bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sexual health challenges in migrant, immigrant, and displaced populations 2022–2023
Authors: Panchenko Sofya , Gabster Amanda , Mayaud Philippe , Erausquin Jennifer Toller
Published: December 2023

Purpose of review

This article reviews recently published research on sexual health challenges and HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among migrant, immigrant and displaced people (MIDP) worldwide. We aimed to identify current evidence gaps regarding HIV/STI epidemiology, sexual health needs and interventions.

Recent findings

Incidence and prevalence of HIV, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus and syphilis were higher among MIDP compared to host populations. However, research studies are limited in geographical distribution and few routine surveillance data are collected. Barriers to sexual health services use and participation in preventive interventions include low HIV/STI symptom knowledge and risk awareness, and intersectional experiences of stigma/discrimination. Better targeted promotion messages are needed to increase utilization of preventive sexual health interventions.

Access to, and use of, sexual health services and interventions are evident needs among MIDP. These needs are intertwined with social determinants of health, including cultural/language barriers and stigma. Effective interventions require involvement of multiple stakeholder groups, encouraging engagement and providing social protection. Promising directions for interventions and further research include developing sexual health supportive environments through peer-strategies and provider training in trauma-informed care.
Serum amyloid P component accumulates and persists in neurones following traumatic brain injury
Authors: Yip Ping K. , Liu Zhou-Hao , Hasan Shumaila , Pepys Mark B. , Uff Christopher E. G.
Published: December 2023

The mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative sequelae of traumatic brain injury (TBI) are poorly understood. The normal plasma protein, serum amyloid P component (SAP), which is normally rigorously excluded from the brain, is directly neurocytotoxic for cerebral neurones and also binds to A
β
amyloid fibrils and neurofibrillary tangles, promoting formation and persistence of A
β
fibrils. Increased brain exposure to SAP is common to many risk factors for dementia, including TBI, and dementia at death in the elderly is significantly associated with neocortical SAP content. Here, in 18 of 30 severe TBI cases, we report immunohistochemical staining for SAP in contused brain tissue with blood–brain barrier disruption. The SAP was localized to neurofilaments in a subset of neurones and their processes, particularly damaged axons and cell bodies, and was present regardless of the time after injury. No SAP was detected on astrocytes, microglia, cerebral capillaries or serotoninergic neurones and was absent from undamaged brain. C-reactive protein, the control plasma protein most closely similar to SAP, was only detected within capillary lumina. The appearance of neurocytotoxic SAP in the brain after TBI, and its persistent, selective deposition in cerebral neurones, are consistent with a potential contribution to subsequent neurodegeneration.
Straining the root on and off triggers local calcium signalling
Authors: Audemar Vassanti , Guerringue Yannick , Frederick Joni , Vinet Pauline , Melogno Isaty , Babataheri Avin , Legué Valérie , Thomine Sébastien , Frachisse Jean-Marie
Published: December 2023

A fundamental function of an organ is the ability to perceive mechanical cues. Yet, how this is accomplished is not fully understood, particularly in plant roots. In plants, the majority of studies dealing with the effects of mechanical stress have investigated the aerial parts. However, in natural conditions roots are also subjected to mechanical cues, for example when the root encounters a hard obstacle during its growth or when the soil settles. To investigate root cellular responses to root compression, we developed a microfluidic system associated with a microvalve allowing the delivery of controlled and reproducible mechanical stimulations to the root. In this study, examining plants expressing the R-GECO1-mTurquoise calcium reporter, we addressed the root cell deformation and calcium increase induced by the mechanical stimulation. Lateral pressure applied on the root induced a moderate elastic deformation of root cortical cells and elicited a multicomponent calcium signal at the onset of the pressure pulse, followed by a second one at the release of the pressure. This indicates that straining rather than stressing of tissues is relevant to trigger the calcium signal. Although the intensity of the calcium response increases with the pressure applied, successive pressure stimuli led to a remarkable attenuation of the calcium signal. The calcium elevation was restricted to the tissue under pressure and did not propagate. Strain sensing, spatial restriction and habituation to repetitive stimulation represent the fundamental properties of root signalling in response to local mechanical stimulation. These data linking mechanical properties of root cells to calcium elevation contribute to elucidating the pathway allowing the root to adapt to the mechanical cues generated by the soil.
Evidence for managing herbivores for reef resilience
Authors: Donovan Mary K. , Counsell Chelsie W. W. , Donahue Megan J. , Lecky Joey , Gajdzik Laura , Marcoux Stacia D. , Sparks Russell , Teague Christopher
Published: December 2023

Herbivore management is an important tool for resilience-based approaches to coral reef conservation, and evidence-based science is needed to enact successful management. We synthesized data from multiple monitoring programs in Hawai‘i to measure herbivore biomass and benthic condition over a 10-year period preceding any major coral bleaching. We analysed data from 20 242 transects alongside data on 27 biophysical and human drivers and found herbivore biomass was highly variable throughout Hawai‘i, with high values in remote locations and the lowest values near population centres. Both human and biophysical drivers explained variation in herbivore biomass, and among the human drivers both fishing and land-based pollution had negative effects on biomass. We also found evidence that herbivore functional group biomass is strongly linked to benthic condition, and that benthic condition is sensitive to changes in herbivore biomass associated with fishing. We show that when herbivore biomass is below 80% of potential biomass, benthic condition is predicted to decline. We also show that a range of management actions, including area-specific fisheries regulations and gear restrictions, can increase parrotfish biomass. Together, these results provide lines of evidence to support managing herbivores as an effective strategy for maintaining or bolstering reef resilience in a changing climate.
Cattle aggregations at shared resources create potential parasite exposure hotspots for wildlife
Authors: Titcomb Georgia , Hulke Jenna , Mantas John Naisikie , Gituku Benard , Young Hillary
Published: December 2023

Globally rising livestock populations and declining wildlife numbers are likely to dramatically change disease risk for wildlife and livestock, especially at resources where they congregate. However, limited understanding of interspecific transmission dynamics at these hotspots hinders disease prediction or mitigation. In this study, we combined gastrointestinal nematode density and host foraging activity measurements from our prior work in an East African tropical savannah system with three estimates of parasite sharing capacity to investigate how interspecific exposures alter the relative riskiness of an important resource – water – among cattle and five dominant herbivore species. We found that due to their high parasite output, water dependence and parasite sharing capacity, cattle greatly increased potential parasite exposures at water sources for wild ruminants. When untreated for parasites, cattle accounted for over two-thirds of total potential exposures around water for wild ruminants, driving 2–23-fold increases in relative exposure levels at water sources. Simulated changes in wildlife and cattle ratios showed that water sources become increasingly important hotspots of interspecific transmission for wild ruminants when relative abundance of cattle parasites increases. These results emphasize that livestock have significant potential to alter the level and distribution of parasite exposures across the landscape for wild ruminants.
A critical role for iron and zinc homeostatic systems in the evolutionary adaptation of Escherichia coli to metal restriction
Authors: Paterson Joy R. , Wadsworth Joshua M. , Hu Ping , Sharples Gary J.
Published: December 2023

Host nutritional immunity utilizes metal deprivation to help prevent microbial infection. To investigate bacterial adaptation to such restrictive conditions, we conducted experimental evolution with two metal sequestering agents. Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and diethylenetriamine pentamethylene phosphonic acid (DTPMP) were selected as ligands because they differentially affect cellular levels of iron, manganese and zinc in

Escherichia coli

. Mutants of

E. coli

strain BW25113 were isolated after cultivation at sub-minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) chelant levels and genetic changes potentially responsible for tolerance were identified by whole-genome sequencing. In EDTA-selected strains, mutations in the promoter region of yeiR resulted in elevated gene expression. The yeiR product, a zinc-specific metallochaperone, was confirmed to be primarily responsible for EDTA resistance. Similarly, in two of the DTPMP-selected strains, a promoter mutation increased expression of the fepA-entD operon, which encodes components of the ferric-enterobactin uptake pathway. However, in this case improved DTPMP tolerance was only detectable following overexpression of FepA or EntD in trans. Additional mutations in the cadC gene product, an acid-response regulator, preserved the neutrality of the growth medium by constitutively activating expression of the cadAB regulon. This study uncovers specific resistance mechanisms for zinc and iron starvation that could emerge by selection against host nutritional immunity or competition with heterologous metallophores. It also provides insight into the specific metals affected by these two widely used chelators critical for their antibacterial mode of action.
Impact of Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol and oxycodone co-administration on measures of antinociception, dependence, circadian activity, and reward in mice
Authors: Slivicki Richard A. , Wang Justin G. , Nhat Vy Trinh Tran , Kravitz Alexxai V. , Creed Meaghan C. , Gereau Robert W.
Published: December 2023

Oxycodone is commonly prescribed for moderate to severe pain disorders. While efficacious, long-term use can result in tolerance, physical dependence, and the development of opioid use disorder. Cannabis and its derivatives such as Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) have been reported to enhance oxycodone analgesia in animal models and in humans. However, it remains unclear if Δ9-THC may facilitate unwanted aspects of oxycodone intake, such as tolerance, dependence, and reward at analgesic doses. This study sought to evaluate the impact of co-administration of Δ9-THC and oxycodone across behavioral measures related to antinociception, dependence, circadian activity, and reward in both male and female mice. Oxycodone and Δ9-THC produced dose-dependent antinociceptive effects in the hotplate assay that were similar between sexes. Repeated treatment (twice daily for 5 days) resulted in antinociceptive tolerance. Combination treatment of oxycodone and Δ9-THC produced a greater antinociceptive effect than either administered alone, and delayed the development of antinociceptive tolerance. Repeated treatment with oxycodone produced physical dependence and alterations in circadian activity, neither of which were exacerbated by co-treatment with Δ9-THC. Combination treatment of oxycodone and Δ9-THC produced CPP when co-administered at doses that did not produce preference when administered alone. These data indicate that Δ9-THC may facilitate oxycodone-induced antinociception without augmenting certain unwanted features of opioid intake (e.g. dependence, circadian rhythm alterations). However, our findings also indicate that Δ9-THC may facilitate rewarding properties of oxycodone at therapeutically relevant doses which warrant consideration when evaluating this combination for its potential therapeutic utility.
Wolf-dog hybrids arise: new insight into the eastern fringe of the Northern European wolf population
Authors: Tirronen Konstantin F. , Kuznetsova Anastasiia S.
Published: December 2023

In study, tissue samples of 35 wolves hunted in Russian Karelia and 12 specimens of dogs were used in 2012-2022 for genetic analysis. Among wolves four individuals (11%) were recognized as wolf-dog hybrids (WDH) according to phenotypic characteristics. The analysis of 11 autosomal STR confirmed the hybrid origin of three, and allowed us to exclude one. At the same time, additionally were identified two more admixed individuals with no phenotypic deviations, arising the total number of hybrids to five (14%). Analysis of CR1 mtDNA in the specified sample set revealed the dog haplotype in one of the presumed phenotypically WDH. The mtDNA haplotype diversity was represented by two haplotypes common in Eurasia. Revealed level of genetic diversity of the population by 11 microsatellite loci was high (He = 0.746; Ho = 0.655; A = 8). However, the observed heterozygosity turned out to be notably lower than expected, and the inbreeding coefficient was also high (Fis = 0.131) and, moreover, increased compared to the previously noted (Aspi et al. 2009). In the past, the wolf population of Karelia was considered as pure wolves, with a moderate level of hunting pressure. The observed genetic processes – interspecific hybridization and increased inbreeding occur against the background of a noticeable arise of the new wave of fight against the wolf in Karelia. This region of some importance in the biogeographic sense – through this territory, the connection of animal populations living in Scandinavia and the Russian Plain, and furthered to Siberia is realized.
Dissection of a non-coding risk locus at 1p36.23 identifiesERRFI1as a novel gene in the pathogenesis of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis
Authors: Gough Oliver J. , Rane Shraddha S. , Saunders Amy , Priestley Megan , Ray-Jones Helen , Shi Chenfu , Warren Richard B. , Adamson Antony , Eyre Stephen
Published: December 2023

Background

Psoriasis and its associated inflammatory arthritis Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) are potentially life-ruining conditions associated with numerous comorbidities. A previously-identified genetic risk association for psoriasis and PsA lies in a non-coding region at chromosome 1p36.23, and as such functional validation is required to determine the genetic mechanism contributing to psoriatic disease risk.

Results

rs11121131 – a variant in tight linkage with rs11121129, the lead GWAS variant for the 1p36.23 association – lies in a putative enhancer active in keratinocytes but not in immune cells. Promoter-capture Hi-C and H3K27Ac HiChIP showed keratinocyte-specific interactions between 1p36.23 and theTNFRSF9/PARK7/ERRFI1gene locus ∼200Kb upstream of the risk locus. Deletion of the enhancer in HaCat keratinocytes led to a reduction in transcript levels of the geneERRFI1, a negative regulator of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) signalling. CRISPR activation of the enhancer also affectedERRFI1levels, but paradoxically showed that steady-state activation led to repression ofERRFI1, accompanied by significant deposition of H3K27Me3 histone marks at both the enhancer and theERRFI1gene locus. ERRFI1 levels were shown to be increased in inflamed skin from a mouse model of psoriasis, further suggesting its involvement in disease.

Conclusions

These data indicate rs11121131 lies in an enhancer which modulatesERRFI1expression in keratinocytes, providing a likely risk mechanism for the 1p36.23 risk association.ERRFI1represents a novel gene in the pathogenesis of psoriasis and PsA – improving our understanding of these diseases – and the ERRFI1/EGFR signalling axis may therefore be a target for new treatment modalities for psoriatic disease.
Temperature dependence of mosquitoes: comparing mechanistic and machine learning approaches
Authors: Athni Tejas S. , Childs Marissa L. , Glidden Caroline K. , Mordecai Erin A.
Published: December 2023

Mosquito vectors of pathogens (e.g.,Aedes,Anopheles, andCulexspp. which transmit dengue, Zika, chikungunya, West Nile, malaria, and others) are of increasing concern for global public health. These vectors are geographically shifting under climate and other anthropogenic changes. As small-bodied ectotherms, mosquitoes are strongly affected by temperature, which causes unimodal responses in mosquito life history traits (e.g., biting rate, adult mortality rate, mosquito development rate, and probability of egg-to-adult survival) that exhibit upper and lower thermal limits and intermediate thermal optima in laboratory studies. However, it remains unknown how mosquito thermal responses measured in laboratory experiments relate to the realized thermal responses of mosquitoes in the field. To address this gap, we leverage thousands of global mosquito occurrences and geospatial satellite data at high spatial resolution to construct machine-learning based species distribution models, from which vector thermal responses are estimated. We apply methods to restrict models to the relevant mosquito activity season and to conduct ecologically-plausible spatial background sampling centered around ecoregions for comparison to mosquito occurrence records. We found that thermal minima estimated from laboratory studies were highly correlated with those from the species distributions (r = 0.90). The thermal optima were less strongly correlated (r = 0.69). For most species, we did not detect thermal maxima from their observed distributions so were unable to compare to laboratory-based estimates. The results suggest that laboratory studies have the potential to be highly transportable to predicting lower thermal limits and thermal optima of mosquitoes in the field. At the same time, lab-based models likely capture physiological limits on mosquito persistence at high temperatures that are not apparent from field-based observational studies but may critically determine mosquito responses to climate warming.
Supporting young people through the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond: A multi-site qualitative longitudinal study
Authors: Whyte Madelyn , Nichol Emily , Hawke Lisa D. , Wuerth Kelli , Quinlan-Davidson Meaghen , O’Reilly Aileen , Duffy Joseph , Mathias Steve , Henderson JL , Barbic Skye
Published: December 2023

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, youth have experienced substantial stress due to abrupt changes in education, finances, and social life, compounding pre-existing stressors. With youth (ages 15-26) often at critical points in development, they are vulnerable to long-term mental health challenges brought on by pandemic trauma. To identify youth experiences throughout the pandemic and examine changes over time, we conducted semi-structured interviews among n=141 youth in two Canadian provinces (Ontario and British Columbia) and across the country of Ireland at three time points over the course of more than one year (August 2020-October 2021). We conducted a qualitative longitudinal analysis using an inductive content approach. Categories identified were (1) coping with hardship; (2) opportunities for growth; (3) adapting to new ways of accessing services; (4) mixed views on the pandemic: attitudes, behaviour, and perception of policy response; (5) navigating COVID-19 information; (6) transitioning to life after the pandemic; and (7) youth-led recommendations for government and service response. The findings also reveal trends in health and wellness in accordance with prolonged periods of lockdown, changes in weather, and return to normalcy after the availability of COVID-19 vaccines. Key recommendations from youth include incorporating youth voice into decision making, communicating public health information effectively to youth, enhancing service delivery post-pandemic, and planning for future pandemics. These results provide insights into the extensive longitudinal impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on young people across three geographical locations. Including youth in decision making for future pandemics or public health emergencies is critical.
Linking Structure and Function: Image-Based Virtual Populations of the Retinal Vasculature
Authors: Hernandez Rémi , Madhusudhan Savita , Zheng Yalin , El-Bouri Wahbi K.
Published: December 2023

Purpose

This study explores the relationship between microvascular parameters as delineated by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and retinal perfusion. We introduce a versatile framework to examine the interplay between the retinal vasculature structure and function, generating virtual vasculatures from central retinal vessels to macular capillaries. Alongside this, we develop a haemodynamics model which tests the associations between vascular morphology and retinal perfusion.

Methods

The generation of the vasculature is based on the distribution of four clinical parameters pertaining to the dimension and blood pressure of the central retinal vessels, constructive constrained optimisation and Voronoi diagram. Arterial and venous trees are generated in the temporal retina and connected through three layers of capillaries at different depths in the macula. The correlations between total retinal blood flow and macular flow fraction and vascular morphology are derived as Spearman rank coefficients and uncertainty from input parameters is quantified.

Results

A virtual cohort of 200 healthy vasculatures were generated. Mean and standard deviation for retinal blood flow and macular flow ratio were 19.15±7.34 μL/min and 4.52±1.19 %. Retinal blood flow was correlated with vessel area density, vessel diameter index, fractal dimension and vessel calibre index. The macular flow fraction was not correlated with any morphological metrics.

Conclusions

The proposed framework is able to reproduce vascular networks in the macula that are morphologically and functionally similar to real vasculature. The framework provides quantitative insights into how macular perfusion can be affected by changes in vascular morphology delineated on OCTA.
The Effect of Pseudoknot Base Pairing on Cotranscriptional Structural Switching of the Fluoride Riboswitch
Authors: Hertz Laura M , White Elise N , Kuznedelov Konstantin , Cheng Luyi , Yu Angela M , Kakkaramadam Rivaan , Severinov Konstantin , Chen Alan , Lucks Julius B
Published: December 2023

A central question in biology is how RNA sequence changes influence dynamic conformational changes during cotranscriptional folding. Here we investigated this question through the study of transcriptional fluoride riboswitches, non-coding RNAs that sense the fluoride anion through the coordinated folding and rearrangement of a pseudoknotted aptamer domain and a downstream intrinsic terminator expression platform. Using a combination ofE. coliRNA polymerasein vitrotranscription and cellular gene expression assays, we characterized the function of mesophilic and thermophilic fluoride riboswitch variants. We showed that only variants containing the mesophilic pseudoknot function at 37 °C. We next systematically varied the pseudoknot sequence and found that a single wobble base pair is critical for function. Characterizing thermophilic variants at 65 °C throughThermus aquaticusRNA polymerasein vitrotranscription showed the importance of this wobble pair for function even at elevated temperatures. Finally, we performed all-atom molecular dynamics simulations which supported the experimental findings, visualized the RNA structure switching process, and provided insight into the important role of magnesium ions. Together these studies provide deeper insights into the role of riboswitch sequence in influencing folding and function that will be important for understanding of RNA-based gene regulation and for synthetic biology applications.
Characterization of DNA methylation reader proteins ofArabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Cahn Jonathan , Lloyd James P. B. , Karemaker Ino D. , Jansen Pascal W.T.C. , Pflueger Jahnvi , Duncan Owen , Petereit Jakob , Bogdanovic Ozren , Millar A. Harvey , Vermeulen Michiel , Lister Ryan
Published: December 2023

In plants, cytosine DNA methylation (mC) is largely associated with transcriptional repression of transposable elements, but it can also be found in the body of expressed genes, referred to as gene body methylation (GbM). GbM is correlated with ubiquitously expressed genes, however its function, or absence thereof, is highly debated. The different output that mC can have raises questions as to how it is interpreted - or read - differently in these sequence and genomic contexts. To screen for potential mC binding proteins, we performed an unbiased DNA affinity pull-down assay combined with quantitative mass spectrometry using methylated DNA probes for each DNA sequence context. All mC readers known to date were found to preferentially bind to the methylated probes, along with a range of new mC binding protein candidates. Functional characterization of these mC readers, focused on the MBD and SUVH families, was undertaken by ChIP-seq mapping of genome-wide binding sites, their protein interactors, and the impact of high-order mutations on transcriptomic and epigenomic profiles. Together, this highlighted specific context preferences for these proteins, and in particular the ability of MBD2 to bind specifically to GbM. This comprehensive analysis of Arabidopsis mC readers emphasizes the complexity and interconnectivity between DNA methylation and chromatin remodelling processes in plants.
Suppression of theE.coli rnpA49conditionally lethal phenotype via different compensatory mutations
Authors: Babina Arianne M. , Kirsebom Leif A. , Andersson Dan I.
Published: December 2023

RNase P is an essential enzyme found across all domains of life that is responsible for the 5’-end maturation of precursor tRNA transcripts. Since its discovery in the 1970s, numerous studies have sought to elucidate the mechanisms and biochemistry governing RNase P function. However, much remains unknown about the regulation of RNase P expression, the turnover and degradation of the enzyme, and the mechanisms underlying the phenotypes and complementation of specific RNase P mutations. InEscherichia coli, the temperature-sensitivernpA49mutation in the protein subunit of RNase P has arguably been one of the most well-studied and commonly used mutations for examining the enzyme’s activityin vivo. Here we report for the first time naturally-occurring temperature-resistant suppressor mutations ofE. colistrains carrying thernpA49allele. We find thatrnpA49strains can partially compensate the temperature-sensitive defect via gene amplifications of either RNase P subunit (rnpA49orrnpB) or by the acquisition of loss-of-function mutations in Lon protease or RNase R. Our results agree with previous plasmid overexpression and gene deletion complementation studies and importantly suggest the involvement of Lon protease in the degradation and/or regulatory pathway(s) of the mutant protein subunit of RNase P. This work offers novel insight into the behavior and complementation of thernpA49allelein vivoand provides direction for follow-up studies regarding RNase P regulation and turnover.
Altered neural activity in the mesoaccumbens pathway underlies impaired social reward processing inShank3-deficient rats
Authors: Barbier Marie , Thirtamara Rajamani Keerthi , Netser Shai , Wagner Shlomo , Harony-Nicolas Hala
Published: December 2023

Social behaviors are crucial for human connection and belonging, often impacted in conditions like Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The mesoaccumbens pathway (VTA and NAc) plays a pivotal role in social behavior and is implicated in ASD. However, the impact of ASD-related mutations on social reward processing remains insufficiently explored. This study focuses on theShank3mutation, associated with a rare genetic condition and linked to ASD, examining its influence on the mesoaccumbens pathway during behavior, using theShank3-deficient rat model. Our findings indicate thatShank3-deficient rats exhibit atypical social interactions and have difficulty adjusting behavior based on reward values, associated with modified neuronal activity of VTA dopaminergic and GABAergic neurons and reduced dopamine release in the NAc. Moreover, we demonstrate that manipulating VTA neuronal activity can normalize this behavior, providing insights into the effects ofShank3mutations on social reward and behavior, and identify a potential neural pathway for intervention.
Early life stress induces sex-specific changes in behavior and parallel locus coeruleus neuron excitability
Authors: Savannah Brannan , Sarahi Porcayo , Richardson Ben D
Published: December 2023

Stress-related psychiatric disorders are more common in female clinical populations after adolescence, but the exact mechanism behind this difference is unknown. The locus coeruleus (LC) is a brain area that contains adrenergic norepinephrine (NE)-releasing neurons previously found to display basal sex differences in excitability and stress neuropeptide responses in animal models. Corticotropin releasing factor (CRF), the neuropeptide responsible for stress signaling, has been shown to directly alter LC neuron firing, thereby providing one mechanism by which stress may modulate noradrenergic function in either acute or chronic stress. Such activation of CRF receptor 1 (CRF1) by CRF in the LC is fundamentally different in male and female mice due to increased CRF receptor expression, G-protein coupling, and CRF-stimulated NE release in female compared to males. Despite evidence for an interaction between sex, LC adrenergic neuron activity, and stress, how early life stress affects LC neuronal behavior in parallel to anxiety, activity, and cognition (i.e. components of PTSD and ADHD) in a sexual dimorphic manner has not been explored. The effects of an early life variable stress (ELVS) paradigm inducing stress at both early life and adolescence were assessed in C57 male and female mice using behavioral and electrophysiological measures for hyperactivity, anxiety, short-term memory, repetitive behaviors and LC neuron excitability. Hyperactivity in open field and deficits in Y-maze performance were observed in ELVS female mice when compared to controls. ELVS females, but not males, showed a reduction in LC excitability when compared to controls of the same sex, which was due to hyperpolarization and an increase in the action potential delay time. LC neurons form naïve mice indicated that CRF1receptor-mediated effects on LC neuron excitability were largely due to Gq-mediated (Ca2+-dependent) signaling in male mice and non Ca2+-dependent (likely Gs) in female mice. Through this animal model of early life stress inducing impaired memory and hyperactivity in a sex-specific manner, further investigation to ameliorate these symptoms may benefit more targeted treatment approaches for stress-related disorders based on sex and developmental stage of trauma exposure(s).
Multitask Learning of Biophysically-Detailed Neuron Models
Authors: Verhellen Jonas , Beshkov Kosio , Amundsen Sebastian , Ness Torbjørn V. , Einevoll Gaute T.
Published: December 2023

The human brain operates at multiple levels, from molecules to circuits, and understanding these complex processes requires integrated research efforts. Simulating biophysically-detailed neuron models is a computationally expensive but effective method for studying local neural circuits. Recent innovations have shown that artificial neural networks (ANNs) can accurately predict the behaviour of these detailed models in terms of spikes, electrical potentials, and optical readouts. While these methods have the potential to accelerate large network simulations by several orders of magnitude compared to conventional differential equation based modelling, they currently only predict voltage outputs for the soma or a select few neuron compartments. Our novel approach, based on enhanced state-of-the-art architectures for multitask learning (MTL), allows for the simultaneous prediction of membrane potentials in each compartment of a neuron model, at a speed of up to two orders of magnitude faster than classical simulation methods. By predicting all membrane potentials together, our approach not only allows for comparison of model output with a wider range of experimental recordings (patch-electrode, voltage-sensitive dye imaging), it also provides the first stepping stone towards predicting local field potentials (LFPs), electroencephalogram (EEG) signals, and magnetoencephalography (MEG) signals from ANN-based simulations. It further presents a challenging benchmark for MTL architectures due to the large amount of data involved, the presence of correlations between neighbouring compartments, and the non-Gaussian distribution of membrane potentials.
Protocol using similarity score and improved shrink-wrap algorithm for better convergence of phase-retrieval calculation in X-ray diffraction imaging
Authors: Yoshida Syouyo , Harada Kosei , Uezu So , Takayama Yuki , Nakasako Masayoshi
Published: December 2023

In X-ray diffraction imaging (XDI), electron density maps of a targeted particle are reconstructed computationally from the diffraction pattern alone using phase-retrieval (PR) algorithms. However, the PR calculations sometimes fail to yield realistic electron density maps that approximate the structure of the particle. This occurs due to the absence of structure amplitudes at and near the zero-scattering angle and the presence of Poisson noise in weak diffraction patterns. Consequently, the PR calculation becomes a bottleneck for XDI structure analyses. Here, a protocol to efficiently yield realistic maps is proposed. The protocol is based on the empirical observation that realistic maps tend to yield low similarity scores, as suggested in our prior study [Sekiguchi et al. (2017), J. Synchrotron Rad.
24, 1024–1038]. Among independently and concurrently executed PR calculations, the protocol modifies all maps using the electron-density maps exhibiting low similarity scores. This approach, along with a new protocol for estimating particle shape, improved the probability of obtaining realistic maps for diffraction patterns from various aggregates of colloidal gold particles, as compared with PR calculations performed without the protocol. Consequently, the protocol has the potential to reduce computational costs in PR calculations and enable efficient XDI structure analysis of non-crystalline particles using synchrotron X-rays and X-ray free-electron laser pulses.
Organizational factors determining LGBT disclosure: an analysis of the Brazilian context
Authors: Pinheiro Alan Bandeira , do Prado Nágela Bianca , Moraes Gustavo Hermínio Salati Marcondes de , Carraro Wendy Beatriz Witt Haddad
Published: December 2023

Purpose

This study investigated the impact of some determinant organizational factors on disseminating LGBT information in Brazilian companies in 2019.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is exploratory and has a quantitative approach, which uses secondary data from the CSR Hub database 2019 of publicly traded Brazilian companies. For constructing the LGBT disclosure metric, the authors took the study by Parizek and Evangelinos (2021). The independent variables were the social responsibility, financial and governance characteristics of the companies. Analysis was conducted by combining a symmetric method (multiple linear regression analysis with econometric models) and an asymmetric approach (fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis).

Findings

The research findings showed that companies with higher performance in CSR have greater LGBT disclosure. Findings also show that companies with higher financial performance tend to have greater LGBT disclosure. This is because larger companies have more resources to invest in CSR practices and sexual diversity policies, as well as a greater number of stakeholders pressing them to act more responsibly. Additional results showed that companies that signed the UN Global Compact and publish an environmental report annually have greater engagement in LGBT disclosure.

Originality/value

This study's novelty emerges from applying the fsQCA technique, which helps to a broaden understanding of the conditions necessary to achieve greater LGBT disclosure. Furthermore, this study initiates the debate on LGBT disclosure in emerging economies, a recent topic and still little explored empirically.
Economics of ChatGPT: a labor market view on the occupational impact of artificial intelligence
Authors: Zarifhonarvar Ali
Published: December 2023

Purpose

The study investigates the influence of ChatGPT on the labor market dynamics, aiming to provide a structured understanding of the changes induced by generative AI technologies.

Design/methodology/approach

An analysis of existing literature serves as the foundation for understanding the impact, while the supply and demand model helps assess the effects of ChatGPT. A text-mining approach is utilized to analyze the International Standard Occupation Classification, identifying occupations most susceptible to disruption by ChatGPT.

Findings

The study reveals that 32.8% of occupations could be fully impacted by ChatGPT, while 36.5% might experience a partial impact and 30.7% are likely to remain unaffected.

Research limitations/implications

While this study offers insights into the potential influence of ChatGPT and other generative AI services on the labor market, it is essential to note that these findings represent potential implications rather than realized labor market effects. Further research is needed to track actual changes in employment patterns and job market dynamics where these AI services are widely adopted.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the field by systematically categorizing the level of impact on different occupations, providing a nuanced perspective on the short- and long-term implications of ChatGPT and similar generative AI services on the labor market.
Evaluation of ecological restoration effects and diagnosis of obstacle factors in coastal zones: a case study of Qinhuangdao city
Authors: Yan Yuxia , Wang Na , Cao Yun
Published: December 2023

Purpose

Coastal zone ecological restoration project is of great significance to alleviate marine ecological degradation. Evaluating the effect of coastal ecological restoration projects and identifying the obstacle factors affecting their restoration level can provide an empirical basis for future Marine ecological restoration projects.

Design/methodology/approach

However, due to the initial stage of coastal zone ecological restoration projects, the actual monitoring data of coastal zone ecological restoration is relatively lacking. Based on the CRITIC-TOPSIS (combination of CRITIC method and TOPSIS method) method, combined with the subjective perception of the public and the actual data of the restoration project, this paper proposes an evaluation method of the coastal zone ecological restoration effect to obtain the specific implementation effect of the coastal zone ecological restoration project. The main obstacle factors affecting the evaluation of coastal ecological restoration effect are identified by using the obstacle degree model.

Findings

This paper conducted an empirical study on the restoration of sandy shoreline and coastal wetland in Qinhuangdao city. Based on the data of restoration projects and the subjective perception of ecological restoration by the public in Qinhuangdao city, the research results showed that the coastal zone ecological restoration effect of Qinhuangdao city was general. The quality of the restoration project and the public perception have an important influence on the evaluation of the restoration effect. Improving the quality of the restoration project, strengthening the public's participation in ecological restoration and allowing the public to better participate in the ecological restoration of the coastal zone can improve the effect of ecological restoration of the coastal zone in an all-round way.

Originality/value

The research results of this paper have a guiding role in the ecological restoration of coastal cities in the future, and also have a demonstration and reference role for the assessment of the effect of ecological restoration of coastal zones.
From scarcity to security: Participant well‐being in the first 2 years of a basic income pilot
Authors: Hamilton Leah , Choplin Victoria , Paputseanos Taylor
Published: December 2023

This article describes the mental well‐being outcomes of participants in the HudsonUP pilot, a 5‐year basic income initiative for low to mid‐income residents of Hudson, NY. The study employs a mixed‐methods approach, including both quantitative surveys and qualitative phenomenological interviews, to better understand participants' experiences 2 years into the pilot. Through the lens of the psychological theory of scarcity, findings indicate that the HudsonUP program has improved the overall mental well‐being of the participants by reducing the stress and anxiety associated with financial insecurity and helping them to meet their basic needs, pursue further education, and career opportunities. Despite the challenges of the ongoing pandemic and inflation, participants expressed gratitude for the “undercurrent of stability” provided by the program.
Primary central nervous system marginal zone lymphoma
Authors: Flospergher Elena , Marino Fabrizio , Calimeri Teresa , Cangi Maria Giulia , Ferreri Andrés José María , Ponzoni Maurilio , Bongiovanni Lucia
Published: December 2023

Marginal zone lymphoma (MZL) is the most common indolent lymphoma primarily arising in the central nervous system (CNS). To date, 207 cases of primary CNS MZL (PCNSMZL) were published, mostly as single case reports or small case series. It most commonly presents as extra‐axial dural‐based masses, more frequently in middle‐aged women, displaying an insidious onset, with a long history of symptoms preceding the diagnosis. PCNSMZL can be radiographically mistaken for meningioma. PCNSMZL consists of CD20+, CD3− small B lymphocytes with varying degrees of plasmacytic differentiation and low proliferation index. Trisomy 3, but not MALT1 or IgH translocation, is a common genetic abnormality. Other recurrent genetic abnormalities involve TNFAIP3 and NOTCH2. Ethiopathogenesis was poorly investigated. Due to its rarity, standard of care remains to be defined; it exhibits an excellent prognosis after varied treatments, such as surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy or their combinations. Nevertheless, each treatment should be considered after an accurate analysis of overtreatment risk. Short follow‐up is a major limitation in reported PCNSMZL cases, which restrains our knowledge on long‐term results and iatrogenic sequels. This review was focussed on presentation, differential diagnoses, pathological findings, treatment options and clinical outcomes of PCNSMZL; recommendations for best clinical practice are provided.
Thought and language: Effects of group‐mindedness on young children's interpretation of exclusive we
Authors: Vasil Jared , Price Dayna , Tomasello Michael
Published: December 2023

The current study investigated whether age‐related changes in the conceptualization of social groups influences interpretation of the pronoun we. Sixty‐four 2‐ and 4‐year‐olds (N = 29 female, 50 White‐identifying) viewed scenarios in which it was ambiguous how many puppets performed an activity together. When asked who performed the activity, a speaker puppet responded, “We did!” In one condition, the speaker was near one and distant from another puppet, implying a dyadic interpretation of we. In another condition, the speaker was distant from both, thus pulling for a group interpretation. In the former condition, 2‐ and 4‐year‐olds favored the dyadic interpretation. In the latter condition, only 4‐year‐olds favored the group interpretation. Age‐related conceptual development “expands” the set of conceivable plural person referents.
Rethinking value in public management
Authors: Jensen Tobias Berggren , Waldorff Susanne Boch , Kornberger Martin
Published: December 2023

With the ascent of the concept of public value, the theory and practice of administration have shifted from a focus on management, effectiveness and efficiency (as espoused in New Public Management) towards an agenda of public value creation. This has resulted in a large, heterogenous number of scholarly publications on public value. In this paper, we review this important body of work from the period 1994 to 2019, discuss it critically and propose a few avenues for future research – especially in terms of conceptualizing public value. We do so by using a mixed‐methods approach, incorporating semantic‐network analysis, which allows a comprehensive quantitative and qualitative analysis of the field of public value. In this article we show in great detail how the literature on public value has evolved and is configured, categorize how value is defined and measured within the literature, introduce a novel mixed‐methods approach for literature reviews, and provide three conceptual contributions including (1) digitalization in public value theory can expand our understanding of citizens, (2) public value is more than just public, and (3) visualizing public value through controversy maps. Finally, we provide suggestions for further research.
“Do as we say and you'll be successful”: Mundane power in corporate entrepreneurship
Authors: Skade Lorenzo , Wenzel Matthias , Koch Jochen
Published: December 2023

Corporate entrepreneurship is infused with power. Prior research has begun to shed light on the role of power in innovation contexts. Yet, we know much less about the day‐to‐day enactment of mundane power in corporate entrepreneurship, which, despite its partial subtlety, is no less consequential regarding decisions on pursuing or abandoning innovative ideas. This paper extends the literature on corporate entrepreneurship and power by exploring the discursive practices through which managers and employees of a corporate accelerator disciplined venture founders in the pursuit of innovative ideas. Based on a Foucauldian discourse analysis of ethnographic data, we show how a clash of entrepreneurship discourses invokes the day‐to‐day performance of three discursive practices—observing, exercising, and punishing—through which the accelerator's staff ensured that venture founders would adopt a dominant entrepreneurship discourse, with important implications for decisions on pursuing innovative ideas or not. These findings deepen our understanding of enacting mundane power in corporate entrepreneurship as well as the enablers and outcomes of such power enactment. We also outline the practical implications for emerging corporate innovation settings such as accelerators.