bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Diversity and distribution of Phytophthora species across different types of riparian vegetation in Italy with the description of Phytophthora heteromorpha sp. nov.
Authors: Bregant Carlo , Rossetto Giovanni , Sasso Nicolò , Montecchio Lucio , Maddau Lucia , Linaldeddu Benedetto Teodoro
Published: February 2024

Riparian formations encompass a diverse suite of transitional zones between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. During the last decades, these formations have been impacted by several emerging diseases. The first outbreaks were detected on alder formations, but have progressively also been observed on other plant species such as Betula pubescens, Nerium oleander, Populus alba, Salix alpina, Salix purpurea and Tamarix gallica. Declining plants showed a plethora of symptoms (leaf spot, shoot blight, bleeding cankers and root rot) indicative of Phytophthora infections. Since there is little information about the aetiology of these pathosystems, from November 2019 to March 2023, an in-depth study was conducted in 46 riparian ecosystems spanning from the Mediterranean to Alpine regions. Overall, 744 symptomatic samples (stem bleeding cankers and root with rhizosphere) from 27 host species were collected for Phytophthora isolation. Based on morphology and DNA sequence data, 20 known Phytophthora species belonging to seven phylogenetic clades have been identified: P. plurivora (202 isolates), P. gonapodyides (156), P. pseudosyringae (84), P. lacustris (57), P. acerina (31), P. idaei (30), P. alpina (20), P. pseudocryptogea (19), P. cambivora (13), P. pseudotsugae (13), P. cactorum (9), P. honggalleglyana (6), P. pseudogregata (6), P. debattistii (4), P. multivora (4), P. cinnamomi (3), P. bilorbang (2) P. crassamura (2), P. ilicis (2) and P. inundata (2). In addition, 26 isolates of a new putative species obtained from Alnus incana and Pinus sylvestris are described here as Phytophthora heteromorpha sp. nov. The new species proved to be pathogenic on grey alder causing symptoms congruent with field observations. This study represents the most comprehensive investigation on the Phytophthora species associated with declining riparian vegetation in Italy and highlights that the polyphagous pathogen P. plurivora represents a growing threat to Mediterranean, temperate and alpine ecosystems.
Autonomic modulations to cardiac dynamics in response to affective touch: Differences between social touch and self-touch
Authors: Candia-Rivera Diego , Boehme Rebecca , Salamone Paula C.
Published: February 2024

The autonomic nervous system plays a vital role in self-regulation and responding to environmental demands. Autonomic dynamics have been hypothesized to be involved in perceptual awareness and the physiological implementation of the first-person perspective. Based on this idea, we hypothesized that the autonomic activity measured from cardiac dynamics could differentiate between social touch and self-touch. In our study, we used a newly developed method to analyze the temporal dynamics of cardiac sympathetic and parasympathetic activities during an ecologically valid affective touch experiment. We revealed that different types of touch conditions—social-touch, self-touch, and a control object-touch—resulted in a decrease in sympathetic activity. This decrease was more pronounced during social touch, as compared to the other conditions. Following sympathetic decrease, we quantified an increase in parasympathetic activity specifically during social touch, further distinguishing it from self-touch. Importantly, by combining the sympathetic and parasympathetic indices, we successfully differentiated social touch from the other experimental conditions, indicating that social touch exhibited the most substantial changes in cardiac autonomic indices. These findings may have important clinical implications as they provide insights into the neurophysiology of touch, relevant for aberrant affective touch processing in specific psychiatric disorders and for the comprehension of nociceptive touch.
Prelimbic cortex ensembles promote appetitive learning-associated behavior
Authors: Surets Michelle , Caban-Murillo Albit , Ramirez Steve
Published: February 2024

Memories of prior rewards bias our actions and future decisions. To determine the neural correlates of an appetitive associative learning task, we trained male mice to discriminate a reward-predicting cue over the course of 7 d. Encoding, recent recall, and remote recall were investigated to determine the areas of the brain recruited at each stage of learning. Using cFos as a proxy for neuronal activity, we found unique brain-wide patterns of activity across days that seem to correlate with distinct stages of learning. In particular, the prelimbic (PL) cortex was significantly recruited during the encoding of a novel association presentation, but its activity decreases as learning continues. To causally dissect the role of the PL in a reward memory across days, we chemogenetically inhibited first the PL entirely and then only tagged memory-bearing cells that were active during encoding in two stages of learning: early and late. Both nonspecific and specific PL inhibition experiments indicate that the PL drives behavior during late stages of learning to facilitate appropriate cue-driven behavior. Overall, our work underscores memory's role in discriminative reward seeking, and points to the PL as a target for modulating disorders in which impaired reward processing is a core component.
Minimal qubit representations of Hamiltonians via conserved charges
Authors: Gunderman Lane G. , Jena Andrew , Dellantonio Luca
Published: February 2024

In the last years, we have been witnessing a tremendous push to demonstrate that quantum computers can solve classically intractable problems. This effort, initially focused on the hardware, progressively included the simplification of the models to be simulated. We consider Hamiltonians written in terms of Pauli operators and systematically cut all qubits that are not essential to simulate the system. Our approach is universally applicable and lowers the complexity by first ensuring that the largest possible portion of the Hilbert space becomes irrelevant, and then by finding and exploiting all conserved charges of the system, i.e., symmetries that can be expressed as Pauli operators. Remarkably, both processes are classically efficient and optimal. To showcase our algorithm, we simplify chemical molecules, lattice gauge theories, and the Hubbard and Kitaev models.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Improved algorithm for dynamical triangulations and simulations of finer lattices
Authors: Dai Mingwei , Freeman Walter , Laiho Jack , Schiffer Marc , Unmuth-Yockey Judah
Published: February 2024

We introduce a new algorithm for the simulation of Euclidean dynamical triangulations that mimics the Metropolis-Hastings algorithm, but where all proposed moves are accepted. This rejection-free algorithm allows for the factorization of local and global terms in the action, a condition needed for efficient simulation of theories with global terms, while still maintaining detailed balance. We test our algorithm on the 2d Ising model, and against results for EDT obtained with standard Metropolis. Our new algorithm allows us to simulate EDT at finer lattice spacings than previously possible, and we find geometries that resemble semiclassical Euclidean de Sitter space in agreement with earlier results at coarser lattices. The agreement between lattice data and the classical de Sitter solution continues to get better as the lattice spacing decreases.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Searching for Majorana neutrinos at a same-sign muon collider
Authors: Jiang Ruobing , Yang Tianyi , Qian Sitian , Ban Yong , Li Jingshu , You Zhengyun , Li Qiang
Published: February 2024

Majorana properties of neutrinos have long been a focus in the pursuit of possible new physics beyond the standard model, which has motivated lots of dedicated theoretical and experimental studies. A future same-sign muon collider is an ideal platform to search for Majorana neutrinos through the lepton number violation process: μ+μ+→W+W+. Specifically, this t-channel kind of process is less kinematically suppressed and has a good advantage in probing Majorana neutrinos at high mass regions up to 10 TeV. In this paper, we perform a detailed fast Monte Carlo simulation study by examining three different final states: (1) pure leptonic state with electrons or muons, (2) semileptonic state, and (3) pure hadronic state in the resolved or merged categories. Furthermore, we perform a full simulation study on the pure leptonic final state to validate our fast simulation results.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
S
-wave contribution to rare
D0→π+π−ℓ+ℓ−
decays in the standard model and sensitivity to new physics
Authors: Fajfer Svjetlana , Solomonidi Eleftheria , Vale Silva Luiz
Published: February 2024

Physics of the up-type flavor offers unique possibilities of testing the standard model (SM) compared to the down-type flavor sector. Here, we discuss SM and new physics (NP) contributions to the rare charm-meson decay D0→π+π−ℓ+ℓ−. In particular, we discuss the effect of including the lightest scalar isoscalar resonance in the SM picture, namely, the f0(500), which manifests in a big portion of the allowed phase space. Other than showing in the total branching ratio at an observable level of about 20%, the f0(500) resonance manifests as interference terms with the vector resonances, such as at high invariant mass of the leptonic pair in distinct angular observables. Recent data from LHCb optimize the sensitivity to P-wave contributions that we analyze in view of the inclusion of vector resonances. We propose the measurement of alternative observables that are sensitive to the S-wave and are straightforward to implement experimentally. This leads to a new set of null observables that vanish in the SM due to its gauge and flavor structures. Finally, we study observables that depend on the SM interference with generic NP contributions from semileptonic four-fermion operators in the presence of the

S

-wave.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Krylov spaces for truncated spectrum methodologies
Authors: Lájer Márton K. , Konik Robert M.
Published: February 2024

We propose herein an extension of truncated spectrum methodologies, a nonperturbative numerical approach able to elucidate the low energy properties of quantum field theories. TSMs, in their various flavors, involve a division of a computational Hilbert space, H, into two parts, one part, H1 that is “kept” for the numerical computations, and one part, H2, that is discarded or “truncated.” Even though H2 is discarded, truncated spectrum methodologies will often try to incorporate the effects of H2 in some effective way. In these terms, we propose to keep the dimension of

H

1

small. We pair this choice of H1 with a Krylov subspace iterative approach able to take into account the effects of H2. This iterative approach can be taken to arbitrarily high order and so offers the ability to compute quantities to arbitrary precision. In many cases it also offers the advantage of not needing an explicit UV cutoff. To compute the matrix elements that arise in the Krylov iterations, we employ a Feynman diagrammatic representation that is then evaluated with Monte Carlo techniques. Each order of the Krylov iteration is variational and is guaranteed to improve upon the previous iteration. The first Krylov iteration is akin to the next-to-leading order approach of Elias-Miró [NLO renormalization in the Hamiltonian truncation, ]. To demonstrate this approach, we focus on the (1+1d)-dimensional ϕ4 model and compute the bulk energy and mass gaps in both the Z2-broken and unbroken sectors. We estimate the critical ϕ4 coupling in the broken phase to be gc=0.2645±0.002.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Normal mode description of phases of matter: Application to heat capacity
Authors: Moon Jaeyun , Thébaud Simon , Lindsay Lucas , Egami Takeshi
Published: February 2024

Understanding thermodynamics in liquids at the atomic level is challenging because of strong atomic interactions and lack of spatial symmetry. Recent prior theoretical works have focused on describing heat capacity of liquids in terms of phonon-like excitations but often rely on fitting factors and assumptions. In this work, we propose characterizing various phases in terms of instantaneous normal modes (INMs) of structural snapshots from molecular dynamics simulations of single-element systems over wide ranges of temperature and pressure. We use the INMs to build a mode-level microscopic description of heat capacity and demonstrate that heat capacity of liquids can be described by a combination of both solidlike and gaslike degrees of freedom, leading to a more unified framework to fundamentally describe heat capacity of all three phases of matter: solid, liquid, and gas.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Ultrafast orbital Hall effect in metallic nanoribbons
Authors: Busch Oliver , Ziolkowski Franziska , Göbel Börge , Mertig Ingrid , Henk Jürgen
Published: February 2024

The orbital Hall effect can generate currents of angular momentum more efficiently than the spin Hall effect in most metals. However, so far, it has only been understood as a steady-state phenomenon. In this theoretical study, the orbital Hall effect is extended into the time domain. We investigate the orbital angular momenta and their currents induced by a femtosecond laser pulse in a Cu nanoribbon. Our numerical simulations provide detailed insights into the laser-driven electron dynamics on ultrashort timescales with atomic resolution. The ultrafast orbital Hall effect described in this paper is consistent with the familiar pictorial representation of the static orbital Hall effect, but we also find pronounced differences between physical quantities that carry orbital angular momentum and those that carry charge. For example, there are deviations in the time series of the respective currents. This paper lays the foundations for investigating ultrafast Hall effects in confined metallic systems.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Oxygen quenching of structurally characterized [5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-fluoro-2,6-dimethylphenyl)porphyrinato]platinum(II)
Authors: Dash Zane S. , Huang Raymond Q. , Kimber Ana N. , Olubajo Opeyemi T. , Polk Mark , Rancu Oliver P. , Zhang Lauren L. , Fu Jane , Nagelj Nejc , Reynolds Kristopher G. , Zheng Shao-Liang , Dogutan Dilek K.
Published: February 2024

The compound [5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-fluoro-2,6-dimethylphenyl)porphyrinato]platinum(II), [Pt(C52H40F4N4)] or Pt(II)TFP, has been synthesized and structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. The Pt porphyrin exhibits a long-lived phosphorescent excited state (τ0 = 66 µs), which has been characterized by transient absorption and emission spectroscopy. The phosphorescence is extremely sensitive to oxygen, as reflected by a quenching rate constant of 5.0 × 108 M
−1 s−1, and as measured by Stern–Volmer quenching analysis.
Exploring the presence of a sex-specific phenotype of autism spectrum disorder in a random cohort of males and females: a retrospective case note service audit
Authors: Day Rebecca , Simmons Luke , Shade Elizabeth , Jennison Jo , Allely Clare S. , Mukherjee Raja A.S.
Published: February 2024

Purpose

Recent research has proposed a specific female phenotype within autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It suggests females exhibit differences in social communication styles with higher levels of camouflaging and compensatory strategies, as well as variance in restrictive repetitive behaviours (RRBs); however, many existing studies have been based on either small, disproportionate or child and adolescent samples, leaving questions about the specific phenotype. This study aims to explore the sex difference and phenotype in a clinic sample of individuals diagnosed with autism.

Design/methodology/approach

A service evaluation of sex/ gender differences on 150 historical ASD assessment reports (75 males, 75 females) using a 103-item questionnaire developed from a quantitative review of existing literature was undertaken.

Findings

Females camouflaged more significantly than males in five different areas (thinking how to act next, preparing conversation in advance, making lists of prompts/social responses, wearing a mask/acting, less monotone voice); however, these were not maintained in post-analysis correction.

Originality/value

This study points the evidence towards a different phenotype of Autism that is more common in women than men rather than a unique female phenotype.
Absorptive capacity in family firms: exploring the role of the CEO
Authors: Garcés-Galdeano Lucía , Kotlar Josip , Caicedo-Leitón Ana Lucía , Larraza-Kintana Martín , Frattini Federico
Published: February 2024

Purpose

Absorptive capacity (AC), the ability to leverage external knowledge for innovation, helps explain the mixed findings on family firms' (FFs) innovation performance. Our research focuses on the chief executive officer (CEO)’s role – whether family or non-family and founding or later generation – in influencing AC. We also explore how firm size and environmental dynamism affect these relationships, offering insights into varying AC levels among FFs.

Design/methodology/approach

Ordinary least squares (OLS) regression models were estimated to test the hypotheses using a sample of 364 FFs in Spain.

Findings

FFs’ AC is greater when the CEO is a family member, and even more so when the family CEO belongs to the founding family generation. While AC diminishes in larger FFs, this effect is mitigated when the CEO is a family member. The predicted moderating effect of environmental dynamics is not supported by the analyses.

Originality/value

This paper adds insights about the drivers of heterogeneity in innovation among FFs, addressing recent calls for more nuanced views of how family members drive the strategic behavior of the business and incorporating considerations of different types of FFs based on the identity of the firm CEO. The results overall support the theoretical claims and also open up important questions for future studies.
Science-based targets for higher education? Evaluating alignment between Ivy+ climate action plans and the Science-Based Targets initiative’s net-zero standards
Authors: Velautham Leela , Gregory Jeremy , Newman Julie
Published: February 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the extent to which a sample of US-based higher education institution’s (HEI’s) climate targets and associated climate action planning efforts align with the definitions of and practices associated with science-based targets (SBTs) that are typically used to organize corporate climate efforts. This analysis will be used to explore similarities and tease out differences between how US-based HEIs and corporations approach sustainable target setting and organize sustainable action.

Design/methodology/approach

The degree of intersection between a sample of HEI climate action plans from Ivy Plus (Ivy+) schools and the current SBT initiative (SBTi) general corporate protocol was assessed by using an objective-oriented evaluative approach.

Findings

While there were some areas of overlap between HEI’s climate action planning and SBTi’s general corporate protocol – for instance, the setting of both short- and long-term targets and large-scale investments in renewable energy – significant areas of difference in sampled HEIs included scant quantitative Scope 3 targets, the use offsets to meet short-term targets and a low absolute annual reduction of Scope 1 and 2 emissions.

Originality/value

This paper unites diverse areas of literature on SBTs, corporate sustainability target setting and sustainability in higher education. It provides an overview of the potential benefits and disadvantages of HEIs adopting SBTs and provides recommendations for the development of sector-specific SBTi guidelines.
Sustainability education and community development in higher education using participatory and case based approaches in India
Authors: Cornet Souresh , Barpanda Saswat , Guidi Marc-Antoine Diego , Viswanathan P.K.
Published: February 2024

Purpose

This study aims at understanding how higher education institutions (HEIs) can contribute to sustainable development, by designing their programmes for bringing about a transformative impact on communities and students, and also to examine what alternative pedagogical approaches could be used for that. In the past decades, HEIs have increasingly created social innovation (SI) programmes, as a way to achieve United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. These community-oriented and field-based programmes are difficult to ally with conventional classroom education. This study explores how these programmes could integrate the participatory approach and what would be the benefits. It also investigates the effectiveness of the experiential learning approach for teaching sustainability.

Design/methodology/approach

A case study method is used to document SI projects initiated by an HEI programme in rural India.

Findings

It was found that the participatory approach contributes to empowering communities and also benefits the students in terms of academic, professional and personal growth. Empirical findings show that experiential learning is an efficient method to teach sustainability. Ultimately, both pedagogical approaches are found to be mutually beneficial.

Originality/value

This study fills a gap in the literature, by providing empirical evidence on how HEI can implement innovative educational strategies such as participatory approach and experiential learning in their programmes towards teaching sustainability. A conceptual model for HEI interested in developing similar programmes is also proposed. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is one of the first studies focusing on the context of Indian HEI.
Doing wellbeing policy: A discussion on public policy making for integrative prosperity
Authors: Gordon James A.
Published: February 2024

Focusing on holistic wellbeing rather than solely economic prosperity is becoming ever more popular among policy makers, both in Australia and New Zealand, and elsewhere. And yet, turning a complex set of system‐level indicators of wellbeing into actionable policy requires us to rethink how we develop, implement, and evaluate policy. In this article, I review the current trends in wellbeing, including developments in the measurement and tracking of wellbeing, and offer practical steps for integrating actionable wellbeing outcomes into future policymaking processes.

Points for practitioners

Focusing on wellbeing as part of the policy making process is becoming more popular among governments, including in Australia and New Zealand. The New Zealand Government has been doing wellbeing budgets since 2019 while the Australian Government released a new wellbeing framework in 2023.

Wellbeing policy represents an approach to policy making that aims to maximize the general health and happiness of a target population on both subjective and objective measures of wellbeing. This includes both economic and non‐economic measures of prosperity and wellbeing.

There are many ways of tracking the wellbeing effect of policy and so choosing the right framework is important for effective wellbeing policy making. This starts with a wellbeing purpose for the policy and a clear and concise definition of wellbeing.

Doing wellbeing policy requires a good understanding of what wellbeing represents and how it is measured. You need relevant and measurable indicators of wellbeing, an evaluation strategy, and the ability to reflect and innovate as part of an iterative policy making process.
Homebuyers’ geographic proximity as a predictor of future housing price growth
Authors: Kim Hayoung
Published: February 2024

Considering the prevalent information asymmetry in housing markets, this study demonstrates the predictive power of homebuyers’ geographic proximity on housing prices. At the ZIP‐code level, a 10‐percentage‐point increase in the fraction of local buyers corresponds to a 1.1‐percentage‐point higher housing price growth over the subsequent 2 years. At the individual level, out‐of‐town buyers experience a 0.64‐percentage‐point lower annual return compared to local buyers within a county. These results not only highlight the significant information advantages enjoyed by geographically proximate buyers, but also imply that informationally privileged buyers’ revealed preferences for specific locations could provide informationally disadvantaged buyers with hints about which areas are likely to experience higher housing price growth in the near future.
Cancer stem cell biomarkers SOX2 and Oct4 in cervical cancer patients undergoing chemoradiotherapy
Authors: Chakrabarti Deep , Qayoom Sumaira , Srivastava Kirti , Resu Abigail Veravolu , Kukreja Divya , Goel Madhu Mati , Singh U. S. , Akhtar Naseem , Rajan Shiv , Verma Mranalini , Gupta Rajeev , Bhatt Madan Lal Brahma
Published: February 2024

Background

Cancer stem cell biomarkers SRY (sex‐determining region Y)‐box 2 (SOX2) and octamer‐binding transcription factor 4 (Oct4) account for radioresistance in cervical squamous cell cancers (CSCCs). Their clinical implications are limited and contradictory.

Methods

In this prospective cohort study, we recruited patients with FIGO IB2‐IVA CSCC treated with primary chemoradiotherapy on regular follow‐up. Tissue biopsy specimens were evaluated for SOX2 and Oct4 expression by immunohistochemistry, quantified by a product of proportion and intensity scores.

Results

A total of 59 patients were included. Most had a moderately differentiated (81%), keratinizing (59%) CSCC, and ≥FIGO stage IIB disease (95%). SOX2 expression (high:low 21:38 patients) and Oct4 expression (high:low 4:55 patients) had a significant interrelation (p = 0.005, odds ratio (95% CI) − 1.23 (1.004–1.520)). At a median follow‐up of 36 months, the 3‐year overall survival (OS) was 60% and 53% for low and high SOX2 expression (p = 0.856), and 54% and 100% for low and high Oct4 expression (p = 0.114). The 3‐year disease‐frese survival (DFS) was 65% and 50% in the low and high SOX2 expression (p = 0.259), and 59% and 75% for low and high Oct4 expression (p = 0.598). SOX2 expression was the only variable significantly associated with a lower OS and DFS on regression analysis.

Conclusion

Our study demonstrated a trend toward improved OS and DFS with low SOX2 and high Oct4 expression in CSCC patients undergoing chemoradiotherapy.
Metabolic flexibility in postmenopausal women: Hormone replacement therapy is associated with higher mitochondrial content, respiratory capacity, and lower total fat mass
Authors: Kleis‐Olsen A. S. , Farlov J. E. , Petersen E. A. , Schmücker M. , Flensted‐Jensen M. , Blom I. , Ingersen A. , Hansen M. , Helge J. W. , Dela F. , Larsen S.
Published: February 2024

Aim

To investigate effects of hormone replacement therapy in postmenopausal women on factors associated with metabolic flexibility related to whole‐body parameters including fat oxidation, resting energy expenditure, body composition and plasma concentrations of fatty acids, glucose, insulin, cortisol, and lipids, and for the mitochondrial level, including mitochondrial content, respiratory capacity, efficiency, and hydrogen peroxide emission.

Methods

22 postmenopausal women were included. 11 were undergoing estradiol and progestin treatment (HT), and 11 were matched non‐treated controls (CONT). Peak oxygen consumption, maximal fat oxidation, glycated hemoglobin, body composition, and resting energy expenditure were measured. Blood samples were collected at rest and during 45 min of ergometer exercise (65% VO2peak). Muscle biopsies were obtained at rest and immediately post‐exercise. Mitochondrial respiratory capacity, efficiency, and hydrogen peroxide emission in permeabilized fibers and isolated mitochondria were measured, and citrate synthase (CS) and 3‐hydroxyacyl‐CoA dehydrogenase (HAD) activity were assessed.

Results

HT showed higher absolute mitochondrial respiratory capacity and post‐exercise hydrogen peroxide emission in permeabilized fibers and higher CS and HAD activities. All respiration normalized to CS activity showed no significant group differences in permeabilized fibers or isolated mitochondria. There were no differences in resting energy expenditure, maximal, and resting fat oxidation or plasma markers. HT had significantly lower visceral and total fat mass compared to CONT.

Conclusion

Use of hormone therapy is associated with higher mitochondrial content and respiratory capacity and a lower visceral and total fat mass. Resting energy expenditure and fat oxidation did not differ between HT and CONT.
Diosgenyl glucosamine conjugates increase pro‐apoptotic and selective activities in cancer cell lines
Authors: Sergio Iván Martínez Mata , María Luisa Escobar Sánchez , Hugo López Muñoz , Jazmín Ciciolil Hilario Martínez , Jesús Sandoval Ramírez , Uriel Yair Aparicio Sánchez , Luis Sánchez Sánchez
Published: February 2024

Background Information

Antiproliferative and apoptotic activities have been attributed to the phytosteroid diosgenin ((25R)‐spirost‐5‐en‐3β‐ol; 1). It is known that combining glucose with two rhamnoses (the chacotrioside framework) linked to diosgenin increases its apoptotic activity. However, the effects of diosgenin glucosamine glycosides on different cancer cell types and cell death have not been entirely explored.

Results

This study reports the antiproliferative, cytotoxic, and apoptotic activities of diosgenin and its glycosylated derivative ((25R)‐spirost‐5‐en‐3β‐yl β‐D‐glucopyranoside; 2). It also explores the effects of two diosgenin glucosamine derivates, diosgenin 2‐acetamido‐2‐deoxy‐β‐D‐glucopyranoside (3), and diosgenin 2‐amino‐2‐deoxy‐β‐D‐glucopyranoside hydrochloride (4), on different cancer cell lines. We found that all the compounds affected proliferative activity with minimal toxicity. In addition, all cancer cell lines showed morphological and biochemical characteristics corresponding to an apoptotic process. Apoptotic cell death was higher in all cell lines treated with compounds 2, 3 and 4 than in those treated with diosgenin. Moreover, compounds 3 and 4 induced apoptosis better than compounds 1 and 2. These results suggest that combining glucosamine with modified glucosamine attached to diosgenin has a greater apoptotic effect than diosgenin or its glycosylated derivative (compound 2). Furthermore, diosgenin and the abovementioned glycosides had a selective effect on tumour cells since the proliferative capacity of human lymphocytes, keratinocytes (HaCaT) and epithelial cells (CCD841) was not significantly affected.

Conclusions

Altogether, these results demonstrate that diosgenin glucosamine compounds exert an antiproliferative effect on cancer cell lines and induce apoptotic effects more efficiently than diosgenin alone without affecting non‐tumour cells.

Significance

This study evidences the pro‐apoptotic and selective activities of diosgenyl glucosamine compounds in cancer cell lines.
Characterisation of cotadutide's dual GLP‐1/glucagon receptor agonistic effects on glycaemic control using an in vivo human glucose regulation quantitative systems pharmacology model
Authors: Bosch Rolien , Petrone Marcella , Arends Rosalin , Vicini Paolo , Sijbrands Eric J. G. , Hoefman Sven , Snelder Nelleke
Published: February 2024

Background and Purpose

Cotadutide is a dual GLP‐1 and glucagon receptor agonist with balanced agonistic activity at each receptor designed to harness the advantages on promoting liver health, weight loss and glycaemic control. We characterised the effects of cotadutide on glucose, insulin, GLP‐1, GIP, and glucagon over time in a quantitative manner using our glucose dynamics systems model (4GI systems model), in combination with clinical data from a multiple ascending dose/Phase 2a (MAD/Ph2a) study in overweight and obese subjects with a history of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (NCT02548585).

Experimental Approach

The cotadutide PK‐4GI systems model was calibrated to clinical data by re‐estimating only food related parameters. In vivo cotadutide efficacy was scaled based on in vitro potency. The model was used to explore the effect of weight loss on insulin sensitivity and predict the relative contribution of the GLP‐1 and glucagon receptor agonistic effects on glucose.

Key Results

Cotadutide MAD/Ph2a clinical endpoints were successfully predicted. The 4GI model captured a positive effect of weight loss on insulin sensitivity and showed that the stimulating effect of glucagon on glucose production counteracts the GLP‐1 receptor‐mediated decrease in glucose, resulting in a plateau for glucose decrease around a 200‐μg cotadutide dose.

Conclusion and Implications

The 4GI quantitative systems pharmacology model was able to predict the clinical effects of cotadutide on glucose, insulin, GLP‐1, glucagon and GIP given known in vitro potency. The analyses demonstrated that the quantitative systems pharmacology model, and its successive refinements, will be a valuable tool to support the clinical development of cotadutide and related compounds.
Taxonomic and functional avian diversity vary with cattle management practices in humid Chaco forests of Argentina
Authors: Haene Camila S. , Bilenca D. , Codesido M.
Published: February 2024

Birds play key roles in forest dynamics, favoring the resilience of forests to cattle ranching. Generalist species may benefit from changes in the vegetation structure caused by cattle grazing while specialist species are usually negatively affected. Therefore, studying changes in taxonomic and functional bird diversity can provide valuable information in order to propose the sustainable cattle management practices. Here, we study the influence of different cattle management practices (Cattle Exclusion: FCE; Continuous grazing: FCG; Rotational grazing: FRG; Seasonal grazing: FSG) on the understory vegetation structure, and the bird taxonomic and functional diversity in humid Chaco forests of Argentina. Forests under grazing had an open (FCG) or semi‐open (FRG and FSG) understory, whereas FCE presented a closed understory with higher plant richness. Generalized linear models revealed a decrease in bird richness and abundance under most cattle management practices compared to FCE. However, FRG was most similar to FCE in terms of vegetation structure and showed no differences in bird richness. FCE presented the lowest values of functional diversity while FCG and FRG showed the highest values. A fourth‐corner analysis showed that FCE was associated with insectivorous species which forage and nest in the shrub layer, reflecting a possible loss of ecosystem services in forests with cattle grazing. We propose FRG as the most appropriate cattle management option and the least detrimental to bird assemblages. However, maintaining protected areas that exclude cattle ranching activities will be key to strike a balance between the conservation of most specialist species and beef production.

Abstract in Spanish is available with online material.
Proteome analysis develops novel plasma proteins classifier in predicting the mortality of COVID‐19
Authors: Zeng Yifei , Li Yufan , Zhang Wanying , Lu Huidan , Lin Siyi , Zhang Wenting , Xia Lexin , Hu Huiqun , Song Yuanlin , Xu Feng
Published: February 2024

COVID‐19 has been a global concern for 3 years, however, consecutive plasma protein changes in the disease course are currently unclear. Setting the mortality within 28 days of admission as the main clinical outcome, plasma samples were collected from patients in discovery and independent validation groups at different time points during the disease course. The whole patients were divided into death and survival groups according to their clinical outcomes. Proteomics and pathway/network analyses were used to find the differentially expressed proteins and pathways. Then, we used machine learning to develop a protein classifier which can predict the clinical outcomes of the patients with COVID‐19 and help identify the high‐risk patients. Finally, a classifier including C‐reactive protein, extracellular matrix protein 1, insulin‐like growth factor‐binding protein complex acid labile subunit, E3 ubiquitin‐protein ligase HECW1 and phosphatidylcholine‐sterol acyltransferase was determined. The prediction value of the model was verified with an independent patient cohort. This novel model can realize early prediction of 28‐day mortality of patients with COVID‐19, with the area under curve 0.88 in discovery group and 0.80 in validation group, superior to 4C mortality and E‐CURB65 scores. In total, this work revealed a potential protein classifier which can assist in predicting the outcomes of COVID‐19 patients and providing new diagnostic directions.
The inhibitory effect of apatinib on different small cell lung cancer cells and in lung cancer‐bearing mice and patients
Authors: Liu Mingtao , Li Hui , Guo Ranran , Yu Xia , Li Yu
Published: February 2024

Purpose

To observe the inhibitory effect of the small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor apatinib on small cell lung cancer in vitro and vivo.

Material and methods

Three small lung cancer cells were selected CCK‐8 and monoclonal assay was used to determine the effect of apatinib on proliferation. The effects on cell cycle and apoptosis were detected by flow cytometry and TUNEL. We observed the inhibitory effect of different doses of apatinib on xenograft tumor. The efficacy and safety of apatinib in 20 patients with advanced small cell lung cancer were observed.

Results

For small cell lung cancer with high expression of VEGFR2, apatinib has a significant inhibitory effect both in vitro and in vivo. It can play an inhibitory role by promoting apoptosis and cell cycle arrest pathways. For small cell lung cancer with low expression of VEGFR, the inhibitory effect on cells in vitro was not significant. It has certain inhibitory effect on nude mouse transplanted tumor and small cell lung cancer patients, but the effect is weaker than that of animal models and patients with small cell lung cancer cells with high expression of VEGFR2.

Conclusion

Apatinib has a significant inhibitory effect on small cell lung cancer with high expression of VEGFR2 and may be a treatment for small cell lung cancer patients.
Advances in the endoscopic management of gastric varices
Authors: Chi Xin‐Tong , Lian Ting‐Ting , Zhuang Ze‐Hao
Published: February 2024

This review provides an overview of the treatment options available for gastric varices (GV) with a focus on endoscopic methods. Various minimally invasive techniques, including endoscopic band ligation, endoscopic cyanoacrylate injection, and transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt, can be applied to the treatment of GV. Endoscopic cyanoacrylate injection is now recognized as a first‐line treatment for GV. Endoscopic ultrasound‐guided cyanoacrylate injection combined with coils has shown good security and effectiveness. Thrombin injection therapy is a promising treatment, with a similar hemostasis rate to cyanoacrylate injection but with fewer serious complications. With the deepening understanding of the hemodynamics of the GV system, various treatment methods and their combination are gradually evaluated to provide patients with safer and more effective treatment options.
Phenological variation in the life histories of amphidromous gobies endemic to the Hawaiian islands
Authors: Heim‐Ballew Heidi , Blum Michael J. , McIntyre Peter B. , Bickford Nate , Hogan J. Derek
Published: February 2024

Despite the benefits that can come from coordinated movement, many diadromous fishes have evolved partial migration strategies, where a portion of a population does not migrate. Co‐occurring life‐history variants might nonetheless gain some advantage by exhibiting congruent phenologies, with key events timed to follow the same cue. Here, we assess this possibility by examining otolith microchemistry and structure to quantify the lunar periodicity of hatching and metamorphosis according to migration strategy in a facultative amphidromous goby endemic to Hawai'i. Our analyses corroborated prior evidence that Awaous stamineus exhibits partial migration and that residential A. stamineus are often proportionately more abundant than the migratory form. Contrary to expectation, we found a significant difference in hatching time between migratory and residential A. stamineus. A higher proportion of A. stamineus migrants hatched at the full moon and metamorphosed at the new moon, whereas residents exhibited the opposite phenology. Comparisons to Sicyopterus stimpsoni intended to provide a broader context revealed that the obligately amphidromous species tends to hatch at the new moon and metamorphose at the full moon, mirroring the phenology of residential A. stamineus. Evidence of convergent lunar phenologies suggests that synchronising life‐history events can confer benefits that extend beyond species boundaries. Notably, phenological discordance could be acting as a prezygotic isolating barrier between sympatric life‐history variants, pointing to the presence of heretofore unrecognised evolutionary diversity within partially migratory species like A. stamineus.
Impact of different practice testing methods on learning outcomes
Authors: Akbulut Yavuz
Published: February 2024

The testing effect refers to the gains in learning and retention that result from taking practice tests before the final test. Understanding the conditions under which practice tests improve learning is crucial, so four experiments were conducted with a total of 438 undergraduate students in Turkey. In the first study, students who took graded practice tests outperformed those who took them as ungraded practice. In the second study, students who took short‐answer questions before the first exam and multiple‐choice questions before the second exam scored higher on the second exam. In the third study, multiple‐choice, short‐answer and hybrid questions produced similar learning gains. In the fourth study, students who received detailed feedback immediately after class performed similarly to those who received feedback at the beginning of the next class. The results suggested the contribution of graded practice tests in general; however, the type of questions or the timing of feedback did not predict learning outcomes.
Frequency and outcomes of gastrostomy insertion in a longitudinal cohort study of atypical parkinsonism
Authors: Kobylecki Christopher , Chelban Viorica , Goh Yee Yen , Michou Emilia , Fumi Riona , Theilmann Jensen Marte , Mohammad Rahema , Costantini Alyssa , Vijiaratnam Nirosen , Pavey Samantha , Pavese Nicola , Leigh P. Nigel , Rowe James B. , Hu Michele T. , Church Alistair , Morris Huw R. , Houlden Henry
Published: February 2024

Background

Multiple system atrophy (MSA), progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and corticobasal syndrome (CBS) show a high prevalence and rapid progression of dysphagia, which is associated with reduced survival. Despite this, the evidence base for gastrostomy is poor, and the optimal frequency and outcomes of this intervention are not known. We aimed to characterise the prevalence and outcomes of gastrostomy in patients with these three atypical parkinsonian disorders.

Method

We analysed data from the natural history and longitudinal cohorts of the PROSPECT‐M‐UK study with up to 60 months of follow‐up from baseline. Survival post‐gastrostomy was analysed using Kaplan–Meier survival curves.

Results

In a total of 339 patients (mean age at symptom onset 63.3 years, mean symptom duration at baseline 4.6 years), dysphagia was present in >50% across all disease groups at baseline and showed rapid progression during follow‐up. Gastrostomy was recorded as recommended in 44 (13%) and performed in 21 (6.2%; MSA 7, PSP 11, CBS 3) of the total study population. Median survival post‐gastrostomy was 24 months compared with 12 months where gastrostomy was recommended but not done (p = 0.008). However, this was not significant when correcting for age and duration of symptoms at the time of procedure or recommendation.

Conclusions

Gastrostomy was performed relatively infrequently in this cohort despite the high prevalence of dysphagia. Survival post‐gastrostomy was longer than previously reported, but further data on other outcomes and clinician and patient perspectives would help to guide use of this intervention in MSA, PSP and CBS.
Should I stay or should I fly: Aerial dispersal in a funnel‐web wolf spider from the grasslands of southern South America
Authors: Kacevas Nadia , Bidegaray‐Batista Leticia , Gobel Noelia , González Macarena
Published: February 2024

Ballooning is a mechanism of aerial dispersal present in some groups of spiders. By releasing silken threads that are blown by the wind, spiders can travel long distances through the air. Aglaoctenus lagotis is a wolf spider that lives its entire life associated with a funnel‐web, despite the wandering habit that characterizes species in this family. We can find two forms of the species in Uruguay, one of them a strict inhabitant of grasslands of Uruguay. The high habitat specificity and the spiderlings observed surrounding the maternal web suggest a low aerial dispersal capacity in this species. In this study, we tested whether A. lagotis spiderlings are capable of dispersing by ballooning. We conducted laboratory and field experiments during the day and night, to record the occurrence of ballooning and typical behaviours that precede ballooning. We recorded ballooning both in the laboratory and in the field, and it was more frequent during the day. Although it has been reported repeatedly in species from this family, we never observed the pre‐ballooning tip‐toeing behaviour in A. lagotis. Ballooning was preceded by dropping on dragline, considered a behaviour that could generate aerial dispersion of lesser distance than that generated by the tip‐toeing. In this paper, we shall discuss the implications of this form of aerial dispersal, considering that the species analysed is a web wolf spider.
Conductivity of mammary gland secretions is a sensitive and specific predictor of parturition in mares
Authors: Magalhaes Humberto B. , Colombo Ilaria , Spencer Kianna M. , Podico Giorgia , Canisso Igor F.
Published: February 2024

Background

Accurate prediction of parturition is paramount to ensuring monitoring of delivery and preventing complications. Assessing the pH and electrolytes of the mammary gland secretions (MGS) helps detect impending parturition. As conductivity is related to electrolyte concentrations and pH, it could be a useful alternative for predicting impending parturition; however, this hypothesis warrants a critical assessment.

Objectives

To assess the ability of conductivity, pH, and Brix in the MGS to predict parturition and to investigate their associations.

Study design

Field study.

Methods

The MGS of periparturient mares (n = 241) was assessed daily for conductivity, pH, and Brix index from 320d until parturition. Receiving operating curve cut‐off values for conductivity (≤4.8 mS/cm), pH (≤6.4), and Brix index (>23.6%) were used to calculate sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) for predicting parturition in ≤24 h.

Results

Impending parturition was associated with a reduction in conductivity and pH (p < 0.05), and conductivity was strongly correlated with pH (r = 0.88) and Brix (r = −0.80) (p < 0.05). Sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV for parturition in ≤24 h for conductivity (82%, 91%, 77%, and 92%, respectively), pH (79%, 84%, 81%, and 71%, respectively), and Brix (72%, 79%, 66%, and 83%, respectively) were determined separated and pairwise. Of interest, the sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV, of combining conductivity and pH, were 80%, 95%, 90%, and 88%, respectively. Conductivity (≤4.8 mS/cm) presented the greatest odds ratio for predicting parturition in ≤24 h, and coupling it with pH (≤6.4 pH units) doubled its odds ratio (i.e., 25.4–62.3).

Main limitations

Field study.

Conclusion

The conductivity of MGS is a sensitive and specific method to predict parturition. This is the first large‐scale study showing that a combination of conductivity and pH is useful for predicting parturition in mares. The methods employed can likely apply to other settings with similar results.