bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Experience replay facilitates the rapid formation of multi-scale hexagonal patterns of grid cells
Authors: Zhang Bo , Ma Lei , Liu Jia
Published: February 2023

Experience replay, characterized by the sequential reactivation of hippocampal place cells, has been proposed to consolidate past experiences and simulate future scenarios, thereby constructing cognitive maps to guide action. However, the role of experience replay in the formation of hexagonal patterns of entorhinal grid cells — known to serve as the metrics of cognitive map — remains largely unknown. Here, we used continuous attractor models to simulate the formation of multi-scale hexagonal patterns, and investigated the regularity of generated patterns by directly modulating experience replay of hippocampal place cells in awake state. We found that reverse replay significantly increased the regularity of small-scale hexagonal patterns compared to conditions with no replay, forward replay, and shuffled replay of past experiences. In contrast, large-scale hexagonal patterns emerged spontaneously, independent of experience replay. Further analysis revealed that the efficiency of reverse replay in hexagonal pattern formation was influenced by the interaction between grid scales and the amount of past experience. Specifically, reverse replay maintained excitatory and inhibitory grid cell activity during pattern translation when the amount of past experience was limited, making it particularly efficient for the rapid formation of small-scale hexagonal patterns. In summary, our results suggest a potential link between experience replay and the formation of multi-scale hexagonal patterns from a computational perspective. These findings may provide insights into the role of grid cell signals in visual attention and the rapid adaptation of hexagonal patterns in scene transition.
Site-specific phosphorylation of tau impacts mitochondrial biology and response to stressors
Authors: Isei Michael O , Girardi Peter A , Rodwell-Bullock Joel , Nehrke Keith , Johnson Gail VW
Published: February 2023

Phosphorylation of tau at sites associated with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) likely plays a role in the disease progression. Mitochondrial impairment, correlating with increased presence of phosphorylated tau, has been identified as a contributing factor to neurodegenerative processes in AD. However, how tau phosphorylated at specific sites impacts mitochondrial function has not been fully defined. We examined how AD-relevant phosphomimetics of tau impact selected aspects of mitochondrial biology. To mimic phosphorylation at AD-associated sites, the Ser/Thr sites in wild-type GFP tagged-tau (T4) were converted to glutamic acid (E) to make pseudophosphorylated GFP tagged-Ser-396/404 (2EC) and GFP tagged-Thr-231/Ser-235 (2EM) constructs. These constructs were expressed in neuronal HT22 cells and their impact on specific mitochondrial functions and responses to stressors were measured. Phosphomimetic tau altered mitochondrial distribution. Specifically, mitochondria accumulated in the soma of cells expressing either 2EC or 2EM, and neurite-like extensions in 2EC cells were shorter. Additionally, ATP levels were reduced in both 2EC and 2EM expressing cells, and ROS production increased in 2EC cells during oxidation of succinate when compared to T4 expressing cells. Thapsigargin reduced mitochondrial membrane potential (Ψm) and increased ROS production in both 2EC and 2EM cells relative to T4 cells, with no significant difference in the effects of rotenone. These results show that tau phosphorylation at specific AD-relevant epitopes negatively affects mitochondria, with the extent of dysfunction and stress response varying according to the sites of phosphorylation. Altogether, these findings extend our understanding of potential mechanisms whereby phosphorylated tau promotes mitochondria dysfunction in tauopathies, including AD.

Funding information

R01 AG067617
Sex differences in patch-leaving foraging decisions in rats
Authors: Garcia Marissa , Gupta Sukriti , Wikenheiser Andrew M.
Published: February 2023

The ubiquity, importance, and sophistication of foraging behavior makes it an ideal platform for studying naturalistic decision making in animals. We developed a spatial patch-foraging task for rats, in which subjects chose how long to remain in one foraging patch as the rate of food earnings steadily decreased. The cost of seeking out a new location was varied across sessions. The behavioral task was designed to mimic the structure of natural foraging problems, where distinct spatial locations are associated with different reward statistics, and decisions require navigation and movement through space. Male and female Long-Evans rats generally followed the predictions of theoretical models of foraging, albeit with a consistent tendency to persist with patches for too long compared to behavioral strategies that maximize food intake rate. The tendency to choose overly-long patch residence times was stronger in male rats. We also observed sex differences in locomotion as rats performed the task, but these differences in movement only partially accounted for the differences in patch residence durations observed between male and female rats. Together, these results suggest a nuanced relationship between movement, sex, and foraging decisions.

Significance statement

Foraging behavior offers a naturalistic way of studying temporal investment amongst different choice options, a translationally-important form of decision making. Previous laboratory investigations have relied on foraging tasks that require little movement from subjects, which could affect the strategies that animals use and the neural mechanisms that support them. We developed a spatial foraging task for rats. Behavior generally matched the predictions of theoretical models, although rats remained in patches for longer than prescribed. Male rats exhibited a stronger tendency to overharvest patches than female rats. Sex differences in movement did not account for sex differences in foraging. These data highlight the interplay between movement and decision making, and demonstrate the utility of spatial tasks for studies of foraging.
Default Mode and Dorsal Attention Network functional connectivity associated with alpha and beta peak frequency in individuals
Authors: Tripathi Vaibhav , Somers David C
Published: February 2023

Alpha- and Beta-frequency oscillatory waves are evident in resting-state electro- and magneto-encephalography (EEG, MEG). Higher peak frequencies for Alpha and Beta are associated with greater cognitive health. Aging slows down the alpha and beta waves which are also affected by mental states, disorders such as ADHD, and sleep deprivation. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) of resting-state brain activity reveals anti-correlation of very low frequency (< 0.1 Hz) fluctuations between two distributed cerebral cortical networks, the Dorsal Attention Network (DAN) and the Default Mode Network (DMN). DAN activation is related to attentional demands in extrinsic tasks, whereas DMN is associated with mind wandering, episodic memory retrieval, and intrinsic processing. Prior research has found that higher DAN-DMN anticorrelation is related to greater cognitive and mental health. Here, we investigated whether these two measures of cognitive and mental health are related to each other within individuals. We investigated resting-state Functional Connectivity (rsFC) between the DMN and DAN using fMRI and alpha and beta peaks from MEG using two large datasets (n=89 and n=189). We found that more robust anti-correlations between DMN and DAN regions are related to higher peak frequencies of alpha and beta rhythms in the brain. Subjects with higher alpha peak frequencies also show stronger positive within-network connectivity in both the DMN and DAN networks. Females show stronger correspondence between the two measures as compared to males. This association between two non-invasive cognitive neuroscience modalities adds to the growing literature on the biomarkers of cognitive and mental health.

Key points

MEG/EEG biomarker of brain health is correlated with rs-fMRI biomarker of brain health

Alpha and beta peak frequency correlated with DMN-DAN functional connectivity

Stronger within-network connectivity for subjects with a high alpha peak frequency

Females have a stronger association between peak frequency and DMN-DAN connectivity
Distinctions in the making: A theoretical discussion of youth and cultural capital
Authors: Prieur Annick , Savage Mike , Flemmen Magne Paalgard
Published: February 2023

The aim of this paper is to address the dynamics of contemporary cultural capital by interrogating what counts for young people as valuable cultural resources. Considerable support is given in later scholarship for Bourdieu’s model of the social space, as the overall volume of economic and cultural capital combined is regularly found to be the most important axis of opposition, just as in Bourdieu’s work Distinction. Yet, while Bourdieu found the second axis to be structured by an opposition between those with cultural rather than economic capital, and vice versa, many later studies instead find oppositions between the young and the old to structure the second axis. Up till now, this finding has not been adequately addressed. In this paper, we hold that considering age‐related inequalities offers a powerful way of interpreting recent developments in order to understand the changing stakes of cultural capital, and also their interaction with the intensification of inequalities in economic capital. After a theoretical clarification of the relationship between cultural capital and youth, we will synthesise research on young people and explore the significance of youthful cultural consumption. We will pragmatically focus on the 15–30 years old and put a particular accent on Norwegian studies in our review, as they are the most sophisticated in this genre. Four areas are explored: the restricted role of classical culture; the appeal of popular culture; digital distinctions, and moral‐political positions as markers of distinction.
Moving beyond negative spillover: The positive consequences of an innocent brand's responses to another brand's crisis
Authors: Chang Bugil
Published: February 2023

This study investigated (a) the negative spillover effects of brand's food‐safety crisis on an entire industry, dominant and nondominant innocent brands in the same product, and (b) the impacts of the innocent brand's response on the responded brand and the entire industry. The study conducted a 2 (market position: dominant vs. nondominant) × 2 (response: no‐response vs. response) between‐subjects design with one additional control group. The findings showed that the negative impact of the dominant brand's crisis spilled over only to nondominant brands, but the innocent brand's response served to overcome the negative effect by recovering the consumer's deteriorated beliefs about the brand and its products to the pre‐crisis level. However, the innocent brand's response did not significantly affect the industry.
Homicides committed by women with mental disorders: A descriptive study conducted in a French secure unit
Authors: Kazemian Koucha , Raymond Sophie , Azoulay Marion , Gasman Ivan
Published: February 2023

Women remain a small minority of homicide offenders and appear to be understudied in the scientific literature. Gender‐specific characteristics are however identified by existing studies. The aim of the study was to explore homicides committed by women with mental disorders, by analyzing their sociodemographic, clinical features, and criminological circumstances of the homicide. We conducted a retrospective and descriptive study among all female homicide offenders with mental disorders hospitalized in a French high‐secure unit over a 20‐year period (n = 30). We found that the female patients we studied were a diverse group in terms of their clinical profiles, backgrounds, and criminological characteristics. Confirming previous studies, we observed an over‐representation of young women, unemployed, with a destabilized family situation and history of adverse childhood experiences. Prior self‐ and hetero‐aggressive behavior were frequent. We found a history of suicidal behavior in 40% of cases. Their homicidal acts often occurred impulsively at home, in the evening or at night and were mainly directed toward family members (60%), especially their child(ren) (46.7%), then acquaintances (36.7%), and rarely a stranger. We found symptomatic and diagnostic heterogeneity: schizophrenia (40%), schizoaffective disorder (10%), delusional disorder (6.7%), mood disorders (26.7%), and borderline personality disorder (16.7%). Mood disorders were exclusively unipolar or bipolar depressions, often with psychotic features. The majority of patients had received psychiatric care prior to the act. We identified four subgroups, according to psychopathology and criminal motives: delusional (46.7%), melancholic (20%), homicide‐suicide dynamic (16.7%), and impulsive outbursts (16.7%). We consider that further studies are necessary.
Association of parental divorce, discord, and polygenic risk with children's alcohol initiation and lifetime risk for alcohol use disorder
Authors: Kuo Sally I‐Chun , Thomas Nathaniel S. , Aliev Fazil , Bucholz Kathleen K. , Dick Danielle M. , McCutcheon Vivia V. , Meyers Jacquelyn L. , Chan Grace , Kamarajan Chella , Kramer John R. , Hesselbrock Victor , Plawecki Martin H. , Porjesz Bernice , Tischfield Jay , Salvatore Jessica E.
Published: February 2023

Background

Parental divorce and discord are associated with poorer alcohol‐related outcomes for offspring. However, not all children exposed to these stressors develop alcohol problems. Our objective was to test gene‐by‐environment interaction effects whereby children's genetic risk for alcohol problems modifies the effects of parental divorce and discord to predict alcohol outcomes.

Methods

The sample included European (EA; N = 5608, 47% male, Mage ~ 36 years) and African (AA; N = 1714, 46% female, Mage ~ 33 years) ancestry participants from the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism. Outcomes included age at initiation of regular drinking and lifetime DSM‐5 alcohol use disorder (AUD). Predictors included parental divorce, parental relationship discord, and offspring alcohol problems polygenic risk scores (PRSALC). Mixed effects Cox proportional hazard models were used to examine alcohol initiation and generalized linear mixed effects models were used to examine lifetime AUD. Tests of PRS moderation of the effects of parental divorce/relationship discord on alcohol outcomes were examined on multiplicative and additive scales.

Results

Among EA participants, parental divorce, parental discord, and higher PRSALC were associated with earlier alcohol initiation and greater lifetime AUD risk. Among AA participants, parental divorce was associated with earlier alcohol initiation and discord was associated with earlier initiation and AUD. PRSALC was not associated with either. Parental divorce/discord and PRSALC interacted on an additive scale in the EA sample, but no interactions were found in AA participants.

Conclusions

Children's genetic risk for alcohol problems modifies the impact of parental divorce/discord, consistent with an additive model of diathesis–stress interaction, with some differences across ancestry.
How do nurses use early warning system vital signs observation charts in rural, remote and regional health care facilities: A scoping review
Authors: Augutis Wendy , Flenady Tracy , Le Lagadec Danielle , Jefford Elaine
Published: February 2023

Introduction

Physiological signs of clinical deterioration are known to occur in the hours preceding a serious adverse event. As a result, track and trigger systems known as early warning systems (EWS) were introduced and routinely implemented as patient observation tools to trigger an alert in the presence of abnormal vital signs.

Objective

The objective aimed to explore the literature pertaining to EWS and their utilisation in rural, remote and regional health care facilities.

Design

The Arksey and O'Malley's methodological framework was used to guide the scoping review. Only studies reporting on rural, remote and regional health care settings were included. All four authors participated in the screening, data extraction and analysis process.

Findings

Our search strategy yielded 3869 peer‐reviewed articles published between 2012 and 2022, with six studies ultimately included. Collectively, the studies included in this scoping review examined the complex interaction between patient vital signs observation charts and recognition of patient deterioration.

Discussion

Whilst rural, remote and regional clinicians use EWS to recognise and respond to clinical deterioration, noncompliance dilutes the tool's effectiveness. This overarching finding is informed by three contributing factors: documentation, communication and challenges specific to the rural context.

Conclusion

The success of EWS relies on accurate documentation and effective communication within the interdisciplinary team to support appropriate responses to clinical patient decline. More research is required to understand the nuances and complexities of rural and remote nursing and to address challenges associated with the use of EWS in rural health care settings.
Growing Our Own Rural, Remote and Aboriginal Health Workforce: Contributions made, approaches taken and lessons learnt by three rural Australian academic health departments
Authors: Naden Kathryn , Hampton Denise , Walke Emma , Pavlovic Susan Parker , Graham Siobahn , Jones Debra
Published: February 2023

Aims

This paper describes the investments made, approaches taken and lessons learnt by three rural Australian academic health departments engaged in the delivery of the Health Career Academy Program (HCAP). The program seeks to address the under‐representation of rural, remote and Aboriginal populations within Australia's health workforce.

Context

Significant resources are directed towards rural practice exposure for metropolitan health students to address workforce shortages. Fewer resources are directed towards health career strategies that focus on the earlier engagement of rural, remote and Aboriginal secondary school students, those in Years 7–10. Best practice career development principles highlight the importance of earlier engagement in the promotion of health career aspirations and in influencing secondary school student career intentions and uptake of health professions.

Approach

This paper describes: delivery contexts; the theory and evidence that has informed the HCAP; program design, adaptability and scalability; program focus on priming the rural health career pipeline; program alignment to best practice career development principles; enablers and barriers confronted in program delivery, and lessons learnt to inform rural health workforce policy and resourcing.

Conclusion

There is a need to invest in programs that seek to attract rural, remote and Aboriginal secondary school students to health professions if Australia is to develop a sustainable rural health workforce. A failure to invest earlier undermines opportunities to engage diverse and aspiring youth in Australia's health workforce. Program contributions, approaches and lessons learnt can inform the work of other agencies seeking to include these populations in health career initiatives.
Board gender diversity, government subsidies, and green vehicles sales: Evidence from China
Authors: Singh Vik , Sui Sui , Guo Xiaodan
Published: February 2023

This article investigates whether increased female representation on a board improves firm performance in terms of electric vehicle (EV) sales in China when government subsidies are available. The increase in EV sales in China is a direct result of the sustainability efforts spearheaded by the various levels of local and state governments. This area is of importance due to the rising Chinese footprint in global EV sales, the increasing role of subsidies, and a transformation from State‐Owned Enterprises (SOEs) to market‐driven firms that are more likely to pay attention to corporate governance issues such as board diversity. Using the instrumental variable (IV) approach, we estimate a two‐stage least squares (2SLS) regression to control for more women representation on EV boards using firm‐level data. The results indicate that board gender diversity (BGD) positively impacts firm performance in terms of EV sales. Furthermore, the effect amplifies in the presence of government subsidies. The insights provide valuable contributions to bridge the critical literature gap on how board diversity impacts firm performance in the presence of subsidies and offer valuable insights into corporate governance and policymaking.
Financial toxicity in pregnancy and postpartum
Authors: Gompers Annika , Larson Elysia , Esselen Katharine M. , Farid Huma , Dodge Laura E.
Published: February 2023

Introduction

The financial burden of pregnancy in the United States can be high and is associated with worse mental health and birth outcomes. Research on the financial burden of health care, such as the development of the COmprehensive Score for Financial Toxicity (COST) tool, has been conducted primarily among patients with cancer. This study aimed to validate the COST tool and use it to measure financial toxicity and its impacts among obstetric patients.

Methods

We used survey and medical record data from obstetric patients at a large medical center in the United States. We validated the COST tool using common factor analysis. We used linear regression to identify risk factors for financial toxicity and to investigate associations between financial toxicity and patient outcomes including satisfaction, access, mental health, and birth outcomes.

Results

The COST tool measured two distinct constructs of financial toxicity in this sample: current financial toxicity and concern over future financial toxicity. Racial/ethnic category, insurance, neighborhood deprivation, caregiving, and employment were associated with current financial toxicity (P < 0.05 for all). Only racial/ethnic category and caregiving were associated with concern over future financial toxicity (P < 0.05 for all). Both current and future financial toxicity were associated with worse patient–provider communication, depressive symptoms, and stress (P < 0.05 for all). Financial toxicity was not associated with birth outcomes or keeping obstetric visits.

Conclusions

The COST tool captures two constructs among obstetric patients, current and future financial toxicity, both of which are associated with worse mental health and patient–provider communication.
Employer associations in Italy: Trends and economic outcomes
Authors: Fanfani Bernardo , Lucifora Claudio , Vigani Daria
Published: February 2023

This study analyses the representativeness of employer associations in Italy, using unique firm‐level data with information on employers' affiliation and their characteristics. We document that a persistent decline in affiliation rates to employers' associations has occurred during the last two decades. We show that affiliated companies are positively selected, as they tend to be larger, older, more likely to be located in richer regions, to be export and innovation oriented, and more likely to provide training. Using longitudinal data and regression decomposition techniques, we show that larger firms have been more affected by the decline in affiliation rates over time. Finally, we show that the level of representativeness of employers' associations has a weak positive effect on collective bargaining occupational wage minima settled by these organizations in national industry‐wide collective contracts after a negotiation process with trade unions.
Expressive touch in health and social care: A review of touch guidance to explore the extent to which social and communication needs of adults with learning disabilities are considered
Authors: Collett Zoe , Moll Deborah , Colston Amanda , McKim Jules , Elsworth Julie
Published: February 2023

Background

People with a learning disability can present with complex physical and social needs, and sometimes rely on touch for communication. Historically, touch‐related staff guidance has been described as risk‐averse, lacking an evidence base, control‐orientated and potentially harmful. This project reviews local touch‐related guidance from adult learning disability services, exploring the extent to which they consider the social and communication needs of service users.

Methods

Five touch‐related guidance documents were analysed using a summative content analysis. Counts of relevant search terms were analysed quantitatively. Extracts containing the search terms were then analysed qualitatively, to explore their context.

Findings

Considerable variation was noted between the guidance documents. All the documents discuss communication within the context of touch, although to varying extents. The analysis highlighted a focus on safety and risk within most documents, however, some documents also demonstrated encouragement of positive risk management and the safe use of touch.

Conclusions

While this study has identified several positive aspects of the guidance documents, these helpful recommendations and arguments appear inconsistently within individual documents. Services should work towards developing guidance that consistently considers practical steps to reduce risk and facilitate the safe and effective use of expressive touch cross‐service. Further research into current practice relating to expressive touch is indicated.
ZeroEGGS: Zero‐shot Example‐based Gesture Generation from Speech
Authors: Ghorbani Saeed , Ferstl Ylva , Holden Daniel , Troje Nikolaus F. , Carbonneau Marc‐André
Published: February 2023

We present ZeroEGGS, a neural network framework for speech‐driven gesture generation with zero‐shot style control by example. This means style can be controlled via only a short example motion clip, even for motion styles unseen during training. Our model uses a Variational framework to learn a style embedding, making it easy to modify style through latent space manipulation or blending and scaling of style embeddings. The probabilistic nature of our framework further enables the generation of a variety of outputs given the input, addressing the stochastic nature of gesture motion. In a series of experiments, we first demonstrate the flexibility and generalizability of our model to new speakers and styles. In a user study, we then show that our model outperforms previous state‐of‐the‐art techniques in naturalness of motion, appropriateness for speech, and style portrayal. Finally, we release a high‐quality dataset of full‐body gesture motion including fingers, with speech, spanning across 19 different styles. Our code and data are publicly available at https://github.com/ubisoft/ubisoft‐laforge‐ZeroEGGS.
Maternal perceptions of infant's body weight and childhood obesity in South Africa: A qualitative study in Soweto
Authors: Cohen Emmanuel , Slemming Wiedaad , Wrottesley Stephanie V. , Prioreschi Alessandra , Norris Shane A.
Published: February 2023

From a socio‐anthropological study focusing on maternal body weight perceptions and dietary practices towards infants living in Soweto (South Africa), we studied how lay sociocultural traits may lead to early childhood obesity. Most mothers tended to socially value and normalize fatness. This propensity led mothers, particularly older women at home, to adopt high‐calorie feeding practices towards infants, although some mothers tended to question these lay norms. Further works must consider how lay (emic) sociocultural norms in African townships can contradict biomedical (etic) messages, conveying for the community thinness as the acceptable standard, and may expose infants to early obesity.
How can a researcher minimise causing harm when conducting interviews with particularly vulnerable children in longitudinal research?
Authors: Buchanan Denise
Published: February 2023

Using original data, this article explores the ethical issues that arose during a school ‘life histories’ study of ‘lower‐attaining’ of 23 primary school pupils in England, from age seven until they were aged 12 and attending secondary school. These children were viewed as being particularly vulnerable, not only due to their age but also due to being designated as ‘lower‐attaining’ in English and maths by their teachers, alongside the fact they were participating in a longitudinal study. The research involved 230 interviews, class observations and filming. This article seeks to answer the question: ‘How can a researcher minimise causing harm whilst conducting interviews with particularly vulnerable children’? Formerly, the fear of causing harm to vulnerable children has at times led ethics review boards to be overly cautious about vulnerable children participating in empirical research. Yet conversely this caution has denied these children their participatory rights and their opportunity to contribute to expanding our knowledge about particularly vulnerable children. The article considers the ethical issues that arose before data collection especially in relation to dealing sensitively with the fact the children were designated as being ‘lower‐attaining’. It also considers the ethical issues that arose during data collection in relation to safeguarding issues and distress occurring during an interview. The significance of this article is in its honest deconstruction of these ethical issues, including the research team's responses to them. Several practical recommendations are made to aid researchers to help to minimise causing harm when conducting research among particularly vulnerable children.
Laparoscopic donor nephrectomy—Technique and peri‐operative outcomes in an Australian transplant center
Authors: Jackson Stuart , Combes Alexander , Latif Edward , Tran Minh , Lam Susanna , Gore Neel , Utsiwegota Mike , Mawson Jane , Smith Laura , Palma Catalina , Laurence Jerome , Crawford Michael , Pulitano Carlo , Wyburn Kate , Chadban Steve , Leslie Scott , Vasilaras Arthur
Published: February 2023

Introduction

Demand for donor kidneys far exceeds the availability of organs from deceased donors. Living donor kidneys are an important part of addressing this shortfall, and laparoscopic nephrectomy is an important strategy to reduce donor morbidity and increase the acceptability of living donation.

Aim

To retrospectively review the intraoperative and postoperative safety, technique, and outcomes of patients undergoing donor nephrectomy at a single tertiary hospital in Sydney, Australia.

Method

Retrospective capture and analysis of clinical, demographic, and operative data for all living donor nephrectomies performed between 2007 and 2022 at a single University Hospital in Sydney, Australia.

Results

Four hundred and seventy‐two donor nephrectomies were performed: 471 were laparoscopic, two of which were converted from laparoscopic to open and hand‐assisted nephrectomy, respectively, and one (.2%) underwent primary open nephrectomy. The mean warm ischemia time was 2.8 min (±1.3 SD, median 3 min, range 2–8 min) and the mean length of stay (LOS) was 4.1 days (±1.0 SD). The mean renal function on discharge was 103 μmol/L (±23.0 SD). Seventy‐seven (16%) patients had a complication with no Clavien Dindo IV or V complications seen. Outcomes demonstrated no impact of donor age, gender, kidney side, relationship to the recipient, vascular complexity; or surgeon experience, on complication rate or LOS.

Conclusion

Laparoscopic donor nephrectomy is a safe and effective procedure with minimal morbidity and no mortality in this series.
Evaluation of the pattern of fracture formation from trauma to the human mandible with finite element analysis. Part 1: Symphysis region
Authors: Sancar Bahadır , Çetiner Yunus , Dayı Ertunç
Published: February 2023

Background/Aim

The mandible is the largest, strongest bone in the maxillofacial region. When a fracture occurs in the mandible, its location depends on several factors: the direction of the trauma, the angle of the trauma, masticatory muscles and the quality of the bone. The aim of this study was to evaluate the stresses caused by trauma to the symphysis region from different angles.

Materials and Methods

Computer‐based mandible models were created, and a 2000 N force was applied to the symphysis at three different angles using finite element analysis. Six trauma situations were simulated with the mouth open or closed. Forces were applied to the symphysis at 90° (Model 1) in the anteroposterior direction, 45° (Model 2) in the anteroposterior–inferosuperior direction and 90° (Model 3) in the inferosuperior direction, when the mouth was open or closed. The resulting stress intensity was assessed using finite element analysis.

Results

As a result of trauma applied to the symphysis region, maximum stresses were found where the impact originated and at the condyle region (Model 2, open mouth: condyle 1 [1172 MPa]). The open mouth position caused higher stress values than the closed mouth position (Model 2, open mouth: condyle 1 [1172 MPa]; closed mouth: symphysis 4 [82 MPa]). The Model 2, open‐mouth state (Model 2, open mouth: condyle 1 [1172 MPa]) sustained higher stresses than all the other models.

Conclusion

The stress values in the mandible were affected by the force applied to the symphysis region, the angle of impact arrival and the open or closed state of the mouth. Keeping the mouth closed at the time of trauma reduced the stress value. A closed mouth during trauma directed at the symphysis reduced the possibility of mandible fractures.
Prospects, challenges and perspectives in harnessing natural selection to solve the ‘varroa problem’ of honey bees
Authors: Guichard Matthieu , Dainat Benjamin , Dietemann Vincent
Published: February 2023

Honey bees, Apis mellifera, of European origin are major pollinators of crops and wild flora. Their endemic and exported populations are threatened by a variety of abiotic and biotic factors. Among the latter, the ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor is the most important single cause behind colony mortality. The selection of mite resistance in honey bee populations has been deemed a more sustainable solution to its control than varroacidal treatments. Because natural selection has led to the survival of some European and African honey bee populations to V. destructor infestations, harnessing its principles has recently been highlighted as a more efficient way to provide honey bee lineages that survive infestations when compared with conventional selection on resistance traits against the parasite. However, the challenges and drawbacks of harnessing natural selection to solve the varroa problem have only been minimally addressed. We argue that failing to consider these issues could lead to counterproductive results, such as increased mite virulence, loss of genetic diversity reducing host resilience, population collapses or poor acceptance by beekeepers. Therefore, it appears timely to evaluate the prospects for the success of such programmes and the qualities of the populations obtained. After reviewing the approaches proposed in the literature and their outcomes, we consider their advantages and drawbacks and propose perspectives to overcome their limitations. In these considerations, we not only reflect on the theoretical aspects of host–parasite relationships but also on the currently largely neglected practical constraints, that is, the requirements for productive beekeeping, conservation or rewilding objectives. To optimize natural selection‐based programmes towards these objectives, we suggest designs based on a combination of nature‐driven phenotypic differentiation and human‐directed selection of traits. Such a dual strategy aims at allowing field‐realistic evolutionary approaches towards the survival of V. destructor infestations and the improvement of honey bee health.
Isolation and characterization of extracellular vesicle‐like nanoparticles derived from migrasomes
Authors: Ma Yongbin , Li Tao , Zhao Leyu , Zhou Dan , Dong Liyang , Xu Zhonghua , Wang Yu , Yao Xin , Zhao Kai
Published: February 2023

Migrasomes comprise a recently identified unique type of extracellular vesicle (EV) containing varying numbers of small vesicles. However, the final fate of these small vesicles is still unclear. Here, we report the discovery of EV‐like migrasome‐derived nanoparticles (MDNPs) that are produced by migrasomes releasing internal vesicles via self‐rupture and through a process similar to cell plasma membrane budding. Our results demonstrate that MDNPs have a membrane structure with a typical round‐shaped morphology and have the characteristic markers of migrasomes, but do not present the markers of EVs from the cell culture supernatant. More importantly, we also show that MDNPs are loaded with a large number of microRNAs different from those found in migrasomes and EVs. Our results provide evidence that migrasomes can produce EV‐like nanoparticles. These findings have important implications for understanding the unknown biological functions of migrasomes.
Spatial position is a key determinant of N‐glycan functionality of the scavenger receptor cysteine‐rich domain of human hepsin
Authors: Sun Shijin , Hu Kaixuan , Wang Lina , Liu Meng , Zhang Yikai , Dong Ningzheng , Wu Qingyu
Published: February 2023

The scavenger receptor cysteine‐rich (SRCR) domain is a key constituent in diverse proteins. N‐glycosylation is important in protein expression and function. In the SRCR domain of different proteins, N‐glycosylation sites and functionality vary substantially. In this study, we examined the importance of N‐glycosylation site positions in the SRCR domain of hepsin, a type II transmembrane serine protease involved in many pathophysiological processes. We analysed hepsin mutants with alternative N‐glycosylation sites in the SRCR and protease domains using three‐dimensional modelling, site‐directed mutagenesis, HepG2 cell expression, immunostaining, and western blotting. We found that the N‐glycan function in the SRCR domain in promoting hepsin expression and activation on the cell surface cannot be replaced by alternatively created N‐glycans in the protease domain. Within the SRCR domain, the presence of an N‐glycan in a confined surface area was essential for calnexin‐assisted protein folding, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) exiting, and zymogen activation of hepsin on the cell surface. Hepsin mutants with alternative N‐glycosylation sites on the opposite side of the SRCR domain were trapped by ER chaperones, resulting in the activation of the unfolded protein response in HepG2 cells. These results indicate that the spatial N‐glycan positioning in the SRCR domain is a key determinant in the interaction with calnexin and subsequent cell surface expression of hepsin. These findings may help to understand the conservation and functionality of N‐glycosylation sites in the SRCR domains of different proteins.
Long‐term changes in macroinvertebrate communities across high‐latitude streams
Authors: Milner Alexander M. , Loza Vega Eva M. , Matthews Thomas J. , Conn Sarah C. , Windsor Fredric M.
Published: February 2023

Long‐term records of benthic macroinvertebrates in high‐latitude streams are essential for understanding climatic changes, including extreme events (e.g. floods). Data extending over multiple decades are typically scarce. Here, we investigated macroinvertebrate community structural change (including alpha and beta diversity and gain and loss of species) over 22 years (1994–2016) in 10 stream systems across Denali National Park (Alaska, USA) in relation to climatological and meteorological drivers (e.g. air temperature, snowpack depth, precipitation). We hypothesised that increases in air temperature and reduced snowpack depth, due to climatic change, would reduce beta and gamma diversity but increase alpha diversity. Findings showed temporal trends in alpha diversity were variable across streams, with oscillating patterns in many snowmelt‐ and rainfall runoff‐fed streams linked to climatic variation (temperature and precipitation), but increased over time in several streams supported by a mixture of water sources, including more stable groundwater‐fed streams. Beta‐diversity over the time series was highly variable, yet marked transitions were observed in response to extreme snowpack accumulation (1999–2000), where species loss drove turnover. Gamma diversity did not significantly increase or decrease over time. Investigating trends in individual taxa, several taxa were lost and gained during a relative constrained time period (2000–2006), likely in response to climatic variability and significant shifts in instream environmental conditions. Findings demonstrate the importance of long‐term biological studies in stream ecosystems and highlight the vulnerability of high‐latitude streams to climate change.
Microbial methane cycling in sediments of Arctic thermokarst lagoons
Authors: Yang Sizhong , Anthony Sara E. , Jenrich Maren , in ’t Zandt Michiel H. , Strauss Jens , Overduin Pier Paul , Grosse Guido , Angelopoulos Michael , Biskaborn Boris K. , Grigoriev Mikhail N. , Wagner Dirk , Knoblauch Christian , Jaeschke Andrea , Rethemeyer Janet , Kallmeyer Jens , Liebner Susanne
Published: February 2023

Thermokarst lagoons represent the transition state from a freshwater lacustrine to a marine environment, and receive little attention regarding their role for greenhouse gas production and release in Arctic permafrost landscapes. We studied the fate of methane (CH4) in sediments of a thermokarst lagoon in comparison to two thermokarst lakes on the Bykovsky Peninsula in northeastern Siberia through the analysis of sediment CH4 concentrations and isotopic signature, methane‐cycling microbial taxa, sediment geochemistry, lipid biomarkers, and network analysis. We assessed how differences in geochemistry between thermokarst lakes and thermokarst lagoons, caused by the infiltration of sulfate‐rich marine water, altered the microbial methane‐cycling community. Anaerobic sulfate‐reducing ANME‐2a/2b methanotrophs dominated the sulfate‐rich sediments of the lagoon despite its known seasonal alternation between brackish and freshwater inflow and low sulfate concentrations compared to the usual marine ANME habitat. Non‐competitive methylotrophic methanogens dominated the methanogenic community of the lakes and the lagoon, independent of differences in porewater chemistry and depth. This potentially contributed to the high CH4 concentrations observed in all sulfate‐poor sediments. CH4 concentrations in the freshwater‐influenced sediments averaged 1.34 ± 0.98 μmol g−1, with highly depleted δ13C‐CH4 values ranging from −89‰ to −70‰. In contrast, the sulfate‐affected upper 300 cm of the lagoon exhibited low average CH4 concentrations of 0.011 ± 0.005 μmol g−1 with comparatively enriched δ13C‐CH4 values of −54‰ to −37‰ pointing to substantial methane oxidation. Our study shows that lagoon formation specifically supports methane oxidizers and methane oxidation through changes in pore water chemistry, especially sulfate, while methanogens are similar to lake conditions.
Loss of functionally important and regionally endemic species from streams forced into intermittency by global warming
Authors: Carey Nicole , Chester Edwin T. , Robson Belinda J.
Published: February 2023

Climate change is altering hydrological cycles globally, and in Mediterranean (med‐) climate regions it is causing the drying of river flow regimes, including the loss of perennial flows. Water regime exerts a strong influence over stream assemblages, which have developed over geological timeframes with the extant flow regime. Consequently, sudden drying in formerly perennial streams is expected to have large, negative impacts on stream fauna. We compared contemporary (2016/17) macroinvertebrate assemblages of formerly perennial streams that became intermittently flowing (since the early 2000s) to assemblages recorded in the same streams by a study conducted pre‐drying (1981/82) in the med‐climate region of southwestern Australia (the Wungong Brook catchment, SWA), using a multiple before‐after, control‐impact design. Assemblage composition in the stream reaches that remained perennial changed very little between the studies. In contrast, recent intermittency had a profound effect on species composition in streams impacted by drying, including the extirpation of nearly all Gondwanan relictual insect species. New species arriving at intermittent streams tended to be widespread, resilient species including desert‐adapted taxa. Intermittent streams also had distinct species assemblages, due in part to differences in their hydroperiods, allowing the establishment of distinct winter and summer assemblages in streams with longer‐lived pools. The remaining perennial stream is the only refuge for ancient Gondwanan relict species and the only place in the Wungong Brook catchment where many of these species still persist. The fauna of SWA upland streams is becoming homogenised with that of the wider Western Australian landscape, as drought‐tolerant, widespread species replace local endemics. Flow regime drying caused large, in situ alterations to stream assemblage composition and demonstrates the threat posed to relictual stream faunas in regions where climates are drying.
We are both women and Kurd: An intersectional analysis of female Kolbars challenges in Iranian Kurdistan amid the COVID crisis
Authors: AleAhmad Yosra
Published: February 2023

This study uses an intersectional lens to explore the embodied experiences of Kurdish female porters (porters are called Kolbars in the Kurdish language) in Iranian Kurdistan and how their lives and employment have been impacted by the COVID‐19 crisis by drawing on one semi‐structured interview with a female Kolbar living in a rural area of Kurdistan Province. The findings demonstrate that female Kolbars are victims of intersected factors such as gender, ethnicity, solid patriarchal culture in the region and country, the unequal distribution of resources and wealth throughout the country, and economic sanctions and recessions in the state. They resist these various sources of oppression by risking their lives and carrying loads across mountainous borders, staying silent and committing suicide when they have no other options. This study contributes to the feminist intersectionality debate by rendering the intersectional embodied aspects of a marginalized, unfranchised, and under‐studied population of women in one of the most gender‐inequitable countries in the world. Furthermore, it adds to the broader literature on gender inequalities that lie outside of typical organisations and the Western context.