bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Understanding the immune profile of sudden infant death syndrome – proteomic perspectives
Authors: Ferrante Linda , Opdal Siri H. , Byard Roger W.
Published: October 2023

Aim

The aim of this study was to investigate a panel of immune proteins in cases of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). It was hypothesised that, in at least a subset of SIDS, a dysregulated immune response may be a contributing factor leading to death.

Methods

The subjects included 46 SIDS cases and 41 controls autopsied at the Department of Forensic Sciences, Norway. The causes of death in the controls were accidents/trauma. Samples of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were analysed quantitatively by Proximity Extension Assay (PEA).

Results

Initial results revealed that normalised protein expression differed in 35 proteins. For the purposes of this report five proteins that are involved in immune system were selected for analysis: IFNLR1 (p = 0.003), IL10 (p = 0.007), IRAK4 (p < 0.001) and IL6 (p = 0.035); all had lower protein concentrations in SIDS cases compared to controls except for CD28 (p = 0.024) which had higher protein concentrations in SIDS cases.

Conclusion

The results confirm previous studies indicating that a dysregulation of the immune system may be a predisposing factor for SIDS. The results may indicate that these aberrant protein concentrations could lead to an inadequate response to immune triggers and uncontrolled defence mechanisms towards the common cold or other non‐fatal infections.
The CD4/CD8 ratio of infused CD19‐CAR‐T is a prognostic factor for efficacy and toxicity
Authors: Galli Eugenio , Bellesi Silvia , Pansini Ilaria , Di Cesare Giacomo , Iacovelli Camilla , Malafronte Rosalia , Maiolo Elena , Chiusolo Patrizia , Sica Simona , Sorà Federica , Hohaus Stefan
Published: October 2023

CD4+ and CD8+ chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR‐T) play different roles in the in vivo anti‐tumour response, but the role of the CD4+/CD8+ ratio among infused CAR‐T has not been clearly defined yet. We analysed leftovers from infused anti‐CD19 CAR‐T bags of 31 patients with aggressive B‐cell lymphomas. The median ratio was 1.44, lower for brexu‐cel compared to tisa‐cel and axi‐cel. The CAR+CD4+/CD8+ ratio was influenced by lactate dehydrogenase levels at apheresis, not by age, previous treatments or the CD4+/CD8+ ratio in peripheral blood. Patients with a response at 3 months after CAR‐T (M3) had a lower CAR+CD4+/CD8+ ratio in the infused products compared to non‐responders (ratio 0.74 vs. 2.47, p = 0.011). A CAR+CD4+/CD8+ ratio higher than the cut point of 1.12 was associated with an increased risk of treatment failure at M3 (OR 23.3, p = 0.012) and M6 (OR 10, p = 0.028). The median 6‐month PFS was 76% for patients with a ratio lower than 1.12% vs. 31% for the others. The prognostic role of the CAR+CD4+/CD8+ ratio was independent of the costimulatory domain (CD28 vs. 4‐1BB) of the product (OR 16.41, p = 0.041). Our data indicate a crucial role for CD8+ CAR‐T and the CAR+CD4+/CD8+ ratio in predicting CAR‐T efficacy.
Large‐scale genomic data reveal the phylogeny and evolution of owlet moths (Noctuoidea)
Authors: Li Xuankun , Breinholt Jesse W. , Martinez Jose I. , Keegan Kevin , Ellis Emily A. , Homziak Nicholas T. , Zwick Andreas , Storer Caroline G. , McKenna Duane , Kawahara Akito Y.
Published: October 2023

The owlet moths (Noctuoidea; ~43–45K described species) are one of the most ecologically diverse and speciose superfamilies of animals. Moreover, they comprise some of the world's most notorious pests of agriculture and forestry. Despite their contributions to terrestrial biodiversity and impacts on ecosystems and economies, the evolutionary history of Noctuoidea remains unclear because the superfamily lacks a statistically robust phylogenetic and temporal framework. We reconstructed the phylogeny of Noctuoidea using data from 1234 genes (946.4 kb nucleotides) obtained from the genome and transcriptome sequences of 76 species. The relationships among the six families of Noctuoidea were well resolved and consistently recovered based on both concatenation and gene coalescence approaches, supporting the following relationships: Oenosandridae + (Notodontidae + (Erebidae + (Nolidae + (Euteliidae + Noctuidae)))). A Yule tree prior with three unlinked molecular clocks was identified as the preferred BEAST analysis using marginal‐likelihood estimations. The crown age of Noctuoidea was estimated at 74.5 Ma, with most families originating before the end of the Paleogene (23 Ma). Our study provides the first statistically robust phylogenetic and temporal framework for Noctuoidea, including all families of owlet moths, based on large‐scale genomic data.
Integrated transcriptomic and proteomic profiling reveals the key molecular signatures of brain endothelial reperfusion injury
Authors: Ji Yabin , Chen Yiman , Tan Xixi , Huang Xiaowen , Gao Qiang , Ma Yinzhong , Yang Shilun , Yin Meifang , Yu Min , Fang Cheng , Wang Yu , Shi Zhu , Chang Junlei
Published: October 2023

Background

Reperfusion therapy after ischemic stroke often causes brain microvascular injury. However, the underlying mechanisms are unclear.

Methods

Transcriptomic and proteomic analyses were performed on human cerebral microvascular endothelial cells following oxygen–glucose deprivation (OGD) or OGD plus recovery (OGD/R) to identify molecules and signaling pathways dysregulated by reperfusion. Major findings were further validated in a mouse model of cerebral ischemia and reperfusion.

Results

Transcriptomic analysis identified 390 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the OGD/R and OGD group. Pathway analysis indicated that these genes were mostly associated with inflammation, including the TNF signaling pathway, TGF‐β signaling pathway, cytokine–cytokine receptor interaction, NOD‐like receptor signaling pathway, and NF‐κB signaling pathway. Proteomic analysis identified 201 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs), which were primarily associated with extracellular matrix destruction and remodeling, impairment of endothelial transport function, and inflammatory responses. Six genes (DUSP1, JUNB, NFKBIA, NR4A1, SERPINE1, and THBS1) were upregulated by OGD/R at both the mRNA and protein levels. In mice with cerebral ischemia and reperfusion, brain TNF signaling pathway was activated by reperfusion, and inhibiting TNF‐α with adalimumab significantly attenuated reperfusion‐induced brain endothelial inflammation. In addition, the protein level of THBS1 was substantially upregulated upon reperfusion in brain endothelial cells and the peri‐endothelial area in mice receiving cerebral ischemia.

Conclusion

Our study reveals the key molecular signatures of brain endothelial reperfusion injury and provides potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of brain microvascular injury after reperfusion therapy in ischemic stroke.
Do Democracy Vouchers help democracy?
Authors: Papich Sarah
Published: October 2023

Seattle's Democracy Vouchers program provides a unique form of public financing for political campaigns in which voters decide how to allocate public funding across candidates. This paper is the first to study the effects of public financing for political campaigns on political participation. I estimate that the Democracy Vouchers program increases voter turnout by 4.9 percentage points, suggesting that public financing programs can increase political participation. I also find that campaigns become more reliant on small contributions. For city council candidates, dollars from small contributions under $100 increase by 156% while dollars from large contributions over $250 decrease by 93%.
Cognitive Orientation to daily Occupational Performance to improve occupational performance goals for children with executive function deficits after acquired brain injury
Authors: Lebrault Hélène , Martini Rose , Manolov Rumen , Chavanne Céline , Krasny‐Pacini Agata , Chevignard Mathilde
Published: October 2023

Aim

To determine the effectiveness of the Cognitive Orientation to daily Occupational Performance (CO‐OP) approach in improving the occupational performance goals of children and young people with executive function deficits after acquired brain injury (ABI) (e.g. etiologies such as stroke, encephalitis, brain tumor, and traumatic brain injury).

Method

A replicated single‐case experimental study using a randomized multiple baseline design across participants and goals was used. Three clusters of four participants (12 participants, nine males and three females, aged 8–16 years) were included. The intervention consisted of 14 individual CO‐OP sessions. Each participant chose four goals; three goals were trained during the intervention sessions and a fourth goal served as the control. The Goal Attainment Scale (GAS) was used as a repeated measure to determine goal achievement while the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) was used to identify the perceived goal achievement of children, young people, and their parents.

Results

For 26 of the 35 trained goals, the intervention led to statistically significant improvements in the GAS. Perceived occupational performance and satisfaction improved significantly for the trained goals (30 out of 35 goals for the COPM performance and satisfaction of participants; 26 out 31 goals for the COPM performance of parents; 24 out of 31 goals for the COPM satisfaction of parents) and were maintained at the follow‐up. Almost all COPM control goal results were significant, but these changes were not supported by the GAS measures or the statistical analysis.

Interpretation

The generally positive results of this study provide evidence of the benefits of using the CO‐OP approach with this population.
Testing the links between bird diversity, alien species and disturbance within a human‐modified landscape
Authors: Marcolin Fabio , Segurado Pedro , Chamberlain Dan , Reino Luís
Published: October 2023

Introduced alien species are associated with lower taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversity of native communities and negative impacts on ecosystem functioning. This is particularly evident in habitats where human disturbance may favour alien species, posing an additional stressor on native communities. Following the community resistance hypothesis (higher diversity promotes higher resistance to invasion), we predicted: 1) higher taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversity (TD, FD and PD respectively) in non‐invaded bird communities (i.e. no alien bird species); and 2) higher diversity and resistance to invasion in less human‐disturbed areas. We surveyed bird communities in a modified Mediterranean landscape subject to varying levels of human disturbance. We tested whether TD, FD and PD were significantly different between non‐invaded and invaded bird communities, and assessed the effect of land classes (forest, agriculture, urban), landscape composition and heterogeneity on these metrics. We found that non‐invaded communities retained higher TD and FD, but not PD, than invaded communities. Alien birds occupied marginal niches in invaded communities, and did not fully compensate for the taxonomic and functional diversity loss caused by the absence of native species. These results were consistent across different land classes, suggesting weak environmental filtering of communities. Generally, less human‐modified and more heterogeneous areas supported higher TD regardless of the presence of alien species. FD and PD of invaded communities decreased with increases in human‐modified areas, whereas non‐invaded communities were not affected. Our results suggest that even within a human‐modified landscape, invaded community diversity is more affected by, and thus has a lower resilience to, disturbance. Restoring and protecting natural habitats within human‐modified landscapes is likely to increase the resilience of native species.
Freshwater fish as hosts for parasites in Australia: How much do we really know?
Authors: Barton Diane P. , Shamsi Shokoofeh
Published: October 2023

Australia has a highly endemic freshwater fish fauna, but basic biological knowledge for most is lacking. This includes an understanding, and description, of their parasite fauna. Additionally, the impacts of introduced fish species, and their parasites which have transferred across to native species, are also mostly unknown. This review provides the current level of knowledge of parasitic infection of the freshwater fish in Australia, both introduced and native. Only about a third of the native freshwater fish, but almost two‐thirds of introduced fish, have been reported as a host for a parasite. The majority of records occur along the eastern coastline of Australia and throughout the Murray Darling Basin; two drainage regions were yet to record any parasite infections. Of the 124 fish species, across 43 families, found as hosts in Australia, only 11 species had more than 10 reports of infection, with 31% of fish species only having single reports. A total of 13 different types of parasites were reported, with digeneans, protozoans, nematodes and monogeneans the most commonly reported. Significant gaps in the knowledge of parasites, and their potential impacts, of Australian freshwater fish still exist, and the need for fish biologists and fish parasitologists to work together is highlighted to ensure that as much information about each group can be obtained.
Deterministic assembly processes shaping habitat‐specific glycoside hydrolase composition
Authors: Li Dan‐dan , Zhang Zheng , Zhang Peng , Wang Jia‐ning , Liu Ya , Li Yue‐zhong
Published: October 2023

Aim

Glycoside hydrolases (GHs) encoded by prokaryotes play a crucial role in the degradation of carbohydrates, which is a key step in the carbon cycle. However, their global distribution remains poorly understood. Here, we conducted a comprehensive investigation of the global biogeographic patterns of prokaryotic‐encoded GHs.

Location

Global.

Time period

Present.

Major taxa studied

Prokaryotes.

Methods

We conducted a global survey of GH distribution based on 10,000 samples from the Earth Microbiome Project (EMP) and 17,923 completely sequenced prokaryotic genomes. The samples were retrieved from seven continents, covering all 17 EMP Ontology environments. We evaluated the assembly process and influencing factors of GH functional genes within prokaryotic communities, and analysed the rank abundance distributions (RADs), occupancy frequency distributions (OFDs), and taxonomic sources of GH families across various environments.

Results

The median number of GH genes per thousand genes encoded by global prokaryotic communities was 9.11 (7.16–11.58), with a higher GH abundance in host‐associated communities than in free‐living communities. The median number of GH families in prokaryotic communities was 105 (86–121), with fewer families but tighter functional connections between families in host‐associated communities compared to free‐living communities. In any environment, the RAD of GH families followed a lognormal model, and their OFD was bimodal, with a strong positive correlation between the two. In addition, most GH families had complex and diverse taxonomic sources across different environments.

Main conclusions

This study provides a panoramic view of the functional potentials for carbohydrate degradation across prokaryotic communities under diverse environmental conditions. The composition of GHs encoded by prokaryotic communities exhibits clear habitat specificity, which is driven by a combination of biotic and abiotic factors and generated through highly deterministic assembly processes.
Plant footprint decreases the functional diversity of molecules in topsoil organic matter after millions of years of ecosystem development
Authors: Sáez‐Sandino Tadeo , Gallardo Antonio , Eldridge David J. , Berhe Asmeret Asefaw , Doetterl Sebastian , Delgado‐Baquerizo Manuel
Published: October 2023

Aim

Theory suggests that the diversity of molecules in soil organic matter (SOM functional diversity) provides key insights on multiple ecosystem services. We aimed to investigate how and why SOM functional diversity and composition change as topsoils develop, and its implications for key soil functions (e.g., from nutrient pool to water regulation).

Location

We reported data on 16 soil chronosequences globally distributed in nine countries from six continents.

Time Period

2016–2017.

Major Taxa Studied

Soil microbes (bacteria and fungi) and vascular plants.

Methods

SOM functional diversity and composition without mineral interference were measured using diffuse reflectance mid‐infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFT). We aimed to characterize the main environmental factors related to SOM functional diversity and composition. Also, we calculated the links among SOM functional diversity and key soil functions.

Results

We found that SOM functional diversity declines after millions of years of soil formation (pedogenesis). We further showed that increases in plant cover and productivity led to a higher ratio of reduced (e.g., alkanes) over oxidized carbon forms (i.e., C: O‐functional groups ratio), which was positively correlated to SOM functional diversity as soils age. Our findings indicated that the plant footprint (i.e., the accumulation of plant‐derived material promoting the C: O‐functional group ratio) would explain the reduction of SOM functional diversity as ecosystems develop. Moreover, the dissimilarity in SOM composition consistently increased with soil age, with the soil development stage emerging as the main predictor of SOM dissimilarity across contrasting biomes.

Main Conclusions

Our global survey contextualized the natural history of SOM functional diversity and composition during long‐term soil development. Together, we showed how plant footprint drives the losses of SOM functional diversity with increasing age, which might provide a novel mechanism to explain typically reported losses in ecosystem functions during ecosystem retrogression.
Outreach dental care programme for older adults using long‐term care services in Hong Kong: A qualitative study
Authors: Yang Stella X. , Lo Edward C. M. , Leung Katherine C. M.
Published: October 2023

Objectives

To explore the effects and improvement needs of an outreach dental care programme (ODCP) for older adults using residential care or daycare services from the perspectives of the caregivers, the dentists and administrative staff involved in the implementation of the ODCP.

Methods

A qualitative study was conducted through semi‐structured interviews with three stakeholders, long‐term care (LTC) facility caregivers, administrative staff and dentists working for the ODCP. Combined maximum variation and snowball sampling strategies were adopted, and 22, 9 and 7 participants were interviewed from each stakeholder, respectively. The interviews were conducted via telephone, which were audio‐recorded and transcribed verbatim for analysis. NVivo software was used for storing and analysing the data. Data analysis was conducted continuously during the study.

Results

Most participants opined that the ODCP benefited older adults by raising their oral health conditions and awareness. However, they complained of the complicated administrative procedures, unmet dental treatment needs, inefficient coordination, unclear work guidelines and shortage of dental manpower. More advanced dental treatment options, better coordination among different parties, simpler administrative processes and better incentives for dentists were proposed to further improve the programme.

Conclusions

According to the stakeholders, ODCP seems beneficial to older adults using LTC services. Further improvements in the scope of dental treatments, cooperation between the outreach dental teams and caregivers, and streamlining of the administrative process are needed for the provision of effective outreach dental care to satisfy the unmet treatment needs of older adults who use LTC services. Better incentives are needed to attract and retain dentists.
Chewing difficulty and frailty trajectories in Chinese nursing home residents: A prospective cohort study
Authors: Wang Shan , Wang Kefang , Luo Lingping , Wu Chen , Zhao Meng , Li Ming
Published: October 2023

Aim

To investigate frailty trajectories in nursing home residents, and to test whether chewing difficulty was a significant factor associated with frailty trajectories.

Methods

This is a 1‐year prospective cohort study. Data were collected from 27 nursing home residents in China at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months. Latent class growth modeling was used to identify frailty trajectories. Multilevel multinomial logistic regression was used to test the relative risk ratios (RRRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of the chewing difficulty assessed at baseline on frailty trajectories.

Results

In total, 269 nursing home residents were included in the analysis. Three frailty trajectories identified were non‐frailty trajectory (n = 181, 67.3%), stable frailty trajectory (n = 52, 19.3%), and progressive frailty trajectory (n = 36, 13.4%). Chewing difficulty was found among 138 (51.3%) nursing home residents. With the non‐frailty trajectory group as the reference, residents with chewing difficulty were more likely to demonstrate stable frailty trajectory (RRR = 2.55, 95% CI [1.28–5.11]) or progressive frailty trajectory (RRR = 3.46, 95% CI [1.47–8.15]).

Conclusions

Changes in the frailty of nursing home residents are heterogeneous and chewing difficulty should be assessed and addressed on a routine basis in nursing homes to prevent the deterioration of frailty or reverse it. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2023; 23: 803–808.
1989: THE CHRONOPOLITICS OF REVOLUTION
Authors: COLLA MARCUS , GJURIČOVÁ ADÉLA
Published: October 2023

A failed effort at “reform from above” or a dramatic reassertion of “people power”? Almost thirty‐five years on, studies of the Revolutions of 1989 continue to be framed by these two polarities. However, this historiographical focus has meant that scholars have often overlooked the actual content and character of protest itself. This article argues that one way of reinjecting agency and ideas back into our historical understanding of 1989 is through examining the chronopolitics of revolution: that is to say, by addressing how the control and interpretation of time became a political battlefield, a site of contention and negotiation, between Communist regimes, on the one hand, and political activists and society, on the other. Investigating events in the German Democratic Republic and Czechoslovakia, the article contains two central claims: first, that an interrogation of the concept of “chronopolitics” can provide a new angle by which to grasp the revolutionary character of “1989” and the democratic transformations that resulted and, second, by way of inversion, that a study of the temporal experiences across 1989 and the early 1990s can in turn shed light on the analytical value of “chronopolitics” more generally.
Distinct roles of the Hox genes Ultrabithorax and abdominal‐A in scorpionfly embryonic proleg development
Authors: Liu Bing‐Peng , Hua Bao‐Zhen
Published: October 2023

The abdominal appendages of larval insects have a complex evolutionary history of gain and loss, but the regulatory mechanisms underlying the abdominal appendage development remain largely unclear. Here, we investigated the embryogenesis of abdominal prolegs in the scorpionfly Panorpa liui Hua (Mecoptera: Panorpidae) using in situ hybridization and parental RNA interference. The results show that RNAi‐mediated knockdown of Ultrabithorax (Ubx) led to a homeotic transformation of the first abdominal segment (A1) into the third thoracic segment (T3) and changed the distributions of the downstream target Distal‐less (Dll) expression but did not affect the expression levels of Dll. Knockdown of abdominal‐A (abd‐A) resulted in malformed segments, abnormal prolegs and disrupted Dll expression. The results demonstrate that the gene Ubx maintains an ancestral role of modulating A1 appendage fate without preventing Dll initiation, and a secondary adaptation of abd‐A evolves the ability to specify abdominal segments and proleg identity. We conclude that changes in abdominal Hox gene expression and their target genes regulate abdominal appendage morphology during the evolutionary course of holometabolous larvae.
Double it up: Vocabulary size comparisons between UK bilingual and monolingual toddlers
Authors: Siow Serene , Gillen Nicola A. , Lepădatu Irina , Plunkett Kim
Published: October 2023

We compared vocabulary sizes in comprehension and production between bilingual toddlers growing up in the United Kingdom (UK) and age‐matched UK English monolinguals (12–36 months old) using parent‐report vocabulary questionnaires. We found that bilingual toddlers' vocabulary sizes in English were smaller than the vocabulary sizes of their monolingual peers. Notably, this vocabulary gap was not found when groups were compared on conceptual vocabulary in comprehension. Conceptual scoring also reduced the vocabulary gap in production but group differences were still significant. Bilingual toddlers knew more words than monolinguals when words across their two languages were added together, for both comprehension and production. This large total vocabulary size could be attributed to a high proportion of doublets (cross‐linguistic word pairs with the same meaning) in bilinguals' vocabularies. These findings are discussed in relation to language exposure, facilitation from cross‐linguistic overlap and maturation constraints on vocabulary size.
The effectiveness of primary series CoronaVac vaccine in preventing COVID‐19 illness: A prospective cohort study among healthcare workers in Azerbaijan, May–November 2021
Authors: Katz Mark A. , Rojas Castro Madelyn Yiseth , Seyidov Nabil , Herdman M. Trent , Mehdiyev Samir , McKnight C. Jason , Guseinova Alina , Cojocaru Radu , Doran Jason , Mühlemann Barbara , Drosten Christian , Suleymanova Javahir , Pebody Richard , Kissling Esther , Hagverdiyev Gahraman
Published: October 2023

Background

Healthcare workers (HCWs) have suffered considerable morbidity and mortality during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Few studies have evaluated the CoronaVac vaccine effectiveness (VE), particularly in Eastern Europe, where the vaccine has been widely used.

Methods

We conducted a prospective cohort study among HCWs in seven hospitals in Baku, Azerbaijan between May 17 and November 30, 2021, to evaluate primary series (two‐dose) CoronaVac VE against symptomatic SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. Participants completed weekly symptom questionnaires, provided nasopharyngeal swabs for SARS‐CoV‐2 RT‐PCR testing when symptomatic, and provided serology samples at enrollment that were tested for anti‐spike and anti‐nucleocapsid antibodies. We estimated VE as (1 – hazard ratio)*100 using a Cox proportional hazards model with vaccination status as a time‐varying exposure, adjusting for hospital and previous SARS‐CoV‐2 infection status.

Results

We enrolled 1582 HCWs. At enrollment, 1040 (66%) had received two doses of CoronaVac; 421 (27%) were unvaccinated. During the study period, 72 PCR‐positive SARS‐CoV‐2 infections occurred; 36/39 (92%) sequenced samples were classified as Delta variants. Primary series VE against COVID‐19 illness was 29% (95% CI: −51%; 67%) for the entire analysis period. For the Delta‐only period (July 1–November 30, 2021), primary series VE was 19% (95% CI: −81%; 64%). For the entire analysis period, primary series VE was 39% (95% CI: −40%; 73%) for HCWs vaccinated within 14–149 days and 19% (95% CI: −81%; 63%) for those vaccinated ≥150 days.

Conclusions

During a period in Azerbaijan characterized by mostly Delta circulation, VE point estimates suggested that primary series CoronaVac protected nearly 1 in 3 HCWs against COVID‐19, but 95% confidence intervals were wide, with lower bounds that crossed zero, reflecting the limited precision of our VE estimates. Our findings underscore the need to consider booster doses for individuals who have received the primary series of CoronaVac.
Information sharing and production mode selection with price and quality competition
Authors: Lin Qiang , Li Wenzhuo , Lin Xiaogang , Fu Wenhui
Published: October 2023

In recent years, retailers can obtain consumers' demand information from rich market data, such as their browsing history and sales data. This gives retailers access to more demand information about consumers than manufacturers. Furthermore, many retailers have begun to share demand information with their upstream manufacturers who provide goods of a certain quality. Because an increasing number of consumers are concerned about product prices and product quality levels and are even willing to pay a higher price for high‐quality products, manufacturers consider two production modes to adapt to the market: the Q‐before‐IS mode or the Q‐after‐IS mode. To capture substantial consumer markets, retailers have also begun to provide their goods to compete with the manufacturers. Motivated by these practices, this study analyzes the retailer's information‐sharing strategy and the manufacturer's production mode selection under price and quality competition. We find that under the Q‐before‐IS mode, the retailer has no incentive to voluntarily share information with the manufacturer. However, under the Q‐after‐IS mode, the retailer would share two products' information with the manufacturer when the quality investment cost factor is relatively low. Our findings confirm that the retailer is induced to share information because the retailer and manufacturer participate in the quality and price competition after observing the demand. Moreover, the manufacturer prefers the Q‐after‐IS (Q‐before‐IS) mode under the equilibrium information‐sharing strategy when the demand fluctuation is large (otherwise). This indicates that the retailer's information‐sharing strategy plays a key role in the manufacturer's preferred production mode.
Hospital‐acquired pressure injury prevention in people with a BMI of 30.0 or higher: A scoping review
Authors: Marshall Victoria , Qiu Yunjing , Jones Angela , Weller Carolina D. , Team Victoria
Published: October 2023

Aim(s)

To: (1) explore current best practices for hospital‐acquired pressure injury prevention in high BMI patients; (2) summarize nurses' experiences in preventing and managing them; (3) explore the association between a high BMI and occurrence and severity of pressure injury.

Design

Exploratory.

Methods

Scoping review.

Data Sources

Ovid MEDLINE, EBSCO CINAHL Plus, JBI Evidence Synthesis, Scopus, Embase, clinical registries and grey literature (search dates: January 2009 to May 2021).

Results

Overall, 1479 studies were screened. The included studies were published between 2010 and 2022. Five interventional studies and 32 best practice recommendations (Objective 1) reported low‐quality evidence. Findings of thematic analysis reported in nine studies (Objective 2) identified nurses' issues as insufficient bariatric equipment, inadequate staffing, weight bias, fatigue, obese‐related terminology issues, ethical dilemmas and insufficient staff education in high BMI patients' pressure injury prevention. No association between hospital‐acquired pressure injury occurrence and high BMI were reported by 18 out of 28 included studies (Objective 3).

Conclusion

Quality of evidence was low for the interventional studies and best practice recommendations.

Implications for the Profession and/or Patient Care

Current (2019) International Pressure Injury Guideline to be used despite the low quality of evidence of most best practice recommendations.

Impact Statement

This study addressed hospital‐acquired pressure injury prevention in high BMI patients. Greater proportion of studies in this review found no association between high BMI and occurrence of hospital‐acquired pressure injury. Nurses need educational interventions on pressure injury prevention in high body mass index people, sufficient staffing for repositioning and improved availability of bariatric equipment.

Reporting Method

We adhered to relevant EQUATOR guidelines, PRISMA extension for scoping reviews.

Patient or Public Contribution

No patient or public contribution.

What Does this Paper Contribute to the Wider Global Clinical Community?

Larger clinical trials are needed on repositioning frequency, support surfaces, prophylactic dressings and risk assessment tools to inform clinical practice guidelines on pressure injury prevention in high BMI people.

Protocol Registration

Wound Practice and Research (https://doi.org/10.33235/wpr.29.3.133‐139).
Climate biogeography of Arabidopsis thaliana: Linking distribution models and individual variation
Authors: Yim Christina , Bellis Emily S. , DeLeo Victoria L. , Gamba Diana , Muscarella Robert , Lasky Jesse R.
Published: October 2023

Aim

Patterns of individual variation are key to testing hypotheses about the mechanisms underlying biogeographic patterns. If species distributions are determined by environmental constraints, then populations near range margins may have reduced performance and be adapted to harsher environments. Model organisms are potentially important systems for biogeographical studies, given the available range‐wide natural history collections, and the importance of providing biogeographical context to their genetic and phenotypic diversity.

Location

Global.

Taxon

Arabidopsis thaliana (‘Arabidopsis’).

Methods

We fit occurrence records to climate data, and then projected the distribution of Arabidopsis under last glacial maximum, current and future climates. We confronted model predictions with individual performance measured on 2194 herbarium specimens, and we asked whether predicted suitability was associated with life history and genomic variation measured on ~900 natural accessions.

Results

The most important climate variables constraining the Arabidopsis distribution were winter cold in northern and high elevation regions and summer heat in southern regions. Herbarium specimens from regions with lower habitat suitability in both northern and southern regions were smaller, supporting the hypothesis that the distribution of Arabidopsis is constrained by climate‐associated factors. Climate anomalies partly explained interannual variation in herbarium specimen size, but these did not closely correspond to local limiting factors identified in the distribution model. Late‐flowering genotypes were absent from the lowest suitability regions, suggesting slower life histories are only viable closer to the centre of the realized niche. We identified glacial refugia farther north than previously recognized, as well as refugia concordant with previous population genetic findings. Lower latitude populations, known to be genetically distinct, are most threatened by future climate change. The recently colonized range of Arabidopsis was well‐predicted by our native‐range model applied to certain regions but not others, suggesting it has colonized novel climates.

Main Conclusions

Integration of distribution models with performance data from vast natural history collections is a route forward for testing biogeographical hypotheses about species distributions and their relationship with evolutionary fitness across large scales.
Inherent and adaptive resilience of logistics operations in food supply chains
Authors: Umar Muhammad , Wilson Mark M. J.
Published: October 2023

This study aims to investigate the sources of resilience for logistics operations as it relates to food supply chains and their responses during natural disasters and other disruptions. The literature tends to treat inherent and adaptive resilience as somewhat separate constructs. Thus, this study also aims to provide some insights into the relatively underexamined area of how inherent resilience synergistically works with adaptive resilience to maintain flows for food supply chains in a developing economy context. To address the research aim, two supply chain wide case studies were used to investigate the contribution of logistic activities toward the resilience of foods supply chains in two different South Asian regions. This context was selected as these regions are prone to frequent natural disruptions and other disruptions, and these food supply chains also play a crucial role in economy and providing relief supplies to their communities. Logistics operations play a key role in achieving overall supply chain resilience. The sources of inherent resilience are the network structure, buffer capacity, and strong social connections among the actors. Adaptive resilience is derived from transportation flows, storage, information sharing, and demand management processes. Surprisingly, resilience in this context is achieved despite the relatively low level of integration, an unsophisticated technological landscape and compromised logistics infrastructure. Still, resilience can be enhanced further. This study contributes to the sparse literature that examines logistics activities that influence the resilience of food supply chains in the context of natural disasters and other disruptions. Furthermore, uncovering the substructure of logistics resilience activities, and surprisingly, the synergies between inherent and adaptive resilience, adds to the emerging body of literature.
The association between food environment, diet quality and malnutrition in low‐ and middle‐income adult populations across the rural—Urban gradient in Vietnam
Authors: Vuong Vy Thao , Fiorella Kathryn J. , Jones Andrew D. , Thi Trinh Huong , Khoury Colin K. , Huynh Tuyen Thi Thanh , Hoang Ky The , Nguyen Kien Tri
Published: October 2023

Background

Economic reforms and trade liberalisation in Vietnam have transformed the food environment, influencing dietary patterns and malnutrition status. The present study focuses on the relationship between food environments (proximity and density of food outlets) and malnutrition (underweight, overweight, obesity) through diet quality in adult populations across urban, periurban and rural areas of Vietnam.

Methods

We evaluated food environment by geospatial mapping of food outlets through a transect walk across the “food ecosystem” from rural to urban areas. Diet quality was assessed using the Diet Quality Index – Vietnamese (DQI‐V) comprising Variety, Adequacy, Moderation and Balance components. Malnutrition status was determined using body mass index. We performed a mediation analysis utilising mixed effect models to control for neighbourhood clustering effects. Confounders included age, education, income and nutrition knowledge score.

Results

Analysis of data from 595 adult participants (mean ± SD age: 31.2 ± 6.4 years; 50% female) found that longer distance to the nearest food outlet was associated with higher overall DQI‐V (β = 2.0; 95% confidence interval = 0.2–3.8; p = 0.036) and the Moderation component (β = 2.6; 95% confidence interval = 1.2–4.0; p = 0.001). Outlet density shows a negative association with the odds of underweight among women (odds ratio = 0.62; 95% confidence interval = 0.37–0.96). However, we did not observe statistically significant relationships between diet quality and malnutrition. Education and nutrition knowledge scores were positively associated with diet diversity, while income was negatively associated with diet moderation.

Conclusions

The findings of the present study have important implications for nutrition and dietetics practice in Vietnam and globally. It emphasises the need to consider various dimensions of sustainable diets, including economic, health and socio‐cultural/political factors. Longer distances to food outlets are associated with higher diet quality, whereas lower food outlet density increases the odds of underweight among women. This poses challenges in balancing modernisation and its adverse effects on sustainable food systems. Socio‐economic status consistently correlated with diet quality and malnutrition, necessitating further research to promote healthy diets across socio‐economic strata.
Early life stress lastingly alters the function and AMPA‐receptor composition of glutamatergic synapses in the hippocampus of male mice
Authors: Brosens Niek , Simon Carla , Kessels Helmut W. , Lucassen Paul J. , Krugers Harm J.
Published: October 2023

Early postnatal life is a sensitive period of development that shapes brain structure and function later in life. Exposure to stress during this critical time window can alter brain development and may enhance the susceptibility to psychopathology and neurodegenerative disorders later in life. The developmental effects of early life stress (ELS) on synaptic function are not fully understood, but could provide mechanistic insights into how ELS modifies later brain function and disease risk. We here assessed the effects of ELS on synaptic function and composition in the hippocampus of male mice. Mice were subjected to ELS by housing dams and pups with limited bedding and nesting material from postnatal days (P) 2–9. Synaptic strength was measured in terms of miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs) in the hippocampal dentate gyrus at three different developmental stages: the early postnatal phase (P9), preadolescence (P21, at weaning) and adulthood at 3 months of age (3MO). Hippocampal synaptosome fractions were isolated from P9 and 3MO tissue and analyzed for protein content to assess postsynaptic composition. Finally, dendritic spine density was assessed in the DG at 3MO. At P9, ELS increased mEPSC frequency and amplitude. In parallel, synaptic composition was altered as PSD‐95, GluA3 and GluN2B content were significantly decreased. The increased mEPSC frequency was sustained up to 3MO, at which age, GluA3 content was significantly increased. No differences were found in dendritic spine density. These findings highlight how ELS affects the development of hippocampal synapses, which could provide valuable insight into mechanisms how ELS alters brain function later in life.
Needs assessment in patients with inflammatory bowel disease in the encounter and communication with healthcare professionals: A fieldwork study
Authors: Fallesen Janni Petersen , Krogh Marie Louise , Minet Lisbeth Rosenbek , Skjøth Mette Maria , Knudsen Torben , Kjeldsen Jens
Published: October 2023

Aim

To explore how patients with Inflammatory bowel disease experienced encounters with healthcare professionals in two gastrointestinal outpatient clinics to demonstrate what matters in the communication between patients and healthcare professionals.

Design

This fieldwork study is part of a larger study developing an application for patients with inflammatory bowel disease in a framework inspired by Participatory Design. Participatory design consists of three phases and this study focused on the first phase, needs assessment. A phenomenological hermeneutic approach and qualitative methods were applied to obtain an understanding of patients' needs.

Methods

Three weeks of participant observations and three focus groups with 14 subjects were conducted at two university hospitals in Denmark. Field notes and interview transcripts were analysed using condensation of meaning and interpreted based on interactional nursing practice theory. The reporting method adhered to the EQUATOR guideline: COREQ.

Results

Four themes emerged: Easy and dependable access to healthcare professionals. Predictability of follow‐up appointments. Importance of privacy during patient exams and Quality of time spent with healthcare professionals.

Conclusion

Easy, dependable access, privacy, presence and predictability of follow‐up appointments were important to patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Implications for the profession and patient care

In communication with patients with inflammatory bowel disease, healthcare professionals must be aware of privacy and the importance of predictable follow‐up agreements. They must be aware that presence and easy, reliable access positively affect patients' self‐care skills.

Patient contribution

This study is part of a larger project based on Participatory design involving patients and healthcare professionals in the development of technology to support communication.
Environmental transcriptomics under heat stress: Can environmental RNA reveal changes in gene expression of aquatic organisms?
Authors: Hechler Robert M. , Yates Matthew C. , Chain Frédéric J. J. , Cristescu Melania E.
Published: October 2023

To safeguard biodiversity in a changing climate, taxonomic information about species turnover and insights into the health of organisms are required. Environmental DNA approaches are increasingly used for species identification, but cannot provide functional insights. Transcriptomic methods reveal the physiological states of macroorganisms, but are currently species‐specific and require tissue sampling or animal sacrifice, making community‐wide assessments challenging. Here, we test whether broad functional information (expression level of the transcribed genes) can be harnessed from environmental RNA (eRNA), which includes extra‐organismal RNA from macroorganisms along with whole microorganisms. We exposed Daphnia pulex as well as phytoplankton prey and microorganism colonizers to control (20°C) and heat stress (28°C) conditions for 7 days. We sequenced eRNA from tank water (after complete removal of Daphnia) as well as RNA from Daphnia tissue, enabling comparisons of extra‐organismal and organismal RNA‐based gene expression profiles. Both RNA types detected similar heat stress responses of Daphnia. Using eRNA, we identified 32 Daphnia genes to be differentially expressed following heat stress. Of these, 17 were also differentially expressed and exhibited similar levels of relative expression in organismal RNA. In addition to the extra‐organismal Daphnia response, eRNA detected community‐wide heat stress responses consisting of distinct functional profiles and 121 differentially expressed genes across eight taxa. Our study demonstrates that environmental transcriptomics based on extra‐organismal eRNA can noninvasively reveal gene expression responses of macroorganisms following environmental changes, with broad potential implications for the biomonitoring of health across the trophic chain.
Foraging segregation by sex and age class in the Guadalupe fur seal from Guadalupe Island, Mexico
Authors: Cruz‐Vallejo Romyna A. , Amador‐Capitanachi María José , Norris Tenaya , Hernández‐Camacho Claudia J. , Tripp‐Valdez Arturo , Moncayo‐Estrada Rodrigo , Herguera‐García Juan Carlos , Godard‐Codding Céline , Elorriaga‐Verplancken Fernando R.
Published: October 2023

A proper assessment of the foraging habits of the Guadalupe fur seal (GFS; Arctocephalus townsendi) is a priority to better understand its recovery, in which the potential for intraspecific competition for prey and space resources is expected to lead to segregation. This study aimed to determine the foraging habits of different sex and age classes. A total of 146 GFS fur samples was collected at Guadalupe Island, Mexico (2014–2020) for stable isotopes (δ13C and δ15N) analysis. Isotopic areas were created (SIBER package in R). Significant isotopic differences were observed between classes. Male (3.6‰2) and female (3.0‰2) juveniles had the largest isotopic areas due to a greater foraging dispersion. Adult females showed the lowest mean δ15N value (16.1‰ ± 0.5‰) due to foraging trips that are mostly performed towards high latitudes. Except for pups, adult and subadult males presented the highest mean δ15N (17.4‰ ± 0.4‰) and δ13C values (−17.0‰ ± 0.8‰) due to a possible higher trophic level and coastal foraging habits, whereas pups presented the highest mean δ15N value (17.6‰ ± 0.3‰) because of lactation, which reflects their mothers δ15N signal plus their own enrichment. Our findings suggest a segregation explained by differences in life history, energy requirements, and a possible strategy to avoid competition.