bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Compliance With Routine Health Checkup Visits Among California-Based Minority Men: A Survey Study
Authors: Aras Selin , Bakaj Angela , Calica Lucas , Solario David , Ezenwoko Chidumebi , Soto Leslie , Berishaj Amonda , Equils Ozlem
Published: January 2025

The literature on health care disparities among U.S. minority men remains limited, and post-pandemic changes in the health care delivery system may uniquely affect this population. We assessed the factors influencing California-based minority men’s compliance with routine health checkup. An IRB-approved survey was conducted electronically by convenience sampling between October 2022 and July 2023. Data was collected on demographics, socioeconomic status, health insurance, and routine checkup attendance. Health insurance literacy was assessed by self-reported ability to locate insurance-covered clinics and health care information. The data was analyzed using random forest modeling with both feature importance and SHAP values for interpretability, and logistic regression analysis. A total of 266 male respondents participated. Of these, 60.5% were under 30 years old, and 66.9% identified as Latino/Hispanic.The majority were employed (82.7%), insured (84.9%), and earned less than $50,000 annually (64.5%). While 71.8% were connected to a clinic or hospital, only 50.8% attended routine health checkup, and 6.8% had visited a doctor in the past year. Key factors influencing compliance included zip code, connection to a clinic and the ability to locate a clinic covered by insurance. These findings highlight that half of insured minority men in California under 60 years of age are not attending routine checkups, suggesting significant barriers related to accessibility and health insurance literacy. Addressing these disparities could improve health care utilization and outcomes in this population.
Cyclosporine A Decreased Paclitaxel Resistance in Prostate Cancer Cells by Inhibiting MTDH Expression
Authors: Li Jiangtao , Li Yuzhi , Zhang Xiaohong , Liu Kun , Yang Shiping , Liu Zhang , Cao Sheng , Ren Dongfei , Cui Menghui , Su Jia , Zhen Zewang , Zhang Donghong
Published: January 2025

This study aims to investigate the effect and mechanism of cyclosporine A (CsA) on paclitaxel-resistant prostate cancer cells. Paclitaxel-resistant prostate cancer cell lines were established by gradual increment method. The proliferation of cells was tested using MTT and colony formation assay. Western blot was used to detect protein expression. Expression levels of gene mRNA were detected using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Xenografts in nude mice were used to validate the conclusion in vitro. The results showed that CsA could increase the sensitivity of prostate cancer cells to paclitaxel. Treatment of paclitaxel-resistant prostate cancer cell lines with CsA gradients decreased metadherin (MTDH) protein expression. RT-PCR showed that CsA could decrease the mRNA level of MTDH. Overexpression of MTDH in prostate cancer cells increases paclitaxel resistance in prostate cancer cells. Conversely, knockdown of MTDH reduced paclitaxel resistance in prostate cancer cells. Treating cells with CsA failed to reduce paclitaxel resistance in prostate cancer cells when MTDH was overexpressed. Xenografts in nude mice yielded consistent conclusions with the in vitro results. In conclusion, CsA can reduce the resistance of prostate cancer cells to paclitaxel. In vitro and in vivo experiments have shown that CsA can reduce paclitaxel resistance in prostate cancer cells by decreasing MTDH expression. In clinical practice, CsA can be used in combination with paclitaxel to improve the therapeutic effect on prostate cancer. MTDH may serve as a novel target for treating paclitaxel resistance in prostate cancer.
Potential of phosphodiesterase 4B inhibition in the treatment of progressive pulmonary fibrosis
Authors: Keith Rebecca , Nambiar Anoop M.
Published: January 2025

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is often regarded as the archetypal progressive fibrosing interstitial lung disease (ILD). The term “progressive pulmonary fibrosis” (PPF) generally describes progressive lung fibrosis in an individual with an ILD other than IPF. Both IPF and PPF are associated with loss of lung function, worsening dyspnea and quality of life, and premature death. Current treatments slow the decline in lung function but have side effects that may deter the initiation or continuation of treatment. There remains a high unmet need for additional therapies that can be used alone or in combination with current therapies to preserve lung function in patients with IPF and PPF. Phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE4) is an enzyme involved in the regulation of inflammatory processes. Pre-clinical studies have shown that preferential inhibition of PDE4B has anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic effects and a lower potential for gastrointestinal adverse events than pan-PDE4 inhibition. The preferential PDE4B inhibitor nerandomilast demonstrated efficacy in preserving lung function in a phase II trial in patients with IPF and is under investigation in phase III trials as a treatment for IPF and PPF.
Nutritional health, supplement and herbal product use, and Mediterranean diet evaluation among Turkish university students
Authors: Delikanlı Akbay Gülşen , Karakullukçu Erdinç
Published: January 2025

Background:

Dietary supplements consist of vitamins, minerals, proteins, carbohydrates, fibers, fatty acids, amino acids, and other nutritive or physiologically active components.

Objective:

The aim of the study is to determine the use of dietary supplements and herbal products among students in health-related university departments in Turkey and to evaluate their adherence to the Mediterranean diet.

Methods:

This study was conducted between March and June 2023 with a sample of 305 university students. Data were collected online through a questionnaire form, which included questions about the Mediterranean Diet Quality Index (KIDMED) and the use of herbal products and dietary supplements.

Results:

The mean age of the students was 21.70 ± 3.04 years, with 26.2% using dietary supplements and 27.2% using herbal products. The majority of students were found to have a lack of knowledge about herbal products (54.4%) and dietary supplements (62.0%). The results revealed that 57.3% of participants believe in the benefits of nutritional supplements, while only 4.3% disagree. Additionally, 23.3% of participants view nutritional products as commercial. More than half (55.7%) of students had very poor adherence to the Mediterranean diet, with an average KIDMED score of 3.2 ± 2.95. KIDMED scores were not significantly influenced by factors such as gender ( p = 0.133), daily number of main meals consumed ( p = 0.179), awareness of herbal products and dietary supplements ( p = 0.585, p = 0.440 respectively).

Conclusions:

Contrary to expectations, students had low adherence to the Mediterranean diet and insufficient knowledge about herbal products and dietary supplements. University students should be provided with education on balanced nutrition and advised to consult with expert healthcare professionals before using dietary supplements.
Unraveling the threads of depressive symptoms: Enhancing predictions of depression among university junior students
Authors: El-Ashker Said , Alharbi Abdulmajeed , Mahmoud Somaya , Al-Awad Feras , Alghamdi Ahlam , Alaqeel Nouf , Al-Hariri Mohammed
Published: January 2025

Background:

The mental burden faced by university students in their early years is not frequently reported in the literature.

Objectives:

The aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence and predictors of depression among preparatory (first) year university students using a predictive test developed from general health and well-being questionnaires.

Methods:

A cross-sectional study was conducted among university students in the eastern region of Saudi Arabia from March 2023 to June 2023. A self-administered electronic general health and well-being questionnaire was implemented. Written informed consent was obtained from the participants after explaining the study’s purposes. The questionnaire consisted of three parts. Part I described the objective of the study and maintained the confidentiality of the data, part II contained questions about demographic data, and part III contained the scales of the items to assess the physical and psychological health.

Results:

The findings demonstrated a significant positive correlation between depressive symptoms and both perceived stress ( r = 0.444, p < 0.01) and perceived burdens ( r = 0.735, p < 0.01). In addition, there were significant negative correlations between the depressive symptoms and gender ( r = −0.144, p < 0.05), economic level ( r = −0.178, p < 0.05), and social support ( r = −0.312, p < 0.01). Furthermore, the results revealed that body mass index ( b = 0.272, t(146) = 4.636, p < .001), perceived stress ( b = 0.182, t(146) = 2.910, p < 0.01), and perceived burdens ( b = 0.593, t(146) = 9.507, p < .001) were significant predictors of depressive symptoms among Saudi university junior students.

Conclusion:

Our findings emphasize the need for tailored mental health support services to address depression and its predictors, especially during critical transition periods like the early stages of university life, as early detection and intervention can lead to improved management and better control of the depression.
Pembrolizumab and axitinib induced pathological complete response in metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma with inferior vena cava thrombus: A case report
Authors: Wong Ryan , Rose Tracy L , Tan Hung-Jui , Hansen Christina , Wobker Sara E , A Bjurlin Marc
Published: January 2025

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma is the predominant subtype of kidney cancer. With distant metastasis, the overall survival rate for patients with renal cell carcinoma decreases significantly compared to localized disease. However, pembrolizumab plus axitinib combination is safe and improves long-term survival. Herein, we report a case of a pathological complete response from systemic pembrolizumab plus axitinib therapy in a 57-year-old male with locally advanced renal cell carcinoma with extensive kidney, inferior vena cava, and hepatic invasion, as well as metastatic disease to the retroperitoneal lymph nodes and lung. After 2-years of systemic treatment, there was absent radiographic evidence of renal cell carcinoma in the lung. The patient underwent right radical nephrectomy, adrenalectomy, partial hepatectomy, and inferior vena cava ligation. Pathology indicated no evidence of tumor consistent with a pathological complete response. This case highlights the possibility of a pathological complete response with pembrolizumab plus axitinib in metastatic renal cell carcinoma and potential disparate findings between radiological response and pathological response.
Strategies in Subtitling Jordanian Dialect on Netflix: A Case Study of AlRawabi School for Girls
Authors: Al-Harahsheh Ahmad , Malkawi Mona , Al-Motlak Rasha
Published: January 2025

This study explores the challenges faced by Netflix subtitlers and the strategies used to translate Jordanian dialectal expressions into English in the Netflix miniseries AlRawabi School for Girls. The corpus of this study consists of 50 authentic examples extracted from the series. Adopting a descriptive approach to translation studies, as suggested by Gideon (1995), our analysis reveals three major findings relevant to subtitling Jordanian dialectal expressions in English: (a) Some dialectal expressions are omitted or altered by replacing them with standard language to fit the Netflix target audience; (b) the Netflix subtitler applied a variety of subtitling strategies, most commonly pragmatic translation; and (c) the subtitling in most of the examples conveyed the intended meaning, albeit with a considerable loss of cultural context from the source language. Finally, this study concludes that the Netflix subtitler adopted a target-oriented translation, thus depriving the target audience of experiencing the cultural characteristics of the Jordanian dialect.
A Qualitative Study of Prospective Teachers’ Perceptions About Critical Thinking Skills Before and After Studying the Functional English Course
Authors: Khan Shaista Irshad , Fazal Shawana , Nazir Farrukh
Published: January 2025

This qualitative study investigated the perceptions of prospective teachers on critical thinking (CT) skills before and after completing the Functional English (FE) course at the Bachelor of Education Honors (B.Ed. Hons) and Associate Degree in Education (ADE). A purposive sampling technique was employed to select 40 participants, with eight allocated to each of the five focus group discussions from two universities and three teacher education colleges in the Hazara Division, located in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistan. Additionally, five unstructured classroom observations took place within these five institutions. Semi-structured questions guided the focus group discussions, while unstructured observation techniques were employed for data collection. The findings from the thematic analysis indicated a significant shift in prospective teachers’ perspectives regarding enhancing CT skills before and after completing the FE course. Prospective teachers recognized the significance and impact of inquiry in fostering CT skills. Furthermore, they identified the importance of diverse resources within the context of learning and student-centered classrooms in developing CT skills. The field notes from unstructured observation witnessed CT skills during participant-led open classroom discussions. The study suggests promoting prospective teachers’ engagement in analytical thinking and applying these skills to real-world challenges, including the subject matter taught, the content’s source and credibility, and the intricate connections between newly acquired information and prior knowledge.
Social Transformation of Dalit Converts in Chembur: An Exploration of Identity, Social Relations and Community Development
Authors: Wasnik Hritika
Published: January 2025

This article delves into the social transformation experienced by Dalit converts in Chembur, with a focus on identity formation, reshaping social relations, and fostering community development. Grounded in the historical context of Dr B. R. Ambedkar’s momentous conversion to Buddhism in 1956, the study examines the multidimensional impact of this conversion on the lives of Dalit individuals, particularly women. By employing qualitative research methods, including case studies and in-depth interviews, the article illuminates the nuanced ways in which higher education, combined with Buddhist ideals, engenders transformative changes in the societal fabric. Through an exploration of the public sphere, social network dynamics and the restructuring of social relations, this research offers insights into the qualitative dimensions of the development experienced by the marginalized masses and their potential implications for policy formulation.
Gastric cancer-derived exosomal let-7 g-5p mediated by SERPINE1 promotes macrophage M2 polarization and gastric cancer progression
Authors: Ye Zhenzhen , Yi Jianfeng , Jiang Xiangyan , Shi Wengui , Xu Hao , Cao Hongtai , Qin Long , Liu Lixin , Wang Tianming , Ma Zhijian , Jiao Zuoyi
Published: January 2025

Background

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), particularly M2-polarized TAMs, are significant contributors to tumor progression, immune evasion, and therapy resistance in gastric cancer (GC). Despite efforts to target TAM recruitment or depletion, clinical efficacy remains limited. Consequently, the identification of targets that specifically inhibit or reprogram M2-polarized TAMs presents a promising therapeutic strategy.

Objective

This study aims to identify a dual-function target in GC cells that drives both malignant phenotypes and M2 macrophage polarization, revealing its molecular mechanisms to provide novel therapeutic targets for selectivly targeting M2-polarized TAMs in GC.

Methods

Transcriptomic and clinical data from GC and adjacent tissues were utilized to identify mRNAs associated with high M2 macrophage infiltration and poor prognosis. Single-cell sequencing elucidated cell types expressing the target gene. Transwell co-culture and exosome intervention experiments demonstrated its role in M2 polarization. Small RNA sequencing of exosomes, western blotting, and CoIP assays revealed the molecular mechanisms underlying exosome-mediated M2 polarization. Protein array, ChIP and dual-luciferase reporter assays clarified the molecular mechanisms by which the target gene regulated exosomal miRNA. In vivo validation was performed using xenograft tumor models.

Results

SERPINE1 was identified as a highly expressed mRNA in GC tissues and cells, significantly associated with advanced clinical stages, worse prognosis, and higher M2 macrophage infiltration in patients with GC. SERPINE1 overexpression in GC cells promoted tumor growth and M2 macrophage polarization. SERPINE1 facilitated the transfer of let-7 g-5p to macrophages via cancer-derived exosomes, inducing M2 polarization. Exosomal let-7 g-5p internalized by macrophages downregulated SOCS7 protein levels, disrupting its interaction with STAT3 and relieving the inhibition of STAT3 phosphorylation, thereby leading to STAT3 hyperactivation, which consequently drove M2 polarization. Additionally, in GC cells, elevated SERPINE1 expression activated JAK2, enhancing STAT3 binding to the let-7 g-5p promoter and promoting its transcription, thereby increasing let-7 g-5p levels in exosomes.

Conclusion

GC cell-derived SERPINE1, functioning as a primary driver of GC growth and TAM M2 polarization, promotes M2 polarization through the regulation of exosomal let-7 g-5p transfer via autocrine activation of the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway. These findings elucidate a novel mechanism of SERPINE1-induced M2 polarization and highlight SERPINE1 as a promising target for advancing immunotherapy and targeted treatments in GC.
Enhancements of soil priming effect and carbon sequestration in degraded alpine meadows via supplementation: a comparative study of Tibetan sheep (Ovis aries) and plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae) excrements
Authors: Li Qinyao , Yang Wenquan , Wu Yanru , Li Xilai , Kou Jiancun , Yu Yanghua , Zhang Yangcan , He Xinting , Zhao Yunlong
Published: January 2025

Background

Grassland degradation decreases the capacity of soil carbon sequestration, while the supplementation of exogenous organic matter enhances the soil priming effect (PE) and affects the carbon cycle in the soil. The excrements of Tibetan sheep (Ovis aries) and plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae) play an important role in soil carbon cycling. Therefore, they were used to enrich alpine meadow soils degraded to different levels after incubation at 20 °C for up to 45 days. The PE was analyzed using the natural 13C isotope tracer method in relation to the alpine meadow soil properties.

Results

The supplementation of the two kinds of excrement significantly increased soil PE accumulation and soil carbon sequestration. Of the two, Tibetan sheep excrement achieved a better effect. Compared with non-degraded alpine meadow soil, severely degraded alpine meadow soil had significantly different PE, but the PE of lightly and moderately degraded meadow soil was not significantly different from each other. Structural equation modelling shows that total nitrogen (TN), soil organic carbon (SOC), β-1,4-N-acetylaminoglucosidase (NAG), β-1,4-glucosidase (βG), pH, and microbial biomass carbon (MBC) are the main factors affecting PE. In particular, TN directly negatively affected PE, SOC and the NO3−-N:NH4+-N ratio indirectly affected PE by affecting soil enzyme activity and MBC.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates that the supplement of animal excrements can improve the extracellular enzyme activity and nitrogen content in soils, which is conducive to PE and net carbon balance. Supplementation of both Tibetan sheep and plateau pika excrements can effectively enhance soil pH, further increase microbial biomass and extracellular enzyme activity, and improve soil fertility and carbon sequestration ability of seriously degraded alpine meadow soil. The NO3−-N:NH4+-N ratio and enzyme activity in plateau pika excrement were higher than those in Tibetan sheep excrement, which promote the soil PE in alpine meadows. The findings of this study provide theoretical evidence for the rational utilization of the excrements in the alpine meadow with different levels of degradation.
A Lactobacillus consortium provides insights into the sleep-exercise-microbiome nexus in proof of concept studies of elite athletes and in the general population
Authors: Bongiovanni Tindaro , Santiago Marina , Zielinska Kinga , Scheiman Jonathan , Barsa Carolina , Jäger Ralf , Pinto Daniela , Rinaldi Fabio , Giuliani Giammaria , Senatore Tullio , Kostic Aleksandar D.
Published: January 2025

Background

The complex relationship among sleep, exercise, and the gut microbiome presents a unique opportunity to improve health and wellness. Here, we conducted the first large-scale investigation into the influence of a novel elite athlete-derived probiotic, consisting of a multi-strain Lactobacillus consortium, on sleep quality, exercise recovery, and gut microbiome composition in both elite athletes (n = 11) and the general population (n = 257).

Results

Our two-phase study design, which included an open-label study followed by a controlled longitudinal study in a professional soccer team, allowed us to identify key interactions between probiotics, the gut microbiome, and the host. In the placebo-controlled study, we observed significant improvements in self-reported sleep quality by 69%, energy levels by 31%, and bowel movements by 37% after probiotic intervention relative to after placebo. These improvements were associated with a significant decrease in D-ROMS (a marker of oxidative stress) and a significantly higher free-testosterone/cortisol ratio. Multi-omics analyses revealed specific changes in microbiome composition and function, potentially providing mechanistic insights into these observed effects.

Conclusion

This study provides novel insights into how a multi-strain Lactobacillus probiotic modulates sleep quality, exercise recovery, and gut microbiome composition in both the general population and elite athletes, and introduces potential mechanisms through which this probiotic could be influencing overall health. Our results emphasize the untapped potential of tailored probiotic interventions derived from extremely fit and healthy individuals in improving several aspects of health and performance directly in humans.
The role of foresight in public policy: lessons from deliberative democracy and perspectival realism
Authors: Galvin Brian
Published: January 2025

Foresight plays an important role in public policy development. The foresight learning process brings together various actors in the policy community and incentivizes them to think about the future.  It encourages new ways of thinking and approaches to strategy and is a practical approach to using the future to inform decisions and actions in the present.  Foresight faces challenges in becoming embedded in the policy process.  One of these challenges is in establishing its epistemic authority when compared to natural science and social science disciplines.  This paper argues foresight can benefit from developments in political theory and philosophy of science.  Democratic deliberation is an approach to public discourse which emphasizes pluralism in debate and provides a detailed account of how reason-giving can add epistemic depth to foresight’s contribution to policy.  Perspectival realism is a theory in philosophy of science which identifies the interplay between separate epistemic communities as the key mechanism in scientific development.  The modal models that these epistemic communities create present a new way of understanding foresight’s study of the future and its part in the weave of scientific evidence, opinion and analysis that constitute policy development in a democratic society.
Comparison of the inverted internal limiting membrane flap technique without versus with an autologous blood clot for treating macular hole-associated retinal detachment
Authors: Zhu Ke , Wang Yingchao , Lei Boya , Chen Ling , Zhang Yanqiong , Chang Qing , Xu Gezhi , Ni Yingqin
Published: January 2025

Background

To investigate the anatomical and functional outcomes of macular hole-associated retinal detachment (MHRD) after vitrectomy using the inverted internal limiting membrane (ILM) flap technique with autologous blood clot (ABC).

Methods

This retrospective observational study included 80 eyes with MHRD that underwent vitrectomy with ILM flap without (46 eyes) or with ABC (34 eyes). Fundus photography and optical coherence tomography were evaluated. The pre- and postoperative best-corrected visual acuities (BCVAs) and BCVA improvement were compared between the two groups.

Results

The MH closure rates after initial surgery were similar in the ILM flap group and ILM flap with ABC group [40 (87%) vs. 29 (85%) eyes, respectively]. The proportion of eyes with hyperreflective bridging tissue (HBT) was lower in the ILM flap group than ILM flap with ABC group [13 (32%) vs. 16 (55%) eyes, P = 0.060]. The postoperative improvement in BCVA was significantly better in the ILM flap group (P = 0.027). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that preoperative BCVA was positively associated with postoperative improvement in BCVA (β = 0.638, P = 0.000), while the ILM flap with ABC technique was negatively associated with postoperative improvement in BCVA (β =  − 0.299, P = 0.039, adjusted r2 = 0.415).

Conclusions

The inverted ILM flap technique alone resulted in better foveal configurations and visual outcomes than the ILM flap technique combined with ABC in patients with MHRD.
Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of Dysphagia Handicap Index in Bangladesh
Authors: Sultana Mehrin , Reshad Md. Muid Hossain , Mridha Md. Shohidul Islam
Published: January 2025

The Dysphagia Handicap Index (DHI) is commonly utilized for evaluating how dysphagia impacts the quality of life (QoL) of patients across physical, functional, and emotional dimensions. The primary aim of the research was to linguistically validate and culturally adapt the DHI to the Bangla version. A cross-sectional study design was chosen, with Beaton’s protocol as the guiding framework for validating and adapting the DHI. It has followed a systematic process of forward translation, participation in expert discussions, and subsequent back translation to obtain a reviewed version. The Bangla version, DHI-Ban, was administered purposefully to 50 dysphagia patients in the Clinical Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) Department of the Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralyzed (CRP) and was also administered to 50 healthy individuals for comparison. Of the fifty, eighteen dysphagia subjects were assigned again after two weeks for the retest. The DHI-Ban demonstrated strong internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.89) and good test-retest reproducibility (ICC = 0.86). The Spearman test confirmed significant construct validity (p < 0.01), and the Wilcoxon test identified significant differences (p < 0.001) between patients and healthy individuals. Feedback from participants was also taken into account for acceptance and clarity. In conclusion, the adapted DHI-Ban has emerged to be a reliable patient-reported tool for assessing dysphagia in Bangla-speaking individuals. Incorporating the Bangla language framework facilitates its comprehension and effectiveness, further solidifying its reliability.
A graph backdoor detection method for data collection scenarios
Authors: Xing Xiaogang , Xu Ming , Bai Yujing , Yang Dongdong
Published: January 2025

Data collection is an effective way to build a better Graph Neural Network (GNN) model, but it also makes it easy for attackers to implant backdoors into the model through data poisoning. In this work, we propose a backdoor detection method of graph for data collection scenarios (CGBD). Different from most existing backdoor detection methods of Neural Network (NN) models, especially the Deep Neural Network (DNN) models, the difference in predictions of backdoor samples in clean and backdoor models is exploited for backdoor detection in CGBD. Specifically, in the backdoor model, the backdoor samples with modified labels are predicted as the target class. However, in the clean model, they are predicted as the ground-truth labels since the clean model remains unaffected by the backdoor. Due to the detection methodology of CGBD is not based on the potential forms of triggers, it can detect backdoor samples with any type of trigger. Additionally, since data is associated with its providers, CGBD can detect not only backdoor data but also malicious data providers. Extensive experiments on multiple benchmark datasets demonstrate that data with varying poisoning rates exhibit significant anomalies compared to clean data. This validates the effectiveness of our proposed method.
Role of Verticillium dahliae effectors in interaction with cotton plants
Authors: Yang Lingling , Fu Tingyuan , Sha Ruichen , Wei Guihuan , Shen Yuhe , Jiao Zhen , Li Bing
Published: January 2025

Cotton (Gossypium spp.) is grown worldwide owing to the vast economic value of its natural fiber. However, the widespread and destructive soilborne pathogen, Verticillium dahliae, causes Verticillium wilt, leading to severe yield losses and reduced fiber quality of cotton. The ability of V. dahliae to perceive and infect cotton determines the outcome of their interactions. V. dahliae employs diverse defense mechanisms to evade or suppress plant immunity, ultimately establishing a proliferation niche. Evading plant immunity by suppressing host recognition or successive immune signaling is a successful infection strategy employed by various microbial pathogens, posing a significant challenge to effectively utilizing host hereditary resistance genes in sustainable disease management. This review focused on summarizing “effectors” and the molecular mechanisms of various effectors on cotton and the corresponding defense mechanisms in the plants. Furthermore, it highlighted the potential of effectors for engineering resistance cotton plants against Verticillium wilt, aiming to provide a reference for the creation of cotton disease-resistant germplasm resources by host genome editing and other methods.
Feasibility and Acceptability of Collecting Passive Smartphone Data for Potential Use in Digital Phenotyping Among Family Caregivers and Patients With Advanced Cancer
Authors: Odom J. Nicholas , Lee Kyungmi , Currie Erin R. , Allen-Watts Kristen , Harrell Erin R. , Bechthold Avery C. , Engler Sally , Curry Kayleigh , Kamal Arif H. , Ritchie Christine S. , Demiris George , Wright Alexi A. , Bakitas Marie A. , Azuero Andres
Published: January 2025

PURPOSE

Modeling passively collected smartphone sensor data (called digital phenotyping) has the potential to detect distress among family caregivers and patients with advanced cancer and could lead to novel clinical models of cancer care. The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility and acceptability of collecting passive smartphone data from family caregivers and their care recipients with advanced cancer over 24 weeks.

METHODS

This was an observational feasibility study. Family caregivers and patients with advanced cancer were recruited through clinic or via social media and downloaded a digital phenotyping application (Beiwe) to their smartphones that passively collected sensor data over 24 weeks. Feasibility was evaluated by quantifying enrollment and retention and the quantity of acquired data. Acceptability was assessed through post-24 week qualitative interviews.

RESULTS

Of 178 caregiver and patient dyads approached, 22.5% of caregivers (n = 40) and 10.1% of patients (n = 18) both consented to the study and successfully downloaded the application, with most recruited through social media (93%). Of 24 weeks (168 days), the median number of days that data were received was 141 days. Interviews yielded three themes: (1) experiences with study procedures were generally positive despite some technical challenges; (2) security and privacy concerns were minimal, mitigated by clear explanations, trust in the health care system, and privacy norms; and (3) a clinical model that used passive smartphone monitoring to automatically trigger assistance could be beneficial but with concern about false alarms.

CONCLUSION

This pilot study of collecting passive smartphone data found mixed indicators of feasibility, with suboptimal enrollment rates, particularly via clinic, but positive retention and data collection rates for those who did enroll. Participants had generally positive views of passive monitoring.
Analog-based forecasting of turbulent velocity: Relationship between unpredictability and intermittency
Authors: Frogé E. , Granero-Belinchón C. , Roux S. G. , Garnier N. B. , Chonavel T.
Published: January 2025

This study evaluates the performance of analog-based methodologies to predict, in a statistical way, the longitudinal velocity in a turbulent flow. The data used comes from hot-wire experimental measurements from the Modane wind tunnel. We compared different methods and explored the impact of varying the number of analogs and their sizes on prediction accuracy. We illustrate that the innovation, defined as the difference between the true velocity value and the prediction value, highlights particularly unpredictable events that we directly link with extreme events of the velocity gradients and so to intermittency. A statistical study of the innovation indicates that while the estimator effectively seizes linear correlations, it fails to fully capture higher-order dependences. The innovation underscores the presence of intermittency, revealing the limitations of current predictive models and suggesting directions for future improvements in turbulence forecasting.
Prolonged Treatment of Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia with Continuous Stellate Ganglion Blockade: A Case Report
Authors: Christensen Rebecca , Burzynski Emily O. , Vincze Sarah R. , Bashkin Edan , Shetty Priyanka , Kainkaryam Pranjali , Finkel Kevin
Published: January 2025

Inappropriate sinus tachycardia (IST) presents challenges in diagnosis and treatment due to its unclear etiology and limited therapeutic options. This case report explores the use of continuous stellate ganglion block (CSGB) as a potential treatment avenue. A 23-year-old woman with refractory IST underwent several CSGB placements, resulting in prolonged symptom relief and decreased median heart rate. Despite the eventual recurrence of symptoms, the sustained effects of CSGB suggest its efficacy in managing IST. This report underscores the potential of CSGB as a promising therapeutic approach for IST, offering longer-lasting symptom control compared to single-injection stellate ganglion block (SGB) interventions.
Doom Patterns
Authors: Gil'Adí Maia
Published: January 2025

In Doom Patterns, Maia Gil’Adí takes up speculative fiction as a site for theorizing Latinx identity across national and ethnic borders and shows the vital role of historical trauma in its formation. Her analysis moves beyond reparative modes of reading to consider how literary representations of violence, destruction, and pain also elicit pleasurable affective and aesthetic experiences. Gil’Adí theorizes the paradox of pleasurable violence through the notion of doom patterns—narrative devices that include thematic repetition, nonlinear narration, character fragmentation, and unresolved plots. Doom patterns return the reader to instances of historical violence and destruction, revealing them as excessive and otherworldly processes that require the tropes of speculative fiction. Examining novels by established Latinx authors such as Junot Díaz and Cristina García as well as multiethnic writers such as Colson Whitehead and Sesshu Foster, Gil’Adí challenges definitions of what constitutes Latinx literature and notions of the speculative by dismantling generic boundaries and entrenched definitions of race, ethnicity, and nationhood. In so doing, she allows for a more capacious consideration of the speculative, realism, history, and the role of violence in literature.
Licensing and niche competition in spermatogenesis: mathematical models suggest complementary regulation of tissue maintenance
Authors: García-Tejera Rodrigo , Tian Jing-Yi , Amoyel Marc , Grima Ramon , Schumacher Linus J.
Published: January 2025

To maintain and regenerate adult tissues after injury, division and differentiation of tissue-resident stem cells must be precisely regulated. It remains elusive which regulatory strategies prevent exhaustion or overgrowth of the stem cell pool, whether there is coordination between multiple mechanisms, and how to detect them from snapshots. In Drosophila testes, somatic stem cells transition to a state that licenses them to differentiate, but remain capable of returning to the niche and resuming cell division. Here, we build stochastic mathematical models for the somatic stem cell population to investigate how licensing contributes to homeostasis. We find that licensing, in combination with differentiation occurring in pairs, is sufficient to maintain homeostasis and prevent stem cell extinction from stochastic fluctuations. Experimental data have shown that stem cells are competing for niche access, and our mathematical models demonstrate that this contributes to the reduction in the variability of stem cell numbers but does not prevent extinction. Hence, a combination of both regulation strategies, licensing with pairwise differentiation and competition for niche access, may be needed to reduce variability and prevent extinction simultaneously.
Grupos de afinidade e interseccionalidade nas políticas e programas de diversidade
Authors: Irigaray Hélio Artur Reis , Quintella Evandro Luiz , Kadri Nabil Moura
Published: January 2025

O objetivo desta pesquisa foi analisar as intersecionalidades identitárias dos grupos não hegemônicos sob as perspectivas destes indivíduos, nas políticas e práticas de diversidade das organizações signatárias do Fórum de Empresas e Direitos. Neste sentido, inicialmente, identificamos as 31 empresas que participaram do último levantamento e analisamos suas políticas e programas de diversidade. Posteriormente, entrevistamos 72 empregados pertencentes a estes grupos. A coleta de dados foi realizada nos escritórios de São Paulo, entre fevereiro de 2017 e março de 2018. Tanto os documentos das empresas, bem como as entrevistas, quando autorizadas, foram gravadas, transcritas e submetidas à análise do discurso. O campo revelou que os discursos e as práticas destas empresas não são reconhecidos por todos os empregados dos grupos socialmente minorizados especificamente, os pobres, residentes em regiões consideradas menos nobres da cidade, os mais velhos, negros e pardos, que se sentem alvo de dupla ou tripla discriminação, mesmo por parte de outros empregados que compartilham da mesma identidade de gênero e orientação sexual. Ao final, sugerimos que as empresas redesenhem suas políticas e programas de diversidade, levando em consideração as dimensões interseccionais, e que os empregados façam o mesmo, no que tange à estruturação e funcionamento dos coletivos e, finalmente, que tanto as empresas quanto os trabalhadores incorporem-na nas pautas dos movimentos sociais, o que se configura uma nova vereda de pesquisas para a academia.
Fixed Ideas and Ideologies: Developing a New Epistemology Rooted in Apathy
Authors: Isrow Zachary
Published: January 2025

Epistemologies are overwhelmingly riddled with biases, influenced by ideologies and fixed ideas. Max Stirner and Louis Althusser argue at length regarding the negative impact of these on our way of thinking. This paper argues that the only escape from Stirner's fixed ideas or Althusser's ISAs (Ideological State Apparatuses) is through an apathetic disposition to the truth – something very unphilosophical in nature. In order to create parallactic shifts in thought, we must also develop a new epistemology, one rooted in apathy. Through this, we can become true philosophers and thinkers moving towards a truth not solely determined by our pre-held assumptions.
The Communicative Dimension of Personal Autonomy
Authors: Pisani Keith
Published: January 2025

Paul Benson and Andrea C. Westlund have proposed conceptualising personal autonomy in terms of the readiness to respond to criticism that targets the agent’s actions and intentions (Benson) or commitments (Westlund). While incorporating this dialogical facet into a theory of personal autonomy is a step in the right direction, a theory of personal autonomy that is exclusively construed in terms of this facet and that posits discursive accountability as the sole criterion against which actions, choices, and commitments can be judged as autonomous or not is too restrictive and entails counterintuitive ideas. In this article, an alternative conceptualisation is proposed, one that avoids reductively construing personal autonomy exclusively in terms of the discursive and communicative facet and that conceptualises this facet in terms of communicative spaces which agents can claim authority over and in which and through which they can take ownership of claims, actions, and commitments. This alternative conceptualisation is initially formulated – by way of analogy – in terms of the normative requirement to respect the physical space of individuals. The article also outlines a set of conditions which indicate when one should claim authority over communicative spaces and the manner in which one takes ownership of claims, actions, and commitments in order to be autonomous.
Decoding Spinoza: Navigating Essence and Existence through Gnoseological Lens
Authors: García Ruzo Antonieta
Published: January 2025

This work aims to depart from conventional interpretations of Spinoza’s notions of essence and existence by offering an alternative perspective called the onto-gnoseological reading. Typically, these concepts of essence and existence are approached from an ontological standpoint or are simply disregarded. The objective of this paper is to demonstrate that Spinoza, within his corpus associates these notions with the activity of the genres of knowledge rather than with the ontological realm. This reinterpretation of the concepts from a gnoseological standpoint allows for a deeper comprehension of Spinoza’s philosophical undertaking. It becomes evident that this project involves the coexistence of gnoseological duality in perfect harmony with the univocity of reality, serving as a crucial instrument for recognizing the boundaries and possibilities of human knowledge and, subsequently, the potential for achieving human virtue.
Consumers' purchasing behavior in e-commerce furniture’s sales in Greece
Authors: Zoukis Georgios , Papadopoulos Ioannis , Liaskopoulou Aikaterini
Published: January 2025

This research aims to investigate the behavior and attitudes of Greek consumers regarding online furniture sales. The main tool of the research was a specific structured questionnaire which was completed by 300 Greek consumers, in the post-Covid-19 period, in the year 2023. The main conclusions of the research were that a significant number of Greek consumers to a lesser or greater extent carry out electronic purchases for the furniture shopping, which is a distinct target market for furniture businesses. Their degree of satisfaction with online furniture shopping is high and the main factor in their online furniture’s purchasing decision is the attractive price and it varies according to their educational level. Also, the online ads appear to have a large influence on consumer purchases, while social media’s platforms Facebook and Instagram are commonly used for this. The highlighting of this research’s results regarding the opinions and attitudes of consumers in online furniture’s sales could contribute decisively to the decision-making of Greek furniture companies in order to satisfy the new desires and expectations of furniture consumers.
Exploring incumbent firm and disruptive innovation factors and reactions: A preliminary literature review of disruption research in the last 20 years
Authors: Kalpakidis Ioannis , Kourgiantakis Markos , Dimou Irini
Published: January 2025

In an era characterized by digital transformation and rapid technological advancement, understanding the phenomenon of disruptive innovation (DI) and shedding light on its evolution and implication for incumbent firms is paramount. This study employs a preliminary literature review to identify key works and methodologies in DI research; it delves into empirical analyses, qualitative studies, and theoretical reviews to identify key trigger events, domains, and methodologies associated with DI. Cross-industry findings reveal the critical importance of aligning innovation with domains related to value creation models, digital technologies, and organizational culture. Incumbent firms face challenges from overlooked trigger events such as customer changing needs, business model innovation by entrants, new disruptive technologies, management perception and business performance. The research underscores the complexity of DI and suggests a need for business model adaptation from incumbent firms, emphasizing a shift towards customer orientation and dynamic capabilities. This study contributes to the strategic management literature by proposing avenues for further exploration, including the development of a conceptual model to guide strategic decision making in a situation of disruption.
Decoding internationalization: examining digital ambidexterity and competitive strategy configuration via fsQCA
Authors: Wang Nuo
Published: January 2025

This study examines in detail the specific ways employed by Business-to-Business (B2B) firms to navigate the complexities of internationalization. To date, research has primarily focused on fragmented aspects. Drawing on a sample of 341 B2B firms and through an in-depth examination employing the fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) methodology, this research illuminates the nuanced interplay between certain configurations of digital ambidexterity (exploitation or exploration) and competitive strategy (cost, differentiation, and focus), and their effect on firm internationalization business performance, moderated by the digitalization levels (limited, moderate, and high). The findings reveal multiple equifinal configurations that contribute to internationalization performance. Across different levels of digitalization, varying combinations of digital ambidexterity and competitive strategy are found to positively influence business performance, each characterized by a unique configuration of core and peripheral conditions. This study contributes to international business theory and practice, particularly benefiting companies facing resource constraints and seeking clarity on how to prioritize their limited resources. By identifying the specific configurations of digital ambidexterity and competitive strategy that lead to successful internationalization, the research provides a roadmap for B2B firms to navigate the digital landscape and achieve global success.