bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Primate social organization evolved from a flexible pair-living ancestor
Authors: Olivier Charlotte-Anaïs , Martin Jordan S. , Pilisi Camille , Agnani Paul , Kauffmann Cécile , Hayes Loren , Jaeggi Adrian V. , Schradin C.
Published: December 2023

Explaining the evolution of primate social organization has been fundamental to understand human sociality and social evolution more broadly. It has often been suggested that the ancestor of all primates was solitary and that other forms of social organization evolved later, with transitions being driven by various life history traits and ecological factors. However, recent research showed that many understudied primate species previously assumed to be solitary actually live in pairs, and intraspecific variation in social organization is common. We built a detailed database from primary field studies quantifying the number of social units expressing different social organizations in each population. We used Bayesian phylogenetic models to infer the probability of each social organization, conditional on several socioecological and life history predictors. Here, we show that when intraspecific variation is accounted for, the ancestral social organization of primates was inferred to be variable, with the most common social organization being pair-living but with approximately 10 to 20% of social units of the ancestral population deviating from this pattern by being solitary living. Body size and activity patterns had large effects on transitions between types of social organizations. As in other mammalian clades, pair-living is closely linked to small body size and likely more common in ancestral species. Our results challenge the assumption that ancestral primates were solitary and that pair-living evolved afterward emphasizing the importance of focusing on field data and accounting for intraspecific variation, providing a flexible statistical framework for doing so.
Solar Eclipses and the Origins of Critical Thinking and Complexity
Authors: Litina Anastasia , Roca Fernández Èric
Published: December 2023

This paper relates curiosity to economic development through its impact on human capital formation and technological advancement in pre-modern times. More specifically, we propose that exposure to inexplicable phenomena prompts curiosity and thinking in an attempt to comprehend these mysteries, thus raising human capital and technology, and, ultimately, fostering growth. We focus on solar eclipses as one particular trigger of curiosity and empirically establish a robust relationship between their number and several proxies of economic prosperity. We also offer evidence compatible with the human capital and technological increases we postulate, finding a more intricate thinking process and more developed technology among societies more exposed to solar eclipses. Among other factors, we study the development of written language, the playing of strategy games and the accuracy of folkloric explanations for eclipses, as well as the number of tasks undertaken in a society, their relative complexity and broad technological indicators. Lastly, we document rising curiosity both at the social and individual levels: societies incorporate more terms related to curiosity and eclipses in their folklore, and people who observed a total solar eclipse during their childhood were more likely to have entered a scientific occupation.
The Polarization of Popular Culture: Tracing the Size, Shape, and Depth of the “Oil Spill”
Authors: Rawlings Craig M , Childress Clayton
Published: December 2023

Recent research suggests that political polarization has spilled over into otherwise mundane areas of social life. And yet, the size, shape, and depth of that spillage into popular culture are generally unknown. Relying on a sample of 135 widely known movies, TV shows, musicians, sports, and leisure activities, we investigate these issues. We find the “oil spill” of polarization into popular culture is large but loosely organized into multiple fairly shallow pools. Cultural polarization is also asymmetric. Liberals like a wide variety of popular culture, do not dislike conservative popular culture, and their tastes are more rooted in their sociodemographics. Conservatives, on the other hand, like a much narrower range of popular culture, dislike the culture created and liked by Black and urban liberals, and their tastes seem to be more directly rooted in their political ideology. Potential implications of an asymmetric culture war, and ideas for future research, are discussed.
Experience shapes initial exploration for non-generalizable spatial learning
Authors: Awh Michelle P. , Latimer Kenneth W. , Zhou Nan , Leveroni Zachary M. , Stephens Zoe M. , Yu Jai Y.
Published: December 2023

Experience can change how individuals learn. Learning to solve a new problem can be accelerated by generalizing known rules in the new context, but the impact of experience on solving problems where generalization cannot be applied remains unclear. To study the impact of experience on solving new problems that are distinct from previously learned tasks, we examined how rats learned a new spatial navigation task after having previously learned different sets of spatial navigation tasks. The new task differed from the previous tasks in spatial layout and navigation rule, and could not be solved by applying previously learned rules. We found that different experience histories did not impact task performance in the new task. However, by examining navigation choices made by rats, we found exploration patterns during the early stage of learning in the new task was dependent on experience history. We identified these behavioral differences by analyzing each rat’s navigation choices and by modeling their choice sequences with a modified distance dependent Chinese restaurant process. We further pinpointed the behavioral difference to sequential turn/no turn decisions made at choice points. Our results indicate that experience can influence problem-solving strategies when learning to solve new problems. Individuals with distinct experience histories can approach new problems from different starting points but converge on the same solution.
A Dataset for Deep Learning based Cleavage-stage Blastocyst Prediction with Time-lapse Images
Authors: Wang Sijia , Fan Jing , Li Hanhui , Zhao Mingpeng , Li Xuemei , Leung Chan David Yiu
Published: December 2023

Recent advances in deep learning and artificial intelligence techniques have obtained notable progress in automated embryo image analysis. However, most current research focuses on blastocyst-stage embryo evaluation (more than 5 days after in vitro fertilization), which may reduce the number of transferable embryos and increase the risk of canceled circles. Therefore, this paper aims to investigate the possibility of evaluating blastocyst development at the cleavage stage with deep neural networks (DNNs). To this end, we collect a dataset that consists of time-lapse images of more than 500 embryos (about 194k frames in total). We evaluate several widely used DNNs on the dataset, including those of single-frame architectures and multi-frame architectures. Experimental results show that the accuracy of different DNNs varies from 66.42% to 77.74% and we also provide the possible reasons behind the performance gap. Our dataset and code will be published soon to facilitate related research.
Exploring information exchange betweenThesium chinenseand its hostPrunella vulgaristhrough joint transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis
Authors: Ding Anping , Xiang Zengxu , Wang Ruifeng , Liu Juan , Meng Wenna , Zhang Yu , Chen Guihong , Hu Gang , Tan Mingpu
Published: December 2023

Background:Thesium chinenseknown as “plant antibiotic” is a facultative root hemi-parasitic herb whilePrunella vulgariscan serve as its host. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the communication betweenT. chinenseand its host remained largely unexplored. The aim of this study was to provide a comprehensive view of transferred metabolites and mobile mRNAs betweenT. chinenseandP. vulgaris. Results: The wide-target metabolomic and transcriptomic analysis identified 5 transferred metabolites and 668 mobile genes betweenT. chinenseandP. vulgaris, as well as haustoria formation related 56 metabolites and 189 genes. Furthermore, we inferred a regulatory network that might be involved in haustoria formation, and 18 genes promoting haustoria formation and 1 gene inhibiting it were identified as a consequence. There were 4 metabolites (ethylsalicylate, eriodictyol-7-O-glucoside, aromadendrin-7-O-glucoside and pruvuloside B) that are transferred fromP. vulgaristoT. chinense, whereas 2-ethylpyrazine was transferred fromT. chinensetoP. vulgaris. Conclusions: These results suggested that there was an extensive exchange of information withP. vulgarisincluding transferred metabolites and mobile mRNAs, which might facilitate the haustoria formation and parasition ofT. chinense.

Author summary

T. chinenseknown as “plant antibiotic” is a facultative root hemi-parasitic herb whileP. vulgariscan serve as its host. Currently, the information exchange betweenT. chinenseand its host remained unknown, and a comprehensive view of transferred metabolites and mobile mRNAs betweenT. chinenseand its host is critical so that appropriate chemical and genetic improvement can be used to facilitate haustoria formation and successful parasitism. Here, we employ the conjoint wide-target metabolomic and transcriptomic analysis to explore the information exchange betweenT. chinenseandP. vulgaris.We identified 5 transferred metabolites and 668 mobile genes betweenT. chinenseandP. vulgaris, as well as haustoria formation related 56 metabolites and 189 genes. Our study provides new insights into the complex interplay between parasite and host during parasitism.
Intranasal Delivery of shRNA to Knockdown the 5HT-2A receptor Enhances Memory and Alleviates Anxiety
Authors: Rohn Troy T. , Radin Dean , Brandmeyer Tracy , Seidler Peter G. , Linder Barry J. , Lytle Tom , Mee John L. , Macciardi Fabio
Published: December 2023

Short-hairpin RNAs (shRNA) targeting knockdown of specific genes hold enormous promise for precision-based therapeutics to treat numerous neurodegenerative disorders. However, whether shRNA constructed molecules can modify neuronal circuits underlying certain behaviors has not been explored. We designed shRNA to knockdown the humanHTR2Agenein vitrousing iPSC-differentiated neurons. Multi-electrode array (MEA) results showed the knockdown of the 5HT-2A mRNA and receptor protein led to a decrease in spontaneous electrical activity.In vivo, intranasal delivery of AAV9 vectors containing shRNA resulted in a decrease in anxiety-like behavior in mice and a significant improvement in memory in both mice (104%) and rats (92%) compared to vehicle-treated animals. Our demonstration of a non-invasive shRNA delivery platform that can bypass the blood-brain barrier has broad implications for treating numerous neurological mental disorders. Specifically, targeting theHTR2Agene presents a novel therapeutic approach for treating chronic anxiety and age-related cognitive decline.
Bypassing Striatal Learning Mechanisms Using Delayed Feedback to Circumvent Learning Deficits in TBI
Authors: Dobryakova Ekaterina , Tong Tien T. , Iosipchuk Olesya , Lequerica Anthony , Schneider Veronica , Chiaravalloti Nancy , Sandry Joshua
Published: December 2023

Objective

Feedback facilitates learning by guiding and modifying behaviors through an action-outcome contingency. As the majority of existing studies have focused on immediate presentation of feedback, the impact of delayed feedback on learning is understudied. Prior work demonstrated that learning from immediate and delayed feedback employed distinct brain regions in healthy individuals, and compared to healthy individuals, individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI) are impaired in learning from immediate feedback. The goal of the current investigation was to assess the effects of delayed vs. immediate feedback on learning in individuals with TBI and examine brain networks associated with delayed and immediate feedback processing.

Setting

Non-profit research organization.

Participants

Twenty-eight individuals with moderate-to-severe TBI.

Design

Participants completed a paired-associate word learning task while undergoing MRI. During the task, feedback was presented either immediately, after a delay, or not at all (control condition).

Main measures

Learning performance accuracy; confidence ratings; post-task questionnaire, blood-oxygen-level dependent signal.

Results

Behavioral data showed that delayed feedback resulted in better learning performance than immediate feedback and no feedback. In addition, participants reported higher confidence in their performance during delayed feedback trials. During delayed vs. immediate feedback processing, greater activation was observed in the superior parietal and angular gyrus. Activation in these areas has been previously associated with successful retrieval and greater memory confidence.

Conclusion

The observed results might be explained by delayed feedback processing circumventing the striatal dopaminergic regions responsible for learning from immediate feedback that are impaired in TBI. Additionally, delayed feedback evokes less of an affective reaction than immediate feedback, which likely benefited memory performance. Indeed, compared to delayed feedback, positive or negative immediate feedback was more likely to be rated as rewarding or punishing, respectively. Findings have significant implications for TBI rehabilitation and suggest that delaying feedback during rehabilitation might recruit brain regions that lead to better functional outcomes.
ASCT: automatic single-cell toolbox in julia
Authors: Yang Ling , Li Nan
Published: December 2023

ASCT(https://github.com/kaji331/ASCT) is an automatic single-cell toolbox for analyzing single-cell RNA-Seq data. This toolbox can analyze the output data of 10X Cellranger for quality checking, preprocessing, dimensional reduction, clustering, marker genes identification and samples integration. It completely runs all functions by automatic methods without artificial intervention and can tune the parameters for advanced user. It is implemented by pure Julia language, and the overall runtime of basic steps is less than Seurat V4.
Discrimination of Isomeric Glycans via High-sensitive Engineered Nanopore
Authors: Yao Guangda , Tian Yinping , Ke Wenjun , Fang Jie , Ma Shengzhou , Li Tiehai , Cheng Xi , Xia Bingqing , Wen Liuqing , Gao Zhaobing
Published: December 2023

Glycan isomers are the basis for forming the spatial structure of glycans, which poses great challenges to glycan structural analysis and hinders the study of the relationship between structure and function. An economical and convenient analytical method with high resolution is still in demand. Here, we designed an engineered α-hemolysin nanopore with double-mutants (α-HL M113R/T115A) to achieve sensing of glycans with different glycosidic linkages. By extracting three parameters to depict a 3D scatter plot, four glycans with different degrees of polymerization and glycosidic bonds could be distinguished. Through molecular dynamics (MD), we further elucidated the motion trajectories of two different glycosidic bonds in the pore region. In addition, the sensing ability was also applied in the direct identification of glycans in mixture systems. The obtained nanopore data permitted us to achieve a separation accuracy of over 90% independent of the assistance of machine learning algorithms. Designing biological nanopores with high discrimination and sensitivity for glycans with different lineages paves the way for nanopore glycan profiling and potentially sequencing.
Expression Strategies for Recombinant HECT E3 Ligases inEscherichia coli
Authors: Krach Paulina , Gajewska Daria , Sagan Maria , Szlachcic Anna , Walczak Michał J.
Published: December 2023

A comparative analysis of recombinant expression inE. coliof three HECT E3 ligases reveals a consistent preference for lower expression temperatures. Lower temperatures prevent aggregation and misfolding, enhancing the efficiency and solubility of expressed HECT ligases. Isolated HECT domains generally exhibit higher expression success compared to full-length counterparts, offering improved solubility and yields. However, expression levels vary among ligases, necessitating tailored strategies. Future studies may explore full-length HECT-type E3 ligases in covalent complexes with ubiquitin as a potential, generalizable platform for biomedical research.
The ongoing struggle for legitimacy: the case of an unsanctioned community sport organization
Authors: Wigfield Daniel , Snelgrove Ryan
Published: December 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to explore how one unsanctioned community sport organization (CSO), AM Hockey, sought to acquire legitimacy in a highly institutionalized minor hockey marketplace at various points in its organizational life cycle.

Design/methodology/approach

This study was guided by instrumental case study methodology. Twenty (20) AM Hockey stakeholders from a variety of roles (e.g. executives, program directors and coaches) were interviewed. Document analysis was also utilized to supplement the interviewees. Internal and public documents reflective of the CSO's creation and growth were obtained.

Findings

Findings revealed that the CSO had to navigate distinct phases of evolution including the Building, Growth, Competition and Stabilization phases. Although the four life cycle phases identified in this study share similarities with the phases identified by Lester et al. (2003), findings indicated that institutional work mechanisms must be understood in their context as they can vary over the life cycle of an organization. Therefore, start-up sports organizations must approach the pursuit of legitimacy as a continual process rather than something acquired and defended through maintenance work.

Originality/value

Developing legitimacy remains a central challenge for CSOs that seek to deliver alternative sport programming, yet it continues to be understudied. Ultimately, the long-term viability of an unsanctioned CSO in a federated sports system relies, in part, on its ability to continually determine the actions needed to achieve legitimacy within its environment.
Novice Auditors and Audits of Fair Values: Knowledge and Skill Requirements*
Authors: Boritz J. Efrim , Timoshenko Lev M.
Published: December 2023

Novice auditors are increasingly being asked to perform tasks that were not expected of them in the past, including evaluation of fair values (FVs). This study contributes to the auditing literature by investigating novice auditors' competencies required for correct performance of FV auditing tasks, identifying weaknesses, and suggesting actions that could be taken by educators and practitioners to address those weaknesses. Using the audit of goodwill impairment under IFRS as the exemplar task for identifying FV auditing competencies, we create a normative process table for the task based on accounting and auditing standards and authoritative valuation literature. We analyze the verbal protocols of novice auditors while they perform the task and compare their processes to the normative table to understand weaknesses in their competencies. Our findings are of interest to auditing educators and audit firm personnel responsible for staff training programs, audit program development (e.g., checklists), supervision, and review.
Applied anthropology, injustice, and the ethics of intervention
Authors: Manderson Lenore
Published: December 2023

Fifty years ago, anthropologists, including applied researchers, were caught up in a dilemma of ethics and practice, in the face of criticisms of ethnographic embroilment in colonial, military, and neocolonial projects. But the epistemological crises that this provoked, together with anthropological engagement in political movements, sharpened our commitment to work with others to counter systemic, structural, and enacted violence. Today, continued inequality at local and global levels is deeply complicated by corporate globalization and climate change. Ethnographic research and anthropological engagement is urgent and critical, requiring our persistence to redress social wrongs through supportive, generous partnerships, as advocates and as outspoken witnesses.
Market segmentation to reflect the school's “green” context and increase the impact of environmental education
Authors: Ramírez‐Bravo Osvaldo Eric , Camargo‐Rivera Evangelina , Sánchez‐Corona María Guadalupe
Published: December 2023

Collaboration between the fields of biodiversity conservation and social marketing is growing to promote environmental awareness and induce behavioral changes. In order to assess the significance of employing market segmentation, we conducted an analysis focused on identifying the “green” characteristics of the 386 high schools in the city of Puebla, Central Mexico. We designed a 15‐item survey to evaluate “green” features on school websites, including aspects like institutional identity, facilities, curricula, and extracurricular activities. Utilizing the gathered data, we employed multivariate statistics to categorize the schools into four groups: Green schools, Interested schools, Contemplators, and Do not act, indicating their potential exposure to environmental themes. We conclude that organizations can adopt a similar approach to develop tailored activities with enduring impacts, simultaneously reducing costs and enhancing effectiveness.
Neural tracking of continuous acoustics: properties, speech‐specificity and open questions
Authors: Zoefel Benedikt , Kösem Anne
Published: December 2023

Human speech is a particularly relevant acoustic stimulus for our species, due to its role of information transmission during communication. Speech is inherently a dynamic signal, and a recent line of research focused on neural activity following the temporal structure of speech. We review findings that characterise neural dynamics in the processing of continuous acoustics and that allow us to compare these dynamics with temporal aspects in human speech. We highlight properties and constraints that both neural and speech dynamics have, suggesting that auditory neural systems are optimised to process human speech. We then discuss the speech‐specificity of neural dynamics and their potential mechanistic origins and summarise open questions in the field.
Genetic variation associated with adult migration timing in lineages of Steelhead and Chinook Salmon in the Columbia River
Authors: Narum Shawn R. , Horn Rebekah , Willis Stuart , Koch Ilana , Hess Jon
Published: December 2023

With the discovery of a major effect region (GREB1L, ROCK1) for adult migration timing in genomes of both Chinook Salmon and Steelhead, several subsequent studies have investigated the effect size and distribution of early and late migration alleles among populations in the Columbia River. Here, we synthesize the results of these studies for the major lineages of Chinook Salmon and Steelhead that include highly distinct groups in the interior Columbia River that exhibit atypical life histories from most coastal lineage populations of these two species. Whole‐genome studies with high marker density have provided extensive insight into SNPs most associated with adult migration timing, and suites of markers for each species have been genotyped in large numbers of individuals to further validate phenotypic effects. For Steelhead, the largest phenotypic effect sizes have been observed in the coastal lineage (36% of variation for passage timing at Bonneville Dam; 43% of variation for tributary arrival timing) compared to the inland lineage (7.5% of variation for passage timing at Bonneville Dam; 8.4% of variation for tributary arrival timing) that overwinter in freshwater prior to spawning. For Chinook Salmon, large effect sizes have been observed in all three lineages for multiple adult migration phenotypes (Coastal lineage: percentage of variation of 27.9% for passage timing at Bonneville Dam, 28.7% for arrival timing for spawning; Interior ocean type: percentage of variation of 47.6% for passage timing at Bonneville Dam, 39.6% for tributary arrival timing, 77.9% for arrival timing for spawning; Interior stream type: percentage of variation of 35.3% for passage at Bonneville Dam, 9.8% for tributary arrival timing, 4.7% for arrival timing for spawning). Together, these results have extended our understanding of genetic variation associated with life history diversity in distinct populations of the Columbia River, however, much research remains necessary to determine the causal mechanism for this major effect region on migration timing in these species.
Cryo‐EM structures of human DICER dicing a pre‐miRNA substrate
Authors: Lee Hansol , Roh Soung‐Hun
Published: December 2023

Dicer, a multi‐domain ribonuclease III (RNase III) protein, is crucial for gene regulation via RNA interference. It processes hairpin‐like precursors into microRNAs (miRNAs) and long double‐stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) into small interfering RNAs (siRNAs). During the “dicing” process, the miRNA or siRNA substrate is stably anchored and cleaved by Dicer's RNase III domain. Although numerous studies have investigated long dsRNA cleavage by Dicer, the specific mechanism by which human Dicer (hDICER) processes pre‐miRNA remains unelucidated. This review introduces the recently revealed hDICER structure bound to pre‐miRNA uncovered through cryo‐electron microscopy and compares it with previous reports describing Dicer. The domain‐wise movements of the helicase and dsRNA‐binding domain (dsRBD) and specific residues involved in substrate sequence recognition have been identified. During RNA substrate binding, the hDICER apical domains and dsRBD recognize the pre‐miRNA termini and cleavage site, respectively. Residue rearrangements in positively charged pockets within the apical domain influence substrate recognition and cleavage site determination. The specific interactions between dsRBD positively charged residues and nucleotide bases near the cleavage site emphasize the significance of cis‐acting elements in the hDICER processing mechanism. These findings provide valuable insights for understanding hDICER‐related diseases.
Single‐cell profiling of bronchoalveolar cells reveals a Th17 signature in neutrophilic severe equine asthma
Authors: Sage Sophie E. , Leeb Tosso , Jagannathan Vidhya , Gerber Vinzenz
Published: December 2023

Severe equine asthma (SEA) is a complex respiratory condition characterized by chronic airway inflammation. It shares many clinical and pathological features with human neutrophilic asthma, making it a valuable model for studying this condition. However, the immune mechanisms driving SEA have remained elusive. Although SEA has been primarily associated with a Th2 response, there have also been reports of Th1, Th17, or mixed‐mediated responses. To uncover the elusive immune mechanisms driving SEA, we performed single‐cell mRNA sequencing (scRNA‐seq) on cryopreserved bronchoalveolar cells from 11 Warmblood horses, 5 controls and 6 with SEA. We identified six major cell types, including B cells, T cells, monocytes–macrophages, dendritic cells, neutrophils, and mast cells. All cell types exhibited significant heterogeneity, with previously identified and novel cell subtypes. Notably, we observed monocyte–lymphocyte complexes and detected a robust Th17 signature in SEA, with CXCL13 upregulation in intermediate monocytes. Asthmatic horses exhibited expansion of the B‐cell population, Th17 polarization of the T‐cell populations, and dysregulation of genes associated with T‐cell function. Neutrophils demonstrated enhanced migratory capacity and heightened aptitude for neutrophil extracellular trap formation. These findings provide compelling evidence for a predominant Th17 immune response in neutrophilic SEA, driven by dysregulation of monocyte and T‐cell genes. The dysregulated genes identified through scRNA‐seq have potential as biomarkers and therapeutic targets for SEA and provide insights into human neutrophilic asthma.
The fracture strength and the failure mode of lithium disilicate or resin nano ceramics as a crown, overlay, or endocrown restoration on endodontically treated teeth
Authors: Vervack Valentin , Johansson Camilla , Coster Peter De , Fokkinga Wietske , Papia Evaggelia , Vandeweghe Stefan
Published: December 2023

Introduction

Different materials and restorative concepts have been proposed over the years to restore endodontically treated teeth (ETT). Monolithic ceramic and composite restoration can be lute to the tooh, without the use of a post. However, little is known how the material stiffness and presence of a composite core will affect the survival and failure mode.

The objective of this in‐vitro study was to evaluate the fracture strength and failure mode of endodontically treated molars, restored with ceramic or hybrid composite monolithic restoration, in the presence of absence of a composite core.

Materials and Methods

Sixty depulped molars were restored with a lithium‐disilicate (e.max CAD) or hybrid composite (Cerasmart) restoration. Both materials were used in a monolithic approach, but with 3 different designs: (a) monolithic endocrown, (b) crown with a separate composite core, and (c) overlay without core buildup or pulpal extension. Ten sound teeth were used as control group. All groups were thermocycled (10,000 cycles), subsequently loaded in a chewing simulator (100,000 cycles) and finally loaded until fracture.

Results

Peak fracture loads and failure modes were registered. No significant differences were seen between the groups in terms of fracture load. Failure modes were statistically significantly different among groups with significant correlation between restoration type and material. (p < 0.001 and p = 0.033, respectively). No group presented significantly higher fracture resistance. Although ceramic crowns and overlays presented the highest repairability, all restored ETT were within the range of the intact tooth' fracture strength.

Conclusion

No restoration presented significant different fracture loads. However, the type of restoration and material choice were correlated to the fracture mode.
Neuronal plasticity in hippocampal neurons due to chronic mild stress and after stress removal in postnatal chicks
Authors: Tamta Kavita , Kumar Adarsh , Arya Hemlata , Arya Shweta , Maurya Ram Chandra
Published: December 2023

The avian dorsomedial surface of the cerebral hemisphere is occupied by the hippocampal complex (HCC), which plays an important role in learning, memory, cognitive functions, and regulating instinctive behavior patterns. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of chronic mild stress (CMS) in 4, 6, and 8 weeks and after chronic stress removal (CSR) in 6 and 8 weeks, on neuronal plasticity in HCC neurons of chicks through the Golgi–Cox technique. Further, behavioral study and open field test were conducted to test of exploration or of anxiety. The study revealed that the length of CMS and CSR groups shows a similar pattern as in nonstressed (NS) chicks, while weight shows nonsignificant decrease due to CMS as compared to NS and after CSR. The behavioral test depicts that the CMS group took more time to reach the food as compared to the NS and CSR groups. Due to CMS, the dendritic field of multipolar neurons shows significant decrease in 4 weeks, but in 6‐ and 8‐week‐old chicks, the multipolar, pyramidal, and stellate neurons depict significant decrease, whereas after CSR all neurons show significant increase in 8‐week‐old chicks. In 4‐ and 8‐week‐old chicks, all neurons depict significant decrease in their spine number, whereas in 6 weeks only multipolar neurons show significant decrease, but after CSR significant increase in 8‐week‐old chicks was observed. The study revealed that HCC shows continuous neuronal plasticity, which plays a significant role in normalizing and re‐establishing the homeostasis in animals to survive.
Effects of rurality and distance to care on perinatal outcomes over a 1‐year period during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Bujimalla Pratyusha V. , Kenne Kimberly A. , Steffen Haley A. , Swartz Samantha R. , Wendt Linder H. , Skibbe Adam M. , Jackson J. Brooks , Rysavy Mary B.
Published: December 2023

Purpose

Our aim was to investigate the roles of rurality and distance to care on adverse perinatal outcomes and COVID‐19 seroprevalence at the time of delivery over a 1‐year period.

Methods

Data were collected from the electronic medical record on all pregnant patients who delivered at a single, large, Midwest academic medical center over 1 year. Rurality was classified using standard Rural‐Urban Commuting Area codes. Geographic Information System tools were used to map outcomes. Data were analyzed with univariate and multivariate models, controlling for Body Mass Index (BMI), insurance status, and parity.

Findings

A total of 2,497 patients delivered during the study period; 20% of patients were rural (n = 499), 18.6% were micropolitan (n = 466), and 61.4% were metropolitan (n = 1,532). 10.4% of patients (n = 259) were COVID‐19 seropositive. Rural patients did not experience higher rates of any measured adverse outcomes than metropolitan patients; micropolitan patients had increased odds of preterm labor (OR = 1.41, P = .022) and pre‐eclampsia (OR = 1.78, P<.001). Patients living 30+ miles away from the medical center had increased odds of preterm labor (OR = 1.94, P<.001), pre‐eclampsia (OR = 1.73, P = .002), and infant admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (OR = 2.12, P<.001), as well as lower gestational age at delivery (β = −9.2 days, P<.001) and birth weight (β = −206 grams, P<.001).

Conclusion

Distance to care, rather than rurality, was the key predictor of multiple adverse perinatal outcomes in this cohort of deliveries over a 1‐year period. Our study suggests that rurality should not be used as a standalone indicator of access to care without further knowledge of the specific barriers affecting a given population.
Global Demand and Supply Sentiment: Evidence From Earnings Calls*
Authors: Ulrich Ruch Franz , Taskin Temel
Published: December 2023

This paper quantifies global demand and supply conditions and compares two major global recessions: the 2009 Great Recession and the COVID‐19 pandemic. First, we compute demand and supply sentiment by applying Natural Language Processing techniques on earnings call transcripts. Second, we corroborate our sentiment measure by identifying demand and supply shocks using a structural Bayesian vector autoregression model. The results highlight sharp contrast in the size of supply and demand conditions over time and across sectors. While the Great Recession was characterized by weak demand, COVID‐19 caused sizable disruptions to both demand and supply, with varying relative importance across major sectors. Furthermore, certain sub‐sectors, such as professional and business services, internet retail, and grocery/department stores, fared better than others during the pandemic.
“Competitive” food and beverage policies and weight status: A systematic review of the evidence among sociodemographic subgroups
Authors: Sanchez‐Vaznaugh Emma V. , Matsuzaki Mika , Acosta Maria Elena , Vasanth Sahana , Dugay Erika Rachelle , Sánchez Brisa N.
Published: December 2023

Prior studies identified variable associations between competitive food and beverage policies (CF&B) and youth obesity, potentially due to differences across population subgroups. This review summarizes the evidence on associations between CF&B policies and childhood obesity within gender, grade level/ age, race/ethnicity, and/or socioeconomic levels. PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, and ERIC database searches identified studies published in English in Canada and the United States between January 1, 2000, and February 28, 2022. Of the 18 selected studies, six were cross‐sectional, two correlational, nine were before/after designs, and one study utilized both a cross‐sectional and pre–post design. Twelve studies reported findings stratified by a single sociodemographic factor, with grade level/age as the most frequently reported. Although the evidence varied, greater consistency in direction of associations and strengths of evidence were seen among middle school students. Six studies reported findings jointly by multiple sociodemographic subgroups with evidence suggesting CF&B associations with slower rate of increase or plateaus or declines in obesity among multiple subgroups, though the strengths of evidence varied. Over the past two decades, there have been relatively limited subgroup analyses on studies about CF&B policies and childhood obesity. Studies are needed with stronger designs and analyses disaggregated, particularly by race/ethnicities and socioeconomic factors, across places and time.
Explicit caplet implied volatilities for quadratic term-structure models
Authors: Lorig Matthew , Suaysom Natchanon
Published: December 2023

We derive an explicit asymptotic approximation for implied volatilities of caplets under the assumption that the short-rate is described by a generic quadratic term-structure model. In addition to providing an asymptotic accuracy result, we perform numerical experiments in order to gauge the accuracy of our approximation.
Table S2 from Pharmacodynamic Analysis of BTK Inhibition in Patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Treated with Acalabrutinib
Authors: Alsadhan Anfal , Cheung Jean , Gulrajani Michael , Gaglione Erika M. , Nierman Pia , Hamdy Ahmed , Izumi Raquel , Bibikova Elena , Patel Priti , Sun Clare , Covey Todd , Herman Sarah E.M. , Wiestner Adrian
Published: December 2023

Supplementary Table S2: Assay IDs for genes analyzed by RT-PCR
Table S1 from Pharmacodynamic Analysis of BTK Inhibition in Patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Treated with Acalabrutinib
Authors: Alsadhan Anfal , Cheung Jean , Gulrajani Michael , Gaglione Erika M. , Nierman Pia , Hamdy Ahmed , Izumi Raquel , Bibikova Elena , Patel Priti , Sun Clare , Covey Todd , Herman Sarah E.M. , Wiestner Adrian
Published: December 2023

Supplementary Table S1: Patient characteristics
Fig S3 from Pharmacodynamic Analysis of BTK Inhibition in Patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Treated with Acalabrutinib
Authors: Alsadhan Anfal , Cheung Jean , Gulrajani Michael , Gaglione Erika M. , Nierman Pia , Hamdy Ahmed , Izumi Raquel , Bibikova Elena , Patel Priti , Sun Clare , Covey Todd , Herman Sarah E.M. , Wiestner Adrian
Published: December 2023

Flow cytometry gating strategy for pBTK after in vitro stimulation.
Fig S2 from Pharmacodynamic Analysis of BTK Inhibition in Patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Treated with Acalabrutinib
Authors: Alsadhan Anfal , Cheung Jean , Gulrajani Michael , Gaglione Erika M. , Nierman Pia , Hamdy Ahmed , Izumi Raquel , Bibikova Elena , Patel Priti , Sun Clare , Covey Todd , Herman Sarah E.M. , Wiestner Adrian
Published: December 2023

Flow cytometry gating strategy for CD69.
Supplemental Figure 5 from Absence of Cytomegalovirus in Glioblastoma and Other High-grade Gliomas by Real-time PCR, Immunohistochemistry, and In Situ Hybridization
Authors: Holdhoff Matthias , Guner Gunes , Rodriguez Fausto J. , Hicks Jessica L. , Zheng Qizhi , Forman Michael S. , Ye Xiaobu , Grossman Stuart A. , Meeker Alan K. , Heaphy Christopher M. , Eberhart Charles G. , De Marzo Angelo M. , Arav-Boger Ravit
Published: December 2023

Apparent false positive staining in brain tumor. A representative case showing moderate nuclear and cytoplasmic staining for IE1 at a dilution of 1:50. (A) medium power (original magnification x200) and (B) high power (original magnification x 600). Arrows show apparent false positive nuclear staining and arrowheads show apparent false positive cytoplasmic staining.
Supplemental Table 2 from Detection of miR-34a Promoter Methylation in Combination with Elevated Expression of c-Met and β-Catenin Predicts Distant Metastasis of Colon Cancer
Authors: Siemens Helge , Neumann Jens , Jackstadt Rene , Mansmann Ulrich , Horst David , Kirchner Thomas , Hermeking Heiko
Published: December 2023

PDF file - 1749K, Summary of antibodies, staining reagents and procedures used in this study
Polydrug Use Typologies of Regular Ecstasy Users Visiting Electronic Dance Music Events: A Latent Class Analysis
Authors: van Beek Ruben Johannes Jacob , Blankers Matthijs , Kleinjan Marloes , Waldron Jon , Grabski Meryem , Freeman Tom , Curran Valerie , van der Pol Peggy , van Laar Margriet
Published: December 2023

Introduction: Polydrug use patterns among young adults using ecstasy vary, as well as their willingness to change them. Polydrug use patterns are likely associated with different adverse health outcomes. It is unknown whether polydrug use patterns of young adults who use ecstasy are similar in different countries. This study aims to identify and compare polydrug use patterns and willingness to change them of young adults that use ecstasy in the United Kingdom (UK) and the Netherlands (NL), two countries with a high prevalence of ecstasy use and a large electronic dance music (EDM) scene. Methods: The data from the online cross-sectional Electronic Music Scene Survey were used in a latent class analysis. The binary indicators used in the estimation were past-year substance use of 21 different substances. The sample consisted of young adult ecstasy users that regularly visit EDM events (age 18–34). Results: A total of 1,077 respondents from the UK (age M = 23.1) and 1,178 from the NL (age M = 23.7) that regularly visit EDM events were included in the analyses. In both countries, three polydrug use patterns of ecstasy users were identified based on Bayesian Information Criterion fit indices: a traditional polydrug use class (UK: 28%; NL: 40%), a stimulant and ketamine polydrug use class (UK: 48%; NL: 52%), and an extensive polydrug use class (UK: 24%; NL: 8%) characterized by substantial use of stimulants, depressant, and psychedelic substances. Overall, young adults that used ecstasy in the UK consumed 3,4-methylenedioxymeth-amphetamine (MDMA) more often as powder/crystalline and at higher dosages compared to young adults in the NL who preferred MDMA tablets. Regardless of polydrug class or country, most respondents indicated that they had the intention to reduce but not quit their use. Conclusion: In both countries, structurally similar polydrug use patterns among young adults that use ecstasy were found, while the use frequencies of individual substances and preferred MDMA form varied between the countries.
The Image of the Woman in the Poetry of al-Sharīf al-Raḍī
Authors: al-Shamlān Nūra
Published: December 2023

From pre-Islamic times onwards, the themes of love and the beauty of women occupied a prominent place in Arabic poetry. This article seeks to describe the image of the woman in the poetry of the prominent Abbasid-era poet, al-Sharīf al-Raḍī. It begins with a discussion of love poetry in Arabic in general, from pre-Islamic times until the era of al-Raḍī in the 4th/10th century. Attention is given to the various techniques employed by poets to describe and praise the beloved as well as to the developments witnessed by this genre, especially during the Umayyad and early Abassid eras. Following a biographical sketch of al-Sharīf al-Raḍī, the article proceeds to discuss his relationship to women, in all its different manifestations, with particular attention to his Hijāziyyāt, poems of passion and longing. The article concludes with the opinions of both medieval and modern critics of al-Raḍī’s poetry. Al-Raḍī is seen as an accomplished poet who successfully combined the beauty of the nomadic world with the refinement of civilization.
Anoectangium stracheyanum and Pseudocrossidium hornschuchianum (Pottiaceae, Bryophyta) in New Zealand
Authors: ZANTEN BEN O. VAN , SOLLMAN PHILIP
Published: December 2023

The first author has made six bryological expeditions to New Zealand, in 1959, 1968, 1973–1974, 1982, 1993 and 2000 (van Zanten 2019). In 1993 both authors collected in 106 sites, from both the North and South Island, resulting in a collection of about 1700 numbers. All the material is deposited in the herbarium Leiden (L), except for a smaller part that is at the moment not yet fully accessible. The first author did many preliminary identifications in his large New Zealand collections. Experiments were conducted from these collections utilizing the spores from fruiting material with several resulting publications, including van Zanten (1978) and van Zanten & Pócs (1981). The second author gathered mainly tiny acrocarpous mosses, on the whole pottiaceous material. We found it worthwhile to publish here two mosses that are apparently new records for New Zealand.
Kahakuloa operculispora, a new Hawaiian simple thalloid liverwort in a new genus and family, Kahakuloaceae (Fossombroniales)
Authors: FREIRE A. VIRGINIA , JUDZIEWICZ EMMET J. , CARGILL D. CHRISTINE , FORREST LAURA L. , GRADSTEIN S. ROBBERT , OPPENHEIMER HANK L. , PEZZILLO ZACHARY , SEPSENWOL SOL
Published: December 2023

Kahakuloa operculispora, a new simple thalloid liverwort endemic to Hawaiʻi, so far only known from high elevation bogs in western Maui, is described and illustrated. The thallus has prominent reddish-purple rhizoids, uniseriate ventral slime papillae and lacks scales. The plants are dioicous; male plants have antheridia sunken in several rows of dorsal chambers, subtended by scales, while female plants have clustered archegonia enclosed by thick, barrel-shaped involucres that develop serially at the plant apex, before fertilization, and are arranged in a single dorsal row at maturity; perichaetial scales and pseudoperianths (defined as involucres developing after fertilization) are lacking. The capsules are spherical, 2−3 stratose, and dehisce irregularly; the spores are areolate and have a unique operculum-like disk on the proximal face. Molecular and morphological evidence supports placement of the plant in a new genus and family in the order Fossombroniales, suborder Fossombroniineae. Kahakuloa is the first liverwort genus endemic to Hawaiʻi, and Kahakuloaceae is the only known endemic Hawaiian land plant family.
New records and range extensions for liverworts (Marchantiophyta) in the Australian Wet Tropics bioregion
Authors: MEAGHER DAVID , PÓCS TAMÁS , CAIRNS ANDI
Published: December 2023

Three species of liverworts are reported as new to Australia, all from the Australian Wet Tropics bioregion: Colura corynophora, Drepanolejeunea serricalyx, and D. tricornua. Significant range extensions within the bioregion are reported for another two species. Cololejeunea kapingaensis, previously reported as ramicolous, is here reported as an epiphyll.
The nomenclatural status of Agama cristata Merrem, 1819 and Corytophanes Schlegel, 1826 (Squamata, Corytophanidae) and of other tropical lizard nomina, with comments on some tricky issues of zoological nomenclature
Authors: DENZER WOLFGANG , DUBOIS ALAIN , FRÉTEY THIERRY , OHLER ANNEMARIE
Published: December 2023

The nomenclatural status of the nomina Agama cristata and Corytophanes (Squamata, Corytophanidae) are examined. The former should be credited to Merrem (1819), not Merrem (1820), and the latter to Schlegel (1826a), not H. Boie in Schlegel (1826b). The nomen Iguana superciliosa Latreille in Sonnini & Latreille, 1801 is shown to be a senior synonym of Agama cristata Merrem, 1819. Article 23.9 is used here to protect the latter through reversal of precedence. Several other nomenclatural problems related to these nomina and related ones are explored. Updated synonymies and aponymies are provided for all the nomina of the genus Corytophanes currently considered valid and for the family, the valid nomen of which is Corytophanidae Fitzinger, 1843 [Frost & Etheridge, 1989] based on Article 35.4.1 and through reversal of precedence. Attention is drawn to several nomina and spellings present in the literature but forgotten by all or most authors until now.