bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Universal open MHC-I molecules for rapid peptide loading and enhanced complex stability across HLA allotypes
Authors: Sun Yi , Young Michael C. , Woodward Claire H. , Danon Julia N. , Truong Hau , Gupta Sagar , Winters Trenton J. , Burslem George , Sgourakis Nikolaos G.
Published: March 2023

The polymorphic nature and intrinsic instability of class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC-I) and MHC-like molecules loaded with suboptimal peptides, metabolites, or glycolipids presents a fundamental challenge for identifying disease-relevant antigens and antigen-specific T cell receptors (TCRs), hindering the development of autologous therapeutics. Here, we leverage the positive allosteric coupling between the peptide and light chain (β2microglobulin, β2m) subunits for binding to the MHC-I heavy chain (HC) through an engineered disulfide bond bridging conserved epitopes across the HC/β2m interface, to generate conformationally stable, open MHC-I molecules. Biophysical characterization shows that open MHC-I molecules are properly folded protein complexes of enhanced thermal stability compared to the wild type, when loaded with low- to intermediate-affinity peptides. Using solution NMR, we characterize the effects of the disulfide bond on the conformation and dynamics of the MHC-I structure, ranging from local changes in β2m interacting sites of the peptide binding groove to long-range effects on the α2-1helix and α3domain. The interchain disulfide bond stabilizes empty MHC-I molecules in a peptide-receptive, open conformation to promote peptide exchange across multiple human leucocyte antigen (HLA) allotypes, covering representatives from five HLA-A, six HLA-B supertypes, and oligomorphic HLA-Ib molecules. Our structural design, combined with conditional β-peptide ligands, provides a universal platform for generating ready-to-load MHC-I systems of enhanced stability, enabling a range of approaches to screen antigenic epitope libraries and probe polyclonal TCR repertoires in the context of highly polymorphic HLA-I allotypes, as well as oligomorphic nonclassical molecules.

Significance Statement

We outline a structure-guided approach for generating conformationally stable, open MHC-I molecules with enhanced ligand exchange kinetics spanning five HLA-A, all HLA-B supertypes, and oligomorphic HLA-Ib allotypes. We present direct evidence of positive allosteric cooperativity between peptide binding and β2m association with the heavy chain by solution NMR and HDX-MS spectroscopy. We demonstrate that covalently linked β2m serves as a conformational chaperone to stabilize empty MHC-I molecules in a peptide-receptive state, by inducing an open conformation and preventing intrinsically unstable heterodimers from irreversible aggregation. Our study provides structural and biophysical insights into the conformational properties of MHC-I ternary complexes, which can be further applied to improve the design of ultra-stable, universal ligand exchange systems in a pan-HLA allelic setting.
Diverse and abundant phages exploit conjugative plasmids
Authors: Quinones-Olvera Natalia , Owen Siân V. , McCully Lucy M. , Marin Maximillian G. , Rand Eleanor A. , Fan Alice C. , Martins Dosumu Oluremi J. , Paul Kay , Sanchez Castaño Cleotilde E. , Petherbridge Rachel , Paull Jillian S. , Baym Michael
Published: March 2023

Phages exert profound evolutionary pressure on bacteria by interacting with receptors on the cell surface to initiate infection. While the majority of phages use chromosomally-encoded cell surface structures as receptors, plasmid-dependent phages exploit plasmid-encoded conjugation proteins, making their host range dependent on horizontal transfer of the plasmid. Despite their unique biology and biotechnological significance, only a small number of plasmid-dependent phages have been characterized. Here we systematically search for new plasmid-dependent phages targeting IncP and IncF plasmids using a targeted discovery platform, and find that they are common and abundant in wastewater, and largely unexplored in terms of their genetic diversity. Plasmid-dependent phages are enriched in non-canonical types of phages, and all but one of the 64 phages we isolated were non-tailed, and members of the lipid-containing tectiviruses, ssDNA filamentous phages or ssRNA phages. We show that plasmid-dependent tectiviruses exhibit profound differences in their host range which is associated with variation in the phage holin protein. Despite their relatively high abundance in wastewater, plasmid-dependent tectiviruses are missed by metaviromic analyses, underscoring the continued importance of culture-based phage discovery. Finally, we identify a tailed phage dependent on the IncF plasmid, and find related structural genes in phages that use the orthogonal type 4 pilus as a receptor, highlighting the promiscuous use of these distinct contractile structures by multiple groups of phages. Taken together, these results indicate plasmid-dependent phages play an under-appreciated evolutionary role in constraining horizontal gene transfer via conjugative plasmids.
Pioneer factor ASCL1 cooperates with the mSWI/SNF complex at distal regulatory elements to regulate human neural differentiation
Authors: Păun Oana , Tan Yu Xuan , Patel Harshil , Strohbuecker Stephanie , Ghanate Avinash , Cobolli-Gigli Clementina , Llorian Sopena Miriam , Gerontogianni Lina , Goldstone Robert , Ang Siew-Lan , Guillemot François , Dias Cristina
Published: March 2023

Pioneer transcription factors are thought to play pivotal roles in developmental processes by binding nucleosomal DNA to activate gene expression, though mechanisms through which pioneer transcription factors remodel chromatin remain unclear. Here, using single-cell transcriptomics, we show that endogenous expression of neurogenic transcription factor ASCL1, considered a classical pioneer factor, defines a transient population of progenitors in human neural differentiation. Testing ASCL1's pioneer function using a knockout model to define the unbound state, we found that endogenous expression of ASCL1 drives progenitor differentiation bycis-regulation both as a classical pioneer factor and as a nonpioneer remodeler, where ASCL1 binds permissive chromatin to induce chromatin conformation changes. ASCL1 interacts with BAF SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complexes, primarily at targets where it acts as a nonpioneer factor, and we provide evidence for codependent DNA binding and remodeling at a subset of ASCL1 and SWI/SNF cotargets. Our findings provide new insights into ASCL1 function regulating activation of long-range regulatory elements in human neurogenesis and uncover a novel mechanism of its chromatin remodeling function codependent on partner ATPase activity.
Aging impacts memory for perceptual, but not narrative, event details
Authors: Delarazan Angelique I. , Ranganath Charan , Reagh Zachariah M.
Published: March 2023

Memory is well known to decline over the course of healthy aging. However, memory is not a monolith and draws from different kinds of representations. Historically, much of our understanding of age-related memory decline stems from recognition of isolated studied items. In contrast, real-life events are often remembered as narratives, and this kind of information is generally missed in typical recognition memory studies. Here, we designed a task to tax mnemonic discrimination of event details, directly contrasting perceptual and narrative memory. Older and younger adults watched an episode of a television show and later completed an old/new recognition test featuring targets, novel foils, and similar lures in narrative and perceptual domains. While we observed no age-related differences on basic recognition of repeated targets and novel foils, older adults showed a deficit in correctly rejecting perceptual, but not narrative, lures. These findings provide insight into the vulnerability of different memory domains in aging and may be useful in characterizing individuals at risk for pathological cognitive decline.
PIK3CAcopy-number gain and inhibitors of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in triple-negative breast cancer
Authors: Amato Ottavia , Buisseret Laurence , Gebhart Géraldine , Plouznikoff Nicolas , Larsimont Denis , Awada Ahmad , Piccart Martine , Aftimos Philippe
Published: March 2023

As wider insights are gained on the molecular landscape of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), novel targeted therapeutic strategies might become an option in this setting as well. Activating mutations ofPIK3CArepresent the second most common alteration in TNBC after theTP53mutation, with a prevalence of ∼10%–15%. Considering the well-established predictive role ofPIK3CAmutations for response to agents targeting the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, several clinical trials are currently evaluating these drugs in patients with advanced TNBC. However, much less is known regarding the actionability ofPIK3CAcopy-number gains, which represent a thoroughly common molecular alteration in TNBC, with a prevalence estimated at 6%–20%, and are listed as “likely gain-of-function” alterations in the OncoKB database. In the present paper, we describe two clinical cases in which patients harboringPIK3CA-amplified TNBC received a targeted treatment with the mTOR-inhibitor everolimus and the PI3K-inhibitor alpelisib, respectively, with evidence of disease response on 18F-FDG positron-emission tomography (PET) imaging. Hence, we discuss the evidence presently available regarding a possible predictive value ofPIK3CAamplification for response to targeted treatment strategies, suggesting that this molecular alteration might represent an intriguing biomarker in this sense. Considering that few of the currently active clinical trials assessing agents targeting the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in TNBC select patients based on tumor molecular characterization, and none of these based onPIK3CAcopy-number status, we urge for the introduction ofPIK3CAamplification as a criterion for patient selection in future clinical trials in this setting.
Monetization of politics and public procurement in Ghana
Authors: Lassou Philippe Jacques Codjo , Sorola Matthew , Senkl Daniela , Lauwo Sarah George , Masse Chelsea
Published: March 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the prevalence of corruption in Ghana to understand how and why it has turned public procurement into a mere money-making scheme instead of a means to provide needed public goods and services.

Design/methodology/approach

The study focuses on Ghana as a case study and mobilizes the monetization of politics lenses. Data are collected via interviews with key officials across the procurement sector (including the government, donors and civil society), documents, documentaries and news articles.

Findings

The findings suggest that the increasing costs of elections and political financing coupled with the costs of vote-buying, which has become informally institutionalized, intensify corruption practices and, consequently, turns public procurement into a mere source of cash for political ends. Political appointments and legalized loopholes facilitate this by helping to nullify the safeguard accounting and other control institutions are designed to provide. Likewise, enduring poverty and rising inequality “force” citizens into a vote-buying culture which distorts democratic premises that may drive out unscrupulous politicians; thus, perpetuating capture schemes. Civil society's efforts to remedy these have had little success, and corruption and inequality remain rife.

Practical implications

The main practical implication of the study lies in the need for a gradual demonetization of elections, and the consideration of the fundamental function of public procurement as a policy instrument embedded in economic, social, cultural and environmental plans. Additionally, given the connectedness of the various corruption issues raised, a comprehensive system-based approach in dealing with them would be more effective than a piecemeal approach targeting each issue/problem in isolation.

Originality/value

While extant literature has examined the issue of endemic corruption in developing countries using state capture, few have attempted to explain why it remains enduring, particularly in public procurement. This study, therefore, contributes to the literature on corruption and state capture theoretically and empirically by drawing on monetization of politics from political science to explain why corruption and state capture endure in certain contexts (with Ghana as an illustrative example) which reduce public procurement to a cash-milking scheme.
Interconnectedness and the web of accountabilities: Humboldtian approaches to social and environmental accounting
Authors: Lehner Othmar Manfred , Kyriacou Orthodoxia
Published: March 2023

Purpose

Current accounting practice tends to split environmental complexities into quantifiable, codified elements, producing codified simplifications of the “complex” in pursuit of environmental externalities. This has led to standardization, but has done little to motivate organizations to engage in more environmentally-aware behavior that transcends the coercive dimensions of codification. The work of Alexander von Humboldt (1769–1859) can bring new insights and perspectives to social and environmental accounting (SEA). In discussing Humboldt's philosophy of understanding the interconnectedness between people, their contexts (cultures) and their environment, the authors contribute to the emerging SEA literature on notions of interconnectedness and the web of accountabilities. The authors also explore how a Humboldtian approach may help break through the current epistemological boundaries of SEA by combining accurate measurement with imagery to make the “complex” manageable whilst embracing interconnectedness and hermeneutics.

Design/methodology/approach

In this conceptual paper, the authors humbly draw on Humboldt's legacy and explore the underlying philosophical assumptions of Humboldtian science. The authors then contrast these with current SEA approaches in the literature and derive new insights into their intentionality and practical use.

Findings

Re-examining Humboldt's pioneering work enables us to pinpoint what might be missing from current SEA approaches and debates. Humboldt upheld an “ethics of precision,” which included both measurement accuracy and qualitative relevance, and combined hands-on scientific fieldwork with the aesthetic ideals and interconnectedness of the age of Romanticism. Drawing on Humboldtian science, the authors propose focusing on the interconnectedness of nature and humanity, embracing the qualitative and hermeneutical and including aesthetics and emotion in environmental visualizations.

Originality/value

The paper elucidates why and how Humboldtian science might inform, guide and enhance the emancipatory potential of SEA in the 21st century. Specifically, the authors discuss Humboldt's approach of linking accurate measurement with imagery to convey a sense of interconnectedness.
Technological diversification, technological coupling and invention performance
Authors: Martynov Aleksey
Published: March 2023

Purpose

To investigate the relationship between technological diversification and firm performance as a function of varying levels of technological coupling and internal technological change.

Design/methodology/approach

A longitudinal study of US-based bio-pharmaceutical companies.

Findings

Technological diversification improves invention performance. However, high levels of technological coupling reduce this effect.

Practical implications

Firms with highly diversified technological portfolios should strive to keep their technologies at low levels of technological coupling.

Originality/value

This is the first study to show that technological coupling reduces the positive effect of technological diversification on firms' invention performance.
Performance measurement indicators influential to the espousal of cyber-physical systems for facilities management – a Delphi approach
Authors: Ikuabe Matthew , Aigbavboa Clinton Ohis , Anumba Chimay , Oke Ayodeji Emmanuel
Published: March 2023

Purpose

The quest for improved facilities management (FM) delivery is receiving immense focus through the incorporation of innovative technologies such as cyber-physical systems (CPS). The system’s high computational capabilities can aid in the abatement of some of the challenges plaguing FM functions. However, the requisite ingredients for the uptake of the system for FM have still not gained scholarly attention. Because performance measurement is a vital index in determining the outcome of FM methods, this study aims to investigate the influence of performance measurement indicators that are influential to the uptake of CPS for delivering FM functions.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative technique was adopted using the Delphi technique. The panel of experts for the study was selected through a well-defined process based on stipulated criteria. The experts gave their opinions in two rounds before consensus was attained on the identified performance measurement indicators, whereas methods of data analysis were measures of central tendency, inter-quartile deviation and Mann–Whitney U test.

Findings

Results from this study showed that 11 of the performance indicators were of very high significance in the determination of the uptake of CPS for FM functions, whereas 5 of the indicators were proven to be of high significance. Furthermore, there was no statistical difference in the opinions of the experts based on their affiliation with academic institutions and professional practice.

Practical implications

The findings of this study contribute practically by aiding policymakers, facility managers and relevant stakeholders with the vital knowledge of delivery mandates for efficient FM services that can spur the uptake of digital technologies such as CPS.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the body of knowledge as it unveils a roadmap of the expected performance output and its accompanying evaluation that would drive the adoption of a promising technology such as CPS in the delivery of FM tasks.
Fault diagnosis of wind turbine power converter using intrinsic mode functions with relative energy entropy
Authors: R. Manikandan , R. Raja Singh
Published: March 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to prevent the destruction of other parts of a wind energy conversion system because of faults, the diagnosis of insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) faults has become an essential topic of study. Demand for sustainable energy sources has been prompted by rising environmental pollution and energy requirements. Renewable energy has been identified as a viable substitute for conventional fossil fuel energy generation. Because of its rapid installation time and adaptable expenditure for construction scale, wind energy has emerged as a great energy resource. Power converter failure is particularly significant for the reliable operation of wind power conversion systems because it not only has a high yearly fault rate but also a prolonged downtime. The power converters will continue to operate even after the failure, especially the open-circuit fault, endangering their other parts and impairing their functionality.

Design/methodology/approach

The most widely used signal processing methods for locating open-switch faults in power devices are the short-time Fourier transform and wavelet transform (WT) – based on time–frequency analysis. To increase their effectiveness, these methods necessitate the intensive use of computational resources. This study suggests a fault detection technique using empirical mode decomposition (EMD) that examines the phase currents from a power inverter. Furthermore, the intrinsic mode function’s relative energy entropy (REE) and simple logical operations are used to locate IGBT open switch failures.

Findings

The presented scheme successfully locates and detects 21 various classes of IGBT faults that could arise in a two-level three-phase voltage source inverter (VSI). To verify the efficacy of the proposed fault diagnosis (FD) scheme, the test is performed under various operating conditions of the power converter and induction motor load. The proposed method outperforms existing FD schemes in the literature in terms of fault coverage and robustness.

Originality/value

This study introduces an EMD–IMF–REE-based FD method for VSIs in wind turbine systems, which enhances the effectiveness and robustness of the FD method.
Development trends and current status of facility management and professionalization of facility services in Turkey
Authors: Keskin Esra , Tanrıvermiş Harun , Temeljotov Salaj Alenka
Published: March 2023

Purpose

Facility management (FM) is picking up steam in Turkey. However, delays in creating standards and adopting FM as a profession by corporate and public institutions led to an unusual predicament, unlike in Europe and the USA. The purpose of this study is to take an inductive and constructivist approach to explore the extent of maturity in the FM industry within Turkey.

Design/methodology/approach

Qualitative understanding of the complexity of the Turkish FM sector drives the design used in the study. All data has been collected through an in-depth interview and semi-structured questionnaire with FM stakeholders.

Findings

The findings revealed the perceptions of stakeholders working in various businesses and research institutions in Turkey, including FM organizations, supply markets and educational institutions, regarding the key challenges and opportunities in the business environment.

Practical implications

The trend on Turkish FM revealed a slow growth in FM professionalization, which needs the authority’s attention as the professionalization reduces the unemployment rate, reduces cost and enhances the life cycle of the physical property.

Originality/value

This is the first study, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, on Turkish FM that provides comprehensive studies on Turkish FM professionalization trends to draw the attention of policymakers to the need to enact policies that would improve FM professionalism.
Impacts of cognitive and social distances on supply chain capability: the moderating effect of information technology utilization
Authors: Hu Qinfang , Yu Haowei , Wu Huirong , Chen Jing
Published: March 2023

Purpose

This study aims to examine how implicit distance (cognitive and social) impacts supply chain capabilities, and the roles of information technology (IT) utilization and supply chain flexibility in this process.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors designed a conceptual model including the implicit distance, supply chain flexibility, supply chain capability and IT utilization and verified the relationships among variables through a survey that collected data from 104 manufacturing enterprises in China.

Findings

The results show that cognitive and social distances positively and negatively affect supply chain flexibility, respectively. Furthermore, IT utilization strengthens the positive effect of cognitive distance and the negative effect of social distance on supply chain flexibility. Additionally, supply chain flexibility has a positive effect on supply chain capability and mediates the effects of cognitive and social distances on supply chain capability.

Practical implications

Enterprises should prioritize cooperation with different types of partners with whom the enterprises have established good collaborative working experiences. Moreover, if enterprises cooperate with new partners, enterprises should communicate and handle things face to face instead of frequently utilizing IT.

Originality/value

This study links the implicit distance between enterprises with supply chain capability and newly applies social network theory to explain the mechanism. Further, the authors' data confirm the moderating role of IT utilization in this process, supplementing the research on implicit distance. Moreover, this study employs dynamic capability theory to better understand how firms can improve supply chain capabilities.
An optimal software enhancement and customer growth model: a control-theoretic approach
Authors: Pradhan Sujit K. , Kumar Anil , Kumar Vijay
Published: March 2023

Purpose

Recently, the popularity of software has grown significantly in the market. Enhancement of software is needed to decrease the burden of getting high-quality and reliable software. To achieve this, the software is upgraded by adding new features to the previous version. Therefore, adding new features in the last version to be consistent with the earlier version is challenging. This paper aims to discuss the optimal software enhancement and customer growth model.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper discusses a model when new features are added to the software, and the customers' adoption of the software is presented as a customer growth model. An optimal control problem is introduced to maximize the profit obtained from the software system over the system's lifetime period. Total gain is calculated by the value generated from selling the software over the total expenditure during the software development process. The closed-form solution and some theoretical results are presented using the optimal control-theoretic approach. The theoretical results are supported by a numerical example.

Findings

This paper gives several substantive insights during sensitivity analysis and provides essential results. The results discussed here are compatible with the actual scenario and useful in software enhancement.

Originality/value

The authors have proposed a new feature growth and customer growth model to maximize the total profit using optimal control theory.
On quality and complexity: non-conformance failures, management perspectives and learning outcomes on a highways megaproject
Authors: Ford Gavin , Gosling Jonathan , Naim Mohamed
Published: March 2023

Purpose

The construction industry continues to struggle to deliver a right first time culture, seeking a panacea for improvement whilst maintaining project milestones. Complex construction projects demand stringent programmes, however, (un)foreseen changes, political influences and human behaviours all have significant impacts on delivering schemes without error. Previous studies have questioned the ability of the construction industry to successfully learn from errors. A major barrier has been the sharing of sensitive data from failed outcomes. Hence, this paper investigates non-conformance on an existing scheme and suggests avenues for improvement.

Design/methodology/approach

A mixed-method approach was adopted whereby 1,260 non-conformance reports (NCRs) from a highways megaproject were interrogated using root cause analysis (RCA) techniques to uncover the most frequent and costly areas. This was followed by a survey to industry professionals within a tier 1 principal contractor to gain insight into their perceptions of non-conformance and rework on construction projects.

Findings

Using Pareto analysis, the authors find that materials management, workmanship (poor quality execution) and supervision issues are the most frequently occurring and costly root causes of non-conformance on a major highways scheme. Furthermore, the authors link corresponding viewpoints of two project professional groups to the posed, achieving a high degree of consensus for the areas requiring development. Lastly, the authors suggest avenues for improvement via lessons learnt. These include greater emphasis on quality culture via a strong leadership mandate, enhanced vetting of workforce competence and improving the way materials are managed by embracing technology to drive efficiency.

Originality/value

This paper interrogates a current highways scheme using a uniquely rich, sensitive dataset to determine how the construction sector may improve efforts to achieving right first time outcomes.
Toward structure optimization for the mobile vehicle system based on multiconstraints
Authors: Zhao Xin , Li Jie , Sun Shunli , Han Chongyang , Zhu Wenbo , He Zhaokai , Tang Luxin , Wu Weibin , Li Jiehao
Published: March 2023

Purpose

Vehicle lightweight design has positive implications for reducing energy consumption and abating greenhouse gas emissions. The traditional trailer axle design mainly focuses on the overall performance of the trailer axle. Only when the local performance does not meet the requirements will local performance optimization be done, such as local heat treatment to improve local strength. Such a design results in an uneven distribution of axle performance and excess performance in some local structures. The purpose of this study is to investigate the weight reduction on the premise of ensuring the structural dimensions of the outer surface of the axle remain unchanged and the reliability of the axle.

Design/methodology/approach

The axle is parameterized by computer aided design, and the optimized axle finite element model based on computer aided engineering is established and verified by taking the eight dimensions of the axle cavity structure which affect the performance as parameters. A genetic algorithm is used to optimize the axle cavity structure size and axle weight based on multiobjective optimization, and eight optimized size parameters of axle cavity structure are obtained.

Findings

The total weight of the optimized axle of TM1314 is reduced by 10.2 kg, and the weight reduction ratio reaches 10.7%. According to the optimized structural size of the axle, the specimen was trial-manufactured, and the bench tests of stiffness, strength and fatigue life were carried out according to the test requirements of the trailer axle standard (JT/T 475-2002). The test results show that the maximum deformation of the specimen is 2.46 mm, the strength safety factor of the specimen body and the steel plate spring seat are 6.71 and 6.86 and bear the alternating load more than 1.05 × 106 times, which meets the standard of the trailer axle and is better than the original design requirements of the trailer axle.

Originality/value

In this study, the multiobjective optimization model of the axle is established, the response surface is constructed by the Latin hypercube sampling design method and the optimal solution set is obtained by the multiobjective genetic algorithm. It has been verified by bench tests that it can achieve a weight reduction of 10.7% under the premise of the same structure and size of the outer surface of the axle. The lightweight method based on multiobjective optimization proposed in this paper can provide a reference for the lightweight design of other key vehicle components.
Multi‐decadal stability of fish productivity despite increasing coral reef degradation
Authors: Yan Helen F. , Bellwood David R.
Published: March 2023

Under current trajectories, it is unlikely that the coral reefs of the future will resemble those of the past. As multiple stressors, such as climate change and coastal development, continue to impact coral reefs, understanding the changes in ecosystem functioning is imperative to protect key ecosystem services.

We used a 26‐year dataset of benthic reef fishes (including cryptobenthic fishes) to identify multi‐decadal trends in fish biomass production on a degraded coral reef. We converted fish abundances into estimates of community productivity to track the long‐term trend of fish biomass production through time.

Following the first mass coral bleaching event in 1998, the abundance, standing biomass and productivity of fish communities remained remarkably constant through time, despite the occurrence of multiple stressors, including extreme sedimentation, cyclones and mass coral bleaching events. Species richness declined following the 1998 bleaching event, but rebounded to prebleaching levels and also remained relatively stable.

Although the species composition of the communities changed over time, these new community configurations still maintain a steady level of fish biomass production. While these highly dynamic and increasingly degraded systems can still provide some critical ecosystem functions, it is unclear whether these patterns will remain stable over future decades.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
Patterns of host–parasite coinvasion promote enemy release and specialist parasite spillover
Authors: Schatz Annakate M. , Park Andrew W.
Published: March 2023

Species invasion and redistribution, driven by climate change and other anthropogenic influences, alter global biodiversity patterns and disrupt ecosystems. As host species move, they can bring their associated parasites with them, potentially infecting resident species, or leave their parasites behind, enhancing their competitive ability in their new ranges. General rules to predict why invading hosts will retain some parasites but not others are relatively unexplored, and the potential predictors are numerous, ranging from parasite life history to host community composition.

In this study, we focus on the parasite retention process during host invasion. We used the Global Mammal Parasite Database to identify terrestrial mammal hosts sampled for parasites in both native and non‐native ranges. We then selected predictors likely to play a role in parasite retention, such as parasite type, parasite specialism, species composition of the invaded community, and the invading host's phylogenetic or trait‐based similarity to the new community.

We modelled parasite retention using boosted regression trees, with a suite of 25 predictors describing parasite and host community traits. We further tested the generality of our predictions by cross‐validating models on data for other hosts and invasion locations.

Our results show that parasite retention is nonrandom and predictable across hosts and invasions. It is broadly shaped by parasite type and parasite specialism, with more specialist parasites that infect many closely related hosts more likely to be retained. This trend is pronounced across parasite types; helminths, however, show a more uniform likelihood of retention regardless of specificity.

Overall, we see that most parasites are not retained (11% retained), meaning many invasive species may benefit from enemy release. However, species redistribution does have the potential to spread parasites, and this also has great relevance to understanding conservation implications of species invasions. We see that specialist parasites are most likely to coinvade with their hosts, which suggests that species closely related to the invasive hosts are most likely to be affected by parasite spillover.
Misunderstandings and misinterpretations: Antimicrobial use and resistance in salmon aquaculture
Authors: Cabello Felipe C. , Millanao Ana R. , Lozano‐Muñoz Ivonne , Godfrey Henry P.
Published: March 2023

The exponential growth of aquaculture over the past 30 years has been accompanied by a parallel increase in the use of antimicrobials. This widespread use has had negative effects on animal, human and environmental health and affected the biodiversity of the environments where aquaculture takes place. Results showing these harmful effects have been resisted and made light of by the aquaculture industry and their scientific supporters through introduction of misunderstandings and misinterpretations of concepts developed in the evolution, genetics, and molecular epidemiology of antimicrobial resistance. We focus on a few of the most obvious scientific shortcomings and biases of two recent attempts to minimise the negative impacts of excessive antimicrobial use in Chilean salmon aquaculture on human and piscine health and on the environment. Such open debate is critical to timely implementation of effective regulation of antimicrobial usage in salmon aquaculture in Chile, if the negative local and worldwide impacts of this usage are to be avoided.
Tragocephala nobilis Fabricius (Coleoptera:Cerambycidae): A new insect pest threatening the domestication of Tetrapleura tetraptera (Schum and Thonn.) in Ghana
Authors: Opuni‐Frimpong Emmanuel , Mensah John Kobina , Adu‐Gyamfi Asamoah , Okyere‐Agyapong Eunice , Sarfo Kwabena Bonsu , Attiah Gifty , Bosu Paul Pinnock
Published: March 2023

Tragocephala nobilis (Fabricius) (Coleoptera:Cerambycidae), an insect pest (herbivorous insect), was recently found on a multipurpose tropical tree species, Tetrapleura tetraptera (Schum and Thonn.) Taub, in Ghana. Although the pest has been previously reported on other tree crops such as cocoa and Coffea arabica, this is the first report on T. tetraptera. T. tetraptera is a deciduous tree crop with numerous nutritional and medicinal benefits. The pest, a long‐horned beetle is found to attack T. tetraptera tree and damage is first observed as die‐back of twigs and branches leading to the formation of a witches broom in the crown. This is followed by a series of tunnels created by the larvae on the main stem resulting in branch death and/or tree mortality. In view of the threat posed by the pest to T. tetraptera, a broader study is needed urgently to develop an integrated pest management strategy for T. nobilis pest in T. tetraptera plantations as the interest in its domestication as a tree crop is burgeoning in response to increasing herbal medicine and food supplements demand.
Effects of prescribed burning on rodents in an East African woodland ecosystem
Authors: Saanya Aenea , Mulungu Loth , Sabuni Christopher , Massawe Apia , Makundi Rhodes
Published: March 2023

The name “miombo” is a vernacular term for the forests in central, southern, and eastern Africa that are dominated by the closely related legume family genera Brachystegia, Julbernardia and/or Isoberlinia. Prescribed burning is a common management practice in most miombo woodland in protected areas that highly influences vegetation structure and composition which in turn influences small mammals' distribution and abundance. This practice if not checked might significantly affect the ecosystems. We investigated the effects of prescribed burning on rodent's ecology in the miombo woodland ecosystem in the Selous game reserve, Tanzania, between July 2018 and June 2020. A total of 473 individuals comprising six rodent species; Acomys ngurui (31.50%), Aethomys chrysophilus (28.96%), Mastomys natalensis (18.82%), Lemniscomys rosalia (14.16%), Mus minutoides (2.33%), Paraxerus flavovittis (0.85%) and two insectivorous shrew species; Petrodromus tetradactylus (3.17%) and Crocidura hitra (0.21%) were captured during 14,112 trap nights. There were no statistically significant differences in the abundance of A. ngurui between burnt and unburnt areas but its abundance was statistically significantly different between seasons. M. natalensis abundance was not statistically significantly different between burnt and unburnt areas or across seasons. The burnt sites had the highest species diversity than the unburnt in both wet and dry seasons. A. ngurui and M. natalensis survival and recruitment between burnt and unburnt sites were not statistically significantly different. The study shows that prescribed burning has an effect on specific species and demographic characteristics both positive and negative.
Dupilumab‐associated ocular surface disease in atopic dermatitis patients: Clinical characteristics, ophthalmic treatment response and conjunctival goblet cell analysis
Authors: Achten Roselie , Thijs Judith , van der Wal Marlot , van Luijk Chantal , de Graaf Marlies , Bakker Daphne , de Boer Joke , van Wijk Femke , de Bruin‐Weller Marjolein
Published: March 2023

Background

Dupilumab‐associated ocular surface disease (DAOSD) is frequently reported as side effect in atopic dermatitis (AD) patients. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the frequency and severity of DAOSD, ophthalmic treatment response and to learn more about the effect of dupilumab on conjunctival goblet cells (GC).

Methods

This prospective study included dupilumab‐treated AD patients between February 2020 and June 2022 from the University Medical Centre Utrecht. Patients were examined by an ophthalmologist and a dermatologist before start (baseline), and after 4 and 28 weeks of dupilumab treatment. Ophthalmological examination was assessed by the Utrecht Ophthalmic Inflammatory and Allergic disease (UTOPIA) score. DAOSD was defined as an increase in UTOPIA score of ≥3 points from baseline. To quantify conjunctival GCs and to investigate the percentage of Cytokeratin 19 (CK19)‐CD45‐Mucin 5 AC (MUC5AC)+ cells, conjunctival impression cytology samples were analysed.

Results

Ocular surface disease (OSD) was present in 91.3% (n = 63/69) patients at baseline. DAOSD was observed in 28.9% (n = 20/69) patients, in whom GC numbers remained stable and the percentage of CK19‐CD45‐MUC5AC+ cells decreased at onset of DAOSD compared with baseline. After 28 weeks of dupilumab treatment, DAOSD was seen in 14.5% (n = 10/69) patients. Of the 85.5% (n = 59/69) patients without DAOSD or with controlled DAOSD at Week 28, 40.7% (n = 24/59) patients received anti‐inflammatory ophthalmic drugs.

Conclusions

Ocular surface disease is common in moderate‐to‐severe AD patients before starting dupilumab. During treatment with dupilumab DAOSD severity improves with early ophthalmic treatment. The decrease in percentage of CK19‐CD45‐MUC5AC+ cells during dupilumab treatment suggests an impairment of the GC function due to dupilumab treatment.
Disparities in the provision of perinatal care based on patient race in the United States
Authors: Byrn Mary A. , Buys Elizabeth A. , Mujahid Mahasin , Madsen Kristine
Published: March 2023

Background

In the United States, there are significant health inequities in perinatal care. This study examined differences in perinatal care provided to women based on the birthing person's designated race, within a large and diverse cohort of women.

Methods

This retrospective electronic medical record review identified patients receiving perinatal care within a large hospital system between January 2012 and September 2018 and examined associations between maternal designated race/ethnicity (Hispanic or non‐Hispanic [NH] Black, Asian or White) and various provider treatment decisions.

Results

The study sample (N = 7056) was comprised of 36% Hispanic, 34% NH White, 21% NH Black, and 4% NH Asian women, aged 29.7 ± 6.3 years; 53% of the sample had private insurance, and 45% had Medicaid. Few differences by race were seen in perinatal care based on guidelines or expert recommendations (nondiscretionary care). Discretionary care, however, varied by race: Compared with NH White women, NH Black women were less likely to receive a prenatal depression screen (OR 0.8 [95% CI: 0.7, 0.9]) and more likely to have a urine drug test when denying drug use (OR 1.6 [95% CI 1.3, 2.0]), whereas Hispanic (OR 0.6 [95% CI: 0.5, 0.8]) and NH Asian (0.4 [95% CI 0.2, 0.9]) women were less likely to have a urine drug test completed when denying drug use.

Discussion

Perinatal care differs by maternal race/ethnicity, particularly when guidelines or expert recommendations are absent. Greater efforts need to be made to identify and mitigate providers' implicit and explicit biases; expanded professional guidelines may offer some protections against inequitable, discretionary care.
The impact of sexual scripts in brand‐generated cannabis social media posts on sex‐related cannabis expectancies: Does body appreciation moderate effects?
Authors: Willoughby Jessica Fitts , Hust Stacey J. T. , Couto Leticia , Li Jiayu , Kang Soojung , Nickerson Christina Griselda , Price Ron , Tlachi‐Munoz Sandy
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Cannabis messaging on digital media may include sexualised portrayals. We examined whether exposure to and perceptions of cannabis posts that included sexual objectification impacted two types of sex‐related cannabis expectancies—sexual risk and sexual enhancement—and whether body appreciation moderated these relationships.

Methods

We conducted an online experiment with college students in Washington state. Participants viewed three brand‐generated cannabis Instagram posts that either included sexually objectified women or recreational appeals (e.g., sitting by a firepit). We conducted regressions, using the PROCESS macro, to examine the hypothesized model and potential mediation and moderation.

Results

Exposure to sexualised advertisements was associated with increased perceptions of cannabis sex enhancement scripts (b = 0.34, p < 0.01), which was associated with increased cannabis sex enhancement expectancies (b = 0.34, p < 0.001) and decreased cannabis sexual risk expectancies (b = −0.16, p < 0.001); exposure to such advertisements were also associated with increased perceptions of cannabis sexual risk scripts (b = 0.61, p < 0.001), which was associated with increased cannabis sexual risk expectancies (b = 0.53, p < 0.001). Body appreciation was associated with increased cannabis sex enhancement expectancies (b = 0.13, p < 0.01) and moderated the relationship between exposure to sexualised ads and cannabis sex enhancement expectancies (b = −0.21, p < 0.01).

Discussion and Conclusions

Practitioners may want to consider how to increase critical consumption of cannabis content on digital media. Researchers should consider the possible role of body appreciation as it relates to cannabis and sex enhancement expectancies.
A scoping review of mHealth technologies for opioid overdose prevention, detection and response
Authors: Tas Basak , Lawn Will , Traykova Elena V. , Evans Rebecca A. S. , Murvai Barbara , Walker Hollie , Strang John
Published: March 2023

Issues

Opioid overdose kills over 100,000 people each year globally. Mobile health (mHealth) technologies and devices, including wearables, with the capacity to prevent, detect or respond to opioid overdose exist in early form, or could be re‐purposed or designed. These technologies may particularly help those who use alone. For technologies to be successful, they must be effective and acceptable to the at‐risk population. The aim of this scoping review is to identify published studies on mHealth technologies that attempt to prevent, detect or respond to opioid overdose.

Approach

A systematic scoping review of literature was conducted up to October 2022. APA PsychInfo, Embase, Web of Science and Medline databases were searched. Inclusion criteria: articles had to report on (i) mHealth technologies that deal with (ii) opioid (iii) overdose.

Key Findings

A total of 348 records were identified, with 14 studies eligible for this review across four domains: (i) technologies that require intervention/response from others (four); (ii) devices that use biometric data to detect overdose (five); (iii) devices that automatically respond to an overdose with administration of an antidote (three); (iv) acceptability/willingness to use overdose‐related technologies/devices (five).

Implications

There are multiple routes in which these technologies may be deployed, but several factors impact acceptability (e.g., discretion or size) and accuracy of detection (e.g., sensitive parameter/threshold with low false positive rate).

Conclusion

mHealth technologies for opioid overdose may play a crucial role in responding to the ongoing global opioid crises. This scoping review identifies vital research that will determine the future success of these technologies.