bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
DIB-BOT: An open-source hardware approach for high throughput droplet interface bilayer deposition
Authors: Mason Alexander F , Wickham Shelley FJ , Baker Matthew AB
Published: January 2024

Droplet interface bilayers (DIBs) provide a controlled lipid environment for the single-molecule investigation of a range of biologically relevant membrane-bound processes and have garnered attention for their potential applications in bottom-up artificial cells, biosensing, and biophysics. However, the fabrication of DIBs is currently hindered by time-consuming processes and specialized equipment. These fabrication limitations prevent the scale-up of DIB assays, making it difficult to generate the large data sets required to achieve statistically significant conclusions in single-molecule biological assays where heterogeneous behaviour is often observed. This research describes an open-source solution, dubbed “DIB-BOT,” constructed by coupling a nanoinjector with an entry-level 3D printer. We present DIB-BOT as a platform to achieve rapid, reproducible, and reliable fabrication of large numbers of DIBs, addressing the limitations of manual methods. Leveraging commercially available off-the-shelf components, DIB-BOT exhibits high spatial reproducibility, minimal user input, and the ability to scale experiments rapidly. Here we demonstrate the utility of the system by integrating pairwise droplet assembly with a fluorescence plate-reader to execute a biologically relevant assay. When compared with manual DIB fabrication, the DIB-BOT had a tenfold reduction in droplet volume error, a threefold reduction in positional error, and 100% droplet yield. Overall, this method has potential to reduce entry barriers to the use of DIB methods, broadening the applications of DIB research, and generating higher quality data sets.
The Neural Basis of Event Segmentation: Stable Features in the Environment are Reflected by Neural States
Authors: Oetringer Djamari , Gözükara Dora , Güçlü Umut , Geerligs Linda
Published: January 2024

Our senses receive a continuous stream of complex information. Parsing this information into meaningful events allows us to extract relevant information, remember it, and act upon it. Previous research has related these events to so-called neural states: temporally and regionally specific stable patterns of brain activity, which tend to coincide with events in the stimulus. Neural states show a temporal cortical hierarchy: short states are present in early sensory areas, while longer states can be found in higher-level areas. Here we investigated what these neural states represent. We hypothesized that states at different levels of the cortical hierarchy are shaped by aspects of the stimulus to which these brain areas are responsive. To test this hypothesis, we analyzed fMRI data of participants watching a movie, using a data-driven method to identify the neural states. We found support for the aforementioned hypothesis: specifically the parahippocampal place area and retrosplenial cortex, known to be sensitive to places, showed an alignment between neural state boundaries and moments in the movie with a change in location, independent of changes in visual features and other covariates. These findings suggest that neural states reflect stable features in the (internal model of) the external environment, and that the cortical temporal hierarchy partly reflects the temporal scales at which representations of the environment evolve.
Usutu virus and West Nile virus use a transcellular route of neuroinvasion across anin vitromodel of the human blood-brain barrier
Authors: Marshall Eleanor M. , Koopmans Marion , Rockx Barry
Published: January 2024

West Nile virus (WNV) leads to thousands of cases of severe neurological disease in humans each year. Usutu virus (USUV) is closely related to WNV, but rarely induces disease in humans. We hypothesised that USUV is less able to cross the blood-brain barrier, and is therefore less likely to infect the brain. Therefore, we developed anin vitroBBB model consisting of primary human brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs), pericytes and astrocytes. Both USUV and WNV invaded across thein vitroBBB via a transcellular mechanism in absence of barrier disruption. USUV replicated to lower titres than WNV but induced a comparable cytokine and chemokine response, with modulation of key factors associated with barrier function and immune-cell migration. In conclusion, USUV appears attenuated in its ability to replicate at this interface compared with WNV, but further work must to done to identify key determinants underlying the differing clinical presentations.
Inferring neural dynamics of memory during naturalistic social communication
Authors: Pang Rich , Baker Christa , Murthy Mala , Pillow Jonathan
Published: January 2024

Memory processes in complex behaviors like social communication require forming representations of the past that grow with time. The neural mechanisms that support such continually growing memory remain unknown. We address this gap in the context of fly courtship, a natural social behavior involving the production and perception of long, complex song sequences. To study female memory for male song history in unrestrained courtship, we present ‘Natural Continuation’ (NC)—a general, simulation-based model comparison procedure to evaluate candidate neural codes for complex stimuli using naturalistic behavioral data. Applying NC to fly courtship revealed strong evidence for an adaptive population mechanism for how female auditory neural dynamics could convert long song histories into a rich mnemonic format. Song temporal patterning is continually transformed by heterogeneous nonlinear adaptation dynamics, then integrated into persistent activity, enabling common neural mechanisms to retain continuously unfolding information over long periods and yielding state-of-the-art predictions of female courtship behavior. At a population level this coding model produces multi-dimensional advection-diffusion-like responses that separate songs over a continuum of timescales and can be linearly transformed into flexible output signals, illustrating its potential to create a generic, scalable mnemonic format for extended input signals poised to drive complex behavioral responses. This work thus shows how naturalistic behavior can directly inform neural population coding models, revealing here a novel process for memory formation.
mTORC3 activity is regulated by GSK3β through the activation of PKCδ that phosphorylates and activates STAT1
Authors: Zhan Jun , Harwood Frank C. , Cardone Monica , Grosveld Gerard C.
Published: January 2024

The mechanistic target of rapamycin serine/threonine kinase (mTOR), a critical regulator of cell proliferation, is implicated in many human diseases, including cancer. Our laboratory recently discovered a new mTOR complex, called mTORC3, distinct from the two canonical mTOR complexes, mTORC1, and mTORC2, which causes accelerated proliferation and increased malignancy of cancer cells. Understanding how mTORC3 is controlled is an important approach to designing cancer therapies targeting mTORC3. Having investigated how mTORC3 activity was affected by glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK3β), a known regulator of mTOR activity, we found that cells do not assemble mTORC3 upon GSK3β knockout, due to extinguished expression of ETV7, an essential component of the mTORC3 complex. We discovered that the lack of ETV7 expression resulted from reduced phosphorylation of serine 727 (S727) of the Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 1 (STAT1), which is required for transcriptional activation of ETV7. Finally, we identified that GSK3β through PKCδ phosphorylates STAT1-S727. Together, we identified a novel GSK3β/PKCδ/ STAT1 pathway in Karpas cells that regulates ETV7 transcription, thus positively regulating mTORC3 activity. The identification of this signaling pathway could benefit the therapeutic design for numerous diseases including cancer.
Pregnancy-associated oxidative stress and inflammation are not associated with impaired maternal neuronal activity or memory function
Authors: Bradshaw Jessica L. , Wilson E. Nicole , Gardner Jennifer J. , Mabry Steve , Tucker Selina M. , Rybalchenko Nataliya , Vera Edward , Goulopoulou Styliani , Cunningham Rebecca L.
Published: January 2024

Pregnancy is associated with neural and behavioral plasticity, systemic inflammation, and oxidative stress. Yet, the impact of systemic inflammation and oxidative stress on maternal neural and behavioral plasticity during pregnancy are unclear. We hypothesized that the maternal hippocampal CA1, a brain region associated with cognition, would be protected from pregnancy-associated systemic elevations in inflammation and oxidative stress, mediating stable peripartum cognitive performance. Cognitive performance was tested using novel object recognition (recollective memory), Morris water maze (spatial memory), and open field (anxiety-like) behavior tasks in female Sprague-Dawley rats of varying reproductive states [non-pregnant (nulliparous), pregnant (near term), and two months post-pregnancy (primiparous); n = 7-8/group]. Plasma and CA1 proinflammatory cytokines were measured using a MILLIPLEX® magnetic bead assay. Plasma oxidative stress was measured via advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) assay. CA1 markers of oxidative stress, neuronal activity, and apoptosis were quantified via western blotting. Our results demonstrate CA1 oxidative stress-associated markers were elevated in pregnant compared to nulliparous rats (p≤ 0.017) but were equivalent levels in pregnant and primiparous rats. In contrast, reproductive state did not impact CA1 inflammatory cytokines, neuronal activity, or apoptosis. Likewise, there was no effect of reproductive state on recollective or spatial memory. Even so, spatial learning was impaired (p≤ 0.007) while anxiety-like behavior (p≤ 0.034) was reduced in primiparous rats. Overall, our data suggest maternal hippocampal CA1 is protected from systemic inflammation but vulnerable to peripartum oxidative stress. Thus, peripartum oxidative stress elevations, such as in pregnancy complications, may contribute to peripartum neural and behavioral plasticity.
Metabotropic NMDA Receptor Signaling Contributes to Sex Differences in Synaptic Plasticity and Episodic Memory
Authors: Le Aliza A. , Lauterborn Julie C. , Jia Yousheng , Cox Conor D. , Lynch Gary , Gall Christine M.
Published: January 2024

Men generally outperform women on encoding spatial components of episodic memory whereas the reverse holds for semantic elements. Here we show that female mice outperform males on tests for non-spatial aspects of episodic memory (“what”, “when”), suggesting that the human findings are influenced by neurobiological factors common to mammals. Analysis of hippocampal synaptic plasticity mechanisms and encoding revealed unprecedented, sex-specific contributions of non-classical metabotropic NMDA receptor (NMDAR) functions. While both sexes used non-ionic NMDAR signaling to trigger actin polymerization needed to consolidate long-term potentiation (LTP), NMDAR GluN2B subunit antagonism blocked these effects in males only and had the corresponding sex-specific effect on episodic memory. Conversely, blocking estrogen receptor alpha eliminated metabotropic stabilization of LTP and episodic memory in females only. The results show that sex differences in metabotropic signaling critical for enduring synaptic plasticity in hippocampus have significant consequences for encoding episodic memories.
Cannabis sativa(Hemp) seed-derived peptides WVYY and PSLPA modulate the Nrf2 signaling pathway in human keratinocytes
Authors: Kim Euihyun , Jang Jihyeon , Seo Hyo Hyun , Lee Jeong Hun , Moh Sang Hyun
Published: January 2024

Cannabis sativa(Hemp) seeds are used widely for cosmetic and therapeutic applications, and contain peptides with substantial therapeutic potential. Two key peptides, WVYY and PSLPA, extracted from hemp seed proteins were the focal points of this study. These peptides have emerged as pivotal contributors to the various biological effects of hemp seed extracts. Consistently, in the present study, the biological effects of WVYY and PSLPA were explored. We confirmed that both WVYY and PSLPA exert antioxidant and antibacterial effects and promote wound healing. We hypothesized the involvement of the nuclear factor erythroid 2– related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway in these observed effects, given that Nrf2 is reported to be a central player in the regulation of these observed effects. Molecular-level investigations unequivocally confirmed the role of the Nrf2 signaling pathway in the observed effects of WVYY and PSLPA, specifically their antioxidant effects. Our study highlights the therapeutic potential of hemp seed-derived peptides WVYY and PSLPA, particularly with respect to their antioxidant effects, and provides a nuanced understanding of their effects. Further, our findings can facilitate the investigation of targeted therapeutic applications and also underscore the broader significance of hemp extracts in biological contexts.
Investigation of work order processing in different facilities: a questionnaire-based survey
Authors: Ensafi Mahnaz , Thabet Walid , Besiktepe Deniz
Published: January 2024

Purpose

The aim of this paper was to study current practices in FM work order processing to support and improve decision-making. Processing and prioritizing work orders constitute a critical part of facilities and maintenance management practices given the large amount of work orders submitted daily. User-driven approaches (UDAs) are currently more prevalent for processing and prioritizing work orders but have challenges including inconsistency and subjectivity. Data-driven approaches can provide an advantage over user-driven ones in work-order processing; however, specific data requirements need to be identified to collect and process the functional data needed while achieving more consistent and accurate results.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents the findings of an online survey conducted with facility management (FM) experts who are directly or indirectly involved in processing work orders in building maintenance.

Findings

The findings reflect the current practices of 71 survey participants on data requirements, criteria selection, rankings, with current shortcomings and challenges in prioritizing work orders. In addition, differences between criteria and their ranking within participants’ experience, facility types and facility sizes are investigated. The findings of the study provide a snapshot of the current practices in FM work order processing, which aids in developing a comprehensive framework to support data-driven decision-making and address the challenges with UDAs.

Originality/value

Although previous studies have explored the use of selected criteria for processing and prioritizing work orders, this paper investigated a comprehensive list of criteria used by various facilities for processing work orders. Furthermore, previous studies are focused on the processing and prioritization stage, whereas this paper explored the data collected following the completion of the maintenance tasks and the benefits it can provide for processing future work orders. In addition, previous studies have focused on one specific stage of work order processing, whereas this paper investigated the common data between different stages of work order processing for enhanced FM.
Effects of velocity, thermal and concentration slips on the entropy generation of nanofluid over an inclined sheet
Authors: Barik Ashok K. , Rout Swetapadma , Senapati Jnana Ranjan , Awad M.M.
Published: January 2024

Purpose

This paper aims at studying numerically the entropy generation of nanofluid flowing over an inclined sheet in the presence of external magnetic field, heat source/sink, chemical reaction along with slip boundary conditions imposed on an impermeable wall.

Design/methodology/approach

A suitable similarity transformation technique has been used to convert the coupled nonlinear partial differential equations to ordinary differential equations (ODEs). The ODEs are then solved simultaneously using the finite difference method implemented through an in-house computer program. The effects of different controlling parameters such as magnetic parameter, radiation parameter, Brownian motion parameter, thermophoresis parameter, chemical reaction parameter, Reynolds number, Brinkmann number, Prandtl number, velocity slip parameter, temperature slip parameter and the concentration slip parameter on the entropy generation and Bejan number have been discussed comprehensively through the relevant physical insights for the first time.

Findings

The relative strengths of the irreversibilities due to heat transfer, fluid friction and the mass diffusion arising due to the change in each of the controlling variables have been delineated both in the near-wall and far-away-wall regions, which may be helpful for a better understanding of the thermo-fluid dynamics of nanofluid in boundary layer flows. The numerical results obtained from the present study have also been validated with results published in open literature.

Originality/value

The effects of different controlling parameters such as magnetic parameter, radiation parameter, Brownian motion parameter, thermophoresis parameter, chemical reaction parameter, Reynolds number, Brinkmann number, Prandtl number, velocity slip parameter, temperature slip parameter and the concentration slip parameter on the entropy generation and Bejan number have been discussed comprehensively through the relevant physical insights for the first time.
How important is parental education for child nutrition: analyzing the relative significance of mothers' and fathers' education
Authors: Sarwar Ambreen , Jadoon Atif Khan , Chaudhry Mumtaz Anwar , Latif Ayesha , Javaid Maria Faiq
Published: January 2024

Purpose

Child malnutrition is a grave concern for Pakistan, as the country has one of the highest incidences of child stunting in the developing world. The present study examines the relative significance of parents' education on a child's nutritional status in Pakistan.

Design/methodology/approach

For analysis, the study has used data from Phase 7 of the Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey (PDHS) (2017–2018). Since the dependent variable ranges from 0 to 1 (1 indicates not a stunted child, while 0 represents a stunted child), binary logistic regressions are used for the analysis.

Findings

The results show that mothers' and fathers' education positively contributes to a child's nutrition. However, mothers' education is considered more significant, especially in the long run. The mother's education categories are positive and significant in the long run, while only their higher education is positive and significant for the father's. Moreover, the magnitude of the effect also shows that the probability of stunting is less if the mothers are educated. The long-run coefficient for mothers' higher education is 0.752, while that of fathers' higher education is only 0.232.

Originality/value

The present study compares the importance of mothers' and fathers' education in child nutrition and concludes that the role of the mother is more crucial for child upbringing. There are rarely any studies that focus on the role of fathers' education in child nutrition and compare whose role, mothers' or fathers,' is more important for child well-being.

Peer review

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-06-2023-0483
Senior entrepreneurship in Latin America: evaluation and support from entrepreneurship ecosystems approach
Authors: Torres-Marín Alfonso , Amorós José Ernesto , Leporati Marcelo , Roses Sergio
Published: January 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to make an exploratory analysis of the impact of the entrepreneurial ecosystem (EE) as defined by Acs et al. (2014) on opportunity-driven senior entrepreneurial activity in Latin America.

Design/methodology/approach

The research uses data from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor and the Global Entrepreneurship and Development Institute of five Latin America countries (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Mexico), providing a total of 15,019 observations of people that are 50+ years old, between the years 2013 and 2017. A multi-level logistic regression model was used to estimate the relation between the total entrepreneurial activity by opportunity of seniors and some EE indicators. A total of three equations were estimated on the data set described.

Findings

This research confirms the relevance of some elements of EE on senior entrepreneurship in Latin America. Entrepreneurial attitudes have a positive relationship with senior entrepreneurs, generating higher levels of entrepreneurial ventures. The combination of institutions that support these attitudes on the EE enhances senior entrepreneurial activity. It also demonstrates that a higher level of entrepreneurial education at postschool stages is relevant to increasing senior entrepreneurial activity.

Originality/value

This research makes some interesting contributions in the field of measuring the impact of EE on senior entrepreneurship by opportunity in developing countries, filling a literature gap. It allows us to glimpse some measures that policymakers could take to improve the entrepreneurial activity of this segment in the region, such as implementing programs that facilitate networking opportunities and mentorship, along with providing training in business and financial literacy.
Investigating the impact of TiO2 filler on abrasive wear characteristics of bamboo fiber-reinforced epoxy composites using the Taguchi method
Authors: Prabhu Ravikantha , Mendonca Sharun , Bellairu Pavana Kumara , DSouza Rudolf Charles , Bhat Thirumaleshwara
Published: January 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of titanium oxide (TiO2) filler on the abrasive wear properties of bamboo fiber reinforced epoxy composites (BFRCs) using a Taguchi approach. The study aims to enhance the abrasive wear resistance of these composites by introducing TiO2 filler as a potential reinforcement, thus contributing to the development of sustainable and environmentally friendly materials.

Design/methodology/approach

This study focuses on the fabrication of epoxy/bamboo composites infused with TiO2 particles within the Wt.% range of 0–8 Wt.% using hand layup techniques. The resulting composites were subjected to wear testing according to ASTM G99-05 standards. Statistical analysis of the wear results was carried out using the Taguchi design of experiments (DOE). Additionally, an analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine the influential control factors impacting the specific wear rate (SWR) and coefficient of friction (COF).

Findings

The study illuminates how integrating TiO2 filler enhances abrasive wear in epoxy/bamboo composites. Statistical analysis of SWR highlights abrasive grit size (grit) as the most influential factor, followed by normal load, Wt.% of TiO2 and sliding distance. Analysis of the COF identifies normal load as the primary influential factor, followed by grit, Wt.% of TiO2 and sliding distance. The Taguchi predictive model closely aligns with experimental results, validating its reliability. The morphological study revealed significant differences between the unfilled and TiO2-filled composites. The inclusion of TiO2 improved wear resistance, as evidenced by reduced surface damage and wear debris.

Originality/value

This research paper aims to integrate TiO2 filler and bamboo fibers to create an innovative hybrid composite material. TiO2 micro and nanoparticles show promise as filler materials, contributing to improved tribological properties of epoxy composites. The utilization of Taguchi’s DOE and ANOVA for statistical analysis provides valuable guidance for academic researchers and practitioners in optimizing control variables, especially in the context of natural fiber reinforced composites.
Scrutinizing the effects of pop-up stores’ retailscape on young Chinese tourists’ emotion and patronage intention
Authors: Lyu Jiayi , Wong Cora Un In , Li Zhuo , Ren Lianping
Published: January 2024

Purpose

This study aims to understand how retailscape of pop-up stores could influence young Chinese tourists’ emotional response and their subsequent shopping intention in the context of luxury retailing.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative approach was chosen. Building on the theoretical framework of the stimulus–organism–response (S–O–R) theory, a pop-up store retailscape behavior model was developed to explore the effect of retailscape on young Chinese tourists’ emotional response and patronage intention in a luxury retail setting. In total, 226 structured questionnaires were collected onsite.

Findings

The multiple regression analysis reveals that a luxury pop-up store’s retailscape has a positive influence on young Chinese tourists’ emotional response, but it only has a partial influence on their patronage intention. In addition, the result suggests that young Chinese tourists’ emotional response positively influences their patronage intention in luxury pop-up stores.

Practical implications

The study reveals how retailscape influences behavior among the younger generation, and the results provide important references for the luxury retailers in future design and management of pop-up stores so as to attract and retain the interest of the younger generation.

Originality/value

This study puts retailscape effect under scrutiny in the context of luxury pop-up stores which attract young Chinese tourists, who are regarded as one of the major patrons supporting exclusive retail brands in the world. The stimuli element in the S–O–R model is, thus, reexamined in the context of luxury pop-up stores.
Paternal intergenerational plasticity in the plant species Paeonia ostii: Implications for parental fitness and offspring performance
Authors: Zhang Keliang , Ji Yusong , Yao Linjun , Liu Huina , Zhang Yin , Baskin Jerry M. , Baskin Carol C. , Zhang Lei , Xu Chaohan , Tao Jun , Prinzing Andreas
Published: January 2024

While there is long‐standing interest in the role of inter‐ and transgenerational plasticity via the maternal line, it rarely has been studied via the paternal line. Thus, consequences of the paternal environment for parental fitness and for performance of offspring in the environments experienced by either fathers or mothers are not known. We studied the intergenerational plasticity (IGP) of the plant species Paeonia ostii (Paeoniaceae) and tested the hypothesis that exposure of fathers to environmental stress (i) reduces parental fitness and performance of offspring grown under non‐stressful conditions, but (ii) mitigates the negative effects of environmental stress on fitness of parents and performance of offspring.

Crosses were made in a greenhouse within six families of P. ostii between parents grown under drought and in a mesic environment, and the offspring of each cross were grown under both dry and mesic conditions. Production and germination of seeds and morphological and physiological traits of offspring were measured as indicators of parental fitness and offspring performance, respectively.

Paternal drought decreased seed number per fruit, except when maternal plants also were grown in drought conditions. Offspring drought decreased seedling performance. However, when fathers experienced drought this negative effect on the offspring was partly mitigated, in particular when mothers also had experienced drought. In contrast, offspring grown in mesic conditions had improved seedling performance, especially when either parent (or both) also were grown in mesic conditions. Such statistical differences remained when seed mass was included as a covariate.

Overall, paternal pollen of P. ostii mediated IGP to drought almost as well as it did for maternal ovules. IGP was adaptive if environments remained constantly dry across generations but maladaptive if environments changed. Hence, under future climate changes, paternal IGP might be both a blessing and a curse, with the blessing occurring when the focal habitat becomes drier and pollen comes from already‐dry places, while the curse may dominate in predictably moist habitats surrounded by drier habitats.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
Low‐frequency seismic deghosting in a compressed domain using parabolic dictionary learning
Authors: Zizi Mohammed Outhmane Faouzi , Turquais Pierre , Day Anthony , Pedersen Morten W. , Gelius Leiv J.
Published: January 2024

Deghosting is an important technique in the marine seismic industry, as it plays a crucial role in mitigating the effects of ghost reflections from the sea surface, which can significantly impact the accuracy and resolution of subsurface imaging. In recent years, various acquisition‐based techniques have been developed to tackle the challenge of removing receiver–ghost reflections, which is the focus of our paper. These state‐of‐the‐art approaches, such as dual‐sensor or multicomponent towed streamer acquisitions, have demonstrated exceptional accuracy by combining pressure and particle motion data. However, such methods face limitations when dealing with low frequencies due to heavy noise contamination in the particle motion data. Consequently, ghost‐free data reconstruction at low frequencies typically relies on processing‐based approaches, which exclusively utilize recorded pressure data. This study presents a novel deghosting method for low‐frequency applications based on parabolic dictionary learning, which relies solely on recorded pressure data. The proposed method has the advantage of being applicable directly in a compressed domain, eliminating the need for data decompression prior to the deghosting process when compression is applied before the processing steps. This not only reduces costs related to data storage and transfer but also provides a cost‐effective alternative to conventional deghosting by operating directly on the compressed data format, which is smaller in size. The effectiveness of the proposed method was evaluated using both synthetic and field datasets. The results obtained from a synthetic data example indicate that the proposed method achieves similar results to an industry‐standard frequency–wavenumber method, while achieving a compression rate of over 7. Furthermore, the method was tested using a field dataset consisting of a full sail‐line of marine seismic acquisition. The comparison of 2D pre‐stack migrated images between the proposed method and the industry‐standard frequency–wavenumber method revealed insignificant differences, while achieving a compression ratio higher than 5 when our method was used.
Explainable artificial intelligence‐driven mask design for self‐supervised seismic denoising
Authors: Birnie Claire , Ravasi Matteo
Published: January 2024

The presence of coherent noise in seismic data leads to errors and uncertainties, and as such it is paramount to suppress noise as early and efficiently as possible. Self‐supervised denoising circumvents the common requirement of deep learning procedures of having noisy‐clean training pairs. However, self‐supervised coherent noise suppression methods require extensive knowledge of the noise statistics. We propose the use of explainable artificial intelligence approaches to ‘see inside the black box’ that is the denoising network and use the gained knowledge to replace the need for any prior knowledge of the noise itself. This is achieved in practice by leveraging bias‐free networks and the direct linear link between input and output provided by the associated Jacobian matrix; we show that a simple averaging of the Jacobian contributions over a number of randomly selected input pixels provides an indication of the most effective mask to suppress noise present in the data. The proposed method, therefore, becomes a fully automated denoising procedure requiring no clean training labels or prior knowledge. Realistic synthetic examples with noise signals of varying complexities, ranging from simple time‐correlated noise to complex pseudo‐rig noise propagating at the velocity of the ocean, are used to validate the proposed approach. Its automated nature is highlighted further by an application to two field data sets. Without any substantial pre‐processing or any knowledge of the acquisition environment, the automatically identified blind masks are shown to perform well in suppressing both trace‐wise noise in common shot gathers from the Volve marine data set and coloured noise in post‐stack seismic images from a land seismic survey.
Chronic anthropogenic disturbance mediates the biodiversity‐productivity relationship across stand ages in a large temperate forest region
Authors: Lin Senxuan , Fan Chunyu , Wang Juan , Zhang Chunyu , Zhao Xiuhai , von Gadow Klaus
Published: January 2024

Temperate forests, especially those in the densely populated regions of the world, are experiencing increasing levels of habitat degradation and biological impoverishment due to subtle but pervasive chronic anthropogenic disturbances including frequent and continuous grazing and extraction of non‐timber forest products. However, the effects of these subtle, chronic disturbances on the biodiversity‐productivity relationship have rarely been examined especially in forests at different development stages. Accordingly, this study explores how chronic anthropogenic disturbance affects the relationship between tree species diversity and forest productivity at different stand development stages in a large temperate forest region.

We used the human footprint index as a proxy for chronic human disturbance. Hierarchical Bayesian models were employed to assess the effects of chronic human disturbance on the relationship between tree diversity and forest productivity across different stand age. Several measures of diversity were employed, including taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversity.

Forest productivity consistently increased with taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic biodiversity; these biodiversity facets were the main drivers of forest productivity compared to stand age, chronic human disturbance and climate. However, the magnitude at which productivity increases with the increments of taxonomic and functional diversity diminishes with the increasing chronic disturbance, especially in younger stands. The effects of phylogenetic diversity on productivity did not vary with chronic disturbance, regardless of stand age.

Synthesis and applications: Chronic human disturbance in a large temperate forest region reduces the increase in community productivity due to different facets of biodiversity, especially in young forests. The evidence suggests that the mitigation of chronic human disturbance and the conservation of biodiversity will be effective in sustaining essential ecosystem functions.
Do Pre‐merger Loyalties Help or Hinder Post‐merger Retention? A Longitudinal Study
Authors: Edwards Martin R. , Lipponen Jukka , Kaltiainen Janne , Hornsey Matthew
Published: January 2024

Mergers potentially threaten employees’ organizational identities. For some, a merger could be a trigger to seek employment elsewhere, but the factors associated with increased withdrawal cognitions post‐merger necessitate further research. Using a longitudinal, pre‐ and post‐merger design, we investigated two competing predictions drawing on social identity theory: a vulnerability hypothesis (high identification with the pre‐merger organization will be associated with increased withdrawal cognitions over time) versus a buffer hypothesis (high pre‐merger identification will be associated with decreased withdrawal cognitions over time). Employees from two public sector organizations were surveyed two months before and 22 months after a merger (N = 869). Consistent with the buffer hypothesis, higher pre‐merger identification was associated with lower pre‐to‐post‐merger withdrawal cognitions. We found that this relationship was moderated by both pre‐merger professional and workgroup identification, highlighting the importance of considering multifoci identification patterns in a merger context. Findings indicate that work‐related identification plays a key buffering role through organizational‐level change, with pre‐merger identification potentially helping retain staff through the merger storm. Thus, our study contributes to social identity theory by showing that an abundance of pre‐merger identification forms should help employees navigate the challenges faced during the change experienced with an organizational merger.
Differential modulation of allergic rhinitis nasal transcriptome by dupilumab and allergy immunotherapy
Authors: Wipperman Matthew F. , Gayvert Kaitlyn M. , Atanasio Amanda , Wang Claire Q. , Corren Jonathan , Covarrubias Angelica , Setliff Ian , Chio Erica , Laws Elizabeth , Wolfe Kelley , Harel Sivan , Maloney Jennifer , Herman Gary , Orengo Jamie M. , Lim Wei Keat , Hamon Sara C. , Hamilton Jennifer D. , O'Brien Meagan P.
Published: January 2024

Background

Nasal epithelial cells are important regulators of barrier function and immune signaling; however, in allergic rhinitis (AR) these functions can be disrupted by inflammatory mediators. We aimed to better discern AR disease mechanisms using transcriptome data from nasal brushing samples from individuals with and without AR.

Methods

Data were drawn from a feasibility study of individuals with and without AR to Timothy grass and from a clinical trial evaluating 16 weeks of treatment with the following: dupilumab, a monoclonal antibody that binds interleukin (IL)‐4Rα and inhibits type 2 inflammation by blocking signaling of both IL‐4/IL‐13; subcutaneous immunotherapy with Timothy grass (SCIT), which inhibits allergic responses through pleiotropic effects; SCIT + dupilumab; or placebo. Using nasal brushing samples from these studies, we defined distinct gene signatures in nasal tissue of AR disease and after nasal allergen challenge (NAC) and assessed how these signatures were modulated by study drug(s).

Results

Treatment with dupilumab (normalized enrichment score [NES] = −1.73, p = .002) or SCIT + dupilumab (NES = −2.55, p < .001), but not SCIT alone (NES = +1.16, p = .107), significantly repressed the AR disease signature. Dupilumab (NES = −2.55, p < .001), SCIT (NES = −2.99, p < .001), and SCIT + dupilumab (NES = −3.15, p < .001) all repressed the NAC gene signature.

Conclusion

These results demonstrate type 2 inflammation is an important contributor to the pathophysiology of AR disease and that inhibition of the type 2 pathway with dupilumab may normalize nasal tissue gene expression.
Previous cancers in women diagnosed with premature ovarian insufficiency: A nationwide population‐based case–control study
Authors: Silvén Heidi , Savukoski Susanna M. , Pesonen Paula , Niinimäki Riitta , Pukkala Eero , Gissler Mika , Suvanto Eila , Niinimäki Maarit
Published: January 2024

Introduction

To investigate the occurrence of previous cancer diagnoses in women suffering from premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) and compare it with the general population, shedding light on the association between cancer, cancer treatments, and POI.

Material and methods

We conducted a nationwide case–control study based on registry data from various sources, including the Social Insurance Institution, Finnish Population Information System, and Finnish Cancer Registry spanning from 1953 to 2018. Our participants comprised all women in Finland who, between 1988 and 2017, received hormone replacement therapy reimbursement for ovarian insufficiency before the age of 40 years (n = 5221). Controls, matched in terms of age and municipality of residence, were selected from the Finnish Population Information System (n = 20 822). Our main exposure variable was a history of cancer diagnosis preceding the diagnosis of POI. We analyzed odds ratios (OR) to compare the prevalence of previous cancers in women with POI with that in controls, stratifying results based on cancer type, age at cancer diagnosis, and the time interval between cancer diagnosis and POI. We also assessed changes in OR for previous cancer diagnoses over the follow‐up period.

Results

Out of the women diagnosed with POI, 21.9% had previously been diagnosed with cancer, resulting in an elevated OR of 36.5 (95% confidence interval [CI] 30.9 to 43.3) compared with 0.8% of the controls. The risk of developing POI was most pronounced during the first 2 years following a cancer diagnosis, with an OR of 103 (95% CI 74.1 to 144). Importantly, this risk remained elevated even when the time interval between cancer and POI exceeded 10 years, with an OR of 5.40 (95% CI 3.54 to 8.23).

Conclusions

This study reveals that 21.9% of women with POI have a history of cancer, making the prevalence of cancer among these women 27.5 times higher than age‐matched controls in the Finnish population. The risk of developing POI is most substantial in the first 2 years following a cancer diagnosis. These findings underscore the role of cancer treatments as an etiological factor for POI and emphasize the importance of recognizing the risk of POI in cancer survivors for early diagnosis and intervention.
Longitudinal changes in optical coherence tomography angiography characteristics in normal‐tension glaucoma with or without high myopia
Authors: Lai Chin , Chuang Lan‐Hsin , Lai Chi‐Chun , Liu Chun‐Fu , Yang Ju‐Wen , Chen Henry S. L.
Published: January 2024

Purpose

To evaluate the structural, microvascular, and functional progression of normal tension glaucoma (NTG) with or without high myopia by examining longitudinal changes in optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and visual field (VF) parameters.

Methods

We evaluated 61 NTG eyes and classified 25 of the eyes with axial lengths (ALs) of ≥26 mm as highly myopic. We assessed the rate of change in OCTA parameters, namely radial peripapillary capillary (RPC) vessel density (VD), parafovea VD, deep parafovea VD, retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness, and ganglion cell complex thickness. We evaluated the correlation of the rate of change in OCTA parameters with VF loss and AL.

Results

Among the 61 NTG eyes, rates of loss of RPC VD, parafovea VD, deep parafovea VD, and RNFL thickness were significantly different from zero despite the nonsignificant rate of change in VF mean deviation (MD). Changes in these OCTA parameters did not differ significantly in highly myopic NTG eyes. The rate of change in VF MD was significantly correlated with the rate of change in parafovea VD in highly myopic and non‐highly myopic NTG eyes. In highly myopic NTG eyes, AL was negatively correlated with the rates of loss of RNFL thickness, VF MD, and VF PSD.

Conclusion

NTG eyes with a relatively stable VF exhibited loss of VD and RNFL thickness. VF progression in NTG was correlated with decreasing parafovea VD, indicating a structure–function correlation. Greater AL may indicate faster VF loss and RNFL thinning in highly myopic NTG eyes.
Eat healthy, feel better: Are differences in employees' longitudinal healthy‐eating trajectories reflected in better psychological well‐being?
Authors: Koch Theresa J. S. , Arnold Maike , Völker Jette , Sonnentag Sabine
Published: January 2024

Eating healthily in terms of fruit and vegetable consumption has beneficial effects for employees and their organisations. Yet, we know little about how employees' eating behaviour develops over longer periods of time (trajectories) as well as about how subgroups of employees in these trajectories differ (trajectory classes). Gaining such insights is critical to understand how employees address healthy eating recommendations over time as well as to develop individualised interventions that also consider the development of healthy eating (i.e. improvement versus impairment beyond mean levels). We analysed panel data (Longitudinal Internet Studies for the Social Sciences) from 1054 employees by means of growth mixture modelling. Our analyses revealed three relevant classes of healthy‐eating trajectories: a favourable trajectory class, an unfavourable trajectory class and a strongly improving trajectory class. Furthermore, unfavourable healthy‐eating trajectories were especially critical with respect to impaired psychological well‐being. Specifically, we found robust results for impaired positive and negative affects, but not for self‐esteem, in the unfavourable trajectory class. We discuss limitations and implications of these findings, thereby encouraging research and practice to further consider such fine‐grained approaches (i.e. focusing on subgroups within a larger population) when addressing healthy‐eating promotion over time.
Traumatic losses permeate daily emotional experiences: roles of daily uplifts and subjective age
Authors: Early Alexandra S. , Reynolds Caitlin M. , Neupert Shevaun D.
Published: January 2024

Daily emotional experiences may vary depending on a stressor's intensity or source. The present study aimed to examine the interaction between traumatic loss, daily uplifts, and daily subjective age predicting daily negative affect. Results from a 14‐day daily diary study of 440 US adults aged 50–85 showed that daily increases in uplifts were associated with decreases in negative affect, especially for those who reported a traumatic loss when they also experienced increases in subjective age. Based on our study, daily events and perceptions can have a considerable impact on daily functioning and may serve as important mechanisms after a traumatic loss. Although traumatic losses may impact individuals differently, incorporating daily uplifts, based on available resources and capacities, may foster daily emotional well‐being.
Fostering circular economy through open innovation: Insights from multiple case study
Authors: Perotti Francesco Antonio , Bargoni Augusto , De Bernardi Paola , Rozsa Zoltan
Published: January 2024

This study represents an empirical, comprehensive investigation of two different inter‐organisational collaborative approaches, offering a novel perspective on collaborative circular business models in the modern economy. In this vein, we explore how open innovation strategies foster the implementation of circular economy practices within a circular supply chain and a circular ecosystem. In addition, we identify and characterise stakeholders' roles in facilitating the translation of circular principles into a viable business. An inductive theorising approach was employed, leveraging an explorative multiple case study methodology. Data were collected from 13 organisations involved in two collaborative networks, designed to establish upcycling practices to recover waste from the food and beverage industry. A critical realist philosophical positioning underpinned researchers' data collection and analysis. As a result, we outline the nature of two different collaborative approaches to pursue a regenerative production system through open innovation strategies: a circular supply chain and a circular ecosystem architecture. The characterisation of the coordinator and orchestrator of collaborative circular business models is also highlighted in our findings. In sum, this study contributes to the literature on circular economy by unveiling the role of open innovation in fostering circular business development. From a practical standpoint, it offers insights for managers of sustainability‐oriented companies willing to implement upcycling practices.