bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Herd immunity to endemic diseases: Historical concepts and implications for public health policy
Authors: Robertson David , Heriot George , Jamrozik Euzebiusz 
Published: April 2024

AbstractBackground“Herd immunity” became a contested term during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Although the term “herd immunity” is often used to refer to thresholds at which some diseases can be eliminated (e.g., due to mass vaccination), the term has multiple referents. Different concepts of herd immunity have been relevant throughout the history of immunology and infectious disease epidemiology. For some diseases, herd immunity plays a role in the development of an endemic equilibrium, rather than elimination via threshold effects.MethodsWe reviewed academic literature from 1920 to 2022, using historical and philosophical analysis to identify and develop relevant concepts of herd immunity.ResultsThis paper analyses the ambiguity surrounding the concept of herd immunity during the pandemic. We argue for the need to recapture a long‐standing interpretation of this concept as one of the factors that leads to a dynamic endemic equilibrium between a host population and a mutating respiratory pathogen.ConclusionsInformed by the history of infectious disease epidemiology, we argue that understanding the concept in this way will help us manage both SARS‐CoV‐2 and hundreds of other seasonal respiratory pathogens with which we live but which have been disrupted due to sustained public health measures/non‐pharmaceutical interventions targeting SARS‐CoV‐2.
Clinical and laboratorial performance of rehabilitation of endodontically treated teeth: A systematic review
Authors: Matos Luanne Mara Rodrigues de , Silva Marcelo Lopes , Cordeiro Thais Oliveira , Cardoso Sarah de Araujo Mendes , Campos Débora e Silva , de Muniz Isis Araújo Ferreira , Barros Suelen Aline de Lima , Seraidarian Paulo Isaias 
Published: April 2024

AbstractObjectiveThis systematic review aimed to analyze the clinical (survival rate, failure risk, or fracture) and laboratory performance (fracture mode or failure) of rehabilitations of endodontically treated teeth, with and without posts.Materials and MethodsA systematic search was conducted in the Pubmed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, and OpenGrey databases up to March 2023, according to PRISMA guidelines. In vitro and clinical studies that compared the clinical and laboratory performance of endodontically treated teeth with and without intraradicular posts were included. Studies selection, data extraction, and risk of bias analysis were performed.ResultsThirty‐one in vitro and 7 clinical studies were included. For in vitro studies, fiberglass post (n = 24) was the most mentioned. The follow‐up time of the clinical studies ranged from 1 to 17 years, with the fiber‐reinforced composite post (n = 3) being the most evaluated, and only failure risk proved to be more favorable for using intraradicular posts.ConclusionRehabilitations of endodontically treated teeth with and without intraradicular retainers showed no difference in fracture resistance and failure mode, evaluated by in vitro studies. Clinical studies showed no difference in survival rate, but failure risk proved to be more favorable for the use of posts.Clinical SignificanceThis analysis revealed significant variability between results, however, most laboratory and clinical studies revealed no difference with using the post. Furthermore, it is important to emphasize the need to evaluate the coronary remnant and the general characteristics of the tooth in each situation.
Far‐infrared drying influence on machine learning algorithms in improving corn drying process with graphene irradiation heating plates
Authors: Jibril Abdulaziz Nuhu , Zhang Xubo , Wang Shuo , Bello Zaharaddeen Aminu , Henry Ibeogu Isaiah , Chen Kunjie 
Published: April 2024

AbstractDrying methods often suffer from appropriate drying process modeling, low heating efficiency, and high‐energy consumption. However, graphene may provide significant improvements during the drying process due to its ability to save energy and convert electro‐thermal energy effectively. In this study, random forest (RF), surface vector machine (SVM), artificial neural network (ANN), and k‐nearest neighbor (kNN) were the four machine‐learning algorithms employed to analyze the drying process of two types of corn (ZD88 and RP909) at varying temperatures of 35, 45, and 55°C in a graphene far‐infrared drying. The study found that the drying process of corn showed a decrease in moisture ratio during the falling rate period from 35 to 55°C. The moisture diffusivity increased from 35 to 55°C with the rise in the temperature, ranging from 2.74 to 4.36 × 10−8 m2/s for ZD88 and 2.05 to 3.07 × 10−8 m2/s for RP909. The ZD88 showed a heat efficiency of 81.62% at 55°C. The results of the machine learning algorithms revealed that 1–6 ANN was the best architecture. Normalized PUK was the best for SVM filters. A k = 3 and s‐fold = 5 were the best values for k‐NN and RF, respectively. Among the computed algorithms, the tested data for normalized Pearson universal kernel SVM filters proved to be the most effective in computing the process of drying corn. Overall, a graphene far‐infrared dryer showed improved heating efficiency and less energy consumption, providing a new concept for developing a drying process through machine learning algorithms strategies.Practical applicationsDrying methods often suffer from appropriate drying process modeling, low heating efficiency, and high‐energy consumption. This study provides significant improvements due to the ability of graphene irradiation heating plates to save energy and convert electro‐thermal energy effectively. The study achieved a heating efficiency of 81.62% at an infrared temperature of 55°C. Machine learning algorithms are intelligent models that minimize the limitations in describing the drying process of agricultural materials. The study found the normalized Pearson universal kernel was the most effective computation SVM filter. Therefore, using a graphene far‐infrared dryer showed a better drying alternative for industrial applications, as it has the potential to improve heating efficiency and consume less energy, providing a new concept for developing drying equipment through machine learning algorithms modeling strategies.
Aggregate Dynamics with Sectoral Price Stickiness Heterogeneity and Aggregate Real Shocks
Authors: FLAMINI ALESSANDRO , HASAN IFTEKHAR 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThis paper investigates the relationship between heterogeneity in sectoral price stickiness and the response of the economy to aggregate real shocks. We show that sectoral heterogeneity reduces inflation persistence for a constant average duration of price spells, and that inflation persistence can fall despite duration increases associated with increases in heterogeneity. We also find that sectoral heterogeneity reduces the persistence and volatility of interest rate and output gap for a constant price spells duration, while the qualitative impact on inflation volatility tends to be positive. A relevant policy implication is that neglecting price stickiness heterogeneity can impair the economic dynamics assessment.
Breast cancer mortality in Chinese women and men from 1990 to 2019: Analysis of trends in risk factors
Authors: Xiao Ziwei , Li Lin 
Published: April 2024

AbstractObjectiveThis study aimed to examine the relative risk of risk factor in male and female breast cancer (BC) deaths in China and analyzed the changing trends in BC mortality rates from 1990 to 2019.MethodsOpen data from the Global Burden of Disease database from 1990 to 2019 were analyzed to assess the number of BC deaths and age‐standardized mortality rates (ASMR) in China. The age‐period‐cohort model was employed to study age effects, period effects, cohort effects, as well as local drift and net drift of the data, determining the impact of changing risk factors on crude mortality rates and ASMR of BC.ResultsIn 2019, the number of BC deaths across all age groups in China increased by 130.38% compared to 1990, with an increase of 125.68% in females and 648.80% in males. The ASMR for BC and male BC increased in 2019, while female BC ASMR declined. Overall, alcohol consumption and smoking as risk factors contributed to increased mortality rates of BC with advancing age. Over the entire study period, the net drift of alcohol consumption in females for BC was 0.06% (95% confidence interval [CI]: −0.24% to 0.36%), while for smoking it was −0.64% (95% CI: −0.83% to −0.45%). For males, the net drift of alcohol consumption for BC was 6.75% (95% CI: 5.55% to 7.96%), and for smoking, it was 6.09% (95% CI: 2.66% to 9.64%).ConclusionHence, improving awareness of BC‐related risk factors and implementing prevention strategies are necessary to alleviate future BC burdens.
Impact of nutritional support routes on mortality in acute pancreatitis: A network meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Hsieh Ping‐Han , Yang Tsung‐Chieh , Kang Enoch Yi‐No , Lee Pei‐Chang , Luo Jiing‐Chyuan , Huang Yi‐Hsiang , Hou Ming‐Chih , Huang Shih‐Ping 
Published: April 2024

AbstractBackgroundNutritional administration in acute pancreatitis (AP) management has sparked widespread discussion, yet contradictory mortality results across meta‐analyses necessitate clarification. The optimal nutritional route in AP remains uncertain. Therefore, this study aimed to compare mortality among nutritional administration routes in patients with AP using consistency model.MethodsThis study searched four major databases for relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Two authors independently extracted and checked data and quality. Network meta‐analysis was conducted for estimating risk ratios (RRs) with 95% confidence interval (CI) based on random‐effects model. Subgroup analyses accounted for AP severity and nutrition support initiation.ResultsA meticulous search yielded 1185 references, with 30 records meeting inclusion criteria from 27 RCTs (n = 1594). Pooled analyses showed the mortality risk reduction associated with nasogastric (NG) (RR = 0.34; 95%CI: 0.16–0.73) and nasojejunal (NJ) feeding (RR = 0.46; 95%CI: 0.25–0.84) in comparison to nil per os. Similarly, NG (RR = 0.45; 95%CI: 0.24–0.83) and NJ (RR = 0.60; 95%CI: 0.40–0.90) feeding also showed lower mortality risk than total parenteral nutrition. Subgroup analyses, stratified by severity, supported these findings. Notably, the timing of nutritional support initiation emerged as a significant factor, with NJ feeding demonstrating notable mortality reduction within 24 and 48 h, particularly in severe cases.ConclusionFor severe AP, both NG and NJ feeding appear optimal, with variations in initiation timings. NG feeding does not appear to merit recommendation within the initial 24 h, whereas NJ feeding is advisable within the corresponding timeframe following admission. These findings offer valuable insights for optimizing nutritional interventions in AP.
The Dynamic Role of Subnational Regions in Firm Performance
Authors: Shu Haibing , Viard V. Brian 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThis study investigates dynamics of subnational regions in determining firm performance over time and by ownership type. We explain theoretically how subnational regions affect firm performance over time in the context of path dependence and the institution‐based view and test these predictions using annual data of manufacturing firms in China from 2000 to 2014 – before and after a major negative institutional shock (2008 financial crisis). Consistent with path dependence, regional institutional quality diverges across regions before 2008, a pattern that is disrupted post‐2008. Firm performance is increasing in institutional quality so that location effects are increasingly important before the financial crisis but less so post‐crisis. These effects are greater for private‐ than state‐owned enterprises consistent with differences in organizational objectives under the institution‐based view.
Measurement of adolescent psychological wellbeing: A test of factor structure and measurement invariance
Authors: Thakur Hena , Choi Jae Wan , Andrews Arthur R. , Temple Jeff R. , Cohen Joseph R. 
Published: April 2024

AbstractGains in holistic approaches to adult mental health have been associated with increasing interest in understanding psychological wellbeing (PWB) among adolescents. Empirical examination of measurement models for PWB in adolescence is lacking. Thus, the current study examined PWB in a longitudinal, diverse sample of 433 adolescents (non‐Latinx Black: 37.6%; non‐Latinx White: 25.9%; Latinx: 36.5%; Male adolescents: 50.1%). A one‐factor, correlated six‐factor and hierarchical models were examined across racial/ethnic (White, Black, and Hispanic) and gender (female, male) identities, after which the best fitting model was selected to undergo invariance testing. A one‐factor structure was superior, and exhibited strict invariance across racial/ethnic and gender identities at each wave of the study, as well as longitudinal invariance within the entire sample.
An evaluation of the effectiveness of sumac and molasses as additives for alfalfa silage: Influence on nutrient composition, in vitro degradability and fermentation quality
Authors: Tatlı Seven Pınar , Yıldırım Esra Nur , Seven İsmail , Kaya Can Ayhan , İflazoğlu Mutlu Seda 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThis study investigated the effects of sumac and molasses on nutrient composition, in vitro degradability and fermentation quality of alfalfa silage. Alfalfa was ensiled in quadruplicate in vacuum jars untreated group (A) or after the following treatments: sumac group at 10% (AS), molasses group at 5% (AM), and sumac (10%) and molasses (5%) group (ASM). Silos (n = 64) were stored for 0, 21, 45 or 60 days. The results showed that dry matter (DM) contents of the AS, AM and ASM groups were statistically higher than the control group (p < 0.001). Only on the 21st day of fermentation the crude ash content of the AS group was found to be significantly higher than the other groups (p < 0.05). In vitro, DM and organic matter degradation values of the AMS group increased significantly (p < 0.001). A significant decrease in alfalfa silage's pH values was determined with sumac and molasses additives (p < 0.001). The ammonia nitrogen (NH3‐N) values of the control, AS, AM and ASM groups at Day 60 were determined as 9.08%, 7.22%, 7.00% and 6.81% respectively (p < 0.05). The water‐soluble carbohydrate (WSC) values of all groups on the 60th day were significantly decreased compared to the 0th day (p < 0.001). When the groups were evaluated within themselves, there was a statistically significant difference between the 0th and 60th day lactic acid values. The acetic acid content of the A group on the 60th day was found to be significantly higher than the other groups (p < 0.01). There was a significant decrease in propionic acid levels on Days 21, 45 and 60 compared to Day 0 of fermentation (p < 0.001). The highest butyric acid (BA) level was determined in the A group on the 21st, 45th and 60th days of fermentation (p < 0.05). In conclusion, sumac prevents proteolysis depending on its tannin content. It improves silage fermentation positively thanks to its organic acid content, while the molasses additive is effective in silage fermentation, mainly depending on the WSC level. However, it was determined that neither additive could reduce the silage pH to the appropriate value ranges due to the low doses, and they could not mainly prevent the formation of BA.
Money growth pegging, Taylor rule, status‐seeking behavior and the “spirit of capitalism”
Authors: Le Riche Antoine , Parent Antoine 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThis paper analyzes the impact of “spirit of capitalism” on stationary welfare and stability properties of a one‐sector Ramsey economy, where the demand of money is motivated by a cash‐in‐advance constraint on consumption expenditures. Preferences are defined over consumption and capital stock. There is a monetary authority that follows either a money growth pegging rule or an interest rate pegging rule. When a money growth pegging rule is introduced, a unique steady state emerges. A slight desire for status is a sufficient condition for an increase in the money growth rate to exert a local stabilizing effect and to improve stationary welfare. When an interest rate pegging rule is introduced, two steady states may emerge: a “liquidity trap” and an “interior” steady state. Both steady states are locally determinate. Moreover, we show that a slight desire for status is also a sufficient condition to ensure that the stationary welfare at “interior” steady state is higher than the one of the “liquidity trap”. It follows that an increase in the policy rate is, then, an efficient way to exit the “liquidity trap” steady state. Under similar conditions, a higher policy rate increases the stationary welfare at the “interior” steady state.
Green quality choice in a duopoly
Authors: Gori Luca , Purificato Francesco , Sodini Mauro 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThis article considers a quantity‐setting duopoly (Cournot rivalry) in which firms adopt an abatement technology as a device to improve the quality of products. Consumer preferences capture vertical product differentiation (quality) towards “green” products. This introduces a trade‐off on the production side, as firms that do not abate, in turn, do not sustain any abatement cost but the demand for their product is low. On the contrary, firms that choose to abate incur abatement costs, but the demand for their product is high. The article aims to study and understand whether this kind of preference may lead firms to strategically invest in green technology and introduces a new, private‐based (that contrasts the well‐known public‐based) mechanism through which pollution abatement can emerge as a sub‐game perfect Nash equilibrium (SPNE) of a non‐cooperative abatement decision game with product quality and complete information. The model is developed in a parsimonious way to pinpoint the main determinants of the endogenous market outcomes ranging from an anti‐prisoner's dilemma in which self‐interest and mutual benefit of non‐abatement do not conflict to an anti‐prisoner's dilemma in which self‐interest and mutual benefit of abatement do not conflict, passing through to an anti‐coordination scenario. Additionally, the welfare analysis reveals the existence of a win‐win solution from a societal perspective. The article shows that the results obtained in the Cournot setting also hold considering a Bertrand duopoly.
Influence of tutor interventions and group process on medical students' engagement in problem‐based learning
Authors: Kassab Salah Eldin , Hamdy Hossam , Mamede Silvia , Schmidt Henk 
Published: April 2024

AbstractIntroductionStudent engagement is influenced by several variables, among which are the teaching styles employed by faculty. In problem‐based learning (PBL), the role of faculty is to facilitate the learning of the tutorial group as they work through clinical problems. However, the influence of tutor intervention styles and group process on engagement of students in PBL tutorials is unclear.MethodsThe study was conducted with year 2 and 3 medical students (n = 176) in PBL tutorial groups at the end of an integrated PBL course. Students evaluated their behavioural, cognitive and emotional engagement in PBL tutorials using a pre‐validated 11‐item questionnaire. Students also filled in a modified version of a previously published tutor intervention profile (TIP) questionnaire. The modified TIP questionnaire represents three constructs (1) steering the learning process (6 items), (2) stimulating student autonomy (4 items) and (3) establishing relatedness with students (3 items). In addition, PBL group process was evaluated using a 5‐item nominal scale: (1) tutorial atmosphere, (2) listening and information sharing, (3) group performance, (4) decision making and (5) reaction to leadership.ResultsEstablishing sense of relatedness in the group by PBL tutors was the most important predictor of emotional engagement (F = 41.213, ΔR2 = 0.191, β = 0.438, P = 0.000). On the other hand, steering the learning process was a significant predictor of behavioural engagement (F = 19.0, ΔR2=0.098, β = 0.314, P = 0.000). However, stimulating student autonomy was not a significant predictor of student engagement in PBL tutorials. On the other hand, enhancing the group process in PBL tutorials significantly predicts student engagement with strong impact on emotional and cognitive engagement of students.ConclusionsEstablishing the sense of relatedness in the group and steering the learning process by PBL tutors as well as improving PBL group process are significant predictors of student engagement in PBL tutorials with emotional and cognitive engagement being the most sensitive variables affected.
The consequences of seeing imagination as a dual‐process virtue
Authors: Lindberg Ingrid Malm 
Published: April 2024

AbstractMichael T. Stuart (2021 and 2022) has proposed imagination as an intellectual dual‐process virtue, consisting of imagination1 (underwritten by cognitive Type 1 processing) and imagination2 (supported by Type 2 processing). This paper investigates the consequences of taking such an account seriously. It proposes that the dual‐process view of imagination allows us to incorporate recent insights from virtue epistemology, providing a fresh perspective on how imagination can be epistemically reliable. The argument centers on the distinction between General Reliability (GR) and Functional System Reliability (FSR), for example in relation to Kengo Miyazono and Uko Tooming's (2023) argument for epistemic generativity. Furthermore, the paper claims that the dual‐process virtue account enables us to integrate a wide range of findings from the literature on epistemology and imagination. Moreover, it suggests a novel way to distinguish the virtues of creativity and imagination and presents a case for viewing imagination as a virtue rather than a skill.
The plastid‐localized lipoamide dehydrogenase 1 is crucial for redox homeostasis, tolerance to arsenic stress and fatty acid biosynthesis in rice
Authors: Chen Ting‐Ting , Zhao Peng , Wang Yuan , Wang Han‐Qing , Tang Zhu , Hu Han , Liu Yu , Xu Ji‐Ming , Mao Chuan‐Zao , Zhao Fang‐Jie , Wu Zhong‐Chang 
Published: April 2024

Summary
Soil contamination with arsenic (As) can cause phytotoxicity and reduce crop yield. The mechanisms of As toxicity and tolerance are not fully understood.
In this study, we used a forward genetics approach to isolate a rice mutant, ahs1, that exhibits hypersensitivity to both arsenate and arsenite. Through genomic resequencing and complementation tests, we identified OsLPD1 as the causal gene, which encodes a putative lipoamide dehydrogenase.
OsLPD1 was expressed in the outer cell layer of roots, root meristem cells, and in the mesophyll and vascular tissues of leaves. Subcellular localization and immunoblot analysis demonstrated that OsLPD1 is localized in the stroma of plastids. In vitro assays showed that OsLPD1 exhibited lipoamide dehydrogenase (LPD) activity, which was strongly inhibited by arsenite, but not by arsenate. The ahs1 and OsLPD1 knockout mutants exhibited significantly reduced NADH/NAD+ and GSH/GSSG ratios, along with increased levels of reactive oxygen species and greater oxidative stress in the roots compared with wild‐type (WT) plants under As treatment. Additionally, loss‐of‐function of OsLPD1 also resulted in decreased fatty acid concentrations in rice grain.
Taken together, our finding reveals that OsLPD1 plays an important role for maintaining redox homeostasis, conferring tolerance to arsenic stress, and regulating fatty acid biosynthesis in rice.