bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Therapeutic Substitution in Response to Patent Expiry? Statins in Australia*
Authors: Bates Christopher , Méndez Susan J.
Published: December 2023

This study aims to investigate the effects of generic entry on the market share of different statins. We use administrative records from a representative sample of Australians between 2003 and 2014 and analyse over 21 million prescriptions to quantify the change in the total market share of each statin after experiencing generic entry for the first time. With detailed information on patients' benefits and prices, we also estimate potential savings from increasing the use of statins where generics became available. Our results indicate that despite the price decrease, the market share of the molecule experiencing generic entry does not significantly increase, and there is some evidence of substitution away from statins with generic availability. For the most commonly used molecules, this association is stronger in patients receiving higher government subsidies. We calculate potential savings of A\$17 million if patients had initiated treatment with the most prescribed off‐patent statin rather than a patent‐protected statin. Generic entry after patent expiry presents an opportunity for a significant reduction in pharmaceutical expenditure if these are preferred. This study highlights the importance of improving prescription systems that help doctors recommend lower cost, clinically appropriate alternatives and enhance the effectiveness of policies promoting generic substitution.
Generative spatial generalized dissimilarity mixed modelling (spGDMM): An enhanced approach to modelling beta diversity
Authors: White Philip A. , Frye Henry A. , Slingsby Jasper A. , Silander John A. , Gelfand Alan E.
Published: December 2023

Turnover, or change in the composition of species over space and time, is one of the primary ways to define beta diversity. Inferring what factors impact beta diversity is not only important for understanding biodiversity processes but also for conservation planning. At present, a popular approach to understanding the drivers of compositional turnover is through generalized dissimilarity modelling (GDM). We argue that the current GDM approach suffers several limitations and provide an alternative modelling approach that remedies these issues.

We propose using generative spatial random effects models implemented in a Bayesian framework. We offer hierarchical specifications to yield full regression and spatial predictive inference, both with associated full uncertainties. The approach is illustrated by examining dissimilarity in three datasets: tree survey data from Panama's Barro Colorado Island (BCI), plant occurrence data from southwest Australia and plant abundance surveys from the Greater Cape Floristic Region (GCFR) of South Africa. We select a best model using out‐of‐sample predictive performance.

We find that the form of the best model differs across the three datasets, but our models provide performance ranging from comparable to significant improvement over GDMs. Within the GCFR, the spatial random effects play a more important role in the modelling than all the environmental variables.

We have proposed a model that provides several improvements to the current GDM framework. This includes advantages such as a flexible spatially varying mean function, spatial random effects that capture dependence unaccounted for by explanatory variables, and spatially heterogeneous variance structure. All these features are offered in a model that can adequately handle a large incidence of total dissimilarity through ‘one‐inflation’, as would be expected from highly biodiverse areas with steep turnover gradients.
Moving towards the detection of frailty with biomarkers: A population health study
Authors: Sargent Lana , Nalls Mike , Singleton Andrew , Palta Priya , Kucharska‐Newton Anna , Pankow Jim , Young Hunter , Tang Weihong , Lutsey Pamela , Olex Amy , Wendte Jered M. , Li Danni , Alonso Alvaro , Griswold Michael , Windham B. Gwen , Baninelli Stefania , Ferrucci Luigi
Published: December 2023

Aging adults experience increased health vulnerability and compromised abilities to cope with stressors, which are the clinical manifestations of frailty. Frailty is complex, and efforts to identify biomarkers to detect frailty and pre‐frailty in the clinical setting are rarely reproduced across cohorts. We developed a predictive model incorporating biological and clinical frailty measures to identify robust biomarkers across data sets. Data were from two large cohorts of older adults: “Invecchiare in Chianti (Aging in Chianti, InCHIANTI Study”) (n = 1453) from two small towns in Tuscany, Italy, and replicated in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study (ARIC) (n = 6508) from four U.S. communities. A complex systems approach to biomarker selection with a tree‐boosting machine learning (ML) technique for supervised learning analysis was used to examine biomarker population differences across both datasets. Our approach compared predictors with robust, pre‐frail, and frail participants and examined the ability to detect frailty status by race. Unique biomarker features identified in the InCHIANTI study allowed us to predict frailty with a model accuracy of 0.72 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.66–0.80). Replication models in ARIC maintained a model accuracy of 0.64 (95% CI 0.66–0.72). Frail and pre‐frail Black participant models maintained a lower model accuracy. The predictive panel of biomarkers identified in this study may improve the ability to detect frailty as a complex aging syndrome in the clinical setting. We propose several concrete next steps to keep research moving toward detecting frailty with biomarker‐based detection methods.
Genetic basis of ear length in sheep breeds sampled across the region from the Middle East to the Alps
Authors: Klawatsch Jürgen , Papachristou Dimitris , Koutsouli Panagiota , Upadhyay Maulik , Seichter Doris , Russ Ingolf , Mioč Boro , Simčič Mojca , Bizelis Iosif , Medugorac Ivica
Published: December 2023

Ear length in sheep (Ovis aries) shows a wide range of natural variation, from the absence of an outer ear structure (anotia), to small outer ears (microtia), to regular ear length. Up until now, the underlying genetics of this phenotype has been studied in four sheep breeds from China, Jordan and Italy. These studies revealed a broad range of genes significantly associated with ear length, potentially indicating genetic heterogeneity across breeds or geographic regions. In the current study, we performed genome‐wide SNP genotyping and haplotype‐based mapping, in a population of 340 individuals, to identify loci influencing ear length variation in additional sheep breeds from Slovenia, Croatia, Cyprus and Greece. Additionally, two previously described candidate variants were also genotyped in our mapping population. The mapping model without candidate variant genotypes revealed only one genome‐wide significant signal, which was located next to HMX1 on OAR6. This region was previously described as being associated with ear length variation in the Altay and Awassi sheep breeds. The mapping model including the candidate duplication genotype near HMX1 as a fixed effect explained the phenotypic variance on OAR6 and revealed an additional genome‐wide significant locus on OAR13 associated with ear length. Our results, combined with published evidence, suggest that a duplication in the evolutionarily conserved region near HMX1 is the major regulator of ear length in sheep breeds descended from a larger region from Central Asia, to the Middle East, Cyprus, Greece and to the Alps. This distribution suggests an ancient origin of the derived allele.
Morphological features of the late‐embryo‐stage gastrointestinal tract of free‐roaming light ecotype Nigerian indigenous chicken
Authors: Udoumoh Anietie Francis , Igwebuike Udensi Maduabuchi , Nwaogu Innocent Chima , Obidike Ikechukwu Reginald
Published: December 2023

Morphological changes in the late‐embryo‐stage gastrointestinal tract of Nigerian indigenous chicken were investigated using anatomical techniques. The paraffin‐embedded sections were stained with haematoxylin and eosin and periodic acid Schiff‐Alcian blue (pH 2.5) stains. During the late pre‐hatch period, the framework of the stomach was already established, but glands were yet poorly developed. Randomly oriented pre‐glandular cells in the lamina propria mucosae at embryonic day (ED) 14 became organized into elongated simple tubular glands at ED 19 and assumed adult morphology at post‐hatch day (PD) 1. Acidic and neutral mucin deposits were associated with the glandular cells. In the small intestine, enterocytes of the tunica epithelialis mucosae transformed from cuboidal‐shaped cells (at ED 14) to tall columnar cells (at PD 1). Short crypts of Lieberkühn, goblet cells, microfold cells and enteroendocrine cells were evident at ED 19, while the lamina propria mucosae and submucosa contained mesenchymal cells, reticular cells and isolated lymphoblasts. Similarly, the crypts, lymphoblasts, mesenchymal and reticular cells were also associated with the lamina propria mucosae and submucosa of the caecum and colorectum at ED 19. It was inferred from these findings that extensive cellular and tissue modifications occur in the gastrointestinal tract within the narrow window of the late pre‐hatch period. The definitive gut tunics, epithelium, glandular tissues, immune‐competent cells and tissues are formed as a result. Thus, the embryonic gut of the bird is made capable of assuming its necessary functions of food digestion, nutrient absorption, water and ion re‐absorption, immune surveillance, antibody production and immune responses at hatch.
Comment Letters and Reporting Quality: Evidence from Financial Restatements*
Authors: Zhang Qiuyue , Tang Guomei , Qin Xiuting
Published: December 2023

This study investigates the impact of comment letter reviews on reporting quality in terms of financial restatements, using comment letters from the Chinese market between 2013 and 2020. The baseline results indicate that although receiving a comment letter increases the next year's (year t + 1) restatements, it reduces later years' (year t + 2 onwards) restatements. Moreover, this effect is more pronounced among firms with lower external auditor quality, poorer information transparency, and those located in less marketized provinces. The mechanism analyses show that comment letter reviews improve financial reporting quality because of deterrent effects in the form of increased litigation risk.
Exact likelihoods for N‐mixture models with time‐to‐detection data
Authors: Haines Linda M. , Altwegg Res , Borchers D. L.
Published: December 2023

This paper is concerned with the formulation of ‐mixture models for estimating the abundance and probability of detection of a species from binary response, count and time‐to‐detection data. A modelling framework, which encompasses time‐to‐first‐detection within the context of detection/non‐detection and time‐to‐each‐detection and time‐to‐first‐detection within the context of count data, is introduced. Two observation processes which depend on whether or not double counting is assumed to occur are also considered. The main focus of the paper is on the derivation of explicit forms for the likelihoods associated with each of the proposed models. Closed‐form expressions for the likelihoods associated with time‐to‐detection data are new and are developed from the theory of order statistics. A key finding of the study is that, based on the assumption of no double counting, the likelihoods associated with times‐to‐detection together with count data are the product of the likelihood for the counts alone and a term which depends on the detection probability parameter. This result demonstrates that, in this case, recording times‐to‐detection could well improve precision in estimation over recording counts alone. In contrast, for the double counting protocol with exponential arrival times, no information was found to be gained by recording times‐to‐detection in addition to the count data. An R package and an accompanying vignette are also introduced in order to complement the algebraic results and to demonstrate the use of the models in practice.
Evaluating the performance of large language models in haematopoietic stem cell transplantation decision‐making
Authors: Civettini Ivan , Zappaterra Arianna , Granelli Bianca Maria , Rindone Giovanni , Aroldi Andrea , Bonfanti Stefano , Colombo Federica , Fedele Marilena , Grillo Giovanni , Parma Matteo , Perfetti Paola , Terruzzi Elisabetta , Gambacorti‐Passerini Carlo , Ramazzotti Daniele , Cavalca Fabrizio
Published: December 2023

In a first‐of‐its‐kind study, we assessed the capabilities of large language models (LLMs) in making complex decisions in haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The evaluation was conducted not only for Generative Pre‐trained Transformer 4 (GPT‐4) but also conducted on other artificial intelligence models: PaLm 2 and Llama‐2. Using detailed haematological histories that include both clinical, molecular and donor data, we conducted a triple‐blind survey to compare LLMs to haematology residents. We found that residents significantly outperformed LLMs (p = 0.02), particularly in transplant eligibility assessment (p = 0.01). Our triple‐blind methodology aimed to mitigate potential biases in evaluating LLMs and revealed both their promise and limitations in deciphering complex haematological clinical scenarios.
A defined serum‐free culture system for human long‐term haematopoietic stem cells
Authors: Dong Yichao , Cai Ruikun , Fang Mingxia , Chen Yuqi , Li Peng , Guo Changlong , Ma Xu
Published: December 2023

Long‐term repopulating haematopoietic stem cells (LT‐HSCs) have the ability to reconstitute the entire haematopoietic system following transplantation permanently. Despite great achievements in HSC transplantation, the limited transplantable HSC number, especially LT‐HSCs, remains critical for successful transplantation and broader applications. In this study, we established a defined serum‐free culture system for in vitro expansion of LT‐HSCs. This culture system (E1) expanded LT‐HSCs from umbilical cord blood, human mobilization peripheral blood and bone marrow. These E1‐expanded HSCs reconstituted the haematopoietic and immune systems in primary and secondary transplanted mice in a short time. Better haematopoietic reconstitution was observed in secondary xenografted mice. Moreover, we obtained the comprehensive expression profile and cellular components of LT‐HSCs from umbilical cord blood. Our study provides a valuable tool for LT‐HSC research and may improve clinical applications of HSCs.
Should oligomonocyticCMMLbe classified as an independent disease entity?
Authors: Zhao Helong Gary
Published: December 2023

The 2022 WHO Classification revised the diagnostic criteria of CMML and included the variant, formerly known as oligomonocytic CMML (O‐CMML), into the CMML disease. CMML is currently subtyped into MD‐CMML and MP‐CMML. In a recent study, Castaño‐Díez et al. showed that the newly included O‐CMML has unique clinical features and is an independent favourable risk factor, and proposed to view O‐CMML as an independent subtype of CMML, parallel to MD‐CMML and MP‐CMML.

Commentary on: Castaño‐Díez et al. Characteristics and long‐term outcome in a large series of chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia patients including 104 formerly referred to as oligomonocytic. Br J Haematol 2024;204:892‐897.
Off‐clamp vs on‐clamp robot‐assisted partial nephrectomy: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Fong Khi Yung , Gan Valerie Huei Li , Lim Benjamin Jia Han , Chan Yiong Huak , Castellani Daniele , Chen Kenneth , Tay Kae Jack , Ho Henry Sun Sien , Yuen John Shyi Peng , Aslim Edwin , Teoh Jeremy , Lim Ee Jean
Published: December 2023

Objective

To compare intra‐ and postoperative outcomes between off‐clamp and on‐clamp robot‐assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN), using data from randomised controlled trials (RCTs) or covariate‐matched studies (propensity score‐matched or matched‐pair analysis).

Methods

A Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses‐compliant literature review was conducted on PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus and CENTRAL for relevant studies comparing off‐clamp to on‐clamp RAPN. Primary outcomes were estimated blood loss, postoperative percentage decrease in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and margin positive rate. Secondary outcomes were operative time, postoperative eGFR, length of stay, all postoperative complications, major complications, and need for transfusion. Random‐effects meta‐analyses were performed to generate mean differences (MDs) or odds ratios (ORs).

Results

A total of 10 studies (2307 patients) were shortlisted for analysis. There was no significant difference in estimated operative blood loss between off‐clamp and on‐clamp RAPN (MD 21.9 mL, 95% confidence interval [CI] −0.9 to 44.7 mL; P = 0.06, I2 = 58%). Off‐clamp RAPN yielded a smaller postoperative eGFR deterioration (MD 3.10%, 95% CI 1.05–5.16%; P = 0.008, I2 = 13%) and lower odds of margin positivity (OR 0.62, 95% CI 0.40–0.94; P = 0.03, I2 = 0%). No significant differences were found for all secondary outcomes.

Conclusions

Off‐clamp and on‐clamp RAPN are similarly effective approaches for selected renal masses. Within the classic trifecta of PN outcomes, off‐clamp RAPN yields similar rates of perioperative complications and may possibly offer better preservation of renal function and reduced margin‐positive rates.
Botulinum toxin type A ameliorates rat dorsal root ganglia neuron pyroptosis in postherpetic neuralgia by upregulating cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide to inhibit neutrophil elastase
Authors: Wan Quan
Published: December 2023

Botulinum toxin type A (BoNT/A) has exhibited efficacy in postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) treatment, and this study aims to uncover its underlying mechanisms. Resiniferatoxin (RTX)‐induced PHN rats were given BoNT/A. Rat postoperative pain behaviors were assessed by Von Frey test. Cleaved‐synaptosomal protein 25 kDa (cl‐SNAP‐25) or cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide (CAMP) expression in rat dorsal root ganglia (DRG) was detected by immunofluorescence or immunohistochemistry. Healthy rat‐derived DRG neurons were transfected, incubated with lipopolysaccharides (LPS)/adenosine 5′‐triphosphate (ATP) to stimulate pyroptosis and treated with BoNT/A. The CCK‐8, Western blot, ELISA, and qRT‐PCR were used to assess the viability, levels of pyroptosis‐related proteins proinflammatory cytokine levels, as well as CAMP and ELANE mRNA levels. BoNT/A (30 U/kg) promoted cl‐SNAP‐25 expression in rat DRG and reversed RTX‐induced decrease of rat paw withdrawal thresholds and CAMP expression and increase of pyroptosis‐associated protein and inflammatory factor expression in rat DRG. CAMP interacted with ELANE in rat DRG neurons. BoNT/A attenuated LPS/ATP‐stimulated inhibition of viability and CAMP expression and upregulation of inflammatory mediators, pyroptosis‐related proteins, and ELANE expression in rat DRG neurons, which was counteracted by CAMP silencing. However, ELANE knockdown offset the effect of CAMP silencing in LPS/ATP/BoNT/A‐treated rat DRG neurons. On the whole, BoNT/A alleviates rat DRG neuron pyroptosis during PHN by upregulating CAMP to inhibit ELANE.
How parent–child brain‐to‐brain synchrony can inform the study of child development
Authors: Alonso Angelica , McDorman S. Alexa , Romeo Rachel R.
Published: December 2023

It is well established that parent–child dyadic synchrony (e.g., mutual emotions, behaviors) can support development across cognitive and socioemotional domains. The advent of simultaneous two‐brain hyperscanning (i.e., measuring the brain activity of two individuals at the same time) allows further insight into dyadic neural synchrony. In this article, we review 16 recent studies of naturalistic, parent–child brain‐to‐brain synchrony, finding relations with the nature of interactions (collaborative vs. competitive, parent vs. stranger), proximal social cues (gaze, affect, touch, and reciprocity), child‐level variables (irritability, self‐regulation), and environmental factors (parental stress, family cohesion, and adversity). We then discuss how neural synchrony may provide a biological mechanism for refining broader theories on the developmental benefits of dyadic synchrony. We also highlight critical areas for future study, including examining synchrony trajectories longitudinally, including more diverse participants and interaction contexts, and studying caregivers beyond mothers (e.g., other family members, teachers). We conclude that neural synchrony is an exciting and important window into understanding how caregiver–child dyadic synchrony supports children's social and cognitive development.
An automated, data‐driven approach to children's social dynamics in space and time
Authors: Horn Lisa , Karsai Márton , Markova Gabriela
Published: December 2023

Most children first enter social groups of peers in preschool. In this context, children use movement as a social tool, resulting in distinctive proximity patterns in space and synchrony with others over time. However, the social implications of children's movements with peers in space and time are difficult to determine due to the difficulty of acquiring reliable data during natural interactions. In this article, we review research demonstrating that proximity and synchrony are important indicators of affiliation among preschoolers and highlight challenges in this line of research. We then argue for the advantages of using wearable sensor technology and machine learning analytics to quantify social movement. This technological and analytical advancement provides an unprecedented view of complex social interactions among preschoolers in natural settings, and can help integrate young children's movements with others in space and time into a coherent interaction framework.
Does marital satisfaction predict children aggression? Insights from parents' and children's psychological distress
Authors: Wang Zhiyou , Zhang Xinwen , Ye Yajun
Published: December 2023

Marital satisfaction is a key indicator of family members' life satisfaction and mental and physical health. Parents' marital functioning affects their children's development. Given the significant impacts of marital satisfaction on children's psychological and behavioural development, the influencing paths need to be explored. This study aims to extend prior research by examining the direct effect of marital satisfaction on children's aggression and the intermediary roles of parents' and children's psychological distress. Using multi‐stage cluster random sampling, a total of 971 children and their parents were recruited in Shaanxi Province in Mainland China. Self‐reported questionnaires regarding marital satisfaction, psychological distress and aggression were completed. Results showed no significant direct impact of marital satisfaction on children's aggression, but children's psychological distress mediated this link. Moreover, parents' and children's psychological distress served as sequential mediators in the nexus between marital satisfaction and children's aggression. It means that a chain mediating mechanism existed. A better understanding of the underlying mechanisms may offer valuable insights that would aid policymakers and clinicians in designing effective prevention and interventions targeting children's behavioural problems.
Do markets Trump politics? Fossil and renewable market reactions to major political events
Authors: Mukanjari Samson , Sterner Thomas
Published: December 2023

We investigate the effects of three events with major importance for climate policy on energy sector stocks: the Paris Agreement, the Trump election and presidency, and the Biden election. By combining event studies with impulse‐indicator saturation methods, we show that the Paris Agreement and the election of Mr. Biden benefited renewable industries, while the election of Mr. Trump had negative effects. For fossil fuel industries, the effects were largely the opposite. Despite Trump's efforts to eliminate environmental regulations, his presidency did however witness a decrease in both US coal production and consumption, while natural gas and oil consumption increased.
Pupal colour–pupation substrate correlation in butterflies
Authors: Mayekar Harshad Vijay , Kodandaramaiah Ullasa
Published: December 2023

The pupal colour of many butterflies is plastic, being green or brown depending on the environment in which they develop. In most species with pupal colour plasticity (PCP), larvae that pupate on leaves tend to develop into green pupae whereas those that pupate off‐leaf (e.g., on the stem or soil) tend to become brown. This correlation between background and pupal colour has been hypothesized to protect the butterflies against predation by allowing them to match their background, although experimental evidence is scarce. Furthermore, not all butterflies exhibit PCP, and the extent to which substrate choice influences PCP remains unclear. We use a comparative approach involving multiple, closely related species varying in the degree of PCP to test predictions related to the correlation between pupal colour and pupation substrate. We studied PCP in response to larval density in five common satyrine species (Nymphalidae), two dimorphic and three monomorphic. As predicted, species with monomorphic green pupae preferred to pupate on leaves whereas those with monomorphic brown pupae preferred off‐leaf substrates. In species with dimorphic pupae, pupal colour correlated with pupation substrate. We also predicted that higher larval density induces a greater proportion of off‐leaf pupation in the dimorphic species, but not in the monomorphic species. However, this prediction was not supported. Overall, we found a strong across‐species correlation between pupation substrate choice and pupal colour plasticity, and our results support the idea that pupal colour plasticity can be an adaptation against predation.
Temperature dependence of competitive ability is cold‐shifted compared to that of growth rate in marine phytoplankton
Authors: Sunday Jennifer M. , Bernhardt Joey R. , Harley Christopher D. G. , O'Connor Mary I.
Published: December 2023

The effect of climate warming on community composition is expected to be contingent oncompetitiveoutcomes, yet approaches to projecting ecological outcomes often rely on measures of density‐independent performance across temperatures. Recent theory suggests that the temperature response of competitive ability differs in shape from that of population growth rate. Here, we test this hypothesis empirically and find thermal performance curves of competitive ability in aquatic microorganisms to be systematically left‐shifted and flatter compared to those of exponential growth rate. The minimum resource requirement for growth,R*—an inverse indicator of competitive ability—changes with temperature following a U‐shaped pattern in all four species tested, contrasting from their left‐skewed density‐independent growth rate thermal performance curves. Our results provide new evidence that exploitative competitive success is highest at temperatures that are sub‐optimal for growth, suggesting performance estimates of density‐independent variables might underpredict performance in cooler competitive environments.
Ways parental health and stress shape the parenting of preteens in the rural Ozark Mountains
Authors: Oerther Sarah , Papachrisanthou Michelle M.
Published: December 2023

Objective

We explore how parental health and stress shape the rearing of preteen children in the rural Ozark Mountains.

Background

Identifying concerns that impact preteen parents' health and stress levels may facilitate understanding ways to promote resilience and happiness for families in underserved rural communities.

Methods

Using an interpretive phenomenological approach grounded in Lazarus's stress and coping paradigm, the current qualitative study used semistructured interviews with 20 White parents in the rural area of the Ozark Mountains who had at least one child born between 2008–2011.

Results

Study participants' stories revealed that stressors related to parenting preteen children were rooted in stress from mental health or indirectly tied to social roles, such as occupational stress or financial constraints.

Conclusion

Interventions and tools need to be developed that are specific to the culture of rural areas and that focus on families as an essential part of developing resilience and happiness and mitigating the adverse effects of stress.

Implications

Interventions focused on families need to include diverse social factors that impact family resilience and happiness and include education to increase health literacy, family supports related to improving connections between parents and their preteen children, family tax credits to reduce hardships for parents, a tool for screening parents for stress, and expansion of telehealth opportunities.
Fibrillation of α‐synuclein triggered by bacterial endotoxin and lipid vesicles is modulated by N‐terminal acetylation and familial Parkinson's disease mutations
Authors: Monteiro Neto José Raphael , Lima Vanderlei de Araújo , Follmer Cristian
Published: December 2023

It has been hypothesized that ‐‐Parkinson's disease (PD) may be initiated in the gastrointestinal tract, before manifesting in the central nervous system. In this respect, it was demonstrated that lipopolysaccharide (LPS), an endotoxin from gram‐negative bacteria, accelerates the in vitro formation of α‐synuclein (aSyn) fibrils, whose intracellular deposits is a histological hallmark of the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in PD. Herein, N‐terminal acetylation and missense mutations of aSyn (A30P, A53T, E46K, H50Q and G51D) linked to rare, early‐onset forms of familial PD were investigated regarding their effect on aSyn aggregation stimulated by either LPS or small unilamellar lipid vesicles (SUVs). Our findings indicated that LPS as well as SUVs induce the fibrillation of N‐terminally acetylated wild‐type aSyn (Ac‐aSyn‐WT) more remarkably than the non‐acetylated protein, while the LPS‐free protein alone did not undergo fibrillation under our assay conditions. In addition, with the exception of A30P, PD mutations increased the fibrillation of Ac‐aSyn in the presence of LPS compared with Ac‐aSyn‐WT. The most pronounced effect of LPS was noticed for A53T, as observed when either Thioflavin‐T or JC‐1 were used as fluorescent probes for fibrils. Overall, our results suggest for the first time the existence of a synergy between LPS and PD mutations/N‐terminal acetylation toward aSyn fibrillation.
Effects of whole‐soil warming on CH4 and N2O fluxes in an alpine grassland
Authors: Chen Ying , Han Mengguang , Qin Wenkuan , Hou Yanhui , Zhang Zhenhua , Zhu Biao
Published: December 2023

Global climate warming could affect the methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) fluxes between soils and the atmosphere, but how CH4 and N2O fluxes respond to whole‐soil warming is unclear. Here, we for the first time investigated the effects of whole‐soil warming on CH4 and N2O fluxes in an alpine grassland ecosystem on the Tibetan Plateau, and also studied the effects of experimental warming on CH4 and N2O fluxes across terrestrial ecosystems through a global‐scale meta‐analysis. The whole‐soil warming (0–100 cm, +4°C) significantly elevated soil N2O emission by 101%, but had a minor effect on soil CH4 uptake. However, the meta‐analysis revealed that experimental warming did not significantly alter CH4 and N2O fluxes, and it may be that most field warming experiments could only heat the surface soils. Moreover, the warming‐induced higher plant litter and available N in soils may be the main reason for the higher N2O emission under whole‐soil warming in the alpine grassland. We need to pay more attention to the long‐term response of greenhouse gases (including CH4 and N2O fluxes) from different soil depths to whole‐soil warming over year‐round, which could help us more accurately assess and predict the ecosystem‐climate feedback under realistic warming scenarios in the future.
Climate and mineral accretion as drivers of mineral‐associated and particulate organic matter accumulation in tidal wetland soils
Authors: Fu Chuancheng , Li Yuan , Zeng Lin , Tu Chen , Wang Xiaoli , Ma Haiqing , Xiao Leilei , Christie Peter , Luo Yongming
Published: December 2023

Tidal wetlands sequester vast amounts of organic carbon (OC) and enhance soil accretion. The conservation and restoration of these ecosystems is becoming increasingly geared toward “blue” carbon sequestration while obtaining additional benefits, such as buffering sea‐level rise and enhancing biodiversity. However, the assessments of blue carbon sequestration focus primarily on bulk SOC inventories and often neglect OC fractions and their drivers; this limits our understanding of the mechanisms controlling OC storage and opportunities to enhance blue carbon sinks. Here, we determined mineral‐associated and particulate organic matter (MAOM and POM, respectively) in 99 surface soils and 40 soil cores collected from Chinese mangrove and saltmarsh habitats across a broad range of climates and accretion rates and showed how previously unrecognized mechanisms of climate and mineral accretion regulated MAOM and POM accumulation in tidal wetlands. MAOM concentrations (8.0 ± 5.7 g C kg−1) (±standard deviation) were significantly higher than POM concentrations (4.2 ± 5.7 g C kg−1) across the different soil depths and habitats. MAOM contributed over 51.6 ± 24.9% and 78.9 ± 19.0% to OC in mangrove and saltmarsh soils, respectively; both exhibited lower autochthonous contributions but higher contributions from terrestrial or marine sources than POM, which was derived primarily from autochthonous sources. Increased input of plant‐derived organic matter along the increased temperature and precipitation gradients significantly enriched the POM concentrations. In contrast, the MAOM concentrations depended on climate, which controlled the mineral reactivity and mineral–OC interactions, and on regional sedimentary processes that could redistribute the reactive minerals. Mineral accretion diluted the POM concentrations and potentially enhanced the MAOM concentrations depending on mineral composition and whether the mineral accretion benefited plant productivity. Therefore, management strategies should comprehensively consider regional climate while regulating sediment supply and mineral abundance with engineering solutions to tap the OC sink potential of tidal wetlands.
Deep learning to extract the meteorological by‐catch of wildlife cameras
Authors: Alison Jamie , Payne Stephanie , Alexander Jake M. , Bjorkman Anne D. , Clark Vincent Ralph , Gwate Onalenna , Huntsaar Maria , Iseli Evelin , Lenoir Jonathan , Mann Hjalte Mads Rosenstand , Steenhuisen Sandy‐Lynn , Høye Toke Thomas
Published: December 2023

Microclimate—proximal climatic variation at scales of metres and minutes—can exacerbate or mitigate the impacts of climate change on biodiversity. However, most microclimate studies are temperature centric, and do not consider meteorological factors such as sunshine, hail and snow. Meanwhile, remote cameras have become a primary tool to monitor wild plants and animals, even at micro‐scales, and deep learning tools rapidly convert images into ecological data. However, deep learning applications for wildlife imagery have focused exclusively on living subjects. Here, we identify an overlooked opportunity to extract latent, ecologically relevant meteorological information. We produce an annotated image dataset of micrometeorological conditions across 49 wildlife cameras in South Africa's Maloti‐Drakensberg and the Swiss Alps. We train ensemble deep learning models to classify conditions as overcast, sunshine, hail or snow. We achieve 91.7% accuracy on test cameras not seen during training. Furthermore, we show how effective accuracy is raised to 96% by disregarding 14.1% of classifications where ensemble member models did not reach a consensus. For two‐class weather classification (overcast vs. sunshine) in a novel location in Svalbard, Norway, we achieve 79.3% accuracy (93.9% consensus accuracy), outperforming a benchmark model from the computer vision literature (75.5% accuracy). Our model rapidly classifies sunshine, snow and hail in almost 2 million unlabelled images. Resulting micrometeorological data illustrated common seasonal patterns of summer hailstorms and autumn snowfalls across mountains in the northern and southern hemispheres. However, daily patterns of sunshine and shade diverged between sites, impacting daily temperature cycles. Crucially, we leverage micrometeorological data to demonstrate that (1) experimental warming using open‐top chambers shortens early snow events in autumn, and (2) image‐derived sunshine marginally outperforms sensor‐derived temperature when predicting bumblebee foraging. These methods generate novel micrometeorological variables in synchrony with biological recordings, enabling new insights from an increasingly global network of wildlife cameras.
Current and future drought vulnerability for three dominant boreal tree species
Authors: Aldea Jorge , Dahlgren Jonas , Holmström Emma , Löf Magnus
Published: December 2023

Climate change is projected to increase the frequency and severity of droughts, possibly causing sudden and elevated tree mortality. Better understanding and predictions of boreal forest responses to climate change are needed to efficiently adapt forest management. We used tree‐ring width chronologies from the Swedish National Forest Inventory, sampled between 2010 and 2018, and a random forest machine‐learning algorithm to identify the tree, stand, and site variables that determine drought damage risk, and to predict their future spatial–temporal evolution. The dataset consisted of 16,455 cores of Norway spruce, Scots pine, and birch trees from all over Sweden. The risk of drought damage was calculated as the probability of growth anomaly occurrence caused by past drought events during 1960–2010. We used the block cross‐validation method to compute model predictions for drought damage risk under current climate and climate predicted for 2040–2070 under the RCP.2.6, RCP.4.5, and RCP.8.5 emission scenarios. We found local climatic variables to be the most important predictors, although stand competition also affects drought damage risk. Norway spruce is currently the most susceptible species to drought in southern Sweden. This species currently faces high vulnerability in 28% of the country and future increases in spring temperatures would greatly increase this area to almost half of the total area of Sweden. Warmer annual temperatures will also increase the current forested area where birch suffers from drought, especially in northern and central Sweden. In contrast, for Scots pine, drought damage coincided with cold winter and early‐spring temperatures. Consequently, the current area with high drought damage risk would decrease in a future warmer climate for Scots pine. We suggest active selection of tree species, promoting the right species mixtures and thinning to reduce tree competition as promising strategies for adapting boreal forests to future droughts.
Combining multiple investigative approaches to unravel functional responses to global change in the understorey of temperate forests
Authors: Landuyt Dries , Perring Michael P. , Blondeel Haben , De Lombaerde Emiel , Depauw Leen , Lorer Eline , Maes Sybryn L. , Baeten Lander , Bergès Laurent , Bernhardt‐Römermann Markus , Brūmelis Guntis , Brunet Jörg , Chudomelová Markéta , Czerepko Janusz , Decocq Guillaume , den Ouden Jan , De Frenne Pieter , Dirnböck Thomas , Durak Tomasz , Fichtner Andreas , Gawryś Radosław , Härdtle Werner , Hédl Radim , Heinrichs Steffi , Heinken Thilo , Jaroszewicz Bogdan , Kirby Keith , Kopecký Martin , Máliš František , Macek Martin , Mitchell Fraser J. G. , Naaf Tobias , Petřík Petr , Reczyńska Kamila , Schmidt Wolfgang , Standovár Tibor , Swierkosz Krzysztof , Smart Simon M. , Van Calster Hans , Vild Ondřej , Waller Donald M. , Wulf Monika , Verheyen Kris
Published: December 2023

Plant communities are being exposed to changing environmental conditions all around the globe, leading to alterations in plant diversity, community composition, and ecosystem functioning. For herbaceous understorey communities in temperate forests, responses to global change are postulated to be complex, due to the presence of a tree layer that modulates understorey responses to external pressures such as climate change and changes in atmospheric nitrogen deposition rates. Multiple investigative approaches have been put forward as tools to detect, quantify and predict understorey responses to these global‐change drivers, including, among others, distributed resurvey studies and manipulative experiments. These investigative approaches are generally designed and reported upon in isolation, while integration across investigative approaches is rarely considered. In this study, we integrate three investigative approaches (two complementary resurvey approaches and one experimental approach) to investigate how climate warming and changes in nitrogen deposition affect the functional composition of the understorey and how functional responses in the understorey are modulated by canopy disturbance, that is, changes in overstorey canopy openness over time. Our resurvey data reveal that most changes in understorey functional characteristics represent responses to changes in canopy openness with shifts in macroclimate temperature and aerial nitrogen deposition playing secondary roles. Contrary to expectations, we found little evidence that these drivers interact. In addition, experimental findings deviated from the observational findings, suggesting that the forces driving understorey change at the regional scale differ from those driving change at the forest floor (i.e., the experimental treatments). Our study demonstrates that different approaches need to be integrated to acquire a full picture of how understorey communities respond to global change.
A stoichiometric approach to estimate sources of mineral‐associated soil organic matter
Authors: Chang Yi , Sokol Noah W. , van Groenigen Kees Jan , Bradford Mark A. , Ji Dechang , Crowther Thomas W. , Liang Chao , Luo Yiqi , Kuzyakov Yakov , Wang Jingkuan , Ding Fan
Published: December 2023

Mineral‐associated soil organic matter (MAOM) is the largest, slowest cycling pool of carbon (C) in the terrestrial biosphere. MAOM is primarily derived from plant and microbial sources, yet the relative contributions of these two sources to MAOM remain unresolved. Resolving this issue is essential for managing and modeling soil carbon responses to environmental change. Microbial biomarkers, particularly amino sugars, are the primary method used to estimate microbial versus plant contributions to MAOM, despite systematic biases associated with these estimates. There is a clear need for independent lines of evidence to help determine the relative importance of plant versus microbial contributions to MAOM. Here, we synthesized 288 datasets of C/N ratios for MAOM, particulate organic matter (POM), and microbial biomass across the soils of forests, grasslands, and croplands. Microbial biomass is the source of microbial residues that form MAOM, whereas the POM pool is the direct precursor of plant residues that form MAOM. We then used a stoichiometric approach—based on two‐pool, isotope‐mixing models—to estimate the proportional contribution of plant residue (POM) versus microbial sources to the MAOM pool. Depending on the assumptions underlying our approach, microbial inputs accounted for between 34% and 47% of the MAOM pool, whereas plant residues contributed 53%–66%. Our results therefore challenge the existing hypothesis that microbial contributions are the dominant constituents of MAOM. We conclude that biogeochemical theory and models should account for multiple pathways of MAOM formation, and that multiple independent lines of evidence are required to resolve where and when plant versus microbial contributions are dominant in MAOM formation.
Accumulation by adaptation
Authors: Thomas Kimberley Anh
Published: December 2023

Accumulation by adaptation names the phenomenon by which political and economic elites profit from climate adaptation efforts. As with the notion of ‘accumulation by dispossession’ from which it derives, the term speaks to the injustice of capital accumulation—in this case, accumulation associated with configuring some groups' vulnerability to climate change as business opportunities. However, unlike accumulation by dispossession, the mechanisms by which accumulation by adaptation proceeds have not been adequately conceptualized. This review synthesizes critiques of Marx's formulation of primitive accumulation, recent scholarship on colonial racial capitalism, and critical adaptation studies to locate how capital circulates through and reproduces the violence of climate change.
Acidic growth conditions stabilize the ribosomal RNA gene cluster and extend lifespan through noncoding transcription repression
Authors: Hasegawa Yo , Ooka Hiroyuki , Wakatsuki Tsuyoshi , Sasaki Mariko , Yamamoto Ayumi , Kobayashi Takehiko
Published: December 2023

Blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum L.) is a classical fruit that has long been used to make juice, jam, and liqueur. Blackcurrant extract is known to relieve cells from DNA damage caused by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), methyl methane sulfonate (MMS), and ultraviolet (UV) radiation. We found that blackcurrant extract (BCE) stabilizes the ribosomal RNA gene cluster (rDNA), one of the most unstable regions in the genome, through repression of noncoding transcription in the intergenic spacer (IGS) which extended the lifespan in budding yeast. Reduced formation of extrachromosomal circles (ERCs) after exposure to fractionated BCE suggested that acidity of the growth medium impacted rDNA stability. Indeed, alteration of the acidity of the growth medium to pH ~4.5 by adding HCl increased rDNA stability and extended the lifespan. We identified RPD3 as the gene responsible for this change, which was mediated by the RPD3L histone deacetylase complex. In mammals, as inflammation sites in a tissue are acidic, DNA maintenance may be similarly regulated to prevent genome instability from causing cancer.
Effect of laparoscopic‐assisted transvaginal hysterectomy on wound complications in patients with early stage cervical cancer: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Zhang Jun , Zhou Yuanhong , Ye Hong , Chen Chuanqi , Luo Youzhen
Published: December 2023

Laparoscopic‐assisted vaginal radical hysterectomy (LARVH) and abdominal radical hysterectomy (ARH) have been widely applied to treat cervical carcinoma. But LARVH and ARH have not been fully investigated in treating cervical carcinoma after injury associated with injury. This research is intended to provide an up‐to‐date basis for comparing LARVH with ARH in early stage cervical carcinoma. Comparison between LARVH and ARH in cervical carcinoma was carried out through a combination of related research. Eligible articles from databases such as PubMed and Embase were screened using an established search strategy. This report covered the results of LARVH versus ARH in cervical carcinoma. The average difference and the 95% confidence interval (CI) were used for the combination of consecutive variables. The combination of categorical variables was performed with the odds ratio (OR) 95% confidence interval. Through the identification of 1137 publications, eight of them were chosen to be analysed. Among them, 363 were treated with LARVH and 326 were treated with ARH. Eight trials showed that LARVH was associated with a reduced risk of postoperative wound infection than ARH (OR, 0.23; 95% CI, 0.1–0.55, p = 0.0009). Five trials showed that there was no difference in the risk of postoperative bleeding after surgery (OR, 1.17; 95% CI, 0.42–3.29, p = 0.76). We also did not differ significantly in the duration of the surgery (OR, 1.79; 95% CI, −6.58 to 10.15, p = 0.68). So, the two surgical methods differ significantly only in the risk of postoperative wound infection.