bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The co‐development of ethnic identity and future orientation among ethnically/racially minoritized adolescents: A parallel process model
Authors: Coulter Kiera M. , Benner Aprile D. , Rojas Francheska Alers , Harrington Madeline 
Published: January 2025

AbstractThis brief report examined the co‐development of ethnic/racial identity (ERI) and future orientation among ethnically/racially minoritized adolescents. The current study used three waves of longitudinal data (N = 619) spanning 8th to 10th grades from a diverse sample (55.9% Latino/a/x, 21.2% biracial/multiethnic/other, 13.2% Asian, 9.7% Black; 54.1% female; 57.4% economically disadvantaged). We investigated the developmental trajectories of future orientation and ethnic identity and determined if these trajectories were interrelated. The results of the single and parallel process latent growth curve models showed that mean levels of ERI increased while future orientation decreased over time. Initial levels of ERI were significantly related to accelerated declines in future orientation. Exploratory analyses, which tested distinct forms of ethnic/racial discrimination as moderators, revealed that the negative association between ERI in 8th grade and the rate of change in future orientation was significant only at average and high levels of educator‐perpetrated discrimination. These results point to complex interrelations between ERI formation and experiences of ethnic/racial discrimination and their influence on trajectories of future orientation during early to middle adolescence.
An Automatic Multi‐Scale Test for Serial Correlation of High‐Dimensional Time Series
Authors: Zhang Bingbing , Liu Mengya 
Published: January 2025

ABSTRACTThis article proposes an automatic multi‐scale test for detecting serial correlation of high‐dimensional time series (HDTS) from the perspective of time‐frequency analysis. Three theoretical tools fuel the construction and implementation of the test, including the ‐norm, the maximum overlap discrete wavelet transform (MODWT) and a Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC)‐like penalty term. The three accomplish, in turn, data dimensionality reduction, scale‐by‐scale correlation time‐frequency analysis and data‐driven selection of the optimal number of scales, thus completing the implementation of our testing principle. Under some mild conditions, the limiting null distribution of the proposed test is proved to be chi‐square with degrees of freedom 1, and the testing power of our test is analyzed in theory under a general alternative hypothesis. The finite‐sample performance of the automatic multi‐scale test is demonstrated through a series of simulations. A study of stock returns in different trading sectors is implemented as a practical application.
Swatting Flies: Biting Insects as Non‐Invasive Samplers for Mammalian Population Genomics
Authors: Khan Anubhab , Carter Ryan , Mpamhanga Chengetai D. , Masiga Daniel , Channumsin Manun , Ciosi Marc , Manangwa Oliva , Mramba Furaha , Ijaz Umer Zeeshan , Auty Harriet , Mable Barbara K. 
Published: January 2025

ABSTRACTAdvances in next‐generation sequencing have allowed the use of DNA obtained from unusual sources for wildlife studies. However, these samples have been used predominantly to sequence mitochondrial DNA for species identification while population genetics analyses have been rare. Since next‐generation sequencing allows indiscriminate detection of all DNA fragments in a sample, technically it should be possible to sequence whole genomes of animals from environmental samples. Here we used a blood‐feeding insect, tsetse fly, to target whole genome sequences of wild animals. Using pools of flies, we compared the ability to recover genomic data from hosts using the short‐read sequencing (Illumina) and adaptive sampling of long‐read data generated using Oxford nanopore technology (ONT). We found that most of the short‐read data (85%–99%) was dominated by tsetse fly DNA and that adaptive sampling on the ONT platform did not substantially reduce this proportion. However, once tsetse reads were removed, the remaining data for both platforms tended to belong to the dominant host expected in the tsetse fly blood meal. Reads mapping to elephants, warthogs and giraffes were recovered more reliably than for buffalo, and there was high variance in the contribution of DNA by individual flies to the pools, suggesting that there are host specific biases. For elephants, using short‐read sequencing we were able to identify over 300,000 unfiltered SNPs, which we used to estimate the allele frequencies and expected heterozygosity for the population. Overall, our results show that at least for certain wild mammals, it is possible to recover genome‐wide host data from blood‐feeding insects.
Effects of Continuous Graduated Pneumatic Compression and Intermittent Pneumatic Compression on Lower Limb Hemodynamics for VTE Prophylaxis in Arthroplasty
Authors: Li Binglong , Li Xuezhou , Zheng Weibo , Wei Shusheng , Zhang Baoqing , Liu Jianwei , Chen Yongyuan , Wang Dan , Lu Qunshan , Liu Peilai 
Published: January 2025

ABSTRACTObjectiveIntermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) is considered the standard of care for preventing venous thromboembolism (VTE) in the hospital setting. However, its widespread adoption after hospitalization has been limited due to its shortcomings in obstruction of venous valves and blood reflux. The objective of this study is to compare the effects of continuous graduated pneumatic compression (CGPC), a new device with a novel mechanism, and IPC on lower hemodynamics and the incidence of VTE in patients undergoing arthroplasty.MethodsWe randomized 123 participants undergoing knee arthroplasty to receive either IPC or CGPC from June 2022 through August 2023. An experienced sonographer used a Doppler ultrasound scanner to obtain hemodynamic indicators of venous blood. The primary outcome was the blood velocity of the femoral vein measured by a Doppler scanner. Secondary outcomes included the hemodynamic of the femoral vein and popliteal vein, quality of life at discharge and 30 days after surgery, symptomatic and asymptomatic VTE up to 30 days, and adverse events related to the IPC and CGPC device. For statistical analyses, Student's t‐test, analysis of covariance, and the Mann–Whitney U test were used. Statistical significance was indicated with p < 0.05.ResultsThere was no significant difference in femoral vein velocity between the IPC and CGPC groups. However, CGPC demonstrated a significant increase in femoral vein flow compared to the IPC group, with a median (interquartile) increasing from 158.9 (122.9, 204.3) to 265.6 (203.3, 326.8) mL/min in the CGPC group and from 139.0 (103.3, 175.9) to 189.6 (161.4, 270.8) mL/min in the IPC group (p < 0.001). Similar trends were observed in popliteal vein measurements. The differences between the two groups were similar in terms of quality of life, incidence of VTE, and adverse events.ConclusionThe CGPC device provides a substantial increase in blood flow compared to the IPC device. Its safety and effectiveness have been preliminarily validated. The CGPC device presents a promising alternative for VTE prophylaxis in arthroplasty.Trial Registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (registration number: ChiCTR2300078201)
Comparative study of ergosterol and 7‐dehydrocholesterol and their endoperoxides: Generation, identification, and impact in phospholipid membranes and melanoma cells
Authors: Yukuyama Megumi Nishitani , Fabiano Karen Campos , Inague Alex , Uemi Miriam , Lima Rodrigo Santiago , Diniz Larissa Regina , Oliveira Tiago Eugenio , Iijima Thais Satie , Faria Hector Oreliana Fernandes , Santos Rosangela Silva , Nolf Maria Fernanda Valente , Chaves‐Filho Adriano Brito , Yoshinaga Marcos Yukio , Junqueira Helena Couto , Di Mascio Paolo , Baptista Mauricio da Silva , Miyamoto Sayuri 
Published: January 2025

AbstractMelanoma is an aggressive cancer that has attracted attention in recent years due to its high mortality rate of 80%. Damage caused by oxidative stress generated by radical (type I reaction) and singlet oxygen, 1O2 (type II reaction) oxidative reactions may induce cancer. Thus, studies that aim to unveil the mechanism that drives these oxidative damage processes become relevant. Ergosterol, an analogue of 7‐dehydrocholesterol, important in the structure of cell membranes, is widely explored in cancer treatment. However, to date little is known about the impact of different oxidative reactions on these sterols in melanoma treatment, and conflicting results about their effectiveness complicates the understanding of their role in oxidative damage. Our results highlight differences among ergosterol, 7‐dehydrocholesterol (7‐DHC), and cholesterol in membrane properties when subjected to distinct oxidative reactions. Furthermore, we conducted a comparative study exploring the mechanisms of cell damage by photodynamic treatment in A375 melanoma. Notably, endoperoxides from ergosterol and 7‐DHC generated by 1O2 showed superior efficacy in reducing the viability of A375 cells compared to their precursor molecules. We also describe a step‐by‐step process to produce and identify endoperoxides derived from ergosterol and 7‐DHC. While further studies are needed, this work provides new insights for understanding cancer cell death induced by different oxidative reactions in the presence of biologically relevant sterols.
Assessing the Impact of Ramularia Leaf Spot on Barley: Prospects for Fungicide Protection Strategies and Weather‐Based Prediction Models in Argentina
Authors: Erreguerena Ignacio Antonio , Quiroz Facundo José , Cambareri Matías , Pereyra Silvia , Havis Neil David , Carmona Marcelo Aníbal 
Published: January 2025

ABSTRACTRamularia leaf spot (RLS), caused by the fungus Ramularia collo‐cygni (Rcc), has become a threat to barley production in Argentina and the world, causing grain yield and quality losses. Characteristics of the pathogen such as a long latency period, high evolutionary potential, numerous transposonic regions and the ability to infect alternative hosts facilitate Rcc adaption to environmental changes and/or control measures such as fungicides. RLS is considered a sporadic disease in Argentina and its occurrence is highly dependent on weather conditions. The objectives of this work were to quantify the impact of RLS on grain yield and its commercial quality, to establish an optimal protection period (PP) for barley with fungicides, and to describe the association between environmental variables and levels of RLS with the purpose of designing prediction models and more efficient protection strategies. Based on the results from field trials (n = 8), we estimated grain yield losses up to 16%, and these occurred due to reduced grain weight (8.7%) and size (20%). We also determined that the PP begins from the third detectable node (GS33) to first visible awns (GS49) and concluded that the flag leaf fully emerged stage (GS39) was the most efficient fungicide spraying time. Four possible forecast models were proposed based on the daily average temperature accumulated from early tillering (GS21) to GS39 stage, in combination with the number of days of soil water availability, number of days with water excess and duration of leaf wetness or accumulated rainfall from tillering to GS39 (n = 10).
Drivers of Inflation in South Africa Before and After the COVID‐19 Pandemic
Authors: Dery Cosmas , Ilori Ayobami E. , Nsafoah Dennis 
Published: January 2025

ABSTRACTThis paper examines the drivers of consumer price inflation in South Africa to understand their changing pattern before and after the COVID‐19 pandemic. Using quarterly data from 1999Q1 to 2023Q4 and employing a Bayesian VAR model with a penalty function to identify various shocks that drive inflation, we find dominant and persistent role for domestic shocks in explaining inflation fluctuations in South Africa, both before and after COVID‐19 pandemic. In the pre‐pandemic era, domestic shocks accounted for 78% of the positive historical deviation of inflation from its mean, predominantly driven by total domestic demand shocks (44%) with domestic supply shock contributing about 34% to positive inflation variation. Whereas, in the post‐COVID era, domestic shocks still played a dominant role, contributing about 65% to inflation increase, but the relative contribution of total domestic demand increased to three times as large as domestic supply shock. More importantly, the relative contribution of global shocks increased from 22% in the pre‐COVID era to 35% in the post‐COVID era, primarily driven by the growing influence of global supply shocks. Our results suggest that South African inflation increases are largely demand driven and hence within the remit of the South African Reserve Bank to actively use its policy tools to stabilize price level.
Collaboration Through a Computer Screen: Migrant Integration Services and the Challenges of Co‐Producing Services Online
Authors: McMullin Caitlin 
Published: January 2025

ABSTRACTIn this article, I explore the impact of shifting from in‐person to online service delivery on individual and group modes of co‐production of migrant integration services during the COVID‐19 pandemic. The study adds to the literature concerning the effects of digital co‐production on social services that rely heavily on relational interactions to build trust. Using qualitative methods, the research explores how digitalisation affects four key elements: interaction, motivation and commitment, resources and skills, and empowerment and inclusion. While digital co‐production introduces new modes of interaction that may enhance inclusion in some types of individual co‐production, it poses significant challenges for all elements of group co‐production. The study concludes that while digital co‐production may offer some benefits, its application to highly relational services with vulnerable populations is often detrimental, questioning its desirability and effectiveness in such contexts.
Quantifying Thermal Transport in Three-Dimensional Printed Fractal Structures
Authors: Carvajal Mario A. , Pahari Basanta R. , Ramesh Dinesh , Oates William S. 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
Heat transport through three-dimensional printed fractal media is investigated by comparing a fractal diffusion model to infrared measurements using Bayesian uncertainty quantification. The delayed rejection adaptive metropolis (DRAM) algorithm, based on the Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) sampling technique, is used to infer parameter uncertainty, quantify parameter correlation, and compute error propagation of the temperature distributions. The results demonstrate that fractal operators improve modeling thermal transport through complex fractal structures and help understand fractal structure–property relationships. For example, correlations among fractal spatial and temporal scaling parameters, diffusion coefficients, and fractal dimensions are quantified. We find a scaling relationship between the diffusion coefficient D and the temporal fractal time derivative order α that scales nominally as D∝e−α based on constraints from the second law of thermodynamics. The results have implications for building a stronger understanding of heat transport in complex materials beyond random media and models based on Gaussian probability homogenization.
Statistical Characteristic of the Transition Temperature Shift for Reactor Pressure Vessel Steel
Authors: Miura Naoki , Shinko Tomoki 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
In the ductile–brittle transition temperature range, the Charpy absorbed energy exhibits an inherent variation, which causes uncertainty in the transition temperature shift. In the current codes for the evaluation of fracture toughness of reactor pressure vessel steels, margins are considered to account for the uncertainty in the transition temperature shift. Although they have been statistically determined, their adequacy is only inductively assured by specific surveillance program databases. In this study, a model was proposed to describe the statistical characteristics of the transition temperature shift. An equation to describe the standard deviation of the associated transition temperature was theoretically derived from a previously proposed variation model of the Charpy absorbed energy according to the law of propagation of uncertainty. The obtained standard deviations were then compiled into procedures to estimate the transition temperature shift according to the sufficiency of the parameters required for the evaluation (shape of Charpy curve and sample size). The standard deviations of the transition temperature shift assumed in past studies/present codes were compared with those predicted using the proposed model. In the range of upper shelf energy greater than 100 J, the standard deviations in past studies/present codes encompass the estimates obtained using the proposed model. Therefore, the inherent variation in toughness appears to be considered conservatively.
Enhanced suppression of
Stenotrophomonas maltophilia
by a three-phage cocktail: genomic insights and kinetic profiling
Authors: Monsibais Alisha N. , Tea Olivia , Ghatbale Pooja , Dunham Sage J. B. , Zünd Mirjam , Phan Jennifer , Lam Karen , Paulson McKenna , Tran Natalie , Suder Diana S. , Blanc Alisha N. , Samillano Cyril , Suh Joy , Atif Hanna , Vien Ethan , Nguyen Ryan , Vo Allene , Gonen Shane , Pride David , Whiteson Katrine 
Published: January 2025

ABSTRACT

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia
is an understudied, gram-negative, aerobic bacterium that is widespread in the environment and increasingly a cause of opportunistic infections. Treating
S. maltophilia
remains difficult, leading to an increase in disease severity and higher hospitalization rates in people with cystic fibrosis, cancer, and other immunocompromised health conditions. The lack of effective antibiotics has led to renewed interest in phage therapy; however, there remains a great need for well-characterized phages, especially against
S. maltophilia
. In response to an oncology patient with a sepsis infection, we collected 18 phages from Southern California wastewater influent that exhibit different plaque morphology against
S. maltophilia
host strain B28B. We hypothesized that, when combined into a cocktail, genetically diverse phages would give rise to distinct lytic infection kinetics that would enhance bacterial killing when compared to the individual phages alone. We identified three genetically distinct clusters of phages, and a representative from each group was further investigated and screened for potential therapeutic use. The results demonstrated that the three-phage cocktail significantly suppressed bacterial growth compared with individual phages when observed for 48 h. We also assessed the lytic impacts of our three-phage cocktail against a collection of 46
S
.
maltophilia
strains to determine if a multi-phage cocktail has an expanded host range. Our phages remained strain-specific and infected >50% of tested strains. In six clinically relevant
S. maltophilia
strains, the multi-phage cocktail has enhanced suppression of bacterial growth. These findings suggest that specialized phage cocktails may be an effective avenue of treatment for recalcitrant
S. maltophilia
infections resistant to current antibiotics.
Antigen 43 associated with
Escherichia coli
membrane vesicles contributes to bacterial cell association and biofilm formation
Authors: Zavan Lauren , Hor Lilian , Johnston Ella L. , Paxman Jason , Heras Begoña , Kaparakis‑Liaskos Maria 
Published: January 2025

ABSTRACT

Bacterial membrane vesicles (MVs) are produced by all bacteria and contribute to numerous bacterial functions due to their ability to package and transfer bacterial cargo. In doing so, MVs have been shown to facilitate horizontal gene transfer, mediate antimicrobial activity, and promote biofilm formation. Uropathogenic
Escherichia coli
is a pathogenic Gram-negative organism that persists in the urinary tract of its host due to its ability to form persistent, antibiotic-resistant biofilms. The formation of these biofilms is dependent upon proteins such as Antigen 43 (Ag43), which belongs to the widespread Autotransporter group of bacterial surface proteins. In
E. coli,
the autotransporter Ag43 has been shown to contribute to bacterial cell aggregation and biofilm formation via self-association of Ag43 between neighboring Ag43-expressing bacteria. As MVs package bacterial proteins, we investigated whether MVs produced by
E. coli
contained Ag43, and the ability of Ag43-expressing MVs to facilitate cell aggregation and biofilm formation. We showed that Ag43 expressing
E. coli
produced MVs that contained Ag43 on their surface and had an enhanced ability to bind to
E. coli
bacteria. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the addition of Ag43-containing MVs to Ag43-expressing
E. coli
significantly enhanced biofilm formation. These findings reveal the contribution of MVs harboring autotransporters in promoting bacterial aggregation and enhancing biofilm formation, highlighting the impact of MVs and their specific composition to bacterial adaptation and pathogenesis.

IMPORTANCE

Autotransporter proteins are the largest family of outer membrane and secreted proteins in Gram-negative bacteria which contribute to pathogenesis by promoting aggregation, biofilm formation, persistence, and cytotoxicity. Although the roles of bacterial autotransporters are well known, the ability of bacterial membrane vesicles (MVs) naturally released from the surface of bacteria to contain autotransporters and their role in promoting virulence remains less investigated. Our findings reveal that MVs produced by
E. coli
contain the autotransporter protein Ag43. Furthermore, we show that Ag43-containing MVs function to enhance bacterial cell interactions and biofilm formation. By demonstrating the ability of MVs to carry functional autotransporter adhesins, this work highlights the importance of MVs in disseminating autotransporters beyond the bacterial cell membrane to ultimately promote cellular interactions and enhance biofilm development. Overall, these findings have significant implications in furthering our understanding of the numerous ways in which MVs can facilitate bacterial persistence and pathogenesis.