bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Correlating Deep Learning-Based Automated Reference Kidney Histomorphometry with Patient Demographics and Creatinine
Authors: Ginley Brandon , Lucarelli Nicholas , Zee Jarcy , Jain Sanjay , Han Seung Sook , Rodrigues Luis , Ozrazgat-Baslanti Tezcan , Wong Michelle L. , Nadkarni Girish , Jen Kuang-Yu , Sarder Pinaki
Published: May 2023

Background

Reference histomorphometric data of healthy human kidneys are largely lacking due to laborious quantitation requirements. Correlating histomorphometric features with clinical parameters through machine learning approaches can provide valuable information about natural population variance. To this end, we leveraged deep learning, computational image analysis, and feature analysis to investigate the relationship of histomorphometry with patient age, sex, and serum creatinine (SCr) in a multinational set of reference kidney tissue sections.

Methods

A panoptic segmentation neural network was developed and used to segment viable and sclerotic glomeruli, cortical and medullary interstitia, tubules, and arteries/arterioles in the digitized images of 79 periodic acid-Schiff-stained human nephrectomy sections showing minimal pathologic changes. Simple morphometrics (e.g., area, radius, density) were quantified from the segmented classes. Regression analysis aided in determining the relationship of histomorphometric parameters with age, sex, and SCr.

Results

Our deep-learning model achieved high segmentation performance for all test compartments. The size and density of nephrons and arteries/arterioles varied significantly among healthy humans, with potentially large differences between geographically diverse patients. Nephron size was significantly dependent on SCr. Slight, albeit significant, differences in renal vasculature were observed between sexes. Glomerulosclerosis percentage increased, and cortical density of arteries/arterioles decreased, as a function of age.

Conclusions

Using deep learning, we automated precise measurements of kidney histomorphometric features. In the reference kidney tissue, several histomorphometric features demonstrated significant correlation to patient demographics and SCr. Deep learning tools can increase the efficiency and rigor of histomorphometric analysis.

Significance statement

Although the importance of kidney morphometry is well explored in disease contexts, the definition of variance in reference tissue is not. Advancements in digital and computational pathology have rendered quantitative analysis of unprecedented tissue volumes via the single press of a button. The authors leverage the unique benefits of panoptic segmentation to perform the largest ever quantitation of reference kidney morphometry. Regression analysis identified several kidney morphometric features that varied significantly with patient age and sex, and the results suggested that the set size of nephrons might depend more intricately on creatinine than previously thought.
Transcriptional profiling of mucus production and modification in rhesus macaque endocervical cells under hormonal regulation
Authors: Rapp Katrina , Wei Shuhao , Roberts Mackenzie , Yao Shan , Fei Suzanne S. , Gao Lina , Ray Karina , Wang Alexander , Godiah Rachelle , Han Leo
Published: May 2023

Objective

Endocervical mucus production is a key regulator of fertility throughout the menstrual cycle. With cycle-dependent variability in mucus quality and quantity, cervical mucus can either facilitate or block sperm ascension into the upper female reproductive tract. This study seeks to identify genes involved in the hormonal regulation of mucus production, modification, and regulation through profiling the transcriptome of endocervical cells from the non-human primate, the Rhesus Macaque (Macaca mulatta).

Design

Experimental.

Setting

Translational science laboratory.

Intervention

We treated differentiated primary endocervical cultures with estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) to mimic peri-ovulatory and luteal-phase hormonal changes. Using RNA-sequencing, we identified differential expression of gene pathways and mucus producing and modifying genes in cells treated with E2 compared to hormone-free conditions and E2 compared to E2-primed cells treated with P4.

Main Outcome Measures

We pursued differential gene expression analysis on RNA-sequenced cells. Sequence validation was done using qPCR.

Results

Our study identified 158 genes that show significant differential expression in E2-only conditions compared to hormone-free control, and 250 genes that show significant differential expression in P4-treated conditions compared to E2-only conditions. From this list, we found hormone-induced changes in transcriptional profiles for genes across several classes of mucus production, including ion channels and enzymes involved in post-translational mucin modification that have not previously been described as hormonally regulated.

Conclusion

Our study is the first to use anin vitroculture system to create an epithelial-cell specific transcriptome of the endocervix. As a result, our study identifies new genes and pathways that are altered by sex-steroids in cervical mucus production.
A chemo-mechanical model of endoderm movements driving elongation of the amniote hindgut
Authors: Oikonomou Panagiotis , Cirne Helena C. , Nerurkar Nandan L.
Published: May 2023

While mechanical and biochemical descriptions of development are each essential, integration of upstream morphogenic cues with downstream tissue mechanics remains understudied in many contexts during vertebrate morphogenesis. A posterior gradient of Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF) ligands generates a contractile force gradient in the definitive endoderm, driving collective cell movements to form the hindgut. Here, we developed a two-dimensional chemo-mechanical model to investigate how mechanical properties of the endoderm and transport properties of FGF coordinately regulate this process. We began by formulating a 2-D reaction-diffusion-advection model that describes the formation of an FGF protein gradient due to posterior displacement of cells transcribing unstableFgf8mRNA during axis elongation, coupled with translation, diffusion, and degradation of FGF protein. This was used together with experimental measurements of FGF activity in the chick endoderm to inform a continuum model of definitive endoderm as an active viscous fluid that generates contractile stresses in proportion to FGF concentration. The model replicated key aspects of hindgut morphogenesis, confirms that heterogeneous - but isotropic - contraction is sufficient to generate large anisotropic cell movements, and provides new insight into how chemomechanical coupling across the mesoderm and endoderm coordinates hindgut elongation with outgrowth of the tailbud.

Graphical Abstract

Summary statement

This study employs a mathematical model to investigate the interplay between morphogen gradients and tissue mechanics in regulating the collective cell movements that drive hindgut morphogenesis in the chick embryo.
Multicore fiber optic imaging reveals that astrocyte calcium activity in the cerebral cortex is modulated by internal motivational state
Authors: Gau Yung-Tian A. , Hsu Eric , Cha Jaepyeong , Pak Rebecca W. , Looger Loren L. , Kang Jin U. , Bergles Dwight E.
Published: May 2023

Astrocytes are a direct target of neuromodulators and can influence neuronal activity on broad spatial and temporal scales through their close proximity to synapses. However, our knowledge about how astrocytes are functionally recruited during different animal behaviors and their diverse effects on the CNS remains limited. To enable measurement of astrocyte activity patternsin vivoduring normative behaviors, we developed a high-resolution, long working distance, multi-core fiber optic imaging platform that allows visualization of cortical astrocyte calcium transients through a cranial window in freely moving mice. Using this platform, we defined the spatiotemporal dynamics of astrocytes during diverse behaviors, ranging from circadian fluctuations to novelty exploration, showing that astrocyte activity patterns are more variable and less synchronous than apparent in head-immobilized imaging conditions. Although the activity of astrocytes in visual cortex was highly synchronized during quiescence to arousal transitions, individual astrocytes often exhibited distinct thresholds and activity patterns during explorative behaviors, in accordance with their molecular diversity, allowing temporal sequencing across the astrocyte network. Imaging astrocyte activity during self-initiated behaviors revealed that noradrenergic and cholinergic systems act synergistically to recruit astrocytes during state transitions associated with arousal and attention, which was profoundly modulated by internal state. The distinct activity patterns exhibited by astrocytes in the cerebral cortex may provide a means to vary their neuromodulatory influence in response to different behaviors and internal states.
Living cell mTORC1 inhibition reporter mTIR reveals nutrient-sensing targets of histone deacetylase inhibitor
Authors: Li Canrong , Ouyang Yingyi , Lu Chuxin , Chen Fengzhi , Yi Yuguo , Peng Shujun , Wang Yifan , Chen Xinyu , Yan Xiao , Li Shuiming , Feng Lin , Xie Xiaoduo
Published: May 2023

Mammalian or mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) is a clinically effective therapeutic target for diseases such as cancer, diabetes, aging, and neurodegeneration, yet an efficient tool to monitor mTORC1 inhibition in living cells or tissues is still lacking. Here we devised a genetically encoded mTORC1 inhibition reporter termed mTIR that exhibits a highly contrasted fluorescence puncta pattern in response to mTORC1 inhibition. mTIR specifically senses physiological, pharmacological and genetic inhibition of mTORC1 signaling in living cells and tissues. Importantly, mTIR can be applied as an powerful tool for imaging-based visual screening of mTORC1 inhibitors. By this method, we identified histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) that selectively inhibit mTORC1 by inducing nutrient-sensing gene expression. Thus, mTIR is a unique living cell reporter efficiently detecting the inhibition of mTORC1 activity, and the HDACi Panobinostat transcriptionally target mTORC1 signaling via amino acids sensing.
Structural insights into the substrate specificity and activity of a novel mannose 2-epimerase from Runella slithyformis
Authors: Wang Hang , Sun Xiaomei , Saburi Wataru , Hashiguchi Saki , Yu Jian , Ose Toyoyuki , Mori Haruhide , Yao Min
Published: May 2023

Mannose 2-epimerase (ME), a member of the acylglucosamine 2-epimerase (AGE) superfamily that catalyzes epimerization of D-mannose and D-glucose, has recently been characterized to have potential for D-mannose production. However, the substrate-recognition and catalytic mechanism of ME remains unknown. In this study, structures of Runella slithyformis ME (RsME) and its D254A mutant [RsME(D254A)] were determined in their apo forms and as intermediate-analog complexes [RsME–D-glucitol and RsME(D254A)–D-glucitol]. RsME possesses the (α/α)6-barrel of the AGE superfamily members but has a unique pocket-covering long loop (loopα7–α8). The RsME–D-glucitol structure showed that loopα7–α8 moves towards D-glucitol and closes the active pocket. Trp251 and Asp254 in loopα7–α8 are only conserved in MEs and interact with D-glucitol. Kinetic analyses of the mutants confirmed the importance of these residues for RsME activity. Moreover, the structures of RsME(D254A) and RsME(D254A)–D-glucitol revealed that Asp254 is vital for binding the ligand in a correct conformation and for active-pocket closure. Docking calculations and structural comparison with other 2-epimerases show that the longer loopα7–α8 in RsME causes steric hindrance upon binding to disaccharides. A detailed substrate-recognition and catalytic mechanism for monosaccharide-specific epimerization in RsME has been proposed.
Evaluating the use of videoconferencing for handover and MDT meetings within an intensive support team
Authors: Mehmet Elizabeth Megan , Lines Jason
Published: May 2023

Purpose

This study aims to evaluate the use of videoconferencing when conducting multi-disciplinary team (MDT) and handover meetings within an NHS Adult Learning Disabilities Intensive Support Team (IST). The IST have been conducting MDT and handover meetings “virtually” since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, in line with government guidance. It is pertinent to evaluate the effectiveness of using videoconferencing, as the move to flexible, remote working is detailed within the NHS Long Term Plan.

Design/methodology/approach

Participants were members of the IST. A mixed methods approach using an online questionnaire collected participant’s views relating to the use of videoconferencing when conducting MDT and handover meetings, in comparison to previous face-to-face meetings. The questionnaire considered five key areas: accessibility, environment and communication, organisation, continuation of care and data protection and confidentiality. Results were collated and analysed.

Findings

Improvements were reported relating to accessibility, as the virtual format allowed for easier attendance, provided greater flexibility in attending and inviting key stakeholders. A reduced sense of team connectedness was reported, related to the virtual environment. The majority of participants reported that they wish to continue to have the option to attend meetings virtually in future.

Originality/value

There are no previous papers evaluating the use of videoconferencing within ISTs during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study suggests that the use of videoconferencing to conduct MDT and handover meetings is effective within the IST and highlights points for consideration moving forward.
Comparing the effects of consumers' perceptions of companies' corporate social responsibility initiatives in emerging and developed markets
Authors: Curras-Perez Rafael , Alvarado-Herrera Alejandro , Vera-Martínez Jorge
Published: May 2023

Purpose

This work proposes a framework that attempts to explain the connection between the dimensions of consumer perceived corporate social responsibility (social, environmental, economic), firm trustworthiness and firm reputation, using market level of development as a moderating factor.

Design/methodology/approach

Mexico and Spain were selected as the emerging and developed markets; a cross-cultural study with 1173 consumers (521 from Mexico and 652 from Spain) was undertaken. In each country, participants evaluated one of two well-known companies (one making consumer products and one providing retail services). The hypotheses were tested through SEM.

Findings

The results showed that, in the emerging market, perceived environmental actions did not influence consumers' perceptions and, in the developed market, perceived social actions had no effect.

Originality/value

The study identifies two mechanisms through which consumers' perceptions of a company's CSR influence company reputation, offering evidence that the level of development of a country can have a moderating effect on how the mechanisms operate.
Exploring the relationship between employer branding and talent retention: the mediation effect of employee engagement
Authors: Chopra Avinash , Sahoo Chandan Kumar , Patel Gokulananda
Published: May 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the relationship between employer branding (EB) and talent retention. The paper also analyses the mediating role of employee engagement in the association between EB and talent retention.

Design/methodology/approach

Partial least square structural equation modelling has been applied to carry out the analysis. The findings are based on the perceptions of IT professionals (n = 397) to assess the interrelationship between EB, employee engagement and talent retention.

Findings

The paper gives empirical insights on how employee engagement helps promote employer value offerings to the employee, which helps in the successful retention of employees. The results indicate that employee engagement partially mediates the association between EB and talent retention.

Practical implications

This study provides a clear direction to a diversity of practitioners working in IT firms. Building and maintaining sympathetic and emotional connections with co-workers, team leaders and higher managerial employees can help increase employee engagement. The findings can help business planners and managers focus their efforts on employer brand elements for successfully involving their workforce.

Originality/value

Authors believe this study is one of its kind to test the association between EB and talent retention mediated by the engagement level of employees. The present research study will help future academia delve into how EB can significantly impact the engagement and retention of existing employees.
How features and affordances of a metaverse portal engage users? Evidence from exergames
Authors: Zuo Meiyun , Shen Yuanyanhang
Published: May 2023

Purpose

Building on the “needs–affordances–features” framework, the authors explored how users are motivated by their needs to actualize the feature-enabled affordances and engage in the metaverse.

Design/methodology/approach

The data were collected through semi-structured and in-depth interviews with 35 participants. The authors applied thematic analysis to summarize the key features and affordances, supplemented by frequency analysis to explore the significance of the features. Sentiment analysis was employed to explicate the relationship between user affordance sentiments and engagement.

Findings

The key features of the metaverse portal components—hardware, software and content—afford user behaviors. The features of mechanics and physics engines are important for user engagement in the metaverse. The affordances are related to needs satisfaction and user engagement. Mental immersion was frequently mentioned by the participants, implying that it is significant to afford mental immersion in the metaverse.

Practical implications

The findings of the study provide a rich understanding for practitioners in the metaverse on how to use the features to afford user behaviors and engage them. The authors identified the key elements of user engagement that can be used to guide metaverse game designers.

Originality/value

This study provides a rich and systematic understanding of features, affordances, needs satisfaction and engagement in the metaverse. Going beyond a fragmented view, the findings conclude a research framework that weaves features, affordances, needs and engagement together.
Network dynamics and action space
Authors: Gadde Lars-Erik , Håkansson Håkan
Published: May 2023

Purpose

In today’s business settings, most firms strive to closely integrate their resources and activities with those of their business partners. However, these linkages tend to create lock-in effects when changes are needed. In such situations, firms need to generate new space for action. The purpose of this paper is twofold: analysis of potential action spaces for restructuring; and examination of how action spaces can be exploited and the consequences accompanying this implementation.

Design/methodology/approach

Network dynamics originate from changes in the network interdependencies. This paper is focused on the role of the three dual connections – actors–activities, actors–resources and activities–resources, identified as network vectors. In the framing of the study, these network vectors are combined with managerial action expressed in terms of networking and network outcome. This framework is then used for the analysis of major restructuring of the car industries in the USA and Europe at the end of the 1900s.

Findings

This study shows that the restructuring of the car industry can be explained by modifications in the three network vectors. Managerial action through changes of the vector features generated new action space contributing to the transition of the automotive network. The key to successful exploitation of action space was interaction – with individual business partners, in triadic constellations, as well as on the network level.

Originality/value

This paper presents a new view of network dynamics by relying on the three network vectors. These concepts were developed in the early 1990s. This far, however, they have been used only to a limited extent.
Tout casse, tout passe, tout lasse; et tout se remplace: resurrecting declining brands by leveraging brand-pastness
Authors: Strutton David , Schibik Aaron
Published: May 2023

Purpose

The past is important for various known and unknown reasons. This paper aims to reveal and justify unacknowledged reasons why, when and how managers should consider leveraging the pasts of previously successful but currently declining brands to restore their more desirable historical market positions.

Design/methodology/approach

This conceptual paper combines marketing and branding theory with historical branding examples, anecdotes and inductive inferences to develop and justify brand-pastness as a theoretically-grounded and managerially-actionable repositioning concept that could be applied to resurrect declining brands.

Findings

The emergent historically-grounded brand-pastness framework generates innovative insights that could be applied in the future. These insights explain when, why and how brand managers could apply brand-pastness to resurrect declining brands. The framework also facilitates the development of a brand-pastness-based research agenda. The agenda is driven by questions structured to address the nature, scope and potential applications of brand-pastness as a new concept and useful repositioning tool.

Research limitations/implications

This paper’s recommendations are limited by their conceptual and inductive origins. However, a research agenda is developed to guide and structure future empirical investigations of the branding antecedents to and consequences of a prospective brand-pastness construct.

Originality/value

This paper introduces, conceptualizes and justifies the potential value of a historically-grounded concept called brand-pastness. The concept may prove beneficial when marketing managers use brand-pastness to reposition and resurrect declining brands by re-instilling targeted consumers’ historical perceptions of brands’ past superiority.
Youth participation in environmental sustainability: insights from the Lisbon participatory budget
Authors: Falanga Roberto
Published: May 2023

Purpose

This article poses the question on whether and how youth participation in environmental sustainability makes a difference within participatory budgets (PBs). This is a question worth asking because PBs have pursued, from the very beginning, goals of social sustainability through the inclusion of social groups that struggle to make their voices heard, as in the case of the youth. As young people show an increasing capacity to self-organise around environmental issues, a knowledge gap emerges as to the contribution that youth can give to environmental sustainability within PBs.

Design/methodology/approach

The 2021 edition of the Lisbon PB (2021PB) has been analysed through desk research – document analysis using the city council's website as the main source of information, and fieldwork – an organisation of one two-day workshop with 20 young students through a partnership between the local authority and the Institute of Social Sciences at the University of Lisbon. Methods were applied to retrieve findings on youth participation in environmental sustainability in the 2021PB.

Findings

The youth show a relative increase of participation in the 2021PB and emerge as a key target group in funded proposals. Convergence with student proposals suggest shared awareness on the role of youth in the pursuit of social sustainability. The success of health-related proposals confirms ownership of (young) citizens over the concept of environmental sustainability, which further relies on the various scopes of funded proposals at both city and neighbourhood levels. In the workshop, students did not stick to specific themes and struggled to connect present criticalities and future imaginaries.

Research limitations/implications

Focus on one case study necessarily limits the generalisation of findings. Nevertheless, the 2021PB illuminates pathways of research on youth participation in environmental sustainability through participatory budgeting that are worth clearing in the future, such as the role of digital participation, dynamics induced by extreme events as the COVID-19 pandemic and PBs' capacity to intercept environmental activism.

Practical implications

Decision-makers and practitioners can take advantage of findings to acknowledge the potential of youth participation in PBs to reframe the take of environmental sustainability.

Social implications

The article provides new inputs for future developments in the operationalisation of social and environmental sustainability through participatory budgeting.

Originality/value

This article examines original data retrieved from the 2021PB. Data analysis is backed by the literature review of key democratic challenges in social and environmental sustainability within participatory budgeting.
Identifying Industry 4.0 technologies enablers for knowledge management – a scoping review
Authors: Lista Rossetti Ana Paula , Luz Tortorella Guilherme , Bouzon Marina , Gao Shang , Chan Toong Khuan
Published: May 2023

Purpose

This paper aims at identifying the main contributions of Industry 4.0 (I4.0) technologies to the enhancement of knowledge management (KM).

Design/methodology/approach

A scoping review based on two stages was carried out. In the first stage, a numerical and descriptive analysis was conducted. In the second stage, the latent content of those papers was explored through a qualitative analysis, in which papers were assessed regarding the outcome of the implementation of ten I4.0 technologies on 14 KM abilities and 6 KM processes.

Findings

Six technologies (e.g. Internet of Things (IoT), big data, cloud computing, simulation, visualisation and industrial robot) were claimed to have a significant contribution on KM, especially for creation, organisation, dissemination and application processes. Overall, results indicated that technologies can significantly contribute to KM, although the extent of such contribution varies across technologies, learning levels, KM processes and abilities.

Originality/value

Existing studies in I4.0 fall short in exploring how embodied knowledge is articulated in practice, especially regarding opportunities to use new technological alternatives in favour of knowledge and learning development. This study complements the existing literature on I4.0 by identifying which technologies can contribute to KM. Also, a framework was proposed to examine the contribution of I4.0 technologies to KM at individual, team, and organisational levels.
Accounting for cloud cover and circannual variation puts the effect of lunar phase on deer–vehicle collisions into perspective
Authors: Cerri Jacopo , Stendardi Laura , Bužan Elena , Pokorny Boštjan
Published: May 2023

Although several studies have focused on the influence of moonlight on deer–vehicle collisions, findings have been inconsistent. This may be due to neglect of the effects of cloud cover, a major impediment to moon illumination and circannual variation in both deer and human activity.

We assessed how median cloud cover interacted with the illuminated fraction of the moon in affecting daily roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) roadkill in Slovenia (Central Europe). Data included nationwide roadkill (n = 49,259), collected between 2010 and 2019 by hunters, as required by law.

Roadkill peaked under medium to high cloud cover and decreased during nights with low or extremely high cloudiness. This pattern was more pronounced on nights with a full moon. However, the effects of moon illumination and cloud cover had a lower predictive potential than circannual variation, as collisions clearly peaked in April/May, July and August/September.

Our results suggest that moonlight could influence roe deer movements through compensatory foraging. However, on nights with a full moon, collisions could also be affected by weather. On bright nights, roe deer might be less active due to increased human presence and sustained vehicular traffic. Then, with medium to high cloud cover and also rainfall, human presence in the environment may be low enough to increase deer movements, but vehicular traffic can still be intermediate, maximizing the risk of collisions. Finally, with overcast skies, widespread rainfall can reduce both traffic volume and human outdoor activity, decreasing the risk of collisions.

Moon illumination may indeed affect wildlife–vehicle collisions and roadkill, but its effects should be quantified as a function of cloud cover. Moreover, to make studies truly comparable, research about wildlife–vehicle collisions should also account for time of the year.

Policy implications. Because collisions with roe deer peak at particular periods of the year, signs should be installed seasonally. By doing so, they would warn drivers about the risk, improve drivers' awareness and increase their safety. Moreover, as collisions also increase on nights with a full moon and overcast skies, interactive warning signs that are activated by ground illumination should also be useful.
Effect of epidemic diseases on wild animal conservation
Authors: HU Bin , HAN Shuyi , HE Hongxuan
Published: May 2023

Under the background of global species extinction, the impact of epidemic diseases on wild animal protection is increasingly prominent. Here, we review and synthesize the literature on this topic, and discuss the relationship between diseases and biodiversity. Diseases usually reduce species diversity by decreasing or extinction of species populations, but also accelerate species evolution and promote species diversity. At the same time, species diversity can regulate disease outbreaks through dilution or amplification effects. The synergistic effect of human activities and global change is emphasized, which further aggravates the complex relationship between biodiversity and diseases. Finally, we emphasize the importance of active surveillance of wild animal diseases, which can protect wild animals from potential diseases, maintain population size and genetic variation, and reduce the damage of diseases to the balance of the whole ecosystem and human health. Therefore, we suggest that a background survey of wild animal populations and their pathogens should be carried out to assess the impact of potential outbreaks on the population or species level. The mechanism of dilution and amplification effect between species diversity and diseases of wild animals should be further studied to provide a theoretical basis and technical support for human intervention measures to change biodiversity. Most importantly, we should closely combine the protection of wild animals with the establishment of an active surveillance, prevention, and control system for wild animal epidemics, in an effort to achieve a win–win situation between wild animal protection and disease control.
Ultrasonic‐assisted extraction of flavonoids from Nitraria sibirica leaf using response surface methodology and their anti‐proliferative activity on 3T3‐L1 preadipocytes and antioxidant activities
Authors: Zhao Tong , Ding Yina , Sun Wenzhe , Turghun Chimengul , Han Bo
Published: May 2023

As both an edible and medicinal plant, Nitraria sibirica has been used as a natural remedy for indigestion and hypertension since ancient times in Central Asia. The ethanolic extract of N. sibirica leaves lowers blood pressure and blood lipids. We assume that these bioactivities are most likely related to the composition of flavonoids due to their dominant content. Therefore, we investigated bioactivity‐oriented extraction parameters of flavonoids from N. sibirica. In this study, the ultrasonic‐assisted extraction variables were optimized using a response surface methodology for optimal recoveries of total flavonoid content (TFC), anti‐proliferative activity on 3T3‐L1 preadipocytes and antioxidant capacities (DPPH) of N. sibirica leaf extract (NLE). The optimal extraction conditions of NLEs were as follows: ethanol concentration of 71.33%, feed‐to‐solvent ratio of 30.36 mL/g, extraction temperature of 69.48°C, extraction time of 25.27 min, extraction number of two times, the TFCs were 1.73 ± 0.01 mg RE/g d.w. (n = 4), IC50 value of preadipocytes was 259.42 ± 3.62 µg/mL (n = 4), and antioxidant capacity of 86.55 ± 3.71% (n = 4). After the purification of NLEs, the TFCs were 7.52 mg RE/g d.w., the inhibition capacity of IC50 was 143.50 µg/mL, and DPPH scavenging rate was 86.99%, which were approximately 4.34, 1.81, and 1.01 folds higher than before the purification of NLEs, respectively. Bioactive‐oriented extraction of NLEs possessed the potential lipid lowering and antioxidant activities, which hold high research value for the development of natural medicines or new functional foods to treat or prevent metabolic diseases such as obesity.
Spain: Political Developments and Data in 2022
Authors: FERNÁNDEZ‐PASARÍN ANA MAR , DELGADO IRENE , BOHIGUES ASBEL
Published: May 2023

The year 2022 was marked by the implementation of the Spanish Recovery and Resilience Plan approved by the European Commission in June 2021. Without a general election or changes in the Cabinet, only the main opposition party, the People's Party, experienced a change in leadership, when Pablo Casado resigned and was replaced by Alberto Núñez Feijóo. The political agenda was dominated by the approval of the Law on the Comprehensive Guarantee of Sexual Freedom, better known as the law of “only yes means yes,” the reform of the Criminal Code to remove the crime of sedition and reduce the penalties for embezzlement, and the change of the majority required for the renewal of the General Council of the Judiciary. In the international arena, the consequences of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the celebration of the 30th NATO Summit in Madrid were the main issues.
Systematic assessment of non‐medical use of prescription drugs using doctor‐shopping indicators: A nation‐wide, repeated cross‐sectional study
Authors: Soeiro Thomas , Pradel Vincent , Lapeyre‐Mestre Maryse , Micallef Joëlle
Published: May 2023

Aims

The aim of this study was to present the first nation‐wide, systematic, repeated assessment of doctor‐shopping (i.e. visiting multiple physicians to be prescribed the same drug) during 10 years for more than 200 psychoactive prescription drugs in the 67 million inhabitants in France.

Design

This was a nation‐wide, repeated cross‐sectional study.

Setting and Participants

Data are from the French National Health Data System in 2010, 2015 and 2019 for 214 psychoactive prescription drugs (i.e. anaesthetics, analgesics, antiepileptics, anti‐Parkinson drugs, psycholeptics, psychoanaleptics, other nervous system drugs and antihistamines for systemic use).

Measurements

The detection and quantification of doctor‐shopping relied upon an algorithm that detects overlapping prescriptions from repeated visits to different physicians. We used two doctor‐shopping indicators aggregated at population level for each drug dispensed to more than 5000 patients: (i) the quantity doctor‐shopped, expressed in defined daily doses (DDD), which measures the total quantity doctor‐shopped by the study population for a given drug; and (ii) the proportion doctor‐shopped, expressed as a percentage, which standardizes the quantity doctor‐shopped according to the use level of the drug.

Findings

The analyses included approximately 200 million dispensings to approximately 30 million patients each year. Opioids (e.g. buprenorphine, methadone, morphine, oxycodone and fentanyl), benzodiazepines and non‐benzodiazepine hypnotics (Z‐drugs) (e.g. diazepam, oxazepam, zolpidem and clonazepam) had the highest proportions doctor‐shopped during the study period. In most cases, the proportion and the quantity doctor‐shopped increased for opioids and decreased for benzodiazepines and Z‐drugs. Pregabalin had the sharpest increase in the proportion doctor‐shopped (from 0.28 to 1.40%), in parallel with a sharp increase in the quantity doctor‐shopped (+843%, from 0.7 to 6.6 DDD/100 000 inhabitants/day). Oxycodone had the sharpest increase in the quantity doctor‐shopped (+1000%, from 0.1 to 1.1 DDD/100 000 inhabitants/day), in parallel with a sharp increase in the proportion doctor‐shopped (from 0.71 to 1.41%). Detailed results for all drugs during the study period can be explored interactively at: https://soeiro.gitlab.io/megadose/.

Conclusions

In France, doctor‐shopping occurs for many drugs from many pharmacological classes, and mainly involves opioid maintenance drugs, some opioids analgesics, some benzodiazepines and Z‐drugs and pregabalin.
Ralph Bunche and the Colour of Sovereignty: Exploring the Eurocentrism of the United Nations' First Peacekeeper
Authors: Goetze Catherine
Published: May 2023

Ralph Bunche, the first African American to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, was a committed anti‐imperialist, a fighter against racism and for civil rights. And yet, his action and appearance as special representative of the United Nations Secretary‐General in the Congo, made him appear as hostile to African independence and as a (neo‐colonial) “blanc,” questioning the sincerity of his anti‐imperialism as well as his anti‐racism. The article argues that Bunche's dilemma is paradigmatic for the paradox that exists between the United Nations' (UN) declared anti‐racism and anti‐imperialism, on the one hand, and its politics of peacekeeping and peacebuilding which are effectively a quasi‐imperial politics of world order, on the other. The article dissects Ralph Bunche's writing and thinking on the international system, Africa and the Congo in order to understand how individual anti‐racist commitment can co‐exist, or even be co‐constitutive of, systemic racism of international politics and law. Apart from providing important insights into the thought of a central founding figure of UN peacekeeping and peacebuilding, the article contributes, hence, to ongoing discussions on Eurocentrism and race in international politics.
Conserving the Councillor: A Case for Widespread Local Officeholding
Authors: McDonnell Joshua
Published: May 2023

Guided by participatory and deliberative conceptions of democracy, local governments have embraced the need for increased citizen participation in decision‐making. Yet, at the same time, a systematic reduction in the number of councillor seats has seen a precipitous decline in opportunities to participate in the council chamber. With specific reference to the Australian case, this paper seeks to explain this incongruity, suggesting that the answer lies in the wide adoption of democratic theorists' narrow conceptualisation of the role of the councillor. Viewed solely as representatives, whether in the corporate, mirror, or delegate mode, councillors are valued only insofar as they prove instrumental to an efficient and responsive system of governance. Their participation, itself, is not intrinsically valued. Drawing on novel and extant empirical evidence to demonstrate the participatory virtues of officeholding, this paper argues that when due regard is afforded to councillors' participatory role, a normative case for widespread — and more inclusive — officeholding emerges.
Comparison of clinical outcomes with cangrelor plus aspirin versus oral dual antiplatelet therapy in patients supported with venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation
Authors: Cohan Dana , Uricchio Marissa N. , Konopka Chelsea I. , Montepara Courtney A. , Verlinden Nathan J.
Published: May 2023

Background

Patients with refractory cardiogenic shock from an acute myocardial infarction may receive percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and require the use of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA–ECMO). The purpose of this study was to compare bleeding and thrombotic events in patients treated with cangrelor plus aspirin versus oral dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) while supported with VA–ECMO.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective review of patients who received PCI, were supported with VA–ECMO, and were treated with either cangrelor plus aspirin or oral DAPT from February 2016 through May 2021 at Allegheny General Hospital. The primary objective was the incidence of major bleeding, defined as Bleeding Academic Research Consortium (BARC) type 3 or greater. The incidence of thrombotic events was a secondary objective.

Results

Thirty‐seven patients were included, 19 in the cangrelor plus aspirin group, and 18 in the oral DAPT group. All the patients in the cangrelor group received a dose of 0.75 mcg/kg/min. Major bleeding occurred in 7 patients (36.8%) in the cangrelor group compared to 7 patients (38.9%) in the oral DAPT group (p = 0.90). No patient developed stent thrombosis. Two patients (10.5%) in the cangrelor group had a thrombotic event versus 3 patients (16.7%) in the oral DAPT group (p = 0.66).

Conclusions

Bleeding and thrombotic events were comparable between patients receiving cangrelor plus aspirin versus oral DAPT while on VA–ECMO.
Gahvora cradling in Tajikistan: Cultural practices and associations with motor development
Authors: Karasik Lana B. , Adolph Karen E. , Fernandes Sara N. , Robinson Scott R. , Tamis‐LeMonda Catherine S.
Published: May 2023

In Tajikistan, infants are bound supine in a “gahvora” cradle that severely restricts movement. Does cradling affect motor development and body growth? In three studies (2013–2018), we investigated associations between time in the gahvora (within days and across age) and motor skills and flattened head dimensions in 8–24‐month‐old Tajik infants (N = 269, 133 girls, 136 boys)) and 4.3–5.1‐year‐old children (N = 91, 53 girls, 38 boys). Infants had later motor onset ages relative to World Health Organization standards and pronounced brachycephaly; cradling predicted walk onset age and the proficiency of sitting, crawling, and walking. By 4–5 years, children's motor skills were comparable with US norms. Cultural differences in early experiences offer a unique lens onto developmental processes and equifinality in development.
Comparing wildlife habitat suitability models based on expert opinion with camera trap detections
Authors: Hurtado Cindy , Hemming Victoria , Burton Cole
Published: May 2023

Expert knowledge is used in the development of wildlife habitat suitability models (HSMs) for management and conservation decisions. However, the consistency of such models has been questioned. Focusing on 1 method for elicitation, the analytic hierarchy process, we generated expert‐based HSMs for 4 felid species: 2 forest specialists (ocelot [Leopardus pardalis] and margay [Leopardus wiedii]) and 2 habitat generalist species (Pampas cat [Leopardus colocola] and puma [Puma concolor]). Using these HSMs, species detections from camera‐trap surveys, and generalized linear models, we assessed the effect of study species and expert attributes on the correspondence between expert models and camera‐trap detections. We also examined whether aggregation of participant responses and iterative feedback improved model performance. We ran 160 HSMs and found that models for specialist species showed higher correspondence with camera‐trap detections (AUC [area under the receiver operating characteristic curve] >0.7) than those for generalists (AUC < 0.7). Model correspondence increased as participant years of experience in the study area increased, but only for the understudied generalist species, Pampas cat (β = 0.024 [SE 0.007]). No other participant attribute was associated with model correspondence. Feedback and revision of models improved model correspondence, and aggregating judgments across multiple participants improved correspondence only for specialist species. The average correspondence of aggregated judgments increased as group size increased but leveled off after 5 experts for all species. Our results suggest that correspondence between expert models and empirical surveys increases as habitat specialization increases. We encourage inclusion of participants knowledgeable of the study area and model validation for expert‐based modeling of understudied and generalist species.
Anticipating theDamnReferent: How Comprehenders Rapidly Retrieve the Speaker's Attitude When Processing Negative Expressive Adjectives
Authors: Ronderos Camilo R. , Domaneschi Filippo
Published: May 2023

Theoretical accounts of negative expressives such asdamnhave ascribed two main properties to this type of adjective, namely that they are typically speaker‐oriented, and that they can be flexible with regard to their syntactic attachment. However, it is not clear what this means during online sentence processing. For example, is it effortful for comprehenders to derive the speaker's negative attitude conveyed by an expressive adjective, or is it a rapid, automatic process? And do comprehenders understand the speaker's attitude regardless of the expressive's syntactic position? The current work provides the first evidence supporting theoretical claims by investigating the incremental processing of Italian negative expressive adjectives. In an eye‐tracking study, we show that expressive content is rapidly integrated with information about the speaker's attitude, resulting in the anticipation of an upcoming referent, regardless of the expressive's syntactic realization. We argue that comprehenders use expressives as an ostensive cue that allows for automatic retrieval of the speaker's negative attitude.
Cognitive Development as a Piece of the Language Learning Puzzle
Authors: Smalle Eleonore H. M. , Möttönen Riikka
Published: May 2023

Why do children learn language more easily than adults do? This puzzle has fascinated cognitive and language scientists for decades. In the present letter, we approach the language learning puzzle from a cognitive perspective that is inspired by evidence from the perceptual and motor learning literature. Neuroscientific studies show that two memory systems in the brain are involved in human learning: an early implicit procedural memory system and a late‐developing cognitive or declarative memory system. We argue that higher cognitive development constrains implicit statistical learning processes that are essential for learning patterns and regularities in languages, that is, the adult cognitive architecture has a cost. This is supported by experimental evidence showing that acquisition of implicit linguistic knowledge is enhanced under cognitive depletion in adults. More research is needed to test the cognitive cost hypothesis as it could partly solve the language learning puzzle.
Currency under War Communism: An example of Gresham's Law?
Authors: Matarán Cristóbal
Published: May 2023

This article covers the consequences of the Bolsheviks' coup d'état in 1917 for the Soviet monetary system. I argue that the episode illustrates Gresham's Law, as three different currencies made an appearance in the Russian economy. This monetary disorder is scarcely mentioned by Marxist authors. It was a failure that would be mitigated by the subsequent New Economic Policy, an amendment to the Bolshevist War Communism programme of nationalisation and intervention in the economy.