bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Digital nomadism and the tourism industry labor markets
Authors: Arisoy Burcu
Published: April 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to develop a vision for the future identifying how digital nomadism affects the labor markets in the tourism industry.

Design/methodology/approach

The qualitative research method was used. The research data were collected using a semistructured interview form developed by the researcher. The sample consists of twenty people working in the tourism industry as tour guides, travel agency owners, accommodation sector employees and professional managers. The content analysis method was used to analyze the data.

Findings

It was found that employees in the tourism industry are familiar with digital nomadism, interact with employees working as digital nomads and may prefer the digital nomad way of working, while employees in the accommodation sector cannot work as digital nomads due to the nature of their work. It is shown that digital nomadism can be applied to tour guides and travel agency owners.

Research limitations/implications

The data was collected from employees of the accommodation sector, travel agencies, tour guides and employees of the Turkish tourism labor market. It is recommended that the tourism labor markets adapt to the digitalized world and adjust their working models in this context.

Originality/value

This is one of the first studies on the impact of digital nomadism on the tourism labor markets.
Performance investigations of auxiliary‐space Maxwell solver preconditioned iterative algorithm for controlled‐source electromagnetic induction problems with electrical anisotropy
Authors: Liu Zhengguang , Yao Hongbo , Wang Feiyan
Published: April 2024

Many studies have highlighted the superior performance of iterative solvers employing the auxiliary‐space Maxwell solver preconditioner in controlled‐source electromagnetic induction problems featuring isotropic conductivity. The importance of considering the presence of electrical anisotropy in controlled‐source electromagnetic data has been well recognized. However, considering anisotropic conductivity will impose difficulty in robustly solving the final system of linear equations as the electrical anisotropy may significantly increase its condition number and degrade the performances of iterative solvers. Whether or not iterative solvers using the auxiliary‐space Maxwell solver preconditioner have similar superior performances in the case of arbitrary electrical anisotropy is still an issue to be discussed. In this study, within the framework of finite element simulation employing unstructured tetrahedral meshes, we conduct a comprehensive examination to evaluate the performance of the flexible generalized minimum residual solver with the auxiliary‐space Maxwell solver preconditioner for three‐dimensional controlled‐source electromagnetic forward modelling problems involving arbitrary anisotropic media. Tests on synthetic one‐ and three‐dimensional models show that our iterative scheme performs better than widely used iterative or direct solvers for controlled‐source electromagnetic anisotropy forward problems. Its convergence rate is nearly independent of working frequencies, anisotropy ratio and problem size. Finally, we applied the newly developed parallel iterative scheme to the Bay du Nord reservoir in a complicated real‐life offshore hydrocarbon exploration scenario characterized by anisotropic conductivity, in which our iterative scheme with an auxiliary‐space Maxwell solver preconditioner has good robustness. Furthermore, we investigated how data responses at different frequencies are sensitive to the actual hydrocarbon reservoir. Our sensitivity analysis revealed that data at large measuring offsets are considerably more sensitive to the reservoir than data at shorter measuring offsets. We also assessed the impact of neglecting anisotropy in data analysis for the realistic example and found that ignoring anisotropy can lead to noticeable changes in the data. This suggests that considering anisotropy in the interpretation of the observed data is essential to guarantee the precision of controlled‐source electromagnetic field surveys.
Grassland flora of ultramafic areas in Northern Pindus (Greece)
Authors: Filis Evangelos , Kyrkas Dimitrios , Mantzos Nikolaos , Dimitrakopoulos Panayiotis G. , Fotiadis Georgios , Konstantinou Maria
Published: April 2024

In Europe, the largest and most floristically diverse ultramafic (serpentine) outcrops are located on the Balkan Peninsula. In Greece, the Northern Pindus mountain range is characterized as a floristic diversity hotspot, due to the presence of large ultramafic outcrops that harbor a large number of nickel (Ni) hyperaccumulators with potential use in agromining. The work presented here is part of a more in‐depth study of floristic composition and ecology of plant communities in ultramafic grasslands of the Northern Pindus mountain range. In 2021–2022, 120 relevés in three subareas (sA1, sA2, and sA3) were sampled according to the Braun‐Blanquet method. We identified 493 plant taxa belonging to 61 families. The most abundant families were Asteraceae, Poaceae, Fabaceae, Lamiaceae, and Caryophyllaceae. A total of 22 plant taxa are endemic to Greece. Ninety‐five taxa are of Balkan origin while 158 taxa are distributed to the broader Mediterranean region. The highest number of plant life‐forms are hemicryptophytes (56.39%) and therophytes (23.33%). Eight Ni hyperaccumulators includingCentaurea thracica,Bornmuellera baldaccii,Bornmuellera emarginata,Bornmuellera tymphaea,Noccaea boeotica,Noccaea tymphaea,Odontarrhena chalcidica, andOdontarrhena smolikanawere recorded.
Coat protein of a whitefly‐vectored plant virus as a delivery system to target whitefly
Authors: Jiménez Jaime , Kemmerer Mariah , King Glenn F. , Polston Jane E. , Bonning Bryony C.
Published: April 2024

The sweet potato whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) is responsible for significant crop losses and presents one of the greatest challenges for global agricultural pest management. Management of whitefly populations and associated plant viral diseases is hindered by widespread whitefly resistance to chemical insecticides. An alternative control approach involves the use of insect‐specific neurotoxins, but these require delivery from the whitefly gut into the haemocoel. Here we demonstrate that the coat protein (CP) of a begomovirus, Tomato yellow leaf curl virus, is sufficient for delivery of fused proteins into the whitefly haemocoel without virion assembly. Following feeding on the recombinant CP‐P‐mCherry fusion (where ‐P‐ is a proline‐rich linker), mCherry fluorescence was detected in the dorsal aorta and pericardial cells of the whitefly, but not in those of whitefly fed on negative control treatments, indicating effective CP‐mediated delivery of mCherry into the whitefly haemocoel. Significant mortality was observed in whiteflies fed on a fusion of CP‐P to the insect‐specific neurotoxin Hv1a, but not in whiteflies fed on CP‐P fused to a disarmed Hv1a mutant. Begomovirus coat protein – insect neurotoxin fusions hold considerable potential for transgenic resistance to whitefly providing valuable tools for whitefly management.
Endotracheal enucleation and para‐toluenesulfonamide injection for adenoid cystic carcinoma in the upper trachea: A novel therapeutic approach
Authors: Lu Hsiao‐Hung , Kuo Shuenn‐Wen
Published: April 2024

We present a case of an adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) located in the upper trachea, which resulted in significant airway blockage, that was unsuitable for surgical removal due to concerns about functional impairment. Instead, endotracheal enucleation via rigid bronchoscopy was performed initially, followed by the injection of a novel tumor ablation agent known as para‐toluenesulfonamide (PTS). We detail the dosing regimen, effectiveness evaluation, and post‐treatment follow‐up. The study highlights the potential of PTS injection as a viable alternative treatment option for patients with ACC who cannot undergo surgical resection and feasibility of lipiodol to monitor treatment effect. This research adds to the existing knowledge on ACC treatment and provides new therapeutic possibilities for patients with tracheal ACC.
Exploring the intersection of gender identity and homoparental family structure: Implications for educational, family and personal well‐being in Spanish students
Authors: Marchesi‐Ullastres Álvaro , Pérez‐García Eva María , Lucena‐Ferrero Ricardo , Martín‐Babarro Javier
Published: April 2024

This study explores the relationship among self‐perceived gender, family type (heteroparental or homoparental) and socioeconomic factors concerning various educational, family and personal well‐being domains. The data are derived from a large sample of 69,088 students from 465 schools (65% public; 35% private or semi‐private) in Spain. Five separate multi‐level generalized mixed (logistic or linear) regression models were calculated. Key findings include that non‐binary students from homoparental families reported lower evaluations in multiple dimensions, suggesting the need for additional support. Likewise, students from homoparental families exhibited lower personal well‐being and family relationship assessments, possibly due to perceived social stigmatization and peer bullying. This study sheds light on the complexities of gender identity and family type in educational settings, emphasizing the importance of addressing these issues for students' well‐being and academic success.
Protective effects of COVID‐19 vaccination in splenectomized patients with immune thrombocytopenia
Authors: Liu Xiang , Gan Xinai , Xu Jing , Wang Yutong , Huang Jie , He Xu , Li Yan , Gong Yuping , Peng Bing , Niu Ting
Published: April 2024

Splenectomy is an effective treatment for immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). The effect of COVID‐19 vaccination on splenectomized patients with ITP during the COVID‐19 pandemic has not been reported. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of COVID‐19 vaccination on clinical outcomes in these patients. This was a longitudinal study of splenectomized patients with ITP. A total of 191 splenectomized patients were included in this study. After a median follow‐up of 114 months, 146 (76.4%) patients had a sustained response to splenectomy. During COVID‐19 infection, vaccinated patients showed a lower risk of severe infections (odds ratio [OR], 0.13; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.05–0.36; p < 0.001), hospitalization (OR, 0.13; 95% CI, 0.04–0.48; p = 0.002), and ITP exacerbation (OR, 0.16; 95% CI, 0.04–0.67; p = 0.012). These findings indicate that COVID‐19 vaccination plays a protective role in splenectomized patients with ITP.
Primary gastric diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma: A multicentre retrospective study
Authors: Lewis Cameron S. , Joy Greta , Jensen Paw , Barraclough Allison , Franco Nunzio , Talaulikar Dipti , Hawkes Eliza A. , El‐Galaly Tarec Christoffer , Villa Diego , Dickinson Michael , Seymour John F. , Cheah Chan Y.
Published: April 2024

Primary gastric diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (PG‐DLBCL) accounts for the majority of extra‐nodal DLBCL. Even so, literature is lacking on early, localised presentations. We studied a cohort of patients with stage I disease, diagnosed between 2006 and 2018, from six centres between Australia, Canada and Denmark. Our goal was to characterise outcomes, review treatment and investigate the role of interim positron emission tomography (iPET). Thirty‐seven eligible patients were identified. The median duration of follow‐up was 42.2 months. All received chemoimmunotherapy with 91.9% (n = 34) given rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisolone (R‐CHOP). 35.1% (n = 13) underwent consolidative radiotherapy. Eighteen patients were H. pylori positive and 11 had the documentation of H. pylori eradication therapy. The 4‐year progression‐free survival and overall survival of R‐CHOP was 88% (95% CI: 71–95) and 91% (95% CI: 75–97) respectively. All patients who achieved a partial metabolic response or complete metabolic response on iPET went on to achieve complete response at the end of treatment. R‐CHOP‐based therapy with iPET assessment appears to offer favourable outcomes, with radiotherapy and H. pylori eradication therapy implemented on a case‐by‐case basis.
Graph‐based algorithms to dissect long‐distance water‐mediated H‐bond networks for conformational couplings in GPCRs
Authors: Bertalan Éva , Rodrigues Matthew Joseph , Schertler Gebhard F. X. , Bondar Ana‐Nicoleta
Published: April 2024

Changes in structure and dynamics elicited by agonist ligand binding at the extracellular side of G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) must be relayed to the cytoplasmic G protein binding side of the receptors. To decipher the role of water‐mediated hydrogen‐bond networks in this relay mechanism, we have developed graph‐based algorithms and analysis methodologies applicable to datasets of static structures of distinct GPCRs. For a reference dataset of static structures of bovine rhodopsin solved at the same resolution, we show that graph analyses capture the internal protein–water hydrogen‐bond network. The extended analyses of static structures of rhodopsins and opioid receptors suggest a relay mechanism whereby inactive receptors have in place much of the internal core hydrogen‐bond network required for long‐distance relay of structural change, with extensive local H‐bond clusters observed in structures solved at high resolution and with internal water molecules.
Editorial: Equity/inequality, diversity and inclusion in child and adolescent mental health – a perspective from the South Asian region
Authors: Rahman Atif
Published: April 2024

Over 1.8 billion people, about a quarter of the world's population live in the seven countries of South Asia: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. The population is characterized by a significant demographic youth bulge, with over 40% under the age of 18. This young population poses challenges related to ensuring their well‐being and development. Issues such as poverty, undernutrition, lack of early stimulation, limited access to quality education and health care, and gender disparities persist in large parts of South Asia, affecting the lives of many children and adolescents. The promotion of child and adolescent mental health remains a challenge. Accumulating evidence suggests that early interventions can provide long‐term health and socioeconomic benefits by prevention of the onset of mental health problems and their development into chronic disorders. This needs to be coupled with specialist services that can cater to the needs of children with greater needs, and support the community and schools‐based non‐specialist led services. Addressing child and adolescent mental health in South Asia presents a window of opportunity, because this regional youth bulge can contribute significantly to the global economy of the future.
The relevance of intestinal barrier dysfunction, antimicrobial proteins and bacterial endotoxin in metabolic dysfunction‐associated steatotic liver disease
Authors: Bergheim Ina , Moreno‐Navarrete José María
Published: April 2024

Background

Metabolic dysfunction‐associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a leading cause of end‐stage liver disease associated with increased mortality and cardiovascular disease. Obesity and diabetes are the most important risk factors of MASLD. It is well‐established that obesity‐associated insulin resistance leads to a situation of tissue lipotoxicity characterized by an accumulation of excess fat in non‐fat tissues such as the liver, promoting the development of MASLD, and its progression into metabolic dysfunction‐associated steatohepatitis.

Methods

Here, we aimed to review the impact of disrupted intestinal permeability, antimicrobial proteins and bacterial endotoxin in the development and progression of MASLD.

Results and Conclusion

Recent studies demonstrated that obesity‐ and obesogenic diets‐associated alterations of intestinal microbiota along with the disruption of intestinal barrier integrity, the alteration in antimicrobial proteins and, in consequence, an enhanced translocation of bacterial endotoxin into bloodstream might contribute to this pathological process through to impacting liver metabolism and inflammation.
Exploration of the mode of death and potential death mechanisms of nucleus pulposus cells
Authors: Zhou Daqian , Mei Yongliang , Song Chao , Cheng Kang , Cai Weiye , Guo Daru , Gao Silong , Lv Jiale , Liu Tao , Zhou Yang , Wang Liquan , Liu Bing , Liu Zongchao
Published: April 2024

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is a common chronic orthopaedic disease in orthopaedics that imposes a heavy economic burden on people and society. Although it is well established that IVDD is associated with genetic susceptibility, ageing and obesity, its pathogenesis remains incompletely understood. Previously, IVDD was thought to occur because of excessive mechanical loading leading to destruction of nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs), but studies have shown that IVDD is a much more complex process associated with inflammation, metabolic factors and NPCs death and can involve all parts of the disc, characterized by causing NPCs death and extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation. The damage pattern of NPCs in IVDD is like that of some programmed cell death, suggesting that IVDD is associated with programmed cell death. Although apoptosis and pyroptosis of NPCs have been studied in IVDD, the pathogenesis of intervertebral disc degeneration can still not be fully elucidated by using only traditional cell death modalities. With increasing research, some new modes of cell death, PANoptosis, ferroptosis and senescence have been found to be closely related to intervertebral disc degeneration. Among these, PANoptosis combines essential elements of pyroptosis, apoptosis and necroptosis to form a highly coordinated and dynamically balanced programmed inflammatory cell death process. Furthermore, we believe that PANoptosis may also crosstalk with pyroptosis and senescence. Therefore, we review the progress of research on multiple deaths of NPCs in IVDD to provide guidance for clinical treatment.
The combined effects of resource landscapes and herbivory on pollination services in agro‐ecosystems
Authors: Shapira Tal , Schurr Frank M. , Fischer Sonja , Jeuken Neal , Coll Moshe , Mandelik Yael
Published: April 2024

Pollinator activity is affected by landscape‐scale flower availability, and by pollinator interactions with co‐occurring organisms. Of special interest are potentially detrimental effects of herbivores on the attractiveness of plants to pollinators. While insect herbivores are abundant in natural and agro‐ecosystems, the combined effect of herbivory and landscape floral resources on pollinator activity and the delivery of pollination services is little studied and understood. Here we investigated the combined effects of surrounding flower cover and aphid herbivory on pollination services in agricultural landscapes. We apply a resource landscape approach for mapping the spatial distribution of floral resources across landscapes, using neighbourhood modelling and empirical data on flower availability in specific land‐use types. In each of 25 Mediterranean landscapes spanning a gradient of land‐use intensity ranging from natural to agricultural, we established paired patches of potted aphid‐infested or aphid‐free phytometer plants Diplotaxis erucoides. In each patch, we recorded the activity of insects visiting flowers and subsequent seed set. We also recorded the relative abundance of flowers in dominant land‐use locales within a 1 km radius of each patch. Neighbourhood analyses revealed that plant–pollinator interactions in our study system are shaped by herbivory, distribution of floral resources across the landscape, and the interaction between these factors. We found a negative competitive effect of flower cover on pollinator activity and phytometer seed‐set; this effect was stronger on aphid‐infested than aphid‐free plants. The main pollinator guilds in the study sites (wild bees, honeybees and non‐bee pollinators) responded differently to these factors. Our results highlight the importance of combining a resource landscape approach with the exploration of interactions among different organisms, when mapping pollination services and identifying the scale at which pollinators respond to foraging resources.
Climatic stability predicts the congruence between species abundance and genetic diversity
Authors: Formoso‐Freire Victoria , Baselga Andrés , Gómez‐Rodríguez Carola
Published: April 2024

Unified models of biological diversity across organizational levels (genes, species, communities) provide key insight into fundamental ecological processes. Theory predicts that the strength of the correlation between species abundance and genetic diversity should be related to community age in closed communities (i.e. abundant species accumulate more genetic diversity over time than rare species). Following this rationale, we hypothesize that historical climatic events are expected to impact assembly processes, hence affecting both the species abundance distribution (SAD) and the species genetic distribution (SGD) in continental communities. Therefore, we predict that, if the congruence between SADs and SGDs depends on community age, then higher congruence would be observed in localities where climate has been more stable since the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). We tested this prediction using relative abundance and nucleotide diversity (cox1‐5′) data from 20 communities of leaf beetles along a latitudinal transect in the Iberian Peninsula. We observed that the congruence between SAD and SGD curves, measured as the correlation between the species' rank orders in both distributions, was significantly related to the change in mean annual temperature since the LGM, but not to current climatic conditions. Our results suggest that, despite the high connectivity of continental communities, historical climatic stability is still a relevant predictor of the congruence between species abundance and genetic diversity. Hence, the degree of congruence between SADs and SGDs could be used as a proxy of community stability, related not only to historical climatic variation but also to any other disrupting factors, including human pressure.
Reliability of presence‐only data for assessing plant community responses to climate warming
Authors: Camila Pacheco‐Riaño L. , Rumpf Sabine , Maliniemi Tuija , Flantua Suzette G. A. , Grytnes John‐Arvid
Published: April 2024

Climate warming has triggered shifts in plant distributions, resulting in changes within communities, characterized by an increase in warm‐demanding species and a decrease in cold‐adapted species – referred to as thermophilization. Researchers conventionally rely on co‐occurrence data from vegetation assemblages to examine these community dynamics. Despite the increasing availability of presence‐only data in recent decades, their potential has largely remained unexplored due to concerns about their reliability. Our study aimed to determine whether climate‐induced changes in community dynamics, as inferred from presence‐only data from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), corresponded with those derived from co‐occurrence plot data. To assess the differences between these datasets, we computed a community temperature index (CTI) using a transfer function, weighted‐averaging partial least squares regression (WA‐PLS). We calibrated the transfect function model based on the species–temperature relationship using data before recent climate warming. Then we assessed the differences in CTI and examined the temporal trend in thermophilization. In a preliminary analysis, we assessed the performance of this calibration using three datasets: 1) Norwegian co‐occurrence data, 2) presence‐only data from a broader European region organized into pseudo‐plots (potentially capturing a larger part of the species niches), and 3) a combined dataset merging 1) and 2). The transfer function including the combined dataset performed best. Subsequently, we compared the CTI for the co‐occurrence plots paired up spatially and temporally with presence‐only pseudo‐plots. The results demonstrated that presence‐only data can effectively evaluate species assemblage responses to climate warming, with consistent CTI and thermophilization values to what was found for the co‐occurrence data. Employing presence‐only data for evaluating community responses opens up better spatial and temporal resolution and much more detailed analyses of such responses. Our results therefore outline how a large amount of presence‐only data can be used to enhance our understanding of community dynamics in a warmer world.
Universities’ internal governance and their efficiency: empirical evidence from Russia
Authors: Agasisti Tommaso , Egorov Aleksei , Platonova Daria , Serebrennikov Pavel
Published: April 2024

This paper aims to assess the relationship between governance practices and the efficiency of universities. We use the conditional efficiency approach and a partial frontier approach (order‐m estimator) for measuring universities’ efficiency and consider three important clusters of practices: centralisation, the growth of management teams at the administrative level and incentives for staff. The specific governance practices of universities are positively associated with their efficiency, the results differ for research‐oriented and teaching‐oriented universities. The optimal strategy for research‐intensive universities would be to provide a reasonable level of autonomy and optimal investment in administrative support (administrative staff salaries), while possible recommendations for teaching‐oriented universities include centralising some functions that reduce the administrative burden on the department.
Insights into the issues during hot‐pressing and vacuum sintering of 10 mol.% CaO doped zirconia ceramics
Authors: Reddy Jejitti Aravind , Lakshya Annu Kumar , Chowdhury Anirban
Published: April 2024

A vacuum environment is usually preferred for reducing the dwell time and sintering temperature for doped zirconia ceramics. However, for the present work with 10 mol.% CaO‐doped ZrO2 (10CaSZ) ceramics, both hot‐pressing and vacuum sintering techniques yielded ceramics with open pores (ρ ∼ 93%) and significant amounts of the deleterious monoclinic phase (50%). This is in stark contrast with the conventionally sintered highly dense (>99%) 10CaSZ ceramics, where only tetragonal and cubic phases were noted. Probing via electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) depicted the trapping of oxygen vacancies by vacancies generated in vacuum at high temperature. A possible change in the local coordination (of ions) and the subsequent chemical environment was confirmed by the observed asymmetric signal shape and broader linewidth of the EPR signals. Potential loss of oxygen and deviation from stoichiometry (for dopant) was confirmed via EPR analysis along with the support of energy dispersive spectra analysis. Despite no noticeable shift in the XRD pattern for Ca2+ depletion, the observed compositional gradient differences in the calcium elemental mapping suggested dopant segregation at the grain boundaries. The conclusions from the present work point toward specificity of a given materials system for its beneficial densification under hot pressing or vacuum sintering.
Anatomy of the olfactory system and potential role for chemical communication in the sound‐producing Lusitanian toadfish, Halobatrachus didactylus
Authors: Modesto Teresa , Neves Gregório Beatriz , Marcelino Gonçalo , Marquet Nathalie , Costa Rita A. , Guerreiro Pedro M. , Velez Zélia , Hubbard Peter C.
Published: April 2024

The current study investigated the structure and function of the olfactory system of the Lusitanian toadfish, Halobatrachus didactylus, using histology and electrophysiology (electro‐olfactogram [EOG]), respectively. The olfactory system consists of a digitated anterior peduncle, of unknown function, containing the inhalant nostril. This then leads to a U‐shaped olfactory chamber with the olfactory epithelium—identified by Gαolf‐immunoreactivity—on the ventral surface. A large lacrimal sac is connected to this tube and is likely involved in generating water movement through the olfactory chamber (this species is largely sedentary). The exhalent nostril lies by the eye and is preceded by a bicuspid valve to ensure one‐way flow of water. As do other teleosts, H. didactylus had olfactory sensitivity to amino acids and bile acids. Large‐amplitude EOG responses were evoked by fluid from the anterior and posterior testicular accessory glands, and bile and intestinal fluids. Anterior gland and intestinal fluids from reproductive males were significantly more potent than those from non‐reproductive males. Male urine and skin mucus proved to be the least potent body fluids tested. These results suggest that chemical communication—as well as acoustic communication—may be important in the reproduction of this species and that this may be mediated by the accessory glands and intestinal fluid.
Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling and application for cleaning of food‐contact surfaces: A review
Authors: Chai Jing , Su Hong , Li Xiang , Zhang Yanling , Xiao Douxin , Kang Jing , Dong Alideertu
Published: April 2024

In the food industry, ensuring clean production equipment is essential for maintaining product quality and safeguarding consumer health. For optimal geometric cleaning, it is crucial to consider the specific interactions between flow, dirt, and cleaning fluids. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is a powerful tool for simulating fluid flow behavior, especially in terms of momentum, mass, and energy transfer. It has been widely used to model elimination processes in food sanitation. The construction of CFD model and the cleaning of food contact surface were explored. Additionally, an overview of existing CFD studies on fouling and cleaning mechanisms was provided in this manuscript. The goal of this review is to discuss the present state of CFD modeling in cleaning soil from surfaces and to offer a valuable reference for food cleaning process.
The early‐stage clinical course of anti‐pituitary‐specific transcription factor‐1 hypophysitis diagnosed post‐immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment: A case with review of literature
Authors: Urai Shin , Tomofuji Seiji , Bando Hironori , Kanzawa Maki , Yamamoto Masaaki , Fukuoka Hidenori , Tsuda Masahiro , Iguchi Genzo , Ogawa Wataru
Published: April 2024

Anti‐pituitary‐specific transcription factor‐1 (PIT‐1) hypophysitis, a paraneoplastic syndrome resulting from an autoimmune response against PIT‐1, typically manifests with undetectable levels of growth hormone (GH) and prolactin (PRL), and significantly low levels of serum thyroid‐stimulating hormone (TSH) at diagnosis. These hormonal levels are highly specific to this disease and serve as key diagnostic indicators. Herein, we present a detailed clinical course of a 69‐year‐old male with a history of gastric cancer and lymph node metastases who developed anti‐PIT‐1 hypophysitis after the initiation of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy, specifically nivolumab, oxaliplatin, and capecitabine. The patient was referred to our department owing to decreased TSH, free triiodothyronine (T3), and free thyroxine (T4) levels after two doses of nivolumab. Initially suspected as central hypothyroidism due to ICI‐related hypophysitis, further assessment confirmed the diagnosis of anti‐PIT‐1 hypophysitis. Notably, GH, PRL, and TSH levels markedly declined, leading to complete deficiencies 2 months after the first nivolumab dose—a pattern consistent with that of previous cases of anti‐PIT‐1 hypophysitis. Therefore, this report not only presents an atypical subset of ICI‐related hypophysitis but also delineates the process of hormone impairment leading to complete deficiencies in anti‐PIT‐1 hypophysitis. This case highlights the importance of vigilant monitoring for endocrine issues in patients undergoing ICI therapy, given the escalating incidence of immune‐related adverse events associated with the extensive use of ICI therapy for various cancers.
Deep neural network uncertainty estimation for early oral cancer diagnosis
Authors: Lin Huiping , Chen Hanshen , Lin Jun
Published: April 2024

Background

Early diagnosis in oral cancer is essential to reduce both morbidity and mortality. This study explores the use of uncertainty estimation in deep learning for early oral cancer diagnosis.

Methods

We develop a Bayesian deep learning model termed ‘Probabilistic HRNet’, which utilizes the ensemble MC dropout method on HRNet. Additionally, two oral lesion datasets with distinct distributions are created. We conduct a retrospective study to assess the predictive performance and uncertainty of Probabilistic HRNet across these datasets.

Results

Probabilistic HRNet performs optimally on the In‐domain test set, achieving an F1 score of 95.3% and an AUC of 96.9% by excluding the top 30% high‐uncertainty samples. For evaluations on the Domain‐shift test set, the results show an F1 score of 64.9% and an AUC of 80.3%. After excluding 30% of the high‐uncertainty samples, these metrics improve to an F1 score of 74.4% and an AUC of 85.6%.

Conclusion

Redirecting samples with high uncertainty to experts for subsequent diagnosis significantly decreases the rates of misdiagnosis, which highlights that uncertainty estimation is vital to ensure safe decision making for computer‐aided early oral cancer diagnosis.
Traumatic and iatrogenic sciatic nerve injury in 38 dogs and 10 cats: Clinical and electrodiagnostic findings
Authors: Dell'Apa Diletta , Auletta Luigi , Okonji Samuel , Cauduro Alberto , Dondi Maurizio , Opreni Mauro , Gandini Gualtiero , Bianchi Ezio
Published: April 2024

Background

Reports describing sciatic nerve injuries (SNI) and their outcome are scarce in veterinary medicine.

Hypothesis

Describe the causes of traumatic and iatrogenic SNI and evaluate which clinical and electrodiagnostic findings predict outcome.

Animals

Thirty‐eight dogs and 10 cats with confirmed SNI referred for neurologic and electrodiagnostic evaluation.

Methods

Clinical and electrodiagnostic examination results, including electromyography (EMG), motor nerve conduction studies, muscle‐evoked potential (MEP), F‐waves, sensory nerve conduction studies, and cord dorsum potential (CDP), were retrospectively evaluated. Quality of life (QoL) was assessed based on owner interviews.

Results

Surgery (42%) and trauma (33%) were the most common causes of SNI; in dogs, 24% were caused by bites from wild boars. Ability to flex and extend the tarsus was significantly associated with positive outcome in dogs. Mean time from onset of clinical signs until electrodiagnostic evaluation was 67 ± 65 (range, 7‐300) days and 65 ± 108 (range, 7‐365) days for dogs and cats, respectively. A cut‐off amplitude of 1.45 mV for compound motor action potentials (CMAP) was predictive of positive outcome in dogs (P = .01), with sensitivity of 58% and specificity of 100%.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Clinical motor function predicts recovery better than sensory function. Electrodiagnostic findings also may play a role in predicting the outcome of SNI. Application of the proposed CMAP cut‐off amplitude may assist clinicians in shortening the time to reassessment or for earlier suggestion of salvage procedures. Owners perceived a good quality of life (QoL), even in cases of hindlimb amputation.
Changes in taxonomic and functional composition of subalpine plant communities in response to climate change under contrasting conditions of bedrock and snow cover duration
Authors: Michalet Richard , Touzard Blaise , Billard Gilbert , Choler Philippe , Loucougaray Grégory
Published: April 2024

Questions

We assessed interactions between climate change, bedrock types and snow cover duration on the trajectories of taxonomic and functional composition of subalpine plant communities. We predict (i) an increase in species richness on siliceous bedrock due to a reduced competition and a decrease in richness on calcareous bedrock due to increasing drought stress; (ii) decreasing snow cover duration should induce a higher shrub encroachment in hollows as compared to ridges; and (iii) increasing growing season temperature should induce taller sizes and more conservative growth traits, in particular in hollows.

Location

Subalpine belt of the Grandes Rousses mountain range, southwestern Alps (France).

Methods

189 vegetation plots were sampled in 1997 and 2017–2018. The duration of snow cover was assessed during two years in 1995–1997 and five functional traits were measured on 108 species in 2021. We performed multivariate analyses, quantified community‐weighted means (CWM) of traits and used ANOVAs to detect responses to local‐scale factors and changes in snow cover, temperature and precipitation since 1997 according to a nearby meteorological station.

Results

Overall, taxonomic composition weakly changed and changes were more dependent on the position of communities along the snow cover duration gradient than on their bedrock type. The abundance of drought‐tolerant species increased at the border of hollows and there was, over all communities, a slight increase in the abundance of dwarf shrubs and tall herbaceous species, a strong decrease in short herbaceous species and, thus, an overall decrease in species richness. There were important overall changes in CWM of size traits, in particular leaf area which increased the most in hollows irrespective of bedrock types.

Conclusion

In this subalpine site the effects of decreasing snow cover duration overwhelmed the effects of bedrocks, which may explain the overall increase in competitive species and decrease in species richness.
Associations of dietary sugars with liver stiffness in Latino adolescents with obesity differ on PNPLA3 and liver disease severity
Authors: Schenker Rachel B. , Machle Christopher J. , Schmidt Kelsey A. , Allayee Hooman , Kohli Rohit , Goran Michael I.
Published: April 2024

Metabolic dysfunction‐associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is the most common paediatric liver disease. Latinos have high MASLD risk due to 50% prevalence of GG genotype of PNPLA3. Our primary aim was to evaluate associations between dietary carbohydrates/sugars and liver stiffness in Latino adolescents with obesity. Our secondary aim was to examine effect modification by (a) PNPLA3 genotype or (b) liver disease severity. Data were obtained from 114 Latino adolescents with obesity involved in two prior studies. No associations were seen between dietary carbohydrates/sugars and liver stiffness in the group as a whole. In subjects with GG genotype of PNPLA3, total sugar, fructose, sucrose, and glucose were associated with liver stiffness. Positive relationships between carbohydrate, total sugar, and sucrose and liver stiffness were stronger in those with MASLD and fibrosis compared to those with healthy livers and MASLD without fibrosis.
How admixed captive breeding populations could be rescued using local ancestry information
Authors: Lawson Daniel J. , Howard‐McCombe Jo , Beaumont Mark , Senn Helen
Published: April 2024

This paper asks the question: can genomic information be used to recover a species that is already on the pathway to extinction due to genetic swamping from a related and more numerous population? We show that a breeding strategy in a captive breeding program can use whole genome sequencing to identify and remove segments of DNA introgressed through hybridisation. The proposed policy uses a generalized measure of kinship or heterozygosity accounting for local ancestry, that is, whether a specific genetic location was inherited from the target of conservation. We then show that optimizing these measures would minimize undesired ancestry while also controlling kinship and/or heterozygosity, in a simulated breeding population. The process is applied to real data representing the hybridized Scottish wildcat breeding population, with the result that it should be possible to breed out domestic cat ancestry. The ability to reverse introgression is a powerful tool brought about through the combination of sequencing with computational advances in ancestry estimation. Since it works best when applied early in the process, important decisions need to be made about which genetically distinct populations should benefit from it and which should be left to reform into a single population.
Harnessing photosynthetic C18O16O discrimination dynamics under leaf water nonsteady state to estimate mesophyll conductance: a new, regression‐based method
Authors: Rao Sen , Liu Tao , Cernusak Lucas A. , Song Xin
Published: April 2024

Mesophyll conductance (gm) is a crucial plant trait that can significantly limit photosynthesis. Measurement of photosynthetic C18O16O discrimination (Δ18O) has proved to be the only viable means of resolving gm in both C3 and C4 plants. However, the currently available methods to exploit Δ18O for gm estimation are error prone due to their inadequacy in constraining the degree of oxygen isotope exchange (θ) during mesophyll CO2 hydration.

Here, we capitalized on experimental manipulation of leaf water isotopic dynamics to establish a novel, nonsteady state, regression‐based approach for simultaneous determination of gm and θ from online Δ18O measurements.

We demonstrated the methodological and theoretical robustness of this new Δ18O‐gm estimation approach and showed through measurements on several C3 and C4 species that this approach can serve as a benchmark method against which to identify previously‐unrecognized biases of the existing Δ18O‐gm methods.

Our results highlight the unique value of this nonsteady state‐based approach for contributing to ongoing efforts toward quantitative understanding of mesophyll conductance for crop yield improvement and carbon cycle modeling.
OsALKBH9‐mediated m6A demethylation regulates tapetal PCD and pollen exine accumulation in rice
Authors: Tang Jun , Lei Dekun , Yang Junbo , Chen Shuyan , Wang Xueping , Huang Xiaoxin , Zhang Shasha , Cai Zhihe , Zhu Shanshan , Wan Jianmin , Jia Guifang
Published: April 2024

The N6‐methyladenosine (m6A) mRNA modification is crucial for plant development and stress responses. In rice, the male sterility resulting from the deficiency of OsFIP37, a core component of m6A methyltransferase complex, emphasizes the significant role of m6A in male fertility. m6A is reversible and can be removed by m6A demethylases. However, whether mRNA m6A demethylase regulates male fertility in rice has remained unknown. Here, we identify the mRNA m6A demethylase OsALKBH9 and demonstrate its involvement in male fertility regulation. Knockout of OsALKBH9 causes male sterility, dependent on its m6A demethylation activity. Cytological analysis reveals defective tapetal programmed cell death (PCD) and excessive accumulation of microspores exine in Osalkbh9‐1. Transcriptome analysis of anthers shows up‐regulation of genes involved in tapetum development, sporopollenin synthesis, and transport pathways in Osalkbh9‐1. Additionally, we demonstrate that OsALKBH9 demethylates the m6A modification in TDR and GAMYB transcripts, which affects the stability of these mRNAs and ultimately leads to excessive accumulation of pollen exine. Our findings highlight the precise control of mRNA m6A modification and reveal the pivotal roles played by OsALKBH9‐mediated m6A demethylation in tapetal PCD and pollen exine accumulation in rice.
AtMYB41 acts as a dual‐function transcription factor that regulates the formation of lipids in an organ‐ and development‐dependent manner
Authors: Keyl A. , Kwas V. , Lewandowska M. , Herrfurth C. , Kunst L. , Feussner I.
Published: April 2024

The plant cuticle controls non‐stomatal water loss and can serve as a barrier against biotic agents, whereas the heteropolymer suberin and its associated waxes are deposited constitutively at specific cell wall locations. While several transcription factors controlling cuticle formation have been identified, those involved in the transcriptional regulation of suberin biosynthesis remain poorly characterized. The major goal of this study was to further analyse the function of the R2R3‐Myeloblastosis (MYB) transcription factor AtMYB41 in formation of the cuticle, suberin, and suberin‐associated waxes throughout plant development.

For functional analysis, the organ‐specific expression pattern of AtMYB41 was analysed and Atmyb41ge alleles were generated using the CRISPR/Cas9 system. These were investigated for root growth and water permeability upon stress. In addition, the fatty acid, wax, cutin, and suberin monomer composition of different organs was evaluated by gas chromatography.

The characterization of Atmyb41ge mutants revealed that AtMYB41 negatively regulates the production of cuticular lipids and fatty acid biosynthesis in leaves and seeds, respectively. Remarkably, biochemical analyses indicate that AtMYB41 also positively regulates the formation of cuticular waxes in stems of Arabidopsis thaliana.

Overall, these results suggest that the AtMYB41 acts as a negative regulator of cuticle and fatty acid biosynthesis in leaves and seeds, respectively, but also as a positive regulator of wax production in A. thaliana stems.
The effectiveness of a fall detection device in older nursing home residents: a pilot study
Authors: Can Büşra , Tufan Aslı , Karadağ Şevval , DurmuŞ Nurdan Şentürk , Topçu Mümüne , Aysevinç Berrin , Düzel Songül Çeçen , Dağcıoğlu Sevda , AfŞar Fak Nazire , Tazegül Gökhan , Fak Ali Serdar
Published: April 2024

Background

Real‐world research to evaluate the effect of device technology in preventing fall‐related morbidity is limited. This pilot study aims to investigate the effectiveness of a non‐wearable fall detection device in older nursing home residents.

Methods

The study was conducted in a nursing home with single‐resident rooms. Fall detection devices were randomly set up in half of the rooms. Demographic data, comorbidities, lists of medications, and functional, nutritional, and frailty status were recorded. The residents were followed up for 3 months. The primary outcome was falls and the secondary outcome was all‐cause mortality.

Results

A total of 26 participants were enrolled in the study. The study group consisted of 13 residents who had a fall detection device in their rooms. The remaining 13 residents on the same floor formed the control group. Participants had a mean age of 82 ± 10 years and 89% of the residents were female. The most prevalent comorbidity was dementia. Two residents from the control group and one resident from the study group experienced a fall event during follow‐up. The fall events in the control group were identified retrospectively by the nursing home staff, whereas the fall in the study group received a prompt response from the staff who were notified by the alarm. One resident was transferred to the hospital and died due to a non‐fall related reason.

Conclusion

Device technology may provide an opportunity for timely intervention to prevent fall‐related morbidity in institutionalized older adults.