bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of density dependence in growth and natural mortality on FMSY and maximum sustainable yield
Authors: Horbowy Jan , Sparholt Henrik , Cordier Axelle
Published: January 2025

In fisheries management, it is generally assumed that density-dependent processes are confined to the pre-recruit stage of a fish. Consequently, current calculations of fishing mortality reference points include density dependence (DD) solely in recruitment dynamics. However, several studies have reported the importance of DD in growth and natural mortality (M). In this study, we tested the effect of DD on estimates of fishing mortality producing maximum sustainable yields (FMSY), comparing these estimates to those resulting from constant growth and M. We simulated fish populations with a wide range of life-history traits (LHTs), applying either constant or density-dependent growth and M and derived FMSY for each stock. Results showed that including DD in growth and M led to higher FMSY and often also higher yield estimates (MSY). The effect of DD was found to be greater in growth than in M. Additionally, FMSY estimates derived from surplus production models fitted to generated stocks with density-dependent growth and/or M were generally closer to true FMSY, compared to those from age-based long-term predictions assuming constant growth and M. However, due to the inherent uncertainties in estimates of stock dynamics and biological reference points (BRPs), caution is suggested before implementing DD in FMSY calculations. Equilibrium yield curves relating production to stock size were right-skewed, shape parameters from production models were slightly below 1 for scenarios assuming constant growth and M, but declined to 0.5 with increasing DD.
Therapeutic potential of D-amino acid oxidase inhibitors for cognitive impairment associated with schizophrenia: learnings from luvadaxistat
Authors: Terry-Lorenzo Ryan T , Fan Reuben H , Khin Ni A , Singh Jaskaran B
Published: January 2025

Hypofunction of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) has been proposed to underlie the pathophysiology of schizophrenia, suggesting that promoting NMDAR activity may alleviate the negative or cognitive symptoms associated with schizophrenia. To circumvent excitotoxicity that may accompany direct agonism of the glutamate binding site on the NMDAR, therapeutic trials have focused on targeting the glycine binding site on the NMDAR. Direct administration of either glycine or D-serine, both of which are endogenous coagonists at the NMDAR glycine site, has yielded mixed outcomes across an array of clinical trials investigating different doses or patient populations. Furthermore, directly administering D-serine and glycine is challenging, and thus attention has turned to alternative, indirect methods that increase endogenous D-serine and glycine levels in the brain, such as D-amino acid oxidase (DAAO) inhibitors and glycine transporter 1 inhibitors, respectively. In this review, we provide an overview of the evidence supporting the potential of NMDAR modulators in general, and DAAO inhibitors in particular, as potential adjunctive treatments for schizophrenia. We also discuss the preclinical and clinical data related to luvadaxistat, an investigational highly selective and potent DAAO inhibitor that was under development for the treatment of the cognitive impairment associated with schizophrenia.
Environmental fate and aquatic risk assessment of oxyfluorfen in California rice fields
Authors: Bonnar David J , Tjeerdema Ronald S
Published: January 2025

The herbicide oxyfluorfen [OXY; 2-chloro-1-(3-ethoxy-4-nitrophenoxy)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzene] recently emerged as a potential solution to combat herbicide resistance in California rice. Proposed as a preemergent applied preflood to soil, products are in development for use with OXY-tolerant rice strains. Currently, OXY is not registered for use with rice and its use in or near aquatic resources is restricted due to its high aquatic toxicity. Before OXY may be registered for use in California rice fields, its potential fate and aquatic risk must be evaluated. Particularly important is the identification of the minimum period water must be held on the field (water holding period) necessary for OXY to dissipate below levels of concern. In this assessment, the environmental fate of OXY and its risk to aquatic organisms under simulated California rice field conditions are characterized. The Pesticides in Flooded Applications Model (PFAM) was used to estimate environmental concentrations based on anticipated use patterns and water management practices in California (e.g., winter flooding, turnover, water holding, etc.). Two California rice field soil conditions were simulated in addition to standard soil conditions used in ecological risk assessment for rice. Results suggest OXY is likely to concentrate in sediment, dissipate slowly, and persist. Water holding period had little effect on paddy and release water concentrations. Risks from water column exposure were generally below levels of concern (LOC) for aquatic animals, whereas risks to aquatic plants, algae, and benthic invertebrates exceeded LOCs under all conditions evaluated. California rice field soil conditions were also associated with less risk compared with standard conditions. Reduced application rates were sufficient to reduce risk to acceptable levels in some situations. However, holding times up to 30 days had no effect on risk outcomes, suggesting water management needs of growers should be strongly considered when stipulating water holding periods for OXY.
Evaluation of interspecies correlation estimation models to increase taxonomic diversity while reducing reliance on animal testing for chemicals evaluated under the Toxic Substances Control Act
Authors: Raimondo Sandy , Lilavois Crystal R , Nelson S Lexi , Koehrn Kara , Fay Kellie , Eisenreich Karen , Nolan Emily Vebrosky , Green Chris , Bressette James
Published: January 2025

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is committed to the implementation of new approach methodologies (NAMs) to enhance the scientific basis for chemical hazard assessments. Chemical evaluations under the Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA) are often conducted with limited test data and are well suited for NAMs applications. Interspecies correlation estimation (ICE) models are log-linear least squares regressions of the sensitivity between two species that estimate the acute toxicity of an untested species from the sensitivity of a surrogate. Interspecies correlation estimation models have been developed from and validated for diverse chemical modes of action, but their application in TSCA chemical assessments has not been previously evaluated. We use ICE models and a dataset of measured acute values for five chemicals, increasing the taxonomic diversity from which concentrations of concern (CoCs) are derived. Concentrations of concern were developed using approaches typically applied in TSCA risk evaluations, including application of assessment factors to the most sensitive species and the development of species sensitivity distributions where a minimum of eight species are represented by measured data. These CoCs were compared with those derived from datasets supplemented with ICE-predicted values, as well as comparing ICE predicted species mean acute values (SMAVs) to their respective measured values. Interspecies correlation estimation models predicted SMAVs within a factor of 5 and 10 for 87% and 92% of measured values, respectively. The CoCs developed from measured data only and data supplemented with ICE predicted toxicity were generally within five-fold, showing comparable protection. The taxonomic diversity in the ICE supplemented dataset was substantially higher than the measured data for species sensitivity distributions, providing a data-driven way of reducing uncertainty and potentially reducing the need for assessment factors. Interspecies correlation estimation models show promise as a NAM to improve the taxonomic representation included in chemical evaluations under TSCA.
REACH assessment of humans exposed to chemicals indirectly via the environment: screening modeling in EUSES versus state of the science
Authors: Verdonck Frederik , Jansen Leen , Csiszar Susan A , Davis Craig , Di Paolo Carolina , Gouin Todd , Jensen Elke , Schowanek Diederik , Wormuth Matthias , Tolls Johannes
Published: January 2025

The assessment of humans indirectly exposed to chemicals via the environment (HvE) is an assessment element of the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulation. The European Union System for the Evaluation of Substances (EUSES) is the default screening tool, aimed at prioritizing chemicals for further refinement/higher tier assessment. This review summarizes the approach used in EUSES, evaluates the state of the science in human exposure modeling via the environment, and identifies areas for further research to strengthen the confidence and applicability of EUSES for assessing HvE. It confirms that EUSES v2.2 does serve as a conservative screening tool for identifying potential human risk due to HvE (via consumption of crops, meat and milk, fish, drinking water, and inhalation). However, certain submodels within EUSES have not been updated for at least two decades. For example, for highly soluble or highly hydrophobic or ionized organic substances, substance parameters are estimated based on outdated predictive models. We recommend to also update the REACH Technical Guidance to highlight possible refinements in HvE assessments as well as the integration of measured and (bio)monitoring data. Addressing limitations in the EUSES applicability domain, particularly for highly soluble and highly hydrophobic organic substances and ionized organics, would improve its applicability. We identified that some HvE submodels in EUSES could be readily updated to improve screening-level assessment in EUSES. In addition, updating the EUSES “food basket” using recent European Union food consumption data is crucial to accurately reflect recent dietary trends. Further research is required for prediction of leaf crop and drinking water exposure to better reflect the fate of chemicals in the environment. In particular for ionizable substances, research focused on QSAR (Quantitative Structure Acitivity Relationship) development and experimental measurement of fate properties is necessary to enhance the confidence of EUSES assessments.
Trends, challenges, and research pathways in emerging contaminants: a comprehensive bibliometric analysis
Authors: Alam Md Shahin , Tahriri Farzaneh , Chen Gang
Published: January 2025

The growing concern over environmental pollution has spurred extensive research into various contaminants impacting ecosystems and human health. Emerging contaminants (ECs), including pharmaceuticals, personal care products, endocrine-disrupting chemicals, nanomaterials, and microplastics, have garnered significant attention due to their persistence, bioaccumulation, and toxicity. This study presents a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of EC research, aiming to detail the research landscape, highlight significant contributions, and identify influential researchers and pivotal studies. Data were sourced from the Web of Science, encompassing 62,670 documents from January 2000 to May 2024. Advanced bibliometric tools, including Bibliometrix, VOSviewer, and CiteSpace, were employed to analyze publication outputs, citation metrics, and collaboration patterns. The analysis revealed an exponential increase in EC research, with annual publications growing from fewer than 1,000 before 2006 to nearly 7,000 by 2022. Environmental Science & Technology emerged as the most influential journal. Based on the number of publications and citations as a country, China and the United States led in research outputs. Co-authorship and collaboration networks highlighted key hubs and prominent researchers, with significant contributions from environmental sciences, chemical engineering, and toxicology. Keyword co-occurrence analysis identified core themes, such as degradation, removal, and the impacts of ECs, reflecting evolving research interests and emerging topics. This bibliometric analysis provides valuable insights into the development and current state of EC research, serving as a resource for guiding future research efforts and fostering collaborations. The study indicates the critical need for continued research to address the challenges posed by ECs and develop effective regulatory policies and remediation strategies.
Identifying priority areas for conservation based on the evaluation of ecological network resilience in the Hyrcanian Forest ecosystem
Authors: Karimi Sepideh , Amiri Mohammad Javad , Yavari Ahmad Reza
Published: January 2025

Habitat loss and fragmentation in forest ecosystems are serious threats that lead to reduced resilience. The integrity and stability of the ecosystem are fostered by recognizing and protecting areas that are essential to maintaining the resilience of the ecological network. Research in the field of ecological network resilience has garnered attention in recent years, although the necessity of developing various assessment methods for network resilience is evident. Taking the Hyrcanian Forest ecosystem as a case study, this research aimed to identify the most important areas of the ecological network in maintaining and enhancing the resilience. To achieve this goal, first, a combination of the morphological spatial pattern analysis method and the assessment of the significance of ecosystem services was used to extract ecological source areas. Next, utilizing circuit theory and the least-cost path method, a network connecting sources was constructed, and pinch points were identified. After that, high-risk areas in ecological sources were found using the habitat risk assessment method. Using this integrated approach leads to the identification of valuable areas that are vulnerable to human threats and disturbances. Finally, the node removal method coupled with the calculation of network resilience indices, connectivity, and efficiency was employed to prioritize conservation areas. The results of the study indicated that the most important nodes were located in the northern edges of the forest, which have been under threat in recent years. Additionally, the region ranked moderately in terms of connectivity, indicating the importance of focusing on the conservation of forest patches before the complete fragmentation of the area. Furthermore, our findings underscore the importance of considering landscape connectivity and ecological network resilience in conservation planning for policymakers and managers aiming to protect biodiversity in the Hyrcanian Forest ecosystem.
Socio-hydrological analysis: a new approach in water resources management in western Iran
Authors: Javanbakht Sheikhahmad Fatemeh , Rostami Farahnaz , Azadi Hossein , Veisi Hadi , Amiri Farzad , Witlox Frank
Published: January 2025

Human consumption patterns have a significant impact on the amount of available water. However, the human effect on water resources is perceived to have been poorly studied. For the effective management of water resources, social and hydrological components should be studied. To fill this gap, the aim of this study was to investigate the socio-hydrological system of the Gavshan Dam in western Iran. Therefore, the qualitative method and root cause analysis (RCA) were used to investigate the causes of the imbalance between water consumption and water resources. Root cause analysis was used to investigate the perceptions of 87 farmers and extension experts from Kermanshah province in Iran. Participants were chosen using the snowball technique and interviewed using a semistructured questionnaire. The results showed that the ineffective administrative structure was the most important and fundamental cause of water management inefficiency, accounting for 48.49% of the total inefficiency. Furthermore, the community sensitivity component (1.34%) indicated that the socio-hydrological system in the studied basin is not fully understood and that network users are not concerned about water crisis and environmental degradation. Poor yield, low income of farmers, reduction of cultivated area, social instability, and lack of secondary agricultural jobs are the main reasons for mismanagement of water resources. Conceptualizing water challenges based on the socio-hydrology revealed by this study can help designers focus on the fundamental causes, discover opportunities for policy, and implement sustainable water management strategies.
The ESG Onramp: from Organized Hypocrisy to Normative Practice
Authors: Jacobson David , Sommer Jamie M , Hargrove Andrew , Georgiev Georgi , Aquino Michele J
Published: January 2025

ESG can be described as the environmental, social, and governance practices institutionalized by companies over time. Much of the previous literature in this area cites these “pro-social” corporate restructuring, re-branding, or policy changes as emerging from scrutiny, or pressures from a company's stakeholders, shareholders, peers, and the public to incorporate more transparency, equity, environmental protection, and social responsibility in its management and operations. We combine theoretical frames from the sociology of organizations, specifically the theory of organized hypocrisy, the sociology of human rights, and the World Society approach. We articulate how social, political, and economic pressures, both internal and external to a company, as well as its current position in society (such as its characteristics like assets, size, stakeholders, etc.), influence its location and trajectory vis-a-vis ESG. We use two-way fixed-effects analysis of over 3,600 US-based firms from 1991 to 2016. Our research suggests that there is an ESG “onramp,” which we argue signals a shift from organized hypocrisy to a progressively expansive normative practice.
Sexual reproduction during diatom bloom
Authors: Prigent Léa , Quéré Julien , Plus Martin , Le Gac Mickael
Published: January 2025

Phytoplankton supports food webs in all aquatic ecosystems. Ecological studies highlighted the links between environmental variables and species successions in situ. However, the role of life cycle characteristics on phytoplankton community dynamics remains poorly characterized. In diatoms, sexual reproduction creates new genetic combinations and prevents excessive cell size miniaturization. It has been extensively studied in vitro but seldom in the natural environment. Here, analyzing metatranscriptomic data in the light of the expression patterns previously characterized in vitro, we identified a synchronized and transient sexual reproduction event during a bloom of the toxic diatom species Pseudo-nitzschia australis. Despite the complexity of environmental conditions encountered in situ, sexual reproduction appeared to be the strongest differential gene expression signal that occurred during the bloom. The potential link between environmental conditions and the initiation of sexual reproduction remain to be determined, but sexual reproduction probably had a major impact on the bloom dynamic.
Marine phytoplankton impose strong selective pressures on in vitro microbiome assembly, but drift is the dominant process
Authors: Morales Sergio E , Tobias-Hünefeldt Sven P , Armstrong Evelyn , Pearman William S , Bogdanov Kirill
Published: January 2025

Phytoplankton are known ecosystem engineers that modulate ocean community assembly processes, but the universality and extent of their microbiome control remains unclear. We used in vitro incubations and 16S ribosomal RNA gene amplicon sequencing to test the influence of Southern and South Pacific oceans dominant phytoplankton on assembly processes and community successions in response to phytoplankton blooms. Phytoplankton grown with reduced-diversity cultures or supplemented with exogenously added microbiomes showed reduced diversity, suggesting environmental filtering. Community profiles were distinct under all culture conditions, further confirming strong selection for specific microbiomes based on phytoplankton. Analysis of core, abundant, and rare organisms in each culture condition showed a conserved response in which core organisms were enriched under conditions of exogenously added phytoplankton. Progression through phytoplankton growth phases selected first for rare and abundant organisms, with increased selection for core members during the exponential phase and relaxing of selection during the death phase, as seen throughout incubations for microbiome-only controls. Surprisingly, selection process quantification identified drift as the dominant process across all conditions and growth phases, with homogenous selection and dispersal limitation accounting for the remainder. Altogether, using Southern Ocean–derived model organisms we confirmed the role phytoplankton play in community assembly but also demonstrated that stochastic processes still predominately drive community selection.
Emergence of multi-drug-resistant, vancomycin-resistant, and multi-virulent Enterococcus species from chicken, dairy, and human samples in Egypt
Authors: Abd El-Hamid Marwa I , Abd El-Aziz Norhan K , Ammar Ahmed M , Gharib Ahlam A , Ibrahim Ghada A , Moawed Basma F M , Alshamy Hend , El-Malt Rania M S
Published: January 2025

Aims

The present study aimed to detect the frequency of vancomycin resistance and virulence genes’ profiles of multi-drug-resistant (MDR) enterococcal isolates from different sources and to investigate the sequence heterogeneity between the esp genes of MDR and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis isolates from chicken and human sources.

Methods and results

Conventional phenotypic methods identified 91 isolates (60.7%) as Enterococcus species, and these isolates were retrieved from dairy (37/52), chicken (35/54), and human (19/44) origins. Enterococcal isolates were frequently resistant to rifampin (67%), and 38.5% of the isolates were MDR. Of the 22 vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) detected isolates, 11 (50%), 9 (41%), 1 (4.5%), and 1 (4.5%) isolate were identified as E. faecium, E. faecalis, E. casseliflavus, and un-specified Enterococcus spp., respectively. Moreover, 22 (100%) and 19 (86.4%) isolates harbored vanA and vanB genes, respectively. Of note, gelE and asa1 genes were more prevalent among the tested isolates (95.5% each), and the multi-virulence criteria were detected among 68.2% of the examined isolates. The sequences of esp genes of E. faecalis from the chicken breast meat and human urine samples were 100% identical with other esp genes and pathogenicity islands on GeneBank, which is undesirable.

Conclusion

Our findings require strict hygienic measures during the processing of chickens and their by-products to minimize the possibility of transmission of virulent enterococcal strains. Furthermore, the use of antimicrobials in poultry and animal production in developing countries should be controlled to minimize the prevalence of MDR and VRE isolates in humans.
Multi-modal prediction of extracorporeal support—a resource intensive therapy, utilizing a large national database
Authors: Zhu Daoyi , Xue Bing , Shah Neel , Payne Philip Richard Orrin , Lu Chenyang , Said Ahmed Sameh
Published: January 2025

Objective

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is among the most resource-intensive therapies in critical care. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the lack of ECMO resource allocation tools. We aimed to develop a continuous ECMO risk prediction model to enhance patient triage and resource allocation.

Material and Methods

We leveraged multimodal data from the National COVID Cohort Collaborative (N3C) to develop a hierarchical deep learning model, labeled “PreEMPT-ECMO” (Prediction, Early Monitoring, and Proactive Triage for ECMO) which integrates static and multi-granularity time series features to generate continuous predictions of ECMO utilization. Model performance was assessed across time points ranging from 0 to 96 hours prior to ECMO initiation, using both accuracy and precision metrics.

Results

Between January 2020 and May 2023, 101 400 patients were included, with 1298 (1.28%) supported on ECMO. PreEMPT-ECMO outperformed established predictive models, including Logistic Regression, Support Vector Machine, Random Forest, and Extreme Gradient Boosting Tree, in both accuracy and precision at all time points. Model interpretation analysis also highlighted variations in feature contributions through each patient’s clinical course.

Discussion and Conclusions

We developed a hierarchical model for continuous ECMO use prediction, utilizing a large multicenter dataset incorporating both static and time series variables of various granularities. This novel approach reflects the nuanced decision-making process inherent in ECMO initiation and has the potential to be used as an early alert tool to guide patient triage and ECMO resource allocation. Future directions include prospective validation and generalizability on non-COVID-19 refractory respiratory failure, aiming to improve patient outcomes.
A review of the Quichua Porcupine Coendou quichua complex (Rodentia: Erethizontidae) with the description of a new species from Colombia
Authors: Ramírez-Chaves Héctor E , Mazepa Glib O , Morales-Martínez Darwin M , Suárez-Castro Andrés Felipe , Colmenares-Pinzón Javier E , Pulido-Santacruz Paola , Noguera-Urbano Elkin A
Published: January 2025

Coendou quichua is a widely distributed trans-Andean species in Colombia, Ecuador, and Panama. However, analysis of the cytochrome b (Cytb) gene suggests the presence of cryptic diversity. Recent reviews found that morphological variation within this taxon is mainly associated with elevation. Still, mitochondrial divergence values between some populations are similar to those reported between well-diagnosable sister species in the genus. Here, we provide new Cytb sequences from Colombian and Ecuadorian specimens and morphological observations from specimens collected in different natural regions to show that C. quichua is indeed a species complex. Coendou quichua complex contains 3 separate lineages: (i) the typical C. quichua from the Andes of Ecuador; (ii) a sister lineage from the Chocó-Darién ecoregion; and (iii) an undescribed new species from wet and dry forests of the Magdalena inter-Andean valley and the Caribbean regions of Colombia. Based on morphological, ecological niche modeling, and geographical analyses, the lineage from Chocó-Darién in Colombia and Ecuador is here treated as a different species for which the name C. rothschildi is available. The lineage involving samples from the wet and dry forests of the Magdalena inter-Andean Valley and the Caribbean regions represents an unnamed taxon described herein as Coendou vossi sp. nov., endemic to Colombia.
Are the protections offered by EU law adequate alternatives to those offered by international investment law?
Authors: Gáspár-Szilágyi Szilárd
Published: January 2025

This article, within the Special Issue’s ‘Justice beyond investor-state dispute settlement’ theme, looks at whether the protections offered by European Union (EU) law are adequate alternatives to those offered by international investment law (IIL) in the post-Achmea world of intra-EU investment protection. While EU law offers far-reaching protections to businesses operating in the EU, sometimes going beyond the protections offered by IIL, from an investment law perspective the article argues that not all the substantive and procedural protections offered by EU law are adequate for the purposes of IIL. This is because investment law has a narrower focus on protecting and promoting investments, which in turn influences how the legal provisions are interpreted. EU law, on the other hand, has the much broader and deeper purpose of creating an ‘ever-closer’ Union with an internal market, a ‘systemic’ purpose that permeates the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU)’s interpretation of EU law. Thus, the deeper we look, the more differences we find in the personal and material scope of the two systems, the substantive standards of treatment, the derogations from the substantive standards, and the procedural protections and remedies. Coming full circle, the different epistemic communities of adjudicators, just like the different purposes and objectives, result in similar or the same concepts being interpreted differently. It is quite unfortunate that the CJEU viewed these two systems as competitors, in which investor–State arbitration ‘removed’ cases from the jurisdiction of EU Member State courts, when in fact they are complementary systems of protection.
Different approaches to managing bilateral distal femur periprosthetic fractures in a single patient: case reports and review of the literature
Authors: Castagno Christopher , Klahs Kyle J , Adler Adam , Hosseini Mehrdad , Ofori Brendon , Abdelgawad Amr , Thabet Ahmed M
Published: January 2025

A 61-year-old female with a bilateral total knee arthroplasty (2010) and subsequent separate bilateral distal femur periprosthetic fractures (2020 and 2022) treated with distal femur replacement (left) and retrograde intramedullary nail fixation (right). Self-reported outcomes and knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome scores (KOOS) were compared. The patient reported higher pain and lower functionality with the left knee (overall KOOS of 50%) and no lasting impact or pain with the right knee (overall KOOS of 89%). When KOOS individual (P-value of <0.0001) and categorical/overall (P-value of 0.0048) metrics were compared they demonstrated statistical significance. The report’s data, based solely on a one-sample-size data set, suggest that performing an intramedullary nail for distal femur periprosthetic fractures should be the preferred choice based on this patient’s improved pain, functionality, and overall satisfaction, even if anatomic alignment is difficult.
Perforated marginal ulceration in the setting of single anastomosis duodeno-ileal switch (SADI-S) with conversion to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and literature review
Authors: Marcucci Vincent , Camarda Amanda R , Embel Veysel , Kipnis Seth
Published: January 2025

The single anastomosis duodenal-ileal switch (SADI-S) has become a safe alternative to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) in the treatment for morbid obesity. A known complication after bariatric surgery is the development of marginal ulceration. The current literature demonstrates an overwhelmingly low incidence of ulceration in patients who underwent SADI-S. The management and prevention is an ongoing subject of debate with no clear algorithm. The conversation of SADI-S to RYGB has been accomplished; however, this procedure has not been previously reported for marginal ulceration.
Essence Facts and the Source of Normativity
Authors: Baysan Umut
Published: January 2025

What is the source of normativity? According to Bengson, Cuneo and Shafer-Landau (2023), we can answer this question by identifying non-normative grounds of fundamental normative facts. To illustrate how this can be achieved, they argue that facts concerning essences of normative properties are non-normative facts, and such facts can be seen as non-normative grounds of fundamental normative facts. I argue that this strategy is misguided. First, explanations citing essence facts about normative properties are poor answers to the question of the source of normativity. Second, it is not clear if such facts are non-normative in the relevant sense. Along the way, I address questions about what it is to be a normative fact and relate the implications of this discussion to general issues about metaphysical explanation in meta-normativity.
Improved halo model calibrations for mixed dark matter models of ultralight axions
Authors: Dome Tibor , May Simon , Laguë Alex , Marsh David J E , Johnston Sarah , Bose Sownak , Tocher Alex , Fialkov Anastasia
Published: January 2025

We study the implications of relaxing the requirement for ultralight axions to account for all dark matter in the Universe by examining mixed dark matter (MDM) cosmologies with axion fractions $f \le 0.3$ within the fuzzy dark matter window $10^{-25}$ eV $\lesssim m \lesssim 10^{-23}$ eV. Our simulations, using a new MDM gravity solver implemented in AxiREPO, capture wave dynamics across various scales with high accuracy down to redshifts $z\approx 1$. We identify haloes with Rockstar using the cold dark matter component and find good agreement of inferred halo mass functions and concentration–mass relations with theoretical models across redshifts $z=1{\!-\!}10$. This justifies our halo finder approach a posteriori as well as the assumptions underlying the MDM halo model AxionHMcode. Using the inferred axion halo mass–cold halo mass relation $M_{\text{a}}(M_{\text{c}})$ and calibrating a generalized smoothing parameter $\alpha$ to our MDM simulations, we present a new version of AxionHMcode. The code exhibits excellent agreement with simulations on scales $k\lt 20 \, h \, \text{cMpc}^{-1}$ at redshifts $z=1{\!-\!}3.5$ for $f\le 0.1$ around the fiducial axion mass $m = 10^{-24.5}\, \text{eV} = 3.16\times 10^{-25}\, \text{eV}$, with maximum deviations remaining below 10 per cent. For axion fractions $f\le 0.3$, the model maintains accuracy with deviations under 20 per cent at redshifts $z\approx 1$ and scales $k\lt 10 \, h \, \text{cMpc}^{-1}$, though deviations can reach up to 30 per cent for higher redshifts when $f=0.3$. Reducing the run-time for a single evaluation of AxionHMcode to below 1 min, these results highlight the potential of AxionHMcode to provide a robust framework for parameter sampling across MDM cosmologies in Bayesian constraint and forecast analyses.
The NAC transcription factor LpNAC48 promotes trichome formation in Lilium pumilum
Authors: Xin Yin , Pan Wenqiang , Zhao Yajie , Yang Chenglong , Li Jingru , Wang Shaokun , Wu Jingxiang , Zhang Mingfang , Shi Jinxin , Ma Yang , Fang Shaozhong , Liang Yuwei , Zaccai Michele , Zhang Xiuhai , Du Yunpeng , Wu Jian
Published: January 2025

Trichomes play a crucial role in plant resistance to abiotic and biotic stresses, and their development and characteristics vary across different species. This study demonstrates that trichomes of Lilium pumilum exhibit synchronized growth during flower bud differentiation and enhance the plant's adaptability to UV-B radiation and aphid infection. We identified LpNAC48, a NAC family transcription factor (TF), that interacted with the B-box (BBX) family TF LpBBX28 during trichome formation in L. pumilum. Silencing LpNAC48 or LpBBX28 impaired trichome development and reduced trichome density on the outer perianths. We demonstrated that the upstream regulators LpNAC48 and LpBBX28 directly bound to the promoter of the bHLH TF-encoding gene LpGL3-LIKE (LpGL3L) to activate its expression. Moreover, an ABA-responsive element within a 259-bp DNA variation in the LpNAC48 promoter was important for its expression and was bound by the bZIP TF LpbZIP29 during trichome development. This binding activated LpNAC48 expression and contributed to trichome formation. This study provides insights into the role of a small DNA sequence variation in gene expression and trichome traits.
Schizophrenia Following Early Adolescence Prodrome: A Neurodevelopmental Subtype With Autism-like Sensorimotor and Social Cognition Deficits
Authors: Iftimovici Anton , Martinez Gilles , Victor Julie , Bendjemaa Narjès , Jantac Célia , Danset-Alexandre Charlotte , Amado Isabelle , Pina-Camacho Laura , Chaumette Boris , Fatjó-Vilas Mar , Fañanás Lourdes , Duchesnay Edouard , Krebs Marie-Odile
Published: January 2025

Background and Hypothesis

While age at onset in schizophrenia (SCZ) is usually defined by age at onset of psychosis, the illness actually occurs earlier, with a prodrome often starting in childhood or adolescence. We postulated that SCZ with early-adolescence prodromes (SCZ-eaP) presents with social cognition deficits and sensorimotor impairments more similar to autism spectrum disorders (ASD) than SCZ with late-adolescence prodromes (SCZ-laP).

Study Design

The movie for the assessment of social cognition and neurological soft signs (NSS) were compared between four groups, ASD, SCZ-eaP (<15 years), SCZ-laP (>15 years), and controls (N = 119), while accounting for age, sex, intelligence quotient, education level, and medication effect. Mediation analyses tested the effect of NSS on social cognition, across groups, and local gyrification indices were used to test whether NSS reflected deviations in early neurodevelopmental trajectories.

Study Results

For social cognition and NSS, subjects with ASD were not different from SCZ-eaP, while they differed from SCZ-laP. Age at onset of prodrome correlated with NSS (r = −0.34, P = .018), and social cognition (r = 0.28, P = .048). Neurological soft signs mediated social cognition impairment across diagnoses (β = −1.24, P < 1e−6), and was explained by hypergyrification in the right fusiform gyrus, right frontal pole gyrus, and left postcentral gyrus.

Conclusions

Earlier age of prodrome in SCZ is associated with impaired social cognition, mediated by neurodevelopmentally-related sensorimotor impairments along the ASD-SCZ spectrum. It suggests age of prodrome, rather than the age at psychosis onset, should be considered to define more homogeneous subgroups in SCZ.
‘We Need Time…’: An Expert Survey on Societal Acceptance of Urban Drones
Authors: Wang Ning , Mutzner Nico , Blanchet Karl
Published: January 2025

Drones are rapidly becoming integral components of urban air mobility. Their integration into urban environments hinges not just on broader public sentiments but also on the perceptions of experts who drive their development, deployment, and management. This study delves into experts’ perspectives on urban drones to supplement existing knowledge by improving the understanding of acceptance factors and associated challenges. The results indicate that themes of privacy, safety, and regulation are recurring. Notably, trust towards different institutions deploying drones varies, while the need for dedicated awareness and education efforts to inform public understanding is an emergent theme. Overall, the insights gained accentuate the importance of governance strategies that consider all stakeholders’ viewpoints and the intertwined nature of challenges they are faced with. This calls for the scientific community to support the development of effective framework conditions alongside enhanced stakeholder collaborations towards a smooth integration of urban drones in society.
HIV Vaccine Research Coordination by the World Health Organization Between 1990 and 1995: Negotiating the Access to Research Cohorts of Military Subjects
Authors: David Pierre-Marie
Published: January 2025

This article presents how acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) vaccine research was coordinated internationally between 1990 and 1995 by creating a special unit within the World Health Organization (WHO), the AIDS Vaccine Development (VAD) unit. This WHO’s international coordination constituted a paradoxical repoliticisation of international human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) research, as it centralised scattered, privatised and sometimes hidden research within a single international organisation, while also reinscribing research in southern countries into ambivalent, postcolonial power relations by means of humanist arguments and research cohorts of military subjects. This history is important because the WHO coordination appears to have unwillingly elided the sociopolitical conditions of possibility for experimentation that were also, in part, driving the explosion of HIV infection on the continent at that time. Finally, it helps reflect on how the current global health paradigm of accelerated research for innovations and vaccine development can institute uneven research infrastructures.
Understanding pediatric cervicofacial non-tuberculous mycobacterial infection
Authors: Im Eunice , Gawel Erin , Coppola Alyson , Carr Michele
Published: January 2025

Cervicofacial non-tuberculous mycobacterial infection should be a part of the differential diagnosis for immunocompetent children ages 1 to 5 years who present with painless submandibular or preauricular lymphadenopathy. Although a benign and self-limiting disease, patients can develop a chronically draining fistula if not diagnosed and treated promptly. The diagnostic process can be managed with a combination of microbiological studies, cytology, laboratory tests, and imaging studies. Surgical excision is the most definitive curative measure. Incision and curettage, medical management with antibiotic therapy, or observation are other treatment strategies that may be considered. Frontline clinicians play a pivotal role in identifying which children may have this condition and can facilitate prompt diagnosis and treatment of this uncommon disease.
Chimeric antigen receptor therapy in hematologic malignancies
Authors: Brownlee Elizabeth , Turley Melissa , Nations Heather
Published: January 2025

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has led to significant advances in the treatment of blood cancers such as leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma, and now shows promise for solid tumors. This type of immunotherapy can achieve high response rates in patients with hematologic malignancies, but carries serious adverse reactions, including cytokine release syndrome and immune-effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome. This article describes CAR T-cell therapy, guidance for primary care providers caring for patients undergoing therapy, and the ongoing need for research to enhance CAR T-cell therapy's safety and effectiveness.
Allostatic Load in Parents and Offspring
Authors: Muchira James M. , Mogos Mulubrhan F. , S. Dietrich Mary , Kimathi Boniface , Ziegler Carol , Heerman William J. , Hall Kelli S.
Published: January 2025

Background

Allostatic load (AL), a measure of cumulative stress-related physiological dysregulation, predicts the onset of chronic diseases. We investigated the relationship between AL and cardiovascular disease (CVD)–free survival in parents and offspring, including sex-specific differences.

Methods

The analysis consisted of 6145 offspring-mother-father trios derived from the Framingham Heart Study. Clinically defined cutoffs from 9 physiological biomarkers across biological systems were used to generate composite AL score. Assessments of the associations of AL with CVD-free survival were conducted using Kaplan-Meier plots, Irwin's restricted means, and Cox proportional hazards regression models.

Results

Over a 47-year period, parents and offspring experienced 1832 and 1060 incident CVD events, respectively. Parents exhibited a notably higher prevalence of high AL (29.5%) and CVD incidence rate (17.2 per 1000 person-years) compared with offspring (13.2% and 8.9, respectively, both P < .001). High parental AL was associated with 30% higher incident CVD risk in offspring, with maternal AL biomarkers being more predictive of offspring CVD risk than paternal. Parents and offspring with low AL lived 12.5 and 13.4 years longer without CVD, respectively, compared with those with high AL. The hazards of incident CVD were highest in daughters with high AL, up to 2.8 times (hazard ratio, 2.83; 95% confidence interval, 1.71–4.67), with similar risk observed in sons and parents.

Conclusion

Parental AL is associated with offspring CVD risk, with maternal AL biomarkers having a stronger association. This highlights the critical role of parental and, more importantly, maternal health in CVD risk management and broader public health strategies.
Perinatal outcomes among pregnant women living with HIV initiating antiretroviral therapy preconception and antenatally: systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Boering Pippa , Murray Claudia , Portwood Clara , Hey Molly , Thompson Lucy , Beck Katharina , Cowdell Imogen , Sexton Harriet , Kumarendran Mary , Brandon Zoe , Kirtley Shona , Hemelaar Joris
Published: January 2025

Objective:

Increasingly, pregnant women living with HIV (WLHIV) initiate antiretroviral therapy (ART) before conception. We assessed the risk of adverse perinatal outcomes among pregnant WLHIV initiating ART preconception or antenatally, compared with women without HIV or ART-naïve WLHIV.

Design:

Systematic review and meta-analysis

Methods:

We searched PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, and Global Health for studies published between 1/1/1980 and 14/7/2023. We assessed the association of preconception/antenatal ART initiation with preterm birth (PTB), very PTB (VPTB), spontaneous PTB (sPTB), low birthweight (LBW), very LBW (VLBW), small-for-gestational-age (SGA), very SGA (VSGA), stillbirth and neonatal death (NND). Data were analysed using random effects meta-analyses. Quality assessments, subgroup and sensitivity analyses were conducted. PROSPERO registration: CRD42021248987.

Results:

Thirty-one cohort studies were eligible, including 199,156 women in 19 countries. WLHIV with preconception ART were associated with increased risk of PTB (risk ratio 1.55; 95%CI 1.27–1.90), VPTB (2.14,1.02–4.47), LBW (2.19, 1.32–3.63), VLBW (3.34, 1.08–10.35), SGA (1.92, 1.01–3.66), and VSGA (2.79, 1.04–7.47), compared with women without HIV. WLHIV with antenatal ART were associated with increased risk of PTB (1.35, 1.15–1.58), LBW (2.16, 1.39–3.34), VLBW (1.97, 1.01–3.84), SGA (1.77, 1.10–2.84), and VSGA (1.21, 1.09–1.33), compared with women without HIV. Compared to ART-naïve WLHIV, WLHIV with preconception or antenatal ART were associated with increased risk of SGA (preconception: 1.40, 1.12–1.73; antenatal: 1.39, 1.11–1.74) and VSGA (preconception: 2.44, 1.63–3.66; antenatal: 2.24, 1.48–3.40).

Conclusion:

Among WLHIV, both preconception and antenatal initiation of ART are associated with increased risks of adverse perinatal outcomes, compared to women without HIV and ART-naïve WLHIV.
Structural evolution of the estrogen receptor regulatory domain
Authors: McDougal Daniel P. , Pederick Jordan L. , Shearwin-Whyatt Linda , Grützner Frank , Bruning John B.
Published: January 2025

Estrogen receptors (ERs) α, β and γ are ligand-dependent transcription factors that regulate vertebrate reproduction, cell survival and other physiological processes. Here, we report an integrative analysis of mammalian and teleost receptors, including the first structure of an ERγ ligand binding domain (LBD), showing that structural divergence acquired during evolution is accommodated by different strategies within functional regions to preserve intrinsic regulatory mechanisms. Supervised-learning and comparative Markov modelling uncover highly constrained network structures essential for allostery and protein folding, revealing a fundamental regulatory architecture and source of selective pressure in ER+ breast cancer and reproductive disorders. Finally, cross-referencing molecular constraints to genome sequencing reveal evolutionary origins underlying natural genetic variation in humans and widespread disruption of constraints. This work provides structural insights into the conservation of gene regulation by essential transcription factors and has implications for precision medicine.