bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of water nutrient concentrations on stream macroinvertebrate community stoichiometry: a large-scale study
Authors: Beck M. , Billoir E. , Usseglio-Polatera P. , Meyer A. , Gautreau E. , Danger M.
Published: February 2024

Basal resources generally mirror environmental nutrient concentrations in the elemental composition of their tissue, meaning that nutrient alterations can directly reach consumer level. An increased nutrient content (e.g. phosphorus) in primary and detrital resources under nutrient enriched conditions should favour taxa with a high demand for this nutrient. With the nutrient demand of a taxon being correlated to the elemental composition of its body tissue (e.g. phosphorus content), such above described species shifts likely alter the overall community stoichiometry. However, studies addressing stoichiometry at community level are rare and most often restricted to lacustrine planktonic systems, single streams or limited experimental setups.

Relying on a stoichiometric database for >200 taxa and >1300 standardized sampling events of macroinvertebrate assemblages from the French national monitoring programme, we investigated the effect of water phosphorus and nitrogen load on stream macroinvertebrate community stoichiometry.

Community stoichiometry was significantly affected by water phosphorus concentration and the effect was strongest at low levels of nitrogen. While we could not confirm our hypothesis of increasing community %P (and decreasing C:P, N:P) with increasing water phosphorus concentrations for the overall community, it clearly followed this pattern for both Insecta and Malacostraca. General differences in the elemental composition among major taxonomic groups and a shift among these groups over the nutrient gradient probably explain the response of community stoichiometry. Our results show that assumptions from Ecological Stoichiometry Theory also hold at the community level, at least for two dominant taxa, and on a large spatial scale, with likely consequences for nutrient cycling and ecosystem function.
Longitudinal profiling of the microbiome at four body sites reveals core stability and individualized dynamics during health and disease
Authors: Zhou Xin , Shen Xiaotao , Johnson Jethro S. , Spakowicz Daniel J. , Agnello Melissa , Zhou Wenyu , Avina Monica , Honkala Alexander , Chleilat Faye , Chen Shirley Jingyi , Cha Kexin , Leopold Shana , Zhu Chenchen , Chen Lei , Lyu Lin , Hornburg Daniel , Wu Si , Zhang Xinyue , Jiang Chao , Jiang Liuyiqi , Jiang Lihua , Jian Ruiqi , Brooks Andrew W. , Wang Meng , Contrepois Kévin , Gao Peng , Schüssler-Fiorenza Rose Sophia Miryam , Binh Tran Thi Dong , Nguyen Hoan , Celli Alessandra , Hong Bo-Young , Bautista Eddy J. , Dorsett Yair , Kavathas Paula , Zhou Yanjiao , Sodergren Erica , Weinstock George M. , Snyder Michael P.
Published: February 2024

To understand dynamic interplay between the human microbiome and host during health and disease, we analyzed the microbial composition, temporal dynamics, and associations with host multi-omics, immune and clinical markers of microbiomes from four body sites in 86 participants over six years. We found that microbiome stability and individuality are body-site-specific and heavily influenced by the host. The stool and oral microbiome were more stable than the skin and nasal microbiomes, possibly due to their interaction with the host and environment. Also, we identified individual-specific and commonly shared bacterial taxa, with individualized taxa showing greater stability. Interestingly, microbiome dynamics correlated across body sites, suggesting systemic coordination influenced by host-microbial-environment interactions. Notably, insulin-resistant individuals showed altered microbial stability and associations between microbiome, molecular markers, and clinical features, suggesting their disrupted interaction in metabolic disease. Our study offers comprehensive views of multi-site microbial dynamics and their relationship with host health and disease.

Study Highlights

The stability of the human microbiome varies among individuals and body sites.

Highly individualized microbial genera are more stable over time.

At each of the four body sites, systematic interactions between the environment, the host and bacteria can be detected.

Individuals with insulin resistance have lower microbiome stability, a more diversified skin microbiome, and significantly altered host-microbiome interactions.
Glycan-induced structural activation softens the human papillomavirus capsid for entry through reduction of intercapsomere flexibility
Authors: Feng Yuzhen , van Bodegraven Dominik , Kádek Alan , Munguira Ignacio L.B. , Soria-Martinez Laura , Nentwich Sarah , Kavan Daniel , Uetrecht Charlotte , Schelhaas Mario , Roos Wouter H.
Published: February 2024

High-risk human papillomaviruses (HPVs) cause various cancers. While type-specific prophylactic vaccines are available, additional anti-viral strategies are highly desirable. Initial HPV cell entry involves receptor-switching induced by structural capsid modifications. These modifications are initiated by interactions with cellular heparan sulphates (HS), however, their molecular nature and functional consequences remain elusive. Combining virological assays with hydrogen/deuterium exchange mass spectrometry, and atomic force microscopy, we investigated the effect of capsid-HS binding and structural activation. We show how HS-induced structural activation requires a minimal HS-chain length and simultaneous engagement of several binding sites by a single HS molecule. This engagement introduces a pincer-like force that stabilizes the capsid in a conformation with extended capsomer linkers. It results in capsid enlargement and softening, thereby facilitating L1 proteolytic cleavage and subsequent L2-externalization, as needed for cell entry. Our data will help further devising prophylactic strategies against HPV infections.
Ultra-sensitive water contaminant detection with transcription factor interfaced microcantilevers
Authors: Agarwal Dilip K. , Lucci Tyler J. , Jung Jaeyoung K. , Shekhawat Gajendra S. , Lucks Julius B. , Dravid Vinayak P.
Published: February 2024

Water contamination is a growing global concern, creating a need to develop technologies that can detect a range of target compounds at the required thresholds. Here, we address this need by merging biological allosteric transcription factors with DNA coated nanomechanical microcantilevers to detect chemicals in water with digital readout. After proof-of-concept demonstration and optimization to detect tetracycline with the TetR transcription factor, we use the CadC transcription factor to detect Pb2+and Cd2+in water at concentrations down to 2 ppb and 1 ppb, respectively, in less than fifteen minutes. A computational model suggests this improvement in sensitivity could be achieved by the DNA coated microcantilever surface changing transcription factor binding properties. Our findings demonstrate a promising new approach for water quality monitoring with fast, highly sensitive, digital readouts.
The temporal specificity of BOLD fMRI is systematically related to anatomical and vascular features of the human brain
Authors: Gomez Daniel E. P. , Polimeni Jonathan R. , Lewis Laura D.
Published: February 2024

The ability to detect fast responses with functional MRI depends on the speed of hemodynamic responses to neural activity, because hemodynamic responses act as a temporal low-pass filter which blurs rapid changes. However, the shape and timing of hemodynamic responses are highly variable across the brain and across stimuli. This heterogeneity of responses implies that the temporal specificity of fMRI signals, or the ability of fMRI to preserve fast information, could also vary substantially across the cortex. In this work we investigated how local differences in hemodynamic response timing affect the temporal specificity of fMRI. We used ultra-high field (7T) fMRI at high spatiotemporal resolution, studying the primary visual cortex (V1) as a model area for investigation. We used visual stimuli oscillating at slow and fast frequencies to probe the temporal specificity of individual voxels. As expected, we identified substantial variability in temporal specificity, with some voxels preserving their responses to fast neural activity more effectively than others. We investigated which voxels had the highest temporal specificity, and tested whether voxel timing was related to anatomical and vascular features. We found that low temporal specificity is only weakly explained by the presence of large veins or cerebral cortical depth. Notably, however, temporal specificity depended strongly on a voxel’s position along the anterior-posterior anatomical axis of V1, with voxels within the calcarine sulcus being capable of preserving close to 25% of their amplitude as the frequency of stimulation increased from 0.05Hz to 0.20Hz, and voxels nearest to the occipital pole preserving less than 18%. These results indicate that detection biases in high-resolution fMRI will depend on the anatomical and vascular features of the area being imaged, and that these biases will differ depending on the timing of the underlying neuronal activity. While we attribute this variance primarily to hemodynamic effects, neuronal nonlinearities may also influence response timing. Importantly, this spatial heterogeneity of temporal specificity suggests that it could be exploited to achieve higher specificity in some locations, and that tailored data analysis strategies may help improve the detection and interpretation of fast fMRI responses.
Single-Stranded DNA with Internal Base Modifications Mediates Highly Efficient Gene Insertion in Primary Cells
Authors: Kanke Karen L. , Rayner Rachael E. , Abel Eli , Venugopalan Aparna , Suu Ma , Stack Jacob T. , Nouri Reza , Guo Gongbo , Vetter Tatyana A. , Cormet-Boyaka Estelle , Hester Mark E. , Vaidyanathan Sriram
Published: February 2024

Single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) templates along with Cas9 have been used for gene insertion but suffer from low efficiency. Here, we show that ssDNA with chemical modifications in 10-17% of internal bases (eDNA) is compatible with the homologous recombination machinery. Moreover, eDNA templates improve gene insertion by 2-3 fold compared to unmodified and end-modified ssDNA in airway basal stem cells (ABCs), hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs), T-cells and endothelial cells. Over 50% of alleles showed gene insertion in three clinically relevant loci (CFTR, HBB, andCCR5) in ABCs using eDNA and up to 70% of alleles showed gene insertion in theHBBlocus in HSPCs. This level of correction is therapeutically relevant and is comparable to adeno-associated virus-based templates. Knocking out TREX1 nuclease improved gene insertion using unmodified ssDNA but not eDNA suggesting that chemical modifications inhibit TREX1. This approach can be used for therapeutic applications and biological modeling.
SAXS DATA BASED GLYCOSYLATED MODELS OF HUMAN ALPHA-1-ACID GLYCORPROTEIN, A KEY PLAYER IN HEALTH, DISEASE AND DRUG CIRCULATION
Authors: Kalidas Nidhi , Peddada Nagesh , Pandey Kalpana , Ashish
Published: February 2024

Plasma Alpha-1-glycoprotein (AGP) binds diverse drugs, its isoforms and their levels vary significantly in acute phases of health. Relative binding of drugs to AGP and albumin has been used to model their release profiles, structural insights on glycosylated form of AGP will certainly improve estimations. Main challenges are: 1)heavy glycosylation of AGP (~50% of its mass), 2) isoforms of primary structure co-exist, and 3) extreme heterogeneity in the glycan motifs have been reported. Our small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) data on plasma extracted AGP showed interparticulate effect from 283-313 K which disappeared irreversibly upon further heating to 343K. Using ALPHAFOLD2 server, the protein only portion could be modelled but its theoretical SAXS profile did not match acquired experimental data. Using mass spectra-based information, we attached glycan motifs at different known sites to compute four models of fully glycosylated AGP. Importantly, calculated SAXS profiles of our glycosylated models agreed well with the experimental data. Docking runs revealed thatin silicointeraction of different drugs when varied using unglycosylatedvs. glycosylated model as receptor. Finally, we propose that our SAXS based models of glycoprotein are better representation of the molecule and should be considered for structure-based analysis and/or estimations.
Identifying Internal and External Shoulder Rotation Using a Kirigami-Based Shoulder Patch
Authors: Alkayyali Amani A. , Cowan Conrad P. F. , Owen Callum J. , Giannas Emmanuel , Wolfram Susann , Hansen Ulrich , Sample Alanson P. , Emery Roger J. H. , Shtein Max , Lipps David B.
Published: February 2024

Internal and external rotation of the shoulder is often challenging to quantify in the clinic. The current study evaluates a novel, engineered, wearable sensor system for improved internal and external shoulder rotation monitoring, and applies it in healthy individuals. Using the design principles of the Japanese art ofkirigami(folding and cutting of paper to design 3D shapes), the sensor platform conforms to the shape of the shoulder with on-board strain gauges to measure movement. Our objective was to examine how well thiskirigami-inspired shoulder patch could identify differences in shoulder kinematics between internal and external rotation as healthy individuals moved their humerus through specified movement patterns. Seventeen participants donned the wearable sensor on their right shoulder. Four strain gauges measured skin deformation patterns while participants moved their arm into internal or external rotation based on Codman’s paradox. One-dimensional statistical parametric mapping explored differences in strain voltage change of the strain gauges between internally-directed and externally-directed movements. Thekirigamishoulder sensor, with its four on-board strain gauges, detected distinct differences in the movement pattern of participants who performed prescribed movements that resulted in either internal or external shoulder rotation. Three of the four strain gauges detected significant temporal differences between internal and external rotation (all p <0.047), particularly for the strain gauges placed distal or posterior to the acromion. These results are clinically significant, as they suggest a new class of wearable sensors conforming to the shoulder can measure differences in skin surface deformation corresponding to the underlying humerus rotation.
Neural Dynamics of the Processing of Speech Features: Evidence for a Progression of Features from Acoustic to Sentential Processing
Authors: Karunathilake I. M. Dushyanthi , Brodbeck Christian , Bhattasali Shohini , Resnik Philip , Simon Jonathan Z
Published: February 2024

When we listen to speech, our brain's neurophysiological responses "track" its acoustic features, but it is less well understood how these auditory responses are enhanced by linguistic content. Here, we recorded magnetoencephalography (MEG) responses while subjects listened to four types of continuous-speech-like passages: speech-envelope modulated noise, English-like non-words, scrambled words, and a narrative passage. Temporal response function (TRF) analysis provides strong neural evidence for the emergent features of speech processing in cortex, from acoustics to higher-level linguistics, as incremental steps in neural speech processing. Critically, we show a stepwise hierarchical progression of progressively higher order features over time, reflected in both bottom-up (early) and top-down (late) processing stages. Linguistically driven top-down mechanisms take the form of late N400-like responses, suggesting a central role of predictive coding mechanisms at multiple levels. As expected, the neural processing of lower-level acoustic feature responses is bilateral or right lateralized, with left lateralization emerging only for lexical-semantic features. Finally, our results identify potential neural markers, linguistic level late responses, derived from TRF components modulated by linguistic content, suggesting that these markers are indicative of speech comprehension rather than mere speech perception.
Building information modeling (BIM) in project management: a bibliometric and science mapping review
Authors: Ye Zhaofeng , Antwi-Afari Maxwell Fordjour , Tezel Algan , Manu Patrick
Published: February 2024

Purpose

The impact of building information modeling (BIM) on various aspects of project management has attracted much attention in the past decade. However, previous studies have focused on a particular facet of project management (e.g., safety, quality, facility management) and within identified target journals. Despite numerous existing studies, there is limited research on the mainstream research topics, gaps and future research directions on BIM in project management. This study aims to conduct a bibliometric and science mapping review of published articles on BIM in project management and to identify mainstream research topics, research gaps and future research directions in this domain.

Design/methodology/approach

A science mapping approach consisting of bibliometric search, scientometric analysis and qualitative discussion was used to analyze 521 journal articles that were retrieved from the Scopus database and related to BIM in project management. In the scientometric analysis, keyword co-occurrence analysis and document analysis were performed. This was followed by a qualitative discussion that seeks to propose a framework summarizing the interconnection between the mainstream research topics, research gaps and future research directions.

Findings

Six mainstream research topics were found including (1) BIM-enabled advanced digital technologies, (2) BIM-based reinforcement and enhancement, (3) BIM and project composition, (4) BIM project elements and attributes, (5) BIM-based collaboration and communication and (6) BIM-based information and data. Moreover, this study discussed six research gaps, namely, (1) integration of BIM and other digital technologies, (2) future maturity of BIM applications in project management, (3) application of BIM in project components and processes, (4) role of BIM application in project elements and attributes, (5) impact of collaboration and communication in BIM application and (6) stability of information and data interaction. Furthermore, future research directions were discussed.

Originality/value

The findings and proposed framework contribute to providing a deeper understanding to researchers, policymakers and practitioners in the development of related research and practice in the domain of BIM in project management, thus, promoting digital transformation in project management. Overall, it adds to the global knowledge domain in BIM and promotes the need for digital and data integration, BIM maturity and BIM collaboration.
BIM-based multi-objective optimization framework for volumetric analysis of building projects
Authors: Padala S. P. Sreenivas , M. Skanda Prabhanjan
Published: February 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a building information modelling (BIM)-based multi-objective optimization (MOO) framework for volumetric analysis of buildings during early design stages. The objective is to optimize volumetric spaces (3D) instead of 2D spaces to enhance space utilization, thermal comfort, constructability and rental value of buildings

Design/methodology/approach

The integration of two fundamental concepts – BIM and MOO, forms the basis of proposed framework. In the early design phases of a project, BIM is used to generate precise building volume data. The non-sorting genetic algorithm-II, a MOO algorithm, is then used to optimize extracted volume data from 3D BIM models, considering four objectives: space utilization, thermal comfort, rental value and construction cost. The framework is implemented in context of a school of architecture building project.

Findings

The findings of case study demonstrate significant improvements resulting from MOO of building volumes. Space utilization increased by 30%, while thermal comfort improved by 20%, and construction costs were reduced by 10%. Furthermore, rental value of the case study building increased by 33%.

Practical implications

The proposed framework offers practical implications by enabling project teams to generate optimal building floor layouts during early design stages, thereby avoiding late costly changes during construction phase of project.

Originality/value

The integration of BIM and MOO in this study provides a unique approach to optimize building volumes considering multiple factors during early design stages of a project
Unveiling creativity among the textile sector: an inquiry into the effect of leader vision and the crab syndrome
Authors: Özkan Osman Seray , Üzüm Burcu , Gülbahar Yasemin
Published: February 2024

Purpose

The aim of this research, which is based on social identity theory (SIT), is to investigate the effect of leader vision (LV) and crab syndrome (CS) on creativity. The impact of LV and CS, as well as psychological ownership (PO), on creativity is examined. It is also to determine the mediating role of PO and the moderating role of instrumental climate (IC) in these relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

The research was carried out with the quantitative research method by adopting the screening design. Deductive logic approach was used to develop hypotheses and theoretical framework. The textile sector, where the emphasis on creativity is at the forefront, was chosen as an example. Data without common method variance (CMV) error were analyzed by structural equation modeling (SEM).

Findings

The results of the research show that LV is positively related to creativity, while CS is negatively related to creativity. Additionally, a positive correlation has been identified between PO and creativity. It has been revealed that PO has a mediation role in the relationship between the LV and creativity, and the relationship between the CS and creativity. It has been also determined that IC has a moderator role between the LV and PO.

Originality/value

This study introduces a novel perspective on creativity through the integration of the LV and CS concepts. Furthermore, it contributes significantly to the existing creativity literature by examining the impact of PO on creativity and the mediating role of PO.
Authoritarian leadership and organizational deviance: the mediating role of emotional exhaustion
Authors: Elsaied Mervat
Published: February 2024

Purpose

This study investigate the correlation between authoritarian leadership and organizational deviance. Furthermore, it seeks to explore the mediating role of emotional exhaustion in this relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

The data were obtained from 398 frontline service employees and their immediate supervisors at 25 five-star hotels. Data were collected on different occasions.

Findings

The results indicate that authoritarian leadership has a positive and significant relationship with organizational deviance. We also conclude that emotional exhaustion mediates the relationship between authoritarian leadership and organizational deviance.

Research limitations/implications

The present research suggests that managers can decrease emotional exhaustion and, consequently, organizational deviance, by avoiding an authoritarian leadership style. Additionally, the theoretical and managerial implications of the present study can be utilized to reduce organizational deviance.

Originality/value

The present study adds to the existing literature on authoritarian leadership, emotional exhaustion and organizational deviance by offering a possible explanation for how emotional exhaustion mediates the relationship between authoritarian leadership and organizational deviance.
Enhancement of teaching and learning quality through assessment for learning: a case in chemical engineering
Authors: Tongtummachat Tiprawee , Jaree Attasak , Akkarawatkhoosith Nattee
Published: February 2024

Purpose

This article presents our experience in implementing the assessment for learning process (AfL) to enhance the teaching–learning quality, which has faced numerous challenges impacting educational quality. The effectiveness of this technique is demonstrated through a case study conducted in a core course of chemical engineering.

Design/methodology/approach

The article shares insights into the systematic course design and planning processes that were discussed and developed through AfL practices. Significant emphasis is placed on implementing formative and summative student self-assessment surveys as simple yet effective methods to meet this purpose. Quantitative data were collected and analyzed over three consecutive academic years (2020–2022) using various statistical parameters such as percentage, interquartile range and the program’s numerical goal (%G).

Findings

The AfL process via formative and summative surveys could significantly and effectively improve teaching–learning quality. These findings assist educators in identifying appropriate teaching methods and recognizing areas of weakness and strength, thereby facilitating continuous improvement in the teaching–learning quality. Validation methods, including quizzes and numerical grades, were employed to practically verify the outcome obtained from the questionnaires.

Practical implications

The AfL techniques demonstrated in this study can be directly implemented or adapted for various educational fields to enhance the teaching–learning quality.

Originality/value

The practical implementation of AfL in an engineering context has hardly been reported, particularly in chemical engineering. This work represents the practical implementation of AfL to enhance engineering field education.
Smart cities and economic development: synergies among technology, social forces and female entrepreneurship
Authors: Marchesani Filippo , Masciarelli Francesca
Published: February 2024

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the synergies between the economic environment and the smart living dimension embedded in the current smart city initiatives, focusing on the localization of female entrepreneurship in contemporary cities. This interaction is under-investigated and controversial as it includes cities' practices enabling users and citizens to develop their potential and build their own lives, affecting entrepreneurial and economic outcomes. Building upon the perspective of the innovation ecosystems, this study focuses on the impact of smart living dimensions and R&D investments on the localization of female entrepreneurial activities.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses a Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) and a panel dataset that considers 30 Italian smart city projects for 12 years to demonstrate the relationship between smart living practices in cities and the localization of female entrepreneurship. The complementary effect of public R&D investment is also included as a driver in the “smart” city transition.

Findings

The study found that the advancement of smart living practices in cities drives the localization of female entrepreneurship. The study highlights the empirical results, the interaction over the years and a current overview through choropleth maps. The public R&D investment also affects this relationship.

Practical implications

This study advances the theoretical discussion on (1) female entrepreneurial intentions, (2) smart city advancement (as a context) and (3) smart living dimension (as a driver) and offers valuable insight for governance and policymakers.

Social implications

This study offers empirical contributions to the preliminary academic debate on enterprise development and smart city trajectories at the intersection between human-based practices and female entrepreneurship.

Originality/value

This study offers empirical contributions to the preliminary academic debate on enterprise development and smart city trajectories at the intersection between human-based practices and female entrepreneurship. The findings provide valuable insights into the localization of female entrepreneurship in the context of smart cities.
Does green investment mitigate environmental degradation in Vietnam: the time-frequency effect of nonrenewable energy investment and globalization?
Authors: Thi Xuan Hoang , Thai Hung Ngo
Published: February 2024

Purpose

Accelerating the green economy’s transition is a practical means of lowering emissions and conserving energy, and its effects on the greenhouse effect merit careful consideration. Growing environmental deterioration has compelled decision-makers to prioritize sustainability alongside economic growth. Policymakers and the business community are interested in green investment (GRE), but its effects on social and environmental sustainability are still unknown. Based on this, this study aims at looking into the time-frequency interplay between GRE and carbon dioxide emissions and assessing the impacts of economic growth, financial globalization and fossil fuel energy (FUE) usage on this nexus in Vietnam across different time and frequency domains.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors employ continuous wavelets, cross wavelet transforms, wavelet coherence, Rua’s wavelet correlation and wavelet-based Granger causality tests to capture how the domestic variance and covariance of two-time series co-vary as well as the co-movement interdependence between two variables in the time-frequency domain.

Findings

The results shed new light on the fact that GRE will increase the levels of environmental quality in Vietnam in the short and medium run and there is a bidirectional causality between the two indicators across different time and frequencies. In addition, when the authors observe the effect of economic growth, financial globalization and fossil fuel energy consumption on this interplay, the findings suggest that, in different time and frequencies, any joined positive change in these indicators will move the CO2 emissions-GRE nexus.

Practical implications

Policymakers and governments can greatly benefit from this topic by utilizing the function of economic institutions in capital control of GRE and CO2 emissions and modifying the impact of GRE on the greenhouse effect by accelerating the green growth of economic industries.

Originality/value

The current work contributes to the current literature on GRE and CO2 emissions in several dimensions: (1) considering the sustainable development in Vietnam, by employing a new single-country dataset of GRE index, this paper aims to contribute to the growing body of research on the factors that influence CO2 emissions, as well as to provide a detailed explanation for the relationship between GRE and CO2 emissions; (2) localized oscillatory components in the time-domain region have been used to evaluate the interplay between GRE and CO2 emission in the frequency domain, overcoming the limitations of the fundamental time-series analysis; (3) the mediation role of economic growth, financial globalization and FUE in affecting the GRE-CO2 relationship is empirically explored in the study.
Trade‐offs in rooting strategy dimensions along an edaphic gradient in a grassland ecosystem
Authors: Yang Yuguo , Russo Sabrina E.
Published: February 2024

Roots are essential to the diversity and functioning of plant communities, but trade‐offs in rooting strategies are still poorly understood.

We evaluated existing frameworks of rooting strategy trade‐offs and tested their underlying assumptions, guided by the hypothesis that community‐level rooting strategies are best described by a combination of variation in organ‐level traits, plant‐level root:shoot allocation and symbiosis‐level mycorrhizal dependency. We tested this hypothesis using data on plant community structure, above‐ and below‐ground biomass, eight root traits including mycorrhizal colonisation and soil properties from an edaphic gradient driven by elevation and water availability in sandhills prairie, Nebraska, USA.

We found multidimensional trade‐offs in rooting strategies represented by a two‐way productivity‐durability trade‐off axis (captured by root length density and root dry matter content) and a three‐way resource acquisition trade‐off between specific root length, root:shoot mass ratio and mycorrhizal dependence. Variation in rooting strategies was driven to similar extents by interspecific differences and intraspecific responses to soil properties.

Organ‐level traits alone were insufficient to capture community‐level trade‐offs in rooting strategies across the edaphic gradient. Instead, trait variation encompassing organ, plant and symbiosis levels revealed that consideration of whole‐plant phenotypic integration is essential to defining multidimensional trade‐offs shaping the functional variation of root systems.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
The cognitive origin and cultural evolution of taboos in human societies
Authors: Hong Ze
Published: February 2024

Why do human societies have so many taboos, defined here as culturally prohibited activities? In this article, I offer a naturalistic account of the origin and transmission of taboos from an evolutionary anthropological perspective. Drawing from the extensive literature in cognitive science and cultural evolution, I argue that taboos may arise from our tendency to retrospectively attribute causes to misfortunes due to a deterministic worldview, and the imperfect transmission of taboos often leads to the loss of their original utilitarian rationale, making them resemble mere cultural conventions. While this account does not explain all cultural prohibitions in human societies, it provides valuable insights into the psychological and social mechanisms by which many taboos are generated in a bottom‐up fashion. Towards the end of the article, I offer a few implications on the proposed account of taboos and specify some testable predictions that merit further studies.
Insulin receptor participates in the peripheral olfactory processes of honey bees (Apis cerana cerana)
Authors: Zhao Huiting , Chen Longlong , Liu Miaomiao , Zhao Shuguo , Ma Weihua , Jiang Yusuo
Published: February 2024

Insulin receptors (InR) are an integral component of the insulin/insulin‐like growth factor signaling pathway, which plays a vital role in insect development, lifespan, reproduction, and olfactory sensitivity. However, whether InR participate in the peripheral olfactory system of insects remains unclear. Recently, we found that 2‐heptanone (2‐HT) affects AcerInR expression, the gene for an InR protein, in Apis cerana cerana. We then examined the spatiotemporal expression profile of the gene in A. cerana cerana. The mRNA of AcerInR was primarily expressed in the antennae, wings, and legs of forager bees, which are probable chemosensory tissues. The results of fluorescence competitive binding assays, combined with site‐directed mutagenesis, demonstrated that AcerOBP6 and AcerOBP14 exhibit strong binding affinities to 2‐HT. Furthermore, after foragers were fed with double‐stranded AcerInR, the expression levels of AcerOBP6 and AcerOBP14 decreased significantly, as did the electroantennogram responsiveness to 2‐HT and some other odorants. In conclusion, our findings provide a foundation for understanding the involvement of AcerInR in the odor perception of A. cerana cerana. Moreover, they offer novel insights into the olfactory recognition mechanism in insects.
Machine learning approaches to the identification of children affected by prenatal alcohol exposure: A narrative review
Authors: Suttie Michael , Kable Julie , Mahnke Amanda H. , Bandoli Gretchen
Published: February 2024

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) affect at least 0.8% of the population globally. The diagnosis of FASD is uniquely complex, with a heterogeneous physical and neurobehavioral presentation that requires multidisciplinary expertise for diagnosis. Many researchers have begun to incorporate machine learning approaches into FASD research to identify children who are affected by prenatal alcohol exposure, including those with FASD. This narrative review highlights these efforts. Following an introduction to machine learning, we summarize examples from the literature of neurobehavioral screening tools and physiologic markers of exposure. We discuss individual efforts, including models that classify FASD based on parent‐reported neurocognitive or behavioral questionnaires, 3D facial imaging, brain imaging, DNA methylation patterns, microRNA profiles, cardiac orienting response, and dysmorphic facial features. We highlight model performance and discuss the limitations of these approaches. We conclude by considering the scalability of these approaches and how these machine learning models, largely developed from clinical samples or highly exposed birth cohorts, may perform in the general population.
Heart rate in newborns is associated with age, sex and maternal levothyroxine therapy
Authors: Uusitalo Asta , Tikkakoski Antti , Lehtinen Pieta , Ylänen Kaisa , Poutanen Tuija , Korhonen Päivi H.
Published: February 2024

Aim

To evaluate the definition and causes of neonatal bradycardias.

Methods

This retrospective study included 135 term‐born newborns referred for 24‐hour Holter monitoring due to bradycardia. Bradycardia was defined as either a heart rate below 80 beats per minute (standard definition) or a heart rate below our recently published age‐specific reference values for neonatal heart rate.

Results

The mean (SD) age was 6.1 (1.3) days. With standard definition, 107 newborns (79%) had bradycardia, whereas only 20 (15%) had a minimum heart rate lower than the age‐specific reference. Younger newborns had lower heart rates. Each day increased the minimum, mean and maximum heart rate by 1.8 (95% CI: 1.0, 2.6), 4.2 (95% CI: 3.0, 5.3) and 2.1 beats per minute (95% CI: 0.3, 3.8), respectively. Male sex and maternal levothyroxine medication were negatively associated with the mean and maximum heart rate. None of the newborns had a cardiac cause for low heart rate.

Conclusion

Among term newborns with bradycardias, younger age, male sex and maternal levothyroxine medication were associated with a lower heart rate on Holter monitoring. Given the age‐related increase in heart rate, the 80 beats per minute limit as a universal threshold for abnormal heart rate in newborns appears inappropriate.
Walking‐with/worlding‐with in a global pandemic: A story of mothering in motion
Authors: Platt Louise C.
Published: February 2024

This paper addresses how walking‐with an infant makes mothering worlds legible. Employing the active verb ‘worlding’, it illustrates how walking‐with contributes to the emergent, embodied and relational nature of mothering as a story in motion and how we make sense of becoming a mother. The walking in this study takes place in and through (sub)urban landscapes, and how we negotiate our maternal bodies through these spaces, at a very particular moment in time (COVID‐19 lockdowns), is imbricated in our worldings. Walking‐with is used to not only explain the interembodiment of mother and child but also the wider milieu of ‘withs’ to demonstrate the corporeal and relational experience of walking. Walking‐with a baby, particularly with a postpartum body, is hard work, messy and unpredictable, yet that is not to say the analysis leads to a negative perspective. When walking‐with a baby is understood as ‘worlding‐with’ we can develop a more affirmative understanding of mothering. By using creative analytical practice a walking‐with story was developed drawing on data collected from walking mothers and autoethnography of my own walking‐with experiences. The story makes it possible to develop a legibility that captures the contradictory experiences of mothering in motion. Creative analytical practice highlights that storying, walking and mothering is never a complete.
Ant communities respond to a large‐scale disturbance along an elevational gradient in Puerto Rico, U.S.A.
Authors: O'Meara Shannon , Yee Donald A.
Published: February 2024

Large scale disturbances are known to significantly alter aspects of both species diversity and ecosystem function. In the Caribbean, hurricane events are a significant form of disturbance, the effects of which have been shown to alter food web function, especially in the terrestrial environment. Although hurricanes have been studied from a variety of their effects on ecosystems, there is little research on how these storms affect species along elevational gradients. Within terrestrial habitats, ants form the basis of many food webs, being both numerically dominant and functioning in a variety of roles within the food web. On September 20th, 2017 Hurricane Maria, a category 4 storm, crossed over the island of Puerto Rico, causing significant damage to both human and natural systems. We collected data on ant abundance and composition from 150 samples of leaf litter along a 700 m elevational gradient during June the year of and after the storm event. Ant abundance increased by 400% after the storm with many common ant species seeming to benefit, especially at lower elevations. There were subtle changes in ant richness, with declines generally after the storm, but yet again this response was dependent on elevation. This is one of the first studies to consider how terrestrial insect communities are affected by large hurricane events across elevations, and our results are in contrast to past work showing declines in ant abundance after such storms.

Abstract in Spanish is available with online material.
Observed collaborative and intrusive parenting behaviours associated with psychosocial outcomes of adolescents with type 1 diabetes and their maternal caregivers
Authors: Tilden Daniel R. , Anifowoshe Kashope , Jaser Sarah S.
Published: February 2024

Aims

Maternal caregiver involvement is strongly associated with psychosocial and glycemic outcomes amongst adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D); however, previous studies have lacked detailed, objective examinations of caregiver involvement. We examined the relationship between observed parenting behaviors and psychosocial and glycemic outcomes amongst youth with T1D.

Methods

Data collected from adolescents with T1D (age 11‐17) and their female caregivers as a part of a randomized controlled trial were analyzed. These included structured, observation‐based scores of adolescent‐caregiver dyads engaged in videotaped interactions and selected psychosocial and glycemic outcome measures.

Results

In adjusted analyses, higher levels of intrusive parenting behaviors during observed interactions were associated with higher diabetes distress in adolescents, but no difference in HbA1c. Associations between intrusive parenting behaviors and psychosocial outcomes were stronger for females compared to males for both diabetes distress and quality of life. Similarly, associations between collaborative parenting behaviors and quality of life were stronger for female adolescents than males. No associations were observed between collaborative parenting behaviors and glycemic outcomes. Consistent with previous work, we noted higher levels of adolescent‐reported family conflict were associated with lower adolescent quality of life and higher diabetes distress with no significant difference between male and female adolescents.

Conclusion

These findings indicate that high levels of intrusive parenting behaviors, such as lecturing or over‐controlling behaviors, are associated with lower levels of adolescent well‐being, particularly among adolescent girls. This work suggests that interventions to reduce intrusive parenting by maternal caregivers could result in improved psychosocial outcomes for adolescents with T1D.
Echocardiographic parameters of cardiac structure and function in the diagnosis of acute myocarditis in adult patients: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Khanna Shaun , Li Cindy , Amarasekera Anjalee T. , Bhat Aditya , Chen Henry H. L. , Gan Gary C. H. , Tan Timothy C.
Published: February 2024

Background

Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) plays a key role in the initial work‐up of myocarditis where the identification of pathologic structural and functional changes may assist in its diagnosis and management. The aim of this systematic review was to appraise the evidence for the utility of echocardiographic parameters of cardiac structure and function in the diagnosis of myocarditis in adult populations.

Methods

A systematic literature search of medical databases was performed using PRISMA principles to identify all relevant studies assessing TTE parameters in adult patients with myocarditis (1995–2020; English only; PROSPERO registration CRD42021243598). Data for a range of structural and functional TTE parameters were individually extracted and those with low heterogeneity were then meta‐analyzed using a random‐effects model for effect size, and assessed through standardized mean difference (SMD).

Results

Available data from six studies (with a pooled total of 269 myocarditis patients and 240 controls) revealed that myocarditis can be reliably differentiated from healthy controls using echocardiographic measures of left ventricular (LV) size and systolic function, in particular LV end‐diastolic diameter, LV ejection fraction (LVEF) and LV global longitudinal strain (LV‐GLS) (p ≤ .01 for all). LV‐GLS demonstrated the highest overall effect size, followed by LVEF and LVEDD (SMD: |0.46–1.98|). Two studies also demonstrated that impairment in LV‐GLS was associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes in this population, irrespective of LVEF.

Conclusions

LV‐GLS demonstrated the greatest overall effect size and therefore ability to differentiate myocarditis populations from healthy controls. GLS was also shown to be a predictor of adverse cardiovascular outcomes, in this population.

Hightlights

What is already known on this subject?

Myocarditis is a disease process that is often a diagnosis of exclusion, as it frequently mimics other acute cardiac pathologies.

Transthoracic echocardiography is traditionally the initial imaging modality used for noninvasive structural assessment in populations with myocarditis.

What might this study add?

This study demonstrates that left ventricular (LV) global longitudinal strain, LV ejection fraction and LV end‐diastolic diameter can differentiate between myocarditis patients and healthy controls.

LV‐GLS demonstrated the greatest overall effect size when comparing these two populations, in comparison to the other measures.

How might this impact on clinical practice?

This study demonstrates that assessment of myocardial deformation indices allows for sensitive discrimination between myocarditis patients from healthy controls.

Routine assessment of LV‐GLS may serve as an important diagnostic tool in the acute care setting.