bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
How perceived attributes of livestreaming commerce influence customer engagement: a social support perspective
Authors: Qin Fang , Le Wei , Zhang Min , Deng Yujia
Published: November 2022

Purpose

The boom in livestreaming commerce (LSC) has brought significant changes to social interaction methods. Understanding customer engagement in LSC is critical for online sellers who try to enhance the social influence and improve marketing effectiveness of LSC. Based on the stimulus–organism–response (S–O–R) paradigm, this study aims to develop a model to investigate the effects of perceived attributes of LSC (real-time interaction, perceived proximity and perceived authenticity) on social support (informational and emotional support) and subsequent engagement.

Design/methodology/approach

An online survey is conducted to collect data from LSC customers, and data are analyzed using SPSS and SmartPLS.

Findings

The results indicate that informational and emotional support are positively affected by real-time interaction, perceived proximity and perceived authenticity. In turn, informational and emotional support enable and mediate the prediction of customer engagement intention in LSC.

Originality/value

Prior LSC studies tend to focus on the motivation influencing LSC engagement from the perspective of perceived value. This study confirms the importance of perceived attributes of LSC in driving customer engagement from the perspective of social support.
Adoption of artificial intelligence in financial services: a policy framework
Authors: Kumari Bharti , Kaur Jaspreet , Swami Sanjeev
Published: November 2022

Purpose

A crucial contemporary policy question for financial service organizations of being resilient across the globe calls for rethinking and renovating by adopting and adapting to the technologies of artificial intelligence (AI). The purpose of this study is to propose a policy framework for adoption of AI in the finance sector by exploring the driving factors through systems approach.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on literature review and discussions with experts from both industry and academia, nine enablers were shortlisted, which were used in the questionnaire survey to determine ranks of enablers. Further, the study developed the interpretive structural model (ISM) with the help of experts.

Findings

The ISM digraph developed with the help of the experts, resulted in the enablers like anticipated profitability, contactless solutions, credit risk management and software vendor support as dependent factors and stood at the top of the ISM. On the other hand, factors like availability of the data, technical infrastructure and funds are the most driving factors, which lie on the bottom of the ISM.

Research limitations/implications

The study provides implications and policy recommendations for the practicing managers and government agencies approaching the digital transformation towards the adoption of AI in the finance ecosystem.

Originality/value

The paper uses the systems approach for the development of the ISM of the enabling factors for the adoption of AI technology. On the basis of the results, the study proposes a policy framework to accelerate the functioning of the finance ecosystem with AI technology.
Sex‐specific flower resource use in hummingbird communities
Authors: Ornelas Juan Francisco
Published: November 2022

Research Highlight: Maglianesi, M. A., Maruyama, P. K., Temeles, E. J., Schleuning, M., Zanata, T. B., Sazima, M., Gutiérrez‐Zamora, A., Marín‐Gómez, O. H., Rosero‐Lasprilla, L., Ramírez‐Burbano, M. B., Ruffini, A. E., Salamanca‐Reyes, J. R., Sazima, I., Nuñez‐Rosas, L. E., Arizmendi, M. C., Rahbek, C., & Dalsgaard, B. (2022). Behavioural and morphological traits influence sex‐specific floral resource use by hummingbirds across the Americas. Journal of Animal Ecology, 00: 00–00. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365‐2656.13746. In their paper on intersexual differences in niche breadth and niche overlap in floral resource use in hummingbird communities, Maglianesi et al. compiled data of plant–hummingbird interactions based on pollen loads, and territoriality and morphological traits for 31 hummingbird species, and investigated whether patterns of resource use by females and males were related to sexual dimorphism and foraging behaviour. While accounting for evolutionary relatedness among species, the authors found a high level of resource partitioning between sexes (broader and more dissimilar floral niche breadth in females) and the sex‐specific resource use by hummingbird species was related to territoriality and morphological traits; niche overlap between sexes was greater for territorial than non‐territorial species, and lower for species with greater sexual dimorphism in bill curvature. This paper addresses two very timely issues, on the one hand on resource partitioning by sex to reduce intersexual competition in hummingbirds, and on the other hand highlight the much needed information on foraging ecology of female hummingbirds for better understanding of intersexual variation in shaping coexistence and species diversity in hummingbird communities and the interactions between plants and their hummingbird pollinators.
The effect of practice and expectancy of inferential questions on poor comprehenders' inferential processing and monitoring
Authors: Yeari Menahem , Avramovich Adi
Published: November 2022

Background

Previous studies have shown that undergraduates improve their answering and monitoring accuracy when they exclusively practice and expect inferential questions after reading. This study examined whether children with poor comprehension, who struggle particularly with inferential questions, would benefit from similar practice with and without feedback.

Methods

To address this question, 44 poor comprehenders and 44 control participants from 6th–9th grades practiced answering literal or inferential questions after reading each of three texts. They were also asked to predict their success in these questions, whereas some received feedback on their prediction (monitoring) accuracy. Then, participants read an additional three texts, but answered both practiced and unpracticed types of questions after reading all texts. They also predicted their success after reading each text.

Results

Both poor and good comprehenders answered literal questions more accurately when they had practiced. However, only good comprehenders improved their answering of inferential questions when they had practiced. No differences were found between the groups in monitoring accuracy. Feedback had a positive effect on answering accuracy, irrespective of practice.

Conclusions

Poor comprehenders differentiate to some extent between literal and inferential questions and are flexible enough to execute a different text processing plan for each type of questions. However, they presumably lack the knowledge and/or resources to execute inferential processing efficiently during reading. Moreover, all children seem to have difficulty with comprehension monitoring. Practicing and/or expecting one type of questions, with or without feedback, is insufficient for improving this ability.
Do climatic factors induce rural migration? Empirical evidence from cotton farmers in Benin
Authors: Mounirou Ichaou
Published: November 2022

Sustainable agriculture is essential for food security, which can sometimes be undermined by rural migration triggered by many factors, including climate change. This article aims to analyze its effects on the dynamic of rural migration. Using a database of 623 agricultural households, a multivariate probit model (MVP) was estimated. The results show that regardless of the nature of migration, variables related to climate factors positively and significantly affect decisions to move. In addition, other non‐climatic variables relevant to environmental migration are cattle transhumance, which creates conflicts between herders and farmers, along with poor access to agricultural credit, agricultural and off‐farm income. Gender, age, household size, accessibility to educational and health facilities in the area of origin and experience in agricultural production must be considered. Emphasis should be placed on agricultural policies aimed at diversifying the income sources of rural households in developing countries. The study highlights the importance of both farm and non‐farm income in controlling migration. In the case of our study area, it is the combination of livestock and agriculture that seems to respond best. Producers are encouraged to diversify crops and, during periods of climatic disruption, the priority of households should be based on the production of food crops for subsistence.
Impacts of oxygen deficiency on embryo life‐history traits of migratory locust Locusta migratoria from low and high altitudes
Authors: Huang Xianliang , Du Qianli , Wang Lijing , Chen Bing
Published: November 2022

Hypoxia challenges aerobic organisms in numerous environments, and hypoxic conditions may become more severe under future climate‐change scenarios. The impact of hypoxia on the development of terrestrial insect embryos is not well understood. Here, to address this gap, embryonic life‐history traits of migratory locust Locusta migratoria from low‐altitude and high‐altitude regions were compared under 2 oxygen levels: normoxia (i.e., 21 kPa oxygen partial pressure and mild hypoxia (i.e., 10 kPa oxygen partial pressure). Our results demonstrated that, whether reared under normoxia or mild hypoxia, L. migratoria from high‐altitude populations had longer developmental times, reduced weight, and lower mean relative growth rate as compared with those from low‐altitude populations. When transferred from normoxia to mild hypoxia, nearly all the tested life‐history traits presented significant negative changes in the low‐altitude populations, but not in the high‐altitude populations. The factor ‘strain’ alone explained 18.26%–54.59% of the total variation for traits, suggesting that the phenotypic differences between L. migratoria populations from the 2 altitudes could be driven by genetic variation. Significant genetic correlations were found between life‐history traits, and most of these showed differentiation between the 2 altitudinal gradients. G‐matrix comparisons showed significant structural differences between L. migratoria from the 2 regions, as well as several negative covariances (i.e., trade‐offs) between traits in the low‐altitude populations. Overall, our study provides clear evidence that evolutionary divergence of embryonic traits between L. migratoria populations from different altitudes has occurred.
Baseline susceptibility of Helicoverpa armigera, Plutella xylostella, and Spodoptera frugiperda to the meta‐diamide insecticide broflanilide
Authors: Wang Xingliang , Shi Tailong , Tang Ping , Liu Shengnan , Hou Bofeng , Jiang Dong , Lu Jingde , Yang Yihua , Carrière Yves , Wu Yidong
Published: November 2022

Broflanilide is a novel meta‐diamide insecticide that acts as a γ‐aminobutyric acid‐gated chloride channel allosteric modulator. With its unique mode of action, broflanilide has no known cross‐resistance with existing insecticides and is expected to be an effective tool for the management of insecticide resistance. Establishing the baseline susceptibility to this insecticide is an essential step for developing and implementing effective resistance management strategies. Here we evaluated the baseline susceptibility to broflanilide for 3 cosmopolitan lepidopteran pest species, Helicoverpa armigera, Plutella xylostella, and Spodoptera frugiperda. Broflanilide exhibited high activity against populations sampled in the major distribution range of these pests in China, with median lethal concentrations (LC50) ranging between 0.209 and 0.684, 0.076 and 0.336, and 0.075 and 0.219 mg/L for H. armigera, P. xylostella, and S. frugiperda, respectively. Among‐population variability in susceptibility to broflanilide was moderate for H. armigera (3.3‐fold), P. xylostella (4.4‐fold), and S. frugiperda (2.9‐fold). The recommended diagnostic concentrations for H. armigera, P. xylostella, and S. frugiperda were 8, 4, and 2 mg/L, respectively. Little or no cross‐resistance to broflanilide was detected in 3 diamide‐resistant strains of P. xylostella and 1 spinosyns‐resistant strain of S. frugiperda. Our results provide critical information for the development of effective resistance management programs to sustain efficacy of broflanilide against these key lepidopteran pests.
Electroencephalogram pattern association with drug‐related cues in a long‐duration virtual reality environment in patients with methamphetamine use disorder
Authors: Ding Xinfang , Li Yuanhui , Zhang Tianjiao , Li Dai , Luo Sean X. , Liu Xiang , Hao Wei
Published: November 2022

The cognitive processing of drug‐related cues and the subsequent dysregulation of behaviour play a central role in the pathophysiology of substance use disorders. Prior studies are limited by small sample sizes and a lack of immersion in stimulus presentation. In the present study, we recruited patients with methamphetamine use disorder (MUD; N = 1099) from four compulsory isolated detoxification centres and healthy control participants (N = 305). With a 12‐min‐long virtual reality (VR) protocol stimulus, we discovered that patients showed a decrease in electroencephalogram (EEG) power across alpha to gamma bands in anterior scalp regions under methamphetamine‐related VR stimuli (e.g. a glass pipe and medical tubing) compared with the control stimuli (e.g. balls and cubes). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that the interaction effects of stimuli type and group were significant in five EEG bands. Using generalised linear models, we classified the stimuli type (i.e. drug‐related vs. drug‐unrelated cues) in MUD patients with an f1 score of 90% on an out‐of‐sample testing set. The decreases of EEG between drug‐related cues and drug‐unrelated cues in delta, theta and alpha frequency bands are more frequently seen in patients than in healthy controls, perhaps reflecting general arousal and attenuated impulsive control. Our results suggest that EEG responses elicited by long‐duration methamphetamine‐related VR cues showed a specific signature, which may have future clinical implications.
What do geriatricians think about Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment? A survey of Australian and New Zealand geriatricians
Authors: Fox Sarah , Reid Natasha , Gordon Emily H. , Janda Monika , Hubbard Ruth E.
Published: November 2022

Objective

Despite Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) being central to the work of geriatricians, little is known about geriatricians' views on CGA. This study was designed to understand how geriatricians conceptualise and practise CGA, and whether differences exist between groups (more experienced geriatricians vs. less experienced geriatricians and registrars; those practising in rural vs. metropolitan environments; in private vs. public sectors).

Methods

An anonymous 90‐item electronic questionnaire was emailed to members of the Australian and New Zealand Society for Geriatric Medicine.

Results

There were 243 respondents (response rate 19%). Respondents stated that core features of CGA were multidimensional assessment (89%), implementation of a management plan (84%), and involvement of a geriatrician (70%). Important features in predicting CGA success were ability to implement health management recommendations (55%), and ease of communication with general practitioners (46%), and with the multidisciplinary team (45%). Functional decline (88%) and frailty (88%) were thought to predict patients likely to benefit from CGA, compared to age (48%) or multimorbidity (19%). Junior consultants and registrars were less likely to prioritise the importance of clinical leadership (10% vs. 30%), and more likely to report the importance of a structured format (17% vs. 7%) to CGA effectiveness.

Conclusions

There was some agreement about the core features of CGA and who is likely to benefit, but little agreement on features that predict CGA success. Further research that explores these points of difference would be helpful.
Quantification of the internal mammary artery size in Aboriginal and Torres Strait islanders
Authors: Knox Abbey , Gimpel Damian , Lance David , Rice Gregory D. , Crouch Gareth , Newland Richard F. , Baker Robert A. , Bennetts Jayme S.
Published: November 2022

Background

Variation in size of the internal mammary artery has been demonstrated in ethnic groups, but not reported in Aboriginal patients. We hypothesised that the left internal mammary artery is smaller in Aboriginal patients compared to non‐Aboriginal patients and aimed to determine the impact on survival following coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.

Methods

Left internal mammary artery size was compared between Aboriginal (n = 345) and non‐Aboriginal (n = 1819) in 2343 patients undergoing CABG at Flinders Medical Centre from January 2010 to June 2021. To determine the association with‐survival we used Kaplan–Meier survival analysis and Cox proportional hazard models adjusted for preoperative variables.

Results

There was a significant difference in left internal mammary artery (LIMA) size—Aboriginal 1.8 ± 0.4 mm; non‐Aboriginal 2.1 ± 0.4 mm (P < 0.001)—and left anterior descending (LAD) artery size—Aboriginal 1.7 ± 0.3 mm; non‐Aboriginal 1.9 ± 0.3 mm (P < 0.001). Aboriginal patients were more likely to have the LIMA discarded (9.3% vs. 0.4%) and to receive a LAD vein graft (17% versus 3%) (P < 0.001). There was no difference in 30‐day mortality or survival <5 years.

Conclusion

This study supports the hypothesis that the left internal mammary artery is smaller in Aboriginal patients compared to non‐Aboriginal patients. Although Aboriginal patients were more likely to receive a venous conduit to the LAD, we observed no difference in survival up to 5 years. This data contrasts with reported outcomes of other ethnic groups.
Climate change education in the South Pacific: Resilience for whom?
Authors: Takinana Anuantaeka , Baars Roger C.
Published: November 2022

Climate change education (CCE) can be an important tool to increase local community resilience. In 2017, the Pacific Community ratified the Framework for Resilient Development in the Pacific (FRDP) aiming to equip local communities with skills needed to become more climate change resilient. In 2018, Fiji implemented the Climate Change Resilience Programme (CCRP) at the University of the South Pacific (USP), the first of its kind in the South Pacific. This paper evaluates (i) the orientation and aim of the programme and (ii) how different stakeholders influenced the curriculum development process. Tribe's concept of curriculum space is used to highlight the overall aim of the CCRP. Freeman's stakeholder theory allows to identify key stakeholders and their influence on the curriculum. Results indicate that the programme seems to foster climate resilience in the workplace rather than the local community. Unfortunately, current and future community leaders, the notional targets of this course, were almost completely unrepresented in the process to accredit the course, with the body responsible for accreditation being dominated by industry representatives. This study helps to inform the current review of the Regional Certificate Programme to realign it with its initially envisioned community focus.
Comparing the intercycle variation of serum anti‐Mullerian hormone and antral follicle count measurements over four consecutive menstrual cycles
Authors: Wong Evelyn , Ng Ernest H. Y. , Li Raymond H. W. , Ko Jennifer K. Y.
Published: November 2022

Objective

To compare the intercycle variation of serum anti‐Mullerian hormone (AMH) and antral follicle count (AFC) measurements over four consecutive menstrual cycles.

Design

Observational study with secondary analysis using data from two previous randomized controlled trials.

Patients

Seventy‐eight women from two previous randomized trials on the effect of dehydroepiandrosterone pretreatment on ovarian response in women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment.

Measurements

The intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) for AFC and AMH across the four study cycles, as well as their predictive performance on poor ovarian response, were compared.

Results

No significant difference was observed in AMH (p = .608) across the four study cycles. AFC was significantly higher at 4 weeks before ovarian stimulation compared with 0, 8 and 12 weeks before ovarian stimulation (p < .05, Conover posthoc test). Both single‐measures and average‐measures ICC were significantly higher with AMH than with AFC. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the four AFC measurements in predicting poor ovarian response (defined as three or less oocytes retrieved) in the IVF cycle ranged from 0.657 to 0.743 with no significant difference (p > .05) among the four cycles, whereas those of the four AMH measurement ranged from 0.730 to 0.780 with no significant difference (p > .05) among the four cycles.

Conclusions

Although both AFC and AMH are good predictors of ovarian response, intercycle repeatability was significantly better with serum AMH than AFC measurement. Both have no significant difference in their predictive performance on poor ovarian response when assessed within three months before IVF treatment, hence allowing pre‐IVF assessment at more flexible timing.
Research translation: A pathway for health inequity
Authors: Silberberg Mina
Published: November 2022

In a context of social inequity, research translation naturally furthers health inequity. As Fundamental Cause Theory (FCT) explains—and an associated empirical literature illustrates—those with more resources benefit earlier and more from scientific innovation than those with fewer resources. Therefore, research translation of its own course creates and widens health disparities based on socioeconomic status and race/ethnicity. Yet, the conversation about research translation has yet to center this critical reality, undermining our efforts to address heath inequity. Moving toward sustainable health equity requires that we build the evidence base for, prioritize, and institutionalize translation approaches that center the needs and assets of low‐resource populations (with community engagement helping toward that end). However, even the impact of that approach will be limited if we as a society do not mobilize knowledge to address social inequity and the many ways in which it shapes health. The health research community should engage the FCT paradigm to think critically about resource allocation among different kinds of research and action. Moreover, in our contributions to discussions about the road to health equity, we must be forthcoming about the reality FCT describes and the limitations it indicates for achieving health equity through translation of biomedical, clinical, health services, and health behavior research alone.
Too much information? The use of extraneous information to support decision‐making in emergency settings
Authors: Ben‐Assuli Ofir , Arazy Ofer , Kumar Nanda , Shabtai Itamar
Published: November 2022

Decision‐makers in emergency settings need to employ the breadth of evidence available so as to inform critical judgments, yet the acute time pressure suggests that in some cases only partial information could be employed. Investigating this tension, the current study focuses on the usefulness of extraneous information that arrives from outside the organization and supplements the information that is available through local information systems. Namely, we explore the extent to which the use of Health Information Exchanges (HIEs)—a network that integrates patients’ clinical information across medical organizations and points of care—facilitates diagnosis decisions in hospitals’ emergency departments (EDs). Adopting the lens of cognitive decision‐making theory, we advance hypotheses regarding the moderating effects of the tasks’ cognitive requirements (diagnosis complexity) and clinicians’ time availability (ED crowdedness) on the relation between the use of extraneous information (in the form of HIE data) and decision quality (ED revisit rate). Our empirical investigation employs complete field data collected from a network of hospitals, capturing over half‐a‐million patient ED encounters. The results reveal that, in general, ED clinicians’ use of the HIE improves decision quality, as reflected in reduced patient revisits to the ED. However, when diagnosis complexity is low, this effect is reversed, such that HIE use is associated with increased ED revisit rates. Our discussion highlights the conditions under which extraneous information contributes to better decision‐making and calls for a mindful use of interorganizational information exchanges in emergency settings.
Impact of gestational diabetes mellitus treatment on medium/long‐term outcomes after pregnancy: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: García‐Patterson Apolonia , Balsells Montserrat , Solà Ivan , Gich Ignasi , Corcoy Rosa
Published: November 2022

Aim

We aimed to evaluate the effect of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) treatment on medium/long‐term outcomes both the mother and offspring.

Methods

We performed a systematic review on randomized clinical trials addressing specific treatment of women with GDM versus usual care and its impact on maternal and offspring outcomes at medium/long‐term. MEDLINE, EMBASE and CENTRAL were searched from inception to 8 October 2021. Outcome variables: maternal (diabetes, metabolic syndrome, 12 secondary); offspring (diabetes, impaired fasting glucose, impaired glucose tolerance, high body mass index, 15 secondary). Risk of bias was assessed with Cochrane tool and aggregation performed with Revman 5.4.

Results

We included five studies (1140 women, 767 offspring) with follow‐up ranging 4–16 years after delivery. GDM treatment likely does not reduce risk of maternal diabetes (RR 1.00; [95% CI 0.82–1.23]) and may not reduce that of metabolic syndrome (RR 0.93; [95% CI 0.71–1.22]). We obtained very uncertain evidence that treatment may increase maternal HDL‐cholesterol. Findings showed that GDM treatment may not have an impact on infants' outcomes (RRs 0.79; [95% CI 0.39–1.69] for impaired fasting glucose; RR 0.91; [95% CI 0.74–1.12] for body mass index >85th centile and 0.89; [95% CI 0.65–1.22] for body mass index >95th centile respectively).

Conclusions

With current evidence is uncertain if specific treatment of women with GDM has an impact on medium/long‐term metabolic outcomes either in the mother or in the offspring. These results add evidence to the recommendation of systematically reevaluating mother and offspring after delivery.

Registration

OSF, DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/KFN79
Seasonality modulates habitat cover effects on avian cross‐boundary responses and spillover
Authors: Larissa Boesing Andrea , Bianchi Felix J. J. A. , Rojas Andrés , Polesso Mariana , Kerches‐Rogeri Patrícia , César Ribeiro Milton , Paul Metzger Jean
Published: November 2022

Species cross‐boundary response is a key mechanism affecting species spillover into agricultural fields. However, temporal changes in edge permeability, which may depend on the seasonal availability of resources in both matrix and native habitats, remain poorly understood. Here we tested how edge crossing behavior and the associated spillover of birds into sun coffee plantations respond to landscape structure and seasonality. We monitored the movement of six insectivorous understory bird species (four forest specialists and two forest generalists) using an automated telemetry system along a gradient of forest cover (7–60%) during two seasons (dry versus wet) at nine sampling sites at the Brazilian Atlantic forest. We monitored 116 individuals and obtained a total of 15 129 bird detections across seasons. Bird resistance to crossing edges was strongly driven by an interaction between seasonality and forest cover in the surrounding landscape, with higher resistance to crossing edges along the dry season and in landscapes with lower amount of forest cover. Furthermore, spillover patterns in plantations were driven by an interaction between forest cover and distance from forest edges, but this was most pronounced for forest‐specialist bird species. Forest specialists moved more intensively and farther from edges in more forested landscapes, whereas forest generalists showed similar patterns of occupation regardless of forest cover and isolation. Our study contributes to a better understanding of avian cross‐boundary responses and spillover in response to landscape structure across seasons, and the factors driving bird movement decisions in anthropogenic landscapes. There are a myriad of possible mechanisms governing movement decisions, and these mechanisms may interact in complex ways and remain important foci for research within the fields of tropical ecology and evolution.
Mismatch between temperature and discharge disrupts spawning cues in a fluvial specialist, blue sucker Cycleptus elongatus
Authors: Acre Matthew R. , Grabowski Timothy B. , Leavitt Daniel J. , Smith Nathan G. , Pease Allison A. , Bean Preston T. , Geeslin Dakus
Published: November 2022

Seasonal movements cued by environmental variables are a critical component of riverine fish life history. Life‐history events for species such as blue sucker Cycleptus elongatus are likely cued by discharge and temperature and may be disrupted if those life‐history events and environmental regimes are mismatched. However, this effect may be dependent upon the habitat occupied when environmental cues are received by individuals. We tracked telemetered blue sucker in the Colorado River, Texas, USA, from 2015 to 2017 and modelled the relative effects of discharge, temperature and habitat structure on seasonal movement patterns. Tagged fish varied in their propensity to move, although most returned to their original tagging locations. Decreasing temperatures and increasing discharge resulted in increased seasonal movements. Temperature and discharge had the largest effect on movement behaviour, but the magnitude of movements was largely dependent on the year. Temperatures between 12 and 19°C and discharges between 10 and 240 m3s−1 resulted in greater probabilities of spawning movements. Spawning was most probable in 2015 and reduced or halted in 2016 and 2017. Future climate scenarios suggest North America will experience increased drought, warmer temperatures and more variable weather patterns. These future scenarios could negatively impact blue sucker by disrupting environmental cues and habitat availability for seasonal life‐history events. Our results suggest temperature and discharge are critical cues for the species, but that their combined effect is largely dependent on the occupied habitat.
APOBEC3G protects the genome of human cultured cells and mice from radiation‐induced damage
Authors: Britan‐Rosich Yelena , Ma Jing , Kotler Eran , Hassan Faizan , Botvinnik Alexander , Smith Yoav , Moshel Ofra , Nasereddin Abed , Sharma Gunjan , Pikarsky Eli , Ross Susan , Kotler Moshe
Published: November 2022

Cytosine deaminases AID/APOBEC proteins act as potent nucleic acid editors, playing important roles in innate and adaptive immunity. However, the mutagenic effects of some of these proteins compromise genomic integrity and may promote tumorigenesis. Here, we demonstrate that human APOBEC3G (A3G), in addition to its role in innate immunity, promotes repair of double‐strand breaks (DSBs) in vitro and in vivo. Transgenic mice expressing A3G successfully survived lethal irradiation, whereas wild‐type controls quickly succumbed to radiation syndrome. Mass spectrometric analyses identified the differential upregulation of a plethora of proteins involved in DSB repair pathways in A3G‐expressing cells early following irradiation to facilitate repair. Importantly, we find that A3G not only accelerates DSB repair but also promotes deamination‐dependent error‐free rejoining. These findings have two implications: (a) strategies aimed at inhibiting A3G may improve the efficacy of genotoxic therapies used to cure malignant tumours; and (b) enhancing A3G activity may reduce acute radiation syndrome in individuals exposed to ionizing radiation.
Effect of microstructure on fatigue crack growth behavior of surface‐ and middle‐layer materials of thick high‐strength bridge steel plates
Authors: Ke Lu , Li Youlin , Chen Zheng , Feng Zheng , Yan Banfu , Zhu Furui , Yuan Peng
Published: November 2022

The effects of microstructure on the fatigue crack growth behavior of surface‐ and middle‐layer materials of high‐strength bridge steel (including steel Q370qE, Q420qE, and Q500qE) plates were investigated. The microstructures are captured via an optical microscope, and fracture morphologies are examined by scanning electron microscopy. The results indicate that for materials with different strength grades of steel plates at the same sampling locations, the higher the strength grade, the lower the fatigue crack growth rate (FCGR). In addition, materials with smaller equivalent grain sizes or higher volume fractions of the second hard phase exhibit lower FCGR for the surface‐ and middle‐layer materials of the identical strength‐grade steel plate. The fatigue fracture morphological examination results show that typical fatigue striations along with secondary cracks are observed in the stable crack growth region of three high‐strength bridge steel plates. Moreover, fatigue steps are observed in steel Q500qE, which has the lowest FCGR, indicating that the fatigue steps contribute significantly to resisting the fatigue crack propagation.
Function of four tryptophan residues on Cel7A catalytic efficiency: Insight into cellulase screening strategy based on natural cellulose or cellulose analogs
Authors: Gao Le , Chen Qiuhui , Dong Haofan , Zhang Zhaokun , Bao Tongtong , Wang Lixian , Yang Fan , Wu Xin
Published: November 2022

There is a high level of conservation of tryptophans within the active site architecture of the cellulase family, whereas the function of the four tryptophans in the catalytic domain of Cel7A is unclear. By mutating four tryptophan residues in the catalytic domain of Cel7A from Penicillium piceum (PpCel7A), the binding affinity between PpCel7A and p‐nitrophenol‐d‐cellobioside (pNPC) was reduced as determined by Michaelis–Menten constants, molecular dynamics simulations, and fluorescence spectroscopy. Furthermore, PpCel7A variants showed a reduced level of cellobiohydrolase (CBH) activity against cellulose analogs or natural cellulose. Therefore, it could be concluded four tryptophan residues in Cel7A played a critical role in substrate binding. Mutagenesis results indicated that the W390 stacking interactions at the −2 site played an essential role in facilitating substrate distortion to the −1 site. As soon as the function was altered, the mutation would inevitably affect the catalytic activity against the natural substrate. Interestingly, no clear relationship was found between the CBH activity of PpCel7A variants against pNPC and Avicel. p‐Nitrophenol contains many electrophilic groups that may result in overestimation of the binding constant between tryptophan residues and pNPC in comparison with the natural substrate. Consequently, screening improved cellulase using cellulose analogs would divert attention from the target direction for lignocellulose biorefinery. Clarifying mechanism of catalytic diversity on the natural cellulose or cellulose analogs may give better insight into cellulase screening and selecting strategy.
Effect of in situ formation of Ti(C,N) on the properties of Al2O3–ZrO2–C slide plate material
Authors: Jiang Qingzhu , Han Bingqiang , Wei Jiawei , Chen Junfeng , Li Nan , Youqi Li , He Jian , Wang Huijun
Published: November 2022

Al2O3–ZrO2–C slide plate was ordinarily used in sliding nozzle system because of its excellent mechanical properties and slag corrosion resistance. This study improved the slag corrosion resistance of the slide plate by the carbothermic reduction of TiO2 and aluminothermic reduction of TiO2 under high temperature in coke bed to generate Ti(C,N) phase in situ. The result revealed that TiC of the high melting point phase could enter into anorthite (CaAl2Si2O8) of the low melting point phase, forming eutectic phase CaAl2Si2O8–TiC, and improve the viscosity of the slag. Furthermore, TiC and CaAl2Si2O8 captured FeO and MnO from the slag, resulting in the increase of the slag viscosity, inhibiting the penetration corrosion of the slag, and improving the slag corrosion resistance of the materials. In general, compared with the material without TiO2 powder, the slag corrosion resistance of the material introduced 2 wt.% TiO2 powder was increased by 24%. Meanwhile, the cold crushing strength of fired specimen at room temperature was increased by 35.6%.
Dense and strong calcite ceramics prepared by room‐temperature cold sintering based on high‐pressure‐enhanced solubility
Authors: Cao Meng , Hong Wen Bin , Yang Xiao Dong , Jia Ying Qiang , Li Lei , Wu Shu Ya , Yang Hang Sheng , Chen Xiang Ming
Published: November 2022

Dense and strong calcite (CaCO3) ceramics were prepared by room‐temperature cold sintering with the aid of water and high pressure of up to 900 MPa. Under atmospheric pressure, calcite is barely soluble in water. However, the microstructure evolution and stress‐strain analysis during cold sintering revealed that the dissolution‐precipitation, plastic deformation, and pressure‐solution‐creep mechanisms played a crucial role in the densification and mechanical robustness of calcite ceramics, which was attributed to the significantly enhanced solubility of calcite in water under high pressure. The calcite ceramic cold sintered under 900 MPa from micron powder exhibited the highest relative density of 92.1% and best mechanical properties with compressive strength, flexural strength, hardness, and Young's modulus of 276.5 MPa, 52.5 MPa, 1.64 GPa, and 53.7 GPa, respectively. The as‐prepared calcite ceramic was stronger and harder than most stones and cement, indicating its promising application as novel building and biomimetic materials. The present study also provides a new strategy for densifying ceramics with low solubility by cold sintering.
Testing different sources of environmental unpredictability on adolescent functioning: ancestral cue versus statistical learning and the role of temperament
Authors: Li Zhi , Sturge‐Apple Melissa L. , Platts Cory R. , Davies Patrick T.
Published: November 2022

Background

The dimensional model of environmental adversity highlighted the effects of an unpredictable environment in promoting risky development. Toward gaining greater specificity in understanding, this multimethod, longitudinal study investigated the role of two sources of environmental unpredictability—ancestral cues versus statistical learning, and their interaction with dove temperament conceptualized within the evolutionary model of temperament, in shaping adolescent functioning.

Methods

Participants were 192 families with an adolescent (Mage = 12.4) followed for two annual waves. We measured unpredictability within the ancestral‐cue approach as incidents of disruptive family events, and statistical‐learning unpredictability as the random variability in observed moment‐to‐moment maternal hostility during parent–child interaction. We focused on dove temperament, which characterizes strategies of cautious and inhibited behavior in novel contexts and persistence and intrinsic engagement in benign contexts.

Results

Findings indicated unique effects of ancestral‐cue versus statistical‐learning unpredictability—in interaction with dove temperament—in association with adolescent functioning. Ancestral‐cue unpredictability interacted with dove temperament in association with vagal stress reactivity, and the interactive effects of statistical‐learning unpredictability were only associated with set‐shifting. Furthermore, the family instability‐x‐dove temperament interaction was linked to adolescent adjustment via vagal reactivity. Adolescents with lower dove temperament showed dampened vagal reactivity within the more unpredictable environments, which was in turn associated with a greater decrease in social withdrawal over time.

Conclusions

The findings highlighted the specificity in different sources of environmental unpredictability in shaping adolescent development.
Cloning and expression of two anti‐lipopolysaccharide factors in Eriocheir hepuensis under Vibrio alginolyticus‐induced stress
Authors: Ren Tianjiao , Liu Jinxia , Liu Ke , Zhang Zining , Ma Zihang , Dan Solomon F. , Lan Zhenyu , Lu Min , Fang Huaiyi , Zhang Yan , Zhu Peng , Liao Yongyan
Published: November 2022

Anti‐lipopolysaccharide factors (ALFs) are small basic proteins that exhibit broad‐spectrum antiviral properties and antibacterial activity. In this research, we cloned and studied two Eriocheir hepuensis ALFs, EhALF2 and EhALF3. The results showed that the open reading frame lengths of EhALF2 and EhALF3 were 363 and 372 bp, encoding 120 and 123 amino acids, respectively. Their sequences both contained an Lipopolysaccharide‐binding (LPS) domain and were highly similarity to other crab ALFs. qRT–PCR showed that EhALF2 and EhALF3 were detected in nine examined tissues and were expressed the highest in the haemocytes. After challenge with Vibrio alginolyticus, in the hepatopancreas, the expression levels of EhALF2 and EhALF3 reached the highest levels at 48 and 3 h, respectively. In the heart, the expression levels of the two genes were highest at 12 h. These results indicate that EhALF2 and EhALF3 could participate in the resistance of E. hepuensis to V. alginolyticus stress within a short time. They have potential applications in the study of environmental stress markers and disease‐resistance factors in E. hepuensis.
Genome Editing and Relational Autonomy
Authors: Kalbian Aline
Published: November 2022

Developed in the past two decades, the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats‐associated protein 9 (CRISPR‐Cas9) technique offers greater accessibility and efficiency in editing genes. Its immediate success has transformed medical research and treatment in productive ways, but has also left questions about ethical consequences in its wake. These are questions familiar to bioethical inquiry. How do we balance short‐term and long‐term benefits and risks? How do we promote just and equitable access to new medical interventions? How do we protect respect for individual autonomy? These questions require a balance between protecting individuals' liberties and the good of the communities in which they live. In this essay, I am interested in how the principle of respect for autonomy can be interpreted in light of CRISPR‐Cas9. I argue that a relational autonomy framework forges a middle ground between the need to respect individual freedom to pursue genetic treatments and the need to acknowledge the networks of dependence that define our moral worlds. I identify three thematic areas that relational autonomy brings into greater focus: the importance of trust, the acknowledgment of vulnerability/dependence, and the promotion of justice. Autonomy understood relationally allows us to see individual freedom as tethered to communal well‐being.
Structure and formation of the perforated theca defining the Pelagophyceae (Heterokonta), and three new genera that substantiate the diverse nature of the class
Authors: Wetherbee Richard , Bringloe Trevor T. , van de Meene Allison , Andersen Robert A. , Verbruggen Heroen
Published: November 2022

The pelagophytes, a morphologically diverse class of marine heterokont algae, have been historically united only by DNA sequences. Recently we described a novel perforated theca (PT) encasing cells from the Pelagophyceae and hypothesized it may be the first morphological feature to define the class. Here we consolidate that observation, describing a PT for the first time in an additional seven pelagophyte genera, including three genera new to science. We established clonal cultures of pelagophytes collected from intertidal pools located around Australia, and established phylogenetic trees based on nuclear 18S rDNA and plastidrbcL,psaA,psaB,psbA andpsbC gene sequences that led to the discovery of three new species:Wyeophycus julieharrissiaeandChromopallida australisform a distinct lineage along withAnkylochrysis luteawithin the Pelagomonadales, whilePituiglomerulus capricornicusis sister genus toChrysocystis fragilisin the Chrysocystaceae (Sarcinochrysidales). Using fixation by high‐pressure freezing for electron microscope observations, a distinctive PT was observed in the three new genera described in this paper, as well as four genera not previously investigated:Chrysoreinhardia,Sargassococcus,SungminbooaandAndersenia. The mechanism of PT formation is novel, being fabricated from rafts in Golgi‐derived vesicles before being inserted into an established PT. Extracellular wall and/or mucilage layers assemble exterior to the PT in most pelagophytes, the materials likewise secreted by Golgi‐derived vesicles, though the mechanism of secretion is novel. Secretory vesicles never fuse with the plasma membrane as in classic secretion and deposition, but rather relocate extracellularly beneath the PT and disintegrate, the contents having to pass through the PT prior to wall and/or mucilage synthesis. This study substantiates the diverse nature of pelagophytes, and provides further evidence that the PT is a sound morphological feature to define the Pelagophyceae, with all 14 of the 20 known genera studied to date by TEM possessing a PT.
Complications and postoperative non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory use of three extracapsular cruciate ligament repair techniques performed in a general practice clinic environment
Authors: Franklin C. D. H. , House A. K. , Pfeiffer C. N.
Published: November 2022

Objective

To report complications and postoperative non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory use associated with fabellotibial suture, Tightrope and Ligafiba Isotoggle procedures performed on dogs of varying weights within a general practice setting.

Materials and Methods

Clinical records of eligible patients from 2009 to 2018 were retrospectively extracted from five general practice clinics. Data for signalment, patient weight, surgery performed, complications, postoperative use of non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs, and timing thereof were extracted and analysed using multinomial logistic regression. Predicted probability tables were generated for complications and non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drug use.

Results

The study included 370 surgeries, with 97 fabellotibial suture, 158 Tightrope and 42 Ligafiba Isotoggle procedures in patients less than 15 kg, and 43 fabellotibial suture, 16 Tightrope and 30 Ligafiba Isotoggle procedures in patients at least 15 kg. The proportion of patients that can be expected to have no complications was greatest for older dogs (9 years) weighing less than 15 kg (fabellotibial suture, 91%; Tightrope/Ligafiba Isotoggle, 88%), and the highest major medical and surgical complication risks were expected in young dogs (1 year) weighing over 15 kg (fabellotibial suture, 28%; Tightrope/Ligafiba Isotoggle, 59%). The predicted risk of requiring repeated non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drug prescriptions in the 18‐month postoperative period for an 15 kg patient was 37% to 39%.

Conclusion

Weight and age were significant factors influencing complications and postoperative non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drug use in fabellotibial suture, Tightrope and Ligafiba Isotoggle surgical patients in a general practice setting.

Clinical Significance

Clinicians should consider the possibility of complications and requirement for ongoing non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drug use before performing extracapsular procedures in patients weighing more than 15 kg.