bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multisite Assembly of Gateway Induced Clones (MAGIC): a flexible cloning toolbox with diverse applications in vertebrate model systems
Authors: Gillespie William , Zhang Yuwen , Ruiz Oscar E. , Cerda Juan , Ortiz-Guzman Joshua , Turner Williamson D. , Largoza Gabrielle , Sherman Michelle , Mosser Lili E. , Fujimoto Esther , Chien Chi-Bin , Kwan Kristen M. , Arenkiel Benjamin R. , Devine W. Patrick , Wythe Joshua D.
Published: July 2024

Here we present the Multisite Assembly of Gateway Induced Clones (MAGIC) system, which harnesses site-specific recombination-based cloning via Gateway technology for rapid, modular assembly of between 1 and 3 “Entry” vector components, all into a fourth, standard high copy “Destination” plasmid backbone. The MAGIC toolkit spans a range of in vitro and in vivo uses, from directing tunable gene expression, to driving simultaneous expression of microRNAs and fluorescent reporters, to enabling site-specific recombinase-dependent gene expression. All MAGIC system components are directly compatible with existing multisite gateway Tol2 systems currently used in zebrafish, as well as existing eukaryotic cell culture expression Destination plasmids, and available mammalian lentiviral and adenoviral Destination vectors, allowing rapid cross-species experimentation. Moreover, herein we describe novel vectors with flankingpiggyBactransposon elements for stable genomic integration in vitro or in vivo when used withpiggyBactransposase. Collectively, the MAGIC system facilitates transgenesis in cultured mammalian cells, electroporated mouse and chick embryos, as well as in injected zebrafish embryos, enabling the rapid generation of innovative DNA constructs for biological research due to a shared, common plasmid platform.
A comprehensive understanding of memorable experiences in food tourism
Authors: Akhoondnejad Arman
Published: July 2024

Purpose

More specifically, the research identifies the determinants of positive and negative memorable experiences in different contexts of food tourism.

Design/methodology/approach

Qualitative data were collected from domestic and international tourists visiting New Zealand. Using an in-person, self-administered, electronic survey, 374 complete surveys were gathered in Christchurch City.

Findings

The findings reveal 25 factors contributing to positive memorable experiences, whereas the lack of seven of them leads to negative memorable experiences. Food quality is the most dominant determinant of both positive and negative memorable experiences.

Originality/value

Despite existing various types of food and drink experiences, the literature largely focused on the consumption part. The negative memorable experience has also been neglected. To expand the knowledge of the determinants of memorable food/drink experiences, this research focuses on all types of such experiences including positive and negative ones to provide a comprehensive understanding of memorable experiences within food tourism.
Innovative 3D-printed surfaces for efficient water harvesting from air
Authors: Koyun Furkan Turan , Sabur Sema , Başal Güldemet , Günerhan Hüseyin
Published: July 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to develop nature-inspired 3D surfaces for atmospheric water harvesting.

Design/methodology/approach

Initially, cylindrical-shaped protrusions were produced utilizing a 3D printer to obtain a surface with a high surface area. Subsequently, an electrospraying technique was employed to coat the tips of these hydrophobic protrusions with hydrophilic nano-scale particles and fibers, utilizing polyamide 6 (PA6) or PA6/chitosan (CH) blends. In the next stage of the study, the impact of protrusion shape was investigated by fabricating surfaces with cylindrical, conical and tree-shaped protrusions. Following the production of 3D surfaces, PA6 was electrosprayed onto the protrusions to achieve varied wettability patterns on the 3D surface. Finally, the water collection rates and capacities of the surfaces were evaluated.

Findings

Water collection tests demonstrated that PA6-coated surfaces exhibited greater water collection capacity compared to untreated surfaces. Furthermore, the addition of CH enhanced the water collecting efficiency of the 3D surface. It was found that the shape of the protrusions significantly influenced water collection capacity. Particularly, cone-shaped protrusions exhibited the highest water collecting capability among the different shapes tested.

Originality/value

In this study, 3D printing and electrospraying techniques were combined to create 3D surfaces characterized by high surface area, along with hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions to produce superior surfaces for atmospheric water harvesting.
Decoding the puzzle: exploring the factors influencing homeownership in Togo
Authors: Yenlide Tchablemane , Okey Mawussé Komlagan Nézan
Published: July 2024

Purpose

This study aims to analyze the factors influencing households housing tenure choices in Togo.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors applied a rigorous econometric approach, using Harmonized Household Living Conditions Survey (EHCVM) data from 2018 and 2021 to construct a longitudinal panel, and Unified Basic Welfare Indicators Questionnaire (QUIBB) data from 2006, 2011 and 2015 to construct a pseudo-panel.

Findings

The study reveals that a household’s life-cycle variables like age of the household head, marital status, household size and place of residence, have a significant influence on homeownership. In addition, households in the highest wealth quartiles and used heads of household are more likely to own their home.

Research limitations/implications

Housing policies focused on improving the financial sustainability of low-income households and reducing the transaction costs associated with property acquisition are essential to promoting homeownership.

Practical implications

As part of the implementation of the Government Roadmap 2020–2025, the government has committed to providing 20,000 affordable social housing units, aiming to significantly boost the supply of decent housing. However, the findings of this study highlight the need for targeted subsidy programs for low-income households, particularly for female-headed households and those living in urban areas. These subsidies could cover part of the cost of purchasing homes. For middle-income households, it is crucial to develop suitable financing mechanisms, such as low-interest mortgages and loan guarantees. Given demographic pressures and the high cost of public housing programs, promoting self-build remains essential. This support should be accompanied by the provision of low-cost building materials and technical training in innovative, sustainable construction methods. Additionally, improved access to employment and land regularization are essential prerequisites for the success of these initiatives.

Originality/value

Research on the determinants of tenure choice is relatively limited in sub-Saharan Africa due to the unavailability of housing survey data. This paper proposes a case study of Togo, whose housing market characteristics correspond to most sub-Saharan African countries. Furthermore, this study applied two methodological approaches commonly used in dynamic analyses, thereby enhancing the robustness of the findings.
Effects of transformational leadership on the learning organization and nurses' innovative behavior in Vietnamese public hospitals
Authors: Nguyen Phuoc
Published: July 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore the effects of transformational leadership on learning organization and nurses' innovative behavior. Furthermore, this study aims to explore the mediating role of learning organization in the relationship between transformational leadership and nurse innovative behavior in the healthcare context. As there is a paucity of research examining these relationships, this study bridges the research gaps in the literature.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross-sectional survey was used. Using convenience sampling, the data of 228 nurses from 5 public hospitals in Vietnam were collected via questionnaires. A structural equation model (SEM) was used to empirically test the hypotheses.

Findings

The findings show significant positive effects of transformational leadership on learning organization and nurses’ innovative behavior. Furthermore, a significant positive relationship between learning organization and nurses’ innovative behavior was also supported. Finally, the partial mediating role of learning organization is significant in this study.

Originality/value

To the best of the author's knowledge, this article is the first of its kind to identify the minimal literature available on the impact of transformational leadership on learning organization and nurses’ innovative behavior. This article also contributes to extending knowledge about the mediating role of learning organization in the healthcare context. Highlighting the importance of transformational leadership, the findings offer guidance for healthcare organizations that aim to strengthen nurses’ innovative behavior.
Beyond fear and safety: revenge travel and international tourists’ intentions in the post-crisis era
Authors: Salman Ahmad , Trupp Alexander , Stephenson Marcus L. , Chan Ling Foon
Published: July 2024

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the evolving travel intentions of tourists in the aftermath of the relaxation of international mobility restrictions in 2022. It aims to understand how the concept of “revenge travel” – travelling with the intent to make up for lost time during crisis periods – impacts tourists' travel intentions in the post-crisis era.

Design/methodology/approach

Employing a quantitative approach, the study uses Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). Data were collected through a survey of 320 respondents in 2022. This methodology enables a comprehensive understanding of travel intentions, including motivations, perceptions of destination safety and the influence of revenge travel.

Findings

The findings reveal that revenge travel is a significant predictor of travel intentions post-crisis. The results indicate that tourists are less concerned with health and safety and are more driven by the desire to compensate for lost travel opportunities. This shift suggests that travel intentions in the post-crisis era are not predominantly fear-induced. The study also offers insights into how these intentions can inform the recovery and sustainable planning of the tourism industry.

Originality/value

This paper recognises the impact of revenge travel on travel intentions following the lifting of crisis-related mobility restrictions. It provides novel insights into tourists' post-crisis travel behaviour, extending the understanding of travel motivations in extraordinary circumstances. The findings are valuable for tourism practitioners and researchers, offering guidance for future tourism development and marketing strategies within a post-crisis context.
Visualization of global research trends and future research directions of financial performance in higher education sector using bibliometric analysis
Authors: Aghel Mohamed , Azam S.M.Ferdous , Aza Azlina Md Kassim
Published: July 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to undertake a bibliometric analysis of financial performance research in of higher education sector. The study examines papers over the last 2 decades and performed performance analysis, co-citation analysis, bibliographic coupling and scientific mapping.

Design/methodology/approach

The study examines 616 documents retrieved from the Scopus database using bibliometric analysis, performance analysis and thematic clustering. The study looked at the scientific productivity of papers, prolific authors, most influencing papers, institutions and nations, keyword cooccurrence, thematic mapping, co-citations and authorship and country collaborations. VOS viewer was employed as a tool in the research to conduct the performance analysis and thematic clustering.

Findings

This study delves into the recent advancements in financial performance research within higher education, focusing particularly on the year 2023, characterized by a peak of productivity with 46 significant articles. Notable institutions contributing substantially to this discourse include the University of Sussex (UK), and Ratio Institute Stockholm (Sweden), each referenced 227 times. The United Kingdom has emerged as a leader in financial performance research, amassing 3,850 citations from 92 publications. Key journals driving this conversation include “Entrepreneurship: Theory and Practice” and “The British Journal of Political Science.” The most cited study examines the impact of business-university partnerships on innovation and financial outcomes.”

Originality/value

This is the first study that provides a performance analysis and scientific mapping of the financial performance literature in the higher education sector. In addition, this study is the initial one to do a thorough analysis and organized representation of financial performance in the higher education sector, providing an unparalleled understanding of a hitherto uninvestigated area of academic research.
Academic integrity violations in higher education: a systematic literature review from 2013–2023
Authors: Sozon Md , Sia Bee Chuan , Pok Wei Fong , Alkharabsheh Omar Hamdan Mohammad
Published: July 2024

Purpose

This study aimed to review the different types of academic integrity violations reported in the literature between 2013 and 2023. Moreover, this study investigated the causes of these violations and recommends approaches and measures that can be implemented to minimise academic integrity violations in the era of artificial intelligence (AI).

Design/methodology/approach

We reviewed 27 articles published between 2013 and 2023 from the Scopus database. We followed the reporting guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses to select, filter, and report relevant studies that met the research objectives.

Findings

The study revealed that various individual, institutional, social, cultural, and technological factors contribute to academic integrity violations. To minimise this issue, higher education institutions should offer brief academic integrity tutorial courses to all first-year students to enhance their knowledge of academic integrity. Moreover, academic honour codes should be regularly reviewed and updated, and technological tools should be implemented to detect AI-generated third-party assignments submitted by students. Furthermore, higher education institutions should frequently conduct training and workshops to educate students on the consequences of violating academic integrity.

Originality/value

This study contributes to existing literature. It highlights the wider societal implications of academic integrity violations such as their influence on workforce readiness and ethical standards in professional environments.
Effect of smartphone addiction on mental health and sleep quality among undergraduate pharmacy students in a Nigerian public university
Authors: Anosike Chibueze , Ogbu Mario-Ephraim Afam , Ugochukwu Ezinwanne Jane , Osefo Rita Chinenye , Nwaji Jonathan Chimaobi
Published: July 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between smartphone addiction, mental health and sleep quality among undergraduate pharmacy students in a Nigerian public university.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross-sectional study was conducted among undergraduate pharmacy students in a Nigerian university. Data was collected using self-administered questionnaires, including Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short version, Patient Health Questionnaire, Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. The data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the chi-square test and the Pearson correlation. Probability values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Findings

A total of 410 undergraduate pharmacy students participated in the study, giving a response rate of 95.57%. The prevalence of smartphone addiction, depression and anxiety symptoms were 40.24%, 28.30% and 23.66%, respectively. Most students had poor sleep quality (96.10%). The prevalence of smartphone addiction had a moderate positive correlation with the severity of depression (r = 0.363, p < 0.01) and anxiety (r = 0.261, p < 0.01) symptoms. Nevertheless, smartphone addiction showed no connection with sleep quality (r = 0.022, p = 0.663).

Research limitations/implications

The study was conducted in a single public university in Nigeria, hence this might limit its generalizability. The provision of mental health support within universities could help address the high prevalence of smartphone addiction, mental health issues and poor sleep quality.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this was the first study to examine smartphone addiction among pharmacy students in a resource-limited setting with multicultural and multiethnic groups.
Another trip? Functional and dysfunctional coping with business travel
Authors: Weiss Mona , Zacher Hannes
Published: July 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to clarify why business travel has ambivalent effects on occupational well-being. We examine associations between business travel, career satisfaction and turnover intentions, as well as the mediating role of functional and dysfunctional coping strategies.

Design/methodology/approach

We collected four waves of data across three months from 676 employees (n = 147 business travelers who traveled for work at least once during the study period; n = 529 non-travelers) working in various industries and managerial positions.

Findings

Consistent with expectations, the greater the extent of business travel, the higher both career satisfaction (mediated by higher emotional and instrumental support, positive reframing, and substance use, and lower venting and self-distraction, denial and self-blame, and behavioral disengagement) and turnover intentions (mediated by higher active coping and planning, venting and self-distraction, behavioral disengagement, and lower positive reframing).

Practical implications

Findings reveal that business travel presents an ambivalent psychological experience and point to the importance of obtaining and using a coping portfolio in this context.

Originality/value

This study addresses functional and dysfunctional coping as unexplored mediating mechanisms between business travel, career satisfaction, and turnover intentions and provides new insights for research and practice on business travel.
Identifying city bus passenger ridership patterns: a mixed-method analysis
Authors: Yang Keng-Chieh
Published: July 2024

Purpose

This study uses big data analysis aimed at discovering city bus passenger ridership patterns. Hence, marketing managers can get sufficient insights to formulate effective business plans and make timely decisions about company operations.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a mixed-method analysis to analyze the results. First uses the RFM (recency, frequency, and monetary) model combined with a big data technique (K-means) to analyze bus passenger boarding behavior. In order to improve the validity and quality of the research, this study also conducted interviews with senior managers of the bus company from which the data was obtained.

Findings

The study identifies six distinct groups of passengers with different boarding behaviors, ranging from “general passengers” to “most valuable passengers”. General passengers constituted the largest group. As such, they should be the main target for municipal governments when promoting bus ridership as part of energy conservation and carbon-reduction activities. This group of passengers should be encouraged to take public transport vehicles more, instead of relying on personal vehicles. The fourth group identified included elderly passengers with hospitals as their destinations. Bus companies can cooperate with municipal government to provide morning “medical bus” services for the elderly. Interviews with bus company managers confirmed that the analytical results of this study correspond with the observations, experiences, and actual business operating plans of bus companies.

Originality/value

Only few studies have analyzed passengers' boarding behavior applying a mixed-method analysis.
Cooperative supply game and its revenue allocation method considering location of transportation hub
Authors: Zhang Guang , Ge Jingyi
Published: July 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to study the establishment of cooperative supply game model considering transportation hub location, and design the profit allocation rule of the cooperative supply coalition.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the economic lost-sizing (ELS) game model and considering the location of transportation hub and the topology design of basic traffic network, we build a supply game model to maximize the profit of cooperative supply coalition. Based on the principle of proportion and the method of process allocation, we suppose the procedural proportional solution of the supplier cooperative supply game.

Findings

Through numerical examples, the validity and applicability of the proposed model and the procedural proportional solution were verified by comparing the procedural proportional solution with the weighted Shapley value, the equal division solution and the proportional rule.

Originality/value

This paper constructs a feasible mixed integer programming model for cooperative supply game. We also provide the algorithm of the allocation rule of cooperative supply game and the property analysis of the allocation rule.
Understanding gender-responsive needs of girls in the Children and Young People Secure Estate (CYPSE): menstrual cycle considerations
Authors: Lee Robyn , McKeown Annette , Graham Jessica , Hajaji Yussra , Kennedy Patrick J.
Published: July 2024

Purpose

The current study aimed to examine the population of girls in two secure children’s homes (SCHs) in the North East of England to consider the impact of menstruation on girls’ physical, mental and emotional wellbeing within secure settings. Gender-responsive approaches and understanding gender differences are central to trauma-informed provision within the Children and Young People Secure Estate (CYPSE). Whilst trauma-informed approaches are central, it could be argued that basic gender differences, such as the menstrual cycle, are currently being overlooked within research and practice.

Design/methodology/approach

A case file audit examined documentation of 24 girls who were admitted across both sites between January 2022 and January 2023.

Findings

Of the sample (n = 24), 50% had information recorded regarding their menstrual cycle during admission assessments. Six girls (25%) disclosed experiencing irregular menstruation. Painful cramping was noted by two girls (8%). One girl (4%) disclosed heavy bleeding, and menorrhagia (abnormal heavy bleeding) was reported for one further girl (4%). One girl (4%) disclosed early onset menarche. Case formulations tended to focus less on girls’ menstrual cycles or the potential impact of this on wellbeing. However, 100% of case formulations considered the potential impact of trauma and/or disrupted attachment on girls’ presentations.

Originality/value

The results indicate the impact of menstrual cycles on girls’ physical, mental and emotional wellbeing may benefit from much further consideration. Implications are presented alongside directions for future research.
High-temperature oxidation and gas thermal shock studies of IC10 simulated specimens with thermal barrier coatings
Authors: Shi Jian , Ma Zhenhua , Dai Jieyu , Wang Jundong
Published: July 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of high-temperature oxidation tests and gas thermal shock tests on IC10 simulated components with thermal barrier coatings under different temperatures and oxidation times.

Design/methodology/approach

In the high-temperature oxidation test, specimens were oxidized at three different temperatures of 850, 980, and 1,100 °C for durations of 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, and 300 h, respectively. In the gas thermal shock test, specimens were pre-oxidized for 10, 20, 50, and 100 h, followed by a high-temperature gas thermal shock test at 1,100 °C.

Findings

In the high-temperature oxidation tests, with increasing oxidation time, the oxidation layer thickened, and the air-film holes diameter decreased. The microstructure of the bond coat transitioned from strip-like to block-like, and internal cracks transformed from numerous and short to larger and deeper. Below the bond coat, a noticeable disappearance layer of strengthening phase appeared, with increasing thickness. The strengthening phase in the substrate transitioned from regular square shapes to circles as temperature increased. In gas thermal shock tests at 1,100 °C, the oxidation weight gain ratio increased with longer pre-oxidation times, whereas the erosion weight loss ratio gradually decreased.

Originality/value

The originality and significance of this study lie in its departure from the typical subjects of high-temperature oxidation and thermal shock tests. Unlike common research targets, this study focuses on IC10 simulative specimens with thermal barrier coatings and air-film holes. Furthermore, it investigates the effects of varying temperatures and oxidation durations.
Radiographic evaluation of the forelimb bone development in maned wolves (Chrysocyon brachyurus)
Authors: Gonçalves Raphael A. B. , Rahal Sheila C. , Silva Jeana P. , Cassanego Guilherme R. , Mamprim Maria J. , Rolim Luna S. , Teixeira Carlos R. , Inamassu Letícia R.
Published: July 2024

This study aimed to assess the fusion of growth plates and the development of secondary ossification centres in the forelimb bones of maned wolves (Chrysocyon brachyurus), contrasting the findings with established data from domestic dogs. Three maned wolves, comprising one male and two females, initially aged between 3 and 4 months, were subjected to monthly radiographic evaluations until 10–11 months of age, followed by bimonthly assessments until 18–19 months of age, encompassing both forelimbs. The closure times of growth plates were observed as follows: supraglenoid tubercle (7–8 months), proximal humerus (17–19 months), distal humerus (8–9 months), medial epicondyle of the humerus (8–9 months), proximal ulna (9–10 months), proximal radius (13–15 months), distal ulna (13–15 months) and distal radius (17–19 months). Statistical analysis revealed significant differences in the areas of secondary ossification centres in the proximal epiphyses of the humerus and radius, respectively, observed from the initial evaluation at 8–9 months and 6–7 months. Conversely, the epiphyses of the supraglenoid tubercle, distal humerus, proximal ulna, distal ulna, medial epicondyle of the humerus and distal radius did not exhibit significant area differences between 3–4 months and 4–5 months, yet notable distinctions emerged at 5–6 months. In summary, while the radiographic appearance of epiphyseal growth plates and secondary ossification centres in maned wolves resembles that of domestic dogs, closure times vary. These findings contribute to understanding the dynamics of epiphyseal growth plates in this species.
Local extirpation of woody species in Colophospermum mopane woodland under chronic utilisation by elephants
Authors: O'Connor T. G. , Pallett N. C. M. , Clegg B. W. , Shimbani J.
Published: July 2024

The hypothesis that certain woody species may be prone to local extirpation under chronic elephant utilisation was examined for Colophospermum mopane open woodland, for an area within the foraging range of elephants from permanent water. Elephant density increased from nearly absent in the 1970s to >3 elephants km−2, with 0.62 adult bulls km−2, by 2022. Study components of vegetation impact included a long‐term elephant exclosure, a fence‐line contrast with an adjacent communal area, comparison with an adjacent wildlife reserve carrying a fifth of the elephant density and the use of historical studies of the vegetation. A history of elephant utilisation resulted in woodland becoming hedged through pollarding of tree stems by elephants. Impacted woodland was characterised by a slightly lower tree density, reduced average height of trees, altered shrub composition and lower species richness. The dominant C. mopane and sub‐dominant species had persisted. However, about 14 species were potentially trending towards local extirpation on account of very high levels of adult mortality, but had persisted because of a low level of seedling recruitment. Fleshy fruits were a shared attribute among most extirpation‐trending species, which, together with a reduction in woody species richness that affects browsers, has ramifications for trophic flows.
Conducting mental health research with rural and regional older Australians: Reflections and recommendations
Authors: Wadsworth Daniel P. , Cash Belinda , Tulloch Kristen , Couper Rebekah , Robson Kristy , Fitzpatrick Sally
Published: July 2024

Aims

This commentary aims to assist emerging leaders of mental health research with older rural Australians through (i) affirmation that others share the barriers, pitfalls and challenges being faced; (ii) reinforcing the rationale making this a pertinent area for research; and (iii) opening a dialogue for best practice to engage older rural Australians in mental health research.

Context

Supporting the mental health of older adults is a pertinent global challenge, none more so than in rural Australia where restricted access to services and supports are compounded by limited help‐seeking behaviours and capacity to engage with support. Paradoxically, such limitations also extend to impact researchers' ability to engage rural older Australians in mental health research, particularly when combined with the stoicism and stigma that often envelopes mental health, and the contemporary challenges posed by the emergence of technology. Such challenges are however not often discussed, more‐often sidelined in favour of reporting positive research outcomes, or seeing emerging researchers eschew such focus entirely.

Approach

Through this paper, the authors utilised critical self‐appraisal and iterative reflection to identify four recommendations for undertaking contemporary mental health research with rural older Australians, namely to: plan realistically through a collaborative, authentic and respectful approach; identify community champions and build/maintain trust; diversify thought, approaches and methodology; and cast the research net far, wide and often.

Conclusion

By adopting recommendations, researchers can maximise accessibility to and possible participation in mental health research, providing foundations for older rural Australians' contributions to inform the development of policies and strategies to promote their health and well‐being.
Hunger
Authors: André‐Johnson Cory‐Alice
Published: July 2024

This piece uses narrative forms from both Black horror and Fantastic literature to grapple with questions of haunting, grief, life in proximity to death, and uneven distributions of access and wealth within global capitalism. The blurring of the lines between the real and the surreal, typical of Fantastic literature, parallels the blurring of the lines between death caused by grief and death caused by the systemic neglect of poor, Black, marginalized folks around the world. As a piece of horror, the narrative deals with both the haunting of the main character by the loss of their sister and the haunting of the ongoing legacies of colonialism manifest as exploitative movements of wealth, resources, and people. While heavily ethnographically informed, this piece also seeks to evoke global theories of water, loss, memory, being, and ancestry. Bringing these common tropes within anthropology into interdisciplinary and transnational, conversations with Black Studies through fiction opens up different ways for anthropology to engage with zombification, both in its use as a critique of capitalist modes of production and in its use as a term for the living dead, or in this case the perpetual living on the edge of death within necropolitical systems.
Aubergine time: A day in 1980s Romania
Authors: Crăciun Magdalena
Published: July 2024

This piece of creative nonfiction originates from a desire to salvage characters and situations that are slowly disappearing in Romania, for natural and social reasons, from aging to emigration. For decades, especially as part of the processes of industrialization and urbanization during socialism, children left villages in search of opportunities to study and work in towns and cities around the country. Their own children would return to these villages during their school holidays and would stay with their grandparents, men and women born in the first half of the 20th century. I was one of these grandchildren. Until I was 18 years old, I spent the whole summer break with my grandmother. In this piece, I draw upon my childhood memories and conversations with persons of my age about the days they spent in the countryside when they were children, their relationship to their grandparents and village life in socialist Romania. My aim is to take the readers back in time, to a summer day in the late 1980s that an 11‐year‐old girl spends in her grandmother's company in a southern Romanian village.
A systematic review on artificial intelligence evaluating PSMA PET scan for intraprostatic cancer
Authors: Liu Jianliang , Cundy Thomas P. , Woon Dixon T. S. , Desai Nanadakishor , Palaniswami Marimuthu , Lawrentschuk Nathan
Published: July 2024

Objectives

To assess artificial intelligence (AI) ability to evaluate intraprostatic prostate cancer (PCa) on prostate‐specific membrane antigen positron emission tomography (PSMA PET) scans prior to active treatment (radiotherapy or prostatectomy).

Materials and Methods

This systematic review was registered on the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO identifier: CRD42023438706). A search was performed on Medline, Embase, Web of Science, and Engineering Village with the following terms: ‘artificial intelligence’, ‘prostate cancer’, and ‘PSMA PET’. All articles published up to February 2024 were considered. Studies were included if patients underwent PSMA PET scan to evaluate intraprostatic lesions prior to active treatment. The two authors independently evaluated titles, abstracts, and full text. The Prediction model Risk Of Bias Assessment Tool (PROBAST) was used.

Results

Our search yield 948 articles, of which 14 were eligible for inclusion. Eight studies met the primary endpoint of differentiating high‐grade PCa. Differentiating between International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP) Grade Group (GG) ≥3 PCa had an accuracy between 0.671 to 0.992, sensitivity of 0.91, specificity of 0.35. Differentiating ISUP GG ≥4 PCa had an accuracy between 0.83 and 0.88, sensitivity was 0.89, specificity was 0.87. AI could identify non‐PSMA‐avid lesions with an accuracy of 0.87, specificity of 0.85, and specificity of 0.89. Three studies demonstrated ability of AI to detect extraprostatic extensions with an area under curve between 0.70 and 0.77. Lastly, AI can automate segmentation of intraprostatic lesion and measurement of gross tumour volume.

Conclusion

Although the current state of AI differentiating high‐grade PCa is promising, it remains experimental and not ready for routine clinical application. Benefits of using AI to assess intraprostatic lesions on PSMA PET scans include: local staging, identifying otherwise radiologically occult lesions, standardisation and expedite reporting of PSMA PET scans. Larger, prospective, multicentre studies are needed.
Testing the evolutionary drivers of malaria parasite rhythms and their consequences for host–parasite interactions
Authors: Holland Jacob G. , Prior Kimberley F. , O'Donnell Aidan J. , Reece Sarah E.
Published: July 2024

Undertaking certain activities at the time of day that maximises fitness is assumed to explain the evolution of circadian clocks. Organisms often use daily environmental cues such as light and food availability to set the timing of their clocks. These cues may be the environmental rhythms that ultimately determine fitness, act as proxies for the timing of less tractable ultimate drivers, or are used simply to maintain internal synchrony. While many pathogens/parasites undertake rhythmic activities, both the proximate and ultimate drivers of their rhythms are poorly understood. Explaining the roles of rhythms in infections offers avenues for novel interventions to interfere with parasite fitness and reduce the severity and spread of disease. Here, we perturb several rhythms in the hosts of malaria parasites to investigate why parasites align their rhythmic replication to the host's feeding‐fasting rhythm. We manipulated host rhythms governed by light, food or both, and assessed the fitness implications for parasites, and the consequences for hosts, to test which host rhythms represent ultimate drivers of the parasite's rhythm. We found that alignment with the host's light‐driven rhythms did not affect parasite fitness metrics. In contrast, aligning with the timing of feeding‐fasting rhythms may be beneficial for the parasite, but only when the host possess a functional canonical circadian clock. Because parasites in clock‐disrupted hosts align with the host's feeding‐fasting rhythms and yet derive no apparent benefit, our results suggest cue(s) from host food act as a proxy rather than being a key selective driver of the parasite's rhythm. Alternatively, parasite rhythmicity may only be beneficial because it promotes synchrony between parasite cells and/or allows parasites to align to the biting rhythms of vectors. Our results also suggest that interventions can disrupt parasite rhythms by targeting the proxies or the selective factors driving them without impacting host health.
Epigenetic diversity of genes with copy number variations among natural populations of the three‐spined stickleback
Authors: Chain Frédéric J. J. , Meyer Britta S. , Heckwolf Melanie J. , Franzenburg Sören , Eizaguirre Christophe , Reusch Thorsten B. H.
Published: July 2024

Duplicated genes provide the opportunity for evolutionary novelty and adaptive divergence. In many cases, having more gene copies increases gene expression, which might facilitate adaptation to stressful or novel environments. Conversely, overexpression or misexpression of duplicated genes can be detrimental and subject to negative selection. In this scenario, newly duplicate genes may evade purifying selection if they are epigenetically silenced, at least temporarily, leading them to persist in populations as copy number variations (CNVs). In animals and plants, younger gene duplicates tend to have higher levels of DNA methylation and lower levels of gene expression, suggesting epigenetic regulation could promote the retention of gene duplications via expression repression or silencing. Here, we test the hypothesis that DNA methylation variation coincides with young duplicate genes that are segregating as CNVs in six populations of the three‐spined stickleback that span a salinity gradient from 4 to 30 PSU. Using reduced‐representation bisulfite sequencing, we found DNA methylation and CNV differentiation outliers rarely overlapped. Whereas lineage‐specific genes and young duplicates were found to be highly methylated, just two gene CNVs showed a significant association between promoter methylation level and copy number, suggesting that DNA methylation might not interact with CNVs in our dataset. If most new duplications are regulated for dosage by epigenetic mechanisms, our results do not support a strong contribution from DNA methylation soon after duplication. Instead, our results are consistent with a preference to duplicate genes that are already highly methylated.
Pitfalls and windfalls of detecting demographic declines using population genetics in long‐lived species
Authors: Clark Meaghan I. , Fitzpatrick Sarah W. , Bradburd Gideon S.
Published: July 2024

Detecting recent demographic changes is a crucial component of species conservation and management, as many natural populations face declines due to anthropogenic habitat alteration and climate change. Genetic methods allow researchers to detect changes in effective population size (Ne) from sampling at a single timepoint. However, in species with long lifespans, there is a lag between the start of a decline in a population and the resulting decrease in genetic diversity. This lag slows the rate at which diversity is lost, and therefore makes it difficult to detect recent declines using genetic data. However, the genomes of old individuals can provide a window into the past, and can be compared to those of younger individuals, a contrast that may help reveal recent demographic declines. To test whether comparing the genomes of young and old individuals can help infer recent demographic bottlenecks, we use forward‐time, individual‐based simulations with varying mean individual lifespans and extents of generational overlap. We find that age information can be used to aid in the detection of demographic declines when the decline has been severe. When average lifespan is long, comparing young and old individuals from a single timepoint has greater power to detect a recent (within the last 50 years) bottleneck event than comparing individuals sampled at different points in time. Our results demonstrate how longevity and generational overlap can be both a hindrance and a boon to detecting recent demographic declines from population genomic data.
Decoy peptides that inhibit TNF signaling by disrupting the TNF homotrimeric oligomer
Authors: Javaid Nasir , Ahmad Bilal , Patra Mahesh Chandra , Choi Sangdun
Published: July 2024

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is a pro‐inflammatory cytokine and its functional homotrimeric form interacts with the TNF receptor (TNFR) to activate downstream apoptotic, necroptotic, and inflammatory signaling pathways. Excessive activation of these pathways leads to various inflammatory diseases, which makes TNF a promising therapeutic target. Here, 12‐mer peptides were selected from the interface of TNF‐TNFR based upon their relative binding energies and were named ‘TNF‐inhibiting decoys’ (TIDs). These decoy peptides inhibited TNF‐mediated secretion of cytokines and cell death, as well as activation of downstream signaling effectors. Effective TIDs inhibited TNF signaling by disrupting the formation of TNF's functional homotrimeric form. Among derivatives of TIDs, TID3c showed slightly better efficacy in cell‐based assays by disrupting TNF trimer formation. Moreover, TID3c oligomerized TNF to a high molecular weight configuration. In silico modeling and simulations revealed that TID3c and its parent peptide, TID3, form a stable complex with TNF through hydrogen bonds and electrostatic interactions, which makes them the promising lead to develop peptide‐based anti‐TNF therapeutics.
Modeling food web and fisheries dynamics in Lake Baringo, Kenya
Authors: Walumona Jacques Riziki , Kaunda‐Arara Boaz , Ogombe Odoli Cyprian , Masilya Mulungula Pascal , Philip Raburu , Kondowe Benjamin Nelson , Kobingi Nyakeya , Murakaru Mugo James , Mulongaibalu Mbalassa , Amisi Muvundja Fabrice
Published: July 2024

Lakes are important in supporting ecosystem services and livelihoods. However, their food webs and ecological functioning are continuously threatened by anthropogenic influences. Food web models have been widely used in studying trophodynamics, fisheries impacts, and ecological functioning of temperate lakes, but less often in Afrotropical lake systems. We used Ecopath mass‐balanced trophic models annually in 1999, 2010, and 2020 to assess trends in ecosystem function, and the impact of fisheries on the Lake Baringo Ecosystem, a shallow freshwater lake in Kenya. Pre‐balance (PREBAL) and Pedigree analyses supplemented Ecopath models. Model input data were from field sampling, published and gray literature. Food web trophic models indicated a bottom‐up grazer and detrital food chains in all 3 years. Odum's ecosystem development indicators (total productivity to total biomass and total respiration ratios; TPP/TB and TPP/TR) showed that the lake was in a low to intermediate developmental stage, with room for bio‐manipulation, and a highly reduced mean transfer efficiency (TE) (6.4%–0.49%) indicated low trophic transfer of internal production. System omnivory (SOI) and connectance (CI) indices that varied among years indicated temporal variation in food web complexity. Indices of system resilience (overhead and ascendency) indicated an increasing potential for the lake to recover from perturbations. The mean trophic level of the catch (MTLc) increased from 1999 to 2010 and decreased in 2020, by fishing down the food chain as fishing pressure increased. Oreochromis niloticus, an endemic cichlid, was the keystone species (KSi >0) controlling community structure, while the lungfish Protopterus aethiopicus, the top predator in the lake, was not a keystone species (KSi <0). We recommend an integrated approach to lake management that incorporates watershed regulations, regulates fishing effort on the keystone species (O. niloticus), and monitors water quality for sustainable management of the Lake Baringo ecosystem.
Disentangling ecological drivers of interspecific achromatic plumage variation in birds
Authors: Wu Su , Zhang Kai , Wang Bin , Que Pinjia , Yang Biao , Xu Yu
Published: July 2024

Aim

Understanding the ecological determinants of interspecific achromatic (light‐to‐dark) plumage variation in birds is crucial yet challenging due to the complex interplay of climatic, habitat‐related, and morphological influences. This study aimed to disentangle the effects of temperature, precipitation, habitat openness, body mass and hand‐wing index (HWI, a widely used single‐parameter proxy for the extent to which a species relies on flight) on shaping achromatic plumage variation among bird species.

Location

Global.

Time Period

Contemporary.

Major Taxa Studied

Birds.

Methods

Based on data from over 8000 sessile bird species globally, we employed phylogenetic linear regressions to account for achromatic plumage colour in relation to temperature, precipitation, habitat openness, body mass and HWI, while correcting for phylogenetic non‐independence between species. Furthermore, we conducted phylogenetic path analyses to decompose direct from indirect effects.

Results

We found that temperature, precipitation, habitat openness and body mass exerted separate but interactive effects on the variation in achromatic colour across species. Species inhabiting cold, wet or densely vegetated environments were darker coloured, while smaller species were lighter. Darker plumage was more strongly related to higher precipitation in colder regions for nocturnal species. For diurnal species, darker plumage was more closely associated with higher precipitation in more open habitats, whereas lighter plumage was more linked to lower mass in denser habitats. Noteworthy was the identification of a substantial correlation between achromatic colour and HWI. Diurnal species that are more aerial were lighter. Conversely, nocturnal flyers, especially females, tended to be darker.

Main Conclusions

The findings highlight the multifaceted nature of plumage coloration evolution, with adaptations for thermal efficiency, crypsis, signalling, waterproofing or protection against bacteria. However, the variable relative importance of these factors among groups emphasizes the significance of each factor in different contexts.