bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Blue Morpho
Authors: van Roekel Cordiviola Eva
Published: August 2023

In what why can fiction help us craft and share ethnographic work when life is in flux and the people with whom we live with also have a hard time making “rational” sense of what is happening to them? This ethnographic fiction about love, quandary, and rebirth is set against the deep crisis in Venezuela—money has become worthless, families are shattered, mutual trust has evaporated, jobs and food are scarce, and everyone is trying to make a living. The creative endeavour arose during online exchanges with research participants and friends, the re‐reading of fieldnotes, and the surfacing of poignant memories while growing up with a Venezuelan family twenty years ago. The plot around the butterfly coalesced with these personal memories and an emerging understanding of natural abundance, human, fragility, and metamorphosis in how Venezuelans make sense of loss and inequality. The storyline follows the life of Marianela, an upper middle‐class woman born and bred in Caracas, who ends up in a goldmine in the south of Venezuela with her three‐year daughter Alba. One day, at the Brazilian border, a blue butterfly warns her that her beloved caretaker passed away. To overcome this loss, Marianela intents to finally break away from subjugation.
Colonial Continuities in Closure: Indigenous Mine Labour and the Canadian state
Authors: Hall Rebecca , Pryce Brandon
Published: August 2023

The benefits of employment in resource extraction figure prominently in state rationales for resource extraction. However, in Canada, the site of study, while the worker is a key figure in rationales for extraction, this same worker disappears in state attention to extractive/mine closure. The paper's focus on Indigenous mining labour is driven by a community–university research partnership with Dene communities in the Northwest Territories facing forthcoming closure of diamond mines on their land. Approaching mine closure as a juncture that can both reproduce or resist the settler extractive economy, we argue that the Canadian state responses to the labour implications of mine closure, and its lack of coherence, express the settler‐colonial tension between the reproduction of the (Canadian) settler state and its requisite labour force, and the social reproduction of Indigenous communities.
Infants born to first‐time mothers with a refugee background faced an increased risk of regulatory problems
Authors: Marti‐Castaner Maria , Hvidtfeldt Camila , Fredsted Villadsen Sarah , Pagh Pedersen Trine , Elsenburg Leonie K. , Norredam Marie
Published: August 2023

Aim

This study investigated the association between mothers' migration background and infant regulatory problems and analysed the mediating role of maternal mental health. We also explored whether the child's sex, parity and length of residence moderated the effect of a maternal migrant background.

Methods

Child health surveillance data from the Danish home visiting programme were used. Community health nurses followed infants from birth to 12 months of age. The source population comprised 103 813 infants born between 1 January 2008 and 31 December 2018. The final sample comprised 62 964 infants, including 3.4% with a refugee background. A maternal migrant background was the primary exposure. The results are presented as risk ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Results

A maternal refugee background increased the risk of regulatory problems in offspring (RR 1.34, 95% CI: 1.18–1.51). The effect was partially mediated by maternal postpartum mental health concerns. The association between maternal refugee background and infant regulatory problems was more pronounced in first‐time mothers (RR 1.80, 95% CI: 1.51–2.15).

Conclusion

The risk of infant regulatory problems was higher in the first‐born children of refugee mothers. First‐time refugee parents may need tailored support to identify mental health needs and infants with regulatory problems.
Investigation of Ukrainian refugees' eating behavior, food intake, and psychological distress: Study protocol and baseline data
Authors: Lytvynenko Olena , König Laura M.
Published: August 2023

Since the start of the war in Ukraine, almost 8 million people left the country; more than 1 million of them relocated to Germany. It is to be expected that the war puts considerable strain on refugees, which will impact the public health system in host countries. This paper presents baseline data and protocol of longitudinal online experimental study of 619 Ukrainian refugees in Germany started in autumn 2022, focusing on participants' self‐reports of appetite, food intake, and levels of stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms to examine their associations. Results indicate that levels of stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms in refugees significantly exceed the indicators of relevant parameters as reported by independent large‐scale surveys conducted in Ukraine before the war as well as strong correlations between these deviations (.59 ≤ r ≤ .69, p = .005). Changes in appetite were related to more severe psycho‐emotional deviations (.15 ≤ r ≤ .19, p = .003) and somewhat unhealthier food intake (r = −.08, p < .001). The study underlines the need of psychological care for refugees to improve their mental health and counteract potential negative consequences for physical health via changes in food intake, for which suitable interventions need to be developed.
Board cultural diversity and bank social performance: The mediating role of corporate social responsibility strategy
Authors: Gangi Francesco , Varrone Nicola , Coscia Maria
Published: August 2023

The study investigates how board cultural diversity (BCD) affects bank stakeholder engagement through improved corporate social performance (CSP) and whether banks' corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategy mediates the relationship between BCD and banks' social performance. Adopting an international sample of 379 banks from 2010 to 2019, we found that BCD improves engagement in socially responsible issues in the banking sector. Moreover, we show a mediating role of strategic CSR on the relationship between BCD and banks' social performance. Hence, we contribute to the research on the role of corporate governance mechanisms as drivers of CSR engagement. Furthermore, based on the mediation effect of strategic CSR, we advance the discussion on the link between BCD and banks' social performance. Our findings provide implications for banks and policy‐makers, indicating the opportunity to promote cultural diversity, which supports socially responsible banking, while a CSR strategy positively impacts the stakeholder approach in the banking industry.
Why multimedia might matter: The impact of animations and images on item performance and test‐taker behaviour
Authors: Lehane Paula , Scully Darina , O'Leary Michael
Published: August 2023

The use of animations and images in technology‐based assessments (TBAs) represents a significant change in assessment design. To ensure that appropriate inferences can be drawn from assessments that use multimedia stimuli, their impact on test‐taker performance and behaviour must be investigated. To achieve this, an experiment was conducted with 251 Irish post‐primary students using an animated and text‐image version of the same TBA of scientific literacy. Eye movement (n = 33) and interview data (n = 12) were also collected as a measure of test‐taker attentional behaviour. Overall, there was no significant difference in test‐taker performance when identical items used animated or text‐image stimuli. However, items with dynamic stimuli often had higher discrimination indices indicating that these items were better at distinguishing between those with differing levels of knowledge. Eye movement data also revealed that dynamic item stimuli encouraged longer average fixation durations on the response area of an item. These findings indicate that multimedia stimuli may potentially affect how test‐takers interact with online assessments. This has implications for what claims can be made about a learner's performance on an assessment. Recommendations for policy, practice and future research are considered.

Practitioner notes

What is already known about this topic:

The use of multimedia stimuli in the form of diagrams, high‐resolutions images, animations, and simulations are becoming more commonplace in technology‐based assessments (TBAs) for post‐primary aged learners.

It is unclear what impact the use of multimedia stimuli can have on an individual's performance and behaviour in assessment/testing contexts.

Eye movement data can be used to support our understanding of test‐takers' interactions with TBAs.

What this paper adds:

By comparing the use of different types of multimedia stimuli (animations vs images), this study has responded to calls for a more in‐depth examination of test items involving multimedia stimuli for TBAs.

While there was no difference in test‐taker performance between those who saw test items with different forms of multimedia stimuli, key differences in attentional behaviour were noted. Test‐takers interacted with the assessment differently pending the multimedia stimuli used.

The current study showed that dynamic stimuli may be a way to improve item discrimination, which is generally desirable in assessments.

Implications for practice and/or policy:

Certain design features appeared to add additional ‘assessment load’. This information could be leveraged to improve test item design and test specifications. It may also encourage test‐developers to reconsider what claims they make about individuals who complete assessments with these features.

Eye‐tracking technology has huge potential to support research in online assessment environments.
An embodied, analogical and disruptive approach of AI pedagogy in upper elementary education: An experimental study
Authors: Dai Yun , Lin Ziyan , Liu Ang , Wang Wenlan
Published: August 2023

While AI has become more prevalent in our society than ever, many young learners are found holding various naive, erroneous conceptions of AI due to the influence of their technology and media environments. To address this issue, this study seeks to propose a novel pedagogical solution to improve upper‐elementary school students' scientific understanding of AI. Following a theory‐informed design convention, we propose an embodied, analogical and disruptive (EAD) approach which is centred on a human–AI comparison through analogical teaching and embodied interaction. To evaluate the impact of this approach, a matched‐group experimental study with pre‐ and posttest interviews was conducted among 77 Grade 6 elementary students in China. The statistical analysis showed that the experimental group, learning via the EAD approach, significantly outperformed their counterparts receiving direct instruction in terms of student growth in understanding. Qualitative analyses revealed the strengths of the EAD approach in supporting student engagement, abstract thinking and system thinking, and its limitations in cognitive overload and communication issues. Patterns of student learning were identified, including their mental schemas and strategies. The EAD approach, as an evidence‐based, age‐appropriate pedagogical solution, demonstrates the value of embodied cognition and human–AI analogy in AI education in elementary education.

Practitioner notes

What is already known about this topic

Many young students hold naive, erroneous conceptions about AI.

Pedagogical design has long been a critical challenge in teaching AI in K‐12 schools.

Human–AI analogies are often used to teach AI, but with obvious pitfalls to be fixed.

What this paper adds

An embodied, analogical and disruptive (EAD) approach is proposed to improve students’ understandings of AI.

An experimental study shows statistically significant greater gains in students’ understanding with the EAD approach than with the conventional AI‐only direct instruction approach.

Qualitative analysis shows the strength of the EAD approach in supporting student engagement, abstract thinking and systems thinking, and its limitations in cognitive overload and communication issues.

Implications for practice and/or policy

The EAD approach offers a novel pedagogical solution to promote inclusive and quality AI education for young learners.

The EAD approach highlights the pedagogical value of embodied cognition and human–AI analogy in AI education.

The EAD approach can complement programming and other plugged activities in AI, and more broadly technology and engineering education.
Assessment of eligibility criteria in renal cell carcinoma trials evaluating systemic therapy
Authors: Castro Daniela V. , Prajapati Sweta R. , Feng Matthew I. , Chan Elyse H. , Lee Kyle O. , Paul Trishita , Sehgal Ishaan , Patel Jalen , Li Xiaochen , Zengin Zeynep B. , Ebrahimi Hedyeh , Govindarajan Ameish , Meza Luis , Mercier Benjamin D. , Chawla Neal S. , Dizman Nazli , Philip Errol J. , Hsu JoAnn , Bergerot Cristiane D. , Chehrazi‐Raffle Alex , Rock Adam , Liu Sandy , Tripathi Abhishek , Dorff Tanya B. , Pal Sumanta K.
Published: August 2023

Objectives

To characterise the restrictiveness of eligibility criteria in contemporary renal cell carcinoma (RCC) trials, using recommendations from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)‐Friends of Cancer Research (FCR) initiative.

Methods

vPhase I–III trials assessing systemic therapies in patients with RCC starting between 30 June 2012 and 30 June 2022 were identified. Eligibility criteria regarding brain metastases, prior or concurrent malignancies, hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection were identified and stratified into three groups: exclusion, conditional inclusion, and not reported. Descriptive statistics were used to determine the frequency of eligibility criteria. Fisher's exact test or chi‐square test were used to calculate their associations with certain trial characteristics.

Results

A total of 423 RCC trials were initially identified of which 112 (26.5%) had sufficient accessible information. Exclusion of patients with HIV infection, HBV/HCV infection, brain metastases, and prior or concurrent malignancies were reported in 74.1%, 53.6%, 33.0%, and 8.0% of trials, respectively. In the context of HIV and HBV/HCV infection, patients were largely excluded from trials evaluating immunotherapy (94.4% and 77.8%, respectively). In addition, brain metastases were excluded in trials assessing targeted therapy (36.4%), combined therapy (33.3%), and immunotherapy (22.2%). Exclusion of patients with prior or concurrent malignancies was less frequently reported, accounting for 9.1%, 8.3%, and 5.6% targeted therapy, combined therapy and immunotherapy trials, respectively.

Conclusion

A substantial proportion of RCC trials utilise restrictive eligibility criteria, excluding patients with fairly prevalent comorbidities. Implementing the ASCO‐FCR recommendations will ensure resulting data are more inclusive and aligned with patient populations in the real‐world.
Seedling growth declines in warmed tropical forest soils
Authors: Nottingham Andrew T. , Montero‐Sanchez Maria , Slot Martijn , Szczygieł Hubert A. , Velasquez Esther , Meir Patrick
Published: August 2023

The response of plants to a warming climate could have a large feedback on further climatic change. This feedback is especially important for tropical forests, where the global peak in plant productivity and biodiversity occurs. Here we test the response of tropical forest tree seedling growth, photosynthesis and herbivory to 3 years of in situ full‐soil profile warming. We studied six species, three of which are known nitrogen‐fixers and we hypothesized that the warming response of growth will be mediated by nutrient availability to plants. Across species, growth was significantly lower in warmed soil compared to soil at ambient temperature, and the same pattern was observed for light‐saturated photosynthesis, pointing toward a growth decline associated with decreased C fixation. Within species, the relative growth decline was significant for two species,Inga laurinaandTachigali versicolor, both of which are N‐fixers. Together our results suggest a growth decline may have resulted from a negative effect of warming on N‐fixation, rather than via changes in nutrient mineralization from soil organic matter, which was unchanged for N and increased for P during the dry‐to‐wet season transition. Overall, our study demonstrates that belowground warming causes species‐specific declines in the growth and photosynthesis of seedlings, with a suggestion—requiring further investigation—that this growth decline is larger in N‐fixing species.

Abstract in Spanish is available with online material.
Consistency of transesophageal echocardiography and angiography in grading paravalvular regurgitation during transcatheter aortic valve replacement
Authors: Ye Dalin , Gao Ziqing , Ye Feile , Li Liujun , Chen Fei , Chen Xiaobo
Published: August 2023

Background

The Valve Academic Research Consortium 3 (VARC‐3) standardizes the classification criteria and Doppler parameters for paravalvular regurgitation (PVR) by echocardiography. However, the consistency between transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and angiography in grading (using the VARC‐3 criteria) of PVR during transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is unclear.

Methods

Forty‐six patients who underwent TEE and angiography during TAVR were retrospectively included. All patients had complete baseline information, TEE and angiography data. The Doppler parameters measured by TEE included the circumferential extent of PVR, regurgitation volume, regurgitation fraction, and the effective regurgitant orifice area. PVR was classified into four grades: absent, mild, moderate and severe. The weighted kappa coefficient was used to analyze the consistency between the two techniques. Kendall's W coefficient was used to evaluate the consistency of parameters measured by TEE.

Results

Among all patients, there were 43 cases (93.5%) with consistent assessments between TEE and angiography. PVR was observed in 19 cases. TEE assessed mild PVR in 17 cases and moderate PVR in two cases; Angiography assessed mild PVR in 14 cases and moderate PVR in two cases. The weighted kappa coefficient between angiography and the circumferential extent of PVR, regurgitation volume, regurgitation fraction, and the effective regurgitant orifice area respectively was .84, .79, .74, .85 (P < .001). Kendall's W coefficient was .83 (P < .001).

Conclusions

TEE and angiography had strong consistency in the grading (using the VARC‐3 criteria) of PVR during TAVR. TEE was a convenient diagnostic tool to quantify and grade PVR during TAVR.
Influences of local and global context on local orientation perception
Authors: Huang Jinfeng , Zhou Yifeng , Tzvetanov Tzvetomir
Published: August 2023

Visual context modulates perception of local orientation attributes. These spatially very localised effects are considered to correspond to specific excitatory–inhibitory connectivity patterns of early visual areas as V1, creating perceptual tilt repulsion and attraction effects. Here, orientation misperception of small Gabor stimuli was used as a probe of this computational structure by sampling a large spatio‐orientation space to reveal expected asymmetries due to the underlying neuronal processing. Surprisingly, the results showed a regular iso‐orientation pattern of nearby location effects whose reference point was globally modulated by the spatial structure, without any complex interactions between local positions and orientation. This pattern of results was confirmed by the two perceptual parameters of bias and discrimination ability. Furthermore, the response times to stimulus configuration displayed variations that further provided evidence of how multiple early visual stages affect perception of simple stimuli.
Adjunctive brivaracetam and sustained seizure frequency reduction in very active focal epilepsy
Authors: Lattanzi Simona , Canafoglia Laura , Canevini Maria Paola , Casciato Sara , Cerulli Irelli Emanuele , Chiesa Valentina , Dainese Filippo , De Maria Giovanni , Didato Giuseppe , Di Gennaro Giancarlo , Falcicchio Giovanni , Fanella Martina , Ferlazzo Edoardo , Gangitano Massimo , La Neve Angela , Mecarelli Oriano , Montalenti Elisa , Morano Alessandra , Piazza Federico , Pizzanelli Chiara , Pulitano Patrizia , Ranzato Federica , Rosati Eleonora , Tassi Laura , Di Bonaventura Carlo ,   BRIVAFIRST (Brivaracetam Add‐On First Italian Network Study) Group Membership
Published: August 2023

Objective

This study aimed to explore the effectiveness of brivaracetam (BRV) according to baseline seizure frequency and past treatment history in subjects with focal epilepsy who were included in the Brivaracetam Add‐On First Italian Network Study (BRIVAFIRST).

Methods

BRIVAFIRST was a 12‐month retrospective, multicenter study including adults prescribed adjunctive BRV. Study outcomes included sustained seizure response (SSR), sustained seizure freedom (SSF), and the rates of treatment discontinuation and adverse events (AEs). Baseline seizure frequency was stratified as <5, 5–20, and >20 seizures per month, and the number of prior antiseizure medications (ASMs) as <5 and ≥6.

Results

A total of 994 participants were included. During the 1‐year study period, SSR was reached by 45.8%, 39.3%, and 22.6% of subjects with a baseline frequency of <5, 5–20, and >20 seizures per month (p < .001); the corresponding figures for the SSF were 23.4%, 9.8%, and 2.8% (p < .001). SSR was reached by 51.2% and 26.5% participants with a history of 1–5 and ≥6 ASMs (p < .001); the corresponding rates of SSF were 24.7% and 4.5% (p < .001). Treatment discontinuation due to lack of efficacy was more common in participants with >20 seizures compared to those with <5 seizures per month (25.8% vs. 9.3%, p < .001), and in participants with history of ≥6 prior ASMs compared to those with history of 1–5 ASMs (19.6% vs. 12.2%, p = .002). There were no differences in the rates of BRV withdrawal due to AEs and the rates of AEs across the groups of participants defined according to the number of seizures at baseline and the number of prior ASMs.

Significance

The baseline seizure frequency and the number of previous ASMs were predictors of sustained seizure frequency reduction with adjunctive BRV in subjects with focal epilepsy.
YAP co‐localizes with the mitotic spindle and midbody to safeguard mitotic division in lung‐cancer cells
Authors: Chow Shu‐Er , Hsu Chia‐Chi , Yang Cheng‐Ta , Meir Yaa‐Jyuhn J.
Published: August 2023

YES‐associated protein (YAP) is a part of the Hippo pathway, with pivotal roles in several developmental processes and dual functionality as both a tumor suppressor and an oncogene. In the present study, we identified YAP activity as a microtubular scaffold protein that maintains the stability of the mitotic spindle and midbody by physically interacting with α‐tubulin during mitotic progression. The interaction of YAP and α‐tubulin was evident in co‐immunoprecipitation assays, as well as observing their co‐localization in the microtubular structure of the mitotic spindle and midbody in immunostainings. With YAP depletion, levels of ECT2, MKLP‐1, and Aurora B are reduced, which is consistent with YAP functioning in midbody formation during cytokinesis. The concomitant decrease in α‐tubulin and increase in acetyl‐α‐tubulin during YAP depletion occurred at the post‐transcriptional level. This suggests that YAP maintains the stability of the mitotic spindle and midbody, which ensures appropriate chromosome segregation during mitotic division. The increase in acetyl‐α‐tubulin during YAP depletion may provide a lesion‐halting mechanism in maintaining the microtubule structure. The depletion of YAP also results in multinuclearity and aneuploidy, which supports its role in stabilizing the mitotic spindle and midbody.
Past riverine connectivity effects in population structure and distribution of an endemic freshwater fish from northeastern Brazilian rivers: Phylogeographic, taxonomic, and conservation implications
Authors: Oliveira‐Silva Leonardo , Batalha‐Filho Henrique , Camelier Priscila , Zanata Angela M.
Published: August 2023

The coastal basins of eastern Brazil are influenced by geomorphologic and climatic changes that caused river captures and temporary paleo‐connections due to sea‐level oscillations. These two events can lead to isolation and connection among coastal rivers and have a strong influence on the distribution of freshwater fishes in this region.Characidium bahienseis a small fish species with a wide distribution, ranging from the coastal basins of the North Group of the Northeastern Mata Atlântica ecoregion to São Francisco and Parnaíba ecoregions. The allopatric distribution ofC.bahienseassociated with the possible morphological and molecular variations among geographically isolated populations stimulated this study.

Here, we use an integrative approach, encompassing morphological and mitonuclear data, and paleodrainage reconstruction to better understand the evolutionary history ofC. bahienseand to test the putative effects of the current configuration of basins and historical drainage rearrangements on the genetic structuring of the species.

Our mitochondrial data show thatC. bahienseis not a monophyletic species since the specimens from one locality are more closely related toCharacidiumcf.lagosantensethan to other populations ofC. bahiense. Multilocus analyses, however, recovered the monophyly of this species, although the molecular delimitation method considers each mitochondrial DNA lineages as a separated species. Overall, the morphological data revealed some intraspecific overlapping variation, suggesting that all specimens ofC. bahienseare conspecific.

Molecular analyses combined with geomorphological information suggest that the current distribution ofC. bahienseis the result of climate change that directly affected river flow dynamics and recent riverine captures during the Pleistocene.

The use of multiple data sources not only provides a more reliable interpretation of the evolutionary history of a species, but can also avoid arbitrary taxonomic decisions. Future phylogeographic studies involving other freshwater fish species with a similar distribution toC. bahienseare necessary to assist in understanding the scenarios presented here.
Different facets of the same niche: Integrating citizen science and scientific survey data to predict biological invasion risk under multiple global change drivers
Authors: Di Febbraro Mirko , Bosso Luciano , Fasola Mauro , Santicchia Francesca , Aloise Gaetano , Lioy Simone , Tricarico Elena , Ruggieri Luciano , Bovero Stefano , Mori Emiliano , Bertolino Sandro
Published: August 2023

Citizen science initiatives have been increasingly used by researchers as a source of occurrence data to model the distribution of alien species. Since citizen science presence‐only data suffer from some fundamental issues, efforts have been made to combine these data with those provided by scientifically structured surveys. Surprisingly, only a few studies proposing data integration evaluated the contribution of this process to the effective sampling of species' environmental niches and, consequently, its effect on model predictions on new time intervals. We relied on niche overlap analyses, machine learning classification algorithms and ecological niche models to compare the ability of data from citizen science and scientific surveys, along with their integration, in capturing the realized niche of 13 invasive alien species in Italy. Moreover, we assessed differences in current and future invasion risk predicted by each data set under multiple global change scenarios. We showed that data from citizen science and scientific surveys captured similar species niches though highlighting exclusive portions associated with clearly identifiable environmental conditions. In terrestrial species, citizen science data granted the highest gain in environmental space to the pooled niches, determining an increased future biological invasion risk. A few aquatic species modelled at the regional scale reported a net loss in the pooled niches compared to their scientific survey niches, suggesting that citizen science data may also lead to contraction in pooled niches. For these species, models predicted a lower future biological invasion risk. These findings indicate that citizen science data may represent a valuable contribution to predicting future spread of invasive alien species, especially within national‐scale programmes. At the same time, citizen science data collected on species poorly known to citizen scientists, or in strictly local contexts, may strongly affect the niche quantification of these taxa and the prediction of their future biological invasion risk.
Three major mesoplanktonic communities resolved by in situ imaging in the upper 500 m of the global ocean
Authors: Panaïotis Thelma , Babin Marcel , Biard Tristan , Carlotti François , Coppola Laurent , Guidi Lionel , Hauss Helena , Karp‐Boss Lee , Kiko Rainer , Lombard Fabien , McDonnell Andrew M. P. , Picheral Marc , Rogge Andreas , Waite Anya M. , Stemmann Lars , Irisson Jean‐Olivier
Published: August 2023

Aim

The distribution of mesoplankton communities has been poorly studied at global scale, especially from in situ instruments. This study aims to (1) describe the global distribution of mesoplankton communities in relation to their environment and (2) assess the ability of various environmental‐based ocean regionalizations to explain the distribution of these communities.

Location

Global ocean, 0–500 m depth.

Time Period

2008–2019.

Major Taxa Studied

Twenty‐eight groups of large mesoplanktonic and macroplanktonic organisms, covering Metazoa, Rhizaria and Cyanobacteria.

Methods

From a global data set of 2500 vertical profiles making use of the Underwater Vision Profiler 5 (UVP5), an in situ imaging instrument, we studied the global distribution of large (>600 μm) mesoplanktonic organisms. Among the 6.8 million imaged objects, 330,000 were large zooplanktonic organisms and phytoplankton colonies, the rest consisting of marine snow particles. Multivariate ordination (PCA) and clustering were used to describe patterns in community composition, while comparison with existing regionalizations was performed with regression methods (RDA).

Results

Within the observed size range, epipelagic plankton communities were Trichodesmium‐enriched in the intertropical Atlantic, Copepoda‐enriched at high latitudes and in upwelling areas, and Rhizaria‐enriched in oligotrophic areas. In the mesopelagic layer, Copepoda‐enriched communities were also found at high latitudes and in the Atlantic Ocean, while Rhizaria‐enriched communities prevailed in the Peruvian upwelling system and a few mixed communities were found elsewhere. The comparison between the distribution of these communities and a set of existing regionalizations of the ocean suggested that the structure of plankton communities described above is mostly driven by basin‐level environmental conditions.

Main Conclusions

In both layers, three types of plankton communities emerged and seemed to be mostly driven by regional environmental conditions. This work sheds light on the role not only of metazoans, but also of unexpected large protists and cyanobacteria in structuring large mesoplankton communities.
Azathioprine in hidradenitis suppurativa with inflammatory phenotype: a case series of 11 patients
Authors: López Riquelme Irene , Fernández Ballesteros María Dolores , Perea Polak Alexandra , Serrano Ordoñez Ana , Martínez Pilar Leandro
Published: August 2023

Background

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory disease that negatively impacts the quality of life of patients. It presents as deep‐seated nodules, abscesses, fistulae, sinus tracts, and scars in the axilla, inguinal area, submammary folds, and perianal area. Recently, two phenotypes have been described: a follicular phenotype and an inflammatory phenotype. Numerous medical treatments are available for hidradenitis suppurativa, with particular importance of antitumor necrosis factor antibodies. Due to the association of HS with other conditions with a pro‐inflammatory state, particularly Crohn's disease, it has been suggested that azathioprine may have a role in the treatment of HS.

Objective

To assess the effectiveness of azathioprine monotherapy in patients with moderate‐severe HS.

Methods

We retrospectively studied patients with HS treated with azathioprine in monotherapy. We performed both clinical and ultrasound evaluation at baseline as well as in the follow‐up visits. Their baseline score on the iHS4 and DLQI scales and 12–16 weeks after starting the treatment were compared. We also registered the number of patients who achieved HiSCR.

Results

Six patients presented significant improvement, reducing their score in iHS4 and DLQI scales and achieving HiSCR. Another patient had clinical improvement, meaning reduction in iHS4 and DLQI, but without achieving HiSCR. Two patients stopped the treatment before week 12 because of adverse events. The remaining two patients presented no improvement. The median (Q3–Q1) baseline iHS4 score was 6 (12–6), and follow‐up iHS4 score, 4 (6–2), being these differences statistically significant (P = 0.006). Median (Q3–Q1) baseline DLQI scores and 12–16 weeks after treatment were 17 (23–11) and 14 (18–9) although statistically nonsignificant (P = 0.099).

Conclusion

We present a case series of 11 patients treated with azathioprine with good clinical and ultrasonographic response. We suggest that azathioprine may benefit a certain patient profile with the inflammatory phenotype.
Hydrogen sulfide delays softening of banana fruit by inhibiting cell wall polysaccharides disassembly
Authors: Yu Zhiqian , Yuan Rong , Yang Jiali , Pan Yonggui
Published: August 2023

Harvested banana undergoes rapid softening, which limits its shelf life. To delay softening, banana fruit was treated with hydrogen sulfide (H2S) emitted by 0.6 mm sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS) and stored at 15 °C for 16 days. The effects of H2S on cell wall degradation and other physiological characteristics were investigated. In comparison to control fruits, H2S‐treated bananas retained a higher level of fruit firmness, but lower hue values. Ethylene metabolism analysis suggested that H2S inhibited the production of ethylene and the accumulation of 1‐aminocyclopropane‐1‐carboxylic acid (ACC) and decreased the activities of ACC synthase (ACS) and ACC oxidase (ACO). Cell wall polysaccharides determination assays suggested that H2S treatment increased the proportion of HCl‐soluble pectin (HSP), NaOH‐soluble pectin (NSP), cellulose and hemicellulose but decreased water‐soluble pectin (WSP) in fruits. H2S treatment also inhibited the activities of polysaccharide degrading enzymes such as polygalacturonase (PG), pectin methylesterase (PME), pectin lyase (PL), cellulase (CL) and β‐galactosidase (β‐Gal). Transmission electron microscopy analysis suggested that H2S protected cell walls from structural breakdown. These results indicated that H2S is effective in delaying banana softening by regulating cell wall polysaccharide metabolism.
Microstructure, rheology and creaming stability of Pickering emulsions stabilised with SPI‐soy peptide nanoparticle complex
Authors: Wang Dan , Wei Chen , Dai Yangyong , Zhao Luping , Li Xiangyang , Ding Xiuzhen
Published: August 2023

The use of two emulsifiers to fabricate a composite emulsifier is a useful strategy used to strengthen the emulsifying capacity. To investigate the feasibility of using soy protein isolate (SPI) to stabilise Pickering emulsions stabilised by soy peptide nanoparticles (SPNs), the SPI was introduced into the SPN system to fabricate SPI‐SPN complex emulsifiers, and the effects of the SPI on the properties of the SPNs and SPN‐stabilised emulsions were investigated with various oil fractions. The addition of SPI significantly reduced the particle sizes and surface hydrophobicities. Furthermore, the SPI increased the structural rearrangements of the SPNs at the oil–water interface. Compared with emulsions stabilised with the SPN alone, the droplet sizes of the SPI‐SPN emulsions were smaller, and the interface protein adsorption percentages were lower for all oil fractions. The viscosity of the SPI‐SPN emulsion was higher than that of the SPNs emulsion at Φ ≤ 0.60. Decreases in G′ and G″ were observed when the SPI was added at all Φ values tested. More importantly, the added SPI markedly enhanced the creaming stabilities of the SPN emulsions at low Φ (≤0.40). These results confirmed that SPI improved the emulsifying activity of the SPNs and enhanced the stabilities of Pickering emulsions stabilised with SPNs at low Φ.
Coengineering specificity, safety, and function into T cells for cancer immunotherapy
Authors: Giordano Attianese Greta Maria Paola , Ash Sarah , Irving Melita
Published: August 2023

Adoptive T‐cell transfer (ACT) therapies, including of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and T cells gene‐modified to express either a T cell receptor (TCR) or a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR), have demonstrated clinical efficacy for a proportion of patients and cancer‐types. The field of ACT has been driven forward by the clinical success of CD19‐CAR therapy against various advanced B‐cell malignancies, including curative responses for some leukemia patients. However, relapse remains problematic, in particular for lymphoma. Moreover, for a variety of reasons, relative limited efficacy has been demonstrated for ACT of non‐hematological solid tumors. Indeed, in addition to pre‐infusion challenges including lymphocyte collection and manufacturing, ACT failure can be attributed to several biological processes post‐transfer including, (i) inefficient tumor trafficking, infiltration, expansion and retention, (ii) chronic antigen exposure coupled with insufficient costimulation resulting in T‐cell exhaustion, (iii) a range of barriers in the tumor microenvironment (TME) mediated by both tumor cells and suppressive immune infiltrate, (iv) tumor antigen heterogeneity and loss, or down‐regulation of antigen presentation machinery, (v) gain of tumor intrinsic mechanisms of resistance such as to apoptosis, and (vi) various forms of toxicity and other adverse events in patients. Affinity‐optimized TCRs can improve T‐cell function and innovative CAR designs as well as gene‐modification strategies can be used to coengineer specificity, safety, and function into T cells. Coengineering strategies can be designed not only to directly support the transferred T cells, but also to block suppressive barriers in the TME and harness endogenous innate and adaptive immunity. Here, we review a selection of the remarkable T‐cell coengineering strategies, including of tools, receptors, and gene‐cargo, that have been developed in recent years to augment tumor control by ACT, more and more of which are advancing to the clinic.
Next‐generation chimeric antigen receptors for T‐ and natural killer‐cell therapies against cancer
Authors: Li Ye , Rezvani Katayoun , Rafei Hind
Published: August 2023

Adoptive cellular therapy using chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells has led to a paradigm shift in the treatment of various hematologic malignancies. However, the broad application of this approach for myeloid malignancies and solid cancers has been limited by the paucity and heterogeneity of target antigen expression, and lack of bona fide tumor‐specific antigens that can be targeted without cross‐reactivity against normal tissues. This may lead to unwanted on‐target off‐tumor toxicities that could undermine the desired antitumor effect. Recent advances in synthetic biology and genetic engineering have enabled reprogramming of immune effector cells to enhance their selectivity toward tumors, thus mitigating on‐target off‐tumor adverse effects. In this review, we outline the current strategies being explored to improve CAR selectivity toward tumor cells with a focus on natural killer (NK) cells, and the progress made in translating these strategies to the clinic.
The biobjective minimum‐cost perfect matching problem and Chinese postman problem
Authors: Pozo Miguel A. , Puerto Justo , Roldán Ignacio
Published: August 2023

In this paper, we address the biobjective versions of the perfect matching problem (PMP) and the Chinese postman problem (CPP). Both problems are solved by means of integer formulations or separating blossom inequalities, exploiting the PMP relationship with the CPP. In both cases, we first find the set of supported nondominated solutions and then we use them to obtain the nonsupported ones. The set of supported nondominated solutions are obtained solving scalarized integer formulations. To obtain the sets of nonsupported solutions, we resort to solving lexicographic problems based on adding additional linear constraints to the original problems. For this reason, we also characterize the combinatorial structure of the PMP vertices with one or two additional constraints. We also investigate when it is possible to use the PMP to solve CPP in the biobjective case. We report computational experiments comparing the different approaches and formulations based on different types of graphs with up to 700 nodes.
Glass and a carbon‐free United States: What is glass's role in the upcoming green revolution?
Authors: Wilkinson Collin
Published: August 2023

The climate is changing rapidly due to anthropogenic greenhouse gases. Glass is a significant contributor to these emissions, with 95 million tons of CO2 being emitted due to glass manufacturing in recent years. Furthermore, glass recycling remains poor in the United States, and most glass is left to landfill after a single use. The lack of recycling and the carbon footprint of manufacturing have made glass an environmentally damaging material despite its theoretical infinite recyclability. Additionally, glass has the potential to enable next‐generation energy materials, enabling the necessary technology for a green economy. In this review, we briefly cover the challenges of glass manufacturing and how to make glass the benchmark material for a carbon‐neutral economy.
Heart failure and atrial fibrillation: Is atrial fibrillation ablation in heart failure pointless or mandatory?
Authors: Kantharia Bharat K.
Published: August 2023

A vast amount of now well‐established clinical and epidemiological data indicates a close, interdependent, and symbiotic association between atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure (HF). Both AF and HF, when co‐exist in a patient, have serious treatment and prognostic implications. Based on the prevailing knowledge of the topic, various societies have issued a number of guidelines regarding the management of patients with AF and HF. Overall, it is the rhythm control strategy that has shown beneficial effect over the rate control strategy with improvement in symptoms of AF and HF. While antiarrhythmic drugs (AADs) and catheter ablation (CA) may be utilized as rhythm control strategy for AF, both AADs and CA have limitations of their own. Furthermore, with the progress made in various pharmacotherapeutic agents in HF, one could question the utility of CA in HF (i.e., whether ablation is mandatory or pointless in patients who have HF). The purpose of this review is to discuss this very point, focusing on the beneficial, neutral, or detrimental outcome of CA based on the category and class of HF.
The aquaporin MePIP2;7 improves MeMGT9‐mediated Mg2+ acquisition in cassava
Authors: Ma Qiuxiang , Feng Yancai , Luo Shu , Cheng Lu , Tong Weijing , Lu Xinlu , Li Youzhi , Zhang Peng
Published: August 2023

Aquaporins are important transmembrane water transport proteins which transport water and several neutral molecules. However, how aquaporins are involved in the synergistic transport of Mg2+ and water remains poorly understood. Here, we found that the cassava aquaporin MePIP2;7 was involved in Mg2+ transport through interaction with MeMGT9, a lower affinity magnesium transporter protein. Knockdown of MePIP2;7 in cassava led to magnesium deficiency in basal mature leaves with chlorosis and necrotic spots on their edges and starch over‐accumulation. Mg2+ content was significantly decreased in leaves and roots of MePIP2;7‐RNA interference (PIP‐Ri) plants grown in both field and Mg2+‐free hydroponic solution. Xenopus oocyte injection analysis verified that MePIP2;7 possessed the ability to transport water only and MeMGT9 was responsible for Mg2+ efflux. More importantly, MePIP2;7 improved the transportability of Mg2+ via MeMGT9 as verified using the CM66 mutant complementation assay and Xenopus oocytes expressing system. Yeast two‐hybrid, bimolecular fluorescence complementation, co‐localization, and co‐immunoprecipitation assays demonstrated the direct protein–protein interaction between MePIP2;7 and MeMGT9 in vivo. Mg2+ flux was significantly elevated in MePIP2;7‐overexpressing lines in hydroponic solution through non‐invasive micro‐test technique analysis. Under Mg2+‐free condition, the retarded growth of PIP‐Ri transgenic plants could be recovered with Mg2+ supplementation. Taken together, our results demonstrated the synergistic effect of the MePIP2;7 and MeMGT9 interaction in regulating water and Mg2+ absorption and transport in cassava.
Micro Entry Theory: Understanding the Drivers and Effects of the Entry of Micro Players in the Context of Digital Platforms
Authors: Silva Rosario , Gerwe Oksana
Published: August 2023

Digital platforms have facilitated the entry into the market of micro players, a subcategory of specialists formed by individuals offering products and services on a very small scale. This study builds on previous research on micro players' entry, to formalize, validate, and expand a theory of micro entry that helps to explain the market dynamics when micro players use digital platforms to enter the market. We (1) examine how macro‐economic conditions influence the entry of micro players and specialists and (2) investigate the differential effects of the entry of micro players and specialists on the generalists' performance. Our setting is the accommodation industry in Spain, in which generalists are represented by dominant hotels and micro players and specialists by occasional and regular operators who entered the market through Airbnb. We find that the entry of micro players into the market through digital platforms is driven by high unemployment rates and platform legitimacy, factors that do not similarly influence the entry of specialists. Additionally, the results show that the entry of specialists decreases generalists' performance, while micro players' entry is complementary.
Single‐cell RNA sequencing reveals tumor heterogeneity within salivary gland pleomorphic adenoma: A preliminary study
Authors: Wang Xi‐Qian , Zhong Nian‐Nian , Man Qi‐Wen , Xu Guang‐Cai , Yan Si‐Chen , Peng Li‐Wei , Wang Yong‐Gong , Liu Bing , Bu Lin‐Lin , Li Li
Published: August 2023

Background

Salivary gland pleomorphic adenoma (SPA) is a common neoplasm of salivary glands that displays remarkable histological diversity. Previous studies have demonstrated the involvement of gene rearrangements and cytoskeleton‐remodeling‐related myoepithelial cells in SPA tumorigenesis. Cytoskeleton remodeling is necessary for epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT), a key process in tumor progression. However, the heterogeneity of tumor cells and cytoskeleton remodeling in SPA has not been extensively investigated.

Methods

An analysis of single‐cell RNA sequencing (scRNA‐seq) was performed on 27 810 cells from two donors with SPA. Bioinformatic tools were used to assess differentially expressed genes, cell trajectories, and intercellular communications. Immunohistochemistry and double immunofluorescence staining were used to demonstrate FOXC1 and MYLK expression in SPA tissues.

Results

Our analysis revealed five distinct cell subtypes within the tumor cells of SPA, indicating a high level of intra‐lesional heterogeneity. Cytoskeleton‐remodeling‐related genes were highly enriched in subtype 3 of the tumor cells, which showed a close interaction with mesenchymal cells. We found that tumoral FOXC1 expression was closely related to MYLK expression in the tumor cells of SPA.

Conclusion

Tumor cells enriched with cytoskeleton‐remodeling‐related genes play a crucial role in SPA development, and FOXC1 may partially regulate this process.