by Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking
Authors: Liu Ming‐yang , Jiang Dong‐xin , Zhao Xiang , Zhang Liang , Zhang Yu , Liu Zhen‐dong , Liu Run‐ze , Li Hai‐jun , Rong Xiao‐yu , Gao Yan‐zheng
Published: December 2023

Objective

Osteosarcoma is a primary malignancy originating from mesenchymal tissue characterized by rapid growth, early metastasis and poor prognosis. Ginsenoside Rg5 (G‐Rg5) is a minor ginsenoside extracted from Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer which has been discovered to possess anti‐tumor properties. The objective of current study was to explore the mechanism of G‐Rg5 in the treatment of osteosarcoma by network pharmacology and molecular docking technology.

Methods

Pharmmapper, SwissTargetPrediction and similarity ensemble approach databases were used to obtain the pharmacological targets of G‐Rg5. Related genes of osteosarcoma were searched for in the GeneCards, OMIM and DrugBank databases. The targets of G‐Rg5 and the related genes of osteosarcoma were intersected to obtain the potential target genes of G‐Rg5 in the treatment of osteosarccoma. The STRING database and Cytoscape 3.8.2 software were used to construct the protein–protein interaction (PPI) network, and the Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery (DAVID) platform was used to perform gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses. AutoDock vina software was used to perform molecular docking between G‐Rg5 and hub targets. The hub genes were imported into the Kaplan–Meier Plotter online database for survival analysis.

Results

A total of 61 overlapping targets were obtained. The related signaling pathways mainly included PI3K‐Akt signaling pathway, Proteoglycans in cancer, Lipid and atherosclerosis and Kaposi sarcoma‐associated herpesvirus infection. Six hub targets including PIK3CA, SRC, TP53, MAPK1, EGFR, and VEGFA were obtained through PPI network and targets‐pathways network analyses. The results of molecular docking showed that the binding energies were all less than –7 kcal/mol. And the results of survival analysis showed TP53 and VEGFA affect the prognosis of sarcoma patients.

Conclusion

This study explored the possible mechanism of G‐Rg5 in the treatment of osteosarcoma using network pharmacology method, suggesting that G‐Rg5 has the characteristics of multi‐targets and multi‐pathways in the treatment of osteosarcoma, which lays a foundation for the follow‐up experimental and clinical researches on the therapeutic effects of G‐Rg5 on osteosarcoma.
Arteriovenous malformation with hair collar sign
Authors: Hollman Dylan , Alzahrani Fatmah , Fiorillo Loretta , Thompson Adrienne , Mahmood Muhammad N.
Published: December 2023

We report the case of a newborn who was noted at birth to have an occipital scalp nodule presenting with a hair collar sign (HCS). The nodule had enlarged since birth. An MRI revealed a soft tissue mass on the occipital scalp without deep extension or cranial bone involvement. A biopsy of the nodule led to a diagnosis of arteriovenous malformation (AVM). A vascular malformation with HCS has not been reported before in North America. This case highlights the complexity of diagnosing a lesion with a hair collar sign.
Multifaceted support for quality of life in childhood cancer survivors: Questionnaire survey
Authors: Hirano Naoki , Suenobu Souichi , Ihara Kenji
Published: December 2023

Background

Along with improvements in curative treatment for childhood cancer, childhood cancer survivors (CCSs) often face numerous problems such as late complications of cancer treatment, social issues at school, struggles in employment, and financial difficulties. These children have received a wide range of support from the medical, educational, and administrative sectors. However, it was unclear how this multifaceted support contributed to quality of life (QOL) of CCSs in Japan.

Methods

The subjects were 46 CCSs of 16 years of age or older at the time of the survey, who had been diagnosed and treated for pediatric cancer. A self‐administered questionnaire survey was conducted to investigate the in‐hospital status during treatment, adjustment when returning to school, and administrative social support. The QOL of CCSs was also evaluated by the Medical Outcome Study 36‐Item Short‐Form Health Survey.

Results

Twenty‐four CCSs answered the questions. The respondents who had experienced school‐life problems tended to have lower role/social QOL scores (p = 0.046), whereas the CCSs who had experienced administrative counseling tended to have lower physical QOL scores (p = 0.036). The mental QOL scores tended to be higher in respondents who were informed of the exact diagnosis of cancer during hospitalization. The role/social QOL scores tended to be lower in respondents who advanced to their preferred career path.

Conclusions

It is essential for three stakeholders—health‐care providers, education offices, and public administrative agencies—to collaborate to share long‐term psychosocial issues or concerns related to employment or daily living that CCSs may encounter, and to establish a coordinated approach to support CCSs.