bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparison of clinical efficacy and safety of weekly glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonists dulaglutide and semaglutide in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes: Randomized, parallel‐group, multicentre, open‐label trial (COMING study)
Authors: Kimura Tomohiko , Katakura Yukino , Shimoda Masashi , Kawasaki Fumiko , Yamabe Mizuho , Tatsumi Fuminori , Matsuki Michihiro , Iwamoto Yuichiro , Anno Takatoshi , Fushimi Yoshiro , Kamei Shinji , Kimura Yukiko , Nakanishi Shuhei , Mune Tomoatsu , Kaku Kohei , Kaneto Hideaki ,   COMING study Group
Published: August 2023

Aim

To compare the clinical usefulness of once‐weekly glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonists dulaglutide and semaglutide at the doses approved for use in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes.

Methods

In total, 120 patients with glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) ≥7% were randomly assigned to dulaglutide (n = 59) or semaglutide group (n = 61), and 107 participants (dulaglutide/semaglutide = 53/54) completed the 24‐week trial. The primary endpoint was the difference of HbA1c level between the two groups at 24 weeks.

Results

HbA1c level at 24 weeks was significantly lower in the semaglutide group (7.9 ± 0.5%‐6.7 ± 0.5%) compared with the dulaglutide group (8.1 ± 0.6%‐7.4 ± 0.8%) (p < .0001). Reduction in body mass index and visceral fat area were also more significant in the semaglutide group (p < .05, respectively). The achievement rate of HbA1c <7% was higher in the semaglutide group (p < .0001). The parameters such as low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, alanine aminotransferase and γ‐glutamyl transpeptidase were decreased in the semaglutide group. Surprisingly, only semaglutide group significantly improved the apolipoprotein B/A1 ratio, which is considered a useful myocardial infarction risk index. Using computed tomography, the liver to spleen ratio was significantly elevated only in the semaglutide group. In contrast, gastrointestinal symptoms were observed in 13.2% of dulaglutide and 46.3% of semaglutide group (p < .01). The Diabetes Treatment‐Related Quality of Life scores related to pain and gastrointestinal symptoms were also superior in the dulaglutide group.

Conclusions

This prospective trial showed that semaglutide has more pronounced glucose‐ and body mass index‐lowering effects and reduces liver fat percentage and visceral fat area and that dulaglutide has less gastrointestinal symptoms and superior Diabetes Treatment‐Related Quality of Life scores related to pain and gastrointestinal symptoms.
Effective dehazing of night‐time images using open dark channel prior and wavelet transform
Authors: Dharmalingam Vivekanandan , Palivela Lakshmi Harika , Elangovan Pugazhendi
Published: August 2023

Existing night‐time dehazing methods had been attempting to process light and non‐light source regions based on dark channel prior (DCP). Since the bright and non‐bright regions exhibit different features, the same daytime method cannot be applied to night images because light scatter from the multiple objects non‐uniformly and DCP tends to over‐estimate the depth of the scene making the image unrealistic. To overcome this limitation, wavelet decomposition was performed so that haze remains in the low occurrence region and noise in the high occurrence region and noise was removed by soft thresholding method. In the presented approach, the open DCP (ODCP) transmission map was computed for handling light source regions and estimated transmission was refined to enhance the texture in high‐frequency part. Bilinear interpolation method of fast‐guided filtering and recursive filter in the domain transform was used for edge preservation, enhancement of texture details and smoothness. The dehazed image was constructed by correlating the coefficients of low occurrence part recovered from haze and high occurrence component. The performance analysis was compared against state‐of‐the‐art methods in terms of peak signal‐to‐noise ratio (PSNR) and Structural Similarity Index (SSIM).
Energy use efficiency of soil microorganisms: Driven by carbon recycling and reduction
Authors: Wang Chaoqun , Kuzyakov Yakov
Published: August 2023

Carbon use efficiency (CUE) is being intensively applied to quantify carbon (C) cycling processes from microbial cell to global scales. Energy use efficiency (EUE) is at least as important as the CUE because (i) microorganisms use organic C mainly as an energy source and not as elemental C per se, and (ii) microbial growth and maintenance are limited by energy, but not by C as a structural element. We conceptualize and review the importance of EUE by soil microorganisms and focus on (i) the energy content in organic compounds depending on the nominal oxidation state of carbon (NOSC), (ii) approaches to assess EUE, (iii) similarities and differences between CUE and EUE, and (iv) discuss mechanisms responsible for lower EUE compared to CUE. The energy content per C atom (enthalpy of combustion, the total energy stored in a compound) in organic compounds is very closely (R2 = 0.98) positively related to NOSC and increases by 108 kJ mol−1 C per one NOSC unit. For the first time we assessed the NOSC of microbial biomass in soil (−0.52) and calculated the corresponding energy content of −510 kJ mol−1 C. We linked CUE and EUE considering the NOSC of microbial biomass and element compositions of substrates utilized by microorganisms. The mean microbial EUE (0.32–0.35) is 18% lower than CUE (0.41) using glucose as a substrate. This definitely indicates that microbial growth is limited by energy relative to C. Based on the comparison of a broad range of processes of C and energy utilization for cell growth and maintenance, as well as database of experimental CUE from various compounds, we clearly explained five mechanisms and main factors why EUE is lower than CUE. The two main mechanisms behind lower EUE versus CUE are: (i) microbial recycling: C can be microbially recycled, whereas energy is always utilized only once, and (ii) chemical reduction of organic and inorganic compounds: Energy is used for reduction, which is ongoing without C utilization.
Dilemmas on emicizumab in children with haemophilia A: A survey of strategies from PedNet centres
Authors: Ranta Susanna , Motwani Jayashree , Blatny Jan , Bührlen Martina , Carcao Manuel , Chambost Hervé , Escuriola Carmen , Fischer Kathelijn , Kartal‐Kaess Mutlu , de Kovel Marloes , Kenet Gili , Male Christoph , Nolan Beatrice , d'Oiron Roseline , Olivieri Martin , Zapotocka Ester , Andersson Nadine G. , Königs Christoph
Published: August 2023

Introduction

Haemophilia A care has changed with the introduction of emicizumab. Experience on the youngest children is still scarce and clinical practice varies between haemophilia treatment centres.

Aim

We aimed to assess the current clinical practice on emicizumab prophylaxis within PedNet, a collaborative research platform for paediatricians treating children with haemophilia.

Methods

An electronic survey was sent to all PedNet members (n = 32) between October 2022 and February 2023. The survey included questions on the availability of emicizumab, on the practice of initiating prophylaxis in previously untreated or minimally treated patients (PUPs or MTPs) and emicizumab use in patients with or without inhibitors.

Results

All but four centres (28/32; 88%) responded. Emicizumab was available in clinical practice in 25/28 centres (89%), and in 3/28 for selected patients only (e.g. with inhibitors). Emicizumab was the preferred choice for prophylaxis in PUPs or MTPs in 20/25 centres; most (85%) started emicizumab prophylaxis before 1 year of age (30% before 6 months of age) and without concomitant FVIII (16/20; 80%). After the loading dose, 13/28 centres administered the recommended dosing, while the others adjusted the interval of injections to give whole vials. In inhibitor patients, the use of emicizumab during ITI was common, with low‐dose ITI being the preferred protocol.

Conclusion

Most centres choose to initiate prophylaxis with emicizumab before 12 months of age and without concomitant FVIII. In inhibitor patients, ITI is mostly given in addition to emicizumab, but there was no common practice on how to proceed after successful ITI.
Concordance of ASCL1, NEUROD1 and POU2F3 transcription factor‐based subtype assignment in paired tumour samples from small cell lung carcinoma
Authors: Denize Thomas , Meador Catherine B , Rider Anna B , Ganci Maria L , Barth Jaimie L , Kem Marina , Mino‐Kenudson Mari , Hung Yin P
Published: August 2023

Aims

Small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) can be classified into transcription factor‐based subtypes (ASCL1, NeuroD1, POU2F3). While in‐vitro studies suggest intratumoral heterogeneity in the expression of these markers, how SCLC subtypes vary over time and among locations in patients remains unclear.

Methods and results

We searched a consecutive series of patients at our institution in 2006–22 for those with greater than one available formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embedded SCLC sample in multiple sites and/or time‐points. Immunohistochemistry for ASCL1, NeuroD1 and POU2F3 was performed and evaluated using H‐scores, with subtype assigned based on the positive marker (H‐score threshold >10) with the highest H‐score. The 179 samples (75, lung; 51, lymph nodes; 53, non‐nodal metastases) from 84 patients (74 with two, 10 with more than two samples) included 98 (54.7%) ASCL1‐dominant, 47 (26.3%) NeuroD1‐dominant, 15 (8.4%) POU2F3‐dominant, 17 (9.5%) triple‐negative and two (1.1%) ASCL1/NeuroD1 co‐dominant samples. NeuroD1‐dominant subtype was enriched in non‐lung locations. Subtype concordance from pairwise comparison was 71.4% overall and 89.7% after accounting for ASCL1/NeuroD1‐dual expressors and technical factors including <500 cells/slide, H‐score thresholds and sample decalcification. No significant difference in subtype concordance was noted with a longer time lapse or with extrathoracic versus intrathoracic samples in this cohort.

Conclusions

After accounting for technical factors, transcription factor‐based subtyping was discordant among multiple SCLC samples in ~10% of patients, regardless of sample locations and time lapse. Our findings highlighted the spatiotemporal heterogeneity of SCLC in clinical samples and potential challenges, including technical and biological factors, that might limit concordance in SCLC transcription factor‐based subtyping.
Supercritical fluid extraction tandem responsive polarity modifier separation of hydroxytyrosol rich phenolic raffinates from olive oil
Authors: Wani Touseef Ahmed , Haris Sabeera , Baba Waqas N. , Akhter Rehana , Al‐Marzouqi Ali H. , Masoodi Farooq Ahmad
Published: August 2023

This research includes recovery of hydroxytyrosol (HT) rich bioactive raffinates from olive oil through supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) using CO2 and polarity modifiers including ethanol (EtOH) and methanol (MeOH) at 6% each. The raffinates left after 120 min of SFE (<1%) at 40 °C and 150 bar were subjected to minor phenolic analysis through Reversed Phase‐High Performance Liquid Chromatography (RP‐HPLC). HT being the most consistent phenolic compound, the retention, total phenolic content (TPC) and 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity decreased in the raffinates as Supercritical carbon dioxide (ScCO2) + (MeOH) > ScCO2 + (EtOH) > ScCO2. Multivariate analysis revealed high positive correlations among the individual phenolic compounds and antioxidant potential. Principal components analysis explained 90.5% variability through two principal components. The MeOH, ScCO2, ScCO2 + MeOH and ScCO2 + EtOH extracts were clearly separated in the score plot with positive loadings of parameters on the loading plot. Hierarchical cluster analysis separated the MeOH extraction and SFE in two clusters. In conclusion, ScCO2 + MeOH and ScCO2 + EtOH could be employed for the recovery of HT from olive oil.
Do nurses’ personality traits affect the level of compassion fatigue?
Authors: Çiçek Korkmaz Ayşe , Gökoğlan Ebru
Published: August 2023

Aims

To determine whether nurses’ personality traits impact their levels of compassion fatigue.

Backgrounds

Compassion fatigue has become one of nursing literature's most discussed and investigated topics. Although some nurses working in the same environment and under similar conditions are more resistant to compassion fatigue, some are at risk of it.

Methods

This descriptive study was conducted with 451 nurses selected using a simple random sampling method in Turkey. Data were collected using web‐based online survey forms between February and April 2022. A questionnaire form regarding personal traits and professional characteristics, the Compassion Fatigue‐Short Scale, and Basic Personality Traits Inventory were used to collect the data. The data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, t‐test, Pearson correlation, and multiple linear regression analysis.

Results

The nurses’ compassion fatigue was moderate, and personality traits were found to be agreeableness, conscientiousness, and extraversion, respectively. There was a negative correlation between compassion fatigue and personality traits of extraversion, conscientiousness, agreeableness, and openness to experience, yet a positive correlation with neuroticism and negative valence. According to the regression analysis, nurses’ personality traits were effective on compassion fatigue by 21.9%. The personality trait of extraversion had a negative impact on compassion fatigue, and neuroticism had a positive impact.

Conclusion

This study identified a correlation between nurses' personality traits and compassion fatigue, suggesting that certain personality traits can be predictive factors of compassion fatigue. The limited number of studies discussing personality traits and compassion fatigue together increases the importance of the current study, which may shed light on future studies to be conducted on similar topics.

Implications for nursing and other policies

This study has important implications for nurse managers. Nurse managers can predict whether they may experience compassion fatigue based on their personality traits.
Evolution behavior of electrocaloric effect in BaTiO3‐based ceramics with different phase structures and phase transitions
Authors: Zhao Chunlin , Huang Yanli , Wu Xiao , Gao Min , Lin Tengfei , Lin Cong
Published: August 2023

In this work, the evolution behavior of electrocaloric effect in BaTiO3‐based ceramics with different phase structures and phase transitions was compared. A paradigmatic system of (Ba0.85Ca0.15)(Ti1−xHfx)O3 ceramics was selected. Diffuseness exponent γ increases linearly with rising x. Electrocaloric temperature change (ΔT) shows an opposite variation, whereas temperature span (Tspan) displays the same tendency with γ changing. The degeneration of maximum polarization and polarization change rate contributes to the decrease in ΔT due to the diffusion phase transition, whereas the diffusion can lead to a large Tspan. The ceramic with a single ferroelectric or paraelectric phase shows a small ΔT but a high variation rate with elevating electric field (E), whereas a small variation rate is present in the phase‐transition region that shows a high ΔT. Besides, small electrocaloric strength (ΔT/ΔE) is obtained in the single‐phase region and increases with elevating E. A high ΔT/ΔE is present in the phase‐transition region but decreases with elevating E. When phase transition becomes diffusion, ΔT variation with E becomes obvious, whereas ΔT/ΔE dependence will decrease. These phenomena result from the difficult polarization orientation in single ferroelectric phase or weak polarization in paraelectric phase, and the easy polarization orientation in the phase‐transition region.
Testing reciprocal associations between child anxiety and parenting across early interventions for inhibited preschoolers
Authors: Novick Danielle R. , Meyer Christian T. , Wagner Nicholas J. , Rubin Kenneth H. , Danko Christina M. , Dougherty Lea R. , Druskin Lindsay R. , Smith Kelly A. , Chronis‐Tuscano Andrea
Published: August 2023

Background

Given the robust evidence base for the efficacy of evidence‐based treatments targeting youth anxiety, researchers have advanced beyond efficacy outcome analysis to identify mechanisms of change and treatment directionality. Grounded in developmental transactional models, interventions for young children at risk for anxiety by virtue of behaviorally inhibited temperament often target parenting and child factors implicated in the early emergence and maintenance of anxiety. In particular, overcontrolling parenting moderates risk for anxiety among highly inhibited children, just as child inhibition has been shown to elicit overcontrolling parenting. Although longitudinal research has elucidated the temporal unfolding of factors that interact to place inhibited children at risk for anxiety, reciprocal transactions between these child and parent factors in the context of early interventions remain unknown.

Method

This study addresses these gaps by examining mechanisms of change and treatment directionality (i.e., parent‐to‐child vs. child‐to‐parent influences) within a randomized controlled trial comparing two interventions for inhibited preschoolers (N = 151): the multicomponent Turtle Program (‘Turtle’) and the parent‐only Cool Little Kids program (‘CLK’). Reciprocal relations between parent‐reported child anxiety, observed parenting, and parent‐reported accommodation of child anxiety were examined across four timepoints: pre‐, mid‐, and post‐treatment, and one‐year follow‐up (NCT02308826).

Results

Hypotheses were tested via latent curve models with structured residuals (LCM‐SR) and latent change score (LCS) models. LCM‐SR results were consistent with the child‐to‐parent influences found in previous research on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for older anxious youth, but only emerged in Turtle. LCS analyses revealed bidirectional effects of changes in parent accommodation and child anxiety during and after intervention, but only in Turtle.

Conclusion

Our findings coincide with developmental transactional models, suggesting that the development of child anxiety may result from child‐to‐parent influences rather than the reverse, and highlight the importance of targeting parent and child factors simultaneously in early interventions for young, inhibited children.
Comparative study of block cryoconcentration in pomegranate juice: Centrifugation versus vacuum
Authors: Vásquez‐Castillo Flor M. , Hernández Eduard , Ureña‐Peralta Milber O. , Achaerandio Isabel
Published: August 2023

Block cryoconcentration is a technique that can be applied to obtain fruit juice concentrates while preserving their nutritional, bioactive and organoleptic properties. Until now, the investigations present both the centrifugation and vacuum cryoconcentration method independently for different matrices, but with different purposes such as observing the effect of the initial freezing temperature, the freezing direction, whether radial or unidirectional, the effect of several cycles of cryoconcentration, comparing cryoconcentration with other concentration methods, etc. However, there is no study that compares both methods in the same matrix considering some common parameters such as cryoconcentration time. The objective of this research work was to compare two block centrifugation methods, centrifugation‐assisted (CABC) and vacuum‐assisted (VABC). A factorial experimental design was used. The operation conditions evaluated were 110 RCF and 2360 RCF, and 10 and 70 kPa at the same time conditions (4 and 12 min). Pomegranate juice was frozen at −20°C unidirectionally for 48 h before treatments. For the response studied—concentration index (CI), solute yield (SY, %) and efficiency (Eff, %)—CABC at 110 RCF for 12 min showed the best overall results (SY = 59.2% and Eff = 84.3%) and the desirability was .91. For VABC at 10 kPa for 12 min, the desirability was .98 but SY was lower. In both methods, the CI in one cycle was up to 3.0. The advantage of both systems is that in one cycle the CI, SY and Eff were higher than those obtained by other investigations on pomegranate juice.

Practical applications

Cryoconcentration is an emerging technology for concentrating a food solute in a solution based on the separation of ice crystals from a freeze‐concentrated solution. The nutritional and sensory quality of cryoconcentrated fruit juices is higher than those concentrated conventionally by means of evaporation due to the low processing temperatures. Consumer demand for food rich in bioactive components for a healthy lifestyle is growing. With the use of the block freeze concentration technique, it is possible to produce a pomegranate juice concentrate with excellent nutritional properties. Two techniques for assisted block cryoconcentration of pomegranate juice—vacuum and centrifugal—were compared in a single cycle. Both methods showed better performance in once cycle than other cryoconcentration methods at lab scale. The generated knowledge in this study can be easily adapted for the juice industry in order to improve the process parameters of block freeze concentration in the elaboration of concentrated pomegranate juice.
Rising incidence and impact of early‐onset colorectal cancer in the Asia‐Pacific with higher mortality in females from Southeast Asia: a global burden analysis from 2010 to 2019
Authors: Danpanichkul Pojsakorn , Moolkaew Pinyada , Kanjanakot Yatawee , Polpichai Natchaya , Jaroenlapnopparat Aunchalee , Kim Donghee , Lukens Frank J. , Wassef Wahid , Fallon Michael B. , Chen Vincent L. , Lui Rashid , Wijarnpreecha Karn
Published: August 2023

Background and Aim

Early‐onset colorectal cancer (CRC) is a growing global health concern, especially in the Asia‐Pacific region. However, comprehensive research on this topic from the region is lacking. Our study aims to investigate trends in early‐onset CRC in Asia over 10 years, filling this research gap.

Methods

This study utilized data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 to assess temporal trends in early‐onset CRC in the Asia‐Pacific. The analysis included estimating annual frequencies and age‐standardized rates (ASRs) of early‐onset CRC incidence, death, and disability‐adjusted life‐years (DALYs) by gender.

Results

The incidence of early‐onset CRC significantly increased in both regions with higher increase and in the Western Pacific region. Notable increases were observed among males in the Western Pacific and females in Southeast Asia (SEA). Mortality rates remained stable in the Western Pacific but increased by 10.6% in SEA, especially among females. DALYs due to CRC also increased significantly in SEA, with a greater rise among females. The Western Pacific had the highest CRC incidence, and in SEA, the mortality rate was higher in females than males.

Conclusions

Our study reveals a substantial increase in early‐onset CRC in the Asia‐Pacific underscoring the urgency for effective interventions. Thus, a comprehensive approach comprising controlled risk reduction, health promotion to heightened disease awareness, and implementation of effective screening strategies should be executed timely to mitigate the burden of early‐onset CRC.
Pictures at an exhibition: How to share your imaging data
Authors: Hartley Matthew , Anita Liviu , Babalola Kolawole , Russell Craig , Yoldaş Aybüke Küpcü , Zulueta‐Coarasa Teresa
Published: August 2023

Open access to data underpinning published results is a key pillar of scientific reproducibility. Making data available at scale also provides opportunities for data reuse, encouraging the development of new analysis approaches. In this poster article, accompanying a recorded talk, we will explain the benefits of publicly archiving your image data alongside your published manuscripts, as well as highlight what resources are available to do this. This will include the BioImage Archive, EMBL‐EBI's new resource for biological image data, https://www.ebi.ac.uk/bioimage‐archive/. We will look at how image data submission works, how to prepare in advance for archiving your data and upcoming developments.
Parents' socioeconomic status and support to adult children across the life course
Authors: Kalmijn Matthijs
Published: August 2023

Objective

This paper examines how parents' socioeconomic status (SES) affects the support parents give to children and how parents' SES moderates changes in support across children's life courses.

Background

Many studies have documented effects of parents' SES on support to adult children, as well as effects of children's life course stages on received support, but few studies have examined how these two factors interact. A dynamic perspective on the social stratification of support can provide new clues about how parents transmit advantages across generations.

Method

Using prospective panel data on 10,822 parent–child dyads in the Netherlands from 2003 to 2015 and random and fixed effects models, this paper examines life course changes in the financial, practical, and informational support adult children (aged 18–59) receive from parents.

Results

Positive effects of parents' SES were found on informational and financial support, but there were no main effects on practical support. Informational support declined with age but later in higher‐SES families. Support declined after union formation and similarly for higher‐ and lower‐SES families. The increase in practical support when children became parents and single parents was stronger in higher‐SES families than in lower‐SES families. Stratification of financial support was stronger in early adulthood and increased again later in children's lives.

Conclusion

There was evidence for a prolonged support pattern among higher‐SES families, combined with stronger effects of children's parenthood transitions in such families. Parents' SES affects support streams to adult children, but effects depend on the type of support and children's stage in the life course.
Effect of caseinate salt addition on the structural characteristics of kefiran systems
Authors: Exarhopoulos S. , Goulas A. , Dimitreli G. , Raphaelides Stylianos N.
Published: August 2023

Sodium caseinates–kefiran systems were studied to explore whether any potential interactions between them might exist. The study was performed using low‐deformation rheological techniques, which were dynamic and creep tests. The systems were prepared under various experimental conditions such as heating and acidification. Besides, the structure development of the systems in relation to time was also monitored using oscillatory shear rheometry. The results indicated that the structural characteristics of the systems were mainly affected by the state of the caseinates such as the formation of aggregates and to a lesser degree by the interactions of kefiran molecules with the caseinates. Freeze–thaw treatment produced cryogels with good thermal stability and fairly satisfactory mechanical properties. The morphology of the caseinate‐kefiran systems was also investigated by means of confocal laser scanning microscopy.
Influence of human development and predators on patterns of Virginia opossum occupancy, abundance, and activity
Authors: Veon J. T. , Lassiter E. V. , Johansson E. , Shaw M. , McTigue L. , Massey A. , Gibson R. , DeGregorio B. A.
Published: August 2023

As human development continues to expand, wildlife must relocate or adapt to survive. Many mammalian mesopredators, such as the Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana), have adapted to living alongside human development. Furthermore, top‐down predation pressure may be altered in nuanced ways within the human environment. Species such as opossums may be shielded from predation by human development or behavioral changes in predators. Understanding how dominant and subordinate mesopredators co‐exist across natural and developed areas will provide insight into how wildlife communities are structured. Our objective was to evaluate how opossum occupancy, abundance, and activity were associated with human development and the relative abundance of their predators. We used data from a nationwide camera trapping study, Snapshot USA, to estimate opossum occupancy, abundance, and activity. We related these measures to the surrounding landscape and urbanization variables. We found that opossum occupancy was positively associated with anthropogenic sound (a surrogate for human activity). Furthermore, opossums in heavily forested areas were more likely to be detected in locations with higher predicted anthropogenic sounds. In areas with a high density of human housing, opossum relative abundance increased when predator abundance increased. We also found opossums were strictly nocturnal and shifted their activity to earlier in the evening in the presence of high predator abundance. Our results suggest that humans and their urban development can have multidimensional impacts on opossum behavior and occurrence, and could facilitate changes in predator–prey dynamics. Future research should evaluate if the association of opossums with urban areas is due to human‐subsidized resources or caused by reduced mortality from altered predator–prey dynamics.
Integrative biological analyses of responses to food deprivation reveal resilience mechanisms in sea urchin larvae
Authors: Li Ning , Griffith Andrew W. , Manahan Donal T.
Published: August 2023

A fundamental question in ecology is how organisms survive food deprivation. In the ocean, climate change is impacting the phenology of food availability for early life‐history stages of animals. In this study, we undertook an integrative analysis of larvae of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus—an important keystone species in marine ecology and a molecular biological model organism in developmental biology. Specifically, to identify the mechanisms of resilience that maintain physiological state and the ability of organisms to recover from food deprivation, a suite of molecular biological, biochemical, physiological and whole organism measurements was completed. Previous studies focused on the importance of energy reserves to sustain larvae during periods of food deprivation. We show, however, that utilization of endogenous energy reserves only supplied 15% of the metabolic requirements of long‐term survival (up to 22 days) in the absence of particulate food. This large energy gap was not supplied by larvae feeding on bacteria. Estimates of larval ability to transport dissolved organic matter directly from seawater showed that such substrates could fully supply metabolic needs. Integrative approaches allowed for filtering of gene expression signatures, linked with gene network analyses and measured biochemical and physiological traits, to identify biomarkers of resilience. We identified 14 biomarkers related to nutrition‐responsive gene expression, of which a specific putative amino acid transporter gene was quantified in a single larva experiencing continuous nutritional stress. Advances in applications of gene expression technologies offer novel approaches to determine the physiological state of marine larval forms in ecological settings undergoing environmental change.
The wisdom of entrustability: A critically conscious approach to practical wisdom
Authors: Stanyon Maham
Published: August 2023

Detailing the need to examine the role of culture in how practical wisdom is expressed, Stanyon applies 'critical consciousness' to explore the value of entrustability for medical curricula.
A novel role of the fission yeast sulfiredoxin Srx1 in heme acquisition
Authors: Vahsen Tobias , Brault Ariane , Mourer Thierry , Labbé Simon
Published: August 2023

The transporter Str3 promotes heme import in Schizosaccharomyces pombe cells that lack the heme receptor Shu1 and are deficient in heme biosynthesis. Under microaerobic conditions, the peroxiredoxin Tpx1 acts as a heme scavenger within the Str3‐dependent pathway. Here, we show that Srx1, a sulfiredoxin known to interact with Tpx1, is essential for optimal growth in the presence of hemin. The expression of Srx1 is induced in response to low iron and repressed under iron repletion. Coimmunoprecipitation and bimolecular fluorescence complementation experiments show that Srx1 interacts with Str3. Although the interaction between Srx1 and Str3 is weakened, it is still observed in tpx1Δ mutant cells or when Str3 is coexpressed with a mutant form of Srx1 (mutD) that cannot bind Tpx1. Further analysis by absorbance spectroscopy and hemin‐agarose pull‐down assays confirms the binding of Srx1 to hemin, with an equilibrium constant value of 2.56 μM. To validate the Srx1‐hemin association, we utilize a Srx1 mutant (mutH) that fails to interact with hemin. Notably, when Srx1 binds to hemin, it partially shields hemin from degradation caused by hydrogen peroxide. Collectively, these findings elucidate an additional function of the sulfiredoxin Srx1, beyond its conventional role in oxidative stress defense.
Tissue‐specific stilbene accumulation is an early response to wounding/grafting as revealed by using spatial and temporal metabolomics
Authors: Loupit Grégoire , Fonayet Josep V. , Lorensen Marcus D. B. B. , Franc Céline , De Revel Gilles , Janfelt Christian , Cookson Sarah J.
Published: August 2023

Grafting is widely used in horticulture. Shortly after grafting, callus tissues appear at the graft interface and the vascular tissues of the scion and rootstock connect. The graft interface contains a complex mix of tissues, we hypothesised that each tissue has its own metabolic response to wounding/grafting and accumulates different metabolites at different rates. We made intact and wounded cuttings and grafts of grapevine, and then measured changes in bulk flavonoid, phenolic acid and stilbenoid concentration and used metabolite imaging to study tissue‐specific responses. We show that some metabolites rapidly accumulate in specific tissues after grafting, for example, stilbene monomers accumulate in necrotic tissues surrounding mature xylem vessels. Whereas other metabolites, such as complex stilbenes, accumulate in the same tissues at later stages. We also observe that other metabolites accumulate in the newly formed callus tissue and identify genotype‐specific responses. In addition, exogenous resveratrol application did not modify grafting success rate, potentially suggesting that the accumulation of resveratrol at the graft interface is not linked to graft union formation. The increasing concentration of complex stilbenes often occurs in response to plant stresses (via unknown mechanisms), and potentially increases antioxidant activity and antifungal capacities.
The relationship between health and housing in low‐income older adults: A secondary analysis of survey data
Authors: Kantz Mary E. , Enah Comfort , Abdallah Lisa M.
Published: August 2023

Objective

To examine the health‐housing relationship in low‐income older adults, and differences by income and receipt of housing assistance.

Design

Secondary analysis of longitudinal survey data.

Sample

About 10,858 adults aged 62+ who completed at least one wave of the 2014 Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) (n = 37,333 observations).

Measurements

SIPP variables representing demographics and housing quality, affordability, stability, and neighborhood were analyzed. Low‐income and higher‐income participants were differentiated by the household income‐to‐poverty ratio.

Results

Low‐income participants were significantly more likely to be in poor health and report problems with housing quality, affordability, and neighborhood safety compared to higher‐income participants (p < .001). Increased household size and problems with housing quality and neighborhood safety were associated with poor health in both groups (p < .05). Low‐income participants who received housing assistance were significantly poorer, less healthy, and food insecure than participants not receiving assistance (p < .001); however, the health‐housing relationship was not different in the two groups.

Conclusions

Results provide additional support for housing as a social determinant of older adult health. Though housing assistance programs reached a subset of low‐income older adults, the results suggest a housing assistance shortfall. Implications for public health nurses and researchers are explored.
Does acclimation in distinct light conditions determine differences in the photosynthetic heat tolerance of coffee plants?
Authors: Vilas‐Boas T. , Duarte A. A. , Della Torre F. , Lovato M. B. , Lemos‐Filho J. P.
Published: August 2023

Worldwide coffee production is threatened by climate change, which highlights the importance of heat tolerance studies. Here we tested the hypothesis that photosynthetic heat tolerance in coffee varieties changes according to acclimation to distinct light conditions. Furthermore, we tested if heat tolerance is associated with the habitat of origin of the coffee species.

We evaluated heat tolerance using chlorophyll fluorescence in varieties of Coffea arabica (Mundo Novo and Catuai Amarelo) and C. canephora (Conilon) grown in a common garden under two conditions: high (HS) and low (LS) sunlight. Leaf traits associated with leaf cooling were evaluated in plants grown in LS and HS and associations of heat tolerance with these traits were determined.

The varieties tested had high photosynthetic heat tolerance, with temperatures above 54 °C leading to a 50% reduction in Fv/Fm (T50). The heat tolerance of each Coffea variety was unaffected by growth in distinct light conditions. Leaves of plants grown in LS were larger and had a lower fraction of the leaf area occupied by stomata (nast). Heat tolerance was positively associated with leaf size and negatively with nast. C. canephora exhibited higher heat tolerance than C. arabica.

The limited plasticity of heat tolerance in response to acclimation under distinct light conditions contradicts the prediction that plants acclimated to HS would have higher photosynthetic heat tolerance than those acclimated to LS. Our results on heat tolerance among Coffea species/varieties in HS and LS indicate the possibility of selection of varieties for better acclimation to ongoing climate changes.
Biophysical and molecular characteristics of senescing leaves of two Norway maple varieties differing in anthocyanin content
Authors: Rantala Marjaana , Mulo Paula , Tyystjärvi Esa , Mattila Heta
Published: August 2023

Disassembly and degradation of the photosynthetic protein complexes during autumn senescence, a vital step to ensure efficient nutrient relocalization for winter storage, is poorly understood. Concomitantly with the degradation, anthocyanins are often synthesized. However, as to why leaves accumulate red pigments, no consensus exists. One possibility is that anthocyanins protect senescing leaves from excess light. In this study, we investigated the pigment composition, photosynthetic performance, radical production, and degradation of the photosynthetic protein complexes in Norway maple (Acer platanoides) and in its highly pigmented, purple‐colored variety (Faassen's black) during autumn senescence, to dissect the possible roles of anthocyanins in photoprotection. Our findings show that senescing Faassen's black was indeed more resistant to Photosystem II (PSII) photoinhibition, presumably due to its high anthocyanin content, than the green maple. However, senescing Faassen's black exhibited low photosynthetic performance, probably due to a poor capacity to repair PSII. Furthermore, an analysis of photosynthetic protein complexes demonstrated that in both maple varieties, the supercomplexes consisting of PSII and its antenna were disassembled first, followed by the degradation of the PSII core, Photosystem I, Cytochrome b6f, and ATP synthase. Strikingly, the degradation process appeared to proceed faster in Faassen's black, possibly explaining its poor PSII repair capacity. The results suggest that tolerance against PSII photoinhibition may not necessarily translate to a better fitness. Finally, thylakoids isolated from senescing and non‐senescing leaves of both maple varieties accumulated very little carbon‐centered radicals, suggesting that thylakoids may not be a major source of reactive oxygen species in senescing leaves.
Carbohydrate dynamics in Populus trees under drought: An expression atlas of genes related to sensing, translocation, and metabolism across organs
Authors: Fox Hagar , Ben‐Dor Shifra , Doron‐Faigenboim Adi , Goldsmith Moshe , Klein Tamir , David‐Schwartz Rakefet
Published: August 2023

In trees, nonstructural carbohydrates (NSCs) serve as long‐term carbon storage and long‐distance carbon transport from source to sink. NSC management in response to drought stress is key to our understanding of drought acclimation. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying these processes remain unclear. By combining a transcriptomic approach with NSC quantification in the leaves, stems, and roots of Populus alba under drought stress, we analyzed genes from 29 gene families related to NSC signaling, translocation, and metabolism. We found starch depletion across organs and accumulation of soluble sugars (SS) in the leaves. Activation of the trehalose‐6‐phosphate/SNF1‐related protein kinase (SnRK1) signaling pathway across organs via the suppression of class I TREHALOSE‐PHOSPHATE SYNTHASE (TPS) and the expression of class II TPS genes suggested an active response to drought. The expression of SnRK1α and β subunits, and SUCROSE SYNTHASE6 supported SS accumulation in leaves. The upregulation of active transporters and the downregulation of most passive transporters implied a shift toward active sugar transport and enhanced regulation over partitioning. SS accumulation in vacuoles supports osmoregulation in leaves. The increased expression of sucrose synthesis genes and reduced expression of sucrose degradation genes in the roots did not coincide with sucrose levels, implying local sucrose production for energy. Moreover, the downregulation of invertases in the roots suggests limited sucrose allocation from the aboveground organs. This study provides an expression atlas of NSC‐related genes that respond to drought in poplar trees, and can be tested in tree improvement programs for adaptation to drought conditions.
Productivity and reallocation under monopolistic competition: A Micro panel data analysis
Authors: Mhlanga Samuel Vika
Published: August 2023

This article studies the structural aggregate productivity growth (APG) decomposition with demand‐ and supply‐side controls, determines comparative statics predictions for firms and economic outcomes and examines patterns of input distortions. By moving from price‐taking conditions to markets featuring markup heterogeneity for product varieties, the paper finds amplification of production inefficiency from −3.61% to −11.41% and amplification of total factor reallocation from 0.15% to 8.91%. The productivity results are robust to structural variations in the demand function, firm scale adjustment and firm growth. Similarly, input reallocation is robust to variation in demand structure and plant expansion. Furthermore, reallocation under common markups among all firms is robust to reallocation under heterogeneous markups among larger firms. Alternatively, large firms face demand inelasticities and charge higher markups thereby mimicking the behaviour of the survey of all firms. Under autarky, small unproductive plants charge higher markups than their small efficient counterparts. Demand elasticity increases (decreases) with industry output for smaller (larger) plants. Finally, a unit increase in capital intensity for resource‐constrained plants raises labour distortions and reduces capital distortions while reducing capital distortions for resource‐unconstrained firms.
Cultural divergence in children's selective word learning: Korean and Canadian children differ in their trust of adult informants
Authors: Oh Jisoo , Ju Narae , Graham Susan , Choi Youngon
Published: August 2023

Although children generally regard adults as more knowledgeable than their peers, an informant's past accuracy trumps age when in conflict. In a recent study, however, Korean 5‐year‐olds were more likely to trust a less accurate adult informant over a more accurate peer informant when learning new information. To examine whether such a pattern was attributable to the cultural influence of shaping early respect for the elderly among Korean children, a pattern of selective label endorsement was examined among Canadian 5‐year‐olds, who were raised under different cultural values, relatively putting less emphasis on social relationships than individual expressions (Experiment 1). We also investigated Korean 6–7‐year‐olds’ selective endorsement pattern when the informant's past accuracy conflicted with the informant's age to examine how cultural influences shift as children develop (Experiment 2). When the adult was 25% accurate in labeling familiar objects, relative to the 75% accurate child informant, Canadian 5‐year‐olds tended to endorse the label offered by the child, demonstrating a prioritization of the epistemic cue over the social cue. By comparison, Korean 6–7‐year‐olds were equally likely to choose between two informants, showing difficulty disregarding inaccurate adults, even when they always mislabeled familiar objects. These results offer insight into cultural influences on the development of selective word learning and suggest the relative weighing of social and epistemic cues evolves with development.
Exploring basic science knowledge retention within a cohort of undergraduate medical students in the United Kingdom: A longitudinal study
Authors: Zafar Idrees , Chilton John , Edwards James , Watson Helen , Zahra Daniel
Published: August 2023

Background

Clinical reasoning is reliant on students having acquired a strong foundation in the basic sciences. However, there remains uncertainty regarding whether medical students are maintaining this knowledge over the span of their degrees. Therefore, this project aimed to assess long‐term retention of basic science knowledge within a cohort of students from an undergraduate medical school in the United Kingdom (UK).

Methods

This longitudinal study followed a cohort of students, from their first to final year. In their final year, participants sat a bespoke formative basic science knowledge assessment that utilised 46 single‐best‐answer questions. To examine for long‐term attainment differences, these scores were compared with those achieved in first‐year assessments.

Results

Of the eligible students, 40% partook in the study (n = 22). Comparing assessment scores highlighted an enhancement in overall basic science knowledge between first and final year (p < 0.01). Although most basic science domains remained unchanged between both time points, anatomy and physiology scores increased (p = 0.03 and p = 0.02, respectively), whereas biochemistry scores were the only ones to decrease (p = 0.02).

Discussion

This project provides insight into how well students are retaining the basic sciences during their studies. Underperforming science domains were identified, alongside pedagogical explanations for their individual shortcomings; for instance, students' perceived relevance of a domain is seen as a driver for its retention. Subsequently, a group of recommendations were derived to reinforce the most affected domains. The inclusion of more questions on the underperforming sciences, in clinically focussed assessments, is one such suggestion.