bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Towards inclusiveness in dementia services for black and minoritised communities in the UK
Authors: Ahmed Anya , Chesterton Lorna , Ford Matthew J.
Published: January 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is twofold: to explore the existing evidence around dementia services and interrogate the overarching UK policy development relating to service inclusion of black and minoritised groups. The paper will go on to identify the implications for the dementia wellness pathway and make recommendations regarding how services can be more inclusive.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper examines the policy/practice landscape around dementia care provision and observes if lessons can be learnt to improve health outcomes for people living with dementia from black and minoritised communities.

Findings

A review of dementia policy demonstrates how opportunities to improve the awareness, diagnosis and post-diagnostic support for minoritised communities are being missed. The outcomes of this mean that individuals are denied vital treatment and support, which could enhance quality of life and delay the progression of dementia.

Practical implications

The authors’ premise is that not meeting the dementia support needs of less-heard communities has negative financial as well as social and health-related outcomes and has wider resonance and implications for all stages of the dementia wellness pathway. Moreover, there is a legal responsibility for public services to provide culturally sensitive, responsive, appropriate and available care, to all people, without discrimination.

Originality/value

This paper offers a valuable review of policy and practice around dementia care in the UK and makes recommendations to improve health outcomes for people living with dementia from black and minoritised communities.
Role of education and natural resources in achieving green economic growth in China: A wavelet quantile correlation approach
Authors: Shuchun Bu , Alola Andrew Adewale
Published: January 2024

Climate change has emerged as a major threat for developed as well as emerging nations. In order to effectively address this matter, it is imperative to undertake a transition towards a sustainable and environment‐friendly economic model. From an economic standpoint, it is worth noting that green economic growth serves as a mechanism to enhance income levels while preserving the integrity of the environment. Therefore, there is a significant interest among researchers and policymakers to identify the determinants of green growth (GG), with the aim of formulating effective policies to promote sustainable development. In light of this, we probe the impact of education and natural resources on GG in China. The novel augmented autoregressive distributed lag approach reports the long‐run co‐movement between education, natural resources, and GG. Moreover, the results derived from the novel wavelet quantile correlation method indicate that education positively affects GG in both the short‐ and long‐term, across different quantiles. However, in the medium‐term, the impact of education on GG is negative. In both the short‐ and long‐term, natural resources hinder GG, thus providing support for the natural resource curse theory. We present policy recommendations aimed at fostering GG in the Chinese economy. For example, there should be a substantial increase in investment in education to boost GG. Next, access to education is inevitable to attain higher GG; therefore, quality education should be provided at a lower cost.
Hiding in plain sight: The discovery of complete genomes of 11 hypothetical spindle‐shaped viruses that putatively infect mesophilic ammonia‐oxidizing archaea
Authors: Ni Yimin , Xu Tianqi , Yan Shuling , Chen Lanming , Wang Yongjie
Published: January 2024

The genome of a putative Nitrosopumilaceae virus with a hypothetical spindle‐shaped particle morphology was identified in the Yangshan Harbour metavirome from the East China Sea through protein similarity comparison and structure analysis. This discovery was accompanied by a set of 10 geographically dispersed close relatives found in the environmental virus datasets from typical locations of ammonia‐oxidizing archaeon distribution. Its host prediction was supported by iPHoP prediction and protein sequence similarity. The structure of the predicted major capsid protein, together with the overall N‐glycosylation site, the transmembrane helices prediction, the hydrophilicity profile, and the docking simulation of the major capsid proteins, indicate that these viruses resemble spindle‐shaped viruses. It suggests a similarly assembled structure and, consequently, a possibly spindle‐shaped morphology of these newly discovered archaeal viruses.
DNA methylation and chromatin accessibility predict age in the domestic dog
Authors: Jin Kelly , McCoy Brianah M. , Goldman Elisabeth A. , Usova Viktoria , Tkachev Victor , Chitsazan Alex D. , Kakebeen Anneke , Jeffery Unity , Creevy Kate E. , Wills Andrea , Snyder‐Mackler Noah , Promislow Daniel E. L.
Published: January 2024

Across mammals, the epigenome is highly predictive of chronological age. These “epigenetic clocks,” most of which have been built using DNA methylation (DNAm) profiles, have gained traction as biomarkers of aging and organismal health. While the ability of DNAm to predict chronological age has been repeatedly demonstrated, the ability of other epigenetic features to predict age remains unclear. Here, we use two types of epigenetic information—DNAm, and chromatin accessibility as measured by ATAC‐seq—to develop age predictors in peripheral blood mononuclear cells sampled from a population of domesticated dogs. We measured DNAm and ATAC‐seq profiles for 71 dogs, building separate predictive clocks from each, as well as the combined dataset. We also use fluorescence‐assisted cell sorting to quantify major lymphoid populations for each sample. We found that chromatin accessibility can accurately predict chronological age (R2ATAC = 26%), though less accurately than the DNAm clock (R2DNAm = 33%), and the clock built from the combined datasets was comparable to both (R2combined = 29%). We also observed various populations of CD62L+ T cells significantly correlated with dog age. Finally, we found that all three clocks selected features that were in or near at least two protein‐coding genes: BAIAP2 and SCARF2, both previously implicated in processes related to cognitive or neurological impairment. Taken together, these results highlight the potential of chromatin accessibility as a complementary epigenetic resource for modeling and investigating biologic age.
Unravelling unique responses of mammal abundance to road proximity in agricultural landscapes
Authors: Alberici V. , Desbiez A. L. J. , Pasqualotto N. , Chiarello A. G.
Published: January 2024

Roads can impact population abundance due to mortality from collisions with vehicles, habitat degradation and loss of connectivity. Some species, however, can be unaffected or even positively affected by roads and roadside environments. Despite this, there is scarce information on population‐level responses to roads. To fill this knowledge gap, we sampled medium and large mammals with camera traps near two paved roads with low and high traffic volumes in agricultural landscapes in the Brazilian Cerrado. We used Royle‐Nichols' occupancy models to investigate the effects of road proximity on the local abundance of 12 mammal species with varying susceptibility to roadkill. We found that road proximity affected only three species, all of which had high roadkill rates. While two of these species exhibited lower abundance near roads, the third showed the opposite response. For most species, irrespective of their roadkill rates, variations in local abundance were strongly correlated with habitat quality and connectivity. Species' life‐history traits, individual behaviour and the impact of roads and traffic on populations over time may explain these idiosyncratic responses.
Moderate variations in the human diet impact the gut microbiota in humanized mice
Authors: Schoeler Marc , Chakaroun Rima , Brolin Harald , Larsson Ingrid , Perkins Rosie , Marschall Hanns‐Ulrich , Caesar Robert , Bäckhed Fredrik
Published: January 2024

Aim

Drastic diet interventions have been shown to promote rapid and significant compositional changes of the gut microbiota, but the impact of moderate diet variations is less clear. Here, we aimed to clarify the impact of moderate diet variations that remain within the spectrum of the habitual human diet on gut microbiota composition.

Methods

We performed a pilot diet intervention where five healthy volunteers consumed a vegetarian ready‐made meal for three days to standardize dietary intake before switching to a meat‐based ready‐made western‐style meal and high sugar drink for two days. We performed 16S rRNA sequencing from daily fecal sampling to assess gut microbiota changes caused by the intervention diet. Furthermore, we used the volunteers' fecal samples to colonize germ‐free mice that were fed the same sterilized diets to study the effect of a moderate diet intervention on the gut microbiota in a setting of reduced interindividual variation.

Results

In the human intervention, we found that fecal microbiota composition varied between and within individuals regardless of diet. However, when we fed the same diets to mice colonized with the study participants' feces, we observed significant, often donor‐specific, changes in the mouse microbiota following this moderate diet intervention.

Conclusion

Moderate variations in the habitual human diet have the potential to alter the gut microbiota. Feeding humanized mice human diets may facilitate our understanding of individual human gut microbiota responses to moderate dietary changes and help improve individualized interventions.
Between Co‐Management and Responsibilisation: Comparative Perspectives from Two Reservas Comunales in the Peruvian Amazon
Authors: Sarmiento Barletti Juan Pablo , Rolando Giancarlo
Published: January 2024

Peru introduced co‐managed Reservas Comunales (Communal Reserves) as an alternative to the ‘fortress conservation’ approach that characterises other protected areas where Indigenous Peoples tend to be excluded from both the physical space and managerial aspects of conservation regimes. Although these Reserves are lauded internationally as supporting Indigenous Peoples' self‐determination, this article examines the challenges that arise from the cogestión (co‐management) regime for Indigenous organisations and communities. Focusing on the ‘responsibilisation’ relationships created in the co‐management of two Communal Reserves, the article reflects on the different trajectories of this transfer of responsibilities, and the processes through which Indigenous co‐management organisations are expected to adopt the government's conservation goals.
In vivo anticancer study of sodium 2‐[(4‐oxidobenzylidene)amino]‐6H‐1,3,4‐thiadiazine‐5‐olate against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma via targeting PI3K/mTOR pathway
Authors: Rizzk Youstina William , El‐Deen Ibrahim Mohey , Behery Mohammed El , Mourad Ahmed A. E. , Mohammed Faten Zahran
Published: January 2024

1,3,4‐Thiadiazine‐based components have gained the attention as they afford significant intervention for cancer therapy. We aimed at assessing the in vivo antitumor activity of sodium 2‐[(4‐oxidobenzylidene) amino]‐6H‐1,3,4‐thiadiazine‐5‐c (SOTA) versus Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) cells in female mice's peritoneal cavity. An advantageous interaction of the test compound with the receptors p53 (2J1X), Caspase‐3 (3KJF), mTOR (3QAR), and PI3K (4JPS) was revealed by the docking study. The in vivo study of the test compound against EAC, equated with the EAC control mice, EAC bearing mice that received the test compound by i.p. injection proven a substantial decrease in the viability of tumor cell by 70%. Treatment with the tested compound increased total antioxidants capacity and decreasing malondialdehyde levels. Also, the apoptotic activity of the test compound was confirmed by up regulation of caspase‐3 and p53 and downregulation of PI3K and mTOR. Through the liver, kidney, and heart function assessments, the examined component has no adverse effects on either of the two organs, which were supported by a histological study. Significant positive and negative associations among variables were discovered, according to our research. Through the induction of apoptosis and antioxidant effects, the test compound show potential anticancer activity against EAC cells. The treatment with SOTA eliminated most of the pathological abnormalities brought on by EAC cells in mice, according to the results of tests on the liver, kidney, and heart as well as the histological investigation. Taking together, the tested compound SOTA is promising chemotherapeutic agent as supported by targeting PI3k/mTOR pathway.
Development of disease‐specific growth charts for Korean children with Beckwith–Wiedemann syndrome
Authors: Choi Naye , Kim Hwa Young , Ko Jung Min
Published: January 2024

Beckwith–Wiedemann syndrome (BWS) is an epigenetic overgrowth syndrome. Despite its distinctive growth pattern, the detailed growth trajectories of children with BWS remain largely unknown. We retrospectively analyzed 413 anthropometric measurements over an average of 4.4 years of follow‐up in 51 children with BWS. We constructed sex‐specific percentile curves for height, weight, and head circumference using a generalized additive model for location, scale, and shape. Males with BWS exhibited greater height at all ages evaluated, weight before the age of 10, and head circumference before the age of 9 than those of the general population. Females with BWS showed greater height before the age of 7, weight before the age of 4.5, and head circumference before the age of 7 than those of the general population. At the latest follow‐up visit at a mean 8.4 years of age, bone age was significantly higher than chronological age. Compared to paternal uniparental disomy (pUPD), males with imprinting center region 2‐loss of methylation (IC2‐LOM) had higher standard deviation score (SDS) for height and weight, while females with IC2‐LOM showed larger SDS for head circumference. These disease‐specific growth charts can serve as valuable tools for clinical monitoring of children with BWS.
Did the association between alcohol outlet density and crime change during COVID shelter‐in‐place orders?
Authors: O'Hara Sharon E. , Paschall Mallie J. , Grube Joel W. , Ponicki William R.
Published: January 2024

Introduction

We investigated whether greater concentrations of on‐ and off‐sale alcohol outlets were associated with crime and whether this association was moderated by COVID‐19 shelter‐in‐place orders (SIP) that restricted on‐premises consumption of alcohol.

Methods

Crimes (2019–2020) and addresses of licenced alcohol outlets in a medium‐sized California city were geocoded within census block groups (N = 61). On‐ and off‐sale alcohol outlet density was calculated as licenced outlets/2.59 km2 (1 square mile). Multilevel negative binomial regression analyses were conducted to examine associations between alcohol outlet density and crime, and possible moderating effects of SIP, controlling for block group demographic characteristics and density of other retail businesses.

Results

On‐sale outlet density was positively associated with total crimes and Part 2 crimes, while off‐sale outlet density was inversely associated with total crime and Part 2 crimes. Overall, SIP was not significantly associated with crime, but moderated the associations of on‐sale density with total crime and Part 1 crimes such that reductions in crime during SIP were observed in higher density areas. The association of off‐sale outlets with crime was not moderated by SIP policies.

Discussion and Conclusion

On‐sale outlet density, but not off‐sale density, appears to be associated with increased crime. The results further indicate that restrictions in hours and service imposed by SIP policies reduced crime in high on‐sale outlet density areas. These findings reinforce the importance of regulating alcohol outlet density and hours of service, especially for on‐sale outlets, as a crime reduction strategy.
Measuring Variability in Proctor Decision Making on High‐Stakes Assessments: Improving Test Security in the Digital Age
Authors: Belzak William , Lockwood J. R. , Attali Yigal
Published: January 2024

Remote proctoring, or monitoring test takers through internet‐based, video‐recording software, has become critical for maintaining test security on high‐stakes assessments. The main role of remote proctors is to make judgments about test takers' behaviors and decide whether these behaviors constitute rule violations. Variability in proctor decision making, or the degree to which humans/proctors make different decisions about the same test‐taking behaviors, can be problematic for both test takers and test users (e.g., universities). In this paper, we measure variability in proctor decision making over time on a high‐stakes English language proficiency test. Our results show that (1) proctors systematically differ in their decision making and (2) these differences are trait‐like (i.e., ranging from lenient to strict), but (3) systematic variability in decisions can be reduced. Based on these findings, we recommend that test security providers conduct regular measurements of proctors’ judgments and take actions to reduce variability in proctor decision making.
Loop 6 and the β‐hairpin flap are structural hotspots that determine cofactor specificity in the FMN‐dependent family of ene‐reductases
Authors: Kerschbaumer Bianca , Totaro Massimo G. , Friess Michael , Breinbauer Rolf , Bijelic Aleksandar , Macheroux Peter
Published: January 2024

Flavin mononucleotide (FMN)‐dependent ene‐reductases constitute a large family of oxidoreductases that catalyze the enantiospecific reduction of carbon–carbon double bonds. The reducing equivalents required for substrate reduction are obtained from reduced nicotinamide by hydride transfer. Most ene‐reductases significantly prefer, or exclusively accept, either NADPH or NADH. Despite their usefulness in biocatalytic applications, the structural determinants for cofactor preference remain elusive. We employed the NADPH‐preferring 12‐oxophytodienoic acid reductase 3 from Solanum lycopersicum (SlOPR3) as a model enzyme of the ene‐reductase family and applied computational and structural methods to investigate the binding specificity of the reducing coenzymes. Initial docking results indicated that the arginine triad R283, R343, and R366 residing on and close to a critical loop at the active site (loop 6) are the main contributors to NADPH binding. In contrast, NADH binds unfavorably in the opposite direction toward the β‐hairpin flap within a largely hydrophobic region. Notably, the crystal structures of SlOPR3 in complex with either NADPH4 or NADH4 corroborated these different binding modes. Molecular dynamics simulations confirmed NADH binding near the β‐hairpin flap and provided structural explanations for the low binding affinity of NADH to SlOPR3. We postulate that cofactor specificity is determined by the arginine triad/loop 6 and the residue(s) controlling access to a hydrophobic cleft formed by the β‐hairpin flap. Thus, NADPH preference depends on a properly positioned arginine triad, whereas granting access to the hydrophobic cleft at the β‐hairpin flap favors NADH binding.
What makes video‐based academic lectures difficult for language learners to comprehend? The role of multimodal complexity
Authors: Alghamdi Emad A.
Published: January 2024

By taking a multidisciplinary, evidence‐based approach to modeling video difficulty, this study investigates the impact of multimodal complexity on language learners' self‐ratings of video difficulty, while simultaneously accounting for the effects of learner differences and video production styles. A set of 320 instructional videos from the corpus of second language video complexity were analyzed using sophisticated natural language processing and computer vision algorithms to extract and compute a wide range of multimodal complexity indices. The results of a linear mixed‐effects model demonstrated that pitch variation and academic spoken formulaic sequences helped to facilitate viewing comprehension, whereas infrequent words, image clutter, the number of visual objects, salient objects, visual texts, shots, and moving objects all impeded viewing comprehension. This study concludes by presenting a number of practical implications that can prove useful for English as a Foreign Language teachers and practitioners alongside a comprehensive agenda for future research in this area.
Urban living can rescue Darwin's finches from the lethal effects of invasive vampire flies
Authors: Knutie Sarah A. , Webster Cynthia N. , Vaziri Grace J. , Albert Lauren , Harvey Johanna A. , LaRue Michelle , Verrett Taylor B. , Soldo Alexandria , Koop Jennifer A. H. , Chaves Jaime A. , Wegrzyn Jill L.
Published: January 2024

Human activity changes multiple factors in the environment, which can have positive or negative synergistic effects on organisms. However, few studies have explored the causal effects of multiple anthropogenic factors, such as urbanization and invasive species, on animals and the mechanisms that mediate these interactions. This study examines the influence of urbanization on the detrimental effect of invasive avian vampire flies (Philornis downsi) on endemic Darwin's finches in the Galápagos Islands. We experimentally manipulated nest fly abundance in urban and non‐urban locations and then characterized nestling health, fledging success, diet, and gene expression patterns related to host defense. Fledging success of non‐parasitized nestlings from urban (79%) and non‐urban (75%) nests did not differ significantly. However, parasitized, non‐urban nestlings lost more blood, and fewer nestlings survived (8%) compared to urban nestlings (50%). Stable isotopic values (δ15N) from urban nestling feces were higher than those from non‐urban nestlings, suggesting that urban nestlings are consuming more protein. δ15N values correlated negatively with parasite abundance, which suggests that diet might influence host defenses (e.g., tolerance and resistance). Parasitized, urban nestlings differentially expressed genes within pathways associated with red blood cell production (tolerance) and pro‐inflammatory response (innate immunological resistance), compared to parasitized, non‐urban nestlings. In contrast, parasitized non‐urban nestlings differentially expressed genes within pathways associated with immunoglobulin production (adaptive immunological resistance). Our results suggest that urban nestlings are investing more in pro‐inflammatory responses to resist parasites but also recovering more blood cells to tolerate blood loss. Although non‐urban nestlings are mounting an adaptive immune response, it is likely a last effort by the immune system rather than an effective defense against avian vampire flies since few nestlings survived.
Seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection among schoolchildren in southern Taiwan—A 20‐year longitudinal follow‐up
Authors: Lo Hsiao‐Yu , Yang Yao‐Jong
Published: January 2024

Background

Helicobacter pylori infection is primarily acquired in childhood and can lead to peptic ulcer diseases and gastric cancer. The prevalence of H. pylori infection varies widely in different countries. The aim of this study was to explore the change of pediatric H. pylori seroprevalence in the past two decades and to investigate the risk factors for pediatric H. pylori seropositivity in southern Taiwan.

Materials and Methods

This study enrolled children aged 7–12 years in Tainan City in 2018 and compared the result with our previous data in 1998, 2005, and 2010. Parents of the participants were invited to fill out questionnaires, including information of personal history, family history of peptic ulcer diseases, annual household income, and source of drinking water. Blood samples were analyzed for anti‐H. pylori IgG by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay.

Results

A total of 391, 629, 618, and 488 elementary school students in Tainan City were enrolled in 1998, 2005, 2010, and 2018, respectively. There was a significant decline in H. pylori seroprevalence from 9.2% in 1998, 7.8% in 2005, 6.2% in 2010 to 4.7% in 2018 (p < 0.001). Neither gender difference nor age difference was found in H. pylori seropositivity in each year of enrollment. Low household income was significantly associated with pediatric H. pylori seropositivity.

Conclusions

The seroprevalence of H. pylori infection among elementary schoolchildren has remarkably declined in southern Taiwan in the past two decades. Low household income was a risk factor for pediatric H. pylori seropositivity.
Attenuation of hepatitis A antibody after immunization with hepatitis A vaccine (Aimmugen) in people living with HIV
Authors: Koga Michiko , Saito Makoto , Kubota Megumi , Senkoji Tomoe , Adachi Eisuke , Ikeuchi Kazuhiko , Kikuchi Tadashi , Otani Amato , Takahashi Kazuaki , Tsutsumi Takeya , Yotsuyanagi Hiroshi
Published: January 2024

Aim

Hepatitis A (HA) is a vaccine‐preventable disease. In regions with good sanitation, men who have sex with men (MSM) are the key affected populations. During the 2018–2019 HA outbreak among MSM in Japan, we actively vaccinated MSM living with HIV (MSM‐LWHIV) with Aimmugen. As previously reported, their antibody seroconversion rate due to vaccination was lower than that of healthy individuals. However, the durability of Aimmugen in people living with HIV has not yet been reported. We evaluated attenuation after the one‐series vaccination (comprising three inoculations) and the factors associated with attenuation.

Methods

We retrospectively examined anti‐HA immunoglobulin G (anti‐HA‐IgG) titers and other clinical data from our hospital's medical records. Patients with no history of vaccination or HA infection (i.e., negative HA‐IgG titers) who received one series of Aimmugen, achieved seropositivity, and anti‐HA‐IgG antibodies were tested ≥2 years after three doses were included. Fisher’s exact test and the Mann–Whitney U‐test were performed. p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

Fifty‐one MSM‐LWHIV were included. All were seropositive after the third dose with a median HA‐IgG titer of 10.1 (interquartile range, 7.2–12.2) (sample/cut‐off values [s/co]). In 45 (40–49) months, seropositivity decreased to 90% (46/51) and was attenuated to a median of 4.4 (2.3–6.5) s/co. Lower baseline B cell counts (p = 0.049), lower anti‐HA‐IgG levels after the second dose (p = 0.002), and lower anti‐HA‐IgG levels after the third dose (p = 0.003) were associated with seronegativity.

Conclusions

Anti‐HA‐IgG titers of vaccinated MSM‐LWHIV may be attenuated; thus, additional immunizations should be considered.
International migration and the NGOs working in the field of migration in Turkey
Authors: Özçetin Burak , Emre Perrin Öğün
Published: January 2024

This study aims to analyse the activities and discourses of the non‐governmental organizations (NGOs) working in the field of migration in Turkey. The research explores how the NGOs frame the issue of migration differently and how they define and comprehend migration, migrants, and refugees. The article discusses whether the NGOs view refugees as subjects needing help, support, and protection or as actors who have rights and must be empowered and argues that there is tension between the two approaches. These points are discussed through a field study, conducted in 2020 (between February and April), comprising in‐depth interviews with representatives of 13 NGOs working in the field of migration. The study points to structural, historical, and conjectural causes and aspects of the weakness of rights‐based attitudes and activities among the NGOs working in the field of migration in Turkey. The article finds out that the actions of the NGOs working in the field of migration are concentrated on the basic needs of refugees, and structural limitations, such as political pressure, political polarization, and capacity problems, push the NGOs to evaluate the issue of migration within relatively narrow frames. The article also stresses the importance of an enabling political and legal environment and a coherent and structured communication strategy to promote a rights‐based migration agenda.
Bacillus thuringiensis strains to control Noctuidae pests
Authors: Nascimento Tatiane Aparecida , de Carvalho Karine Silva , Martins Denize Carvalho , de Oliveira Cleidiane Rodrigues , de Carvalho Queiroz Margareth Maria , Valicente Fernando Hercos
Published: January 2024

This study aimed to select and characterize Bacillus thuringiensis strains with toxic activity on Helicoverpa armigera, Spodoptera cosmioides and Spodoptera eridania. Fifty B. thuringiensis (Bt) strains were used in selective bioassays for high mortality on H. armigera, and the four most efficient strains were tested on S. cosmioides and S. eridania. Twelve Bt strains were characterized by PCR to detect some cry, cyt and vip genes. Bioassays were also performed to detect the production of β‐exotoxins. Strain 237 caused a mortality rate of 95.6% due to β‐exotoxins. Strains 1368, 1521, 1814 and 3299 showed toxic activity on S. eridania. However, no strain was effective on S. cosmioides. The presence of β‐exotoxin was detected only in strain 237. The molecular characterization of the strains using specific cry, cyt and vip primers showed a great genetic diversity among the 12 strains that showed some mortality on H. armigera and S. eridania. Our results showed that detecting β‐exotoxin in Bt strains is important as it is toxic to insects and vertebrates and persistent in the environment. Strains 1368, 1521, 1814 and 3299 did not show toxicity to H. armigera, while they were toxic to S. eridania and did not produce β‐exotoxin. These strains may be useful for new formulations of biopesticides as well as for cloning and expression of plants' genes.
Does the superfluous killing exhibited by spiders mask the functional response parameters? A case study from the perspective of biological control
Authors: López‐Mercadal Júlia , Benhadi‐Marín Jacinto , Rodrigues Isabel , Miranda Miguel Ángel , Pereira José Alberto
Published: January 2024

The meadow spittlebug Philaenus spumarius L. (Hemiptera: Aphrophoridae) is a xylem‐sap feeder and the most abundant and widespread vector of Xylella fastidiosa (Xanthomonadales: Xanthomonadaceae) throughout Europe. Control strategies for the disease are based on containment and eradication measures regulated by the European Union. Within the context of biological control, the use of natural enemies aims at limiting the insect vector population in agroecosystems. Spiders are generalist predators with potential as biological control agents occupying all the habitats within crops. Crab spiders (Thomisidae) could be potential natural enemies against P. spumarius. The functional response (FR) of a predator represents the intake rate as a function of food availability and allows estimating feeding behaviour parameters such as the prey handling time and attack rate. However, spiders often kill more prey than they consume, unveiling their capacity as natural enemies. We assessed and compared the FR of Xysticus acerbus (Thomisidae) fed on P. spumarius in the laboratory considering (1) the total number of dead individuals and (2) only the consumed ones. We found that although both FRs were of type‐II, they significantly differed. The values of attack rate and handling time for consumed were 0.1 and 3.6, respectively, while for dead, the attack rate was 0.3 and 1.1, being both significantly different. Moreover, the number of overkilled individuals reached a plateau at the highest prey densities. Xysticus acerbus could be a potential natural enemy of P. spumarius. Nevertheless, we suggest that the effect of including the killed but not consumed prey individuals in FR studies using wasteful killing predators should be considered and further studied.
Survey on the implementation status and reproductive outcomes of oocyte and ovarian tissue cryopreservation in Japan: Historical comparison with nationwide surveys
Authors: Takae Seido , Harada Miyuki , Nakamura Kentaro , Furuyama Sayako , Ono Masanori , Osuga Yutaka , Suzuki Nao
Published: January 2024

Purpose

To clarify the reproductive outcomes of fertility preservation (FP) treatment.

Methods

We conducted a mailed‐in questionnaire survey at institutions certified by the Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology to investigate the number of oocyte cryopreservations (OC) and ovarian tissue cryopreservations (OTC) performed from December 2016 to the end of 2020. And, we conducted a detailed investigation of cases in which frozen specimens were used during the investigation period, and made historical comparisons with previous nationwide studies.

Results

Responses were received from 114 out of 150 facilities (response rate: 76.0%) for OC and 43 out of 51 for OTC (response rate: 84.3%). Breast cancer was the most common disease among patients whose FP specimens were used. During the study period, 1237 OCs and 198 OTCs were performed. In addition, 57 cycles of embryo transfer (ET) using cryopreserved oocytes and 12 cases of ovarian tissue transplantation (OTT) were performed. The mean age of patients who underwent ET using cryopreserved oocytes was 34.8 (±5.8) years, with a median age of 36 years. The pregnancy rate per ET using cryopreserved oocytes was 26.3% and the live birth rate (LBR) was 17.5%. Further, the LBR per patient was 43.3%, and the pregnancy rate following OTTs was 33.3%. Also, controlled ovarian stimulation using the random start method or the combination of aromatase inhibitors had no effect on pregnancy outcome.

Conclusion

Implementation of both OCs and OTCs have markedly increased over time in Japan, with comparable reproductive outcomes as other reports.
How Companies Restrain Means–Ends Decoupling: A Comparative Case Study of CSR Implementation
Authors: Athanasopoulou Andromachi , Marti Emilio , Risi David , Schlindwein Eva
Published: January 2024

We use the concept of means–ends decoupling to examine why companies continue to be major contributors to environmental and social problems despite committing increasingly to corporate social responsibility (CSR). Specifically, we ask: How do companies restrain (versus fail to restrain) means–ends decoupling? We answer this question through a comparative case study of four multinational companies with different levels of means–ends decoupling. Based on interviews and secondary data, we inductively identify two distinct approaches to CSR implementation: experimental vs. consistency‐oriented CSR implementation. Experimental CSR implementation means that companies (1) produce CSR knowledge about what is happening in specific CSR contexts and use this knowledge to (2) adapt CSR practices to local circumstances – an interplay that restrains means–ends decoupling. Consistency‐oriented CSR implementation lacks this interplay between knowledge production and practice adaptation, which fosters means–ends decoupling. Our model of experimental versus consistency‐oriented CSR implementation advances two streams of research. First, we advance research on means–ends decoupling by highlighting the importance of experimentation for restraining means–ends decoupling. Second, we advance research on the impact of CSR activities by questioning the widespread assumption that consistency should be at the heart of CSR implementation.
When organizational dehumanization hits home: Short‐scale validation and test of a spillover–crossover model
Authors: Lagios Constantin , Stinglhamber Florence , Restubog Simon Lloyd D. , Lagios Nicolas , Brison Noémie , Caesens Gaëtane
Published: January 2024

Organizational dehumanization, a concept that has garnered increasing scholarly attention, still faces two significant limitations within the current literature. First, there is a lack of rigorously validated scales in the field. Second, the effects of organizational dehumanization on the family domain have been largely overlooked. In light of these gaps, we embarked on a comprehensive research project comprising five studies (NTotal = 2635) to address these limitations. Our primary objectives were twofold: (1) to develop and validate a concise five‐item scale for measuring organizational dehumanization based on Caesens et al.'s (Eur. J. Work Org. Psychol., 26, 2017, 527‐540) 11‐item measure (Studies 1, 2 and 3) and (2) to investigate a novel spillover–crossover model of organizational dehumanization (Studies 4 and 5). Our results indicated that our proposed short scale has a good factorial structure and high reliability indices, correlates strongly with the 11‐item full scale, is invariant over time and demonstrates evidence for convergent, discriminant and incremental validity. In addition, using data from both employees and their family members, we showed that organizational dehumanization contributes to an increase in work‐to‐family conflict among employees, as perceived by their family members. This, in turn, heightens relationship tension within their family members, ultimately leading to a decline in their relationship satisfaction. Theoretical and practical implications and avenues for future research are also discussed.
Describing High School Stakeholders' Preferences for a Return‐to‐School Framework Following Concussion
Authors: Shepherd Heather A. , Heming Emily , Reed Nick , Caron Jeffrey G. , Yeates Keith O. , Emery Carolyn A.
Published: January 2024

Background

Return to school supports are recommended to facilitate adolescents' re‐entry to school following a concussion. However, little is known as to what school stakeholders prefer for a return‐to‐school process. This study sought to describe the preferences of high school students, parents, and educators for a Return‐to‐School Framework for adolescents following a concussion.

Methods

We conducted qualitative semi‐structured, 1‐on‐1 or group interviews with high school students (n = 6), parents (n = 5), and educators (n = 15) from Calgary, Canada. Interviews aimed to describe participants' preferences for a Return‐to‐School Framework for students following a concussion. Interviews were analyzed using conventional content analysis.

Results

We organized the data into 4 main themes: (1) purpose of the Return‐to‐School Framework; (2) format and operation of the Return‐to‐School Framework; (3) communication about a student's concussion; and (4) necessity of concussion education for students and educators.

Implications for School Health Policy, Practice, and Equity

A Return‐to‐School Framework following concussion should be developed in consultation with families, educators, and students and supports should be tailored to each student.

Conclusions

Participants preferred a standardized and consistent Return‐to‐School Framework including ongoing communication between stakeholders as well as feasible and individualized school supports.
‘To loosen up and talk’: Patients´ and facilitators´ experiences of discovery group sessions from the Tidal Model as an introduction before engaging in a person‐centred group intervention
Authors: Benzon Anne , Jørgensen Rikke
Published: January 2024

Accessible Summary

What is known about the subject

Treatment groups in Mental Health Service is cost‐effective, increases patients´ self‐understanding and stimulate change

Research shows that people with mental illness have different barriers to attend group sessions which often originates from a lack of trust in other people, but it is known that the possibility to build gradual trust among the participants encourages attendance.

What the paper adds to existing knowledge

This study is based on the experience from outpatients and illuminates how discovery groups from the Tidal Model can be used as introductory sessions to build gradual trust among people with mental illness before engaging in a person‐centred group intervention.

The study fills a research gap in methods to create a safe and trusting environment in treatment groups for people with mental illness working with recovery‐oriented person‐centred interventions.

What are the implications for practice

This study emphasizes the importance of meeting concerns about social interactions in persons with mental illness when joining treatment groups. It presents a recovery‐oriented method which meets this requirement and is easy to implement in practice.

Introduction

Recovery‐oriented interventions delivered individually or in groups are more and more common within mental health nursing. However, persons with mental illness may be cautious about engaging in groups. Therefore, it is important to provide a trusting basis in the group to allow for the best opportunities to promote engagement, attendance and impact of treatment.

Aim

The aim was to explore how discovery group sessions were experienced as introductory sessions from the perspectives of participants and facilitators before engaging in a person‐centred group intervention.

Method

A qualitative interview study was conducted, involving four group facilitators and 16 participants with mental illness from five completed groups. Data were analysed with Ricoeur's theory of interpretation.

Results

The findings showed that the two discovery group sessions were experienced as useful and meaningful to all and created a safe atmosphere and a trusted relationship among group participants and facilitators.

Discussion

Feeling safe and sharing experiences and emotions contribute to the relational climate in a group.

Implication for practice

Addressing concerns about social interactions in persons with mental illness is important in group treatment. This study proved that engaging patients in designing or adapting interventions for mental health services is important to improve quality.
The ghost of past climate acting on present‐day plant diversity: Lessons from a climate‐based delimitation of the tropical alpine ecosystem
Authors: Kandziora Martha , Gorospe Juan M. , Salomon Luciana , Vásquez Diana L. A. , Vargas Maria Pinilla , Kolář Filip , Sklenář Petr , Schmickl Roswitha
Published: January 2024

Habitat stability is important for maintaining biodiversity by preventing species extinction, but this stability is being challenged by climate change. The tropical alpine ecosystem is currently one of the ecosystems most threatened by global warming, and the flora close to the permanent snow line is at high risk of extinction. The tropical alpine ecosystem, found in South and Central America, Malesia and Papuasia, Africa, and Hawaii, is of relatively young evolutionary age, and it has been exposed to changing climates since its origin, particularly during the Pleistocene. Estimating habitat loss and gain between the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) and the present allows us to relate current biodiversity to past changes in climate and habitat stability. In order to do so, (i) we developed a unifying climate‐based delimitation of tropical alpine regions across continents, and (ii) we used this delimitation to assess the degree of habitat stability, that is, the overlap of suitable areas between the LGM and the present, in different tropical alpine regions. Finally, we discuss the link between habitat stability and tropical alpine plant diversity. Our climate‐based delimitation approach can be easily applied to other ecosystems using our developed code, facilitating macro‐comparative studies of habitat dynamics through time.
Association between idiopathic hypersomnia and a genetic variant in the PER3 gene
Authors: Cherasse Yoan , Taira Yuki , Rassu Anna Laura , Barateau Lucie , Evangelista Elisa , Muratani Masafumi , Funato Hiromasa , Yanagisawa Masashi , Dauvilliers Yves
Published: January 2024

We aim to identify genetic markers associated with idiopathic hypersomnia, a disabling orphan central nervous system disorder of hypersomnolence that is still poorly understood. In our study, DNA was extracted from 79 unrelated patients diagnosed with idiopathic hypersomnia with long sleep time at the National Reference Center for Narcolepsy‐France according to very stringent diagnostic criteria. Whole exome sequencing on the first 30 patients with idiopathic hypersomnia (25 females and 5 males) allowed the single nucleotide variants to be compared with a control population of 574 healthy subjects from the French Exome project database. We focused on the identification of genetic variants among 182 genes related to the regulation of sleep and circadian rhythm. Candidate variants obtained by exome sequencing analysis were then validated in a second sample of 49 patients with idiopathic hypersomnia (37 females and 12 males). Our study characterised seven variants from six genes significantly associated with idiopathic hypersomnia compared with controls. A targeted sequencing analysis of these seven variants on 49 other patients with idiopathic hypersomnia confirmed the relative over‐representation of the A➔C variant of rs2859390, located in a potential splicing‐site of PER3 gene. Our findings support a genetic predisposition and identify pathways involved in the pathogeny of idiopathic hypersomnia. A variant of the PER3 gene may predispose to idiopathic hypersomnia with long sleep time.
OsBCAT2, a gene responsible for the degradation of branched‐chain amino acids, positively regulates salt tolerance by promoting the synthesis of vitamin B5
Authors: Sun Yangyang , Zhou Yutong , Long Qiyuan , Xing Junwei , Guo Peizhen , Liu Yanchen , Zhang Changjian , Zhang Yuanyuan , Fernie Alisdair R. , Shi Yuheng , Luo Yuehua , Luo Jie , Jin Cheng
Published: January 2024

Salt stress negatively affects rice growth, development and yield. Metabolic adjustments contribute to the adaptation of rice under salt stress. Branched‐chain amino acids (BCAA) are three essential amino acids that cannot be synthesized by humans or animals. However, little is known about the role of BCAA in response to salt stress in plants.

Here, we showed that BCAAs may function as scavengers of reactive oxygen species (ROS) to provide protection against damage caused by salinity. We determined that branched‐chain aminotransferase 2 (OsBCAT2), a protein responsible for the degradation of BCAA, positively regulates salt tolerance.

Salt significantly induces the expression of OsBCAT2 rather than BCAA synthesis genes, which indicated that salt mainly promotes BCAA degradation and not de novo synthesis. Metabolomics analysis revealed that vitamin B5 (VB5) biosynthesis pathway intermediates were higher in the OsBCAT2‐overexpressing plants but lower in osbcat2 mutants under salt stress. The salt stress‐sensitive phenotypes of the osbcat2 mutants are rescued by exogenous VB5, indicating that OsBCAT2 affects rice salt tolerance by regulating VB5 synthesis.

Our work provides new insights into the enzymes involved in BCAAs degradation and VB5 biosynthesis and sheds light on the molecular mechanism of BCAAs in response to salt stress.
Parasite‐mediated changes in host traits alter food web dynamics
Authors: Klemme Ines , Perälä Tommi , Lehtinen Sami O. , Kuparinen Anna
Published: January 2024

Parasites commonly alter the phenotype of their hosts, thereby influencing competitive and consumer–resource interactions. This could trigger a cascade effect on the dynamics of biological communities, but the role of parasites in ecosystem processes is poorly understood. In this study, we investigate how parasite‐induced trait modifications shape the dynamics of a complex lake food web using an allometric trophic network model (ATN). We simulated infections of stage‐structured fish host populations via increased maintenance costs and predation risk. Our results show that host trait modifications can significantly impact host demography, with stage‐specific biomass declines up to 60%. However, less severely affected host stages buffered these effects and sustained the population. Importantly, host biomass decline altered the dynamics of species interactions and these effects cascaded through the entire community, with biomass changes observed at all trophic levels. Our findings emphasize the importance of incorporating both indirect parasite effects and host life history in ecological network studies for more realistic simulations of community dynamics.