bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assembly archetypes in ecological communities
Authors: Flores-Arguedas Hugo , Antolin-Camarena Omar , Saavedra Serguei , Angulo Marco Tulio
Published: November 2023

An instrumental discovery in comparative and developmental biology is the existence of assembly archetypes that synthesize the vast diversity of organisms’ body plans—from legs and wings to human arms—into simple, interpretable and general design principles. Here, we combine a novel mathematical formalism based on category theory with experimental data to show that similar ‘assembly archetypes’ exist at the larger organization scale of ecological communities when assembling a species pool across diverse environmental contexts, particularly when species interactions are highly structured. We applied our formalism to clinical data discovering two assembly archetypes that differentiate between healthy and unhealthy human gut microbiota. The concept of assembly archetypes and the methods to synthesize them can pave the way to discovering the general assembly principles of the ecological communities we observe in nature.
Evolutionary dynamics of mutants that modify population structure
Authors: Tkadlec Josef , Kaveh Kamran , Chatterjee Krishnendu , Nowak Martin A.
Published: November 2023

Natural selection is usually studied between mutants that differ in reproductive rate, but are subject to the same population structure. Here we explore how natural selection acts on mutants that have the same reproductive rate, but different population structures. In our framework, population structure is given by a graph that specifies where offspring can disperse. The invading mutant disperses offspring on a different graph than the resident wild-type. We find that more densely connected dispersal graphs tend to increase the invader’s fixation probability, but the exact relationship between structure and fixation probability is subtle. We present three main results. First, we prove that if both invader and resident are on complete dispersal graphs, then removing a single edge in the invader’s dispersal graph reduces its fixation probability. Second, we show that for certain island models higher invader’s connectivity increases its fixation probability, but the magnitude of the effect depends on the exact layout of the connections. Third, we show that for lattices the effect of different connectivity is comparable to that of different fitness: for large population size, the invader’s fixation probability is either constant or exponentially small, depending on whether it is more or less connected than the resident.
Assessing the impacts of genetic defects on starch metabolism in
Arabidopsis
plants using the carbon homeostasis model
Authors: Kudo Shuichi N. , Bello Carolina C. M. , Artins Anthony , Caldana Camila , Satake Akiko
Published: November 2023

Starch serves as an important carbon storage mechanism for many plant species, facilitating their adaptation to the cyclic variations in the light environment, including day–night cycles as well as seasonal changes in photoperiod. By dynamically adjusting starch accumulation and degradation rates, plants maintain carbon homeostasis, enabling continuous growth under fluctuating environmental conditions. To understand dynamic nature of starch metabolism at the molecular level, it is necessary to integrate empirical knowledge from genetic defects in specific regulatory pathways into the dynamical system of starch metabolism. To achieve this, we evaluated the impact of genetic defects in the circadian clock, sugar sensing and starch degradation pathways using the carbon homeostasis model that encompasses the interplay between these pathways. Through the collection of starch metabolism data from 10
Arabidopsis
mutants, we effectively fitted the experimental data to the model. The system-level assessment revealed that genetic defects in both circadian clock components and sugar sensing pathway hindered the appropriate adjustment of the starch degradation rate, particularly under long-day conditions. These findings not only confirmed the previous empirical findings but also provide the novel insights into the role of each gene within the gene regulatory network on the emergence of carbon homeostasis.
A geometric process of evolutionary game dynamics
Authors: LaPorte Philip , Nowak Martin A.
Published: November 2023

Many evolutionary processes occur in phenotype spaces which are continuous. It is therefore of interest to explore how selection operates in continuous spaces. One approach is adaptive dynamics, which assumes that mutants are local. Here we study a different process which also allows non-local mutants. We assume that a resident population is challenged by an invader who uses a strategy chosen from a random distribution on the space of all strategies. We study the repeated donation game of direct reciprocity. We consider reactive strategies given by two probabilities, denoting respectively the probability to cooperate after the co-player has cooperated or defected. The strategy space is the unit square. We derive analytic formulae for the stationary distribution of evolutionary dynamics and for the average cooperation rate as function of the cost-to-benefit ratio. For positive reactive strategies, we prove that cooperation is more abundant than defection if the area of the cooperative region is greater than 1/2 which is equivalent to benefit,
b
, divided by cost,
c
, exceeding

2
+

2

. We introduce the concept of strategies that are stable with probability one. We also study an extended process and discuss other games.
Genome editing in East African cichlids and tilapias: state-of-the-art and future directions
Authors: Clark Bethan , Kuwalekar Muktai , Fischer Bettina , Woltering Joost , Biran Jakob , Juntti Scott , Kratochwil Claudius F. , Santos M. Emília , Almeida Miguel Vasconcelos
Published: November 2023

African cichlid fishes of the Cichlidae family are a group of teleosts important for aquaculture and research. A thriving research community is particularly interested in the cichlid radiations of the East African Great Lakes. One key goal is to pinpoint genetic variation underlying phenotypic diversification, but the lack of genetic tools has precluded thorough dissection of the genetic basis of relevant traits in cichlids. Genome editing technologies are well established in teleost models like zebrafish and medaka. However, this is not the case for emerging model organisms, such as East African cichlids, where these technologies remain inaccessible to most laboratories, due in part to limited exchange of knowledge and expertise. The Cichlid Science 2022 meeting (Cambridge, UK) hosted for the first time a Genome Editing Workshop, where the community discussed recent advances in genome editing, with an emphasis on CRISPR/Cas9 technologies. Based on the workshop findings and discussions, in this review we define the state-of-the-art of cichlid genome editing, share resources and protocols, and propose new possible avenues to further expand the cichlid genome editing toolkit.
Reduction of wing area affects estimated stress in the primary flight muscles of chickens
Authors: Hong Grace A. T. , Tobalske Bret W. , van Staaveren Nienke , Leishman Emily M. , Widowski Tina M. , Powers Donald R. , Harlander-Matauschek Alexandra
Published: November 2023

In flying birds, the pectoralis (PECT) and supracoracoideus (SUPRA) generate most of the power required for flight, while the wing feathers create the aerodynamic forces. However, in domestic laying hens, little is known about the architectural properties of these muscles and the forces the wings produce. As housing space increases for commercial laying hens, understanding these properties is important for assuring safe locomotion. We tested the effects of wing area loss on mass, physiological cross-sectional area (PCSA), and estimated muscle stress (EMS) of the PECT and SUPRA in white-feathered laying hens. Treatments included Unclipped (N= 18), Half-Clipped with primaries removed (N= 18) and Fully-Clipped with the primaries and secondaries removed (N= 18). The mass and PCSA of the PECT and SUPRA did not vary significantly with treatment. Thus, laying hen muscle anatomy may be relatively resistant to changes in external wing morphology. We observed significant differences in EMS among treatments, as Unclipped birds exhibited the greatest EMS. This suggests that intact wings provide the greatest stimulus of external force for the primary flight muscles.
Regional differences in historical diphtheria and scarlet fever notification rates in The Netherlands, 1905–1925: a spatial-temporal analysis
Authors: McDonald Scott A. , van Wijhe Maarten , de Melker Hester , van Meijeren Dimphey , Wallinga Jacco
Published: November 2023

Background. We describe how rates of two frequently occurring notifiable diseases—diphtheria and scarlet fever—varied between regions of The Netherlands in the early twentieth century, and identify potential factors underlying this variation. Methods. Digitized weekly mandatory notification data for 1905–1925, municipality level, were aggregated into 27 ‘spatial units’ defined by unique combinations of province and population density category (high: more than 4500; mid : 1250–4500; low: less than 1250 inhabitants km
−
2
). Generalized additive regression models were fitted to estimate the associations between notification rates and population density, infant mortality rate and household income, while adjusting for temporal trends per spatial unit. Results. Annual
per capita
notification rates for both diphtheria and scarlet fever tended to rise from the beginning of the period 1905–1925 until peaking around 1918/1919. Adjusted diphtheria notification rates were higher for high- and mid- compared with low-density municipalities (by 71.6 cases per 100 000, 95% confidence interval (CI) : 52.7–90.5; 39.0/100 k, 95% CI : 24.7–53.3, respectively). Scarlet fever showed similar associations with population density (35.7 cases per 100 000, 95% CI : 9.4–62.0; 21.4/100 k, 95% CI: 1.5–41.3). Conclusions. There was considerable spatial variation in notification rates for both diseases in early twentieth century Netherlands, which could partly be explained by factors capturing variation in living conditions and socio-economic circumstances. These findings aid understanding of contemporary respiratory infection transmission.
The African mosquito-borne diseasosome: geographical patterns, range expansion and future disease emergence
Authors: Lehmann Tovi , Kouam Cedric , Woo Joshua , Diallo Mawlouth , Wilkerson Richard , Linton Yvonne-Marie
Published: November 2023

Mosquito-borne diseases (MBDs) threaten public health and food security globally. We provide the first biogeographic description of the African mosquito fauna (677 species) and the 151 mosquito-borne pathogens (MBPs) they transmit. While mosquito species richness agrees with expectations based on Africa's land surface, African arboviruses and mammalian plasmodia are more speciose than expected. Species assemblages of mosquitoes and MBPs similarly separate sub-Saharan Africa from North Africa, and those in West and Central Africa from eastern and southern Africa. Similarities between mosquitoes and MBPs in diversity and range size suggest that mosquitoes are key in delimiting the range of MBPs. With approximately 25% endemicity, approximately 50% occupying one to three countries and less than 5% occupying greater than 25 countries, the ranges of mosquitoes and MBPs are surprisingly small, suggesting that most MBPs are transmitted by a single mosquito species. Exceptionally widespread mosquito species feed on people and livestock, and most are high-altitude-windborne migrants. Likewise, widespread MBPs are transmitted among people or livestock by widespread mosquitoes, suggesting that adapting to people or livestock and to widespread mosquito species promote range expansion in MBPs. Range size may predict range expansion and emergence risk. We highlight key knowledge gaps that impede prediction and mitigation of future emergence of local and global MBDs.
Morphological diversity increases with decreasing resources along a zooplankton time series
Authors: Beck Miriam , Cailleton Caroline , Guidi Lionel , Desnos Corinne , Jalabert Laetitia , Elineau Amanda , Stemmann Lars , Ayata Sakina-Dorothée , Irisson Jean-Olivier
Published: November 2023

Biodiversity is studied notably because of its reciprocal relationship with ecosystem functions such as production. Diversity is traditionally described from a taxonomic, genetic or functional point of view but the diversity in organism morphology is seldom explicitly considered, except for body size. We describe morphological diversity of marine zooplankton seasonally and over 12 years using quantitative imaging of weekly plankton samples, in the northwestern Mediterranean Sea. We extract 45 morphological features on greater than 800 000 individuals, which we summarize into four main morphological traits (size, transparency, circularity and shape complexity). In this morphological space, we define objective morphological groups and, from those, compute morphological diversity indices (richness, evenness and divergence) using metrics originally defined for functional diversity. On both time scales, morphological diversity increased when nutritive resources and plankton concentrations were low, thus matching the theoretical reciprocal relationship. Over the long term at least, this diversity increase was not fully attributable to taxonomic diversity changes. The decline in the most common plankton forms and the increase in morphological variance and in extreme morphologies suggest a mechanism akin to specialization under low production, with likely consequences for trophic structure and carbon flux.
Heterogeneity in killing efficacy of individual effector CD8
+
T cells against Plasmodium liver stages
Authors: Bera Soumen , Amino Rogerio , Cockburn Ian A. , Ganusov Vitaly V.
Published: November 2023

Vaccination strategies in mice inducing high numbers of memory CD8
+
T cells specific to a single epitope are able to provide sterilizing protection against infection with Plasmodium sporozoites. We have recently found that Plasmodium-specific CD8
+
T cells cluster around sporozoite-infected hepatocytes but whether such clusters are important in elimination of the parasite remains incompletely understood. Here, we used our previously generated data in which we employed intravital microscopy to longitudinally image 32 green fluorescent protein (GFP)-expressing
Plasmodium yoelii
parasites in livers of mice that had received activated Plasmodium-specific CD8
+
T cells after sporozoite infection. We found significant heterogeneity in the dynamics of the normalized GFP signal from the parasites (termed ‘vitality index’ or VI) that was weakly correlated with the number of T cells near the parasite. We also found that a simple model assuming mass-action, additive killing by T cells well describes the VI dynamics for most parasites and predicts a highly variable killing efficacy by individual T cells. Given our estimated median
per capita
kill rate of
k
= 0.031/h we predict that a single T cell is typically incapable of killing a parasite within the 48 h lifespan of the liver stage in mice. Stochastic simulations of T cell clustering and killing of the liver stage also suggested that: (i) three or more T cells per infected hepatocyte are required to ensure sterilizing protection; (ii) both variability in killing efficacy of individual T cells and resistance to killing by individual parasites may contribute to the observed variability in VI decline, and (iii) the stable VI of some clustered parasites cannot be explained by measurement noise. Taken together, our analysis for the first time provides estimates of efficiency at which individual CD8
+
T cells eliminate intracellular parasitic infection
in vivo
.
SARS-CoV-2 Orphan Gene ORF10 Contributes to More Severe COVID-19 Disease
Authors: Haltom Jeffrey , Trovao Nidia S. , Guarnieri Joseph , Vincent Pan , Singh Urminder , Tsoy Sergey , O’Leary Collin A. , Bram Yaron , Widjaja Gabrielle A. , Cen Zimu , Meller Robert , Baylin Stephen B. , Moss Walter N. , Nikolau Basil J. , Enguita Francisco J. , Wallace Douglas C. , Beheshti Afshin , Schwartz Robert , Wurtele Eve Syrkin
Published: November 2023

The orphan gene of SARS-CoV-2, ORF10, is the least studied gene in the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic. Recent experimentation indicated ORF10 expression moderates innate immunity in vitro. However, whether ORF10 affects COVID-19 in humans remained unknown. We determine that the ORF10 sequence is identical to the Wuhan-Hu-1 ancestral haplotype in 95% of genomes across five variants of concern (VOC). Four ORF10 variants are associated with less virulent clinical outcomes in the human host: three of these affect ORF10 protein structure, one affects ORF10 RNA structural dynamics. RNA-Seq data from 2070 samples from diverse human cells and tissues reveals ORF10 accumulation is conditionally discordant from that of other SARS-CoV-2 transcripts. Expression of ORF10 in A549 and HEK293 cells perturbs immune-related gene expression networks, alters expression of the majority of mitochondrially-encoded genes of oxidative respiration, and leads to large shifts in levels of 14 newly-identified transcripts. We conclude ORF10 contributes to more severe COVID-19 clinical outcomes in the human host.
Epiregulon: Inference of single-cell transcription factor activity to predict drug response and drivers of cell state
Authors: Włodarczyk Tomasz , Lun Aaron , Wu Diana , Shi Minyi , Ye Xiaofen , Menon Shreya , Toneyan Shushan , Seidel Kerstin , Wang Liang , Tan Jenille , Chen Shang-Yang , Keyes Timothy , Chlebowski Aleksander , Waddell Adrian , Zhou Wei , Wang Yangmeng , Yuan Qiuyue , Guo Yu , Chen Liang-Fu , Daniel Bence , Hafner Antonina , He Meng , Chibly Alejandro , Liang Yuxin , Duren Zhana , Metcalfe Ciara , Hafner Marc , Siebel Christian W. , Corces M. Ryan , Yauch Robert , Xie Shiqi , Yao Xiaosai
Published: November 2023

Transcription factors (TFs) and transcriptional coregulators represent an emerging class of therapeutic targets in oncology. Gene regulatory networks (GRNs) can be used to evaluate pharmacological agents targeting these factors and to identify drivers of disease and drug resistance. However, GRN methods that rely solely on gene expression often fail to account for post-transcriptional modulation of TF function. We present Epiregulon, a method that constructs GRNs from single-cell ATAC-seq and RNA-seq data for accurate prediction of TF activity. This is achieved by considering the co-occurrence of TF expression and chromatin accessibility at TF binding sites in each cell. We leverage ChIP-seq data to extend inference to transcriptional coregulators lacking defined motifs or TF harboring neomorphic mutations. Epiregulon accurately predicted the effects of AR inhibition across various drug modalities including an AR antagonist and an AR degrader, delineated the mechanisms of a SMARCA4 degrader by identifying context-dependent interaction partners and prioritized known and novel drivers of lineage reprogramming and tumorigenesis. By mapping gene regulation across various cellular contexts, Epiregulon can accelerate the discovery of therapeutics targeting transcriptional regulators.
Cost-Effectiveness of Screening Asymptomatic Carotid Stenosis by Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Risk
Authors: Zhu Jinyi , Jhang Janice , Yu Hanxuan , Mushlin Alvin I , Kamel Hooman , Alemayehu Nathaniel , Giardina John C , Gupta Ajay , Pandya Ankur
Published: November 2023

Importance

Extracranial internal carotid artery stenosis (50-99% arterial narrowing) is an important risk factor for ischemic stroke. Yet, the benefits and harms of targeted screening for asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis (ACAS) have not been assessed in population-based studies.

Objective

To estimate the cost-effectiveness of one-time, targeted ACAS screening stratified by atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk using the American Heart Association’s Pooled Cohort Equations.

Design, Setting, and Participants

We developed a lifetime microsimulation model of ACAS and stroke for a hypothetical cohort representative of US adults aged 50–80 years without stroke history. We used the Cardiovascular Health Study to estimate the probability and severity of ACAS based on individual characteristics (e.g., age, sex, smoking status, blood pressure, and cholesterol). Stroke risks were functions of these characteristics and ACAS severity. In the model, individuals testing positive for >70% stenosis with Duplex ultrasound and a confirmatory diagnostic test undergo revascularization, which may reduce the risk of stroke but also introduces complication risks. Diagnostic performance parameters, revascularization benefits and risks, utility weights, and costs were estimated from published sources. Cost-effectiveness was assessed from the health care sector perspective using a $100,000/quality-adjusted life year (QALY) threshold.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Estimated stroke events prevented, lifetime costs, QALYs, and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) associated with ACAS screening. Costs (2023 USD) and QALYs were discounted at 3% annually.

Results

We found that screening individuals with a 10-year ASCVD risk >30% was the most cost-effective strategy, with an ICER of $89,000/QALY. This strategy would make approximately 11.9% of the population eligible for screening, averting an estimated 24,084 strokes. Results were sensitive to variations in the efficacy and complication risk of revascularization. In probabilistic sensitivity analysis, screening those in lower ASCVD risk groups (0–20%) only had a 0.6% chance of being cost-effective.

Conclusion and Relevance

A one-time screening may only be cost-effective for adults at a relatively high ASCVD risk. Our findings provide a framework that can be adapted as future clinical trial data continue to improve our understanding of the role of revascularization and intensive medical therapy in contemporary stroke prevention secondary to carotid disease.
Liquid-liquid phase separation within dense-core vesicles in sympathetic adrenal chromaffin cells
Authors: Zhang Quanfeng , Lin Zhaohan , Zhou Zhuan
Published: November 2023

The neural communication process heavily relies on vesicular release of neurotransmitters and/or neuromodulators primarily from synaptic vesicles (SVs) or dense-core vesicles (DCVs), within neurons and neuroendocrine cells. SVs (∼40 nm) are responsible for releasing classical neurotransmitters, while DCVs (100-500 nm in diameter) release both classic neurotransmitters and neuropeptides. DCVs contain a variety of neuropeptides, hormones, and neurotransmitters, playing crucial roles in diverse physiological processes, such as brain development, neurogenesis, and synaptic plasticity. However, the biogenesis of DCVs and the sorting mechanism of different neuropeptides into DCVs remained largely unknown. Recent studies have revealed that liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) of matrix protein-chromogranins plays pivotal roles in the formation of DCVs and the sorting process of neurotransmitters/neuromodulators in endocrine cells. Here we highlight recent advancements in mechanisms of LLPS’s regulation of DCVs[1, 2], which selectively affect release of some co-transmitters (catecholamines) but not others (i.e. ATP)[3]. We term this phenomenon “1-2-2”: 1 vesicle, 2 transmitters (catecholamine and ATP), 2 release modes (quanta and sub-quanta).
Bolstering employee relations in a public sector undertaking: validation of CODE and PLE model
Authors: Sahoo Rojalin , Sahoo Chandan Kumar
Published: November 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to examine the relationship between employer and employees in a public power sector undertaking through the validation of CODE (compensation, organizational justice, dispute resolution and employee empowerment) and PLE (workforce productivity, employee loyalty and employee engagement) model.

Design/methodology/approach

A hypothesized research model was developed and validated by using structural equation modeling (AMOS 20). In total, 303 responses were accumulated by administering a structured questionnaire among the employees of a state-owned power sector.

Findings

The results revealed that a harmonious climate of employee relations is prevailing in the public power utility. Additionally, the findings suggest that the CODE and PLE model of employee relations are found to be positive and significant by investigating the impact of compensation, organizational justice, dispute resolution and employee empowerment as the predictors; and workforce productivity, employee loyalty and employee engagement as the critical outcomes of employee relations.

Practical implications

The study recommends some plausible insights for practitioners, decision-makers and policy formulators to develop strategies and policies for nurturing congenial employee relations and also to cultivate a facilitative work environment for generating contented and competent manpower.

Originality/value

Validation of CODE and PLE model of employee relations in the new perspective of power sector undertaking is an epoch-making and novel contribution that offers significant empirical evidence to the extant literature. Moreover, the exploration of employer–employee relations in this context is a unique and innovative effort toward existing research.
A critical analysis of commercial forensic interviewing techniques applicable in a South African context
Authors: Van Graan Constant , Roos Vera , Katjene Matthews
Published: November 2023

Purpose

A significant increase in financial crime globally emphasises the importance of forensic interviewing to obtain useful and reliable information as part of a commercial forensic investigation. Previous research has identified two interviewing strategies that are aligned with the legal framework in South Africa: the PEACE model (P = preparation and planning; E = engage and explain; A = account, clarify and challenge; C = closure; E = evaluation) and the person-centred approach (PCA). The purpose of this paper is to explore the theoretical underpinnings and application of the PEACE model and the PCA as commercial investigative strategies aligned with the legal context in South Africa.

Design/methodology/approach

A scoping review was undertaken to identify literature relevant to the theoretical assumptions and application of the PEACE model and the PCA.

Findings

Literature for the most part reports on the PEACE model but offers very little information about the PCA. A critical analysis revealed that the PEACE model incorporates a clear guiding structure for eliciting information but lacks content needed to create an optimal interpersonal context. To promote this, the PCA proposes that interviewers demonstrate three relational variables: empathy, congruence and unconditional positive regard. The PCA suggests a basic structure for interviewing (beginning, middle and end), while providing very little guidance on how to structure the forensic interview and what information is to be elicited in each phase.

Originality/value

Combining the PEACE model and PCA presents an integrated interviewing technique best suited for obtaining useful and reliable information admissible in a South African court of law. The PEACE model has a clear structure, and the PCA assists in creating an optimal interpersonal context to obtain information in an interview.
Microplastic pollution in Africa: an overview of abundance in aquatic organisms, freshwater and marine water environments and analytical methods for reporting
Authors: Asori Moses , Dogbey Emmanuel , Ampofo Solomon Twum , Odei Julius
Published: November 2023

Purpose

Current evidence indicates that humans and animals are at increased risk of multiple health challenges due to microplastic (MP) profusion. However, mitigation is constrained by inadequate scientific data, further aggravated by the lack of evidence in many African countries. This review therefore synthesized evidence on the current extent of MP pollution in Africa and the analytical techniques for reporting.

Design/methodology/approach

A literature search was undertaken in research databases. Medical subject headings (MeSH) terms and keywords were used in the literature search. The authors found 38 studies from 10 countries that met the inclusion criteria.

Findings

Marine organisms had MPs prevalence ranging from 19% to 100%, whereas sediments and water samples had between 77 and 100%. The most common and dominant polymers included polypropylene and polyethylene.

Practical implications

This review shows that most studies still use methods that are prone to human errors. Therefore, the concentration of MPs is likely underestimated, even though the authors’ prevalence evaluations show MPs are still largely pervasive across multiple environmental matrices. Also, the study reveals significant spatial disparity in MP research across the African continent, showing the need for further research in other African countries.

Originality/value

Even though some reviews have assessed MPs pollution in Africa, they have not evaluated sample prevalence, which is necessary to understand not only concentration but pervasiveness across the continent. Secondly, this study delves deeper into various methods of sampling, extraction and analysis of MPs, as well as limitations and relevant recommendations.
Empirical analysis of ESG-driven green innovation: the moderating role of innovation orientation
Authors: Mukhtar Bilal , Shad Muhammad Kashif , Lai Fong-Woon , Waqas Ahmad
Published: November 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the influence of ESG practices on green innovation with the moderating effect of innovation orientation in Malaysian manufacturing listed companies.

Design/methodology/approach

This study employed a quantitative research approach by using a well-structured questionnaire for data collection. The questionnaire was distributed to 204 Malaysian manufacturing listed companies in consumer products and services sector. Finally, partial least square-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was utilized to examine the relationship between constructs.

Findings

Based on stakeholder theory, results indicated that environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices significantly improve green innovation. The insignificant moderating effect of innovation orientation was identified between the relationship of environmental and social practices and green innovation. Interestingly, results affirmed the negative moderating effect between the relationship of governance practices and green innovation.

Research limitations/implications

This study is limited to Malaysian manufacturing companies of consumer products and services sector in Bursa Malaysia. Hence, the findings of this study cannot be generalized to manufacturing companies of other geographical contexts.

Practical implications

This work provides constructive implications to management and policymakers of Malaysian manufacturing companies in strategic planning toward enhancing green innovation and developing business competitiveness to achieve sustainable business performance.

Originality/value

This research magnifies valuable insights into the literature through a comprehensive model that simultaneously investigates the relationships between ESG practices, innovation orientation and green innovation. In addition, this is the first attempt to investigate the influence of ESG practices on green innovation with a moderating effect of innovation orientation, which indeed strengthens the originality of this study.
Thoracic cavity of the Shirazi cats: New insights using computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Ibrahim Alaa , Rashwan Ahmed , El Sharaby Ashraf , Abumandour Mohamed , Nomir Ahmed
Published: November 2023

Our study provided a comprehensive characterization of the thorax of Shirazi cats by comparing the relevant soft and bone windows of computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with cross, sagittal and coronal sectional anatomy. We outlined the mediastinum and its anatomic relationships with the trachea, oesophagus, lungs, heart, cranial and caudal vena cavae, and other thoracic structures using the data series gathered from adult normal Shirazi cats. The cranial mediastinum extended from the thoracic inlet to the 4th intercostal space, the middle mediastinum extended from the 5th and 7th intercostal spaces and was occupied by the heart and large blood vessels and the caudal mediastinum extended as a short and narrow portion from the 8th intercostal space to the diaphragm. The contents of the mediastinum and its relationship with the lungs and diaphragm were clearly presented in coronal‐sectional anatomy and CT slices. The diaphragm was clearly observed in the lung windows of the ventral thorax. Sagittal‐sectional anatomy and CT clarified the thorax's architecture and its contents, with higher density in the soft windows. The distribution of thoracic vessels on cross‐ and coronal‐contrast CT scans was clearly visible. In addition, MRI scans provided an excellent anatomic reference of the thorax with the help of cross, coronal and sagittal scans, especially in the heart and blood vessels. Our study provides a valuable atlas for the diagnosis of malformations of the thoracic structures and offers better assessments for helping veterinary radiologists and clinicians in diagnostic processes.
The Ethics of Self‐Care: Risk, Responsibility, and Reproduction in Chile
Authors: Yopo Díaz Martina
Published: November 2023

The meanings of self‐care are complex, ranging from radical political warfare to structural biopolitical governmentality. This paper explores lived tensions of self‐care by analysing women's experiences negotiating pregnancy in Santiago de Chile. Drawing on 40 life story interviews, the findings show that although sexual education, contraception, and abortion remain constrained and structured according to class inequalities, women are expected to care for themselves by managing the risk of pregnancy and assuming responsibility for their reproductive outcomes. I argue that politics of reproduction in Santiago de Chile are shaped by a neoliberal ethics of self‐care that outlines women as autonomous, rational, and self‐regulating agents while neglecting structural constraints that affect whether and when to have children. This neoliberal ethics of self‐care reinforces the overburdening of the self, the feminisation of reproduction, the privatisation of care, and the institutionalisation of carelessness, undermining the subversive and emancipatory potential involved in caring for oneself.
Facies analysis and sequence stratigraphy of shallow marine, coarse‐grained siliciclastic deposits in the southern Utsira High: The Late Jurassic intra‐Draupne Formation sandstones in the Johan Sverdrup Field (Norwegian North Sea)
Authors: Puig López Josep M. , Poyatos‐Moré Miquel , Howell John
Published: November 2023

Thin, condensed coarse‐grained shallow marine successions can be difficult to describe and interpret, especially in the subsurface since the recognition of finer‐grained intervals, typically associated with sequence stratigraphic surfaces, is challenging. This lack of mudstones and siltstones means that they also typically make excellent reservoir intervals. The Oxfordian to Volgian intra‐Draupne Formation sandstones in the Johan Sverdrup Field, southern Utsira High, represent such a system. This study presents a new sequence stratigraphic model for the Johan Sverdrup Field that unravels the detailed depositional history of the succession and places its formation within a regional Late Jurassic tectonostratigraphic framework. The intra‐Draupne Formation sandstones comprise four parasequences deposited following a regional Kimmeridgian marine flooding event. Sediments were mainly supplied through West‐derived fan deltas from the Haugaland High and NW‐SE‐directed tidal currents reworking the Augvald Graben and the Avaldsnes High at the East. The oldest parasequence shows a distinctive suite of facies consisting of fine‐grained and mud‐rich bioturbated sandstones deposited in a semi‐restricted lagoon. Subsequent parasequences lack fine‐grained sediments and are dominated by bidirectional cross‐stratified, very coarse‐to coarse‐grained sandstones and gravels deposited in a tidal strait. A progressive reduction of fault‐related subsidence in the Middle Volgian along with Late Volgian‐Ryazanian sea‐level rise and inversion of pre‐existing structures promoted backstepping of the feeder systems, sediment starvation and the progressive deposition of the black and green‐red shales of the Draupne and Asgard formations. The results of this study account for features previously unidentified in the Johan Sverdrup Field and which have implications for understanding the deposition of coarse‐grained shallow marine successions around the Utsira High and other transgressed basement highs.
Complete mesocolic excision for right colon cancer: Is D3 lymphadenectomy necessary?
Authors: Desouza Ashwin L. , Kazi Mufaddal M. , Nadkarni Shravan , Shetty Preethi , T Vipin , Saklani Avanish P.
Published: November 2023

Aim

Although complete mesocolic excision (CME) for colon cancer is oncologically sound, to date, there has been no consensus on the extent of lymphadenectomy in radical right colectomy. This study essentially compared the perioperative and survival outcomes of CME with two templates of lymphadenectomy for right colon cancer.

Method

This was a propensity matched, retrospective analysis of a single centre, prospectively maintained database of all patients undergoing elective right colectomy for nonmetastatic, biopsy‐proven adenocarcinoma from November 2013 to October 2018. CME + D3 was adopted selectively, documented prospectively, and compared with patients undergoing CME + central vascular ligation (CVL). The only technical difference between the groups was the excision of the surgical trunk of Gillot in the CME + D3 group. Postoperative, long‐term outcomes and patterns of recurrence were compared between the groups.

Results

Of the 244 eligible patients, 88 (36.1%) and 156 (63.9%) underwent CME + D3 and CME + CVL, respectively. Matched groups (72 [CME + D3] vs. 108 [CME + CVL]) showed no difference in histology, tumour grade, postoperative complications, mortality, and hospital stay. CME + D3 was preferentially performed laparoscopically (35.2% vs. 9%), was associated with lower blood loss (215 mL vs. 297 mL, p = 0.001), higher nodal yield (31 vs. 25 nodes, p = 0.003) and a higher incidence of chyle leak (4 vs. 0, p = 0.013). At a median follow‐up of more than 57 months, there was no significant difference in local recurrence, disease‐free or overall survival.

Conclusion

In this retrospective study, lymphadenectomy along the superior mesenteric vein, as a component of CME for right colon cancer, offered a higher nodal yield with no improvement in oncological outcome. Dissection of the SMV, over and above a D2 dissection, could therefore be restricted to specialized colorectal units until further studies establish the incremental oncological benefit of this extended lymphadenectomy or define a patient group in whom it is beneficial.
Does size matter? Hospital volume and resource use in paediatric diabetes care
Authors: de Vries Silvia A. G. , Bak Jessica C. G. , Mul Dick , Wouters Michel W. J. M. , Nieuwdorp Max , Verheugt Carianne L. , Sas Theo C. J.
Published: November 2023

Aims

Paediatric diabetes care has become increasingly specialised due to the multidisciplinary approach and technological developments. Guidelines recommend sufficient experience of treatment teams. This study evaluates associations between hospital volume and resource use and hospital expenditure in Dutch children with diabetes.

Methods

Retrospective cohort study using hospital claims data of 5082 children treated across 44 Dutch hospitals (2019–2020). Hospitals were categorised into three categories; small (≥20–100 patients), medium (≥100–200 patients) and large (≥200 patients). All‐cause hospitalisations, consultations, technology and hospital expenditure were analysed and adjusted for age, sex, socio‐economic status (SES) and hospital of treatment.

Results

Fewer hospitalisations were observed in large hospitals compared to small hospitals (OR 0.48; [95% CI 0.32–0.72]; p < 0.001). Median number of yearly paediatrician visits was 7 in large and 6 in small hospitals, the significance of which was attenuated in multilevel analysis (OR ≥7 consultations: 1.89; [95%CI 0.74–4.83]; p = 0.18). Technology use varies between individual hospitals, whereas pump usage and real‐time continuous glucose monitoring showed no significant differences between hospital volumes. Mean overall expenditure was highest in medium‐sized centres with €6434 per patient (IQR €2555–7955); the difference in diabetes care costs was not significant between hospital patient volumes.

Conclusions

Care provision patterns vary by hospital patient volume. Large hospitals had the lowest hospitalisation rates. The use of diabetes technology was not different between hospital patient volumes. Medium‐sized hospitals showed the highest overall expenditure, but diabetes care costs were similar across hospital volumes.
Influence of model complexity, training collinearity, collinearity shift, predictor novelty and their interactions on ecological forecasting
Authors: Chen Xin , Liang Ye , Feng Xiao
Published: November 2023

Aim

Ecological forecasting is critical in understanding of ecological responses to climate change and is increasingly used in climate mitigation plans. The forecasts from correlative models can be challenged by model complexity, training collinearity, collinearity shift and novel conditions of predictors that are common during model extrapolation. The individual effect of these four factors has been investigated, but it is still unclear how these four factors interactively affect forecasting. To fill this gap, we conducted a comprehensive simulation experiment to quantify how the four factors interactively influence model forecasting.

Location

Simulated regions.

Time Period

Simulated scenarios.

Methods

We modelled three response variables commonly used in ecological forecasting following normal, Poisson and binomial distributions as a function of three functional relationships that represented model complexity under three levels of training collinearity using generalized linear models. By calculating prediction error under 3,780,000 testing scenarios, we partitioned its variance to model complexity, training collinearity, collinearity shift, predictor novelty and their interactions.

Results

We found that increased predictor novelty and collinearity shift degraded model performance, leading up to double prediction errors when a predictor's range increased by ~22% or when the correlation r between two predictors changed >~0.8 for the combination of high training collinearity and interaction functional relationship. Predictor novelty reduced the influence of collinearity shift on model performance, suggesting a negative interaction between them. This pattern was more pronounced under high model complexity and high training collinearity.

Main Conclusions

The accuracy of ecological forecasting using correlative models depends on model complexity, training collinearity, collinearity shift, predictor novelty and their interactions. Besides the consideration of parsimonious models and r of 0.7 in model training, our study further recommends a threshold of <22%–50% increased predictor range depending on training collinearity and/or <0.8 correlation change for making reliable forecasting.
Effect of galcanezumab in women with episodic migraine meeting criteria for menstrually related migraine: A post hoc analysis of EVOLVE‐1 and EVOLVE‐2
Authors: MacGregor E. Anne , Okonkwo Rose , Detke Holland C. , Polavieja Pepa , Fernandes Maria S. , Pavlovic Jelena M.
Published: November 2023

Background

We evaluated galcanezumab for migraine prevention in patients who met International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition criteria for menstrually related migraine (MRM).

Methods

Patients were identified post hoc from three double‐blind, randomized, phase 3 clinical trials in patients with episodic migraine. Patients completed a 1‐month prospective baseline period and up to 6 months (EVOLVE‐1 and ‐2, studies pooled) of double‐blind treatment with galcanezumab (120 mg/month) or placebo. Menses and headache information were recorded by electronic daily diary. Patients with a migraine attack starting during the 5‐day perimenstrual interval (first day of bleeding ± 2 days) for ≥2 of their first three diary‐recorded menstrual cycles were categorized as having MRM. The primary efficacy measure was mean change in monthly migraine headache days from baseline, averaged over Months 4 through 6. Response rates, change in monthly perimenstrual migraine headache days, monthly non‐perimenstrual migraine headache days, and quality of life were also assessed.

Results

Post hoc MRM analysis criteria were met by 462/1133 women (41%). Mean (standard deviation) baseline monthly migraine headache days were 9.7 (±3.1; n = 146) for galcanezumab‐treated patients and 9.6 (±2.8; n = 316) for placebo‐treated patients. The mean change (standard error [SE]) in migraine headache days over Months 4 through 6 was −5.1 days (±0.39) for galcanezumab versus −3.2 (±0.35) for placebo (p < 0.001). The mean change (SE) in perimenstrual migraine headache days over Months 4 through 6 was −0.75 days (±0.08) for galcanezumab versus −0.49 (±0.07) for placebo (p = 0.004). For migraine headache days outside the perimenstrual period, the mean change in migraine headache days was −4.6 (±0.38) for galcanezumab and −2.8 (±0.33) for placebo (p < 0.001). Improvements in response rates and the Migraine‐Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire were also observed over Months 4 through 6.

Conclusion

Galcanezumab was effective for migraine prevention in women with MRM.
Orthodox Theology's Hide‐and‐Seek with Postcolonialism
Authors: Papathanasiou Athanasios N.
Published: November 2023

According to the postcolonial approach, to understand today's world one must take into account modern colonialism (late 15th to mid‐20th centuries) as well as all other forms of colonialism. Orthodox theologians have only recently and on a small scale begun to use postcolonial analysis. However, Orthodox theology can contribute to the discussion and shed more light on both the historical experience and the future course of the debate. In particular, the postcolonial perspective can intersect with missionary praxis and missiology, as the Orthodox Church began to be seriously active in the missionary field (of sub‐Saharan Africa and the Far East) in the 1960s, that is, at the end of the classical colonial period. Its experience confirms that colonialism entails not only direct imposition on the colonized but also the colonized people's internalizing of the colonizers’ logic. The postcolonial approach thus invites self‐criticism. The obligation to be self‐critical is at the heart of the Orthodox tradition, despite the fact that it is often forgotten, resulting in nightmarish distortions and neo‐colonial attitudes. At the same time, the postcolonial perspective reinforces the liberating mission of the gospel and patristic theology in all human contexts. In this way, postcolonialism is called to come to a fruitful completion with anti‐colonialism and to contribute to the key demand of Orthodox ecclesiology, which is the formation of authentically local churches and not branches of other, national churches.