bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Sequential gentle hydration increases encapsulation in model protocells
Authors: Gehlbach Emma M. , Robinson Abbey O. , Engelhart Aaron E. , Adamala Katarzyna P. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractSmall, spherical vesicles are a widely used chassis for the formation of model protocells and investigating the beginning of compartmentalized evolution. Various methods exist for their preparation, with one of the most common approaches being gentle hydration, where thin layers of lipids are hydrated with aqueous solutions and gently agitated to form vesicles. An important benefit to gentle hydration is that the method produces vesicles without introducing any organic contaminants, such as mineral oil, into the lipid bilayer. However, compared to other methods of liposome formation, gentle hydration is much less efficient at encapsulating aqueous cargo. Improving the encapsulation efficiency of gentle hydration would be of broad use for medicine, biotechnology, and protocell research. Here, we describe a method of sequentially hydrating lipid thin films to increase encapsulation efficiency. We demonstrate that sequential gentle hydration significantly improves encapsulation of water-soluble cargo compared to the traditional method, and that this improved efficiency is dependent on buffer composition. Similarly, we also demonstrate how this method can be used to increase concentrations of oleic acid, a fatty acid commonly used in origins of life research, to improve the formation of vesicles in aqueous buffer.
Political decentralisation and political-administrative relation in the local councils in Tanzania
Authors: Lameck Wilfred Uronu 
Published: October 2023

PurposeThis paper analyses the degree of political decentralisation and its relation to the local councils in Tanzania. It explores the institutional and political set-up of the local councils originating from the degree of political decentralisation and how it influences the tension between the bureaucrats and local politicians.Design/methodology/approachQualitative approach by a comparative case study is adopted to investigate the phenomenon in two local governments in Tanzania. The data were collected through interviews with 37 senior local government officials and eight focus group discussions with 48 administrators and councillors.FindingsThe findings indicate that the two local governments are subjected to a similar political system guided by similar rules and guidelines from the central government bureaucracy for implementing the party manifesto and central government priorities. Thus, the local politicians have little room for negotiation in adopting local agenda to reflect the preferences of the local community. Any attempt to challenge this status quo creates political tensions between bureaucrats and the administrators.Originality/valueThe findings provide invaluable insights to different stakeholders such as political scientists, government officials, and policymakers with interests in research or practice of political decentralization and political-administrative relation.
Critical success factors of Public-Private Partnerships in the education sector
Authors: Sajida  , Kusumasari Bevaola 
Published: October 2023

PurposeThis paper aims to identify the factors affecting the implementation of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in the education sector.Design/methodology/approachBased on Scopus and adopting the protocol of Staples and Niazi (2007), this systematic literature review examined 21 articles on PPPs in the education sector. Content analysis is adopted to identify research gaps and provide information on critical issues in the cases.FindingsThe findings have identified the critical success factors of PPPs in the education sector in 12 countries, revealing varying degrees of success and implementation challenges. They reflect the importance of clear objectives, effective communication, and robust partnerships between the public and private sectors to achieve success. These insights contribute to an in-depth understanding of PPP implementation in education, which can guide future projects.Originality/valueThe critical success factors identified in PPPs implementation in education across various countries may provide a comprehensive worldwide perspective for researchers, practitioners and policymakers.
JAVA Memory Care program: Facilitating social and occupational engagement for older adults living with advanced dementia
Authors: du Toit Sanetta Henrietta Johanna , Jessup Glenda Madeleine 
Published: October 2023

AbstractBackground and ObjectivesResidents in aged care homes often report lack of life purpose and meaning and limited opportunities to contribute to their community. The JAVA Memory Care program is designed to facilitate engagement for older adults with advanced dementia. This study explored whether JAVA Memory Care engaged such adults meaningfully, on social and occupational levels, within one Australian residential care home.MethodsA mixed method design guided this exploration. Trained staff facilitated six JAVA groups over 2 months. Three sources of data were utilised. Observational data (qualitative and quantitative) were obtained using a narratively enhanced Assessment Tool for Social and Occupational Engagement (ATOSE). The other two data sources were qualitative and analysed thematically: reflections by the lead JAVA facilitator and data generated by a research discussion group.ResultsThe quantitative data comprised 564 ATOSE behaviour markers. Participants were categorised as being engaged in 93% of these markers. Two of the three qualitative themes focused on the collective and self‐expressive nature of participant engagement. The third theme focused on practicalities such as time pressures, facilitator training, resident selection, and resource preparation. For residents, the groups provided a context for relating meaningfully to others.ConclusionThe JAVA program achieved a high level of engagement. However, it was a time intensive intervention and required a person‐centred philosophy, appropriate staff training, organisational support, and a suitable quiet space. The program had positive benefits, but practical issues identified needed to be considered before implementation.
PENet: A phenotype encoding network for automatic extraction and representation of morphological discriminative features
Authors: Zhao Zhengyu , Lu Yuanyuan , Tong Yijie , Chen Xin , Bai Ming 
Published: October 2023

Abstract

Digitalized natural history collections serve as vital ecological and evolutionary research resources. Specimen retrieval based on morphological features allows for the rapid acquisition of similar specimens from these collections, aiding in maximizing the utilization of their resources and catering to the requirements of related research. However, achieving this objective requires effective feature extraction and representation techniques.

We developed a phenotype encoding network (PENet), a deep learning‐based model that combines hashing methods to automatically extract and encode discriminative features into hash codes.

We evaluated the performance of PENet on six data sets, including a newly constructed beetle data set (6566 images), which covers over 60% of the genera within the six subfamilies of Scarabaeidae. Phenotype encoding network showed high performance in feature extraction and image retrieval, allowing users to input an image of a specimen and efficiently retrieve all specimens with similar morphology. Two visualization methods, t‐SNE and Grad‐CAM, were used to evaluate the representation ability of the hash codes. Additionally, by using the hash codes generated from PENet, a phenetic distance tree was constructed based on the beetle data set. The result indicated that the hash codes could reveal the phenetic distances and relationships among categories to a certain extent.

PENet provides an automatic and efficient method to extract and represent morphological discriminative features. The generated hash code can be used as a low‐dimensional carrier of these features, enabling efficient specimen retrieval. Moreover, the distance information carried by these hash codes suggests their potential in systematics, deserving further exploration.
Integrated multicomponent interventions to support healthy aging of the whole person
Authors: Langevin Helene M. , Weber Wendy , Chen Wen 
Published: October 2023

AbstractHealthy aging is an integrated “whole person” process that involves an individual's biology, behavior, and social/physical environment. With the recent development of antiaging drugs, careful consideration of the respective roles of pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic approaches to both health and aging is in order. Recent advances in understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms of aging are providing new measures that can be used as clinical outcomes in studying the impact of antiaging interventions in humans. This paper outlines the strategic interest of the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) in supporting the development, testing, and implementation of effective, scalable, and integrated multicomponent interventions to support healthy aging of the whole person.
The effects of transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation delivered with and without high‐frequency modulation on spinal and corticospinal excitability
Authors: Massey Sarah , Konig Danielle , Upadhyay Pratham , Evcil Zehra Beril , Melin Rebbekha , Fatima Memoona , Hannah Ricci , Duffell Lynsey 
Published: October 2023

AbstractTranscutaneous spinal cord stimulation (TSCS) has been shown to improve motor recovery in people with spinal cord injury (SCI). Some groups deliver TSCS modulated with a kHz‐frequency (TSCS–kHz); the intensity used for TSCS–kHz is usually set based on the motor threshold for TSCS, even though TSCS–kHz threshold is considerably higher than TSCS. As a result, TSCS–kHz interventions tend to be delivered at low intensities with respect to the motor threshold (~40%). In this study, we compared the effects of sub‐threshold TSCS and TSCS–kHz, when delivered at similar intensity relative to their own motor threshold. Experiment I compared the after‐effects of 20 min of sub‐threshold (40% threshold) TSCS and TSCS–kHz on spinal and corticospinal excitability in able‐bodied participants. Experiment II assessed the dose–response relationship of delivering short (10‐pulse) trains of TSCS and TSCS–kHz at three different current intensities relative to the threshold (40%, 60%, and 80%). Experiment I found that 20 min of TSCS–kHz at a 40% threshold decreased posterior root reflex amplitude (p < 0.05), whereas TSCS did not. In experiment II, motor‐evoked potential (MEP) amplitude increased following short trains of TSCS and TSCS–kHz of increasing intensity. MEP amplitude was significantly greater for TSCS–kHz compared with TSCS when delivered at 80% of the threshold (p < 0.05). These results suggest that TSCS and TSCS–kHz have different effects when delivered at similar intensity relative to their own threshold; both for immediate effects on corticospinal excitability and following prolonged stimulation on spinal excitability. These different effects may be utilized for optimal rehabilitation in people with SCI.
Contact allergy to oxidised geraniol may be over‐represented in individuals with photocontact allergy to ketoprofen
Authors: Bruze Magnus , Marmgren Victoria , Zimerson Erik , Antelmi Annarita , Svedman Cecilia , Mowitz Martin 
Published: October 2023

AbstractBackgroundSimultaneous overrepresentations of contact allergies and photocontact allergies are common in individuals with photocontact allergy to ketoprofen.AimsTo investigate whether contact allergy to oxidised (ox.) geraniol, geraniol, geranial, neral and citral is overrepresented in individuals with photocontact allergy to ketoprofen.MethodsThe contact allergy rates to ox. geraniol, geraniol, geranial, neral and citral in routinely patch tested dermatitis patients were compared with the corresponding rates in individuals with photocontact allergy to ketoprofen.ResultsAllergic patch test reactions were noted to ox. geraniol 11% (n = 39, 5.8%), ox. geraniol 6% (n = 12, 1.8%), geraniol 6% (n = 2, 0.3%), geranial (n = 18, 2.7%), neral (n = 7, 1.0%) and citral (n = 15, 2.2%). In those four patients who were diagnosed with photocontact allergy to ketoprofen during the test period, a significant overrepresentation (p = 0.020) of simultaneous contact allergy to ox. geraniol 11% was demonstrated. Overrepresentation of simultaneous contact allergy to various combinations of ox. geraniol, ox. limonene and ox. linalool was also noted in ketoprofen‐photoallergic patients.ConclusionsContact allergy to ox. geraniol, geranial and citral is common in routinely tested dermatitis patients. There is an overrepresentation of simultaneous contact allergy to ox. geraniol, ox. limonene and ox. linalool in patients with photocontact allergy to ketoprofen.
Juckreiz, Schlafstörungen, depressive Symptome, Fatigue und Einschränkungen der Arbeitsproduktivität bei Patienten mit moderater bis schwerer atopischer Dermatitis: Daten aus dem TREATgermany‐Register
Authors: Birkner Thomas , Siegels Doreen , Heinrich Luise , Haufe Eva , Abraham Susanne , Heratizadeh Annice , Harder Inken , Bell Magnus , Fell Isabell , Worm Margitta , Handrick Christiane , Effendy Isaak , Asmussen Andrea , Kleinheinz Andreas , Homey Bernhard , Sticherling Michael , Hong‐Weldemann Sung‐Hei , Augustin Matthias , Weisshaar Elke , Schäkel Knut , Schaefer Thomas , Schwarz Beate , Wiemers Franca , Brücher Jens‐Joachim , Quist Sven , Wollenberg Andreas , Biedermann Tilo , Ertner Konstantin , von Kiedrowski Ralph , Werfel Thomas , Weidinger Stephan , Schmitt Jochen ,   und die TREATgermany‐Studiengruppe
Published: October 2023

ZusammenfassungHintergrundTREATgermany ist ein multizentrisches Register, das Patienten mit moderater bis schwerer atopischer Dermatitis (AD) aus derzeit 74 Studienzentren (Universitätskliniken, Krankenhäuser und Praxen) in Deutschland umfasst. Bis zum 31. August 2021 wurden 1.230 erwachsene Patienten eingeschlossen.MethodenIn TREATgermany füllen Patienten und Ärzte Fragebögen zu Symptomen, Krankheitsschwere, Lebensqualität, Depressivität und Fatigue aus. Die Einschränkungen der Arbeitsleistung werden insbesondere mit dem Work Limitations Questionnaire (WLQ) erfasst. Um Assoziationen zwischen beruflicher Leistung/Arbeitseinschränkungen und Symptomen zu bestimmen, wurden Korrelationen und Regressionsmodelle berechnet.ErgebnisseDie untersuchte Stichprobe von 228 berufstätigen Patienten beschrieb einen durchschnittlichen Produktivitätsverlust von 6% bei der Arbeit innerhalb der letzten zwei Wochen vor der Aufnahme in das Register. Der WLQ‐Wert für den Produktivitätsverlust war moderat mit Juckreiz (r = 0,32) und Schlafstörungen (r = 0,39) und stark mit depressiven Symptomen (r = 0,68) und Fatigue (r = 0,60) korreliert.SchlussfolgerungenDie Analysen der Registerdaten zeigen, dass eine moderate bis schwere AD einen negativen Einfluss auf die Arbeitsproduktivität der Patienten hat. Die Analysen weisen außerdem auf die relevanten Zusammenhänge zwischen Arbeitsproduktivität, depressiven Symptomen und Fatigue hin, was die durch die psychologischen Komponenten der AD verursachte Krankheitslast verdeutlicht.
Multiple minute digitate hyperkeratosis: 10 years from Caccetta's algorithm. A case report and narrative review
Authors: Prados‐Carmona Alvaro , Prados‐Carmona Juan José , Ruiz‐Villaverde Ricardo , Navarro‐Triviño Francisco José 
Published: October 2023

SummaryTo date, the clinical appearance and histological features of multiple minute digitate hyperkeratosis have been well characterized. However, there is no consensus on its treatment. After a comprehensive search of the databases MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library and Database of Systematic Reviews, we have summarized the available clinical evidence regarding the therapeutic approaches already reported for this entity since its first description in 1967. Additional publications were identified within the references of retrieved papers. Sixty‐five articles have been revised, resulting in a total of 73 compatible cases. The histopathological features and different classifications used through history have also been considered, updating and completing the available knowledge. Ultimately, we propose topical treatment with 5 % 5‐fluorouracil formulated with 10 % salicylic acid as a potential treatment that has been used successfully in a 51‐year‐old woman at our facility. Further research in form of prospective or comparative studies is encouraged for a better conceptualization of the therapeutics of this disease.
Race and the Income‐Achievement Gap
Authors: Bacic Ryan , Zheng Angela 
Published: October 2023

AbstractA large literature documents a positive correlation between parental income and child test scores. In this paper, we study whether this relationship, the dependence of the cognitive skills of children on the socioeconomic resources of their parents, varies across race. Using education data linked to tax records, we find that the income‐achievement gap is small for East Asian children while significantly larger for Indigenous children. School‐level factors explains a large portion of the variation in the gap across race. Our results suggest that the large income‐achievement gap for Indigenous students stems partially from inequality in special needs diagnoses.
Pregnancy outcomes for women with myasthenia gravis and their newborns: A nationwide register‐based cohort study
Authors: O'Connor Laura , Malmeström Clas , Da Silva Rodrigues Rui , Brauner Susanna , Wikström Anna‐Karin , Punga Anna Rostedt 
Published: October 2023

AbstractBackground and PurposeFew large‐scale studies examine whether maternal myasthenia gravis (MG) is a risk factor for complications during pregnancy and childbirth. This study evaluated whether maternal MG is associated with an increased risk of adverse pregnancy, delivery, and neonatal outcomes.MethodsWe conducted a nationwide Swedish register‐based cohort study of women who gave birth to singleton infants (≥22 gestational weeks) during 1987–2019. Exposed women were diagnosed with MG before or during the index pregnancy (N = 443). Unexposed women comprised 4249 women without a diagnosis of MG, matched for age, parity, hospital, and year of childbirth. The risks of adverse pregnancy, delivery, and neonatal outcomes for women with MG were estimated using regression modeling and presented as adjusted odds ratios (aOR).ResultsThere was no increased risk of pregnancy complications in women with MG. Women with MG had a spontaneous onset of labor less often than women without MG (69.8% vs. 79.5%; aOR 0.59; p < 0.001) as well as higher labor induction rates and elective cesarean section deliveries (16.0% vs. 12.3%, aOR 1.42; p = 0.02 and 12.0% vs. 8.1%, aOR 1.59; p = 0.009). Infants of women with MG were born on average 2 days earlier (p = 0.002); however, these infants did not have a higher risk of having low APGAR, being small for gestational age, or having a congenital malformation.ConclusionThis first nationwide study of pregnancy in women with MG in Sweden demonstrates reassuring results overall, suggesting generally safe pregnancy outcomes for women with MG and their infants.
THE TIME OF POLITICS, THE POLITICS OF TIME, AND POLITICIZED TIME: AN INTRODUCTION TO CHRONOPOLITICS
Authors: Esposito Fernando , Becker Tobias 
Published: October 2023

ABSTRACTTime is so deeply interwoven with all aspects of politics that its centrality to the political is frequently overlooked. For one, politics has its own times and rhythms. Secondly, time can be an object and an instrument of politics. Thirdly, temporal attributes are used not only to differentiate basic political principles but also to legitimize or delegitimize politics. Finally, politics aims at realizing futures in the present or preventing them from materializing. Consequently, the relationship between politics and time encompasses a broad spectrum of phenomena and processes that cry out for historicization. In our introduction to this History and Theory theme issue on chronopolitics, we argue that the concept of chronopolitics makes it possible to do this and, in the process, to move the operation of rethinking historical temporalities from the periphery toward the center of historiographical attention as well as to engage in a dialogue with scholars from a wide range of disciplines. To this end, we propose a broad concept of chronopolitics by discussing existing definitions, by distinguishing between three central dimensions of chronopolitics (the time of politics, the politics of time, and politicized time), and by systematizing possible approaches to studying chronopolitics.
Anti‐skin ageing activities of rice (Oryza sativa) bran soft and hard waxes in cultured skin cells
Authors: Chaikul Puxvadee , Kanlayavattanakul Mayuree , Khongkow Mattaka , Jantimaporn Angkana , Lourith Nattaya 
Published: October 2023

AbstractObjectiveRice (Oryza sativa) bran waxes, the by‐products of rice bran oil manufacturing, are widely used as inactive components in several preparations. Nevertheless, the function of rice bran waxes against skin ageing has never been reported. This study aimed to investigate thermal property and fatty acid profile of rice bran waxes, including rice bran soft (RBS) and hard (RBH) waxes, and the activities against skin ageing in cultured skin cells.MethodsThermal property and fatty acid profile of rice bran waxes were analysed by differential scanning calorimetry and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, respectively. The cytotoxicity assay of waxes was performed in B16F10 melanoma cells, human skin fibroblasts and co‐culture cells of HaCaT cells and human skin fibroblasts. The non‐cytotoxic concentrations of waxes were evaluated for their activities against skin ageing, including melanogenesis assay, antioxidant activity, collagen content analysis, matrix metalloproteinase‐1 and matrix metalloproteinase‐2 inhibitory assay and anti‐inflammatory activity.ResultsThermal property indicated the endotherm peaks with melting temperatures at 40.89 ± 0.27°C and 69.64 ± 0.34°C for RBS and RBH, respectively. The main fatty acids in RBS were oleic (31.68 ± 0.75%) and linoleic acids (27.19 ± 0.40%), whereas those in RBH were palmitic (36.24 ± 1.08%) and stearic acids (35.21 ± 4.51%). The cytotoxicity assay in single cells and co‐culture cells showed the non‐cytotoxicity of RBS (0.0001–1 mg/mL) and RBH (0.0001–0.1 mg/mL). The anti‐skin ageing activities of 1 mg/mL RBS and 0.1 mg/mL RBH included the melanogenesis inhibition by suppression of tyrosinase and tyrosinase‐related protein‐2 enzymes, the antioxidant activity by cellular protection against cell damage and cell death, the collagen stimulation, the matrix metalloproteinase‐1 and matrix metalloproteinase‐2 suppression and the anti‐inflammation.ConclusionsThe study results suggest that RBS and RBH can potentially be applied as the functional ingredients in formulations against skin ageing as well as provide the superior benefit on skin moisturization.