bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Understanding Post‐Release Dispersal and Habitat Selection Helps Refine Management of Translocated Populations
Authors: Stone Zoe , Armstrong Doug , Parker Kevin
Published: February 2025

Translocation outcomes in connected habitats are often uncertain, as individuals dispersing outside managed areas are exposed to threats. Post‐release monitoring can reduce uncertainty by revealing how dispersal and habitat selection influences establishment and population growth which inform future translocations. We undertook post‐release monitoring to identify habitat selection patterns following a translocation of toutouwai (North Island robin, Petroica longipes) to a large, contiguous forest habitat. Post‐release monitoring aimed to estimate survival, dispersal, and territory establishment to inform management decisions and future release site selection. We created species distribution models using monitoring data to identify differences in habitat selection during the post‐release dispersal and territory establishment phases. Toutouwai dispersed across 1312 ha but established territories within only 113 ha and 1 km from the release location. Site fidelity was higher than predicted, and there was no difference in dispersal or habitat selection across demographic groups. Critically, high site fidelity suggested that the extent of managed habitat was sufficient to protect dispersing individuals. Habitat selection preferences were stronger during territory establishment and were associated with lower slopes, higher water deficit and proximity to water reservoirs. Species distribution modelling allowed for predictions of high‐quality core habitat where dispersal and territory establishment were more likely, resulting in targeted management to improve population growth. Our results show that initial dispersal in connected habitats may be much larger than suggested by territory data alone, and that management may need to protect larger areas to support successful establishment. We demonstrate how effective post‐release monitoring can inform predictions of habitat quality and dispersal and guide management actions to improve translocations outcomes.
Pushpin memoir: Making meaning out of murder
Authors: Sullivan Noelle
Published: February 2025

In 2018, my brother Adam Colquhoun, nicknamed “Stretch,” was killed in a bar in Calgary, Alberta by a man he barely knew. Stretch was the kind of person society finds convenient to discard. His history of theft, illicit drug dealing, mental illness, addiction, and homelessness made his humanity “undesirable.” Nevertheless, lessons Stretch learned painfully over his lifetime had something to teach us. In 2016, he told me he wanted someone to write his biography. This paper explores how my brother's murder caused me to collapse the binary between personal and professional, and embrace memoir—a process differing substantially from writing ethnography. I thought of my approach as “pushpin memoir,” akin to a detective board where investigators stick bits of evidence in the aftermath of a crime. Pushpins comprise unusual, standout moments we hold onto among the quotidian we often forget. Meanings gleaned from Stretch's life allowed me to rethink the future of the man who killed him, and thus imagine broader possibilities for people whose actions cause irreparable harm. I ponder how centering the experiencing self feels crucial to future endeavors to write an anthropology that matters to broader publics I hope to engage.
Advances in primary eye care and ophthalmic imaging contribute to earlier detection of uveal melanoma
Authors: Bjertnæs Vilde , Hatling Anna Dalseng , Haugen Olav H. , Krohn Jørgen
Published: February 2025

Purpose

To report how the evolving role of optometrists in primary eye care and advances in ophthalmic imaging have affected diagnosis and management of posterior uveal melanoma (UM).

Methods

Retrospective, single‐centre cohort study of patients diagnosed with UM from 1993 to 2022 in Bergen, Norway.

Results

Four hundred nine patients were included, and comparisons were made between those diagnosed from 1993 to 2007 and from 2008 to 2022. The median tumour diameter decreased from 13.3 to 11.3 mm (p = 0.002), and the median tumour thickness decreased from 6.9 to 4.5 mm (p < 0.001). The median distance from the tumour border to the optic disc and to the foveola increased from 3.5 to 4.5 mm (p = 0.011), and from 3.0 to 4.0 mm (p < 0.001), respectively. Two hundred sixty‐two patients (64%) experienced symptoms associated with UM, with a median duration of 152.5 and 81 days in the first and second half of the study period, respectively (p < 0.001). The median best corrected visual acuity at diagnosis improved from 0.5 logMAR (Snellen equivalent, 6/19) in the first half to 0.2 logMAR (Snellen equivalent, 6/9.5) in the second half of the period (p < 0.001). The proportion of asymptomatic patients was 23.5% in the first and 41.9% in the second half of the period (p < 0.001). The proportion of UMs incidentally detected by optometrists increased from 3.0% to 18.1% (p = 0.009), and the proportion of UMs incidentally detected by fundus photography increased from 1.5% to 18.1% (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

The temporal changes in patient and tumour characteristics suggest that UMs are now being diagnosed at an earlier stage. This may in part be attributed to the introduction of widefield fundus cameras and increased opportunistic screening of asymptomatic patients.
CORONIS symposium 2023: Scientific and clinical frontiers in ocular surface innervation
Authors: Galor Anat , Gallar Juana , Acosta M. Carmen , Meseguer Víctor , Benítez‐Del‐Castillo José Manuel , Stachs Oliver , Szentmáry Nóra , Versura Piera , Müller‐Lierheim Wolfgang G. K. , Belmonte Carlos , Pujol‐Martí Jesús
Published: February 2025

The 5th CORONIS Symposium, held during the 2023 Congress of the European Association for Vision and Eye Research (EVER), highlighted the growing importance of ocular surface innervation in eye surface disorders. This article summarises the insights and perspectives shared during the symposium, which focused on the clinical relevance of ocular surface innervation, as well as on the development of innovative diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for ocular surface pathologies linked to disturbed sensory innervation. Through robust interdisciplinary collaborations, these developments hold great potential to improve patient outcomes and quality of life.
Simulation‐Based Echocardiography Training Enhanced Competence and Self‐Confidence in Neonatal Residents
Authors: Blanchetière Amélie , Guillouët Erwan , Favrais Géraldine , Lardennois Caroline , Bellot Anne , Savey Baptiste
Published: February 2025

Aim

Mastering echocardiography scans is essential in neonatology, but bedside training can be difficult due to the instability of neonatal patients. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the benefits of simulation‐based training for residents learning echocardiography.

Methods

This multicentre randomised controlled trial involved residents from three French neonatology departments. The authors compared a control group with theoretical and bedside training and a simulation group with additional simulation‐based training. Evaluations were conducted three and 6 months after training using two scoring methods: a reference score for the quality of the echocardiographic sections and a custom‐made score for recognising anatomical structures.

Results

We randomised 52 residents from 1 May 2021 to 31 May 2023. After 3 months, the residents in the simulation group achieved a higher mean score than the residents in the control group for both the reference score (11.5 ± 2.3 points vs. 7.4 ± 3.4 points, p < 0.001) and the custom‐made score (25.8 ± 5.3 points vs. 16.9 ± 7.8 points, p < 0.001). The difference remained significant at 6 months and the custom‐made score showed good agreement with the reference score.

Conclusion

Simulation‐based training was a valuable approach for training neonatal residents to perform echocardiography and more extensive training courses should be developed.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT06442683
Greater Parent–Child Brain Synchronisation During Printed Book Versus Screen Reading Using Hyperscanning Electroencephalograph Data
Authors: Jomaa Fauzi , Ebraheem Fatma , Horowitz‐Kraus Tzipi
Published: February 2025

Aim

The differences between parent–child joint attention while reading together from a screen versus from a paper are unknown. The current study aimed to determine if parent–child brains synchronise differently during screen‐based versus printed paper‐based, in other words, a book reading.

Methods

The study was carried out in 2022 in Israel. Cohorts were recruited via posted ads. Cognitive and behavioural measures were assessed using standardised tests. In addition, two reading sessions were administered by the parent, one on the screen and another using a book, while electroencephalograph data captured their brain synchronisation. The difference in brain synchronisation between the conditions was correlated with behavioural measures.

Results

Of the 49 parent–child pairs age 3.94 years ± 0.751; 24 females who participated in language‐based tasks for this study, electroencephalograph data from 11 dyads showed a higher brain‐to‐brain synchronisation during printed‐based reading compared to screen‐based reading was found and associated with the child's verbal and cognitive abilities.

Conclusion

Printed‐paper reading fosters a higher parent–child neural synchronisation and cognitive engagement compared to screen‐based reading.
Childbirth Experience, Mistreatment, and Migrant Status: A Retrospective Cross‐Sectional Study
Authors: Mangindin Edythe L. , Gottfreðsdóttir Helga , Stoll Kathrin , Cadée Franka , Lárusdóttir Elín Inga , Swift Emma M.
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Childbirth experience can affect women's long‐term health and well‐being. However, there is limited knowledge on whether migrant status affects woman's experience during childbirth. We aimed to answer the following research questions: (1) Is there a difference in childbirth experience between migrant and native‐born women in Iceland; and (2) Are migrant women more likely to experience mistreatment in childbirth compared to native‐born women in Iceland?

Methods

An online survey was developed including the Childbirth Experience Questionnaire 2 to assess overall childbirth experience, and descriptive analysis and linear regression were conducted to determine differences between migrant and native‐born women in Iceland. The mistreatment by care providers in childbirth indicators were used to evaluate mistreatment in childbirth, and frequencies and logistic regression were conducted. Both regression models were adjusted for sociodemographic and obstetric factors.

Results

A total of 1365 women participated. Migrant women reported statistically significantly lower scores for birth experience compared to native‐born women (F [12, 1352] = 23.97, p < 0.001). There was no statistical difference between groups regarding mistreatment in childbirth. One in four of all women reported at least one form of mistreatment.

Conclusion

This study suggests that there are areas in maternity care that can be improved upon, particularly in providing care for migrant women and addressing mistreatment in childbirth for all. Our results suggest further research in this area as well as evaluation of maternity systems, training in cultural competency and effective communication.
Explaining the self‐regulatory role of affect in identity theory: The role of self‐compassion
Authors: Strachan Shaelyn M. , Kullman Sasha M. , Dobrovolskyi Mark , Vega Vianney Z. , Yarema Alexandra , Patson Caity
Published: February 2025

Objectives

According to Stets and Burke's Identity Theory, people experience negative affect when their behaviour deviates from their identity standards, which drives the regulation of identity‐relevant behaviour. Guilt and shame represent unique forms of negative affect. Self‐compassion may influence guilt and shame responses about identity‐behaviour inconsistencies. Relative to exercise identity, we examined the associations between (1) guilt and shame, behavioural intentions, and perceptions of identity‐behaviour re‐alignment after an identity‐inconsistent situation and (2) whether self‐compassion moderates the relationship between these forms of negative affect and both behavioural intentions and identity‐behaviour re‐alignment.

Design

Prospective, online, quantitative.

Methods

N = 274 exercisers (Mage = 32.5 years, SDage = 10.8 years, 50.2% women) who engaged in less exercise in the past week than their identity standard were recruited from Prolific.com. At baseline, self‐compassion, state and trait guilt and shame, and exercise intentions were measured. One week later, participants reported the extent to which their past week's exercise aligned with their identity standard (i.e., identity‐consistent perceptions).

Results

Neither state shame nor guilt related to exercise intentions nor identity‐consistent perceptions. Self‐compassion moderated the relationship between state guilt and identity‐consistent perceptions (b = 2.524, SE = .975, t = 2.588, p = .010); state guilt was related to identity‐behaviour consistency when self‐compassion was high, but not when it was low. No other moderations were significant.

Conclusions

This study adds nuance to Identity Theory and its propositions about negative affect and self‐regulation; self‐compassion may create the conditions necessary for negative affect to drive identity‐relevant behaviour as proposed by identity theory.
Thiamine deficiency aggravates experimental colitis in mice by promoting glycolytic reprogramming in macrophages
Authors: Pan Xiaohua , Ren Zhengnan , Liang Wenjie , Dong Xiaoliang , Li Jiahong , Wang Lili , Bhatia Madhav , Pan Li‐Long , Sun Jia
Published: February 2025

Background and Purpose

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is closely associated with immune dysfunction, where nutrient‐mediated metabolic flux dictates immune cell fate and function. Thiamine is a central water‐soluble vitamin involved in cellular energy metabolism, and its deficiency has been reported in IBD patients. However, whether thiamine deficiency is a cause or consequence of IBD pathogenesis remains unclear. The current study aimed to reveal the immunometabolic regulation of macrophages and underlying mechanism of thiamine deficiency in colitis development.

Experimental Approach

Thiamine deficiency was induced in C57BL/6 mice and bone marrow‐derived macrophages (BMDMs), by administering a thiamine‐deficient diet/medium together with pyrithiamine hydrobromide. The frequency of macrophage phenotypes and their intracellular metabolism were detected using flow cytometry and non‐targeted metabolomics, respectively.

Key Results

Thiamine deficiency aggravated ulcerative colitis in mice and promoted the infiltration of proinflammatory M1 macrophages in colonic lamina propria. Our mechanistic study revealed that thiamine deficiency impaired pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) activity, thereby reprogramming cellular glucose metabolism to enhance glycolysis and lactic acid accumulation in M1 macrophages. Using a well‐established PDH inhibitor (CPI‐613) and lactic acid dehydrogenase inhibitor (galloflavin), we further demonstrated that PDH inhibition mimics, while lactate dehydrogenase inhibition partially rescues, thiamine deficiency‐induced proinflammatory macrophage infiltration and experimental colitis in mice.

Conclusion and Implications

Our study provides evidence linking thiamine deficiency with proinflammatory macrophage activation and colitis aggravation, suggesting that monitoring thiamine status and adjusting thiamine intake is necessary to protect against colitis.
Genomic Testing in Adults With Undiagnosed Rare Conditions: Improvement of Diagnosis Using Clinical Exome Sequencing as a First‐Tier Approach
Authors: Petillo Roberta , De Maggio Ilaria , Piscopo Carmelo , Chetta Massimiliano , Tarsitano Marina , Chiriatti Luigi , Sannino Elvira , Torre Serena , D'Antonio Marcella , D'Ambrosio Paola , Rambaldi Marco , Cioce Maria , De Stefano Valentina , Parisi Maria Rita , Telese Antonella , Oro Maria , Rivieccio Maria , Radio Francesca Clementina , Mancini Cecilia , Niceta Marcello , Cordeddu Viviana , Bruselles Alessandro , Mammì Corrado , Dattola Adele , Fioretti Tiziana , Esposito Gabriella , Novelli Antonio , Tessitore Alessandro , Tessa Alessandra , Santorelli Filippo Maria , Iolascon Achille , Monica Matteo Della , Tartaglia Marco , Priolo Manuela
Published: February 2025

Adult patients with undiagnosed genetic disorders suffer most from diagnostic delay and seldom appear in cohort studies investigating the diagnostic yield in medical genetic clinical practice. Here we present the results of the diagnostic activity performed in a referral center on 654 consecutive, unselected adult subjects presenting with molecularly unsolved conditions. More than 50% of the referred individuals were affected by syndromic or isolated intellectual disability. Different molecular approaches, including clinical/whole exome sequencing (CES/WES), chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA), and/or targeted gene or gene panel sequencing were used to analyze patients' DNA. Definitive diagnosis was obtained in over 30% of individuals. The most sensitive methodology was CES/WES, which allowed us to reach a diagnosis in over 50% of the 162 solved cases. Despite the great variety of clinical presentations, our results represent a reliable picture of the “real world” daily routine in an outpatient medical genetics clinic dedicated to diagnostic activity, and contribute to better understand the great value of a definitive molecular diagnosis in adults, either for the affected individuals and their families. This retrospective analysis demonstrates the importance of adopting a genomic‐first approach within the diagnostic process for adults affected with unsolved rare conditions.
Full‐Arch Digital Implant Impression Trueness: An in Vivo Study
Authors: Rutkūnas Vygandas , Kuleš Daniel , Revilla‐León Marta , Akulauskas Mykolas , Auškalnis Liudas , Gendvilienė Ieva
Published: February 2025

Objectives

To evaluate the trueness of maxillary and mandibular full‐arch implant digital impressions with and without additional reference objects.

Material and Methods

Seventeen maxillary and 6 mandibular arches with four implants were randomly divided into a group with additional reference objects (wRO group, n = 12) and without them (woRO group, n = 11) and scanned with an intraoral scanner (IOS). For each jaw, the control model (CM) data was obtained to evaluate the deviations in the scan body positions in the wRO and woRO groups. CM and IOS data sets were imported into metrology software for distance and angle measurements between scan body pairs 1–2, 1–3, and 1–4. Unsigned values of distance and angle data differences between CM and IOS groups were used for further analysis.

Results

The highest statistically significant (p < 0.05) differences between distance and angulation measurements of the maxilla and mandible were observed in the 1–4 scan body pair group (136 ± 95 μm, 0.95° ± 0.79°; 362 ± 233 μm, 2.22° ± 2.11°, respectively). Distance deviations of the mandible were higher in all scan body pair groups. The woRO group had higher distance and angulation unsigned trueness values than in the wRO group, especially in the 1–4 scan body pair (224 ± 183 μm, 1.77° ± 1.76°;169 ± 162 μm, and 0.83° ± 0.57°, respectively).

Conclusions

IOS for the full‐arch cases had statistically and clinically significant distance and angle deviations. Higher deviations were observed in the single mandibular scan body pair. The tendency of diminished distance and angular deviations with the utilization of the additional reference objects was observed, though these differences were not statistically significant.
Mild cryoinjury in zebrafish fin induces regenerative response without blastema formation
Authors: Yoshida Takafumi , Kawakami Atsushi
Published: February 2025

Previous studies have shown that tissue regeneration induces expression of genes that play important roles in regeneration. Recently, several studies have identified regeneration‐response enhancers (RREs) that activate gene expression by tissue injury. Particularly, we showed that RREs contain two transcription factor‐binding motifs: a bHLH transcription factor‐binding motif, an E‐box, and an AP‐1/bZIP transcription factor‐binding motif, a 12‐O‐Tetradecanoylphorbol 13‐acetate response element (TRE). However, the triggers and subsequent signals generated by injury are still unclear. In this study, we analyzed RRE activation using various injury models. Although inter‐ray incisions and skin exfoliation injuries did not activate RREs or regeneration genes, the fin puncture injury activated RREs and several regeneration‐response genes. After fin puncture injury, msxc was activated only on the proximal side of the hole where blastema‐like tissue was formed, whereas RREs, junbb, and fibronectin 1b (fn1b) were activated on both the proximal and distal sides, implying that activation of RREs, junbb, and fn1b is independent of blastema formation. Here, we also established a mild cryoinjury method. After this injury, transient vascular destruction, an increase in cell death, and an accumulation of myeloid cells were observed; however, no major morphological damage was observed. Importantly, msxc was not induced by cryoinjury, whereas fn1b, junbb, and 1.8 k RRE (−1.8 kb promoter of fn1b) were activated, suggesting that cryoinjury induces the responses of fn1b, junbb, and 1.8 k RRE without forming the blastema. Thus, our study shows that the cryoinjury model and the RRE transgenic (Tg) zebrafish may provide a useful platform for exploring injury signals.
Healthcare professional views of a diabetes review postal box: A qualitative study
Authors: Colley Jack , Holt Sian , Smith Lucy , Simpson Glenn , Dambha‐Miller Hajira , Price Hermione
Published: February 2025

Background

Non‐attendance at diabetes appointments is common, 1–4 and associated with higher HbA1c levels, reduced medication taking, and increased complications. 1–45 Barriers to attendance are multifactorial including both logistical and psychosocial factors. 6–11 A proposed solution is the implementation of a postal diabetes annual review box enabling self‐collection of blood and urine samples, and measurement of blood pressure and weight.

Aim

To explore the views of Healthcare Professionals (HCPs) who are involved in the organisation or delivery of diabetes care regarding the acceptability and implementation of a postal box as part of the diabetes annual review.

Method

We conducted a qualitative study recruiting HCPs into semi‐structured interviews and focus groups. Collected data were analysed using an inductive approach and following the principles of reflexive thematic analysis12.

Results

Twenty‐one HCPs participated in the study. HCPs felt that a postal box could overcome many individual and service factors contributing to non‐attendance. They felt the box could encourage self‐management behaviours and could be used as a tool for communication. HCPs recognised that the postal box could free up time in appointments to focus on holistic care delivery without further stretching limited resources. HCPs were concerned about the possible additional administrative burden a postal box might create, and the public perception of an intervention which could reduce face‐to‐face care.

Conclusion

Healthcare professionals seem receptive to the idea of a postal diabetes annual review box and feel it has the potential to offer people with diabetes an improved quality of care.
Integrating Generative AI in Dental Education: A Scoping Review of Current Practices and Recommendations
Authors: Uribe Sergio E. , Maldupa Ilze , Schwendicke Falk
Published: February 2025

Background

Generative AI (GenAI) tools like ChatGPT are increasingly relevant in dental education, offering potential enhancements in personalised learning and clinical reasoning. However, specific guidance from dental institutions remains unexplored.

Aim

To identify, analyse and summarise existing guidelines from universities and organisations on using GenAI in dental education, focusing on recommendations for academic staff.

Methods

A scoping review (10.17605/OSF.IO/3XMP7) searched for GenAI guidance on university websites, search engines (Google Search, Scholar, Perplexity and PubMed) and through contacting relevant academics (January 2022 to June 2024). Two reviewers independently screened and extracted data, including implementation details, AI tools and permitted/prohibited uses. Thematic analysis revealed common applications, benefits, challenges and recommendations.

Results

Thirty‐one unique documents were included from 21 universities in 15 countries and three international organisations. Thematic analysis identified common applications, benefits, challenges and recommendations for integrating GenAI, including facilitating teaching and learning, personalised learning, efficient content creation and encouraging critical thinking. However, challenges such as academic integrity, ethical use, bias and privacy issues were also identified. No dental education‐specific guidelines were found.

Conclusion

This review identified and summarised existing GenAI guidelines from universities and organisations relevant to dental education. The guidelines emphasise ethical use, transparency, academic integrity, secure environments and AI misuse detection tools. However, the absence of dental specific guidance presents an opportunity to fill this gap, providing recommendations for academic staff to integrate GenAI effectively while promoting critical thinking and responsible AI use.
Cultural and Psychological Dynamics in School Leadership: The Moderating Role of Trust in the Relationship Between Teachers' Cultural Values and Their Expectations for Paternalistic Leadership
Authors: Polatcan Mahmut , Bellibaş Mehmet Şükrü , Apaydın Çiğdem
Published: February 2025

Although a growing body of theoretical work indicated that the cultural orientation of societies shapes their understanding of leadership, there is a lack of empirical research to explore how individual cultural value orientations shape teachers' expectations for school leadership. This empirical research addresses this gap by examining the relationship between teachers' cultural value tendencies and their expectations for principals' paternalistic leadership behaviours, considering the moderating role of trust in the principal. This study analysed data collected from 738 teachers in Türkiye, employing a moderated structural equation modelling (SEM) approach. The results indicate that teachers' cultural value orientations are significantly related to their paternalistic leadership expectations, meaning that teachers who indicate that they are more collectivist, feminine, short‐term orientated, avoidant of uncertainty, and open to power distance tend to expect their principals to exert stronger paternalistic leadership practices. Additionally, we found a significant moderating role of teachers' trust in the principal, suggesting that higher trust levels strengthen the relationship between cultural values and paternalistic leadership expectations. These results contribute to a deeper understanding of cultural and psychological dynamics in schools, especially concerning the role of individual cultural value dispositions and trust influencing the extent to which teachers desire their principals to demonstrate paternalist leadership behaviours.
Artificial Intelligence‐Supported Student Engagement Research: Text Mining and Systematic Analysis
Authors: Chen Xieling , Xie Haoran , Qin S. Joe , Wang Fu Lee , Hou Yinan
Published: February 2025

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly exploited to promote student engagement. This study combined topic modelling, keyword analysis, trend test and systematic analysis methodologies to analyse AI‐supported student engagement (AIsE) studies regarding research keywords and topics, AI roles, AI systems and algorithms, methods and domains, samples and outcomes. Findings included the following: (1) frequent‐used and emerging keywords comprised ‘machine learning’, ‘artificial intelligence chatbot’ and ‘collaborative knowledge building’. (2) Frequently studied topics included ‘AI for MOOCs and self‐regulated learning’ and ‘affective computing and emotional engagement’. (3) Most studies adopted intelligent tutoring systems, traditional machine learning methods and natural language processing. (4) Emotional engagement regarding affective or psychological states among college students received the most attention. (5) Most studies adopted quantitative approaches and concerned computer science and language education. Accordingly, we highlighted AI's roles as tutors, advisors, partners, tutees and regulators for behavioural, cognitive and emotional engagement to inspire AI's effective integration into education.
Effectiveness of Social Practice Approach for Academic Achievement of Adult Learners in Basic Literacy: A Mixed‐Methods Study
Authors: Noreen Sidra , Iqbal Zafar
Published: February 2025

This study explores the effectiveness of social practice approach by integrating social practices along with modern teaching strategies, and teacher training to address the challenge of low academic achievement among adult learners in basic literacy programs. For a 4‐month experiment, two of a metropolitan city's fourteen adult literacy centres were chosen as intact groups. There were 35 adult learners in each group, which included a control group and an experimental group. A mixed‐methods study design was employed to experimentally ascertain the impact of social practices along with modern teaching strategies, and teacher training on learners' academic attainment and explore the underlying elements influencing this effect. While the control group got conventional teaching utilising a literacy book and a chalkboard, the experimental group's literacy activities were incorporated into their daily tasks as adult learners. For quantitative data, a pre‐test and post‐test based on worksheets with items pertaining to the social setting and daily chores were used to gather data from both groups. For qualitative data, 10 learners from the experimental group were interviewed to obtain a better understanding of how the social practice approach had improved their academic achievement. Thematic analysis was used to examine the qualitative data, while independent‐sample t tests were used to assess the quantitative data. According to the results, the experimental group outperformed the control group in terms of knowledge, comprehension, and application. The experimental group's learners credited their improved academic achievement to the regular practice of acquired skills in the classroom and in real‐world scenarios, as well as to interactive, engaging, and everyday reading exercises. This study emphasises the need for socially inclusive and contextually relevant adult literacy programs in by integrating real‐world issues and fostering collaboration among various stakeholders. It also highlights the importance of active community involvement in the design and implementation of literacy programs, as this approach can enhance educational opportunities, address disparities, and ensure that the programs are relevant to the needs of local populations.
Experience of AI‐Based Digital Intervention in Professional Education in Rural China: Digital Competencies and Academic Self‐Efficacy
Authors: Wang Hongming
Published: February 2025

Rural regions in China grapple with discernible disparities in the development of professional education compared with urban areas. This research aims to integrate a digital program based on artificial intelligence to enhance the professional education of rural youth under the influence of globalisation and digitization. The study involved 44 students from Yangjiagou High School in Henan province, China. Simultaneously, the DigComp 2.0 assessment scale was employed to measure the dynamics of digital competencies, and a scale of general academic self‐efficacy was used to examine respondents' self‐efficacy. The analysis results indicate a positive impact of the program on students' digital skills and academic self‐efficacy. Mean values significantly increased, and the results of the two‐sample F‐test for variance confirm significant differences between pre‐ and post‐program outcomes. This study holds significant practical implications, suggesting that the implementation of an artificial intelligence‐based digital program contributes to the improvement of students' digital skills and academic self‐efficacy.
CryoEM and crystal structure analyses reveal the indirect role played by Trp89 in glutamate dehydrogenase enzymatic reactions
Authors: Wakabayashi Taiki , Matsui Yuka , Nakasako Masayoshi
Published: February 2025

Glutamate dehydrogenase from Thermococcus profundus is a homo‐hexameric enzyme that catalyzes the reversible deamination of glutamate to 2‐oxoglutarate in the presence of a cofactor. In each subunit, a large active‐site cleft is formed between the two functional domains, one of which displays motion to open and close the cleft. Trp89 in the cleft displays two sidechain conformers in the open cleft and a single conformer in the closed cleft. To reveal the role of the Trp89 sidechain in the domain motion, we mutated Trp89 to phenylalanine. Despite the Trp89 sidechain being located away from the reaction center, the catalytic constant decreased to 1/38‐fold of that of the wild‐type without a fatal reduction of the affinities to the cofactor and ligand molecules. To understand the molecular mechanism underlying this reduction, we determined the crystal structure in the unliganded state and the metastable conformations appearing in the steady stage of the reaction using cryo‐electron microscopy (cryoEM). The four identified metastable conformations were similar to the three conformations observed in the wild‐type, but their populations were different from those of the wild‐type. In addition, a conformation with a completely closed active‐site cleft necessary for the reaction to proceed was quite rare. The crystal structure and the four metastable conformations suggested that the reduction in the catalytic constant could be attributed to changes in the interactions between Gln13 and the 89th side chains, preventing the closing domain motion.
Geopolitical risk, uncertainty, real options, and corporate social responsibility
Authors: Chowdhury Md Shahedur R. , Koussis Nicos , Makrominas Michalis , Trigeorgis Lenos
Published: February 2025

Motivated by intensified interest in corporate social responsibility (CSR) and with the backdrop of rising geopolitical risk (GPR), we examine the impact of news‐based GPR on CSR activities among US public firms between 1995 and 2019. In line with real options theory, we confirm a negative relationship between GPR and CSR, that the effect is more pronounced for more irreversible investments, and it is channeled through lower profitability, reduced cash flow and asymmetric information. We further assess the differential impact across resource and financial constraints, political regimes, multinational operations, pre‐existing levels of CSR, industry membership, and over time.
Decision Making on Caries Management in Children and Adolescents Among Thai Dentists
Authors: Ramayasinpong Kanyanan , Nakornchai Siriruk , Jirarattanasopha Varangkanar
Published: February 2025

Background

The International Caries Classification and Management System (ICCMS) advocates for nonsurgical approaches in early carious lesions and minimally invasive restorations in advanced cases.

Aim

This study investigated Thai dentists' adherence to ICCMS guidelines for managing caries in children and adolescents and explored factors influencing their decisions.

Design

A web‐based questionnaire collected demographic information and routine treatment preferences for various stages of carious lesions from participants. Descriptive statistics and regression analyses were employed to examine relationships between management strategies and demographics.

Results

A total of 442 dentists participated. Their agreement with ICCMS guidelines for occlusal caries ICDAS 2, 3, and 4 in primary dentition was 39.6%, 53.9%, and 42.5%, respectively, and in permanent dentition was 34.4%, 46.8%, and 39.6%, respectively. The agreement rate with ICCMS guidelines for approximal caries RA1, RA2, RA3, and RB4 in primary dentition was 69.6%, 78.0%, 12.4%, and 99.5%, respectively, and in permanent dentition was 70.8%, 68.3%, 19.0%, and 97.7%, respectively. Factors associated with restorative treatment decisions included years since graduation, postgraduate education, and practice type.

Conclusions

Participants did not comply well with ICCMS recommendations for occlusal caries, some employed destructive techniques instead of noninvasive approaches. However, most participants followed ICCMS guidelines for approximal caries, except for RA3 stage.
Insights from the fructose‐derived product glucoselysine: Revisiting the polyol pathway in diabetic complications
Authors: Yamaguchi Hiroko , Nagai Ryoji
Published: February 2025

Advanced glycation end‐products (AGEs) have been extensively studied because of their close association with the onset and progression of diabetic complications. However, owing to their formation through diverse metabolic pathways, AGEs often reflect a wide range of pathological conditions rather than being specific to diabetic complications. Consequently, identifying an AGE that directly correlates only with diabetic complications remains a challenge. Chronic hyperglycemia not only saturates the glycolytic pathway but also upregulates the polyol pathway, leading to the excessive production of fructose, a highly reactive reducing sugar. Although it has long been understood that fructose‐derived AGEs contribute to diabetic complications, their chemical structures remain unidentified. Recent breakthroughs have revealed that glucoselysine (GL) is a primary fructose‐specific AGE. Unlike other AGEs, GL is exclusively formed from fructose and not from other reducing sugars, such as glucose or galactose. This specificity provides GL with a distinct advantage in that its production pathway can be traced, making it a reliable indicator of polyol pathway activity. Furthermore, emerging evidence suggests that GL levels correlate with the progression of diabetic complications, including both micro‐ and macrovascular complications, making it a promising biomarker. GL's potential extends beyond diagnostics, as it may serve as a therapeutic target for managing complications associated with prolonged hyperglycemia and enhanced of polyol pathway. This review focuses on the enhanced polyol pathway and the formation of GL and discusses its biochemical characteristics, clinical significance, and potential as a novel diagnostic marker and therapeutic target in diabetic care.
The costs and healing rates of minor injuries in neonatal reef sharks
Authors: Debaere Shamil F. , Weideli Ornella C. , Daly Ryan , Milanesi Elena M. C. , Trujillo José E. , Bouyoucos Ian A. , Mourier Johann , Chin Andrew , Planes Serge , De Boeck Gudrun , Rummer Jodie L.
Published: February 2025

Elasmobranch fishes (i.e., sharks, skates, and rays) exhibit remarkable wound‐healing capabilities and consistently maintain a high capacity for tissue regeneration throughout their lives. This high capacity for wound healing may be particularly important for neonatal elasmobranchs that are still developing their immune system. However, little is known about the costs associated with wound healing and the potential influence of environmental variables or life history. In this study, we explore (1) the impact of minor, external injuries on the growth and body condition of neonatal blacktip reef (Carcharhinus melanopterus) and sicklefin lemon (Negaprion acutidens) sharks using a long‐term fisheries‐independent dataset from Moorea, French Polynesia, (2) the influence of ambient temperature on healing rates in neonatal blacktip reef sharks at two experimental temperatures (25°C and 29°C), and (3) variations in umbilical wound‐healing rates between blacktip reef and sicklefin lemon sharks using an additional long‐term dataset from St. Joseph Atoll, Seychelles. We found no impact of minor, external injuries on growth and body condition in neonatal blacktip reef and sicklefin lemon sharks, accelerated umbilical wound healing in neonatal blacktip reef sharks exposed to elevated ambient temperatures, and distinct umbilical wound‐healing rates between neonatal blacktip reef and sicklefin lemon sharks. Enhancing our understanding of sharks' healing capabilities and the influence of environmental factors on this process is crucial for informing handling practices aimed at improving post‐release survival rates of captured sharks under current and future oceanic conditions.
Emerging Roles for MFG‐E8 in Synapse Elimination
Authors: Aviani Marisa G. , Menard Fred
Published: February 2025

Synapse elimination is an essential process in the healthy nervous system and is dysregulated in many neuropathologies. Yet, the underlying molecular mechanisms and under what conditions they occur remain unclear. MFG‐E8 is a secreted glycoprotein well known to act as an opsonin, tagging stressed and dying cells for engulfment by phagocytes. Opsonization of cells and debris by MFG‐E8 for microglial phagocytosis in the CNS is well established, and its role in astrocytic phagocytosis, and trogocytosis‐like engulfment of synapses is beginning to be explored. However, MFG‐E8's function in other tissues is highly diverse, and evidence suggests that its role in the nervous system and on synapse elimination in particular may be more complex and varied than opsonization. In this review, we outline the documented direct and indirect effects of MFG‐E8 on synapse elimination, while also proposing potential roles to be explored further, in particular, cytoskeletal reorganization of neurites and glia leading to synapse elimination by various mechanisms. Finally, we demonstrate the need for several open questions to be answered—chiefly, under what conditions might MFG‐E8‐mediated synapse elimination occur in favor of other mechanisms, and when might its activity be dysregulated, increasing unwanted synapse elimination and neurotoxicity?

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Maternal cardiovascular dynamics in twin pregnancies complicated by twin‐to‐twin transfusion syndrome
Authors: Kotaki Hikari , Tachihara Mayu , Kamiya Mio , Shimabukuro Makiko , Sakuma Junya , Takano Mayumi , Nagasaki Sumito , Ohara Hiroshi , Nakata Masahiko
Published: February 2025

Aim

Twin pregnancies affect maternal circulation by increasing the circulating blood volume and enlarging the uterus due to excess amniotic fluid. Nevertheless, how twin‐to‐twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) affects maternal circulation remains unclear. Our aim was to examine maternal circulation changes at TTTS onset.

Methods

This cohort study was conducted at the Toho University Omori Medical Center from October 2022 to September 2023. Patients were divided into three groups, singleton pregnancy (singleton), uncomplicated monochorionic diamniotic (MD) twin pregnancy (nMD), and TTTS groups. We prospectively collected echocardiographic data to evaluate the left ventricular function, left ventricular contractility, diastolic performance, and inferior vena cava diameter.

Results

Thirty‐one, 17, and 18 patients were assigned to the singleton, nMD, and TTTS groups, respectively. The left ventricular end‐systolic volume (ESV) was significantly lower in the TTTS group than in the nMD group [ESV: 23.9 ± 9.2 mL vs. 13.3 ± 8.4 mL]. The left ventricular end‐diastolic volume (EDV) was no significant difference, but a decreasing trend in the TTTS group than in the nMD group. The left ventricular ejection fraction was significantly lower in the nMD group than in the TTTS group [72.2 ± 6.4% vs. 80.1 ± 5.9%]. The heart rate was significantly higher in the TTTS group than in the other two groups. Cardiac output was similar among the groups.

Conclusions

MD twin pregnancy with TTTS may decrease circulating blood volumes. Maternal cardiac function may be adapted to compensate for cardiac output in patients with TTTS.
Embodied Cognition and the Structure of Personality: An Exploratory Study of Longitudinal Pathways From Early Psychomotor Function
Authors: Tsomokos Dimitris I.
Published: February 2025

Objective

To explore the developmental pathways linking infant psychomotor function with personality in late adolescence through cognitive, social, and self‐regulation skills. The broader research question, seen through the lens of embodied cognition, is whether cognition and personality in youth develop from basic sensorimotor and communicative systems in infancy.

Method

The sample included 9202 participants from a representative UK birth cohort. A structural equation model examined the prospective associations between motor and communicative functions at age 9 months, cognition, self‐regulation, and prosociality at 5 years, and the five‐factor model of personality at 17 years. The associations between psychomotor function and the meta‐traits of stability and plasticity were also explored.

Results

Even after controlling for confounders and correcting for multiple paths, there was robust evidence that psychomotor development significantly predicts personality structure, with indirect pathways mediated by self‐regulation skills and general or social cognitive skills in middle childhood. While infant communicative function was significantly associated with both meta‐traits, gross motor function was significantly associated with plasticity but not stability.

Conclusions

Early psychomotor function may have long‐term effects on personality, mediated by cognitive, social, and self‐regulation skills. This finding can inform the development of socio‐educational interventions and tailored curricula in early childhood education.
Novel psychotherapies for insomnia
Authors: Angelillo Marie , Lancee Jaap , Hertenstein Elisabeth
Published: February 2025

Insomnia disorder, characterized by a complaint of reduced sleep quality or quantity and associated daytime impairment, is highly prevalent and associated with reduced quality of life and productivity. Cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT‐I) is the current first‐line treatment for chronic insomnia disorder. Here, we outline our perspective for the future optimization of psychotherapeutic treatment for insomnia. We identified the following areas as the most promising: first, optimizing efficacy of the CBT‐I protocol; second, developing diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for non‐responders and partial responders; and third, advancing widespread implementation of psychotherapy for insomnia. More specifically, we outline how the current CBT‐I protocol could be optimized through an improved understanding of treatment mechanisms, and discuss the potential of adaptive treatment strategies. Another promising approach for improving the current CBT‐I protocol is using add‐ons such as physical exercise or circadian‐based interventions. Both may be promising in certain subgroups of patients with insomnia. In terms of non‐response, we identify acceptance and commitment therapy for insomnia (ACT‐I) as a promising treatment for non‐responders to CBT‐I. ACT‐I, however, still needs to be evaluated in actual non‐responders to CBT‐I. Implementing CBT‐I in clinical practice is still one of the major challenges at hand. We outline how brief treatment, targeted treatment for challenging patient groups, and digital treatment may help improve implementation. For a future research agenda, we suggest that further research into treatment mechanisms, randomized–controlled trials in non‐responders to CBT‐I, and a focus on implementation science have a potential to bring the field forward.