bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The estimated health impact of alcohol interventions in New Zealand: A modelling study
Authors: Chambers Tim , Mizdrak Anja , Herbert Sarah , Davies Anna , Jones Amanda
Published: August 2023

Aims

To estimate the health impacts of key modelled alcohol interventions among Māori (indigenous peoples) and non‐Māori in New Zealand (NZ).

Design

Multi‐stage life‐table intervention modelling study. We modelled two scenarios: (1) business‐as‐usual (BAU); and (2) an intervention package scenario that included a 50% alcohol tax increase, outlet density reduction from 63 to five outlets per 100 000 people, outlet hours reduction from 112 to 50 per week and a complete ban on all forms of alcohol marketing.

Setting and participants

The model’s population replicates the 2018 NZ population by ethnicity (Māori/non‐Māori), age and sex.

Measurements

Alcohol consumption was estimated using nationally representative survey data combined with sales data and corrected for tourist and unrecorded consumption. Disease incidence, prevalence and mortality were calculated using Ministry of Health data. We used dose–response relationships between alcohol and illness from the 2016 Global Burden of Disease study and calculated disability rates for each illness. Changes in consumption were based on the following effect sizes: total intervention package [−30.3%, standard deviation (SD) = 0.02); tax (−7.60%, SD = 0.01); outlet density (−8.64%, SD = 0.01); outlet hours (−9.24%, SD = 0.01); and marketing (−8.98%, SD = 0.02). We measured health gain using health‐adjusted life years (HALYs) and life expectancy.

Findings

Compared with the BAU scenario, the total alcohol intervention package resulted in 726 000 [95% uncertainty interval (UI) = 492 000–913 000] HALYs gained during the life‐time of the modelled population. Māori experienced greater HALY gains compared with non‐Māori (0.21, 95% UI = 0.14–0.26 and 0.16, 95% UI = 0.11–0.20, respectively). When modelled individually, each alcohol intervention within the intervention package produced similar health gains (~200 000 HALYs per intervention) owing to the similar effect sizes.

Conclusions

Modelled interventions for increased alcohol tax, reduced availability of alcohol and a ban on alcohol marketing among Māori and non‐Māori in New Zealand (NZ) suggest substantial population‐wide health gains and reduced health inequities between Māori and non‐Māori.
Honokiol alleviates radiation‐induced premature ovarian failure via enhancing Nrf2
Authors: Xin Lingli , Li Fengsheng , Yu Huijie , Xiong Qi , Hou Qingxiang , Meng Yuanguang
Published: August 2023

Background

The ovary is highly sensitive to radiation, and patients receiving radiotherapy are at significant risk of premature ovarian failure (POF). This study aimed to explore the radioprotective effect of honokiol (HKL) on ionizing radiation (IR)‐induced POF.

Methods

Female C57BL/6 mice were administered intraperitoneally with vehicle or HKL once daily for 7 days. On day 7, the mice in the IR and HKL+IR groups were exposed to 3.2 Gy whole‐body radiation for one hour after the intraperitoneal injection and sacrificed 12 or 72 h after radiation exposure. The gonadosomatic index (GSI) was calculated. Blood samples were collected for enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Ovaries were harvested for histological examination, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, TUNEL, western blot, and qPCR. The fertility assessment was evaluated by calculating live offspring number.

Results

The optimum dose of HKL against radiation was 10 mg/kg via intraperitoneal injection. POF was induced 72 h after irradiation with significantly downregulated proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). The numbers of primordial and preantral follicles decreased significantly after irradiation (p < .001), whereas the number of atretic follicles increased (p < .001). The serum levels of estradiol (E2) and anti‐Müllerian hormone (AMH) decreased to 50% of the control group after irradiation (p < .05). Moreover, the GSI after irradiation was 27% lower than in the control group (p < .05). The number of offspring in the IR group dropped by 50% compared with the control group (p < .05). HKL pretreatment protected the animals’ fertility, GSI, PCNA, serum levels of E2 and AMH, and the number of primordial and preantral follicles. Significant upregulation of apoptosis‐related proteins such as Pho‐P53, Bax, Cyto C, C‐caspase‐3, C‐PARP, and pyroptosis‐related proteins such as Pho‐NF‐κB p65, NLRP3, caspase‐1, IL‐1β, and IL‐18 was observed after irradiation, while the expression of Bcl‐2 decreased. HKL pretreatment prevented these changes. After irradiation, malondialdehyde (MDA), Nrf2, and HO‐1 were upregulated. HKL treatment activated the expression of Nrf2 and HO‐1 and promoted the nucleus translocation of Nrf2. Furthermore, HKL did not affect ovarian reserves under physiological conditions.

Conclusions

HKL ameliorated IR‐induced POF by inhibiting apoptosis and pyroptosis by enhancing Nrf2 expression and translocation.
Birth environment interventions and outcomes: A scoping review
Authors: Chen Li‐Li , Pan Wan‐Lin , Mu Pei‐Fan , Gau Meei‐Ling
Published: August 2023

Background

The physical environments in which women give birth can contribute positively to meeting both physiologic and psychosocial needs during labor. Most studies on the labor and delivery processes have focused on mitigating pain and providing psychological support. Fewer have explored the influence of the physical birth environment. In this study, we performed a scoping review to compile and examine qualitative and quantitative studies related to the characteristics of physical birth environments and their effects on labor outcomes.

Methods

We searched the PubMed, CINHAL, Cochrane, Web of Science, and MEDLINE databases from inception to May 2022. A total of 13 studies met the criteria for inclusion in our review. Two reviewers screened the titles and full‐text articles and extracted data from the included studies. We used summary statistics and narrative summaries to describe the study characteristics, intervention implementation guidelines, intervention selection and tailoring rationale, and intervention effects.

Results

In previous research, several elements of birth environments have been shown to provide physical and psychological support to birthing people and to improve outcomes related to the experience of care and pain management. We identified five main themes in the included studies: (1) “hominess;” (2) whether spaces are comfortable for activity; (3) demedicalization of the birth environment; (4) accommodations for birth partners; and (5) providing women with a sense of control over their birth environment.

Conclusions

Birth environments should be designed to promote positive birthing experiences, both physiologically and psychologically. Facilities and those who manage them can improve the experiences and outcomes of service users by modifying or designing spaces that are “homey,” comfortable for activity, demedicalized, and include natural elements. In addition, policies that allow the birthing person to control her own environment are key to promoting positive outcomes and satisfaction with the birth experience.
User satisfaction with antenatal care in Norway
Authors: Sætrum Ane , Kaiser Sabine , Martinussen Monica
Published: August 2023

Background

In Norway, antenatal care is delivered free of charge in the municipality. Satisfaction with care is considered to be an important predictor of utilization of health care. The aim of this study was to examine women's satisfaction with antenatal care, and to identify factors that predict overall satisfaction with the service.

Methods

A total of 611 women completed a survey that collected information on demographic variables, pregnancy variables, and aspects of antenatal care; it also contained one open‐ended question. A hierarchical multiple regression analysis was conducted to predict Overall Satisfaction with antenatal care based on four specific scales: User Participation, Accessibility, Information, and Midwife, adjusted for demographic variables.

Results

Survey responses showed that 95% of women were satisfied with antenatal care in general. The expectant mother's age, having Norwegian as the native language, and the scales User Participation, Information, and Midwife were all significant predictors of Overall Satisfaction with antenatal care. The open‐ended user comments underlined the important role of midwifes in antenatal care.

Conclusions

The results of this study indicate that women who attended antenatal care in Norway were satisfied with the care they received. Midwives had an important role, and their relational and professional competence was highly valuated by expectant mothers. The findings also suggest that there are still opportunities to improve satisfaction with antenatal care, for example, by increasing the focus on mental health during antenatal consultations.
Children's personal lives in the family: Achieving relational agency and individual privacy in intrafamilial relationships in Türkiye
Authors: Üzümcü Hamide Elif
Published: August 2023

This paper aims to explore how children's achieving privacy is interwoven with parental recognition of their agency, by providing empirical accounts of family lives in Türkiye. Building on a relational understanding of agency and privacy, it debates both concepts as social constructs that can be distinctively understood in western and Turkish cultures. It employs ethnographic research with children aged 10–14 years and their families to illustrate everyday contexts of parental privacy invasions and children's exercise of relational agency in response. A relational approach towards achieving agency and privacy as an interlaced process mirrors children's experience of power asymmetries within family relationships.
Meta‐analysis contrasting freshwater biodiversity in forests and oil palm plantations with and without riparian buffers
Authors: Rojas‐Castillo Oscar Alberto , Kepfer Rojas Sebastian , Juen Leandro , Montag Luciano Fogaça de Assis , Carvalho Fernando Geraldo , Mendes Thiago Pereira , Chua Kenny Wei Jie , Wilkinson Clare L. , Amal Mohammad Noor Azmai , Fahmi‐Ahmad Muhammad , Jacobsen Dean
Published: August 2023

The expansion of oil palm plantations has led to land‐use change and deforestation in the tropics, which has affected biodiversity. Although the impacts of the crop on terrestrial biodiversity have been extensively reviewed, its effects on freshwater biodiversity remain relatively unexplored. We reviewed the research assessing the impacts of forest‐to‐oil palm conversion on freshwater biota and the mitigating effect of riparian buffers on these impacts. We searched for studies comparing taxa richness, species abundance, and community composition of macroinvertebrates, amphibians, and fish in streams in forests (primary and disturbed) and oil palm plantations with and without riparian buffers. Then, we conducted a meta‐analysis to quantify the overall effect of the land‐use change on the 3 taxonomic groups. Twenty‐nine studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria. On average, plantations lacking buffers hosted 44% and 19% fewer stream taxa than primary and disturbed forests, respectively. Stream taxa on plantations with buffers were 24% lower than in primary forest and did not differ significantly from disturbed forest. In contrast, stream community composition differed between forests and plantations regardless of the presence of riparian buffers. These differences were attributed to agrochemical use and altered environmental conditions in the plantations, including temperature changes, worsened water conditions, microhabitat loss, and food and shelter depletion. On aggregate, abundance did not differ significantly among land uses because increases in generalist species offset the population decline of vulnerable forest specialists in the plantation. Our results reveal significant impacts of forest‐to‐oil palm conversion on freshwater biota, particularly taxa richness and composition (but not aggregate abundance). Although preserving riparian buffers in the plantations can mitigate the loss of various aquatic species, it cannot conserve primary forest communities. Therefore, safeguarding primary forests from the oil palm expansion is crucial, and further research is needed to address riparian buffers as a promising mitigation strategy in agricultural areas.
Spatial transcriptomics of a giant pilomatricoma
Authors: Patil Apoorva T. , Bennett Daniel D. , Xu Jin , Weisman Paul , Matson Daniel R.
Published: August 2023

Pilomatricomas (PMs) are common benign adnexal tumors that show a predilection for the head and neck region and are characterized at the molecular level by activating mutations in the beta‐catenin (CTNNB1) gene. Giant PMs are a rare histopathological variant, according to the World Health Organization, which are defined by a size greater than 4 cm and are reported to show upregulation of yes‐associated protein compared to PMs of typical 1–3 cm size. We describe the case of a 67‐year‐old man with an 8 cm giant PM involving his temporal scalp, whose PM we characterized by 10X spatial gene expression analysis. This revealed five total transcriptomic clusters, including four distinct clusters within the giant PM, each with a unique transcriptional pattern of hair follicle‐related factors, keratin gene expression, and beta‐catenin pathway activity.
Optimal thermal conditions for corals extend poleward with oceanic warming
Authors: Landry Yuan Félix , Yamakita Takehisa , Bonebrake Timothy C. , McIlroy Shelby E.
Published: August 2023

Aim

The capacity for poleward range expansions beyond the tropics in corals hinges on ecophysiological constraints and resulting responses to climatic variability. We aimed to determine how future warming will affect coral habitat suitability at the poleward range edges of these foundational species in the Northwest Pacific.

Location

Northwest Pacific.

Methods

We generated models integrating thermal physiological constraints of corals adapted to extreme seasonality in Hong Kong, specifically the minimum annual temperature and the proportion of time annually spent at seasonal extremes. With these models, we projected habitat suitability for five coral species under current and future climatic conditions across the Northwest Pacific.

Results

Climate model projections reveal an easing of thermal constraints on the leading‐edge of coral ecophysiological limits with an expansion of thermally suitable habitat poleward by 2°–7° in latitude depending on the coral species and model considered. We also highlight a potential divergence of present and future thermal regimes that may lead to a mismatch in suitability for corals currently inhabiting high latitude reefs.

Main Conclusions

Understanding the thermal constraints on coral distributions and defining the potential range of corals under climate change is critical for adaptive management that focuses on coral conservation and ensuring ecosystem function of existing subtropical and temperate ecosystems.
Mobility for individuals with cerebral palsy: Shifting the focus from method to independence
Authors: Jonsson Ulrica
Published: August 2023

This commentary is on the original article by Noten et al. on pages 326–332 of this issue.
Cardiovascular efficacy and safety of antidiabetic agents: A network meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Sohn Minji , Frias Juan P. , Lim Soo
Published: August 2023

Aim

An important characteristic of glucose‐lowering therapies (GLTs) is their ability to prevent cardiovascular complications. We aimed to investigate the cardiorenal efficacy and general safety of GLTs.

Materials and Methods

Multicentre, randomized, clinical trials that included over 100 participants comparing antidiabetic agents with a placebo or a different antidiabetic agent and reporting major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs), or primarily reporting heart failure, were searched in the PubMed, Embase and Cochrane databases. Data were extracted independently for random‐effects network meta‐analyses to calculate the hazard ratio estimates.

Results

Forty‐three trials that compared nine types of GLTs were included in the present analysis. The risk of three‐point MACE was reduced in the presence of glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonists (GLP‐1 RAs), sodium‐glucose cotransporter‐2 inhibitors (SGLT‐2is) and thiazolidinedione therapy compared with the placebo, dipeptidyl peptidase‐4 inhibitors, or insulin therapy. GLP‐1 RAs were favourable for cardiovascular and renal outcomes. SGLT‐2is reduced renal outcomes by ~40%, which was superior to other GLTs. Thiazolidinedione therapy increased the risks of hospitalization for heart failure and had no benefits on mortality. Adverse events leading to drug discontinuation were higher with GLP‐1 RAs and thiazolidinediones than placebo.

Conclusions

GLP‐1 RAs, SGLT‐2is and thiazolidinediones reduced three‐point MACE compared with other GLTs. Each drug class had unique advantages and disadvantages.
Sports injuries and game stakes: Concussions in the National Football League
Authors: Courty Pascal , Cisyk Jeffrey
Published: August 2023

The National Football League's regular‐season games are not of equal importance: some games loom larger than others for determining a team's chance to qualify for the playoffs. We develop an incentive‐based measure of the impact of winning a game on a team's qualification probability to study the relationship between stakes and injuries. We find teams are 24 percentage points more likely to suffer concussions in games where a win secures one team a playoff berth. This is the first evidence to support the risk‐escalation hypothesis that injuries increase with a competition's stakes. We then discuss implications for sports injury prevention.
Patients with PSA below 0.2 ng/mL at 8 years post high‐dose‐rate brachytherapy have an extremely low risk of subsequent recurrence
Authors: Nakazono Minoru , Urabe Fumihiko , Iwatani Kosuke , Imai Yu , Tashiro Kojiro , Honda Mariko , Koike Yusuke , Shimomura Tatsuya , Sato Shun , Takahashi Hiroyuki , Miki Kenta , Aoki Manabu , Kimura Takahiro
Published: August 2023

Objectives

We have analyzed the long‐term follow‐up data of patients with prostate cancer (PCa) who underwent high‐dose‐rate brachytherapy (HDR–BT) and external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) combined with long‐term androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). The objective was to determine the optimal time for cessation of PSA monitoring after HDR–BT.

Methods

We included 309 patients with clinical stage T1c‐T4 N0–1 M0 PCa who received HDR‐BT and EBRT combined with long‐term ADT between 2005 and 2018. We stratified the patients based on their prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) levels and identified the factors associated with biochemical recurrence (BCR) and clinical progression (CP).

Results

The median follow‐up duration was 98 months (range: 31–207 months). Among the 306 patients, 76 developed BCR and 47 developed CP subsequently. We found that the PSA levels at 3, 5, and 8 years significantly correlated with the oncological outcomes of brachytherapy. No patient with a PSA level ≤ 0.2 ng/mL at 8 years later developed BCR or CP.

Conclusion

Our long‐term data suggest that in the presence of a PSA level ≤ 0.2 ng/mL at 8 years later, PSA monitoring may be safely discontinued due to the extremely low risk of subsequent oncological events. The data presented in this study will assist clinicians in determining the optimal management strategy for patients with PCa following HDR–BT and EBRT combined with long‐term ADT.
Internet research of utilization of social media in patients with urological disease and their families in Japan
Authors: Wada Naoki , Takagi Haruka , Tekeuchi Keigo , Morishita Shun , Makino Shogo , Ohtani Miyu , Kobayashi Shin , Hori Jun‐ichi , Kitta Takeya , Kakizaki Hidehiro
Published: August 2023

Objectives

To survey the utilization of social media (SoMe) in patients with urological disease and their families.

Methods

Among the panel members registered in NEO Marketing Inc. (Tokyo, Japan), 300 people who or whose families were visiting the urological department regularly were included. Study subjects were randomly chosen and surveyed using the questionnaire over the internet.

Results

This study included 203 (68%) males and 97 (32%) females. The mean age was 62 (21–85) in males and 49 (22–75) in females. One hundred and ten subjects (37%) had no account for any SoMe. The account holders of YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok were 119 (40%), 117 (39%), 101 (34%), 90 (30%), and 33 (11%), respectively. The proportions of account holders were different depending on gender, age, and platforms. Frequent viewers on YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok were 100 (84%), 89 (76%), 63 (62%), 66 (73%), and 24 (73%), respectively. Of 190 who had accounts for any SoMes, 64 (34%) found any information about urological diseases of themselves or their families. Among the all subjects, 162 (54%) thought that they would like to view the medical contents on SoMes submitted by medical societies.

Conclusions

Patients with urological disease and their families in Japan occasionally utilize SoMe to obtain information on their diseases and prefer professional medical information on SoMe. The gender and age of SoMe users and the optimal platform should be considered when posting medical information on SoMe.
Biogeographic barriers and historic climate shape the phylogeography and demography of the common gartersnake
Authors: Jones Leonard N. , Leaché Adam D. , Burbrink Frank T.
Published: August 2023

Aim

Current distributions of widespread North American (NA) species have been shaped by Pleistocene glacial cycles, latitudinal temperature gradients, sharp longitudinal habitat transitions and the vicariant effects of major mountain and river systems that subdivide the continent. Within these transcontinental species, genetic diversity patterns might not conform to established biogeographic breaks compared to more spatially restricted taxa due to intrinsic differences or spatiotemporal differences. In this study, we highlight the effects of these extrinsic variables on genetic structuring by investigating the phylogeographic history of a widespread generalist squamate found throughout NA.

Location

North America.

Taxon

Common gartersnake, Thamnophis sirtalis.

Methods

We evaluate the effects of major river basins and the forest‐grassland transition into the Interior Plains on genetic structure patterns using phylogenetic, spatially informed population structure and demographic analyses of single nucleotide polymorphism data and address range expansion history with ecological niche modelling using locality and historic climate data.

Results

We identify four phylogeographic lineages with varying degrees of connectivity between them. We find discordant population structure patterns between sex‐linked and autosomal loci with respect to the relationship between the central NA lineage relative to coastal lineages. We find support for southeast Pleistocene refugia where recent secondary contact occurred during the Last Glacial Maximum and evidence for both northern and southern refugia in western NA.

Main Conclusion

Our results provide strong evidence for a Pliocene origin for T. sirtalis in central‐southeastern NA preceding its rapid expansion across the continent prior to middle Pleistocene climate‐mediated lineage formation. We implicate major riverine networks within the Mississippi watershed in likely repeated westward expansion events across the Interior Plains. Finally, we corroborate prior conclusions that phenotypic differences between subspecies do not reflect shared evolutionary history and note that the degree of separation between inferred lineages warrants further investigation before any taxonomic revisions are proposed.
Parents' experiences with interprofessional collaboration in neonatal pain management: A descriptive qualitative study
Authors: Mäki‐Asiala Mariaana , Axelin Anna , Pölkki Tarja
Published: August 2023

Aim

To describe parents' experiences with interprofessional collaboration (IPC) in neonatal pain management.

Background

Neonatal care should be based on IPC, and non‐pharmacological pain‐relieving methods are recommended to be used primarily that enables parental participation. However, there is a lack of knowledge about pain management on IPC from the parent's viewpoint.

Design

A descriptive qualitative study.

Method

The research involved a purposive sample of parents (n = 16) whose infant had been treated at a neonatal intensive care unit in Finland. Interviews were conducted with participants from all over Finland who were recruited through the national association for premature infants. Parents discussed their experiences during semi‐structured interviews which were guided by the subareas of IPC, partnership, cooperation and coordination. The data were analysed using deductive‐inductive content analysis. The reporting of results followed COREQ guidelines.

Results

Based on the parent's experiences the partnership involved themes of understanding the neonatal pain management context, being able to influence the pain management, and feeling valued. Cooperation included themes of identifying different roles and equality. Coordination was described through the sharing of knowledge, skills and expertise, as well as feeling supported by professionals.

Conclusion

Parental involvement on IPC should be developed through interventions that involve training around pain assessment and non‐pharmacological pain‐relief methods.

Relevance for clinical practice

Professionals involved in neonatal care should act in a goal‐oriented and unified manner to promote a culture of care that allows for active parental participation.

No patient or public contribution

The research has been carried out in accordance with good scientific practice. Only the research team has been involved in the design, conduct, analysis and drafting of the manuscript.
A Study of the Conceptual Structure of Growth Mindsets and Their Impact on Self‐Improvement Motivation
Authors: Takehashi Hiroki , Toyosawa Junko , Shimai Satoshi , Yananose Maki
Published: August 2023

This study examined the conceptual structure and motivational effects of growth mindsets based on the perspective of character strengths. An internet survey was conducted with 1,000 workers (500 males and 500 females; age range 20–59 years, M = 40.1 years, SD = 10.7 years). Participants were presented with 25 strengths (i.e., intelligence and 24 character strengths) and were asked to rate their perceived competence, growth mindset, and improvement intention for each strength. The exploratory factor analyses on perceived competence, growth mindset, and improvement intention identified five common factors: wisdom, willpower, temperance, transcendence, and groupness. Moreover, regression analyses indicated that a growth mindset was more strongly related to improvement intention than perceived competence. Furthermore, regression analyses found domain‐specific effects of growth mindsets on improvement intention. Thus, the intention to improve a particular strength was more closely related to that particular growth mindset than to other growth mindsets. The theoretical and educational implications are aired in the discussion section.
Sustainability‐related transgressions in global supply chains: When do legitimacy spillovers hurt buying firms the most?
Authors: Mateska Ivana , Busse Christian , Kach Andrew P. , Wagner Stephan M.
Published: August 2023

In a globalized world, buying firms increasingly face criticism regarding sustainability‐related transgressions in their supply chains, yet scholarship concerning whether such negative press has any bottom‐line effects has only just begun emerging. This study develops and tests theory on the relationship between reported supplier sustainability incidents and the associated stock price impact for the buying firm. An event study comprising 1699 events related to 374 buying firms supports our hypothesis that media coverage of environmental, social, or governance‐related transgressions in the supply chain results in decreased market capitalization for the buying firm. A subsequent regression analysis indicates that the influence potential of information intermediaries, the country‐level sustainability risk of the supplier, and the industry‐level sustainability risk of the buying firm all affect the magnitude of the investors' reaction. Conversely, the severity of the incident does not predict the magnitude of the stock price reaction.
Species diversity and detection of pathogens in phlebotomine sand flies collected from forest management areas of Quintana Roo, Mexico
Authors: Martínez‐Burgos Maribel , Lozano‐Sardaneta Yokomi N. , Rodríguez‐Rojas Jorge J. , Gómez‐Rivera Ángel S. , Canto‐Mis Karla L. , Flores‐Escobar Eduardo , Mis‐Ávila Pedro C. , Correa‐Morales Fabián , Becker Ingeborg
Published: August 2023

Sand flies have expanded their areas of distribution, thereby increasing the risk of pathogen transmission in non‐endemic areas. To establish efficient prevention and control strategies for the transmission of vector‐borne pathogens, it is important to understand seasonal dynamics of their vectors. In Mexico, there are several areas where the contact between sand flies, hosts and reservoirs favours the transmission of the pathogen. We compared sand fly communities in a forest management area and a conserved area in Noh‐Bec, Quintana Roo, Mexico. The analysis included species diversity, activity peaks and molecular detection of pathogens. Sand flies were collected from November to December 2021 and April to May 2022, during 84 night‐traps. The conserved area showed higher numbers and greater species heterogeneity of sand flies as compared with the other sites. The β‐diversity analysis revealed that sites disturbed by logging (S1, S2, S3) had greater similarity (90%) in their sand fly species composition than a conserved area (S4) (similarity = 36%). Although none of the specimens were infected with Leishmania, we detected Wolbachia (19.4%) in all four sites, as well as Bartonella (3.25%) only in the disturbed sites. Further studies on the dynamics of sand fly populations and their association with pathogens are necessary.
Diversity and biogeography of plant phyllosphere bacteria are governed by latitude‐dependent mechanisms
Authors: Wang Zihui , Jiang Yuan , Zhang Minhua , Chu Chengjin , Chen Yongfa , Fang Shuai , Jin Guangze , Jiang Mingxi , Lian Ju‐Yu , Li Yanpeng , Liu Yu , Ma Keping , Mi Xiangcheng , Qiao Xiujuan , Wang Xihua , Wang Xugao , Xu Han , Ye Wanhui , Zhu Li , Zhu Yan , He Fangliang , Kembel Steven W.
Published: August 2023

Predicting and managing the structure and function of plant microbiomes requires quantitative understanding of community assembly and predictive models of spatial distributions at broad geographic scales.

Here, we quantified the relative contribution of abiotic and biotic factors to the assembly of phyllosphere bacterial communities, and developed spatial distribution models for keystone bacterial taxa along a latitudinal gradient, by analyzing 16S rRNA gene sequences from 1453 leaf samples taken from 329 plant species in China.

We demonstrated a latitudinal gradient in phyllosphere bacterial diversity and community composition, which was mostly explained by climate and host plant factors. We found that host‐related factors were increasingly important in explaining bacterial assembly at higher latitudes while nonhost factors including abiotic environments, spatial proximity and plant neighbors were more important at lower latitudes. We further showed that local plant–bacteria associations were interconnected by hub bacteria taxa to form metacommunity‐level networks, and the spatial distribution of these hub taxa was controlled by hosts and spatial factors with varying importance across latitudes.

For the first time, we documented a latitude‐dependent importance in the driving factors of phyllosphere bacteria assembly and distribution, serving as a baseline for predicting future changes in plant phyllosphere microbiomes under global change and human activities.
The impact of import competition from China on firm‐level productivity growth in the European Union*
Authors: Friesenbichler Klaus S. , Kügler Agnes , Reinstaller Andreas
Published: August 2023

We re‐examined the impact of rising imports from China on intra‐firm productivity growth in the European Union during the period 2005–16. In contrast to previous studies, we found that an increasing share of Chinese imports in total imports has slowed productivity growth over the observation period. This unfolded especially after the 2008/09 financial crisis and was more pronounced for firms with lower productivity growth. On average, the net effect of China's increasing import intensity on productivity growth has been negative for firms in the European Union since 2010. At the beginning of the sample, firms growing at the median rate experienced a modest growth‐enhancing effect of 0.02 percentage points, which turned slightly negative at −0.06 percentage points in the last observation year. The effect was muted for high‐growth multinational firms, which experienced a productivity growth premium from Chinese import competition at higher growth rates. Compared with the United States, the negative impact of Chinese import competition on the performance of EU firms is visible with a time lag.
REGULATOR OF FLOWERING AND STRESS manipulates stomatal density and size in Brachypodium
Authors: Ying Sheng , Scheible Wolf‐Rüdiger
Published: August 2023

Stomata are crucial for gas exchange and water evaporation, and environmental stimuli influence their density (SD) and size (SS). Although genes and mechanisms underlying stomatal development have been elucidated, stress‐responsive regulators of SD and SS are less well‐known. Previous studies have shown that the stress‐inducible Brachypodium RFS (REGULATOR OF FLOWERING AND STRESS, BdRFS) gene affects heading time and enhances drought tolerance by reducing leaf water loss. Here, we report that overexpression lines (OXs) of BdRFS have reduced SD and increased SS, regardless of soil water status. Furthermore, biomass and plant water content of OXs were significantly increased compared to wild type. CRISPR/Cas9‐mediated BdRFS knockout mutant (KO) exhibited the opposite stomatal characteristics and biomass changes. Reverse transcription‐quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed that expression of BdICE1 was reversely altered in OXs and KO, pointing to a potential cause for the observed changes in stomatal phenotypes. Stomatal and transcriptional changes were not observed in the Arabidopsis rfs double mutant. Taken together, RFS is a novel regulator of SD and SS and is a promising candidate for genetic engineering of climate‐resilient crops.
Relationship between sarcopenic obesity and cognitive function in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Weng Xiao‐fen , Liu Shan‐wen , Li Meng , Zhang Yu , Zhang Ying‐chun , Liu Chun‐feng , Zhu Jiang‐tao , Hu Hua
Published: August 2023

Background

Previous research has linked sarcopenic obesity (SO) to cognitive function; however, the relationship between cognitive performance and SO Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate their relationship in AD patients.

Methods

One hundred and twenty mild to moderate AD patients and 56 normal controls were recruited. According to sarcopenia or obesity status, AD patients were classified into subgroups: normal, obesity, sarcopenia, and SO. Body composition, demographics, and sarcopenia parameters were assessed. Cognitive performance was evaluated using neuropsychological scales.

Results

Among the 176 participants, the prevalence of SO in the moderate AD group was higher than in the normal control group. The moderate AD group had the lowest appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMI) and the highest percentage of body fat (PBF). Hypertension and diabetes were more prevalent in the SO group than in the normal group among the subgroups. The sarcopenia and SO groups exhibited worse global cognitive function compared to the normal and obesity groups. Partial correlation analysis revealed that ASMI, PBF, and visceral fat area were associated with multiple cognitive domains scores. In logistic regression analysis, after adjusting for confounders, obesity was not found to be associated with AD. However, sarcopenia (odds ratio (OR) = 5.35, 95% CI: 1.27–22.46) and SO (OR = 5.84, 95% CI: 1.26–27.11) were identified as independent risk factors for AD.

Conclusions

SO was associated with cognitive dysfunction in AD patients. Moreover, the impact of SO on cognitive decline was greater than that of sarcopenia. Early identification and intervention for SO may have a positive effect on the occurrence and progression of AD.
Extracellular traps are evident in Romanowsky‐stained smears of bronchoalveolar lavage from children with non‐cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis
Authors: Bleakley Amy S. , Kho Steven , Binks Michael J. , Pizzutto Susan , Chang Anne B. , Beissbarth Jemima , Minigo Gabriela , Marsh Robyn L.
Published: August 2023

Background and Objective

The importance of extracellular traps (ETs) in chronic respiratory conditions is increasingly recognized but their role in paediatric bronchiectasis is poorly understood. The specialized techniques currently required to study ETs preclude routine clinical use. A simple and cost‐effective ETs detection method is needed to support diagnostic applications. We aimed to determine whether ETs could be detected using light microscopy‐based assessment of Romanowsky‐stained bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) slides from children with bronchiectasis, and whether the ETs cellular origin could be determined.

Methods

Archived Romanowsky‐stained BAL slides from a cross‐sectional study of children with bronchiectasis were examined for ETs using light microscopy. The cellular origin of individual ETs was determined based on morphology and physical contact with surrounding cell(s).

Results

ETs were observed in 78.7% (70/89) of BAL slides with neutrophil (NETs), macrophage (METs), eosinophil (EETs) and lymphocyte (LETs) ETs observed in 32.6%, 51.7%, 4.5% and 9%, respectively. ETs of indeterminate cellular origin were present in 59.6% of slides. Identifiable and indeterminate ETs were co‐detected in 43.8% of slides.

Conclusion

BAL from children with bronchiectasis commonly contains multiple ET types that are detectable using Romanowsky‐stained slides. While specialist techniques remain necessary to determining the cellular origin of all ETs, screening of Romanowsky‐stained slides presents a cost‐effective method that is well‐suited to diagnostic settings. Our findings support further research to determine whether ETs can be used to define respiratory endotypes and to understand whether ETs‐specific therapies may be required to resolve airway inflammation among children with bronchiectasis.
Mineral extraction and long‐term human capital accumulation
Authors: Feng Chen , Zhang Yao , Zhao Renjie , Zhao Xiaolu
Published: August 2023

This study examines the long‐term impacts of early coal mining on human capital outcomes. Based on coal mines across 260 prefectures in late Qing China (c.1840–1912), we find that early coal mining led to a significant rise in schooling years in 2000. We trace the historical channels and show that the influence of early coal mining has persisted through and helped shape the modernization of China, which includes local industrialization and a complimentary supply of educational infrastructure. These results suggest that in contrast to other grabbing mineral extraction, inclusive coal mining systems benefit long‐term human capital accumulation and economic growth, not mining activity per se.
Sociality and the minimal self: On Dan Zahavi’s “group‐identification, collectivism, and perspectival autonomy”
Authors: Bower Matt E. M.
Published: August 2023

I present and critically examine Dan Zahavi's view that minimal selfhood and self‐awareness per se do not have a social character. I argue that Zahavi's conception of the minimal self as fundamentally asocial makes it hard to comprehend the unity of the self and that it is partly the result of an overly narrow conception of what it might mean for the self to be social.
Remote sensing‐based geostatistical hot spot analysis of Urban Heat Islands in Dhaka, Bangladesh
Authors: Hussain Nur , Ahmed S.M. Shahriar , Shumi Amena Muzaffar
Published: August 2023

Urban Heat Island (UHI) refers to a phenomenon whereby urban areas experience higher temperatures compared to the surrounding areas. Remote sensing‐based Land Surface Temperature (LST) measurements can be utilized to measure UHI. This study emphasized on geostatistical remote sensing‐based hot spot analysis () of UHI in Dhaka, Bangladesh as a way of examining the influences of Land Use Land Cover (LULC) on UHI from 1991 to 2015. Landsat 5 and 7 satellite‐based remote sensing indices were used to explore LULC, UHI and environmental footprints during the study period. The Urban Compactness Ratio (CoR) was used to calculate the urban form and augmented characteristics. The Surface Urban Heat Island (SUHI) intensity (ΔT) was also used to explore the effects of UHI on the surrounding marginal area. Based on our investigations into LULC, we discovered that around 71.34 per cent of water bodies and 71.82 percent of vegetation cover decreased from 1991 to 2015 in Dhaka city. Contrastingly, according to CoR readings, 174.13 km2 of urban areas expanded by 249.77 per cent. Our hot spot analysis also revealed that there was a 93.73 per cent increase in hot concentration zones. Furthermore, the average temperature of the study area had increased by 3.26°C. We hope that the methods and results of this study can contribute to further research on urban climate.
Cardiovascular and metabolic effects of hyperbilirubinemia in a cohort of Italian Olympic athletes
Authors: Di Gioia Giuseppe , Crispino Simone Pasquale , Monosilio Sara , Maestrini Viviana , Nenna Antonio , Segreti Andrea , Squeo Maria Rosaria , Lemme Erika , Ussia Gian Paolo , Grigioni Francesco , Pelliccia Antonio
Published: August 2023

Introduction

Bilirubin was supposed to have cardio‐metabolic protective role by signaling functions. Indeed, mild hyperbilirubinemia has immunosuppressive and endocrine activities and may offer protection against oxidative stress‐mediated diseases. Gilbert syndrome (GS) has been hypothesized to provide cardio‐metabolic benefits.

Objective

To investigate the prevalence of hyperbilirubinemia and its cardio‐metabolic effects in a cohort of elite Italian athletes engaged in different sports disciplines.

Methods

We enrolled 1492 elite athletes (age 25.8 ± 5.1) practising different disciplines (power, skills, endurance, and mixed) underwent blood, echocardiographic, and exercise tests. GS was diagnosed per exclusionem in athletes with isolated asymptomatic unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia.

Results

GS was highlighted in 91 athletes (6%; globally 9% male and 2.4% female); 82% were males (p < 0.0001) showing higher indirect bilirubin (0.53 ± 0.4 vs. 0.36 ± 0.24 mg/dL in females, p < 0.0001). GS athletes had fewer platelets (201 ± 35 vs. 214 ± 41, p = 0.01), higher iron (male: 124 ± 44 vs. 100.9 ± 34 mcg/dL, p < 0.0001; female: 143.3 ± 35 vs. 99.9 ± 42 mcg/dL, p < 0.0001), and lower erythrocyte sedimentation rate, (1.93 ± 0.9 vs. 2.80 ± 2.7 mm/H, p = 0.03). At multivariate analysis, male (OR 3.89, p = 0.001) and iron (OR 3.47, p = 0.001) were independently associated with GS. No significant differences were found in cardiac remodeling, heart rate, blood pressure, arrhythmias, or power capacity at stress test. Endurance athletes (313) presented higher total (p = 0.003) and indirect bilirubin (p = 0.001).

Conclusion

Bilirubin has several metabolic effects (including immunosuppressive and endocrine) and plays a role in regulating antioxidant pathways exercise‐related with hematological consequences but seems not to affect significantly cardiovascular remodeling. Endurance athletes present higher bilirubin concentrations, likely as an adaptive mechanism to counteract increased oxidative stress.
The Yates, Conover, and Mantel statistics in 2 × 2 tables revisited (and extended)
Authors: Martín Andrés Antonio , Hernández María Álvarez , Gayá Moreno Francisco
Published: August 2023

Asymptotic inferences about the difference, ratio or odds‐ratio of two independent proportions are very common in diverse fields. This article defines for each parameter eight conditional inference methods. These methods depend on: (1) using a chi‐squared type statistic or a z type one; (2) using the classic Yates continuity correction or the less well‐known Conover one; and (3) whether the p‐value of the test is determined by doubling the one‐tailed p‐value or by the Mantel method (asymmetrical approach). In all cases, the conclusions are: (i) the methods based on the chi‐squared statistic should not be used, as they are too liberal; (ii) for those in favor of using the criterion of doubling the p‐value, the best method is using the z statistic with Conover continuity correction; and (iii) for those in favor of the asymmetrical approach, the best method is based on the z statistic with Conover continuity correction and the Mantel p‐value.
Spatial transcriptomics drives a new era in plant research
Authors: Yin Ruilian , Xia Keke , Xu Xun
Published: August 2023

The plant community lags far behind the animal and human fields concerning the application of single‐cell methodologies. This is primarily due to the challenges associated with plant tissue dissection and the limitations of the available technologies. However, recent advances in spatial transcriptomics enable the study of single‐cells derived from plant tissues from a spatial perspective. This technology is already successfully used to identify cell types, reconstruct cell‐fate lineages, and reveal cell‐to‐cell interactions. Future technological advancements will overcome the challenges in sample processing, data analysis, and the integration of multiple‐omics technologies. Thanks to spatial transcriptomics, we anticipate several plant research projects to significantly advance our understanding of critical aspects of plant biology.
Particle size effects on stable levitation positions in acoustic standing waves
Authors: Rueckner Wolfgang , Peidle Joseph , Crockett Allen , Davis Daniel
Published: August 2023

Schlieren images can show a two-dimensional representation of pressure distributions. Using this method, we have demonstrated that there is a particle size effect for levitating solid elastic Styrofoam spheres in an ultrasonic acoustic standing wave: (1) spheres of density 13.3 kg/m3 and diameters less than 0.58 λ levitate at pressure nodes, and (2) spheres larger than 0.66 λ levitate with their centers at pressure antinodes. Pressure measurements of ultrasonic standing waves made in conjunction with their schlieren images to identify pressure nodes and antinodes are presented. These observations contribute to prior experimental and theoretical research concerning the influence of particle size on levitation.