bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Green HRM and employee green behavior in the manufacturing firms: do psychological green climate and employee green commitment matter?
Authors: K. Jnaneswar
Published: March 2023

Purpose

Green human resource management (HRM) plays a vital role in improving employees’ green behaviour. A research gap exists in the roles psychological green climate and employee green commitment have in the relationship between green HRM and employees’ green behaviour. Building on social exchange and social identity theories, this study aims to propose a model of the effects of green HRM on employees’ green behaviour through the serial mediation of psychological green climate and employee green commitment.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 297 full-time employees working in various manufacturing organizations in India using cross-sectional research design and self-reported measures. Structural equation modelling was used to examine the model fit of the serial mediation model, and PROCESS macro with a bias-corrected bootstrapping method was used to test the hypotheses.

Findings

The result of the study revealed that green HRM impacts employees’ green behaviour. Further, the findings showed that both psychological green climate and employee green commitment individually mediate the relationship between green HRM and employees’ green behaviour. The key outcome of this research is the partial serial mediation of psychological green climate and employee green commitment in the relationship between green HRM and employees’ green behaviour.

Originality/value

This is one of the primary studies that examined the serial mediating effect of psychological green climate and employee green commitment in the relationship between green HRM and employees’ green behaviour. This study contributes to the existing literature on green HRM and green behaviour by evincing the mediating mechanism of psychological green climate and employee green commitment.
Ground penetrating radar investigation and georeferencing without global satellite navigation systems: The case history of the amphitheatre of Lecce, Italy
Authors: Persico Raffaele , Muci Giuseppe
Published: March 2023

In this work, we present a case history relative to ground penetrating radar measurements performed close to the Roman amphitheatre of Lecce, Italy. We have performed a classical data elaboration with focusing of the data and slicing putting into evidence hidden details of the structure of the monument. It will be shown that the interpretation of the ground penetrating radar data is meaningfully helped by the consultation of ancient documents, which makes the final result multidisciplinary. Finally, we have georeferenced the data matching the shape of the depth slices with the shape of the investigated roads. In fact, we did not have at disposal any differential global satellite navigation systems. Indeed, this can be a method exploitable in cases when satellite data are not available, either because the area is shadowed or because the user does not have a differential global satellite navigation system. The proposed geographical matching is achieved by means of the matching between the shape of the slices and those of the physical obstacles present in the field. Therefore, it is essentially based on a continuous of points, and so it is probably more precise than a method based on the only vertexes. In particular, the proposed procedure does not require any deformation of the shape of the slice.
Relationships and identity fusion: Understanding antecedents of employees' megaphoning behaviours in response to corporate misconduct‐related crises
Authors: Krishna Arunima
Published: March 2023

The purpose of this study was to understand employees' cognitive and communicative reactions to allegations of corporate misconduct levied against their organization, and identify factors that may impact employees' reactions to such allegations. Specifically, this study focused on the idea of identity fusion as a key factor in helping buffer the organization against the negative cognitive and communicative impacts of corporate crises. Surveys conducted among American employees of large corporations revealed that identity fusion indeed mitigated their negative cognitive and communicative reactions to misconduct allegations, and encouraged positive megaphoning behaviours. Furthermore, identity fusion experienced by employees also mediated the relationship between employee–organization relationships and positive and negative megaphoning intentions. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.
Effects of an external crisis: How internal communication influences employer brands
Authors: Tkalac Verčič Ana , Špoljarić Anja
Published: March 2023

This study explores how a major external crisis, like the COVID‐19 pandemic, affects employees' perception of their employers, as a result of changes in internal communication practices. A total of 3457 employees filled out a questionnaire on internal communication satisfaction and employer attractiveness; 1805 just before the first COVID‐19 outbreak in Europe and 1652 after the first outbreak. Multi‐group structural equation modelling was conducted to examine how the relationship between internal communication satisfaction and employer attractiveness changed as a result of the crisis. The effect of different internal communication aspects on employer attractiveness was altered. Horizontal communication remained only significant determinant of positive employer perception even after the crisis. Channels of internal communication and informal internal communication lost their significant influence on employer perception, whereas communication climate and level of available corporate information gained significant influence. This study elucidates how an external crisis alters the relationship between internal communication and employer branding and can help organizations optimize their communication strategies during and after a major crisis to retain and attract desired employees.
Hypertrophic osteoarthropathy associated with lung cancer: Possible links among hypoxia‐inducible factor‐1α, vascular endothelial growth factor, and hypervascularization
Authors: Tagawa Ryuta , Soda Hiroshi , Dotsu Yosuke , Senju Hiroaki , Irifune Satoshi , Yoshida Masataka , Nakashima Shota , Umemura Asuka , Iwasaki Keisuke , Taniguchi Hirokazu , Takemoto Shinnosuke , Fukuda Yuichi , Mukae Hiroshi
Published: March 2023

Hypertrophic osteoarthropathy (HOA) is a paraneoplastic syndrome, the exact pathogenesis of which remains to be elucidated. The case of a 69‐year‐old man who developed intractably painful HOA secondary to lung cancer is presented. Contrast‐enhanced computed tomography of the chest showed an 80‐mm solid nodule with a large low‐density area. The patient was diagnosed as having stage IIIA undifferentiated non–small cell lung cancer. The combination of carboplatin and paclitaxel with bevacizumab reduced tumor size and plasma vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels, relieving his leg pain. On immunohistochemical examination, lung cancer cells were positive for VEGF. A hypoxic tumor microenvironment may have caused some lung cancer cells to express hypoxia‐inducible factor‐1α, which contributed, at least in part, to the production of VEGF. The deep dermis vessels showed proliferation in the shin, with their thickened walls positive for VEGF. These findings may encourage investigators to explore novel management strategies for painful HOA.
Ecological knowledge and value of traded species: Local awareness of native turtles in Hainan, China
Authors: Ma H. , Papworth S. K. , Ge T. , Wu X. , Yu C. , Zhang H. , Xiao F. , Gaillard D. , Bielby J. , Turvey S. T.
Published: March 2023

Wildlife trade is driving species extinctions globally, and the Asian Turtle Crisis is posing a threat in China as turtle species are collected from the wild and sold at high prices. Local ecological knowledge is increasingly used to determine the status of threatened taxa, but there is little understanding of wider relationships between indices of ecological knowledge and other conservation‐relevant factors such as market values of traded species. To assess whether local people's awareness of potentially traded turtles might indicate direct interaction with trade in these species, we conducted 185 interviews in rural villages around Bawangling National Nature Reserve, Hainan, China. Interviewees were asked to free‐list native turtles to determine species salience and then were shown photographs of the species to assess recognition and knowledge. We investigated relationships between species' salience, whether species were recognized, named and/or perceived to be traded by more people, and independently obtained market prices. Indices of species awareness varied among interviewees, but all species were reported to be traded by at least some people. There was no correlation between indices of awareness and market value, indicating that more valuable species were no more likely to be well known. However, the perception that turtles are traded irrespective of species is a concern for conservation because all species are then vulnerable to exploitation. Our results highlight that local communities should not be assumed to have accurate knowledge of traded species, with implications for the management of wildlife trade and conservation at the community level.
Habitat management favouring hunted waterbird species prevents distribution changes in response to climate warming
Authors: Gaget E. , Galewski T. , Brommer J. E. , Le Viol I. , Jiguet F. , Baccetti N. , Langendoen T. , Molina B. , Moniz F. , Moussy C. , Zenatello M. , Guillemain M.
Published: March 2023

Climate warming is driving species to shift their geographical distribution poleward to track suitable climatic conditions. Two strategies have been suggested to help species respond to climate warming: facilitating distribution change or improving persistence. We questioned whether habitat management in favour of duck hunting activities interacted with duck responses to climate warming. We studied non‐breeding waterbird community changes (110 species) over 28 years at 851 sites in South‐West Europe, where habitat management is a common practice to attract and hunt ducks. We hypothesized that duck species targeted by habitat management do not need to track temperature changes as much as non‐hunted species, because of the availability of suitable habitats provided by hunting land managers. We used the community temperature index (CTI) to assess the temporal responses of communities and species to climate warming. We compared the effect of hunting status with other functional traits on species responses, controlling for phylogenetic relatedness. The CTI trend has increased over the study period, indicating a community adjustment to climate warming. However, hunted ducks contributed to almost 40% of the negative contributions to this community adjustment, suggesting that hunted ducks do not shift their distribution as much as the other waterbirds do. Winter fidelity associated with the provision of attractive feeding grounds might explain why ducks did not seem to shift their distribution in response to climate warming. This study suggests the broad impact of human activities on wildlife, including on large‐scale distribution processes, and questions the long‐term consequences on duck populations.
Biological control of weeds in Australia: the last 120 years
Authors: Cullen J. M. , Palmer W. A. , Sheppard A. W.
Published: March 2023

The development of the field of biological control of weeds in Australia is described, from the first attempts in 1903 to the present day. The interest sparked by the obvious success of prickly pear program, apparent from 1930 to 1935, resulted in several programs during the next 20 years, followed by a decline in activity until the 1970s when activity increased enormously following the success of the skeleton weed program and the effective use of a plant pathogen for the first time. This momentum was maintained until the beginning of the present century with several successes and was marked by several important advances in genetic profiling, host‐specificity testing, economic evaluation, conflict of interest resolution and the ecology of insect/plant interactions, including evaluation of the effectiveness of individual introductions. Biological control has proved to be a valuable and effective approach to weed management in Australia with 39% of all programs considered to produce complete or near‐complete control, 30.5% partial control and an average benefit–cost ratio of 23:1. Funding for research has been variable with a decline from the late 1990s but with a significant increase again since 2020.
Identification of pathogenic deep intronic variant and exonic LINE‐1 insertion in a patient with Meckel syndrome
Authors: Miyamoto Sachiko , Nakamura Kazuyuki , Kato Mitsuhiro , Nakashima Mitsuko , Saitsu Hirotomo
Published: March 2023

Biallelic CC2D2A variants are associated with a wide range of neurodevelopmental disorders including Meckel syndrome. Here we report a Japanese girl with Meckel syndrome harboring a pathogenic deep intronic variant (NM_001378615.1:c.1149+3569A>G) and an exonic LINE‐1 insertion, which was predicted to cause aberrant splicing by SpliceAI and was detected by TEMP2 program, respectively. RNA analysis using urine‐derived cells (UDCs) showed retention of 149‐bp intronic sequences, leading to frameshift. Immunoblotting showed marked reduction of CC2D2A protein in the patient. Our report demonstrated that utilization of transposon detection tool and functional analysis using UDCs will increase diagnostic yield of genome sequencing.
Academic dermatology in Australia and New Zealand between 2017 and 2022: A cross‐sectional bibliometric analysis
Authors: Pham James P. , Yang Anes , Frew John W.
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Academic dermatologists in Australia and New Zealand provide high‐quality and meaningful contributions to the understanding of disease and therapeutic translational research. Concerns have been raised by the Australian Medical Association regarding the decline of clinical academics in Australia as a whole, however, such trends in scholarly output have not previously been analysed for Australasian dermatologists.

Methods

A bibliometric analysis of dermatologists in Australia and New Zealand was conducted in January and February 2023. Available Scopus profiles for all dermatologists were used to measure lifetime H index, scholarly output, citation counts and field‐weighted citation impact (FWCI) in the last 5 years (2017–2022). Trends in output over time were measured using non‐parametric tests.

Differences in output between subgroups stratified by gender and academic leadership positions (associate professor or professor) were measured using Wilcoxon rank‐sum and one‐way ANOVA tests. The scholarly output of recent College graduates was also analysed as a subgroup, comparing the same bibliographic variables in the 5 years preceding and 5 years following awarding of their fellowships.

Results

From the 463 practising dermatologists in Australia and New Zealand, 372 (80%) were successfully matched to Scopus researcher profiles. Of these dermatologists, 167 were male (45%) and 205 (55%) were female, and 31 (8%) held academic leadership positions. Most dermatologists (67%) published at least one paper in the last 5 years. The median lifetime H index was 4, and between 2017 and 2022 median scholarly output was 3, the median citations were 14 and the median FWCI was 0.64.

There was a non‐significant trend towards fewer publications per year, however, citation count and FWCI decreased significantly. By subgroups, female dermatologists published significantly more papers between 2017 and 2022, and other bibliographic variables were comparable to male dermatologists. However, women were underrepresented in positions of academic leadership—comprising only 32% of this cohort despite representing 55% of dermatologists. Professors were also significantly more likely to have higher bibliographic outcomes than associate professors. Finally, analysis of recent College graduates highlighted a significant decline in bibliometric outcomes pre‐ and post‐fellowship.

Conclusion

Overall, our analysis identifies a trend towards decreased research output by dermatologists in Australia and New Zealand in the last 5 years. Strategies to support dermatologists in research endeavours, particularly women and recent graduates, will be essential in maintaining strong scholarly output among Australasian dermatologists and thereby sustaining optimal evidence‐based patient care.
The impact of assisted reproductive technology and ovulation induction on breech presentation: A whole of population‐based cohort study
Authors: Chen Angela X. , Hunt Rod W. , Palmer Kirsten R. , Bull Claudia F. , Callander Emily J.
Published: March 2023

Aims

Multiple studies have suggested a likely association between breech presentation and assisted reproductive technology (ART) for conception. The aims were to determine whether conception via in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and ovulation induction (OI) is associated with fetal malpresentation at birth and to ascertain what mediating factors most significantly contribute to fetal malpresentation.

Methods

This whole‐population‐based cohort study included 355 990 singleton pregnancies born in Queensland, Australia, between July 2012 and July 2018. Multinomial logistic regression models estimated the adjusted odds of breech, transverse/shoulder and face/brow malpresentations in pregnancies conceived via spontaneous conception, OI (OI group) and IVF with or without intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ART group).

Results

After adjustment for potential confounding factors, breech presentation occurred approximately 20% more often in singleton pregnancies conceived via both ART (adjusted odds ratio: 1.20, 95% confidence interval: 1.10–1.30, P < 0.001) and OI (1.21, 95% confidence interval: 1.04–1.39, P < 0.05). No significant associations were observed between the three modes of conception and transverse/shoulder or face/brow presentations. Low birthweight was found to be the most significant mediating factor for breech presentation in pregnancies conceived via ART and OI.

Conclusions

Similar levels of increased odds of breech presentation are present in pregnancies conceived via OI and ART, suggesting a shared underlying mechanism for the aetiology of breech presentation. For women who are considering or have conceived via these methods, counselling with respect to this increased risk is recommended.
The impact of COVID‐19 on a specialised menopause clinic: Changes in practice and women's experiences
Authors: Kozica‐Olenski Samantha L. , Ghelani Drishti P. , Boyle Jacqueline A. , Vincent Amanda J.
Published: March 2023

Aims

The COVID‐19 pandemic necessitated the rapid change in a dedicated multidisciplinary menopause clinic from in‐person consultations to telehealth. The aim of this study was to explore the impact of COVID‐19 on menopause service delivery and consumer experiences.

Methods

Two‐part study involving the following. (i) Clinical audit conducted June–July 2019 (pre‐COVID‐19) and June–July 2020 (COVID‐19) assessing practice and service delivery changes. Assessment outcomes included: patient demographics, cause of menopause, presence of menopause symptoms, appointment attendance, medical history, investigations and menopause treatments. (ii) A post‐clinic online survey exploring the acceptability and experience of telehealth, once telehealth models of care had been routinely used in the menopause service (2021).

Results

Pre‐COVID (n = 156) and COVID‐19 (n = 150) clinic consultations were audited. Menopause care delivery changed significantly from 100% face‐to‐face consultations in 2019 to 95.4% telehealth consultations in 2020. In 2020, fewer women had investigations performed vs 2019 (P < 0.001), although use of menopausal therapies was similar (P < 0.05). Ninety‐four women completed the online survey. Most women (70%) were satisfied with their telehealth consultation and perceived that the doctor effectively communicated with them (76%). Women preferred face‐to‐face consultations for their first menopause clinic visit (69%) and telehealth for review consultations (65%). The majority of women (62%) viewed the continuation of telehealth consultations as ‘moderately’ to ‘extremely useful’ post‐pandemic.

Conclusion

The COVID‐19 pandemic caused significant changes to menopause service delivery. Telehealth was perceived as feasible and acceptable by women, supporting the continuation of a hybrid service delivery model incorporating telehealth and face‐to‐face consultation to meet the needs of women.
Prolonged Ca2+ release refractoriness and T‐tubule disruption as determinants of increased propensity to cardiac alternans in the hypertensive heart disease
Authors: Mariángelo Juan Ignacio Elio , Di Marzio Gabriel Darío , Gonano Luis Alberto , Said Matilde , Mundiña‐Weilenmann Cecilia
Published: March 2023

Aim

Cardiac alternans is a dynamical phenomenon linked to the genesis of severe arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. It has been proposed that alternans is caused by alterations in Ca2+ handling by the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR), in both the SR Ca2+ uptake and release processes. The hypertrophic myocardium is particularly prone to alternans, but the precise mechanisms underlying its increased vulnerability are not known.

Methods

Mechanical alternans (intact hearts) and Ca2+ alternans (cardiac myocytes) were studied in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) during the first year of age after the onset of hypertension and compared with age‐matched normotensive rats. Subcellular Ca2+ alternans, T‐tubule organization, SR Ca2+ uptake, and Ca2+ release refractoriness were measured.

Results

The increased susceptibility of SHR to high‐frequency‐induced mechanical and Ca2+ alternans appeared when the hypertrophy developed, associated with an adverse remodeling of the T‐tubule network (6 mo). At the subcellular level, Ca2+ discordant alternans was also observed. From 6 mo of age, SHR myocytes showed a prolongation of Ca2+ release refractoriness without alterations in the capacity of SR Ca2+ removal, measured by the frequency‐dependent acceleration of relaxation. Sensitizing SR Ca2+ release channels (RyR2) by a low dose of caffeine or by an increase in extracellular Ca2+ concentration, shortened refractoriness of SR Ca2+ release, and reduced alternans in SHR hearts.

Conclusions

The tuning of SR Ca2+ release refractoriness is a crucial target to prevent cardiac alternans in a hypertrophic myocardium with an adverse T‐tubule remodeling.
The combination of the enhanced liver fibrosis and FIB‐4 scores to determine significant fibrosis in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
Authors: Younossi Zobair M. , Stepanova Maria , Felix Sean , Jeffers Thomas , Younossi Elena , Goodman Zachary , Racila Andrei , Lam Brian P. , Henry Linda
Published: March 2023

Background

The presence of fibrosis in NAFLD is the most significant risk factor for adverse outcomes. We determined the cutoff scores of two non‐invasive te sts (NITs) to rule in and rule out significant fibrosis among NAFLD patients.

Methods

Clinical data and liver biopsies were used for NAFLD patients included in this analysis (2001–2020). The enhanced liver fibrosis (ELF) and FIB‐4 NITs were calculated. Liver biopsies were read by a single hematopathologist and scored by the NASH CRN criteria. Significant fibrosis was defined as stage F2–F4.

Results

There were 463 NAFLD patients included: 48 ± 13 years old, 31% male, 35% type 2 diabetes; 39% had significant fibrosis; mean ELF score was 9.0 ± 1.2, mean FIB‐4 score was 1.22 ± 1.05. Patients with significant fibrosis were older, more commonly male, had lower BMI but more components of metabolic syndrome, higher ELF and FIB‐4 (p < 0.0001). The performance of the two NITs in identifying significant fibrosis was: AUC (95% CI) = 0.78 (0.74–0.82) for ELF, 0.79 (0.75–0.83) for FIB‐4. The combination of ELF score ≥9.8 and FIB‐4 ≥ 1.96 returned a positive predictive value of 95% which can reliably rule in significant fibrosis (sensitivity 22%, specificity >99%), while an ELF score ≤7.7 or FIB‐4 ≤ 0.30 had a negative predictive value of 95% ruling out significant fibrosis (sensitivity 98%, specificity 22%).

Conclusions

The combination of ELF and FIB‐4 may provide practitioners with easily obtained information to risk stratify patients with NAFLD who could be referred to specialists or for enrollment in clinical trials.
Metabolic phenotyping of pilomotor seizures in autoimmune encephalitis
Authors: Sun Yueqian , Zhao Xiaobin , Ai Lin , Wang Qun
Published: March 2023

Objectives

Ictal piloerection (IP) is an uncommon symptom in focal epilepsy and is associated with autoimmune encephalitis (AE). However, the networks involved in AE‐associated IP are still unclear. To have a better understanding of IP underlying mechanisms, the current study investigated whole‐brain metabolic networks for the analysis of AE‐associated IP.

Methods

Patients with AE and IP diagnosed at our Institute between 2018 and 2022 were selected. We then investigated the brain regions associated with AE‐associated IP using positron emission tomography (PET). Anatomometabolic changes (interictal 18F fluorodeoxyglucose PET) in AE patients with IP were compared with those of AE patients of similar age without IP (p‐voxel <0.001, uncorrected).

Results

Sixteen patients showed significant IP. The overall IP prevalence was 4.09% of patients with AE and 12.9% of patients with limbic encephalitis. The most common autoantibodies were against LGI1 (68.8%) followed by GAD65 (6.3%), NMDA (6.3%), GABAb (6.3%), CASPR2 (6.3%), and antibodies recognizing both GAD65 and mGLUR5 (6.3%). Most patients responded well to immunotherapy. Analysis of the imaging results at the voxel level showed that patients with IP had hypermetabolic changes in the right inferior temporal gyrus, suggesting involvement of this brain region in IP.

Conclusions

Our findings indicate that IP as an uncommon AE‐associated manifestations should be recognized. We observed that the metabolic pattern of IP was conspicuous in the right inferior temporal gyrus.
Mismatch between conservation needs and actual representation of lions from West and Central Africa in in situ and ex situ conservation
Authors: Visser Fleur , Drouilly Marine , Moodley Yoshan , Michaux Johan R. , Somers Michael J.
Published: March 2023

Mismatches between conservation action and conservation needs have been highlighted for diverse species. Lion (Panthera leo) conservation is no exception, raising the question of whether current conservation strategies are always adequate to ensure the long‐term persistence of threatened taxa.

To investigate the representation of different lion Evolutionary Significant Units in field research, captive populations, funding allocation, and education, we carried out a literature review and sent an online questionnaire to zoos worldwide. Over 75% of the publications focused on southern and eastern African populations. Uplisting the West African lion to Critically Endangered did not change this result. We received 88 responses from zoos, which reported 346 lions in 83 zoos. Only 14 individuals have West and Central African origins. Over 70% of the respondents reported that they do not include any information on the conservation status or taxonomy of lions from West and Central Africa in their education programs. The minority of zoos funding in situ lion projects did so in Eastern and Southern Africa. We provide recommendations to encourage role‐players involved in lion and other threatened species conservation to address this mismatch by shifting some of their attention and funding to West and Central Africa.
Firm outward direct investment and multinational activity under domestic taxes
Authors: Fan Haichao , Liu Yu , Tian Suhua , Wang Xuan
Published: March 2023

We study the effect of domestic corporate tax on firms' outward direct investment (ODI) decisions. We exploit a tax unification reform in China that raises corporate income tax rates on foreign‐funded firms but reduces those on domestic Chinese firms. Using a difference‐in‐differences estimator that compares the ODI of foreign affiliates and joint ventures with private domestic firms before and after the reform, we find that a higher domestic corporate tax rate increased the ODI of foreign firms, particularly for joint ventures with Chinese majority shareholders. We show evidence that the increases in firm ODI reflect production relocation out of China.
A frontoparietal network for volitional control of gaze following
Authors: Breu M. S. , Ramezanpour H. , Dicke P. W. , Thier P.
Published: March 2023

Gaze following is a major element of non‐verbal communication and important for successful social interactions. Human gaze following is a fast and almost reflex‐like behaviour, yet it can be volitionally controlled and suppressed to some extent if inappropriate or unnecessary, given the social context. In order to identify the neural basis of the cognitive control of gaze following, we carried out an event‐related fMRI experiment, in which human subjects' eye movements were tracked while they were exposed to gaze cues in two distinct contexts: A baseline gaze following condition in which subjects were instructed to use gaze cues to shift their attention to a gazed‐at spatial target and a control condition in which the subjects were required to ignore the gaze cue and instead to shift their attention to a distinct spatial target to be selected based on a colour mapping rule, requiring the suppression of gaze following. We could identify a suppression‐related blood‐oxygen‐level‐dependent (BOLD) response in a frontoparietal network comprising dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC), orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), the anterior insula, precuneus, and posterior parietal cortex (PPC). These findings suggest that overexcitation of frontoparietal circuits in turn suppressing the gaze following patch might be a potential cause of gaze following deficits in clinical populations.
Sex hormones differentially contribute to Parkinson disease in males: A multimodal biomarker study
Authors: Bovenzi Roberta , Sancesario Giulia Maria , Conti Matteo , Grillo Piergiorgio , Cerroni Rocco , Bissacco Jacopo , Forti Paolo , Giannella Emilia , Pieri Massimo , Minosse Silvia , Ferrazzoli Valentina , Pucci Noemi , Laudazi Mario , Floris Roberto , Garaci Francesco , Pierantozzi Mariangela , Stefani Alessandro , Mercuri Nicola Biagio , Picchi Eliseo , Di Giuliano Francesca , Schirinzi Tommaso
Published: March 2023

Background and purpose

Parkinson disease (PD) presents relevant sex‐related differences in epidemiology, pathophysiology, and clinical features, with males being more vulnerable to the disease. Sex hormones might have a role, as the experimental models suggest; however, human‐based evidence is scarce. Here, we integrated multimodal biomarkers to investigate the relationships between circulating sex hormones and clinical–pathological features in male PD patients.

Methods

A cohort of 63 male PD patients underwent comprehensive clinical evaluation of motor and nonmotor disturbances; measurement of estradiol, testosterone, follicle‐stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH) blood levels; and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) assay of total α‐synuclein, amyloid‐β‐42, amyloid‐β‐40, total tau, and phosphorylated‐181 tau levels. A subgroup of 47 PD patients underwent brain volumetry by 3‐T magnetic resonance imaging for further correlations. A control group of 56 age‐matched individuals was enrolled for comparative analyses.

Results

Male PD patients had higher estradiol and testosterone levels than controls. Estradiol had independent inverse associations with Movement Disorder Society–Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Part 3 score and disease duration; it was also lower in nonfluctuating patients. Testosterone had inverse independent correlations with CSF α‐synuclein and right globus pallidus volume. FSH and LH had age‐dependent correlations with cognitive impairment and CSF amyloid‐β‐42/amyloid‐β‐40 ratio.

Conclusions

The study suggested that sex hormones could differentially contribute to clinical–pathological features of PD in male patients. Whereas estradiol might have a protective role in motor impairment, testosterone might be involved in male vulnerability to PD neuropathology. Gonadotropins instead might mediate age‐dependent phenomena of amyloidopathy and cognitive decline.
A mesoscopic numerical method for fracture energy of concrete
Authors: Zeng Ming‐Hui , Wu Zhi‐Min , Zheng Jian‐Jun , Yu Rena C.
Published: March 2023

This paper develops a mesoscopic numerical method for evaluating the fracture energy of concrete. In this method, concrete is modeled as a three‐phase composite material, composed of mortar, coarse aggregate, and the interface between them. The actual mixed‐mode I–II crack growth path in mode I fracture tests is traced by applying crack propagation criteria. After verifying the numerical method by a series of three‐point bending tests, the effects of aggregate location, aggregate size, and crack propagation path on the fracture energy of concrete are evaluated. It is found that for the fracture mode of crack bypassing aggregates, the actual fracture energy of concrete is significantly affected by the aggregate location but independent of the aggregate size and the crack propagation path.
Effects of structural complexity and L1 experience on L2 acquisition of Chinese multiword sequences
Authors: He Xue
Published: March 2023

The Challenge

Multiword sequences are difficult for second language (L2) learners to acquire. What factors influence L2 learners' learning of Chinese multiword sequences? The grammar patterns for such constructions in Chinese presented in the textbooks are complicated, and some are not accurate. How should L2 instructors teach multiword sequences?
Carbon–biodiversity relationships in a highly diverse subtropical forest
Authors: Schuldt Andreas , Liu Xiaojuan , Buscot François , Bruelheide Helge , Erfmeier Alexandra , He Jin‐Sheng , Klein Alexandra‐Maria , Ma Keping , Scherer‐Lorenzen Michael , Schmid Bernhard , Scholten Thomas , Tang Zhiyao , Trogisch Stefan , Wirth Christian , Wubet Tesfaye , Staab Michael
Published: March 2023

Carbon‐focused climate mitigation strategies are becoming increasingly important in forests. However, with ongoing biodiversity declines we require better knowledge of how much such strategies account for biodiversity. We particularly lack information across multiple trophic levels and on established forests, where the interplay between carbon stocks, stand age, and tree diversity might influence carbon–biodiversity relationships. Using a large dataset (>4600 heterotrophic species of 23 taxonomic groups) from secondary, subtropical forests, we tested how multitrophic diversity and diversity within trophic groups relate to aboveground, belowground, and total carbon stocks at different levels of tree species richness and stand age. Our study revealed that aboveground carbon, the key component of climate‐based management, was largely unrelated to multitrophic diversity. By contrast, total carbon stocks—that is, including belowground carbon—emerged as a significant predictor of multitrophic diversity. Relationships were nonlinear and strongest for lower trophic levels, but nonsignificant for higher trophic level diversity. Tree species richness and stand age moderated these relationships, suggesting long‐term regeneration of forests may be particularly effective in reconciling carbon and biodiversity targets. Our findings highlight that biodiversity benefits of climate‐oriented management need to be evaluated carefully, and only maximizing aboveground carbon may fail to account for biodiversity conservation requirements.
Rooting vegetation models in realism
Authors: Nair Richard
Published: March 2023

Root systems are difficult to measure in the real world contexts and so are typically simply represented in vegetation models. New functional representation of roots in models may improve modelled representations of the terrestrial carbon sink.
Pest suppression potential varies across 10 bioenergy cropping systems
Authors: Haan Nathan L. , Landis Douglas A.
Published: March 2023

Top‐down suppression of herbivores is a fundamental ecological process and a critical service in agricultural landscapes. Adoption of bioenergy cropping systems is likely to become an increasingly important driver causing loss or gain of this service in coming decades. We measured natural pest suppression potential in ten model bioenergy crops in a long‐term experimental array by deploying plasticine sentinel caterpillar mimics, which record imprints from predator attacks. Cropping systems included three intensive annual row crop systems and a range of simple perennial monocultures and more complex polycultures. We compared attack rates across the ten cropping systems and assessed differences over time within a growing season and between the ground level and canopy. We found strong differences in attack rates across cropping systems, usually with more attacks in perennial crops than annuals. However, outcomes varied in space and time, both within and among cropping systems. Birds and small mammals were responsible for most, and sometimes all, attacks in annual crops and were most important early in the season. Chewing arthropod attacks increased over the course of the growing season and were responsible for most attack events in perennial systems. In late summer there were almost no attacks in annual crop canopies, while attack rates in perennial canopies at the same time were quite high and were carried out almost entirely by chewing arthropods. Our results underscore the lack of trophic complexity in annual bioenergy cropping systems relative to perennials. They also illustrate the dramatic changes in predator activity and predation intensity that occur both seasonally and between the ground and plant canopy. Policies and practices that increase the footprint of annual crops for bioenergy are likely to cause a deficit in pest suppression services at local and landscape scales.
Successional shifts in tree demographic strategies in wet and dry Neotropical forests
Authors: Rüger Nadja , Schorn Markus E. , Kambach Stephan , Chazdon Robin L. , Farrior Caroline E. , Meave Jorge A. , Muñoz Rodrigo , van Breugel Michiel , Amissah Lucy , Bongers Frans , Craven Dylan , Hérault Bruno , Jakovac Catarina C. , Norden Natalia , Poorter Lourens , van der Sande Masha T. , Wirth Christian , Delgado Diego , Dent Daisy H. , DeWalt Saara J. , Dupuy Juan M. , Finegan Bryan , Hall Jefferson S. , Hernández‐Stefanoni José L. , Lopez Omar R.
Published: March 2023

Aim

Tropical forest succession and associated changes in community composition are driven by species demographic rates, but how demographic strategies shift during succession remains unclear. Our goal was to identify generalities in demographic trade‐offs and successional shifts in demographic strategies across Neotropical forests that cover a large rainfall gradient and to test whether the current conceptual model of tropical forest succession applies to wet and dry forests.

Location

Mexico and Central America.

Time period

1985–2018.

Major taxa studied

Trees.

Methods

We used repeated forest inventory data from two wet and two dry forests to quantify demographic rates of 781 tree species. For each forest, we explored the main demographic trade‐offs and assigned tree species to five demographic groups by performing a weighted principal components analysis to account for differences in sample size. We aggregated the basal area and abundance across demographic groups to identify successional shifts in demographic strategies over the entire successional gradient from very young (<5 years) to old‐growth forests.

Results

Across all forests, we found two demographic trade‐offs, namely the growth–survival trade‐off and the stature–recruitment trade‐off, enabling the data‐driven assignment of species to five demographic strategies. Fast species dominated early in succession and were then replaced by long‐lived pioneers in three forests. Intermediate and slow species increased in basal area over succession in all forests, but, in contrast to the current conceptual model, long‐lived pioneers continued to dominate until the old‐growth stage in all forests. The basal area of short‐lived breeders was low across all successional stages.

Main conclusions

The current conceptual model of Neotropical forest succession should be revised to incorporate the dominance of long‐lived pioneers in late‐successional and old‐growth forests. Moreover, the definition of consistent demographic strategies that show clear dominance shifts across succession substantially improves the mechanistic understanding and predictability of Neotropical forest succession.
How do Japanese and Chinese view each other? Understanding the meaning of low‐context culture in intercultural communication
Authors: Wu Changyi , Yama Hiroshi , Zakaria Norhayati
Published: March 2023

Although Easterners are assumed to have a high‐context culture, Yamashina found that Japanese believe the Chinese to engage in a low‐context cultural communication style. We interpreted her results as follows: the Chinese whom Japanese know are likely to engage in intercultural communication that is used in low‐context cultural situations (code‐switching). To test this interpretation, we used a 17‐item online questionnaire on context dependency for participants (Japanese university students, Chinese university students, and Chinese international students living and studying in Japan) to score the self, average Japanese, and average Chinese. Hence, the design was 3 (culture) by 3 (object). The results showed that both Japanese and Chinese students rated people in their counterpart countries as having a low‐context communication style, supporting our interpretation. However, this effect was not evident among Chinese international students. These results confirmed that low‐context cultural situations may arise when people engage in intercultural communication.
Enhanced safety surveillance of GSK's quadrivalent seasonal influenza vaccine in Germany and Spain (2021/2022 season) using an electronic patient‐reported outcome system for vaccine safety remote monitoring
Authors: Dos Santos Gaël , Eckermann Tamara , Martínez‐Gómez Xavier , Parra Jose , Nwoji Ugo , Salamanca de la Cueva Ignacio
Published: March 2023

Background

Seasonal influenza epidemics are managed through vaccination each winter in the European Union, to prevent infections, complications, and deaths. As circulating virus strains vary unpredictably, vaccines are reformulated annually, and their safety monitored rapidly and continuously at the start of each season, following European Medicines Agency guidelines.Seasonal influenza epidemics are managed through vaccination each winter in the European Union, to prevent infections, complications, and deaths. As circulating virus strains vary unpredictably, vaccines are reformulated annually, and their safety monitored rapidly and continuously at the start of each season, following European Medicines Agency guidelines.

Methods

This enhanced safety surveillance study assessed pre‐specified and other adverse events (AEs) occurring within 7 days of GSK's inactivated quadrivalent seasonal influenza vaccine (IIV4) in children and adults in Spain and Germany. As the study was conducted during the COVID‐19 pandemic (2021/2022 season), data were collected electronically, using a web portal or call center.

Results

Safety was assessed in 737 participants (median age 49 and 9 years in Germany and Spain, respectively, 19.3% with a chronic medical condition). After Dose 1 and Dose 2, respectively, 332 (45.1%) and 5 (26.3%) participants reported at least one AE, primarily pre‐specified AEs. The most common AEs after Dose 1 (adults and children) were injection site pain, swelling or erythema, headache, and fatigue. After Dose 2 (in children), the most common AEs were injection site pain, rhinorrhea, fatigue, and decreased appetite. No new or unexpected safety issues were identified.

Conclusion

This study supports and confirms the safety profile of GSK's IIV4 in all age groups with a vaccine indication. The new electronic safety reporting method (with response rates of 75.4% following Dose 1 and 100% following Dose 2) provides an alternative for future studies to reduce the burden on sites or in case site visits are not feasible.
Exaptation and vulnerability to introduced mammal herbivores on Balearic endemic flora
Authors: Capó Miquel , Pérez‐Barrales Rocío , Cursach Joana , Garrido Jaume , Baraza Elena , Rita Juan
Published: March 2023

Aim

Introduced mammal herbivores are predicted to negatively affect insular flora. However, disentangling which particular traits (1) developed from exaptations and (2) are functional to avoid herbivory remains mainly unknown. This study aims to assess if the flora of continental islands with historic native herbivores are exapted to the introduction of new mammal herbivores and to predict the potential vulnerability of endemic species from islands where mammal herbivores have not been introduced.

Location

Balearic Islands.

Taxon

96 Balearic endemic plant species.

Methods

We investigated whether the endemic flora on continental islands maintains functional traits that resist introduced mammal herbivores by analysing the chemical and morphological traits related to plant resistance of five individuals for each of 98 species. Also, we measured plant‐size variables to assess plant escape strategies. Overall, we combined these traits with the accessibility to goats. Predictive models were generated for species that inhabit islands where goats have not been introduced to assess their potential vulnerability.

Results

Endemic species may defend against new herbivores (e.g. goats) if they contain highly toxic compounds (alkaloids, glycosides, coumarins), spinescent and urticating structures, or specific plant architecture (low plant size, high specific leaf area). If such traits are absent, the species may become extinct—unless they inhabit areas inaccessible to goats. On continental islands, some endemic species are expected to resist the introduction of herbivores, while others may be significantly affected.

Main Conclusions

From the ancient connection with the mainland, exaptations may allow the plants to resist the presence of introduced herbivores. However, non‐exapted species could be threatened by the introduction of non‐native ungulates.