bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis: Examining the Psychometric Evaluations of Disordered Eating Scales in Adults Living With Gastrointestinal Conditions
Authors: Soliman Olivia Marie , Mikocka‐Walus Antonina , Warner Molly M. , Skvarc David , Olive Lisa , Knowles Simon R.
Published: February 2025

Background

The scales used to assess disordered eating are often not validated in adults living with gastrointestinal conditions (i.e., gastrointestinal populations). This systematic review and meta‐analysis aimed to examine the psychometric evaluations (i.e., assessments of reliability and validity) of disordered eating scales in adult gastrointestinal populations and quantify the prevalence of disordered eating in both gastrointestinal and non‐gastrointestinal populations.

Methods

We conducted a search of observational studies up to May 2024 that measured disordered eating using a scale in adults with a gastrointestinal condition. Psychometric evaluations of the scales were narratively reviewed. Prevalence rates of disordered eating were pooled using a random‐effects meta‐analysis, and risk of bias was assessed using an adapted Newcastle Ottawa Scale.

Key Results

Among 29 studies (overall medium risk of bias), 23 reported prevalences of disordered eating in gastrointestinal populations, and eight of these studies also reported prevalences in non‐gastrointestinal populations. Only one out of 10 scales was developed and psychometrically evaluated in gastrointestinal populations, and 11 studies reported internal consistency (range α = 0.63 to α = 0.95). The prevalence of disordered eating was 33.2% (p < 0.001; 95% confidence interval: 0.25–0.41; I2 = 97.34%) in gastrointestinal populations and 21.0% (p < 0.001; 95% confidence interval: 0.09–0.32; I2 = 97.41%) in non‐gastrointestinal populations. Subgroup analyses showed consistently high heterogeneity.

Conclusions and Inferences

The utilisation of current disordered eating scales for adults living with gastrointestinal conditions should be undertaken with caution, and there is a need for disordered eating scales to be developed and validated in this population.
Nutrient resorption of leaves and roots coordinates with root nutrient‐acquisition strategies in a temperate forest
Authors: Wang Dongnan , Freschet Grégoire T. , McCormack M. Luke , Lambers Hans , Gu Jiacun
Published: February 2025

Nutrient acquisition, conservation and recycling are three mechanisms for plants to meet their nutritional requirements. However, how nutrient recycling relates to other mechanisms remains unknown. Here, we hypothesize that nutrient resorption processes are coordinated with plant nutrient‐acquisition strategies.

We measured leaf and root nutrient resorption efficiencies and proficiencies and root economic traits for 34 coexisting ectomycorrhizal (ECM) and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) temperate woody species.

Our results revealed that species with lower foraging efficiency relying on mycorrhizal fungi for nutrient absorption (e.g. larger root diameter) have higher root phosphorus resorption efficiency and greater phosphorus concentrations of senesced roots, while species with conservative nutrient‐acquisition strategies (e.g. higher root tissue density) have lower nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations of senesced leaves and roots.

Overall, our results demonstrate that plant nutrient acquisition and protection strategies are partly coordinated with plants' ability to resorb nutrients. First, they suggest that outsourcing phosphorus acquisition to mycorrhiza may limit the value for plants to reduce phosphorus loss. Second, those species better able to protect their living leaves and roots from adversity are not necessarily the most efficient to recycle nutrients, but are nonetheless the most capable of minimizing nutrient loss during organ senescence.
A simplified approach for assessing the effects of temperature change on the stability of consumer–resource interactions
Authors: Synodinos Alexis D. , Montoya Jose M. , Sentis Arnaud , Haegeman Bart
Published: February 2025

Temperature regulates the physiology and behaviour of organisms. Thus, changing temperatures impact the dynamics of species interactions. Considering that consumer–resource interactions underpin ecological communities, the impacts of warming on the stability of consumer–resource interactions have been extensively studied. However, a consensus among empirically determined warming–stability relationships and a clear understanding thereof are lacking. We investigate these relationships systematically by developing a simplified theoretical framework that incorporates empirical data in three steps. We define stability in terms of intrinsic oscillations to avoid comparing disparate stability notions, use a one‐dimensional stability metric and convert all empirically‐determined thermal dependence parametersiations into a single function, to directly compare all data. The framework utilises the Rosenzweig–MacArthur model with a saturating consumer functional response, which has been extensively employed to study warming‐stability relationships in consumer–resource interactions. The framework is applied on empirical data on the thermal dependence of ectotherm consumer–resource pairs. We find support for four different warming–stability relationships: stability increases, decreases, is hump‐shaped or U‐shaped with increasing temperature. The diversity of warming–stability relationships, though partly attributable to context‐dependence, is fundamentally caused by two factors. First, the relative thermal sensitivities of attack rate and handling time and, second, the scarcity of empirical evidence for the thermal dependence of carrying capacity. The former depends on how these processes are measured, which may not be consistent across studies. The latter necessitates the application of assumptions, which are difficult to verify, yet have a significant impact on warming–stability relationships. We demonstrate how aspects of the data, such as the two aforementioned factors or the range of studied temperatures, can alter the predicted thermal dependence of stability. Thus, we illustrate how our framework facilitates the study of warming–stability relationships in consumer–resource interactions, from producing a concise overview of the empirically determined predictions to analysing the causes of deviation among these.
Caregiver‐Reported Motivation and Access to Mental Health Services for Pediatric Atopic Dermatitis Patients: A Cross‐Sectional Study
Authors: Chau Courtney A. , Loiselle Allison R. , Johnson Jessica K. , Begolka Wendy Smith
Published: February 2025

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is associated with several comorbidities, including mental health (MH) conditions among children. We conducted a survey study of caregivers of pediatric AD patients (aged 8–17) (n = 163) and collected information about their child's MH symptoms and their experience seeking MH services for their child. Nearly half of caregivers reported their child had 6 or more days of poor MH symptoms in the past month and reported that barriers to accessing MH services were MH provider inaccessibility (27.0%), distance and transportation (23.3%), and insurance obstacles (19.0%). Given the substantial burden of AD on pediatric patients and the accessibility barriers elucidated in this survey study, engagement of both eczema and MH providers is essential to recognize MH burden among patients and overcome access barriers.
Racial Differences in Disease Characteristics of Pediatric Hidradenitis Suppurativa
Authors: Onamusi Toluwalashe , Murphy Jennifer , Shah Sonal D.
Published: February 2025

Understanding the potential racial differences in presentation, severity, and outcomes of pediatric hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) can help deliver equitable and individualized care, especially as this condition is increasingly being acknowledged in this population. We conducted a single‐center retrospective analysis of 70 pediatric patients diagnosed with HS who were seen at our institution. There was no statistically significant difference in biologic treatments between non‐Hispanic Black (NHB) patients when compared to non‐Hispanic White (NHW) patients, although NHW patients overall received biologic therapy more frequently (17.4%) than NHB patients (12.8%). The observed racial differences in pediatric HS highlight the need for further investigation of possible underlying factors contributing to disease heterogeneity and treatment response to optimize the care provided and patient outcomes.
Evaluating Activated Regulatory T Cells as a Biomarker of Chronic Allograft Inflammation in Pediatric Kidney Transplant Recipients
Authors: Leung Macyn L. , Barrett‐Chan Ella , Levings Megan K. , Vercauteren Suzanne , Blydt‐Hansen Tom D.
Published: February 2025

Background

There is a need for noninvasive immunological biomarkers that can identify stable kidney allograft immune quiescence to inform individualized immunosuppression.

Methods

We conducted a cross‐sectional, pilot cohort study evaluating the relative abundance of regulatory T cells (Tregs) to effector T‐cell (Teff) populations as a surrogate marker of long‐term graft tolerance. We obtained fresh peripheral blood mononuclear cell samples from stable pediatric kidney transplant recipients, most with recent surveillance biopsies to identify the presence or absence of chronic inflammation. Tregs were sub‐phenotyped as naïve, memory, and activated Tregs (aTreg). Treg/Teff ratios were modeled for association with chronic inflammation and in the context of potential clinical features.

Results

Twenty‐seven patient samples were included on standard immunosuppression (tacrolimus, mycophenolate, and prednisone) with a mean age of 9.2 ± 5.0 years, at 30.2 ± 21.7 months posttransplant. The ratio of aTreg (FOXP3++CD45RA−) to Th17 cells (CD4+IL‐17+) was significantly greater in patients without inflammation than in patients with graft inflammation (p < 0.01). Similarly, there was a trend toward greater aTreg/CD4+ T cells and aTreg/CD8+ Teff in patients without inflammation (p = 0.05 and 0.09, respectively). There was no significant association for inflammation with naïve or memory Treg/Teff ratios. Multiple logistic regression with all three aTreg/Teff ratios modeled allograft inflammation with high sensitivity and specificity (AUC = 0.83, 95% CI 0.67–0.98).

Conclusions

The proportion of peripheral blood aTregs/Teff cells in this pilot cohort of stable pediatric kidney transplant recipients was associated with immune quiescence. These data support further investigation into aTreg/Teff monitoring to inform precision immunosuppressive treatment.
Impact of Pharmacogenomic Testing in Pediatric Heart and Kidney Transplant
Authors: Jackson Rachel L. , Heyrend Caroline , Bucher Bridget , Brewer Ashlie , Peterson Caitlin , May Lindsay J. , Bonkowsky Joshua L.
Published: February 2025

Background

Pediatric solid organ transplantation is a complex process including a tightly orchestrated medication regimen, essential for prevention of infection, rejection, graft failure, and mortality. Pharmacogenomic (PGx) testing tailors medication therapy to the individual patient, focusing on safety, efficacy, and avoidance of adverse effects. Implementation of PGx panel results into clinical practice for pediatric transplant patients has not been evaluated.

Methods

Pediatric patients evaluated for heart, kidney, or combined heart‐kidney transplant at a tertiary children's hospital from October 2021 to October 2023 received PGx panel testing. Primary outcome measure: Report the prevalence of actionable PGx variants for key genes impacting pharmacotherapy in pre‐ and post–heart and kidney transplant populations.

Results

A total of 73 patients were included, predominately white (84.9%) and male (64.4%), with a mean age of 8.8 ± 6.4 years. Indications for PGx testing included evaluation for heart transplant (38.4%), kidney transplant (38.4%), combined heart–kidney transplant (4.1%), or to inform posttransplant care (19.2%). All patients had at least one actionable phenotype identified. 37 of 73 patients (50.7%) had at least one actionable phenotype for the transplant‐specific genes captured including CYP3A5, SLCO1B1, G6PD, TPMT, prothrombin (Factor 2), and Factor V Leiden. 16 of 73 patients (21.9%) had actionable CYP3A5 phenotypes. 15 of 73 (20.5%) had actionable SLCO1B1 phenotypes. 9 of 73 patients (12.3%) had actionable TPMT phenotypes. 5 of 73 (6.8%) had Prothrombin or Factor V Leiden variants.

Conclusions

Routine pretransplant PGx testing provided information that was actionable and could be utilized to optimize posttransplant medications for all patients.
Omic characterisation of multi‐component defences against the necrotrophic pathogen Pyrenophora tritici‐repentis in wheat
Authors: Ferreira L. C. , Santana F. M. , Scagliusi S. M. M. , Beckmann M. , Mur L. A. J.
Published: February 2025

Tan Spot disease is caused by the necrotrophic pathogen Pyrenophora tritici‐repentis (Ptr) and poses a significant threat to global wheat production. Therefore, novel sources of resistance need to be identified, coupled with a fuller mechanistic understanding of host responses to Ptr.

Herein, we characterise the interaction between a ToxA‐positive Ptr strain and parental wheat lines from a multiparent advanced generation intercross (MAGIC) population.

Genotypes displaying moderate resistance (‘Robigus’) or susceptibility (‘Hereward’) to Ptr challenge were identified and characterised through histological, metabolomic, and transcriptomic approaches. Histological investigations indicated the prominence of papilla‐based defences in Robigus. Transcriptomic analyses could link this to the expression of barrier‐related genes i.e. actin polymerisation, callose deposition, vesicle trafficking, and cellulose synthesis. Inhibiting actin polymerisation with cytochalasin E increased lesion numbers but did not augment lesion growth, suggesting the deployment of other defence mechanisms. These may be influenced by auxin, as its exogenous application exacerbated symptom development. Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses in Hereward following challenge with Ptr suggested shifts in primary metabolism, affecting glycolysis, the TCA cycle, and the γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) shunt. Activation of salicylic acid (SA)‐associated genes, including NPR1 and WRKY33, was specific to Hereward, and exogenous SA increased susceptibility to Ptr in both genotypes.

This study suggests barrier defences could be effective against Ptr as well as a lack of susceptibility factors like SA or the appropriate processing of IAA. These findings offer potential avenues for enhancing wheat resistance to Ptr.
Narrative Transportation and the Persuasive Power of the Film Don't Look Up
Authors: Merry Melissa K. , Payne Rodger A.
Published: February 2025

This study examines the impact of fiction and film on climate change beliefs. Using data from a nationally representative survey of 2045 individuals conducted in April–May 2022, we examine whether individuals who watched the satirical film Don't Look Up, which debuted on Netflix in December 2021, demonstrated greater climate change concern, motivation to act, and policy support than those who did not see the film. We also examine the impact of narrative transportation on persuasion, assessing whether being deeply immersed in the film predicted climate change attitudes. Our results indicate that viewers who were deeply engaged with the film held stronger proenvironmental attitudes. These associations occurred among both Democratic and Republican viewers, suggesting that transportation induced by entertainment media can shape public opinion on policy issues. Our results have implications for the micro and macro levels of the Narrative Policy Framework and for climate change communication, more generally.

Related Articles

Chalaya, T., C. Schlaufer, and A. Uldanov. 2024. “You Are a Hero! The Influence of Audience‐as‐hero Narratives on Policy Support.” Politics & Policy 52, no. 3: 479–499. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12609.

Merry, M. K. 2022. “Trump's Tweets as Policy Narratives: Constructing the Immigration Issue via Social Media.” Politics & Policy 50, no. 4: 752–772. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12487.

Shanahan, E. A., M. K. McBeth, and P. L. Hathaway. 2011. “Narrative Policy Framework: The Influence of Media Policy Narrative on Public Opinion.” Politics & Policy 39, no. 3: 373–400. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1747‐1346.2011.00295.x.
Quick and Effective Evaluation Methods for Biocontrol Agents and Biostimulants Against Phytopathogenic Fungi Relevant for Various Cropping Systems
Authors: Pérez‐Pizá María Cecilia , Sautua Francisco José , Kocira Sławomir , Bohatá Andrea , Bedrníček Jan , Sozoniuk Magdalena , Carmona Marcelo Aníbal
Published: February 2025

Fungal diseases pose a significant threat to global agriculture, leading to major crop losses and harmful mycotoxin contamination. Effective management of these diseases is crucial for safeguarding crop production and ensuring food safety. With a growing emphasis on sustainability, there is increased interest in using biological control agents (BCAs) and biostimulants with protective effects (BPEs). This paper provides a comprehensive set of methods or protocols for rapidly screening the protective potential of BCAs and BPEs, covering assessments from pathogen‐only evaluations to those involving both the pathogen and the host at early stages. By promoting standardised and reproducible methods, this review offers a concise guide for initial evaluations, helping to identify promising microorganisms and substances for further research. These methods allow for comparisons between BCAs/BPEs and conventional chemical treatments, the assessment of potential synergies, the ability to control fungicide‐resistant strains and the evaluation of phytotoxicity. The goal is to improve the understanding and integration of BCAs and BPEs into agricultural practices, reducing reliance on agrochemicals and promoting sustainable management of fungal diseases. Future research should expand the range of biostimulants under investigation and refine evaluation methods to maximise their effectiveness in real‐world applications.
Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. elaeidis and Its Biosecurity Threat to Oil Palm‐Producing Countries
Authors: Adusei‐Fosu Kwasi , Flood Julie , Rusli Mohd Hefni , Agyepong Victoria , Osei‐Wusu Mavis , Corbett Dale , Bhatia Nitin
Published: February 2025

The most damaging disease of oil palm is Fusarium wilt caused by a soilborne fungal pathogen, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. elaeidis (Foe). The disease is endemic to Africa and affects oil palm production there. Limited Fusarium wilt outbreaks have occurred in South America, but the disease has not yet been reported in South‐East Asia. An earlier review of Foe in 2006 provided updates on symptoms, spread and the difficulty in managing the disease. This paper updates our knowledge of oil palm, socio‐economic and environmental impacts of cultivation, Fusarium wilt disease epidemiology, Foe detection techniques, disease management strategies and biosecurity perspectives. Breeding for tolerant plant materials has significantly advanced in Africa, but financial constraints in several countries have limited the production of tolerant oil palm seed materials. Other emerging technologies for Foe control are also presented here, acknowledging the specific challenges to help inform the oil palm industry. We highlight the need to strengthen biosecurity plans in disease‐free regions. In these countries/regions that are currently free from the pathogen but cultivating susceptible plant materials, biosecurity protocols are essential to reduce threat of disease introduction and spread. Climatic change is another challenge for oil palm‐producing countries, both those currently free from the disease and those where Foe is endemic, and should be taken into consideration when planning and implementing biosecurity measures.
Beneath the Surface of Self‐Reports: Dissecting Subjective and Neural Responses to Age‐Specific Visual Stimuli
Authors: Sambuco Nicola , Stevens Elise M. , Versace Francesco
Published: February 2025

The current study examined how adolescents respond to emotionally arousing images that are considered age‐appropriate, such as sports, food, and threatening animals. Prior research in adults has shown a mismatch between subjective arousal ratings and the late positive potential (LPP) for pleasant images, and we aimed to test whether this discrepancy is also present in adolescents. The results showed a larger LPP in response to unpleasant, compared to pleasant, contents. However, comparisons across the different emotional contents showed that the concordance between subjective and neural engagement varies depending on the emotional contents of the scenes. Specifically, images of threatening animals were rated high in emotional arousal and prompted the largest LPP in adolescents, while images of sad people and images of mundane activities were rated lower in emotional arousal and prompted the smallest LPP responses. However, adolescents showed significant divergence in their responses to pleasant images depicting food and sport: despite being rated high in emotional arousal, these images elicited relatively small LPPs. These results highlight the challenges of selecting emotional pictures to assess neuroaffective responses to pleasant and unpleasant pictures in adolescents. To overcome these challenges, future studies may adopt experimental paradigms that will allow researchers to measure neuroaffective responses not just in free‐viewing contexts but also during anticipation and reception of actual rewards (and punishments).
Neural Correlates of Proactive and Reactive Control Investigated Using a Novel Precued Antisaccade Paradigm
Authors: Duschek Stefan , Piwkowski Paulina , Rainer Thomas , Vorwerk Johannes , Riml Laurine , Ettinger Ulrich
Published: February 2025

This ERP study investigated the neural correlates of proactive and reactive control using a novel precued antisaccade paradigm. Proactive control refers to preparatory processes during anticipation of a behaviorally relevant event; reactive control is activated after such an event to ensure goal attainment. A 64‐channel EEG was obtained in 35 healthy subjects; video‐based eye tracking was applied for ocular recording. In the task, a target (probe) appeared left or right of the fixation point 1800 ms after a central cue; subjects had to look toward the probe (prosaccade) or its mirror image position (antisaccade). Probes were positive, negative or neutral face expressions, with their frame colors instructing task requirements. The cue informed about antisaccade probability (70% vs. 30%) in each trial. High antisaccade probability was associated with larger CNV amplitude than low antisaccade probability. In trials with incongruence between expected and actual task requirements, probe N2 and P3a amplitudes were larger than in congruent trials. In incongruent trials, P3a was smaller for negative than positive and neutral probes. Task accuracy and speed were lower in incongruent trials and varied according to affective probe valence. EEG source imaging suggested the origin of the ERPs to be in orbitofrontal cortex and superior frontal gyrus. The effect on the CNV indicates greater cortical activity during higher proactive control demands. Larger N2 and P3a in incongruent trials reflect greater resource allocation to conflict monitoring and conflict resolution, i.e., reactive control. The influence of probe valence on P3a suggests reduced processing capacity due to negative information.
Forest conservation as a common concern: EU Regulation on Deforestation‐free Products in the light of public international law
Authors: Sandulli Elena
Published: February 2025

To curb its global deforestation footprint, the European Union (EU) enacted the Regulation on Deforestation‐free Products (EUDR). The EUDR highlights the tension between forest conservation as interest of the international community and sovereignty over forest resources, bringing about the dilemma of who should bear the cost of action. It has, thus, proven to be controversial with the EU's trade partners. Framing forest conservation as a common concern, I assess this tension by analysing the EUDR against selected aspects of public international law. I argue the key question is not whether but how the EU should regulate its global deforestation footprint. The substantial connection between the EU and global forest loss legitimises the EUDR with its ‘extraterritorial effect’. However, the EU should exercise jurisdictional self‐restraint to account for the interests of States sharing the regulatory space, in line with the proportionality principle and respect the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities.
Outsourced, Inspected, and Effective? The Effect of Inspections on the Safety Performance of Prisons in England and Wales 2004–2012
Authors: Nakamura Ayako
Published: February 2025

While outsourcing of public services is today widespread, maintaining their quality remains a challenge. External inspections are seen as essential for overseeing private providers, yet their effectiveness has not been thoroughly investigated. This study evaluates the impact of pre‐scheduled inspections on the performance of private and publicly operated prisons in England and Wales between 2004 and 2012, focusing on two key safety indicators: self‐harm and violence. Our findings reveal that private prisons' performance in these safety measures was weak, and that pre‐scheduled predictable inspections are not effective enough to mitigate this weakness. The findings suggest that governments should consider areas where outsourcing may be inappropriate, and how existing inspection systems can be optimized.
Pre‐Treatment MMP7 Predicts Progressive Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis in Antifibrotic Treated Patients
Authors: Li Roger M. , Tan Dino B. A. , Tedja Chantalia , Cooper Wendy A. , Jo Helen E. , Grainge Christopher , Glaspole Ian N. , Goh Nicole , Ellis Samantha , Hopkins Peter M. A. , Zappala Christopher , Keir Gregory J. , Reynolds Paul N. , Chapman Sally , Walters E. Haydn , Knight Darryl , Baltic Svetlana , Chih HuiJun , Corte Tamera J. , Moodley Yuben P.
Published: February 2025

Background and Objective

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic progressive lung disease with a poor prognosis. Antifibrotics slow the decline of pulmonary function after 12‐months, but limited studies have examined the role of circulatory biomarkers in antifibrotic treated IPF patients.

Methods

Serum from 98 IPF participants, from the Australian Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Registry were collected at four time‐points over 1 year post‐antifibrotic treatment and analysed as two separate cohorts. Patients were stratified as progressive, if they experienced ≥ 10% decline in FVC or ≥ 15% decline in DLCO or were deceased within 1 year of treatment initiation: or otherwise as stable. Ten molecules of interest were measured by ELISAs in patient serum.

Results

Baseline MMP7 levels were higher in progressive than stable patients in Cohort 1 (p = 0.02) and Cohort 2 (p = 0.0002). Baseline MMP7 levels also best differentiated progressive from stable patients (Cohort 1, AUC = 0.74, p = 0.02; Cohort 2, AUC = 0.81, p = 0.0003). Regression analysis of the combined cohort showed that elevated MMP7 levels predicted 12‐month progression (OR = 1.530, p = 0.010) and increased risk of overall mortality (HR = 1.268, p = 0.002). LASSO regression identified a multi‐biomarker panel (MMP7, ICAM‐1, CHI3L1, CA125) that differentiated progression more accurately than MMP7 alone. Furthermore, GAP combined with MMP7, ICAM‐1, CCL18 and SP‐D was more predictive of 3‐year mortality than GAP alone.

Conclusion

MMP7 along with a multi‐biomarker and GAP panel can predict IPF progression and mortality, with the potential for optimising management.
Smoothing of the Higher‐Order Stokes Phenomenon
Authors: Howls Chris J. , King John R. , Nemes Gergő , Olde Daalhuis Adri B.
Published: February 2025

For over a century, the Stokes phenomenon had been perceived as a discontinuous change in the asymptotic representation of a function. In 1989, Berry demonstrated it is possible to smooth this discontinuity in broad classes of problems with the prefactor for the exponentially small contribution switching on/off taking a universal error function form. Following pioneering work of Berk, Nevins, and Roberts and the Japanese school of formally exact asymptotics, the concept of the higher‐order Stokes phenomenon was introduced, whereby the ability for the exponentially small terms to cause a Stokes phenomenon may change, depending on the values of parameters in the problem, corresponding to the associated Borel‐plane singularities transitioning between Riemann sheets. Until now, the higher‐order Stokes phenomenon has also been treated as a discontinuous event. In this paper, we show how the higher‐order Stokes phenomenon is also smooth and occurs universally with a prefactor that takes the form of a new special function, based on a Gaussian convolution of an error function. We provide a rigorous derivation of the result, with examples spanning the gamma function, a second‐order nonlinear ODE, and the telegraph equation, giving rise to a ghost‐like smooth contribution present in the vicinity of a Stokes line, but which rapidly tends to zero on either side. We also include a rigorous derivation of the effect of the smoothed higher‐order Stokes phenomenon on the individual terms in the asymptotic series, where the additional contributions appear prefactored by an error function.
Multispectral autofluorescence for label free classification of immune cell type and activation/polarization status
Authors: Habibalahi Abbas , Anwer Ayad G. , Knab Aline , Grey Shane T. , Goldys Ewa M. , Campbell Jared M.
Published: February 2025

Evaluating immune status is a challenging and time‐consuming process that involves analysing various biomarkers through numerous assays. The sensitive label‐free technique of multispectral imaging of cell autofluorescence involves directly assessing the molecular composition of cells to gather biological information. Cells were cultured in RPMI 1640 modified media supplemented with penicillin–streptomycin and 10% foetal bovine serum at 37°C, with 5% CO2 and 95% humidity. Activation and differentiation was confirmed using immunofluorophores against relevant markers. Multispectral microscopy utilized defined spectral regions, which spanned the excitation (345–476 nm) and emission (414–675 nm) wavelength ranges. In total, 56 distinct spectral channels were applied. These channels cover the spectrum of several fluorophores notably NAD(P)H and flavins, whose concentrations depend on cellular metabolism. We identified distinct spectral signatures for characterizing cells from the Jurkat, Ramos, THP‐1, and HL‐60 immune cell lines. These signatures correspond to four major immune cell types: T cells (Lymphocytes), B cells (Lymphocytes), monocytes and neutrophils. Moreover, our investigation explored the potential identification of both activated and resting forms of these cells, including the discrimination of M0, M1 and M2 polarized macrophages. Classification accuracy ranged from 92% to 100% based on receiver operator characteristic area under the curve (ROC AUC) assessment. These results indicate that the multispectral evaluation of cell autofluorescence is applicable for characterization of immune status. This includes the assessment of cell types and their activation status, all achievable through a single non‐invasive assay.
Mutual Aid as Prefigurative Politics—Beyond Anarchism
Authors: Skyer Robin , Roth Silke , Reed Elizabeth
Published: February 2025

Since the beginning of the COVID‐19 pandemic, mutual aid has received increasing scholarly attention. Mutual aid has long been considered a form of ‘prefigurative politics’. Those engaged in mutual aid create structures and practices as potentially radical and subversive alternatives. However, we argue that mutual aid can be prefigurative beyond anarchist thought and praxis. Our review demonstrates that it represents an important form of political change making practiced by groups with different worldviews. Furthermore, we argue that all forms of mutual aid—whether anarchist or not—potentially politicise group members. We critically evaluate existing conceptualisations of mutual aid and introduce a framework of key dimensions to examine varieties of mutual aid. We proceed as follows: first, we define mutual aid and contextualise it as a form of prefigurative politics. Second, we provide a short overview of different conceptual approaches to mutual aid, acknowledging the complexity of mutual aid as it is understood and practiced. We then introduce a framework of key dimensions that typify mutual aid which can help us to distinguish its different forms. Finally, we apply our framework to disaster contexts and self‐help to demonstrate how its dimensions contribute to understanding the complexities of mutual aid.
Changes in soil quality in response to the application of different organic amendments to abandoned croplands under semi‐arid conditions
Authors: Soria Rocío , Zema Demetrio Antonio , Ortega Raúl , Lucas‐Borja Manuel Esteba , Miralles Isabel
Published: February 2025

Choosing the most suitable organic amendment to restore abandoned croplands in semi‐arid conditions is difficult. This is due to the complexity of soil processes and the high number of soil properties modified by the substrates. This work evaluates the variations in the main physical, chemical and biochemical properties, and the quality in terms of nutrient enhancement and microbiological activity (assessed by the soil quality index) of two abandoned agricultural soils treated with four composted organic amendments throughout 18 months in Andalusia (Southern, Spain) compared to untreated and natural sites. The tested organic amendments were vermicompost, compost from greenhouse crop residues, compost from poultry manure, certified organic compost produced from a mixture of chicken and sheep manure, and plant residues. The organic amendments noticeably changed the contents in organic matter (up to 170% in soils treated with vermicompost) and nutrients (up to 40‐fold for phosphorus after application of poultry manure) as well as some enzymatic activities compared to untreated soils. These changes were different according to the applied compost and the treated site, and the monitored soil properties were also affected by a significant variability (p < .001) but not monotonic over time. The short‐term effects of treatments were different in the study areas. The treatments with animal compost had better effects on soil properties (increases in soil quality index by 90%–120% compared to untreated soils) in the first site. In the second site, the compost from greenhouse plants was the most effective at increasing the soil quality (+50%). This was due to the significant increases in organic carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and enzymatic activity of soil. Overall, the study indicates that the application of organic soil amendments will have a different behaviour at a specific site and therefore the selection of the most suitable amendment in terms of the restoration of soil quality effectiveness of abandoned soil croplands.
A Novel Deployment Strategy Based on Improved Gradient‐Based Optimizer for BLE Anchor Nodes
Authors: Yan Jinjin , Zhang Manyu , Gu Fuqiang , Li You
Published: February 2025

Bluetooth low energy (BLE) technology has gained attraction for indoor localization in recent years due to its low power consumption and cost‐effectiveness. However, deploying BLE anchor nodes in indoor environments, particularly in areas with obstacles that can interfere with signal strength, remains a major challenge. This paper proposes a novel deployment strategy that utilizes an improved gradient‐based optimizer (GBO) algorithm to address these challenges. The primary objective is to improve both the coverage of BLE anchor nodes and the accuracy of localization. To assess the effectiveness of the deployment schemes generated by the algorithm, we introduce a comprehensive performance evaluation metric. This metric integrates multiple indicators, including capability rate, geometric accuracy factor, penalty term, sensor network topology, and network uniformity. An obstacle perception model is also introduced to mitigate the impact of deviations between measured values from the RSSI ranging model in obstacle‐rich environments and actual ground truth values. This model adjusts the measurements to enhance the reliability of the localization process. The presented algorithm is tested in an indoor space with obstacles. Experimental results demonstrate that the novel algorithm significantly optimizes anchor node layouts, enhancing coverage, and localization accuracy. Compared with the existing algorithms, the proposed method shows better performances and highlights its potential for more accurate and efficient BLE indoor localization. In particular, our research achieved an 86% probability of positioning errors within 3 m, surpassing the best results of other deployment schemes by approximately 11%. This highlights the potential of our approach for more accurate and efficient BLE‐based indoor localization.
A Career Dedicated to Gesture, Language, Learning, and Cognition: Susan Goldin‐Meadow, 2021 Recipient of the Rumelhart Prize
Authors: Alibali Martha Wagner , Cook Susan Wagner
Published: February 2025

Susan Goldin‐Meadow is the 2021 Recipient of the Rumelhart Prize. Goldin‐Meadow's body of research addresses the roles of gesture in language creation, communication, learning, and cognition. In one major strand of her research, Goldin‐Meadow has studied gestures in children who are not exposed to any structured language input, specifically, deaf children of hearing parents who do not expose their children to sign language. These children create a highly structured, language‐like system with their hands—a homesign. In another major strand, Goldin‐Meadow has focused on the gestures that people produce along with speech. She has examined how gestures contribute to producing and comprehending language at the moment of speaking or signing, how gestures contribute to learning language and to learning other concepts and skills, and how gestures may actually constitute and change people's thinking. This topic collection is made up of papers that represent and extend these strands of Goldin‐Meadow's work. This introductory article provides a brief biography of Goldin‐Meadow, and it highlights ways in which the contributions to the topic collection exemplify several notable characteristics of Goldin‐Meadow's body of work, including (1) a focus on multiple timescales of behavior and behavior change; (2) use of diverse methods, approaches, and populations; and (3) considerations of equity and inclusion, both in research and in educational and clinical practice.
DREPP protein StPCaP1 facilitates the cell‐to‐cell movement of Potato virus Y and Potato virus S by inhibiting callose deposition at plasmodesmata
Authors: Chen Ruhao , Tu Zhen , Yu Tao , Wu Zhaorong , Islam Saiful , Hu Xinxi , He Changzheng , Song Botao , Kong Qiusheng , Nie Bihua
Published: February 2025

Plant viruses, constrained by their limited genomic coding capacity, rely significantly on host factors for successful infection. Disruption of these essential host factors can confer resistance to viruses, with such factors categorized as susceptibility genes or recessive resistance genes. Recent research has identified developmentally regulated plasma membrane polypeptide (DREPP) proteins as susceptibility factors integral to the cell‐to‐cell movement of potyviruses. In the present study, we demonstrated that the silencing of StPCaP1, a DREPP gene in potato, confers novel resistance to both Potato virus Y (PVY, Potyvirus) and Potato virus S (PVS, Carlavirus). Interaction and subcellular localization analyses revealed that the movement proteins (MPs) of PVY (P3NPIPO) and PVS (TGB1) interact with StPCaP1, recruiting it to plasmodesmata (PD). Furthermore, transcriptome analysis and experimental validation indicated that compared to wild‐type (WT) controls, StPCaP1‐silenced lines exhibit significantly increased glucose content and elevated expression levels of several UDP‐glucosyltransferases (UGTs), which are potential components of the callose synthesis complex. These findings suggest that StPCaP1 participates in callose deposition, as evidenced by the increased callose deposition at PD and reduced PD permeability observed in StPCaP1‐silenced lines. Additionally, we found that StPCaP1 expression in Nicotiana benthamiana led to reduced callose deposition at PD and promoted PVY‐GFP cell‐to‐cell movement in NbPCaP1‐silenced plants in a concentration‐dependent manner, which suggests the changes in callose deposition at PD induced by StPCaP1 relates to viral cell‐to‐cell movement. This study provides a deeper understanding of DREPP‐mediated viral movement and highlights potential targets for developing virus‐resistant crops.
Arabidopsis thaliana Zn transporter genes ZIP3 and ZIP5 provide the main Zn uptake route and act redundantly to face Zn deficiency
Authors: Ochoa Tufiño Valeria , Almira Casellas Maria , van Duynhoven Aron , Flis Paulina , Salt David E. , Schat Henk , Aarts Mark G. M.
Published: February 2025

In response to Zn deficiency, plants are thought to adjust Zn homeostasis through the coordinated expression of Zn transporters. Zn transporters are identified in the ZIP, HMA and CDF families of cation transporters, although only few are characterized. We determined gene expression over time, root‐specific location of expression and phenotypes of single and double loss‐of‐function mutants of several Arabidopsis thaliana transporters, known to be induced by Zn deficiency. Transcription of Zn transporter genes is induced in the first 6 h of exposure to Zn deficiency. ZIP1 is predominantly expressed in the endodermis and stele, ZIP3 and ZIP5 in the epidermis and cortex, IRT3 from epidermis to stele and HMA2 in xylem parenchyma. ZIP3 and ZIP5 act redundantly, with the double‐mutant zip3zip5 showing high sensitivity to Zn deficiency with low biomass production, expression of other transporter genes, low Zn uptake and increased metal translocation. The root expression map and timing indicate that Zn transporters act complementary in a concerted action to control Zn homeostasis. The lack of strong Zn‐deficient phenotypes in single mutants suggests a high level of functional redundancy, best illustrated for ZIP3 and ZIP5.
Rice glycosyltransferase UGT706F1 functions in heat tolerance through glycosylating flavonoids under the regulation of transcription factor MYB61
Authors: Zhao Shuman , Ma Yuqing , Ding Yi , Dong Guangrui , Liu Chonglin , Ma Xinmei , Hou Bingkai
Published: February 2025

Global metabolic and transcriptional reprogramming is a common event in plant abiotic stress responses, however, the relevant molecular mechanisms remain largely unknown. Here, we characterized the physiological function and molecular mechanism for the rice UGT706F1. We found that UGT706F1 can be potently induced by high temperature. Its overexpression can markedly enhance the heat tolerance of rice through improving the capacity of scavenging reactive oxygen species, whereas its functional deletion results in heat sensitivity in rice. To investigate the regulatory mechanism of UGT706F1 in response to high temperature, we carried out extensive screening of the in vitro enzymatic activity of UGT706F1 and discovered that UGT706F1 exhibits broad‐spectrum activity toward flavonoid compounds. Through targeted flavonoid metabolomics analysis, we further revealed that the overexpression of UGT706F1 elevated the content of diverse flavonoids and flavonoid glycosides in rice. Subsequently, via transcriptome analysis, we found that following heat treatment, the overexpression of UGT706F1 was capable of enhancing the transcriptional activity of those genes including the flavonoid synthases, heat shock factors, heat shock proteins, glutathione S‐transferase, and various antioxidant enzymes. Furthermore, we identified an R2R3 MYB‐type transcription factor MYB61 and demonstrated that MYB61 could directly bind the promoter of UGT706F1 and activate the transcription of UGT706F1. The overexpression of MYB61 also enhanced the heat tolerance and increased flavonoid glycosides. Overall, this study unveiled a novel pathway of the plant heat tolerance response mediated by MYB61‐UGT706F1 module and identified a new UGT player for the metabolic and transcriptional regulation under high‐temperature circumstance.
Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, Volvox carteri and related green algae accumulate ketocarotenoids not in vegetative cells but in zygospores
Authors: Schwarz Sonja , Bauch Matthias , Schmitt Volker , Hallmann Armin , Lohr Martin
Published: February 2025

Zygospores of green alga such as Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, Volvox carteri or Dunaliella salina display a bright orange color indicative of carotenoids, yet there have been no reports on their pigment composition. The genomes of these algae contain genes for homologs of the β‐carotene ketolase (BKT) from the well‐known astaxanthin producer Haematococcus pluvialis, that were assumed to be pseudogenes, because none of these species has been reported to accumulate astaxanthin or other ketocarotenoids. Here, we show that C. reinhardtii and V. carteri synthesize ketocarotenoids specifically in zygospores. Contrary to the vegetative aplanospores of H. pluvialis, the major ketocarotenoid in zygospores of C. reinhardtii is not astaxanthin but 4‐ketolutein. Moreover, the ketocarotenoids in maturing zygospores are not synthesized de novo but from carotenoids of the photosynthetic apparatus liberated by a massive breakdown of thylakoid membranes. In line with this conclusion, incubation of zygospores at 9°C instead of 22°C resulted in a reduced thylakoid breakdown and only low amounts of ketocarotenoids, while the accumulation of storage lipids was less affected. Furthermore, we show the full‐length BKT from C. reinhardtii to catalyze the ketolation of both α‐carotene and lutein in carotenogenic bacteria. We also detected putative BKT genes in the genomes of various other green algae not yet known to synthesize ketocarotenoids, suggesting a zygospore‐specific accumulation of ketocarotenoids to be common among Chlamydomonadales. Our observation that zygospores of C. reinhardtii accumulate ketocarotenoids together with storage lipids sheds light on the physiology of a largely unexplored algal life stage crucial for survival and propagation.
Posttranslational regulation of plant membrane transporters
Authors: Niño‐González María , Duque Paula
Published: February 2025

The movement of substances across biological membranes is often constrained by physical or energetic barriers, requiring the action of transporter proteins embedded within the lipidic bilayer. These transporters also provide finely tuned regulation of substrate fluxes, essential for maintaining cellular function under both normal and stress conditions. Consequently, transporters are subject to multiple levels of tight regulation, including posttranslational modifications (PTMs). Here, we review the current knowledge on PTMs affecting plant membrane transporters and their impact on protein function. The attachment of chemical groups to protein residues enables rapid modulation of transporter functions, influencing a wide range of protein characteristics. Phosphorylation stands out as the most common PTM, affecting transporter attributes such as activation status, localization and substrate specificity. In turn, ubiquitination acts as a signal for downregulation, either by targeting the transporters for proteasomal degradation or by triggering their endocytosis and subsequent vacuolar sorting. The roles of other, less common PTMs remain unclear, as limited examples exist and recent advances have been sparse. The complex dynamics of substrate transport, which require precise flux magnitudes and directions, appear to demand multi‐layered control of the associated transporters. In consequence, further research is needed to investigate individual PTMs affecting transporters, as well as the interplay of multiple PTMs on a single transporter, to better understand how gradual modulation of protein function is achieved.