bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Jasmonate signaling modulates root growth by suppressing iron accumulation during ammonium stress
Authors: Pandey Anshika , Devi Loitongbam Lorinda , Gupta Shreya , Prasad Priti , Agrwal Kanupriya , Asif Mehar Hasan , Pandey Ajay Kumar , Bandyopadhyay Kaustav , Singh Amar Pal
Published: July 2024

Plants adapt to changing environmental conditions by adjusting their growth physiology. Nitrate (NO3−) and ammonium (NH4+) are the major inorganic nitrogen forms for plant uptake. However, high NH4+ inhibits plant growth, and roots undergo striking changes, such as inhibition of cell expansion and division, leading to reduced root elongation. In this work, we show that high NH4+ modulates nitrogen metabolism and root developmental physiology by inhibiting iron (Fe)-dependent Jasmonate (JA) signaling and response in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). Transcriptomic data suggested that NH4+ availability regulates Fe and JA-responsive genes. High NH4+ levels led to enhanced root Fe accumulation, which impaired nitrogen balance and growth by suppressing JA biosynthesis and signaling response. Integrating pharmacological, physiological, and genetic experiments revealed the involvement of NH4+ and Fe-derived responses in regulating root growth and nitrogen metabolism through modulation of the JA pathway during NH4+ stress. The JA signaling transcription factor MYC2 directly bound the promoter of the NITRATE TRANSPORTER 1.1 (NRT1.1) and repressed it to optimize the NH4+/Fe-JA balance for plant adaptation during NH4+ stress. Our findings illustrate the intricate balance between nutrient and hormone-derived signaling pathways that appear essential for optimizing plant growth by adjusting physiological and metabolic responses during NH4+/Fe stress.
An anthocyanin activation gene underlies the purple central flower pigmentation in wild carrot
Authors: Duan Ao-Qi , Deng Yuan-Jie , Liu Hui , Xu Zhi-Sheng , Xiong Ai-Sheng
Published: July 2024

Many organisms have complex pigmentation patterns. However, how these patterns are formed remains largely unknown. In wild carrot (Daucus carota subsp. carota), which is also known as Queen Anne's lace, one or several purple central flowers occur in white umbels. Here, we investigated the unique central flower pigmentation pattern in wild carrot umbels. Using wild and cultivated carrot (D. carota subsp. sativus L.) accessions, transcriptome analysis, protein interaction, stable transformation, and CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout, an anthocyanin-activating R2R3-myeloblastosis (MYB) gene, Purple Central Flower (DcPCF), was identified as the causal gene that triggers only central flowers to possess the purple phenotype. The expression of DcPCF was only detected in tiny central flowers. We propose that the transition from purple to nonpurple flowers in the center of the umbel occurred after 3 separate adverse events: insertion of transposons in the promoter region, premature termination of the coding sequence (caused by a C–T substitution in the open reading frame), and the emergence of unknown anthocyanin suppressors. These 3 events could have occurred either consecutively or independently. The intriguing purple central flower pattern and its underlying mechanism may provide evidence that it is a remnant of ancient conditions of the species, reflecting the original appearance of Umbelliferae (also called Apiaceae) when a single flower was present.
Regional variation in the role of humidity on city-level heat-related mortality
Authors: Guo Qiang , Mistry Malcolm N , Zhou Xudong , Zhao Gang , Kino Kanon , Wen Bo , Yoshimura Kei , Satoh Yusuke , Cvijanovic Ivana , Kim Yoonhee , Ng Chris Fook Sheng , Vicedo-Cabrera Ana M , Armstrong Ben , Urban Aleš , Katsouyanni Klea , Masselot Pierre , Tong Shilu , Sera Francesco , Huber Veronika , Bell Michelle L , Kyselý Jan , Gasparrini Antonio , Hashizume Masahiro , Oki Taikan ,   Multi-Country Multi-City (MCC) Collaborative Research Network, Abrutzky Rosana , Guo Yuming , de Sousa Zanotti Stagliorio Coelho Micheline , Nascimento Saldiva Paulo Hilario , Lavigne Eric , Ortega Nicolás Valdés , Correa Patricia Matus , Kan Haidong , Osorio Samuel , Roye Dominic , Indermitte Ene , Orru Hans , Jaakkola Jouni J K , Ryti Niilo , Pascal Mathilde , Schneider Alexandra , Analitis Antonis , Entezari Alireza , Mayvaneh Fatemeh , Zeka Ariana , Goodman Patrick , de'Donato Francesca , Michelozzi Paola , Alahmad Barrak , De la Cruz Valencia César , Hurtado Diaz Magali , Overcenco Ala , Ameling Caroline , Houthuijs Danny , Rao Shilpa , Carrasco Gabriel , Seposo Xerxes , Madureira Joana , das Neves Pereira da Silva Susana , Holobaca Iulian-Horia , Acquaotta Fiorella , Scovronick Noah , Kim Ho , Lee Whanhee , Tobias Aurelio , Íñiguez Carmen , Forsberg Bertil , Ragettli Martina S , Pan Shih-Chun , Guo Yue Leon , Li Shanshan , Schneider Rochelle , Colistro Valentina , Zanobetti Antonella , Schwartz Joel , Van Dung Do , Ngoc Dang Tran , Honda Yasushi
Published: July 2024

The rising humid heat is regarded as a severe threat to human survivability, but the proper integration of humid heat into heat-health alerts is still being explored. Using state-of-the-art epidemiological and climatological datasets, we examined the association between multiple heat stress indicators (HSIs) and daily human mortality in 739 cities worldwide. Notable differences were observed in the long-term trends and timing of heat events detected by HSIs. Air temperature (Tair) predicts heat-related mortality well in cities with a robust negative Tair-relative humidity correlation (CT-RH). However, in cities with near-zero or weak positive CT-RH, HSIs considering humidity provide enhanced predictive power compared to Tair. Furthermore, the magnitude and timing of heat-related mortality measured by HSIs could differ largely from those associated with Tair in many cities. Our findings provide important insights into specific regions where humans are vulnerable to humid heat and can facilitate the further enhancement of heat-health alert systems.
Anticonformists catalyze societal transitions and facilitate the expression of evolving preferences
Authors: Mittal Dhruv , Constantino Sara M , Vasconcelos Vítor V
Published: July 2024

The world is grappling with emerging, urgent, large-scale problems, such as climate change, pollution, biodiversity loss, and pandemics, which demand immediate and coordinated action. Social processes like conformity and social norms can either help maintain behaviors (e.g. cooperation in groups) or drive rapid societal change (e.g. rapid rooftop solar uptake), even without comprehensive policy measures. While the role of individual heterogeneity in such processes is well studied, there is limited work on the expression of individuals’ preferences and the role of anticonformists—individuals who value acting differently from others—especially in dynamic environments. We introduce anticonformists into a game-theoretical collective decision-making framework that includes a complex network of agents with heterogeneous preferences about two alternative options. We study how anticonformists’ presence changes the population’s ability to express evolving personal preferences. We find that anticonformists facilitate the expression of preferences, even when they diverge from prevailing norms, breaking the “spiral of silence” whereby individuals do not act on their preferences when they believe others disapprove. Centrally placed anticonformists reduce by five-fold the number of anticonformists needed for a population to express its preferences. In dynamic environments where a previously unpopular choice becomes preferred, anticonformists catalyze social tipping and reduce the “cultural lag,” even beyond the role of committed minorities—that is, individuals with a commitment to a specific cause. This research highlights the role of dissenting voices in shaping collective behavior, including their potential to catalyze the adoption of new technologies as they become favorable and to enrich democracy by facilitating the expression of views.
On the Addition of a Large Scalar Multiplet to the Standard Model
Authors: Jurčiukonis Darius , Lavoura Luís
Published: July 2024

We consider the addition of a single $SU(2)$ multiplet of complex scalar fields to the Standard Model (SM). We explicitly consider the various possible values of the weak isospin J of that multiplet, up to and including $J = 7/2$. We allow the multiplet to have arbitrary weak hypercharge. The scalar fields of the multiplet are assumed to have no vacuum expectation value; the mass differences among the components of the multiplet originate in its coupling, present in the scalar potential (SP), to the Higgs doublet of the SM. We derive exact bounded-from-below and unitarity conditions on the SP, thereby constraining those mass differences. We compare those constraints to the ones that may be derived from the oblique parameters.
Closing the gaps in experimental and observational crop response estimates: a bayesian approach
Authors: Mkondiwa Maxwell , Hurley Terrance M , Pardey Philip G
Published: July 2024

A stylized fact of African agriculture is that crop responses to inorganic fertilizer application derived from experimental studies are often substantially greater than those from observational studies (e.g. surveys and administrative data). Recent debates on relative costs and benefits of expensive farm input subsidy programs in Africa, have raised the importance of reconciling these estimates. Beyond mean response differences, this paper argues for including parameter uncertainty and heterogeneity arising from variations in soil types, environmental conditions, and management practices. We use a Bayesian approach that combines information from experimental and observational data to model uncertainty and heterogeneity in crop yield responses. Using nationally representative experimental, survey, and administrative datasets from Malawi, we find that: (1) crop responses are low in observational data, (2) there are large spatial heterogeneities, and (3) based on sensitivity analysis, ignoring parameter uncertainty and spatial heterogeneity in crop responses can lead to questionable policy prescriptions.
Cardiac MRI T2 mapping with heart phase acquisition and improved motion-sensitized driven equilibrium blood suppression
Authors: Raheem Hammood Ebtihal , Shirani Shapoor , Asl Fallah Sahar , Maleki Farzad , Dehghani Sadegh
Published: July 2024

Background

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging relies on T2 mapping to assess myocardial tissue properties. However, T2 maps are subject to motion artifacts and signal interference, prompting exploration of techniques such as gradient-spin-echo (GraSE) sequences, heart phase acquisition, and dark blood (DB) imaging to improve image quality and reliability.

Purpose

This prospective study evaluates the T2 relaxation time (T2) variability and the image quality of T2 maps obtained in end-systole and end-diastole with and without fat saturation (FS), using GraSE sequence in CMR imaging. Furthermore, improved motion-sensitized driven-equilibrium (iMSDE) was compared with double inversion recovery (DIR) as an alternative DB technique.

Materials and Methods

Five variants of the DB GraSE sequence were developed and performed on a 1.5 Tesla MRI scanner. Forty-four healthy volunteers prospectively underwent the following sequences: GraSE in end-diastole (GraSE-ED), GraSE-ED with FS (GraSE-ED-FS), GraSE in end-systole (GraSE-ES), GraSE-ES with FS (GraSE-ES-FS), and commercial GraSE-ED (GraSE-CO). Four GraSE variants utilized iMSDE technique, while GraSE-CO used DIR for blood suppression. T2, image quality, and visual artifacts were measured.

Results

Ten volunteers were excluded due to image artifacts or missing datasets. Among the remaining 34 participants, the mean global T2 was measured. No significant differences were seen among all variants (P > .05 for all comparisons). Intra- and inter-reader agreement of global T2 values for all GraSE sequence were very good (r > 0.8 for both). Image quality was rated moderate or good for all variants of GraSE sequences. A lower incidence of artifacts was observed in end-systolic compared to end-diastolic imaging.

Conclusion

All variants of GraSE sequence are highly reproducible and myocardial T2 values did not significantly differ with heart phase. iMSDE is feasible as an alternative DB technique for T2 mapping enabling acquisition in systole, which shows a lower incidence of artifacts compared to diastole.
High-dimensional inference of radio interferometer beam patterns I: parametric model of the HERA beams
Authors: Wilensky Michael J , Burba Jacob , Bull Philip , Garsden Hugh , Glasscock Katrine A , Fagnoni Nicolas , Acedo Eloy de Lera , DeBoer David R , Razavi-Ghods Nima
Published: July 2024

Accurate modelling of the primary beam is an important but difficult task in radio astronomy. For high dynamic range problems such as 21 cm intensity mapping, small modelling errors in the sidelobes, and spectral structure of the beams can translate into significant systematic errors. Realistic beams exhibit complex spatial and spectral structure, presenting a major challenge for beam measurement and calibration methods. In this paper series, we present a Bayesian framework to infer per-element beam patterns from the interferometric visibilities for large arrays with complex beam structure, assuming a particular (but potentially uncertain) sky model and calibration solution. In this first paper, we develop a compact basis for the beam so that the Bayesian computation is tractable with high-dimensional sampling methods. We use the Hydrogen Epoch of Reionization Array (HERA) as an example, verifying that the basis is capable of describing its single-element E-field beam (i.e. without considering array effects like mutual coupling) with a relatively small number of coefficients. We find that 32 coefficients per feed, incident polarization, and frequency, are sufficient to give percent-level and $\sim$10 per cent errors in the mainlobe and sidelobes, respectively, for the current HERA Vivaldi feeds, improving to $\sim 0.1{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ and $\sim 1{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ for 128 coefficients.
A bilayer bioengineered patch with sequential dual-growth factor release to promote vascularization in bladder reconstruction
Authors: Zhao Jian , Zhang Haoqian , Ling Zhengyun , An Ziyan , Xiao Shuwei , Wang Pengchao , Fu Zhouyang , Shao Jinpeng , Sun Yanfeng , Fu Weijun
Published: July 2024

Bladder tissue engineering holds promise for addressing bladder defects resulting from congenital or acquired bladder diseases. However, inadequate vascularization significantly impacts the survival and function of engineered tissues after transplantation. Herein, a novel bilayer silk fibroin (BSF) scaffold was fabricated with the capability of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and platelet derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) sequential release. The outer layer of the scaffold was composed of compact SF film with waterproofness to mimic the serosa of the bladder. The inner layer was constructed of porous SF matrix incorporated with SF microspheres (MS) loaded with VEGF and PDGF-BB. We found that the 5% (w/v) MS-incorporated scaffold exhibited a rapid release of VEGF, whereas the 0.2% (w/v) MS-incorporated scaffold demonstrated a slow and sustained release of PDGF-BB. The BSF scaffold exhibited good biocompatibility and promoted endothelial cell migration, tube formation and enhanced endothelial differentiation of adipose derived stem cells (ADSCs) in vitro. The BSF patch was constructed by seeding ADSCs on the BSF scaffold. After in vivo transplantation, not only could the BSF patch facilitate the regeneration of urothelium and smooth muscle, but more importantly, stimulate the regeneration of blood vessels. This study demonstrated that the BSF patch exhibited excellent vascularization capability in bladder reconstruction and offered a viable functional bioengineered patch for future clinical studies.
A novel inhibitory pathway of synovial inflammation exerted by glucocorticoids and tumour necrosis factor inhibitors via lymphocyte activation gene-3 up-regulation: an ex vivo study
Authors: Gertel Smadar , Polachek Ari , Eviatar Tali , Elkayam Ori , Furer Victoria
Published: July 2024

Objective

To investigate the impact of glucocorticoids (GCs) and anti-rheumatic drugs on lymphocyte activation gene-3 (LAG-3) and on programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) expression by synovial and peripheral cells ex vivo.

Methods

Synovial fluid mononuclear cells (SFMCs) from psoriatic arthritis (PsA, n = 26) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA, n = 13) patients, synovial fluid cells (SFCs) from osteoarthritis (OA, n = 5) patients and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of healthy donors (n = 14) were co-cultured with GCs, glucocorticoid receptor antagonist RU486, methotrexate (MTX) and biologics. LAG-3 and PD-1 expression on immune subsets were analysed by flow cytometry.

Results

GCs in PsA inhibited SFMC growth vs medium [2.3 (0.4) × 105vs 5.3 (0.7) × 105, respectively, P < 0.01] and markedly up-regulated CD14+LAG-3+ cells [11.7 (2.4)% vs 0.8 (0.3)%, P < 0.0001, respectively], but not CD3+LAG-3+ and CD14+PD-1+ cells. MTX had no effect on CD14+LAG-3+ cells [0.7 (0.3)%]. The TNF inhibitors infliximab (IFX) and etanercept, but not IL-12/23 inhibitor, up-regulated CD14+LAG-3+ cells vs medium [2.0 (0.6)% and 1.6 (0.4)% vs 0.5 (0.1)%, P < 0.03, respectively]. SFMC growth inhibition by GC in both PsA and RA correlated with CD14+LAG-3+ cell up-regulation (r = 0.53, P = 0.03). RU486 inhibited GC-induced CD14+LAG-3+ cells up-regulation in a dose-dependent manner compared with GC alone [5 µM 5.3 (1.2)% and 50 µM 1.3 (0.5)% vs 7.0 (1.4)%, P < 0.003], but had no significant effect on CD14+LAG-3+ cells co-cultured with IFX. GCs in healthy donors’ PBMCs up-regulated the immune subsets CD3+LAG-3+, CD14+LAG-3+ and CD14+PD-1+ cells.

Conclusion

This study proposes a novel regulatory mechanism of GCs and of TNF inhibitors mediated by LAG-3 up-regulation in synovial cells and PBMCs. LAG-3 modulation may be a promising target for development of novel therapies for inflammatory arthritis.
Using Task-fMRI to Explore the Relationship Between Lifetime Cannabis Use and Cognitive Control in Individuals With First-Episode Schizophrenia
Authors: Lesh Tyler A , Rhilinger Joshua , Brower Rylee , Mawla Alex M , Ragland J Daniel , Niendam Tara A , Carter Cameron S
Published: July 2024

While continued cannabis use and misuse in individuals with schizophrenia is associated with a variety of negative outcomes, individuals with a history of use tend to show higher cognitive performance compared to non-users. While this is replicated in the literature, few studies have used task-based functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to evaluate whether the brain networks underpinning these cognitive features are similarly impacted. Forty-eight first-episode individuals with schizophrenia (FES) with a history of cannabis use (FES + CAN), 28 FES individuals with no history of cannabis use (FES-CAN), and 59 controls (CON) performed the AX-Continuous Performance Task during fMRI. FES+CAN showed higher cognitive control performance (dʹ-context) compared to FES-CAN (P < .05, ηp2 = 0.053), and both FES+CAN (P < .05, ηp2 = 0.049) and FES-CAN (P < .001, ηp2 = 0.216) showed lower performance compared to CON. FES+CAN (P < .05, ηp2 = 0.055) and CON (P < 0.05, ηp2 = 0.058) showed higher dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) activation during the task compared to FES-CAN, while FES+CAN and CON were not significantly different. Within the FES+CAN group, the younger age of initiation of cannabis use was associated with lower IQ and lower global functioning. More frequent use was also associated with higher reality distortion symptoms at the time of the scan. These data are consistent with previous literature suggesting that individuals with schizophrenia and a history of cannabis use have higher cognitive control performance. For the first time, we also reveal that FES+CAN have higher DLPFC brain activity during cognitive control compared to FES-CAN. Several possible explanations for these findings are discussed.
Ethnic-Racial Identity, Racial Discrimination and Support for Black Lives Matter among Black American Youth
Authors: Seaton Eleanor , Yellow Horse Aggie , Vargas Edward D
Published: July 2024

The current study examines whether ethnic-racial identity and racial discrimination experiences predict strong support of the Black Lives Matter movement among a representative sample of Black American youth. The 2016 Collaborative Multiracial Post-Election Survey (CMPS) examined attitudes about the 2016 United States election, immigration, policing, racial equality, and racial discrimination among Asian American, Black American, Latinx, and White adults. The current study used the Black American youth sample, which included 225 individuals (73 percent female) between 18 and 20 years of age. We conducted logistic regression analysis to assess the associations of ethnic-racial identity and racial discrimination experiences with strong support of Black Lives Matter. The results indicated that positive views of one’s ethnic-racial group and belief in anti-Black bias were associated with strong support of the Black Lives Matter movement. Yet, racial discrimination experiences were not associated with strong support for Black Lives Matter once ethnic-racial identity was accounted for.
Exploring the Macroevolutionary Signature of Asymmetric Inheritance at Speciation
Authors: Gaboriau Théo , Tobias Joseph A , Silvestro Daniele , Salamin Nicolas
Published: July 2024

Popular comparative phylogenetic models such as Brownian Motion, Ornstein-Ulhenbeck, and their extensions assume that, at speciation, a trait value is inherited identically by 2 descendant species. This assumption contrasts with models of speciation at a micro-evolutionary scale where descendants’ phenotypic distributions are sub-samples of the ancestral distribution. Different speciation mechanisms can lead to a displacement of the ancestral phenotypic mean among descendants and an asymmetric inheritance of the ancestral phenotypic variance. In contrast, even macro-evolutionary models that account for intraspecific variance assume symmetrically conserved inheritance of ancestral phenotypic distribution at speciation. Here, we develop an Asymmetric Brownian Motion model (ABM) that relaxes the assumption of symmetric and conserved inheritance of the ancestral distribution at the time of speciation. The ABM jointly models the evolution of both intra- and inter-specific phenotypic variation. It also infers the mode of phenotypic inheritance at speciation, which can range from a symmetric and conserved inheritance, where descendants inherit the ancestral distribution, to an asymmetric and displaced inheritance, where descendants inherit divergent phenotypic means and variances. To demonstrate this model, we analyze the evolution of beak morphology in Darwin finches, finding evidence of displacement at speciation. The ABM model helps to bridge micro- and macro-evolutionary models of trait evolution by providing a more robust framework for testing the effects of ecological speciation, character displacement, and niche partitioning on trait evolution at the macro-evolutionary scale.
Complex but Clear Allopolyploid Pattern of Subtribe Tussilagininae (Asteraceae: Senecioneae) Revealed by Robust Phylogenomic Evidence, with Development of a Novel Homeolog-Sorting Pipeline
Authors: Ren Chen , Wang Long , Nie Ze-Long , Tang Ming , Johnson Gabriel , Tan Hui-Tong , Xia Nian-He , Wen Jun , Yang Qin-Er
Published: July 2024

Polyploidy is a significant mechanism in eukaryotic evolution and is particularly prevalent in the plant kingdom. However, our knowledge about this phenomenon and its effects on evolution remains limited. A major obstacle to the study of polyploidy is the great difficulty in untangling the origins of allopolyploids. Due to the drastic genome changes and the erosion of allopolyploidy signals caused by the combined effects of hybridization and complex postpolyploid diploidization processes, resolving the origins of allopolyploids has long been a challenging task. Here we revisit this issue with the interesting case of subtribe Tussilagininae (Asteraceae: Senecioneae) and by developing HomeoSorter, a new pipeline for network inferences by phasing homeologs to parental subgenomes. The pipeline is based on the basic idea of a previous study but with major changes to address the scaling problem and implement some new functions. With simulated data, we demonstrate that HomeoSorter works efficiently on genome-scale data and has high accuracy in identifying polyploid patterns and assigning homeologs. Using HomeoSorter, the maximum pseudo-likelihood model of Phylonet, and genome-scale data, we further address the complex origin of Tussilagininae, a speciose group (ca. 45 genera and 710 species) characterized by having high base chromosome numbers (mainly x = 30, 40). In particular, the inferred patterns are strongly supported by the chromosomal evidence. Tussilagininae is revealed to comprise 2 large groups with successive allopolyploid origins: Tussilagininae s.s. (mainly x = 30) and the Gynoxyoid group (x = 40). Two allopolyploidy events first give rise to Tussilagininae s.s., with the first event occurring between the ancestor of subtribe Senecioninae (x = 10) and a lineage (highly probably with x = 10) related to the Brachyglottis alliance, and the resulting hybrid lineage crossing with the ancestor of Chersodoma (x = 10) and leading to Tussilagininae s.s. Then, after early diversification, the Central American group (mainly x = 30) of Tussilagininae s.s., is involved in a third allopolyploidy event with, again, the Chersodoma lineage and produces the Gynoxyoid group. Our study highlights the value of HomeoSorter and the homeolog-sorting approach in polyploid phylogenetics. With rich species diversity and clear evolutionary patterns, Tussilagininae s.s. and the Gynoxyoid group are also excellent models for future investigations of polyploidy.
2Animal Studies
Authors: O’Key Dominic
Published: July 2024

This review essay explores some key contributions to animal studies in 2023. In Section 1, Humanitarianism Beyond Humanism, I consider how Benjamin Meiches’s Nonhuman Humanitarians tracks animal labour as a form of post-humanitarianism. Section 2, Animalist India, turns to Naisargi N. Davé’s Indifference and Yamini Narayanan’s Mother Cow, Mother India, two complementary examinations of human–animal relations in India. Then, in Section 3, Zoological Marx, I compare Leigh Claire La Berge’s Marx for Cats and Dinesh Wadiwel’s Animals and Capital, both fusions of Marxism and animal studies that represent and realize a much-needed synthesis of these two fields.

Before I begin, though, a confession and a celebration. A more comprehensive review than this might have discussed Maan Barua’s fine-grained account of Delhi’s macaques and London’s parakeets in Lively Cities: Reconfiguring Urban Ecology; Sharon Patricia Holland’s disruption of the ‘hum/animal’ distinction through the category of Blackness in an other: a black feminist consideration of animal life; Richard O. Prum’s theorization of a queer evolutionary biology in Performance All the Way Down: Genes, Development, and Sexual Difference; Sandra Swart’s history of colonialism and animals in The Lion’s Historian: Africa’s Animal Past; and Robert McKay and Susan McHugh’s collection of essays on parodic literary forms, Animal Satire. A superior essay, written under different circumstances, would have been of more use to its readers by engaging with how each of these texts makes a noteworthy intervention into animal studies. If my review last year was deliberately modest, this year’s has turned out regrettably incomplete. But this incompletion is nonetheless a testament to the breadth and depth of work in the field, to the seriousness of its arguments and the careful attention they demand from the reader. This was brought home to me by the topics and questions that I heard discussed at this year’s British Animal Studies Network, the final meeting of the network after more than a decade of events at the University of Strathclyde, organized brilliantly by Erica Fudge. So: a thank you to Erica, for your hospitality and comradeship.
16Queer Medical Humanities
Authors: Dalton Benjamin , Ledin Chase
Published: July 2024

This chapter reviews a range of scholarship working at the intersection of queer theory and critical medical humanities in 2022 and 2023 under the following headings: 1. HIV/AIDS; 2. Healthcare Environments; 3. Trans Health Studies; 4. Bioethics. The chapter sets out emergent movements within queer medical humanities and articulates how scholars utilize queer theory and analysis to encourage critical change within medical and healthcare theory and practice. The chapter provides a baseline for understanding how queer theory is adapted to interdisciplinary studies, especially in the UK and Europe.
Evolution of fossoriality in microteiid lizards
Authors: Oliveira Bruno Halluan S , Colli Guarino R , Vitt Laurie J , Mesquita Daniel O
Published: July 2024

Morphology is among the most important traits influencing the interaction of individual animals with their environments. Fossoriality reflects this functional association between morphology and the use of subterranean habitats and their associated environmental characteristics. Lizards in the families Gymnophthalmidae and Alopoglossidae are model organisms to examine the interplay between morphology and fossoriality because great morphological diversity exists among species, including varying degrees of body elongation and limb reduction, and they have a wide geographical distribution in the Neotropical region. We analysed the morphology of 101 microteiid species and created an index to evaluate their degree of fossoriality. From this index, we traced the evolution of fossoriality in these lizards and assessed its primary environmental correlates. We found that fossoriality evolved independently in several lineages, mainly associated with high temperature and low precipitation, characteristic of more arid and sandy environments.
RPA-CRISPR/Cas12a-Mediated Isothermal Amplification for Rapid Detection of Phytopythium helicoides
Authors: Xu Tingyan , Cao Fuliang , Dai Tingting , Liu Tingli
Published: July 2024

Phytopythium helicoides, which belongs to algae (Chromista), Oomycota, Pythiales, Pythiaceae, and Phytophthora, is a quarantine pathogen that causes brown rot of fruits, stem rot and root rot, and other symptoms that can damage several tree species in urban landscaping. Therefore, disease management requires rapid and accurate diagnosis. The present study used recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) in conjunction with the CRISPR/CRISPR-associated protein 12a (Cas12a) system to identify P. helicoides. The test exhibited high specificity and sensitivity and could detect 10 pg.μl−1 of P. helicoides genomic DNA at 37°C within 20 min. The test results were visible by excitation of fluorophores by blue light. This groundbreaking test is able to detect P. helicoides in artificially inoculated rhododendron leaves. The RPA-CRISPR/Cas12a detection assay developed in this study is characterized by its sensitivity, efficiency, and convenience. Early detection and control of P. helicoides is crucial for the protection of urban green cover species.
Higher Accuracy and Better Clinical Outcomes in Navigated Thoraco-Lumbar Pedicle Screw Fixation Versus Conventional Techniques
Authors: Papalia Giuseppe F. , Vadalà Gianluca , Russo Fabrizio , Marcello Gianmarco , Nardi Niccolò , Papalia Rocco , Denaro Vincenzo
Published: July 2024

Study Design.

A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective.

This study aims to compare pedicle screw accuracy, clinical outcomes, and complications between navigated and conventional techniques.

Summary of Background Data.

In the last decades, intraoperative navigation has been introduced in spinal surgery to prevent risks and complications.

Materials and Methods.

The search was executed on Cochrane Central Library, PubMed, and Scopus on April 30, 2023. Randomized controlled trials, prospective and retrospective studies that compared pedicle screw accuracy in the thoracic-lumbar-sacral segments, blood loss, operative time, hospital stay, intraoperative and postoperative revision of screws, neurological and systemic complications, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) between navigated and freehand or fluoroscopy-assisted techniques were included in this study. The meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager software. Clinical outcomes were assessed as continuous outcomes with mean difference, while pedicle screw accuracy and complications were assessed as dichotomous outcomes with odds ratio, all with 95% CIs. The statistical significance of the results was fixed at P<0.05.

Results.

This meta-analysis included 30 studies for a total of 17,911 patients and 24,600 pedicle screws. Statistically significant results in favor of the navigated technique were observed for the accuracy of pedicle screws (P=0.0001), hospital stay (P=0.0002), blood loss (P<0.0001), postoperative revision of pedicle screws (P<0.00001), and systemic complications (P=0.0008). In particular, the positioning of the screws was clinically acceptable in 96.2% of the navigated group and 94.2% with traditional techniques. No significant differences were found in VAS, ODI, and operative time between the two groups.

Conclusion.

Navigated pedicle screw fixation has been demonstrated to be a safe and effective technique with high improvement in clinical outcomes and accuracy in patients undergoing spinal fusion compared with conventional techniques.

Level of Evidence.

Level III.
Changes in Intramedullary Increased Signal Intensity on Axial T2-weighted MRI After Laminoplasty for Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy
Authors: Ge Tenghui , Xie Linzhen , Li Jianing , Jiang Jile , Sun Yuqing
Published: July 2024

Study Design:

A retrospective study.

Objective:

To investigate whether the preoperative classification and changes in the intramedullary increased signal intensity (ISI) on axial T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) reflect the postoperative functional outcome in patients after laminoplasty for cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM).

Summary of Background Data:

Although patients with CSM exhibit ISI on axial MRI, the association between ISI (preoperative classification and changes) and surgical outcomes has not been investigated.

Patients and Methods:

We retrospectively included patients with CSM who underwent MRI preoperatively and at least 10 years postoperatively after laminoplasty between January 2009 and December 2010. According to axial images for the cervical compressive myelopathy (Ax-CCM) system, the ISI on axial images was classified as follows: type 0, normal; type 1, diffuse; type 2, fuzzy focal; and type 3, discrete focal. Functional outcomes, as measured by the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score and JOA recovery rate, were evaluated based on the Ax-CCM classification.

Results:

Forty-three patients were enrolled. The mean follow-up time was 11.0±1.0 years. At the final follow-up, postoperative changes in the type of ISI were observed in 62.8% of patients. The type of ISI improved in 5 patients (11.6%), remained unchanged in 16 patients (37.2%), and worsened in 22 patients (51.2%). Patients with preoperative type 2 ISI had worse postoperative JOA scores and JOA recovery rates than those with other types. A worse ISI type was related to a lower postoperative JOA score and a lower recovery rate at the final follow-up.

Conclusions:

Type 2 ISI was associated with poor postoperative symptoms and low postoperative function improvement. ISI changed after laminoplasty in 27 patients (62.8%), and worsened ISI was related to poor surgical outcomes.
A Survey of Mean Glandular Doses and Suggestions on National Diagnostic Reference Levels for Digital Mammography in China
Authors: Xu Hui , Yue Baorong , Cheng Jinsheng , Deng Jun , Su Yinping , Zhao Qiaoqiao , Xue Ke , Feng Zechen , Niu Yantao , Sun Quanfu
Published: July 2024

The primary purpose of this study was to report the mean glandular doses and to determine the national diagnostic reference levels for digital mammography based on data between 2016 and 2018 in China. The data from 19,076 mammograms (4,769 examinations) by random sampling from 118 digital mammography systems were compiled. Exposure factors included age, compressed breast thickness, kVp, mAs, target/filter combination, entrance surface air kerma, and mean glandular doses, which were retrospectively surveyed and recorded from the monitor. The national diagnostic reference levels (75th percentiles) in mean glandular dose were calculated across median value obtained for all included data and stratified to specific compressed breast thickness ranges. The patients’ ages ranged from 22 to 88 y, with a median age of 45. The applied voltage and output medians were 28 kVp and 75.1 mAs for all exposure, respectively. The median CBTs were 45 mm and 48 mm for craniocaudal views and mediolateral oblique views, and the corresponding median mean glandular doses were 1.32 mGy and 1.40 mGy, respectively. The national diagnostic reference level at compressed breast thickness of 40–50 mm was 1.67 mGy for CC views and 1.71 mGy for MLO views. The median mean glandular doses varied significantly and increased with compressed breast thickness, demonstrating the necessity of establishing DRL according to breast thickness and optimizing the clinic's digital mammography practice in China.
Conversion of Site-Specific Meteorological Data for use in CAP-88 PC
Authors: Fritz B.G. , Peterson J.A.
Published: July 2024

CAP-88 PC is a commonly used radiological atmospheric dispersion model. This US EPA-approved model is used to demonstrate compliance with atmospheric emission regulations for radionuclides. While the model includes a large library of meteorological data for use across the United States, there are applications when users may wish to use onsite meteorological data as an input to the CAP-88 PC model. Here we present a work-around process for preparing and converting onsite data for use in CAP-88 PC. However, the use of local data should provide a more realistic estimate of doses to members of the public in the immediate vicinity of a facility, although the regulatory agency having jurisdiction may not accept the use of local data for compliance. Additionally, the historical meteorological records from 20+ years ago (at a site many kilometers away) might not be representative of current local weather patterns, highlighting another benefit of using local meteorological data.
Effect of amino acid supplementation on short-term complications after gastrointestinal tumor surgery: the AMIGITS randomized clinical trial
Authors: Wang Junke , Chen Yuezhi , Zhao Zhiwen , Lian Guodong , Peng Lipan , Zhou Xinxiu , Sha Shengxu , Qiao Wenhao , Tian Hui , Li Leping , Tian Feng , Jing Changqing
Published: July 2024

Background:

There is a scarcity of large randomized clinical trials on the efficacy and safety of high-dose amino acid supplementation (AAS) in patients with gastrointestinal tumors undergoing surgical treatment.

Methods:

This pragmatic, randomized, controlled, single-center, open-label, parallel-group AMIGITS trial was performed in a tertiary care teaching hospital. Patients with gastrointestinal tumors were randomly assigned to receive either AAS or standard care (SC). Amino acid targets were 2.0 g/kg per day in the AAS group and 1.2 g/kg per day in the SC group. The AAS group received additional amino acids intravenously, while the SC group received an iso-energetic 5% glucose intravenously.

Results:

Overall, 407 patients (AAS group, 204; SC group, 203) were included in this study. During the intervention, the actual mean daily energy intake did not differ significantly between the AAS and SC groups (25.53 vs. 25.16 kcal/kg per day, P=0.493). However, the actual mean daily amino acid intake was significantly higher in the AAS group than that in the SC group (1.81 vs. 0.94 g/kg per day, P<0.001). The infection incidence during hospitalization and within 30 days of surgery was significantly lower in the AAS group than that in the SC group (P=0.031 and P=0.024, respectively). The 30-day postoperative incidence of amino acid treatment-related adverse events and other complications did not significantly differ between the two groups. The postoperative hospital stay was significantly different between the two groups (P<0.001).

Conclusions:

AAS was associated with a reduced infection incidence within 30 days of major surgery in patients with gastrointestinal tumors and can be a promising strategy.
Imaging-based surrogate classification for risk stratification of hepatocellular carcinoma with microvascular invasion to adjuvant hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy: a multicenter retrospective study
Authors: Ma Lidi , Zhang Cheng , Wen Yuhua , Xing Kaili , Li Shaohua , Geng Zhijun , Liao Shuting , Yuan Shasha , Li Xinming , Zhong Chong , Hou Jing , Zhang Jie , Gao Mingyong , Xu Baojun , Guo Rongping , Wei Wei , Xie Chuanmiao , Lu Lianghe
Published: July 2024

Background:

Patients with microvascular invasion (MVI)-positive hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have shown promising results with adjuvant hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) with FOLFOX after curative resection. The authors aim to develop an imaging-derived biomarker to depict MVI-positive HCC patients more precisely and promote individualized treatment strategies of adjuvant HAIC.

Materials and methods:

Patients with MVI-positive HCC were identified from five academic centers and utilized for model development (n=470). Validation cohorts were pooled from a previously reported prospective clinical study conducted [control cohort (n=145), adjuvant HAIC cohort (n=143)] (NCT03192618). The primary endpoint was recurrence-free survival (RFS). Imaging features were thoroughly reviewed, and multivariable logistic regression analysis was employed for model development. Transcriptomic sequencing was conducted to identify the associated biological processes.

Results:

Arterial phase peritumoral enhancement, boundary of the tumor enhancement, tumor necrosis stratification, and boundary of the necrotic area were selected and incorporated into the nomogram for RFS. The imaging-based model successfully stratified patients into two distinct prognostic subgroups in both the training, control, and adjuvant HAIC cohorts (median RFS, 6.00 vs. 66.00 months, 4.86 vs. 24.30 months, 11.46 vs. 39.40 months, all P<0.01). Furthermore, no significant statistical difference was observed between patients at high risk of adjuvant HAIC and those in the control group (P=0.61). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve at 2 years was found to be 0.83, 0.84, and 0.73 for the training, control, and adjuvant HAIC cohorts, respectively. Transcriptomic sequencing analyses revealed associations between the radiological features and immune-regulating signal transduction pathways.

Conclusion:

The utilization of this imaging-based model could help to better characterize MVI-positive HCC patients and facilitate the precise subtyping of patients who genuinely benefit from adjuvant HAIC treatment.
Comparison of short-term outcomes and defecatory function following robotic and conventional laparoscopic surgery for stapled-ileal pouch-anal anastomosis: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Hanaoka Marie , Kinugasa Yusuke , Yao Kenta , Takaoka Ayumi , Sasaki Megumi , Yamauchi Shinichi , Tokunaga Masanori
Published: July 2024

Background:

This study assessed the potential advantages of robotic-assisted Stapled ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (Ro Stapled-IPAA) in ulcerative colitis (UC) compared to conventional laparoscopic surgery (Lap), with a focus on short-term outcomes and postoperative defecatory function, an aspect not previously explored.

Materials and methods:

Out of a total of 132 patients who underwent proctocolectomy or residual rectal resection, consecutive patients undergoing minimally invasive Stapled-IPAA for UC at our hospital from May 2014 to May 2024 were included. The Ro approach was chosen for individuals with severe colitis extending into the anal canal, deeper rectal cancers (beyond T1), and cases requiring residual rectal resection, taking advantage of its benefits. Perioperative outcomes, including anastomosis height, operative time, intraoperative blood loss, complication rate, postoperative hospital stay, and defecatory function using Wexner scores and anorectal manometry before proctocolectomy and 6 months after stoma closure, were compared between the Ro and Lap groups.

Results:

Thirty-three patients (Lap, n=21; Ro, n=12) were included. The Ro group demonstrated a significantly lower anastomosis height (0.5 vs. 3.0 cm, P<0.001), reduced intraoperative blood loss (35 vs. 118 ml, P=0.032), shorter postoperative hospital stay (8 vs. 10.5 days), and no cases of anastomotic leakage (0 vs. 14.3%), as compared to the Lap group. Pouch failure occurred in 14% of Lap group; none were observed in the Ro group. Wexner scores favored the Ro group at 12 months after stoma closure (0 vs. 8 points), and there was better maximum voluntary squeeze pressure (302 mmHg vs. 175 mmHg, P=0.03), indicating preserved contraction of the external sphincter muscle despite the lower anastomosis.

Conclusion:

Ro Stapled-IPAA for patients with UC led to better short-term outcomes and preservation of defecatory function with lower anastomosis than Lap, suggesting the clinical advantages of the robotic approach in this field.
Presurgery and postsurgery: advancements in artificial intelligence and machine learning models for enhancing patient management in infective endocarditis
Authors: M. Odat Ramez , Marsool Marsool Mohammed D. , Nguyen Dang , Idrees Muhammad , Hussein Ayham M. , Ghabally Mike , A. Yasin Jehad , Hanifa Hamdah , Sabet Cameron J. , Dinh Nguyen H. , Harky Amer , Jain Jyoti , Jain Hritvik
Published: July 2024

Infective endocarditis (IE) is a severe infection of the inner lining of the heart, known as the endocardium. It is characterized by a range of symptoms and has a complicated pattern of occurrence, leading to a significant number of deaths. IE poses significant diagnostic and treatment difficulties. This evaluation examines the utilization of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) models in addressing IE management. It focuses on the most recent advancements and possible applications. Through this paper, the authors observe that AI/ML can significantly enhance and outperform traditional diagnostic methods leading to more accurate risk stratification, personalized therapies, as well and real-time monitoring facilities. For example, early postsurgical mortality prediction models like SYSUPMIE achieved ‘very good’ area under the curve (AUROC) values exceeding 0.81. Additionally, AI/ML has improved diagnostic accuracy for prosthetic valve endocarditis, with PET-ML models increasing sensitivity from 59 to 72% when integrated into ESC criteria and reaching a high specificity of 83%. Furthermore, inflammatory biomarkers such as IL-15 and CCL4 have been identified as predictive markers, showing 91% accuracy in forecasting mortality, and identifying high-risk patients with specific CRP, IL-15, and CCL4 levels. Even simpler ML models, like Naïve Bayes, demonstrated an excellent accuracy of 92.30% in death rate prediction following valvular surgery for IE patients. Furthermore, this review provides a vital assessment of the advantages and disadvantages of such AI/ML models, such as better-quality decision support approaches like adaptive response systems on one hand, and data privacy threats or ethical concerns on the other hand. In conclusion, Al and ML must continue, through multicentric and validated research, to advance cardiovascular medicine, and overcome implementation challenges to boost patient outcomes and healthcare delivery.