bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Swallow’s Nest (Collocalia Fuciphaga) Business Development Strategy
Authors: Daulay A H , Khoman J S
Published: December 2023

This study was carried out in the Rantau Utara District, located inside the Labuhan Batu Regency of the North Sumatra Province. The primary objective of this study is to ascertain and devise a comprehensive strategy for the growth and expansion of the Swallow’s Nest enterprise. The research employed a survey methodology, wherein the participants consisted of all businessmen operating in the Swallow’s Nest industry within the Rantau Utara District. The sampling technique employed in this study was purposive sampling. The research sample consists of 32 individuals who are businessmen associated with Swallow’s Nest. The utilization of SWOT analysis for data analysis. The findings indicated that the Swallow’s Nest enterprise occupied the initial quadrant of the SWOT analysis. The formulated strategy is aimed toward expansion. The objective of implementing this business plan is to enhance production, leverage contemporary technology, cultivate human resources, secure company licenses, capitalize on strategic locations, and uphold nest quality.
Succes Rate of Artificial Insemination in Torgamba Subdistrict, Labuhan Batu Selatan District
Authors: Umar S , Hartadi B Q
Published: December 2023

Artificial insemination is one way to accelerate ruminants’ production and genetic quality. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of the success rate of artificial insemination in Labuhan batu Selatan Regency based on Service Per Conception (S/C), Conception Rate (C/R) and Calving Interval (CI). This research is quantitative descriptive research, namely by taking data in the field and analyzing it to achieve conclusions. Determination of the villages that became the research location included the villages of Sumberjo, Pengarungan, Karya maju, Cikampak, Konsensi, Sidodadi and other villages. Determination of the research sample by purposive sampling. Observation had been done on 80 samples from 392 farmers. Each sample had given birth once.The data were recorded and analyzed using the SPSS 16 program. The results revealed that the average S/C value was 1-2 times, while the average C/R value was 60-70%, indicating a considerable result; nevertheless, the CI results were not as promising, reaching an average of 14 months.
Inclusion effect of dietary fat and dietary fibre on growth performance and digesta mean retention time of young broilers fed on wheat/corn diets
Authors: Samat N , Miller H M
Published: December 2023

Nutrient digestion and absorptions in animals are greatly influenced by the passage rate of digesta and the digesta passage rate or retention/residence time could be affected by the type of feed given. Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine the inclusion effect of dietary fat and fibre on digesta passage rate in broiler chickens. The hypothesis posited that the mean retention/residence time (MRT) of digesta would be elevated with higher levels of fat, whereas the addition of dietary fibre would have no effect on MRT. The study was designed as a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments, with two levels of dietary fat (low fat at 10 g/kg diet and high fat at 50 g/kg diet) and two levels of dietary fibre (0 g/kg diet and 40 g/kg diet). The meals were provided in mash form. The results of the present investigation indicated that dietary fat did not lead to a substantial increase in the total MRT of digesta in broilers, which contradicts the hypothesis of this study. However, the incorporation of a high level of fat has been found to increase body weight gain (BWG), improve feed conversion ratio (FCR) and reduce feed intake (FI). This effect has the potential to result in a more economically efficient production system, as it increases the amount of meat produced per kilogram of feed consumed. Further investigations on increasing digesta MRT are recommended in order to optimize the sustainable utilization of feed ingredients in broiler diets, particularly non-conventional feedstuffs, which involve in the application of feed enzymes such as enzymes that degrade fibre, phytate and other antinutrients present in feed.
Analysis of Potential and Strategy for Sustainable Development of Sheep Resources in Serdang Bedagai Regency
Authors: Siregar G A W , Sipayung L
Published: December 2023

The demand for animal products has grown up in North Sumatra Province, Indonesia. The livestock sector needs to expand and accommodate. Serdang Bedagai Regency is the potential area to develop sheep. The purpose of this study was to determine the potential of the resource area, and capacity to accommodate sheep as well as alternative strategies that can be used in the development of sheep. This research was conducted from February until April 2023 using the Stratified Sampling Method and Purposive Sampling Method. The sample area consists of the largest sheep population, such as Pantai Cermin and Pegajahan District, a moderate population in Serbajadi sub-district, and a low population, such as Sei Rampah and Kotarih sub-districts. The data had been collected by interviews with respondents. Descriptive analysis is used to examine the data. Location quotient, livestock density, feed concentration index, carrying capacity of plantation and agricultural waste, ability to expand ruminant livestock, and SWOT analysis were the parameters. Serdang Bedagai Regency exhibited potential for sheep expansion, according to the findings. Eight areas are sheeps development basis. The carrying capacity of sheep in Serdang Bedagai Regency is 413,342.15 AU. The right strategy and a priorityis the SO strategy.
Milk Production of Dairy Cow Fed Diet with Concentrate Containing Fermented Arenga pinnata By-product
Authors: Sulistyowati E , Wiryawan I K G , Badarina I , Naibaho S H , Apreza  , Pratama W A , Cahyadi C , Waspodo R J
Published: December 2023

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of diet containing fermented Arenga pinnata by-product on milk yield, dry matter intake, organic matter, and feed efficiency of lactating dairy cow. This research was conducted using Latin Square design 4 x 4, 4 treatments in 4 periods. The treatments were FA-0: basic diet (65% forage +19% tofu by-product) with 16% concentrate with no fermented Arenga; FA-10: basic diet with concentrate containing 10% fermented Arenga; FA-15: basic diet with concentrate containing 15% fermented Arenga; FA-20: basic diet with concentrate containing 20% fermented Arenga. Pretreatment time was 10 days to get the four cows adjusted for the experiment. Then followed by 10 day-4 periods of applying diet with this concentrate. Dairy cow identification averages were body weight (445 kg), body condition score or BCS (2.63), lactation period (2), and lactation phage (middle). Results showed that diet containing concentrate with fermented Arenga pinnata contained dry matter and organic matter were decreased with increasing level of fermented Arenga. There were no significant differences (P>0.05) found in milk yield, dry matter intake, organic matter intake, and feed efficiency. In conclusion, based on averages of dry matter intake, organic matter intake, and feed efficiency among diet containing fermented Arenga pinnata, the 10% level was considered a reasonable diet to be implemented for dairy cow.
Analysis Of Factors Affecting Swine Farmers’ Income During African Swine Fever (ASF) In North Sumatera
Authors: Tafsin M , Raldos D
Published: December 2023

In the year 2019, a significant outbreak of pig mortalities caused by African Swine Fever (ASF) transpired inside the North Sumatra province This study aims to determine differences in the income of pig farmers before and during the ASF pandemic in North Sumatra, to analyze the factors that affect the income of pig farmers in North Sumatra, and to analyze the factors that affect the productivity of pig farmers in North Sumatra. This research was carried out in Deli Serdang, Humbang Hansudutan, and Dairi Regencies in March-July 2023 with a total of 96 respondents. Data analysis used is using multiple linear analysis. The results showed that the income of pig farmers in North Sumatra before the African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak was higher, namely IDR 135,351,041.67 compared to the income of pig farmers during the ASF outbreak, which was IDR 98,484,895.83. The results of multiple regression analysis show that harvest weight, labor costs, feed cost, and sources of income have a significant effect on the income of pig farmers in North Sumatra.
Design of 3-Level T-type NPC Inverter for EV Applications
Authors: Balamurugan M , Arjun Kumar G B , Kumar Sujit , Sridhar G
Published: December 2023

In recent years, there has been a significant demand for lightweight converters that provide exceptional control performance while generating minimal acoustic noise. This has resulted in higher switching signals for hard- switched 2-level low voltage 3-phase inverters. However, the increased switching frequencies have a negative impact on the inverters’ efficiency, requiring the use of expensive switch technology to maintain high efficiency. This paper aims to tackle these challenges by introducing the design and implementation of a extremely effective 3-Level T-Type Neutral Point Clamped (NPC) inverter designed for Electric Vehicle (EV) applications. 3-Level T-Type NPC inverter associates the strengths of both NPC and T-Type inverters. Similar towards the NPC, it offers a lower breakdown voltage for the switching devices, thereby reducing switching losses. Additionally, it shares the characteristics of the T-Type inverter, resulting in fewer conduction losses. To validate the feasibility of the converter, simulation is performed using MATLAB software, followed by the development and testing of a lab-scale prototype. The proposed three-level T-type NPC inverter have several merits over traditional 2-level inverters, including reduced distortion, switching losses, and improved efficiency. These benefits contribute to enhanced motor drive performance, reduced electromagnetic interference (EMI), and extended battery life in EVs.
A Review on Deep Learning based Algorithms for Video Super Resolution
Authors: Arasa Deekshitha , Sivaramakrishnan S , Sharma Sneha
Published: December 2023

A HR (High Resolution) video frame may be created from a set of LR (Low Resolution) video frames using a process called Video Super Resolution (VSR). Deep Learning (DL) techniques have surpassed conventional techniques in terms of efficiency. To achieve video super-resolution, the inter-frame information must be extracted. The numerous categories for possible deep learning techniques include methods with alignment and methods without alignment, for example. Details about the different approaches’ architecture designs and implementation are provided in this review paper. Lastly, a comparison and summary are given for the various methods based on some standard datasets is provided.
Advanced Compensation Methods for Isolated Unsymmetrical Three-Phase Multiple Microgrids Employing Energy Storage System (ESS)
Authors: Hemakesavulu O , Padma lalitha M , Haritha C
Published: December 2023

The integration of unbalanced loads into three-phase microgrids (MGs) will be the emphasis of this study. The power quality difficulties that arise when the point of common coupling (PCC) is reached, will be the primary concern of this investigation. A few of these issues include unbalanced power flow, voltage, and the sharing of reactive power in an unbalanced manner. An energy storage system (ESS) that makes use of innovative control algorithms is used to correct the imbalances that occur in island multi-microgrids (MMGs). The reactive power generated by the MMG is balanced by the ESS’s two types of control approaches, modified reverse droop control and multifunction control. The active and reactive power references needed by the ESS are likewise produced by these control methods. The proposed control algorithms ensure that PV inverters of varying ratings have optimal load power distribution, hence minimizing power imbalances and PCC voltage in the MMG. The MATLAB/SIMULINK application may be used to do an analysis on the outcomes of the simulation.
Design of H5 Transformerless Inverter for Photovoltaic System
Authors: Daivagna Amrutha N , Kumar Sujit , Balamurugan M , Mayur Mukul , Tiwari Abhishek Kumar , Kumar Akhilesh , Bharti Aniket
Published: December 2023

There are two distinct categories of sources for generating electrical power: conventional and non-conventional. At now, traditional sources such as coal, gas, and nuclear power are widely employed for the purpose of electricity generation; nevertheless, they are associated with detrimental environmental consequences. Therefore, it is crucial to utilize renewable energy sources like sun and wind to provide some of the necessary electrical power. The driving force behind this transition is the imperative for clean energy, the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions, and the capacity to create electricity in geographically isolated regions. A proposed solution for using solar energy in single-phase AC applications involves the implementation of an H5 converter topology. The proposed architecture employs twin input DC-DC boost converters, which incorporate solar panels and batteries, to manage the desired output DC voltage. The H5 topology has notable suitability for single-phase transformerless inverters in AC applications encompassing low and high-power demands, owing to its capacity to effectively mitigate leakage current. In order to evaluate the viability of the suggested methodology, a MATLAB simulation is performed to simulate the complete procedure. Furthermore, the development of a prototype is underway in order to assess and verify the performance and outcomes of the converter. The simulation will be conducted with either the MATLAB.
Numerical modelling of high-power laser spot melting of thin stainless steel
Authors: Bunaziv I , Danielsen M H , Eriksson M , Ma X , Ren X , Godinez Brizuela O E , Skjetne P
Published: December 2023

Numerical modelling is an important scientific tool in laser materials processing to study different melting, evaporation, and solidification phenomena. It can assist in understanding why certain defects are formed, and thus may provide solution paths for how to decrease certain defects and to increase the quality of a product. Laser spot melting in heat conduction mode represents a simple case and is an excellent first step to build and test solvers prior to moving on to more complicated cases such as laser keyhole welding of thick plates. Modelling of laser spot melting requires only a limited computational domain and allows more complex physics to be added gradually. In this work, a thin 3.0 mm thick stainless steel plate was melted with high-power fiber laser and numerically simulated using a native and custom-build solver based on the VOF method within OpenFOAM. The process was captured with a high-speed imaging camera and simulation results are compared with the experimental results. It was found that temperature-dependent surface tension plays a vital role in controlling melt flow directions within melt pool.
Laser surface texturing for superhydrophobic, icephobic and friction reduction functionalization
Authors: Ancona Antonio , Gaudiuso Caterina , Volpe Annalisa , Mezzapesa Francesco Paolo , Putignano Carmine , Carbone Giuseppe
Published: December 2023

Nanometre and/or micrometer scale periodic features naturally present decorating the skin of many insects, fishes or plants have been found to give them extraordinary aesthetic, adhesion, antifouling, wear resistance, superhydrophobic or drag reduction properties. With the aim of artificially conveying the same properties to products and tools, researchers have tried to reproduce such bionic topography on the surface of a huge variety of materials using different manufacturing methods. Among the different manufacturing technologies, surface texturing based on direct laser writing using ultrashort pulses offers great flexibility in terms of geometry and size of the feature to be created. This work will focus on two specific types of functionalization of metallic as well as rubber surfaces through laser surface texturing, i.e., icephobicity and friction reduction. In the first case, different texture patterns were laser written on sheet samples of Aluminum Alloy of interest for aerospace applications. Their wettability and anti-icing properties were investigated through water contact angle experiments in different environmental conditions and steam-freezing experiments were conducted in a climate chamber. The role of the laser textured pattern geometry on the frictional performances of a rubber surface under lubricated non-conformal as well as conformal point contact has been also widely investigated. In the first case, no improvements were obtained in terms of frictional performances, ascribable to the reduced number of dimples involved in the contact area. Conversely, remarkable friction reduction was achieved in mixed and in the transition between the mixed and the elasto-hydrodinamic lubrication regime, thanks to the concurrence of several effects as micro-cavitation, wear debris trapping, and lubricant entrapping within the texture.
A facility-level self-assessment of Autonomous Pharmacy Framework levels
Authors: Goldsmith Nicholas , Sullivan Mark , Cole Sabrina W , Mathen Gee , Polis Nikki , Sisodiya Deepak , Tanner Trish , Wagner Jeff , Flynn Allen J
Published: December 2023

Purpose

The objective of this study was to understand at what level of the Autonomous Pharmacy Framework facilities are operating, in terms of the current state of data collection and analysis in the medication-use process, and to gather insights about systems integration and automation use.

Methods

The Autonomous Pharmacy Advisory Board, a group of chief pharmacy officers and operational leaders, developed a self-assessment instrument based on the previously published Autonomous Pharmacy Framework, made the self-assessment instrument available via the internet, and reviewed respondents’ self-reported results. The data collection period for the survey started in March of 2021 and ended in January of 2023.

Results

A total of 119 facility-level self-assessments were completed and analyzed. On a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 represented little or no data-driven automation with lots of manual tasks and 5 represented the utmost data-driven automation with few manual tasks, the average overall facility-level score was 2.77 (range, 1.38-4.41). Results revealed slight variance by facility bed capacity. Much more variation was found in the degrees to which individual facilities have automated core processes like inventory management, intravenous medication preparation, and financial reporting.

Conclusion

As a baseline, this automation-focused facility self-assessment suggests that for essentially all health-system pharmacy facilities and their larger organizations, a substantial body of work needs to be done to further develop and upgrade technology and practice in tandem, greatly expand data collection and analysis, and thereby achieve better operational, financial, and clinical outcomes. Significant advancements are needed to arrive at the highly reliable, highly automated, data-driven medication-use process involving few repetitive manual tasks envisioned in the Autonomous Pharmacy Framework.
Experiences of Latinx sexual and gender minorities with access to healthcare during COVID-19 stay-at-home orders
Authors: Rodriguez-Diaz Carlos E , Seager Loxley , Navalta Cassandra , Lapointe Lauren , Laino Alanna , Wilhite Daniel , Melin Kyle , Varga Leah , Zea Maria Cecilia
Published: December 2023

Purpose

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic affected all social systems, but healthcare services were particularly disrupted. The pandemic also had a disproportionate impact on populations made socially vulnerable. In this study, we documented the experiences of Latinx sexual and gender minority (SGM) individuals with access to care during COVID-19 stay-at-home orders.

Methods

Semistructured qualitative interviews assessing experiences during the stay-at-home orders in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and patients’ experiences accessing healthcare during this period were conducted with 21 Latinx SGM individuals from the Washington, DC, area. Data were analyzed using rapid qualitative analysis (RQA), and salient themes were identified.

Results

The RQA revealed 3 themes reflecting participants’ experiences with pharmaceutical care during COVID-19 stay-at-home orders: (1) challenges in accessing HIV services; (2) community engagement; and (3) providers supporting access to care. Participants experienced problems with adherence to medication, transportation, and technology, as well as delays in care and miscommunication with providers. Latinx SGM individuals demonstrated engagement in response to this emergency as a community and valued their providers and their efforts to facilitate access to care.

Conclusion

The COVID-19 pandemic strained healthcare services. Findings from this study show that the impact of the pandemic on the provision of care increased the vulnerability of Latinx SGM people. Future research should explore the impact of public health emergencies on the health of populations historically made socially vulnerable, and innovative solutions should be identified to eliminate these barriers to health equity.
Role of glycogen synthase kinase-3β in dependence and abuse liability of alcohol
Authors: Oka Masahiro , Yoshino Rui , Kitanaka Nobue , Hall F Scott , Uhl George R , Kitanaka Junichi
Published: December 2023

Background

Alcohol is a major abused drug worldwide that contributes substantially to health and social problems. These problems result from acute alcohol overuse as well as chronic use, leading to alcohol use disorder (AUD). A major goal of this field is to establish a treatment for alcohol abuse and dependence in patients with AUD. The central molecular mechanisms of acute alcohol actions have been extensively investigated in rodent models.

Aims

One of the central mechanisms that may be involved is glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) activity, a key enzyme involved in glycogen metabolism but which has crucial roles in numerous cellular processes. Although the exact mechanisms leading from acute alcohol actions to these chronic changes in GSK-3β function are not yet clear, GSK-3β nonetheless constitutes a potential therapeutic target for AUD by reducing its function using GSK-3β inhibitors. This review is focused on the correlation between GSK-3β activity and the degree of alcohol consumption.

Methods

Research articles regarding investigation of effect of GSK-3β on alcohol consumption in rodents were searched on PubMed, Embase, and Scopus databases using keywords “glycogen synthase kinase,” “alcohol (or ethanol),” “intake (or consumption),” and evaluated by changes in ratios of pGSK-3βSer9/pGSK-3β.

Results

In animal experiments, GSK-3β activity decreases in the brain under forced and voluntary alcohol consumption while GSK-3β activity increases under alcohol-seeking behavior.

Conclusions

Several pieces of evidence suggest that alterations in GSK-3β function are important mediators of chronic ethanol actions, including those related to alcohol dependence and the adverse effects of chronic ethanol exposure.
Genomics in Clinical trials for Breast Cancer
Authors: Enoma David
Published: December 2023

Breast cancer (B.C.) still has increasing incidences and mortality rates globally. It is known that B.C. and other cancers have a very high rate of genetic heterogeneity and genomic mutations. Traditional oncology approaches have not been able to provide a lasting solution. Targeted therapeutics have been instrumental in handling the complexity and resistance associated with B.C. However, the progress of genomic technology has transformed our understanding of the genetic landscape of breast cancer, opening new avenues for improved anti-cancer therapeutics. Genomics is critical in developing tailored therapeutics and identifying patients most benefit from these treatments. The next generation of breast cancer clinical trials has incorporated next-generation sequencing technologies into the process, and we have seen benefits. These innovations have led to the approval of better-targeted therapies for patients with breast cancer. Genomics has a role to play in clinical trials, including genomic tests that have been approved, patient selection and prediction of therapeutic response. Multiple clinical trials in breast cancer have been done and are still ongoing, which have applied genomics technology. Precision medicine can be achieved in breast cancer therapy with increased efforts and advanced genomic studies in this domain. Genomics studies assist with patient outcomes improvement and oncology advancement by providing a deeper understanding of the biology behind breast cancer. This article will examine the present state of genomics in breast cancer clinical trials.
CAKE: a flexible self-supervised framework for enhancing cell visualization, clustering and rare cell identification
Authors: Liu Jin , Zeng Weixing , Kan Shichao , Li Min , Zheng Ruiqing
Published: December 2023

Single cell sequencing technology has provided unprecedented opportunities for comprehensively deciphering cell heterogeneity. Nevertheless, the high dimensionality and intricate nature of cell heterogeneity have presented substantial challenges to computational methods. Numerous novel clustering methods have been proposed to address this issue. However, none of these methods achieve the consistently better performance under different biological scenarios. In this study, we developed CAKE, a novel and scalable self-supervised clustering method, which consists of a contrastive learning model with a mixture neighborhood augmentation for cell representation learning, and a self-Knowledge Distiller model for the refinement of clustering results. These designs provide more condensed and cluster-friendly cell representations and improve the clustering performance in term of accuracy and robustness. Furthermore, in addition to accurately identifying the major type cells, CAKE could also find more biologically meaningful cell subgroups and rare cell types. The comprehensive experiments on real single-cell RNA sequencing datasets demonstrated the superiority of CAKE in visualization and clustering over other comparison methods, and indicated its extensive application in the field of cell heterogeneity analysis. Contact: Ruiqing Zheng. (rqzheng@csu.edu.cn)
Increased expression of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans in dentate gyrus and amygdala causes postinfectious seizures
Authors: Patel Dipan C , Swift Nathaniel , Tewari Bhanu P , Browning Jack L , Prim Courtney , Chaunsali Lata , Kimbrough Ian F , Olsen Michelle L , Sontheimer Harald
Published: December 2023

Alterations in the extracellular matrix are common in patients with epilepsy and animal models of epilepsy, yet whether they are the cause or consequence of seizures and epilepsy development is unknown.

Using Theiler’s murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV) infection-induced model of acquired epilepsy, we found de novo expression of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs), a major extracellular matrix component, in dentate gyrus (DG) and amygdala exclusively in mice with acute seizures. Preventing the synthesis of CSPGs specifically in DG and amygdala by deletion of the major CSPG aggrecan reduced seizure burden. Patch-clamp recordings from dentate granule cells revealed enhanced intrinsic and synaptic excitability in seizing mice that was significantly ameliorated by aggrecan deletion. In situ experiments suggested that dentate granule cell hyperexcitability results from negatively charged CSPGs increasing stationary cations on the membrane, thereby depolarizing neurons, increasing their intrinsic and synaptic excitability.

These results show increased expression of CSPGs in the DG and amygdala as one of the causal factors for TMEV-induced acute seizures. We also show identical changes in CSPGs in pilocarpine-induced epilepsy, suggesting that enhanced CSPGs in the DG and amygdala may be a common ictogenic factor and potential therapeutic target.
From Stars to Diamonds: Counting and Listing Almost Complete Subgraphs in Large Networks
Authors: Finocchi Irene , Garcia Renan Leon , Sinaimeri Blerina
Published: December 2023

Listing dense subgraphs is a fundamental task with a variety of network analytics applications. A lot of research has been done focusing on $k$-cliques, i.e. complete subgraphs on $k$ nodes. However, requiring complete connectivity between the nodes of a subgraph may be too restrictive in many real applications. Hence, in this paper, we consider a natural relaxation of cliques, called $k$-diamonds and defined as cliques of size $k$ with one missing edge. We first provide a sequential algorithm that, in $O(nm^{(k-1)/2})$ time, counts and lists all the $k$-diamonds in large graphs, for any constant $k \geq 4$. A parallel extension of the sequential algorithm is then proposed and analyzed in a MapReduce-style model, achieving the same local and total space usage of the state-of-the-art algorithms for $k$-cliques. The running time is optimal on dense graphs and $O(\sqrt{m})$ larger than $k$-clique counting if the graph is sparse. Our algorithms compute induced diamonds by analyzing the structure of directed stars formed by the graph nodes and their neighbors.
Apennine–Pyrenees disjunct distribution: an unusual biogeographic pattern revealed in flea beetles of the Longitarsus candidulus species-group (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae)
Authors: Berrilli Emanuele , Biondi Maurizio , Garzia Matteo , D’Alessandro Paola , Salvi Daniele
Published: December 2023

European mountain systems have played a crucial role in shaping the distribution of species and of their genetic diversity during the Quaternary climatic changes, with the establishment of allopatric patterns across main mountain ranges. Here we investigated the evolutionary history of flea beetles of the Longitarsus candidulus species-group showing an uncommon disjunct biogeographic pattern across the Apennine and the Pyrenees. We applied a multilocus molecular approach and multispecies coalescent models to establish a phylogenetic and systematic framework for this morphologically homogeneous species-group and to estimate the time of main cladogenetic events underlying the origin of the Apennine-Pyrenees pattern. We found strong support for the monophyly of the candidulus group with a sister relationship between Longitarsus laureolae and L. leonardii endemic to the Apennine and the Pyrenees mountains respectively. The timing of speciation events in the candidulus species-group coincides with 2 major climatic transitions during the Early and Middle Pleistocene which resulted in significant environmental changes in Europe and suggest a scenario of allopatric isolation and divergence on distinct mountain ranges. The split between the thermophilic species L. candidulus and the ancestor of the temperate species L. laureolae and L. leonardii is estimated at ~3 Ma during the transition from Pliocene to Pleistocene and was probably triggered by their segregation in xerophilous and temperate habitats. The speciation between L. laureolae and L. leonardii, estimated at ~1 Ma during the Mid-Pleistocene Transition, can be explained by the establishment of unfavorable conditions in West Alps and Central Massif underlying the onset of the Apennine-Pyrenees disjunct pattern. Finally, the strict association between members of the candidulus group and distinct Thymelaeaceae plants suggests further studies to address the hypothesis that speciation in these flea beetles might have been also associated with Pleistocene range changes of their host plants.
Geographically variable mate preferences shed light on the processes maintaining inversion polymorphism
Authors: Lacoste Pierre , Chouteau Mathieu , Maisonneuve Ludovic , Mauxion Rémi , Joron Mathieu , McClure Melanie
Published: December 2023

An important question in evolution is to understand the mechanisms that maintain phenotypic diversity, despite selection that should drive homogeneity. For example, selection by predators may promote the convergence of colour patterns among defended prey, resulting in the formation of mimetic communities. However, certain aposematic species, such as the Neotropical butterfly Heliconius numata, are polymorphic. In H. numata, wing pattern polymorphism, which is associated with chromosomal inversions, may be maintained via disassortative mating preferences, thought to favour the co-occurrence of individuals with different mimicry phenotypes in Peru. To test whether environmental variation due to geography influences mate choice, here we investigate the occurrence of disassortative mating among the two coexisting forms of H. numata in French Guiana, and its potential role in the maintenance of this polymorphism. Our experimental approach demonstrates that the two forms display weak and slightly asymmetrical disassortative mate preferences. Modelling and simulations suggest that this pattern of mate preference alone is not sufficient to maintain polymorphism, and predict the loss of the choosiest form, unless this form enjoys a survival advantage. In this aposematic species, such an advantage could arise from mimicry, but further studies into the benefits of mimicry and predator generalization are needed to test this hypothesis. More importantly, our results suggest that the balance between selective forces influencing polymorphism may vary across geographical and ecological contexts, and this warrants further study.
Intra-specific correlations between ejaculate traits and competitive fertilization success: a meta-analysis across species and fertilization modes
Authors: Macartney Erin L , Morrison Kyle , Snook Rhonda R , Lagisz Malgorzata , Nakagawa Shinichi
Published: December 2023

Understanding of how selection can act on traits that improve competitiveness and subsequent paternity has advanced, including the idea that internal and external fertilization presents different environments that may select differentially on ejaculate traits. However, no studies have quantitatively synthesized the intra-specific relationships between these traits and paternity. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis across 52 papers to determine which ejaculate traits positively correlate with paternity share and how these correlations vary with fertilization mode. Overall, most ejaculate traits were positively associated with paternity, with the notable exception of sperm length. Sub-analyses on sperm number, sperm length, and sperm velocity revealed no statistical differences between fertilization modes in the relationship between traits and paternity when all effect sizes across species were combined. However, in a sub-analysis on fish species only, we found evidence that sperm velocity may be more important in external fertilizers. We also observed differences in the importance of phylogenetic relatedness and some species-specific differences. Our results suggest that while most ejaculate traits should be under positive directional selection in both internal and external fertilizers, sperm length may be subject to more nuanced selection pressures. Overall, we highlight important patterns of intra-specific relationships between ejaculate traits and competitive fertilization success.
‘There should be equality in opinions’: Political Opinion in Intimate Partner Violence Claims
Authors: Anderson Adrienne
Published: December 2023

There is longstanding acceptance that opposition to discrimination against women and/or non-conformity with prevailing gender norms may constitute a political opinion in refugee law. However, courts have not consistently taken an expansive view of political opinion in gender cases. In particular, notwithstanding the global prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV), there is little jurisprudential and, crucially, academic clarity in relation to the political implications of non-conformity with social mores in the context of IPV. Despite this inhospitable environment, lawyers continue to argue this ground in IPV claims, particularly at jurisprudential crisis points, as occurred recently in the aftermath of a 2018 decision in the United States, overruling previous precedent granting refugee status based on membership in a particular social group.

This article provides an overarching examination of the academic discussion on the desirability and practicability of applying the political opinion ground and the case law considering this ground to date. Using the jurisprudence of appeal tribunals in five common law jurisdictions, the article reveals commonalities in both successful and unsuccessful claims in this context. Notably, it identifies that ‘nexus’ to an opinion is a previously underappreciated barrier to applying the political opinion ground in IPV claims. These observations provide a crucial foundation for further reasoned consideration of the political opinion ground in IPV claims which may arise given this ground’s ongoing invocation at first instance and in lower-level administrative decision making.
In our own eyes: ethical dilemmas and insights encountered by researchers conducting qualitative research in high ambient temperatures in Kilifi, Kenya
Authors: Lusambili A , Chabeda S , Khaemba P
Published: December 2023

We reflect on our fieldwork experience from the Climate Heat Maternal and Neonatal Health Africa (CHAMNHA) project in Kilifi, Kenya, which focused on studying the effects of extreme heat on women during pregnancy, delivery and the post-partum period. We describe the ethical and practical challenges encountered, highlighting valuable lessons learned. We propose potential solutions to address issues concerning the reciprocity of vulnerable participants and the provision of childcare and food for accompanying children. Further, we address challenges related to engaging specific participants, interview cancellations attributed to extreme temperatures and discuss the perpetuation of inequalities by ethics and academic institutions. With the anticipated increase in research at the intersection of climate change–induced heat exposure and its impacts on human populations, research institutions and ethics committees in low- and middle-income countries are responsible for instituting guidelines that account for the risks for the subjects under study and the field researchers.
Patient- and family-centred care transition interventions for adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs
Authors: Chartrand Julie , Shea Beverley , Hutton Brian , Dingwall Orvie , Kakkar Anupriya , Chartrand Mariève , Poulin Ariane , Backman Chantal
Published: December 2023

Although patient centredness is part of providing high-quality health care, little is known about the effectiveness of care transition interventions that involve patients and their families on readmissions to the hospital or emergency visits post-discharge. This systematic review (SR) aimed to examine the evidence on patient- and family-centred (PFC) care transition interventions and evaluate their effectiveness on adults’ hospital readmissions and emergency department (ED) visits after discharge. Searches of Medline, CINAHL, and Embase databases were conducted from the earliest available online year of indexing up to and including 14 March 2021. The studies included: (i) were about care transitions (hospital to home) of ≥18-year-old patients; (ii) had components of patient-centred care and care transition frameworks; (iii) reported on one or more outcomes were among hospital readmissions and ED visits after discharge; and (iv) were cluster-, pilot- or randomized-controlled trials published in English or French. Study selection, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment were completed by two independent reviewers. A narrative synthesis was performed, and pooled odd ratios, standardized mean differences, and mean differences were calculated using a random-effects meta-analysis. Of the 10,021 citations screened, 50 trials were included in the SR and 44 were included in the meta-analyses. Care transition intervention types included health assessment, symptom and disease management, medication reconciliation, discharge planning, risk management, complication detection, and emotional support. Results showed that PFC care transition interventions significantly reduced the risk of hospital readmission rates compared to usual care [incident rate ratio (IRR), 0.86; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.75–0.98; I2 = 73%] regardless of time elapsed since discharge. However, these same interventions had minimal impact on the risk of ED visit rates compared to usual care group regardless of time passed after discharge (IRR, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.85–1.18; I2 = 29%). PFC care transition interventions containing a greater number of patient-centred care (IRR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.57–0.94; I2 = 59%) and care transition components (IRR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.64–0.91; I2 = 4%) significantly decreased the risk of patients being readmitted. However, these interventions did not significantly increase the risk of patients visiting the ED after discharge (IRR, 1.54; CI 95%, 0.91–2.61). Future interventions should focus on patients’ and families’ values, beliefs, needs, preferences, race, age, gender, and social determinants of health to improve the quality of adults’ care transitions.
Genomic insight into the insecticidal potential of a new Pseudomonas chlororaphis isolate
Authors: Wang Haitao , Zhang Yali , Dai Dadong , Fu Jinqiu , Sung Kim Dae , Li Shengchun , Zhang Jiang , Wang Yong , Zhang Fengjuan
Published: December 2023

Pseudomonas fluorescens group, such as Pseudomonas protegens and Pseudomonas chlororaphis, can be utilized as insect-killing agents. Most insecticidal Pseudomonas described so far have high toxicity for insects of the order Lepidoptera. In this study, Pseudomonas strain PcR3-3 was isolated from the willow root. It showed a high mortality for the coleopteran species Plagiodera versicolora (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), but not for the lepidopteran Helicoverpa armigera. Strain PcR3-3 displayed high colonization ability in the P. versicolora compared with P. chlororaphis PCL1391, indicating that the insecticidal activities correlated with the colonization ability of Pseudomonas strain in the host. Phylogenetic analysis of the genome revealed that PcR3-3 belonged to P. chlororaphis subsp. aureofaciens. Numerous insecticidal protein-encoding genes, typical biosynthetic gene clusters for some insecticidal metabolite and type VI secretion system, known to be involved in insect pathogenicity, were present in the P. chlororaphis PcR3-3 genome. However, the insecticidal toxin Fit-encoding gene which commonly presents in P. chlororaphis, was not found in the P. chlororaphis PcR3-3 genome. Furthermore, there are some divergent insecticidal genes between P. chlororaphis PcR3-3 and P. chlororaphis PCL1391. This finding implies that P. chlororaphis PcR3-3 is a promising biocontrol agent for pest management applications. The P. chlororaphis–P. versicolora association can be used as a model system to study the interaction between Pseudomonas and coleopteran insects.
China’s regulations on new types of unfair competition in the digital age: ‘Internet Provision’ and ‘Data Provision’
Authors: Wang Xuan , Lin Xiuqin
Published: December 2023

This article delves into the emergence of ‘new types of unfair competition’ in China, propelled by the rapid development of the digital economy. It primarily focuses on ‘Internet Provision’ and the proposed ‘Data Provision’. Notably, China’s Anti-Unfair Competition Law, enacted in 1993, underwent its first significant revision after a span of 24 years, leading to the introduction of the ‘Internet Provision’. However, the typology of these provisions presented evident flaws, resulting in the frequent invocation of the ‘catch-all clause’ by the courts since its implementation. This lack of specific categorization for unfair competition in the Internet domain has led to the courts heavily relying on Article 2 of the ‘Anti-Unfair Competition Law’, which is regarded as a general provision. Unfortunately, this approach has given rise to convoluted reasoning, unstable outcomes and excessive judicial intervention in commercial competition matters. To address these issues, the newly proposed ‘data clause’ aims to reestablish clear typification. Nevertheless, it contains semantic ambiguities in its specific expression. More importantly, while the proposed rules consider the cost of public access to information, they do not sufficiently safeguard freedom of information. The lack of well-defined boundaries for data scraping tends to overly favour the original platforms that control the data. Confronting this novel form of unfair competition, it is crucial for codified law countries to endeavour to typify unfair competition acts. However, in designing the legal system, due consideration should be given to the principle of ‘competitive neutrality’ meaning that excessive judicial coercion and interference in the Internet competition landscape should be avoided to ensure a level playing field. The law’s role is to establish clear parameters while allowing for technical solutions to address many of the arising problems. Therefore, it is essential to define a precise and consistent standard. This paper argues against an overly broad recognition of ‘new unfair competition behaviour’, as it may hinder market entry and stifle innovation in the long run.
Persistent NLRP3 inflammasome activation is associated with delayed immunosuppression in septic patients
Authors: Coudereau Rémy , Bodinier Maxime , Lukaszewicz Anne-Claire , Py Bénédicte F , Argaud Laurent , Cour Martin , Bidar Frank , Cerrato Elisabeth , Garnier Lorna , Gossez Morgane , Venet Fabienne , Monneret Guillaume
Published: December 2023

Sepsis triggers a complex response marked by the simultaneous presence of proinflammatory and immunosuppressive elements, disrupting the mechanisms intended to maintain homeostasis. While the NLRP3 inflammasome has been demonstrated to contribute to the inflammatory side, its connection with delayed sepsis-induced immunosuppression remains unexplored. The present objective was to concomitantly and prospectively assess NLRP3 activation (IL-1β, IL-18, and soluble receptors) and features of immune failure (IL-10, mHLA-DR, myeloid-derived suppressor cells) in septic patients. To validate our findings, we conducted a transcriptomic analysis of mRNA of NLRP3-related genes (IL-18R1, IL-1R2) on an additional cohort of 107 patients. Two distinct endotypes were identified. One cluster displayed moderate inflammation rapidly returning to normal values, while the other exhibited a higher inflammatory response persisting until day 28, which was associated with persistent marked immunosuppression and higher 28-d mortality. Identifying endotypes with different pro/anti-inflammatory trajectories could hold important clinical implications for the management of sepsis.