bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Advancements in emulsion systems for specialized infant formulas: Research process and formulation proposals for optimizing bioavailability of nutraceuticals
Authors: Zhang Liling , Hu Yang , Jiang Ling
Published: October 2024

With the rapid advancements in nutrition and dietary management, infant formulas for special medical purposes (IFSMPs) have been developed to cater to the unique nutraceutical requirements of infants with specific medical conditions or physiological features. However, there are various challenges in effectively preserving and maximizing the health benefits of the specific nutraceuticals incorporated in IFSMPs. This review provides an overview of the nutritional compositions of various IFSMPs and highlights the challenges associated with the effective supplementation of specific nutraceuticals for infants. In addition, it emphasizes the promising potential of emulsion delivery systems, which possess both encapsulation and delivery features, to significantly improve the solubility, stability, oral acceptance, and bioavailability (BA) of nutraceutical bioactives. Based on this information, this work proposes detailed strategies for designing and developing model IFSMP emulsions to enhance the BA of specially required nutraceuticals. Key areas covered include emulsion stabilization, selective release mechanisms, and effective absorption of nutraceuticals. By following these proposals, researchers and industry professionals can design and optimize emulsion‐based IFSMPs with enhanced health benefits. This review not only outlines the developmental states of IFSMP formulations but also identifies future research directions aimed at improving the physiological health benefits of IFSMPs. This effort lays the theoretical groundwork for the further development of emulsion‐type IFSMP in infant formula (IF) industry, positioning the IF industry to better meet the complex needs of infants requiring specialized nutrition.
Wentworth's ‘eye of the Court’: Sir George Radcliffe's management of the Irish parliaments of Charles I's reign.*
Authors: Brownhill Charlotte
Published: October 2024

Sir Thomas Wentworth (later earl of Strafford) has often been portrayed as an isolated figure working in Ireland, as lord deputy and then lord lieutenant, for the good of the crown. In reality, he had a tried and tested support system that developed throughout the 1620s in England and was implemented in the 1630s in Ireland. In the Irish Parliament of 1634–35, Wentworth relied heavily upon Sir George Radcliffe to generate and maintain support for governmental policy. He was an important conduit of information to Wentworth, assessing the mood of the House, acting as a controller of debate and reporting back to the lord deputy on discussions within committees. However, despite outward appearances that the Parliament of 1634–35 had been a success, the 1640 sessions of the 1640–49 Parliament were much more difficult to control in Wentworth's absence and Radcliffe struggled to maintain the government's initiative over parliament. Radcliffe's parliamentary career provides an insight into how Wentworth used his cabal to support his policies. This was fairly successful whilst Wentworth's government was strong, but, in Wentworth's absence, Radcliffe was unable to control parliament, contributing to the collapse of the regime.
Norman Gash: Political Historian
Authors: Gaunt Richard A.
Published: October 2024

This article commemorates the 40th anniversary of the publication of Lord Liverpool by Norman Gash (1912–2009). It considers Gash as a historian who both wrote about 19th‐century politics and expressed political views of his own. These views became increasingly prominent in the 1980s, during Margaret Thatcher's period of office. Thatcher's unexpected public endorsement of Lord Liverpool was reflected in Gash's open support for Thatcher's economic policies in the face of internal party critics, including those who appealed to the legacy of Benjamin Disraeli. Far from being uncomfortable about Thatcher's radicalism, as is sometimes argued, Gash used a series of newspaper interventions to accommodate Thatcherism within Conservative Party history. This drew favourable analogies between Thatcher and Liverpool, but more especially with Sir Robert Peel. Gash did not abandon academic scholarship for public commentary during the 1980s, but at no period in his life was he as willing to join in contemporary political debate as the years in which he was writing and researching Lord Liverpool.
Brassica rapa L. (Tibetan Turnip) polysaccharide improves the immune function and regulates intestinal microbiota in immunosuppressive mice
Authors: Zhang Yan , Xu Qirui , Liu Yong , Liu Ying , Luo Jie , Liu Jia , Yu Siyu
Published: October 2024

In this paper, active polysaccharides were extracted from Brassica rapa L. polysaccharide (BRP), and structural characterization was preliminarily investigated. Its immunomodulatory activity and molecular biological mechanisms in cyclophosphamide‐induced immunosuppressed mice were also explored, as well as its effects on intestinal microbiota. Results indicate that BRP is an acidic heteropolysaccharide with the main components of Ara, GalA, and GlcA and has α‐ and β‐glycosidic linkages with pyranose bonds. The results of the study showed that BRP could effectively improve the thymus and spleen indices and repair Cy‐induced immune tissue damage in immunosuppressed mice. Meanwhile, BRP increased the immune cell activity and antioxidant levels in mice. In addition, BRP increased the secretion of cytokines (IL‐1β, IL‐6, IL‐10, and TNF‐α) and immunoglobulins (IgA, IgG) in mouse serum. It also regulates the relative expression of genes related to the TLR4/NF‐κB signaling pathways as well as regulates the diversity and composition of mouse intestinal microbiota. In conclusion, BRP was able to regulated the immune function in immunosuppressed mice, providing a theoretical basis for the development of immunomodulators.
Evaluating the synergistic effects of sesame cake powder and soy protein isolate on rheological, textural, nutritional, and phenolic profiles of high‐moisture extrusion processed meat analogs
Authors: Sundar Shyam , Singh Balwinder , Kaur Amritpal
Published: October 2024

In this study, the high‐moisture meat analogs (HmMAs) were developed by incorporating defatted sesame cake powder (DSP) in soy protein isolate (SyPI). The quality attributes of HmMA like visual appearance, specific mechanical energy (SME), mass flow rate (MFR), phenolic profile, textural and rheological properties were assessed after varying DSP concentrations (0%, 20%, 40%, and 60% w/w) and feed moisture (FM) levels (55% and 60%). The HmMA1 (derived solely from SyPI) exhibited higher hardness, chewiness, gumminess, cohesiveness, and springiness. The HmMA prepared from SyPI–DSP blends (HmMA2–8) demonstrated significant improvements in nutritional composition, and their visual characteristics indicated noticeable anisotropy. The interaction between SyPI and DSP influenced the quality of HmMA. The higher DSP concentration led to higher MFR and deeper curvatures of U‐shaped structures, whereas lower SMS, textural and rheological properties. The DSP incorporation and 55% FM adjustments allowed mimicking meat cuts with thick fiber, influenced color, and proved advantageous in developing white meat analogs with higher free phenolics. The findings of the study suggest avenues for exploring DSP at a suitable level in SyPI for the development of better quality meat analogs.
Olive pomace upcycling: Eco‐friendly production of cellulose nanofibers by enzymatic hydrolysis and application in starch films
Authors: Rocha Patrik de Souza , Pagno Carlos Henrique , Crizel Tainara de Moraes , Flôres Simone Hickmann , Hertz Plinho Francisco
Published: October 2024

Olive pomace (OP) waste, produced in large quantities, contains significant amounts of cellulose and fibers, making it a valuable resource for developing reinforcing ingredients in biodegradable packaging materials. This study aimed to produce nanofibers from OP using enzymatic hydrolysis with hemicellulases and cellulases, and to incorporate these nanofibers into starch films as a reinforcing agent. Cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) were prepared by alkaline pretreatment followed by enzymatic hydrolysis (with hemicellulases and cellulases) from olive pomace and applied as reinforcement in starch films in concentrations of 0.5%–5% (w/v). The nanofibers were analyzed according to composition, structural, and thermal properties. The nanofibers' suspension presented a cloudy and white color in aqueous suspension, the X‐ray diffraction (XRD) analysis showed the increase of crystallinity, and the fibers’ range was no wider than 100 nm (according to Scherer equation). The composition analysis showed the decrease of carbonyl groups of hemicellulose and lignin. The starch films presented a homogenous surface. The solubility from these biodegradable films significantly reduced after the incorporation of CNF, and the nanomaterial's presence improved the degradation temperature (from 310°C to 322°C) and the mechanical resistance because the tension of rupture increased from 3.79 to 6.21 MPa.

Practical Application

The utilization of waste from the olive pomace for cellulose nanofiber production holds promise, given the nanofibers’ ability to readily integrate into various materials, including starches used in biodegradable film production. Within these matrices, nanofibers act as structure reinforcers and significantly reduce the solubility of films. Although biodegradable films ensure the shelf life, safety, and quality of food, their properties currently do not match those of traditional petroleum‐based materials at an industrial scale, indicating a need for further enhancement.
A novel ε‐polylysine‐reinforced pullulan/curdlan‐active film for an efficient preservation of fresh‐cut fruit and vegetable
Authors: Liang Jiayi , Xu Haishan , Qin Keying , Chen Jiani , Sun Yuying , Li Yiyang , Ding Shenghua , Wang Rongrong
Published: October 2024

In this study, a novel active film was developed by employing ε‐polylysine (ε‐PL) as a filler in pullulan/curdlan (P/CD) composite film (P/CD/ε‐PL). The results showed that the structure of P/CD films was more uniform and denser compared to pullulan films, due to the good compatibility and intermolecular interaction between them. Among P/CD films, P/CD 6:1 film showed improved hydrophobicity, mechanical and barrier properties, and thermal stability, thereby selecting it for further use. Thereafter, the addition of ε‐PL further enhanced the structural and physicochemical properties of prepared P/CD/ε‐PL composite films, especially for P/CD/2.5%ε‐PL composite film. It exhibited improved ultraviolet barrier (about 80% at 200–400 nm), antibacterial activity (>90% against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli), and anti‐fog properties (clearly visible and transparent background). Furthermore, P/CD/2.5%ε‐PL composite film exerted its preservation effect on fresh‐cut peppers and kiwis during storage, delaying the softening, consumption of soluble solids, and deterioration. Therefore, the developed P/CD/2.5%ε‐PL composite film provided promising applications of active packing film.

Practical Application: Fresh‐cut fruits and vegetables are prone to deteriorate during storage, and active packaging films play a crucial role in retaining their quality. This study was conducted to prepare a composite film by blending pullulan, curdlan, and ε‐PL and explore its structural, physicochemical, and functional properties, further verifying the preservation effect on fresh‐cut peppers and kiwis. Compared to polyethylene film, the P/CD/2.5%ε‐PL composite film delayed the softening, consumption of soluble solids, and deterioration of fresh‐cut peppers and kiwis during storage. It provides a new perspective on the preservation of fresh‐cut fruits and vegetables.
Superadditivity between control methods in pest management
Authors: van Emden Helmut F.
Published: October 2024

Pest Management (PM) has its 1959 origin in Integrated Control, a combination of a reduced dose of insecticide with biological control. At the time, it was not recognised that the interaction between these two control methods was more than additive. This ‘superadditivity’ can also be achieved with the full dose of insecticide, for example, by localising its application in space. There is also likely to be superadditivity in the interaction between partial plant resistance and biological control. Pests on resistant hosts are usually smaller and the same mortality can often be obtained with just two‐thirds or one‐half of the dose of insecticide needed on susceptible plants, giving superadditivity between partial plant resistance and chemical control. These positive interactions between biological control, chemical control and partial host plant resistance form a ‘Pest Management Triad’, though legislation and risk‐aversion may limit the practicability of protocols based on the Triad.
Drinking firsts at home and with parental knowledge: Racial/ethnic differences in associations with later alcohol outcomes among underage youth
Authors: Lipperman‐Kreda Sharon , Wharton Kristina , Chung Tammy , Sartor Carolyn E. , Jackson Kristina M. , Slade Tim
Published: October 2024

Background

Prior research has shown that early alcohol experiences, such as age of initiation and speed of progression between drinking milestones, vary across racial/ethnic groups. To inform culturally tailored prevention efforts, this longitudinal study examined racial/ethnic differences in the associations of drinking firsts at home and with parental knowledge with alcohol use outcomes among underage youth.

Methods

The study included baseline and five follow‐up surveys, collected every 6 months, from California adolescents (ages 12–16 years at baseline). The analytic sample was composed of the 689 adolescents who reported lifetime alcohol use at baseline or a follow‐up survey (5% Black, 37% Latinx, 46% White, and 12% other/mixed racial/ethnic group; 54% female). Participants who reported consumption of a full drink, intoxication, or heavy episodic drinking (HED) were asked ages and contexts of these drinking firsts, including whether the initiation was at their own home and whether their parents/guardians knew about this drinking event. Outcomes included past‐6‐month alcohol frequency, alcohol quantity, and number of alcohol‐related problems. Multilevel negative binomial regression analyses were conducted, controlling for demographics and age of initiation by type of drinking behavior. Moderation analyses examined racial/ethnic differences.

Results

For consumption of the first full drink, both drinking at home and parental knowledge were negatively associated with all outcomes; associations did not vary by race/ethnicity. First intoxication at own home was negatively associated with the number of drinks for Latinx youth and with the number of problems for Black youth. For first HED, drinking at own home was positively associated with drinking frequency across groups, and for Black youth specifically, parental knowledge of their first HED experience was significantly associated with greater later alcohol frequency and quantity.

Conclusions

Results suggest that the association of family contexts of drinking first with later alcohol outcomes among underage youth varied by stage of alcohol use and race/ethnicity.
Risk and timing of postpartum depression in parents of twins compared to parents of singletons
Authors: Egsgaard Sofie , Bliddal Mette , Lund Lars Christian , Vigod Simone N. , Munk‐Olsen Trine
Published: October 2024

Background

Parents of twins appear to be at increased risk of postpartum depression (PPD), yet little is known about the magnitude and timing of onset in the postpartum period compared to singleton parents.

Methods

We conducted a cohort study using the Danish nationwide health registers. We defined a study population of parents that is, mothers and fathers of all twin and singleton livebirths between 1997 and 2019. Postpartum depression was defined as incident depression diagnosis or a redeemed antidepressant prescription from childbirth through 365 days postpartum. We performed a parametric time‐to‐event analysis based on Poisson regression. The time scale was time since birth, modeled using restricted cubic splines. From this we estimated the hazard ratio (HR) representing the momentary risk, and the cumulative risk ratio (RR) over the first year postpartum, in twin compared to singleton parents.

Results

The study population was based on 27,095 twin and 1,350,046 singleton births. In adjusted analyses, the HR of twins compared to singletons was highest around 2 months postpartum (HR 1.28, 95% CI 1.10–1.49) for mothers, and around 6 months (1.20, 95% CI 1.02–1.42) for fathers. The 6 months adjusted cumulative RR of PPD in twins compared to singletons was 1.24 (95% CI 1.10–1.40) for mothers and 1.11 (95% CI 0.95–1.30) for fathers.

Conclusions

Twin mothers had increased risk of PPD compared to singleton mothers, which was driven by an immediate increase after childbirth. The risk among twin fathers was not increased immediately after childbirth, but we found slightly elevated risk around 6 months postpartum. This could suggest diverse patterns of PPD symptomatology in twin parents compared to singleton parents and between mothers and fathers. Our findings underline parents of twins as a potentially vulnerable group to PPD and emphasize the need for increased awareness of their mental health.
“Saving a picture forever”: Documenting and curating “truthful” images at school
Authors: Llerena Carmen Lugo , Yoon Haeny S.
Published: October 2024

With a focus on Parker, a Black second‐grader, this paper explores how photographs taken by children reveal aspects of identity that adults do not always capture or deem important in school spaces. In fact, while Parker was often imaged and positioned in deficit ways, children's photographs expanded static narratives told about Parker. While troubling documentation, the findings highlight the ways children's capacities, strengths, and contributions are overlooked by images reproducing neoliberal logics.
When the ‘inclusive turn’ fuels the entrepreneurial city: Critical perspectives from Singapore
Authors: Gibert‐Flutre Marie , Cosatto Sarah
Published: October 2024

The rise of the notion of ‘inclusion’ in urban planning, seen in phrases like inclusive city, calls for a critical analysis of its evolving meaning and its spatial, social and political implications. Paradoxically, the meaning of urban inclusion has narrowed such that it now primarily refers to accessibility for people with disabilities. At the intersection of urban studies and critical disability studies, our article investigates the conceptions, criteria and modes of production underlying the implementation of urban inclusion in Singapore's ‘Enabling Village’, a purportedly inclusive space opened in 2015. We use a mixed‐methods approach, analysing official narratives and conducting site visits to understand the site as both an appropriated and a branded space. We show that, in Singapore, the inclusion agenda interacts with the city‐state's distinctive approach to planning and governance, where social issues are ‘engineered’ and give rise to replicable operational models. Our hypothesis is that implementing the inclusive city through the production and promotion of ‘inclusive’ urban projects such as the Enabling Village fuels the expansion of Singapore as a state‐led ‘entrepreneurial city’ (Harvey, Geografiska Annaler. Series B, Human Geography 1989; 71(1):3–17). In particular, operationalising ‘urban inclusion’ in this way allows for the reinvention of Singapore as a global urban model.
Purely performative resuscitation: Treating the patient as an object
Authors: Tarasenko‐Struc Aleksy
Published: October 2024

Despite its prevalence today, the practice of purely performative resuscitation (PPR)—paradigmatically, the “slow code”—has attracted more critics in bioethics than defenders. The most common criticism of the slow code is that it's fundamentally deceptive or harmful, while the most common justification offered is that it may benefit the patient's loved ones, by symbolically honoring the patient or the care team's relationship with the family. I argue that critics and defenders of the slow code each have a point. Advocates of the slow code are right that not all PPR is wrongly deceptive or harmful to the patient or his family and that the symbolic aspect of medicine is itself morally significant. But the critics are also correct: slow codes are prima facie wrong. I argue that pursuing a slow code amounts to treating the patient as a tool for others' benefit—hence, treating him as an object—and that this instrumentalizing quality constitutes one core prima facie wrong of the practice. I also build a case for the idea that the slow code may not always be all‐things‐considered wrong, specifying certain limited conditions under which acts of PPR might ultimately be permissible. Thus, the symbolic dimension of medical treatment is indeed morally important, both in morally favorable and in morally problematic respects—namely, in its symbolic denial of the patient's humanity.
Handling missing data in variational autoencoder based item response theory
Authors: Veldkamp Karel , Grasman Raoul , Molenaar Dylan
Published: October 2024

Recently Variational Autoencoders (VAEs) have been proposed as a method to estimate high dimensional Item Response Theory (IRT) models on large datasets. Although these improve the efficiency of estimation drastically compared to traditional methods, they have no natural way to deal with missing values. In this paper, we adapt three existing methods from the VAE literature to the IRT setting and propose one new method. We compare the performance of the different VAE‐based methods to each other and to marginal maximum likelihood estimation for increasing levels of missing data in a simulation study for both three‐ and ten‐dimensional IRT models. Additionally, we demonstrate the use of the VAE‐based models on an existing algebra test dataset. Results confirm that VAE‐based methods are a time‐efficient alternative to marginal maximum likelihood, but that a larger number of importance‐weighted samples are needed when the proportion of missing values is large.
Subcortical plaques and inflammation reflect cortical and meningeal pathologies in progressive multiple sclerosis
Authors: Okutan Betül , Frederiksen Jette L. , Houen Gunnar , Sellebjerg Finn , Kyllesbech Cecilie , Magyari Melinda , Paunovic Manuela , Sørensen Per S. , Jacobsen Christina , Lassmann Hans , Bramow Stephan
Published: October 2024

It remains elusive whether lesions and inflammation in the sub/juxtacortical white matter reflect cortical and/or meningeal pathologies. Elucidating this could have implications for MRI monitoring as sub/juxtacortical lesions are detectable by routine MRI, while cortical lesions and meningeal inflammation are not. By large‐area microscopy, we quantified total and mixed active plaque loads along with densities and sizes of perivascular mononuclear infiltrates (infiltrates) in the sub/juxtacortical white matter ≤2 mm from the cortex, intra‐cortically and in the meninges. Data were related to ante‐mortem clinical parameters in a false discovery rate‐corrected analysis. We compared 12 patients with primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) and 15 with secondary progressive MS to 22 controls. Fifteen patients and 11 controls contributed with hemispheric sections. Sections were stained with haematoxylin–eosin, for myelin and for microglia/macrophages. B cells and T cells were confirmed in a subset. Immunoglobulin G depositions in selected cortical plaques resembled depositions described before in “slowly expanding” plaques in the white matter. We quantified plaque activity by measuring microglia‐dominated and macrophage‐dominated areas. Sub/juxtacortical plaques (load and activity) reflected plaque activity in the cerebral cortex. Plaque activity and infiltrates were more pronounced in the sub/juxtacortical white matter than in the cerebral cortex while conversely, the total plaque load was highest in the cortex. Infiltrates correlated trans‐cortically and sub/juxtacortical plaque activity reflected cortical and meningeal infiltrates. Sub/juxtacortical infiltrate sizes correlated with shorter survival after progression onset. Two patients with PPMS and putatively fatal brain stem lesions argue against incidental findings. Trans‐cortical inflammatory flares and plaque activity may be pathogenic in progressive MS. We suggest emphasis on sub/juxtacortical MRI lesions as plausible surrogates for cortical and meningeal pathologies and, when present, as indicators for cognitive testing.
Human papillomavirus vaccine to prevent CIN3 or worse (CIN3+): A nationwide case–control study in Japan
Authors: Ikeda Sayaka , Ueda Yutaka , Yagi Asami , Mizushima Taichi , Sukegawa Akiko , Kudoh Risa , Yamaguchi Manako , Kurosawa Megumi , Miyagi Etsuko , Sekine Masayuki , Enomoto Takayuki
Published: October 2024

An increase in cervical cancer incidence has been reported in Japan. The Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare of Japan has resumed the active recommendation of regular HPV vaccines in 2022. In Japan, the preventive effect of CIN3+ in the real world has not yet been demonstrated in age‐adjusted cohort or case–control studies. This study aimed to estimate the effect of the HPV vaccine against CIN3+ in Japanese women. This nationwide case–control study from April 2013 to March 2020 targeted women aged 20–26 years old at the time of cervical screening. We compared HPV vaccination exposure between those with abnormal and those with normal cytology. Abnormal cytology was classified into cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN)1+, CIN2+, and CIN3+. We calculated the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of the above endpoints and vaccination exposure using the conditional logistic regression model and estimated vaccine effectiveness using the formula (1 −OR) × 100. A total of 2790 cases and 13,990 controls (one‐to‐five matching) were eligible in 37 municipalities in Japan. In this study, 61 CIN3 (2.2%) and 10 squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) (0.4%) were found. The OR for CIN3+ versus controls was 0.14 (95% CI, 0.03–0.75), equating to a vaccine effectiveness of 86%. Of the 10 patients who had SCC none were vaccinated. This nationwide case–control study in Japan demonstrated a substantial risk reduction in CIN3+ among women who did versus those who did not receive HPV vaccination.
The Gut Microbiota Modulates Neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's Disease: Elucidating Crucial Factors and Mechanistic Underpinnings
Authors: Yang Jianshe , Liang Junyi , Hu Niyuan , He Ningjuan , Liu Bin , Liu Guoliang , Qin Ying
Published: October 2024

Background and Purpose

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by progressive cognitive decline and neuronal loss, commonly linked to amyloid‐β plaques, neurofibrillary tangles, and neuroinflammation. Recent research highlights the gut microbiota as a key player in modulating neuroinflammation, a critical pathological feature of AD. Understanding the role of the gut microbiota in this process is essential for uncovering new therapeutic avenues and gaining deeper insights into AD pathogenesis.

Methods

This review provides a comprehensive analysis of how gut microbiota influences neuroinflammation and glial cell function in AD. A systematic literature search was conducted, covering studies from 2014 to 2024, including reviews, clinical trials, and animal studies. Keywords such as “gut microbiota,” “Alzheimer's disease,” “neuroinflammation,” and “blood–brain barrier” were used.

Results

Dysbiosis, or the imbalance in gut microbiota composition, has been implicated in the modulation of key AD‐related mechanisms, including neuroinflammation, blood–brain barrier integrity, and neurotransmitter regulation. These disruptions may accelerate the onset and progression of AD. Additionally, therapeutic strategies targeting gut microbiota, such as probiotics, prebiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation, show promise in modulating AD pathology.

Conclusions

The gut microbiota is a pivotal factor in AD pathogenesis, influencing neuroinflammation and disease progression. Understanding the role of gut microbiota in AD opens avenues for innovative diagnostic, preventive, and therapeutic strategies.
External Corporate Governance and Corporate Misconduct: A Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Braun Max C. , Mueller Simone M.
Published: October 2024

Research Question/Issue

External governance parties deter corporate misconduct through their monitoring. External monitoring increases the probability of corporate misconduct being detected and sanctioned. Current research on the relationship between external governance and corporate misconduct remains fragmented across these detection and sanction mechanisms of deterrence. This separation of mechanisms leaves us with an incomplete concept of external monitoring and obscures our understanding of what facilitates monitoring by investors, auditors, analysts, and the media.

Research Findings/Insights

We integrate the detection and sanction mechanisms of deterrence into a process model of external monitoring. Our meta‐analysis of 188 studies from 14 countries covering the period from 1970 to 2019 identifies proximity, credibility, and attention as common underlying factors that facilitate monitoring by external governance parties. Proximity is of particular relevance in deterring corporate misconduct. Ethical relativism weakens external governance parties' role in deterring corporate misconduct.

Theoretical/Academic Implications

Parties outside firm boundaries affect public perception of firms, thereby possessing a unique influence on corporate governance. We integrate this form of influence into the concept of external monitoring. Our meta‐analytic synthesis suggests a fundamental role for external governance in preventing corporate misconduct and informs on the relevance of societal values for corporate governance and corporate misconduct.
Employment, work ability and sick leave in melanoma patients within the first year of diagnosis
Authors: Dugas‐Breit Susanne , Dugas Martin , Schulze Hans‐Joachim
Published: October 2024

Background and objectives

Malignant melanoma affects younger working individuals. This study investigated work ability and sick leave within one year after diagnosis, as well as the impact of rehabilitation and psycho‐oncological measures on employment outcomes.

Patients and methods

In this monocentric, prospective, observational cohort study, 221 patients (62.4% females), aged 19–65, participated. 78.5% had tumor stage IB or lower at baseline. Routine clinical documentation, occupational history, work ability, subjective prognosis of employment, need for and satisfaction with rehabilitation measures were repeatedly assessed.

Results

181 patients (82%) were employed at first visit, 172 (78%) at last visit. Approximately 75% of patients initially rated work ability as “moderate”, with up to 9 sick leave days. In the following year, sick days increased significantly in patients with stage IB and IIA (p = 0.044) and highly significantly in patients with stage II B and above (p < 0.001). Psycho‐oncologic consultation (24%) and rehabilitation (18%) did not change the significantly worse self‐rated work ability of these patients.

Conclusions

Melanoma affects work ability, even in tumor stages without lymph node involvement or distant metastasis. Controlled clinical trials would be useful to evaluate the success of rehabilitation and psycho‐oncological interventions for patients with melanoma.
Policy and practice recommendations for services for disabled children during emergencies: Learning from COVID‐19
Authors: Merrick Hannah , Morris Christopher , Allard Amanda , Parr Jeremy R. , Pennington Lindsay ,   the Resetting Services to Disabled Children team
Published: October 2024

Aim

To seek consensus on recommendations for the delivery of services to disabled children in England during future emergencies.

Method

Candidate recommendations were drafted based on our related mapping review and qualitative research related to experiences during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Iterative workshops with professionals and parent carers helped to refine the recommendations. A Delphi survey, rating the importance of each recommendation, was conducted with (1) parent carers of disabled children, (2) disabled young people aged 8 to 19 years, and (3) health, education, and social care professionals. A consensus meeting was convened online to discuss the findings and ratify the recommendations.

Results

Twenty‐eight recommendations were included in the Delphi survey. There were 141 participants in round 1 and 91 in round 2. Seven recommendations reached the agreed consensus criteria for being critical across all stakeholder groups, while 21 recommendations did not reach consensus across all groups. Fourteen participants ratified 23 recommendations, which when aggregated and refined further produced our final 19 recommendations.

Interpretation

Reductions in services for disabled children and their families during the COVID‐19 pandemic had serious and lasting consequences. This study enabled parent carers, disabled young people, and health, education, and social care professionals to agree recommendations on services for disabled children during future emergencies.
The development and progression of albuminuria in South Asians with type 2 diabetes compared with Western Europeans. Results from the HinDu the Hague diabetes study
Authors: van Niel Judith , Geelhoed‐Duijvestijn Nel , Kist Janet , Numans Mattijs , Vos Rimke
Published: October 2024

Aim

Although South Asians have an increased risk to develop diabetes, data on the difference in development and progression of diabetic nephropathy between ethnic groups are not consistent. The aim of this study was to evaluate possible differences in the development and progression of albuminuria in South Asians and Western Europeans (WE) with type 2 diabetes in a large closed cohort of South Asians with type 2 diabetes.

Methods

Data on 1269 South Asians and 2272 Dutch adults with type 2 diabetes who were treated in our diabetes clinic in 2006 or referred thereafter were extracted from electronic medical records. Microalbuminuria and macroalbuminuria were defined separately for men and women based on albumin/creatinine ratios in early morning urine samples. We defined 3 outcomes: (1) no albuminuria, (2) persistent microalbuminuria and (3) macroalbuminuria at the end of follow‐up. Cox proportional hazard models were used to discriminate differences in time from diabetes diagnosis until development and progression of albuminuria between the two ethnic groups, adjusted for retinopathy, hypertension, smoking and age at diabetes diagnosis.

Results

South Asians have a higher adjusted risk for developing microalbuminuria: HR 1.4, (95% CI 1.2, 1.6) and macroalbuminuria: HR: 1.2 (1.0, 1.4) compared to Western Europeans. However, mean time to progress from micro‐ to macroalbuminuria was not different between the ethnic groups (3.9 ± 4.0 yrs vs. 3.4 ± 3.9 yrs respectively).

Conclusion

South Asians have a higher adjusted risk to develop micro‐ and macroalbuminuria compared with Western Europeans. When microalbuminuria is present, time to progression from micro‐ to macroalbuminuria is not different between the two groups.
Presence of Apical Aneurysm and Its Impact on Left Ventricular Mechanics and Mechano‐Energetic Coupling in Patients With Apical Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Mihos Christos G. , Guigui Sarah A. , Horvath Sofia A. , Venkataraman Pranav , Fernandez Rafle , Elajami Tarec K.
Published: October 2024

Background

Left ventricular (LV) apical aneurysms (ApAn+) occur in 10%–15% of apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (ApHCM) patients and confer considerable morbidity. We hypothesized that ApAn+ adversely impact ventricular mechanics and mechano‐energetic coupling in ApHCM.

Methods

Ninety‐eight ApHCM patients were identified, of which nine (9%) had ApAn+ and were compared with 89 (91%) who did not (ApAn−). 2D speckle‐tracking echocardiography assessed ventricular mechanics using LV global longitudinal strain (GLS) and torsion, and mechano‐energetic coupling as myocardial work indices. Clinical events over follow‐up were adjudicated.

Results

Mean age was 64 ± 15 years, 46% were female, and 3% had an HCM family history, with similar clinical risk factors between groups. Of the nine ApAn+ patients, there were six small (<2 cm) and three moderate‐sized (2‐4 cm) aneurysms. There was no difference in LV ejection fraction (65 ± 15 vs. 67 ± 11%, p = 0.51) or GLS (−9.6 ± 3.3 vs. −11.9 ± 3.9%, p = 0.09) between ApAn+ versus ApAn−. ApAn+ patients had greater myocardial global wasted work (347 ± 112 vs. 221 ± 165 mmHg%, p = 0.03) and lower global work efficiency (GWE, 75 ± 5 vs. 82 ± 8%, p = 0.006). LV GLS (β = −0.67, p < 0.001), ApAn+ (β = −0.15, p = 0.04), and twist rate (β = −0.14, p = 0.04) were independently associated with GWE. At 3.9‐year follow‐up, cardiovascular mortality (4%) and heart failure hospitalization (14%) events were similar between groups.

Conclusion

ApHCM patients with ApAn+ are characterized by more impaired LV mechano‐energetic coupling when compared with ApAn−. ApAn+ is independently associated with worse GWE.
Association between iron content in grey matter nuclei and functional outcome in patients with acute ischaemic stroke: A quantitative susceptibility mapping study
Authors: Chen Yaqi , Ming Yue , Ye Chen , Jiang Shuai , Wu Jiongxing , Wang Huan , Wu Keying , Zhang Shihong , Wu Bo , Sun Jiayu , Wang Deren
Published: October 2024

Background and purpose

This study aimed to investigate the association between iron content in grey matter (GM) nuclei and functional outcome in acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) patients utilizing quantitative susceptibility mapping.

Methods

Forty AIS patients and 40 age‐, sex‐ and education‐matched healthy controls underwent quantitative susceptibility mapping to assess susceptibility values, which are positively correlated with iron content, in the caudate nucleus, putamen, globus pallidus, thalamus, red nucleus and substantia nigra. The nuclei on the contralateral side were measured in AIS patients to minimize confounding due to oedema or haemorrhage. Functional outcome was determined by the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score at 3 months after stroke. Poor outcome was defined as mRS >2, whilst a good outcome was defined as ≤2.

Results

Susceptibility values were significantly higher in most contralateral GM nuclei in AIS patients than in the corresponding left or right nuclei in healthy controls. AIS patients with poor outcome showed significantly lower susceptibility value than those with good outcome in the contralateral caudate nucleus, but no significant differences were observed in other GM nuclei. Binary logistic regression analysis revealed a significant association between the susceptibility value of the contralateral caudate nucleus and poor outcome after adjustment for confounders (adjusted odds ratio 0.692, 95% confidence interval 0.486–0.986, p = 0.042). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed an acceptable ability of the susceptibility value of the contralateral caudate nucleus to predict poor outcome (area under the curve 0.740, p = 0.013).

Conclusions

Lower iron content in the contralateral caudate nucleus was associated with poor functional outcome in AIS patients.
Different adhesive approaches for the bonding of a new universal resin cement to a disilicate glass‐ceramic
Authors: Detogni Anna Caroliny , Araújo‐Neto Vitaliano Gomes , Lima Renally Bezerra Wanderley , Sinhoreti Mário Alexandre Coelho
Published: October 2024

This study aimed to evaluate the shear bond strength (SBS) when bonding a universal resin cement to a disilicate glass‐ceramic using different adhesive protocols. Sixty specimens were etched with 10% hydrofluoric acid (HF) for 20 s and assigned to one of four treatment protocols (n = 15): The Positive control protocol comprised use of a universal adhesive system + adhesive resin cement; the Test1 protocol comprised use of a new universal adhesive system + universal resin cement; the Test2 protocol comprised use of a silane coupling agent + universal resin cement; and the use of a universal resin cement without adhesive and silane served as the Negative control. One of the two resin cement cylinders built on each specimen in each group was used to test for 24‐h SBS, while the other was thermocycled and then tested for SBS. Data were submitted to two‐way ANOVA, Tukey's test, and Weibull analysis. The negative control (24 h) showed the lowest SBS mean value. The Test2 protocol resulted in the highest SBS mean value after thermocycling. Adhesive and mixed failures were prevalent in all groups. No statistical difference in m values was observed among the groups at 24 h. After thermocycling, the two Test protocols showed the highest m values. The m values were significantly lower after thermocycling than at 24 h for all groups. After thermal aging, The Test2 protocol resulted in a statistically significantly higher SBS mean value after thermal aging than seen for the other groups.
Characterising the Genomic Landscape of Differentiation Between Annual and Perennial Rye
Authors: Waesch Christina , Pfeifer Max , Dreissig Steven
Published: October 2024

Annuality and perenniality represent two different life‐history strategies in plants, and an analysis of genomic differentiation between closely related species of different life histories bears the potential to identify the underlying targets of selection. Additionally, understanding the interactions between patterns of recombination and signatures of natural selection is a central aim in evolutionary biology, because patterns of recombination shape the evolution of genomes by affecting the efficacy of selection. Here, our aim was to characterise the landscape of genomic differentiation between weedy annual rye (Secale cereale L.) and wild perennial rye (Secale strictum C. Presl), and explore the extent to which signatures of selection are influenced by recombination rate variation. We used population‐level sequence data of annual and perennial rye to analyse population structure and their demographic history. Based on our analyses, annual and perennial rye diverged approximately 26,500 years ago (ya) from an ancestral population size of ~85,000 individuals. We analysed patterns of genetic diversity and genetic differentiation, and found highly differentiated regions located in low‐recombination regions, indicative of linked selection. Although all highly differentiated regions, as revealed by FST‐outlier scans, were located in low‐recombining regions, not all chromosomes showed this tendency. We therefore performed a gene ontology enrichment analysis, which showed that highly differentiated regions comprise genes involved in photosynthesis. This enrichment was confirmed when FST outlier scans were performed separately in low‐ and intermediate‐recombining regions, but not in high‐recombining regions, suggesting that local recombination rate variation in rye affects outlier scans. Cultivated rye is an annual crop, but the introduction of perenniality may be advantageous in regions with poor soil quality or under low‐input farming. Although the resolution of our analysis is limited to a broad‐scale, knowledge about the evolutionary divergence between annual and perennial rye might support breeding efforts towards perennial rye cultivation.
Translating discovery science: White fathers' racial socialization practices with their biological Black biracial sons
Authors: Durrant Lorna , Gillum Nerissa LeBlanc
Published: October 2024

Objective

To examine the racial socialization practices of White fathers with their biological Black and White biracial sons.

Background

Socializing children of color to live in a society where they may experience discrimination is an essential part of parenting. This may be challenging for White fathers with Black biracial sons because of their different lived experiences, which can be harmful to their sons.

Method

A phenomenological approach was used to conduct 10 in‐depth, semistructured interviews with a sample of White fathers with biological Black biracial sons. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data.

Results

Four racial socialization practices were identified: (a) talking to son about his racial/cultural heritages, (b) exposing son to his racial/cultural heritages, (c) exposing son to environments that are diverse, and (d) talking to son about discrimination.

Conclusion

Family professionals can work with White fathers to help them overcome any challenges they may encounter to socialize their Black biracial sons to navigate society as a man of color.

Implications

Family practitioners and school personnel can promote and encourage the attendance of parenting programs that focus on discussing discrimination with children and strategies parents can use to develop a healthy multiracial identity in children. Religious leaders can encourage diversity with International Day celebrations and facilitate discussions with congregants about racial inequality.
Spatial Variation in Upper Limits of Coral Cover on the Great Barrier Reef
Authors: Álvarez‐Noriega Mariana , Ortiz Juan C. , Ceccarelli Daniela M. , Emslie Michael J. , Fabricius Katharina E. , Jonker Michelle J. , Puotinen Marji , Robson Barbara J. , Roelfsema Chris M. , Sinclair‐Taylor Tane H. , Ferrari Renata
Published: October 2024

Aim

Identifying the maximum coral cover that a coral community can sustain (i.e., its ‘upper limit’) is important for predicting community dynamics and improving management strategies. Here, we quantify the relationship between estimated upper limits and key environmental factors on coral reefs: hard substrate availability, temperature and water clarity.

Location

Great Barrier Reef (GBR), Australia (over 1400 km).

Time Period

1990 to 2022.

Major Taxa Studied

Scleractinian corals.

Methods

We used 32 years of data on coral cover around reef perimeters. Each reef was divided into four wave‐exposure habitats depending on prevailing wind conditions. For each site, we determined if hard coral cover had reached a plateau or upper limit. Next, we extracted existing estimates of hard substrate availability, modelled water temperature and Secchi depth. Then, we quantified the relationship between these environmental variables and the upper limits.

Results

We found varying upper limits across the GBR, with a median of 33% coral cover and only 17% of the estimated upper limits exceeded 50% coral cover. Upper limits increased towards the southern reefs. Our results show that upper limits increased with increasing hard substrate availability and decreased with temperature and, to a lesser extent, with water clarity.

Main Conclusions

The upper limits estimated in this study are much lower than what is commonly assumed when modelling ecological dynamics, most likely resulting in predicted recovery rates being inappropriately high. Although hard substrate ultimately restricted upper limits, there are mechanisms constraining the proportion of hard substrate that is covered by hard corals. The negative relationship between temperature and upper limits cannot be explained by changes in macroalgal abundance but may be related to changes in species composition. The quantitative relationships between the upper limits of coral cover and environmental variables will provide critical information to prioritise sites for management interventions.