bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sense and Action: Organizational Reactions in Extreme Crisis: A Survey With Brazilian Executives
Authors: Milagres Rosileia , Bernardes Maria Elisa Brandão , de Carvalho Rodrigo Baroni
Published: December 2024

The objective of the paper is to analyse the actors' perception regarding how organizational actors lead the reaction of their companies to crises, changing or not their routines accordingly. The paper contributes to enlarging the understanding of crisis management by an original perspective of phenomenon evaluation based on the junction of two literature fields: sensemaking and routines, considering the organizational context that impacts crisis management. A survey of 128 company executives from different industries in Brazil was developed to identify how their companies dealt with the COVID‐19 crisis, considering sensemaking, routines and the organizational context. The results unveiled a significant and positive influence of sensemaking and organizational context on the crisis reaction, but not on the deliberated mobilization of the routines, emphasizing improvisation and trial‐and‐error. The results reinforce fast sensemaking attitudes yielding direct implementation to test the new routines, correcting course of action promptly.
Effects of different processing methods on the functional, nutritional, and physicochemical profiles of cowpea leaf powder
Authors: Borbi Makafui , Weatherspoon Lorraine , Wiesinger Jason , Jackson Jose , Glahn Raymond , Bourquin Leslie , Dolan Kirk
Published: December 2024

Indigenous fruits and vegetables can improve food security and biodiversity. However, their use is hindered by perishability, seasonal availability, cooking losses, lack of nutritional composition data, and connections to low socioeconomic status. This study aimed to process cowpea leaves into powder and determine the effect of five home‐cooking methods on their protein, functional, physicochemical, and heavy metal profiles. Cowpea leaves were boiled, blanched, steamed, sous‐vide cooked, and stir‐fried, at 5, 10, and 15 min before dehydration at 60°C. Cowpea leaves contain protein up to 20 g/100 g. The leaves are rich in calcium, potassium, and zinc, providing up to 70% of the adult recommended dietary allowance for calcium and potassium per 100 g of powder. Cowpea leaf powder exhibited good water/oil absorption and rehydration capacities. Sous‐vide and steamed cowpea leaves provided an overall superior nutritional profile (p ≤ 0.05). Heavy metals in the cowpea leaf powders were below the WHO permissible limits except for aluminum and high arsenic levels. This study demonstrated that cowpea leaf powders could be potentially incorporated into foods to improve functional properties and nutrient intake.
Age‐associated accumulation of RAB9 disrupts oocyte meiosis
Authors: Gao Min , Wang Fang , Xu Tengteng , Qiu Yanling , Cao Tianqi , Liu Simiao , Wu Wenlian , Zhou Yitong , Liu Haiying , Liu Fenghua , Huang Junjiu
Published: December 2024

The critical role of some RAB family members in oocyte meiosis has been extensively studied, but their role in oocyte aging remains poorly understood. Here, we report that the vesicle trafficking regulator, RAB9 GTPase, is essential for oocyte meiosis and aging in humans and mice. RAB9 was mainly located at the meiotic spindle periphery and cortex during oocyte meiosis. In humans and mice, we found that the RAB9 protein level were significantly increased in old oocytes. Age‐related accumulation of RAB9 inhibits first polar body extrusion and reduces the developmental potential of oocytes. Further studies showed that increased Rab9 disrupts spindle formation and chromosome alignment. In addition, Rab9 overexpression disrupts the actin cap formation and reduces the cortical actin levels. Mechanically, Rab9‐OE increases ROS levels, decreases mitochondrial membrane potential, ATP content and the mtDNA/nDNA ratio. Further studies showed that Rab9‐OE activates the PINK1‐PARKIN mitophagy pathway. Importantly, we found that reducing RAB9 protein expression in old oocytes could partially improve the rate of old oocyte maturation, ameliorate the accumulation of age‐related ROS levels and spindle abnormalities, and partially rescue ATP levels, mtDNA/nDNA ratio, and PINK1 and PARKIN expression. In conclusion, our results suggest that RAB9 is required to maintain the balance between mitochondrial function and meiosis, and that reducing RAB9 expression is a potential strategy to ameliorate age‐related deterioration of oocyte quality.
Total intravenous or inhalational volatile anaesthesia and survival after colorectal cancer surgery: a Swedish national registry study
Authors: Enlund Anna , Nikberg Maziar , Berglund Anders , Östberg Erland , Enlund Mats
Published: December 2024

Introduction

Retrospective studies suggest that inhalational volatile anaesthetic agents may contribute to an increased risk of metastasis and reduction in survival rates when used during cancer surgery. This relationship may vary between cancer types due to different tumour biology and differences in surgical procedures. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the type of anaesthetic used for maintenance of anaesthesia (propofol or inhalational volatile anaesthetic agent) and survival in patients with stage 1–3 colorectal cancer who underwent resection surgery under general anaesthesia in Sweden between 2014 and 2019.

Methods

We identified patients from the Swedish Colorectal Cancer Registry. Their data, including cancer characteristics and adjuvant treatment, were then merged with information from the Swedish Peri‐operative Registry. The primary outcome was overall survival, with disease‐free survival as a secondary outcome.

Results

Of the 11,598 patients included, 8161 had colon cancer and 3437 had rectal cancer. General anaesthesia was maintained with propofol in 2346 (20%) patients, while 9252 (80%) received an inhalational volatile anaesthetic agent. In the unmatched cohort, patients who had general anaesthesia maintained with propofol for colon cancer surgery showed improved survival compared with those receiving an inhalational volatile anaesthetic agent (hazard ratio 0.83, 95%CI 0.72–0.95, p = 0.008). After 1:2 propensity score matching, we observed no significant difference in survival rates in this group (hazard ratio 0.89, 95%CI 0.76–1.04, p = 0.127). In the rectal cancer group, there was no difference in survival in either the unmatched cohort (hazard ratio 0.83, 95%CI 0.65–1.08, p = 0.166) or after propensity score matching (hazard ratio 0.95, 95%CI 0.71–1.25, p = 0.702). There was no significant difference in disease‐free survival in either type of cancer.

Discussion

We found no association between the choice of agent for maintenance of anaesthesia and long‐term survival outcomes in patients with colorectal cancer.
Establishing reference ranges for circulating biomarkers of drug‐induced liver injury in healthy human volunteers1
Authors: Jorgensen Andrea L. , Korver Samantha , Schofield Amy , Howell Lawrence , Clarke Joanna I. , Walker Lauren E. , Brillant Nathalie , Goldring Chris E. P. , Pirmohamed Munir
Published: December 2024

Aims

The potential of mechanistic biomarkers to improve prediction of drug‐induced liver injury (DILI) and hepatic regeneration is widely acknowledged. We sought to determine reference intervals for new biomarkers of DILI and regeneration, as well as to characterize their natural variability and impact of diurnal variation.

Methods

Serum samples from 227 healthy volunteers were recruited as part of a cross‐sectional study; of these, 25 subjects had weekly serial sampling over 3 weeks, while 23 had intensive blood sampling over a 24h period. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), MicroRNA‐122 (miR‐122), High Mobility Group Box‐1 (HMGB1), total Keratin‐18 (K18), caspase‐cleaved Keratin‐18 (ccK18), Glutamate Dehydrogenase (GLDH) and Macrophage Colony‐Stimulating Factor‐1 (CSF‐1) were assayed.

Results

Reference intervals were established for each biomarker based on the 97.5% quantile (90% CI) following the assessment of fixed effects in univariate and multivariable models. Intra‐individual variability was found to be non‐significant, and there was no significant impact of diurnal variation.

Conclusion

Reference intervals for novel DILI biomarkers have been described. An upper limit of a reference range might represent the most appropriate mechanism to utilize these data. These data can now be used to interpret data from exploratory clinical DILI studies and to assist their further qualification as required by regulatory authorities.
A ranking forced choice diagnostic classification model for psychological assessment using forced choice questionnaires
Authors: Zhu Yi‐An , Xu Jingwan , Wang Daxun , Li Xin , Cai Yan , Tu Dongbo
Published: December 2024

The diagnostic classification model (DCM) has been widely utilized in non‐cognitive tests, offering diagnostic information on latent attributes. However, the model's reliance on single‐stimulus (SS) items may lead to response biases (e.g., social desirability), jeopardizing the psychometric properties. As an alternative to SS scales, forced choice questionnaires (FCQ) can effectively control response biases. The combination of FCQs and the DCM not only circumvents response bias but also yields fine‐grained diagnostic information on latent attributes. To the best of our knowledge, only one study (Huang, Educ. Psychol. Meas., 83, 2022, 146) has explored this topic and developed a DCM for forced choice (FC) items. However, the existing model has limitations in terms of its modelling assumption, the FC format and the number of attributes measured by statement. To address these limitations, this study proposes a ranking FC‐DCM that (1) adopts a generalized assumption, (2) covers all FC formats and (3) eases the limitation on the number of attributes measured by each statement. The simulation study demonstrated that the proposed model exhibited satisfactory person and item parameter recovery under all conditions. This study provided an illustrative example by developing an FC version questionnaire to further explore the applications and advantages of the proposed model in real‐world settings.
Labor Outcomes After Employer‐Provided Training: Evidence from the Understanding Society Survey
Authors: Ullah Akbar
Published: December 2024

A simple two‐period model is developed to show that employer‐provided training might increase workers' wages and incentives to work more paid and unpaid hours. These predictions are then tested using the United Kingdom Understanding Society Survey data. The empirical analysis suggests that individuals with at least one employer‐provided training incident work more paid and unpaid overtime compared with individuals without employer‐provided training. Training has significant positive and permanent effects on wages and the odds of workers being in a managerial role after training. Additionally, those with employer‐provided training have higher odds of job satisfaction. The unpaid working hours and job satisfaction effects of job training are not long‐lasting.
A Multilevel Analysis of Out‐of‐School Children by Gender and Educational Level
Authors: Zhang Heng , Akram Shahla , Hassan Mehboob Ul , Shahzad Muhammad Farrukh
Published: December 2024

Children are the builders of the future, and their education is crucial for societal development. This study aims to identify and analyse the barriers that prevent marginalised communities from participating in educational activities and explore strategies for overcoming these obstacles. Focused on Pakistan, which has the second highest number of out‐of‐school (OOS) children globally according to UNICEF, this research utilises data from the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) Wave 6. Employing logistic regression and generalised structural equation modelling (GSEM), we investigate the impact of foundational skills, child disabilities, socioeconomic factors and regional differences on school attendance. The study particularly examines the role of financial assistance, including tuition fees and social transfers, in addressing the issue of out‐of‐school (OOS) children. The findings highlight the need for inclusive policies, adequate funding and enhanced foundational skills to improve school attendance and academic outcomes.
Enhancing visibility in gastric endoscopic dissection: Red dichromatic imaging in managing submucosal fatty tissue
Authors: Shigeta Kohei , Yoshida Masao , Ono Hiroyuki
Published: December 2024

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Orthodontic Trainees' Perceptions of Effective Feedback in the United Kingdom
Authors: Chawla Rachna K. , Ryan Fiona S. , Cunningham Susan J.
Published: December 2024

Introduction

Feedback is an invaluable educational tool and is now widely used in education, despite some of the challenges and barriers to its implementation. Effective feedback in medical and dental education is a driver for improvement, by recognising good performance and identifying areas where improvement is required. This, in turn, can translate into better patient care, as feedback can positively impact on clinical performance. To date, there is limited literature about feedback mechanisms in orthodontic training and trainees' perceptions of how effective the various methods are.

Methods

This was a national, cross‐sectional questionnaire investigating orthodontic trainees' perceptions of effective feedback relating to chairside clinical training. An electronic questionnaire was developed and an invitation to participate was disseminated via the British Orthodontic Society (BOS) to postgraduate orthodontic trainees in the United Kingdom (UK). The population included all trainees at ST1‐5 level who were BOS members, aged 25 years and above, including those appointed by Health Education England (HEE) and those who were non‐HEE appointed. The questionnaire was open for an 11‐week period between 10 February 2022 and 28 April 2022.

Results

The questionnaire was completed by 68 participants with a mean age of 30.7 years and the response rate was approximately 30%. Trainees agreed that effective feedback improved their clinical skills and performance (99%) and 82% felt comfortable requesting feedback from their supervisors. The main perceived barrier to obtaining high quality in‐depth feedback was perceived time pressures for educators (87%).

Conclusions

This study demonstrated positive findings regarding trainees' perceptions of feedback processes in UK clinical orthodontic training. Perceived barriers to effective feedback included time constraints and the perception that trainers were too busy to provide in‐depth feedback.
Climate Covariate Choice and Uncertainty in Projecting Species Range Shifts: A Case Study in the Eastern Bering Sea
Authors: Goodman Maurice C. , Reum Jonathan C. P. , Barnes Cheryl L. , Punt Andre E. , Ianelli James N. , McHuron Elizabeth A. , De Leo Giulio A. , Holsman Kirstin K.
Published: December 2024

Species distribution models (SDMs) are critical to the adaptive management of fisheries under climate change. While many approaches projecting marine species range shifts have incorporated the effects of temperature on movement, there is a need to incorporate a wider suite of ecologically relevant predictors as temperature‐based SDMs can considerably under‐ or over‐estimate the rate of species responses to climate shocks. As a subarctic ecosystem at the sea ice margin, the Eastern Bering Sea (EBS) is warming faster than much of the global ocean, resulting in the rapid redistribution of key fishery and subsistence resources. To support long‐term planning and adaptation, we combine 40 years of scientific surveys with a high‐resolution oceanographic model to examine the effects of bottom temperature, oxygen, pH and a regional climate index (the extent of the EBS ‘cold pool’) on range projections through the end of the century. We use multimodel inference to partition uncertainty among earth systems models, climate scenarios and distribution model parameterizations for several ecologically and economically important EBS groundfish and crabs. Covariate choice is the primary source of uncertainty for most species, with models that account for spatial responses to the cold pool performing better and suggesting more extensive northward movements than alternative models. Models suggest declines in the probability of occurrence at low pH and oxygen concentrations for most species. We project shifts that are directionally consistent with, yet larger than those previously estimated for most species, suggesting that accounting for large‐scale climate variability in species distribution models may substantially alter range projections.
Perception of medical care among women living with HIV aged 40 years or older–A European‐wide survey
Authors: Miron Victor Daniel , Sabin Caroline A. , Săndulescu Oana , Lourida Giota , Kyrychenko Tetiana , Dragovic Gordana , Kowalska Justyna , Mellgren Åsa , Galindo M. José , Josh Jo , Moseholm Ellen ,   the WAVE Healthcare Perception Working Group
Published: December 2024

Objectives

Our objective was to explore how women living with HIV aged ≥40 years perceive their care in relation to their HIV infection, comorbidities, and menopausal health and to evaluate the extent to which the care they receive meets their expectations, comparatively across World Health Organization (WHO) European regions.

Methods

We conducted a cross‐sectional survey (May–December 2023) among women living with HIV aged ≥40 years from the WHO European region. Five dimensions of care were assessed: content of care, information, relationship with caregiver, organization of care, and patients' rights and privacy, in addition to management of non‐HIV comorbidities and menopause.

Results

In total, 600 women completed the survey; they were predominantly from the Western European region (70.2%), followed by the Eastern (20.2%) and Central (9.6%) regions. The majority of women (46.5%–95.1%) described positive experiences, responding that they were ‘always’ or ‘usually’ satisfied with the five dimensions of HIV care. The concordance between perceptions and experiences of HIV care ranged from 49.4% to 96.1% and was lower in the Eastern region. Among menopausal women, 58.5% were ‘very satisfied’ or ‘satisfied’ with the care they received; satisfaction was significantly lower in Eastern European countries than in Western countries.

Conclusions

Our results highlighted a generally high concordance between respondents' expectations and the services provided, including both HIV and non‐HIV care. Women aged ≥40 years living with HIV face several challenges that should be addressed. These findings inform stakeholders and decision‐makers about the need to adopt a more inclusive and sensitive approach in healthcare systems.
Al2O3‐improved CaZr4(PO4)6 composite ceramics for matched to the thermal expansion of silicon wafers
Authors: Ruan Limei , Li Yuanxun , Yang Rui , Li Fuyu
Published: December 2024

During silicon wafer testing, a mismatch between the thermal expansion characteristics of the wafer probe card and the silicon wafer is likely to result in the probe not being able to maintain precise alignment with the various contact points on the wafer. To address this challenge, CaZr4(PO4)6 + x wt% Al2O3 composite ceramics (CZPA, x = 0–25) are prepared by the solid‐phase reaction method. when x = 5, the bulk density achieves the maximum value (3.17 g/cm3). Young's modulus reaches a maximum (58 GPa) at x = 5. The x‐ and y‐axis shrinkages are in the range of 5.67%–8.67% and the z‐axis shrinkage is in the range of 7.11%–9.91%. The coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE) gradually increase with the increase of Al2O3 doping and achieve a near‐Si thermal expansion coefficient at x = 15, which means that it matches the thermal expansion of silicon wafers. This ceramic developed in this work is expected to be applied to multilayer‐matched substrates matched to silicon.
Tailoring porosity and pore size in silicon carbide ceramics with C/SiO2 additions
Authors: Yin Kexin , Sun Wenyue , Yi Menghuan , Hu Pu , Huang Zhiliang , Chen Changlian
Published: December 2024

Porous silicon carbide ceramics are ideal candidates for filters, separation membranes, and high‐temperature structural materials, for which high porosity and precise pore size control are required. However, high porosity and large pore sizes usually lead to degradation in mechanical properties. In this work, silicon carbide powder with two different particle sizes was used as the raw material, and C powder and SiO2 powder were used as pore‐forming agents. A series of pure silicon carbide porous ceramics with micron‐sized pores were prepared by recrystallization sintering. The porosity and pore size of obtained samples were controllable and adjustable, and the mechanical properties were significantly enhanced. The microstructure, pore size distribution, porosity, and crystal phase of silicon carbide porous ceramics were characterized by scanning electron microscope, pore size analyzer, Archimedes method, and X‐ray diffraction. The effect of adding C/SiO2 on the porosity, the pore size, and the micro‐morphology of sintering samples was studied. The results show that C/SiO2 can adjust the porosity and pore size of pure silicon carbide porous ceramics in a wide range. The highest porosity of the obtained sample adding 40% C/SiO2 was up to 64.42%, and the average and maximum aperture are 5.42 and 11.98 µm, respectively.
Modeling and generating user‐centered contrastive explanations for the workforce scheduling and routing problem
Authors: Lerouge Mathieu , Gicquel Céline , Mousseau Vincent , Ouerdane Wassila
Published: December 2024

In the last decade, explainability has been attracting much attention in the machine learning community. However, this research topic extends beyond this field to encompass others such as operations research and combinatorial optimization (CO). This paper addresses this issue in the case of the workforce scheduling and routing problem (WSRP), a CO problem involving human resource allocation and routing decisions. We first introduce a novel mathematical framework that models the process of explaining solutions to the end‐users of a WSRP‐solving system. Then, we present original algorithmic methods to generate explanation texts employing a high‐level vocabulary adapted to such end‐users. Explanations are user‐centered, local, and contrastive. They are triggered by end‐user questions about various topics regarding a solution of a WSRP instance. Both questions and explanations are expressed as texts thanks to templates. Numerical experiments show that the algorithms generating explanation texts have execution times that are mostly compatible with the online use of explanations in an interactive system.
Postcholecystectomy Gut Microbiome Changes and the Clinical Impact: A Systematic Review With Narrative Synthesis
Authors: Ang Tiing Leong , Koo Seok Hwee , Ang Daphne , Tan Chin Kimg , Wang Lai Mun , Wong Sunny Hei , Chow Pierce K. H.
Published: December 2024

Background

Cholecystectomy (CCE) can affect the enterohepatic circulation of bile acids and result in gut microbiome changes. This systematic review aimed to clarify the effect of CCE on gut microbiome composition and its clinical impact.

Method

A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus, combining keywords such as “cholecystectomy” or “post‐cholecystectomy” with “gut microbiome,” “stool microbiome,” or “gut dysbiosis.” Data were extracted and synthesized using narrative review. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle‐Ottawa scale.

Results

A total of 1373 articles were screened and 14 studies were selected. Significant but inconsistent microbiome changes were reported. Changes were observed in alpha and beta diversity. At phylum level, an increase in Bacteroides and Ascomycota, decrease in Firmicutes, Actinomycetes, and Basidiomycota, and both increase and decrease in Fusobacteria were reported. At genus level, an increase in Prevotella and a decrease in Faecalibacterium were reported. In post‐CCE diarrhea, decreased beta diversity, a decreased F/B ratio, an increase in Prevotella, an increase in Phocaeicola vulgatus, and a decrease in Prevotella copri were noted. For post‐CCE syndrome, a higher abundance of Proteobacteria and decreased Firmicutes/Bacteroides (F/B) ratio were reported. A decreased relative abundance of Bifidobacterium longum subsp. longum from controls to CCE without colonic neoplasia to CCE with colonic neoplasia, and an increased abundance of Candida glabrata from controls, to CCE without colonic neoplasia and CCE with colonic neoplasia, were reported.

Conclusion

Patients who underwent CCE had significant gut dysbiosis. However, current studies could not clarify the detailed gut microbial structural and functional changes associated with CCE.
Neuronal growth regulator 1 (NEGR1) promotes the synaptic targeting of glutamic acid decarboxylase 65 (GAD65)
Authors: Su Feifei , Pfundstein Grant , Sah Saroj , Zhang Shuyue , Keable Ryan , Hagan D. Walker , Sharpe Laura J. , Clemens Kelly J. , Begg Denovan , Phelps Edward A. , Brown Andrew J. , Leshchyns'ka Iryna , Sytnyk Vladimir
Published: December 2024

Neuronal growth regulator 1 (NEGR1) is a synaptic plasma membrane localized cell adhesion molecule implicated in a wide spectrum of psychiatric disorders. By RNAseq analysis of the transcriptomic changes in the brain of NEGR1‐deficient mice, we found that NEGR1 deficiency affects the expression of the Gad2 gene. We show that glutamic acid decarboxylase 65 (GAD65), the Gad2 ‐ encoded enzyme synthesizing the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA on synaptic vesicles, accumulates non‐synaptically in brains of NEGR1‐deficient mice. The density of non‐synaptic GAD65 accumulations is also increased in NEGR1 deficient cultured hypothalamic neurons, and this effect is rescued by re‐expression of NEGR1. By using a novel biosensor of the plasma membrane attachment of GAD65, we demonstrate that GAD65 attaches to the plasma membrane. NEGR1 promotes palmitoylation‐dependent clearance of GAD65 from the plasma membrane and targeting of GAD65 to plasma membrane‐derived endocytic vesicles. In NEGR1 deficient cultured hypothalamic neurons, the synaptic and extrasynaptic levels of the plasma membrane attached GAD65 are increased, and the synaptic levels of GABA are reduced. NEGR1‐deficient mice are characterized by reduced body weight, lower GABAergic synapse densities in the arcuate nucleus, and blunted responsiveness to the reinforcing effects of food rewards. Our results indicate that abnormalities in synaptic GABA synthesis can contribute to brain disorders associated with abnormal expression of NEGR1 in humans.

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Association between alcohol consumption levels and pelvic inflammatory disease: Findings from the NHANES 2013–2020
Authors: Wang Daji , Xiong Jianbo
Published: December 2024

Background and Aim

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is a common and serious infection affecting women's reproductive health, which may result in severe consequences, such as infertility. This research is to investigate the association between alcohol consumption levels and the odds of PID prevalence, providing insights that could inform public health policies.

Methods and Results

The U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2013–2020 is the data source. Multivariate logistic regression analysis, trend analysis, and curve fitting were employed to examine the associations between alcohol consumption levels and the odds of PID prevalence. Regarding subgroup analysis, we utilized the stratified analysis and interaction test to investigate the robustness of this association. Compared with participants who never consumed alcohol, alcohol consumption increased the odds of PID prevalence. The odds of PID prevalence increased with the increase in the level of alcohol consumption. In the fully adjusted model, compared to non‐drinkers, the odds ratios (OR) for PID were 1.89 (95% CI: 1.23–2.92) for mild drinkers, 1.94 (95% CI: 1.24–3.04) for moderate drinkers, and 2.01 (95% CI: 1.27–3.19) for heavy drinkers, indicating an increased prevalence of PID by 89, 94, and 101%, respectively. This association was consistently observed across the study population.

Conclusions

Alcohol consumption levels were positively related to the odds of PID prevalence among adult females in the United States. Our results indicate that reducing alcohol consumption and cultivating good living habits will likely help prevent PID in the general population.
Floridanema gen. nov. (Aerosakkonemataceae, Aerosakkonematales ord. nov., Cyanobacteria) from benthic tropical and subtropical fresh waters, with the description of four new species
Authors: Moretto Jéssica A. , Berthold David E. , Lefler Forrest W. , Huang I‐Shuo , Laughinghouse H. Dail
Published: December 2024

Cyanobacteria exhibit a vast diversity from polar to tropical environments. Though much work has been done on elucidating their biodiversity, knowledge on the occurrence, diversity and toxicity of benthic cyanobacteria is limited when compared to the planktonic forms. Integrating molecular techniques with ecological and morphological analyses has become essential in untangling cyanobacterial diversity, particularly for benthic taxa such as the cryptic “Lyngbya.” Molecular markers such as the 16S rRNA gene and whole genome sequencing have significantly improved the taxonomy of cyanobacteria. Building on these advancements, this study characterizes benthic cyanobacterial isolates from various locations in Florida, USA, and Orange Walk, Belize, resulting in the identification of a novel genus, Floridanema, and four new species (F. aerugineum, F. evergladense, F. flaviceps, and F. fluviatile). This new genus commonly occurs in canals, ponds, lakes and rivers. By integrating ecological, morphological, and genomic analyses, this study provides support for the family Aerosakkonemataceae and the establishment of the order Aerosakkonematales. The LC–MS data revealed that Floridanema strains do not produce microcystins, nodularin‐R, or anabaenopeptins.
Species composition and abundance of crustose coralline algae and formation of Xinfeng algal reef in Northwestern Taiwan
Authors: Lin Showe‐Mei , Liu Li‐Chia , Shiao Jen‐Chieh , Huang Chih‐Chien , Tseng Li‐Chun , Lee Hsin
Published: December 2024

The composition and abundance of crustose coralline algae (CCA) have been documented in the Xinfeng algal reef (XAR). Eight CCA species were identified, including four in Phymatolithon (P. margoundulatum, P. taiwanense, P. variabile, and Phymatolithon sp.) and four only identified to the genus level (Chamberlainium sp. and three Dawsoniolithon spp.). Chamberlainium sp. was the most abundant species, while the three species of Dawsoniolithon were rarely observed. The CCA coverage varied from 18% ± 15% to 27% ± 21% in spring seasons of 2021–2024, but there were no significant differences. Based on carbon‐14 dating, the CCA sediments in the XAR were estimated to be 5850–5990 years old. These CCA sediments were primarily composed of two paleo‐CCA species, resembling modern Chamberlainium sp. and Dawsoniolithon sp. 1. However, the modern species of Phymatolithon, which are widespread and abundant in the algal reefs of northwestern Taiwan, were not observed in the CCA sediments. It is unclear whether their absence was due to fragile thalli after their death or their lack of occurrence, and this requires further investigation. The paleoenvironmental data and biogenic sediment composition analysis suggests that the XAR started to develop ~6000 years ago when the sea surface temperature began to decrease and seawater turbidity increased due to rainfall. Additional CCA sediment samples from this algal reef are needed to fully understand the historical changes in the paleo‐environments in the XAR.
Rising Mortality of Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma Among Older Adults in the United States: An Analysis of Demographic and Regional Trends
Authors: Tariq Muhammad Ali , Malik Minhail Khalid , Khan Madiha , Majoka Zunaira Ahsan , Asrar Aeman
Published: December 2024

Introduction

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is the second most frequent primary liver malignancy after hepatocellular carcinoma. Contemporary mortality trends due to ICC are largely unknown. We aim to examine the temporal trends of ICC‐related deaths among older adults in the United States from 1999 to 2022.

Methods

We utilised the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wide‐Ranging, Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (CDC WONDER) database, which provides information from death certificates of all US residents according to the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD‐10).

Results

Between 1999 and 2022, there were 90 996 deaths attributed to ICC among individuals aged 65 and older. Overall, there is an increasing trend in ICC mortality; the total AAMR increased from 5.6 in 1999 to 14.3 in 2022 with an annual increase of 3.3%. Males had consistently higher AAMR than females across all years. For males, AAMR initially increased by 2.9% annually from 1999 to 2015, and since then, the rate has accelerated to a 3.9% annual increase. Conversely, females experienced a steady annual increase of 3.4% in AAMR from 1999 to 2022. When stratified by race, AAMR was highest among the Non‐Hispanic (NH) Asian population, followed by Hispanic or Latino, NH Whites and NH Blacks. In brief, the AAMR has increased for all races; however, the NH Black population has experienced the greatest rise in AAMR during the study duration (APC: 4.0%; 95% CI, 3.5 to 4.8). Large metropolitan areas had a higher overall AAMR than small/medium metropolitan and non‐metropolitan areas, though the rate of increase was comparable across all regions. States within the top 90th percentile of ICC‐related deaths included Minnesota, Alaska, District of Columbia, Wisconsin, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

Conclusions

Over the past two decades, there has been a consistent rise in mortality rates associated with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma in the United States. This upward trajectory underscores the imperative for additional research aimed at comprehending and delineating the underlying risk factors driving this increase.
Independent Genetic Mapping Experiments Identify Diverse Molecular Determinants of Host Adaptation in a Generalist Herbivore
Authors: Villacis‐Perez Ernesto , De Graeve Femke , De Beer Berdien , Ali Alshami Seham , De Jong Rick , De Meyer Tim , Van Leeuwen Thomas
Published: December 2024

Interactions between plants and herbivores promote evolutionary change. Studying the evolution of herbivore mechanisms aimed to cope with different host plant species is a critical intersection between evolutionary biology and sustainable pest management. Generalist herbivores are of particular interest, as hybridization between genetically distinct populations can increase the standing genetic variation and therefore the adaptive potential of the species. Tetranychus urticae is a generalist arthropod known for its adaptive potential, evidenced in its immense host range and ability to develop metabolic resistance to xenobiotics. However, the molecular underpinnings associated with the potential of host adaptation and the consequences of host adaptation in this, and many other pests remain elusive. Here, we use two independent, empirical approaches to identify and map the genetic basis of host plant performance and adaptation in genetically distinct populations of T. urticae. In the first approach, we subject a genetically diverse mite population to tomato selection and map genomic regions linked to the phenotypic evolution of increased reproductive performance. In the second approach, we map genomic regions responsible for performance on tomato by comparing the genomes of pooled individuals from an F2 backcross between populations with high and low reproductive performance. Both approaches revealed specific and shared genomic regions associated with host plant performance and adaptation and key candidate genes were identified. Our findings highlight the power of spider mite genetic approaches to identify the complex genetic basis of host adaptation in generalist herbivores.
The time of infection matters: seasonal interplay between host and pathogen drives epidemic dynamics
Authors: Fay Rémi , Gamelon Marlène , Baubet Eric , Porphyre Thibaud
Published: December 2024

Host and pathogen dynamics are driven by seasonal variation, leading to complex epidemic patterns which are not well understood. Here, we linked demography and epidemiology in a single framework to reach a mechanistic understanding of disease dynamics in natural populations characterized by seasonality. We applied this approach to depict the interplay between a host, the wild boar, and a viral disease, African swine fever. This virus spreads in wild boar by direct‐contact among living individuals or though contacts with infected carcasses. In this system, both host and pathogen show seasonal patterns: survival and reproduction probabilities vary across the year in the wild boar, and virus persistence in the environment is affected by temperature which influences the speed of carcasses degradation. Using a stochastic individual‐based model, we showed that virus invasion success strongly varies according to the time of introduction due to the seasonal specific interaction between the virus and host. Furthermore, the shape of the following epidemic varies across seasons, with variation in speed and magnitude of the outbreak. Consequently, the host population response was also season‐specific, both regarding the speed of the decline and the change in population structure. Overall, our study highlights the inextricable connections between host, pathogen and the environmental dynamics, and the importance to consider each component to understand disease dynamics.
She Asked for It? Descriptions of Victims' Behaviors Are Associated With Sentencing in Norwegian Rape Trials
Authors: Rinde Kirsten Rønning , Vučić Tea , Andresen Maria Grønland , Havnen Audun , Solem Stian
Published: December 2024

Feminist theorists have long argued that rape myths contribute to normalizing sexual assault, through belittling and denying rape victims' claims. This study examines whether descriptions of victims' behaviors are associated with sentencing in rape trials. A total of 2054 Norwegian court decisions from 2013 to 2023 in judicial records were screened. Fifty‐one of these included descriptions of the victims' behavior as operationalized by a subscale of the Illinois Rape Myth Acceptance Scale called “She Asked For It” (IRMAS‐SAFI; type of clothing, going to a room alone with a guy at a party, previous sexual behavior, saying no unclearly, and kissing). Matching cases without such descriptions were then selected, resulting in a total sample of 102 court decisions. In addition, a randomly selected comparison group (n = 51) was included for robustness analysis. Results revealed that defendants who had attacked a victim in the IRMAS‐SAFI group were sentenced to fewer months in prison (M = 25.3, SD = 20.9) than defendants from the comparison group (M = 41.7, SD = 13.3). This type of description of victims' behavior was significantly associated with shorter prison sentences when controlling for medical evidence, age of the defendant, and use of violence. The results indicate that implementing measures to reduce the influence of rape myths on judges' evaluations in rape trials could lead to fairer court decisions.
ABO*cisAB allele with unusual phenotype in a Brazilian family
Authors: Miola Marcos Paulo , Muniz Janaína Guilhem , Santos Flávia Leite Souza , Ricci‐Junior Octávio , de Mattos Luiz Carlos
Published: December 2024

Background

Among the alleles of the ABO system, cisAB and B(A) are the most intriguing due to their ability to encode a glycosyltransferase that can synthesize both A and B antigens. This dual activity leads to the formation of the AB phenotype, even in the presence of the O allele; resolution is achieved by molecular analyses.

Case Presentation and Methods

We describe herein a Brazilian family in which the mother (M42.1) of group AB and the father (M42.2) of group O have two children of group AB (M42.3 and M42.4). Serological characterization involved ABO and H phenotyping tests and serial dilution of ABO monoclonal antibodies. Characterization of ABO genotypes and alleles were performed by PCR‐RFLP and sequencing.

Results and Discussion

In serological tests, red blood cells from M42.1, M42.3, and M42.4 showed an intermediate reactivity pattern between A1B and A2B. Molecular analyses revealed the presence of the ABO*O.01.01/O.01.01 genotype in M42.2 and the ABO*cisAB.05/O.01.01 genotype in M42.1, M42.3, and M42.4. The ABO*cisAB.05 allele encodes a glycosyltransferase able to synthesize A and B antigens in quantities sufficient to cause an agglutination reaction higher than that observed in A2B phenotypes.

Conclusion

The combination of serological and molecular methods used in this study allowed us to determine the serological pattern, identify the ABO alleles, and explain the inheritance of the AB phenotype in this family.
Una aproximación al contrato de reaseguro: A propósito de la prescripción extintiva
Authors: Uribe Lozada Nicolás , Bedoya Chavarriaga Juan Camilo
Published: December 2024

El reaseguro, como mecanismo de dispersión vertical de riesgos, adquiere una importancia transcendental para la operación y funcionamiento del contrato de seguro, a tal punto que, sin este la actividad aseguradora no podría operar con normalidad y tendría serias restricciones técnicas para su ejercicio, pues las aseguradoras difícilmente podrían afrontar contra su propio patrimonio técnico los diferentes productos de seguro que existen actualmente y especialmente dispersar riesgos catastróficos.
El presente trabajo abordará sintéticamente las disposiciones normativas y pautas jurisprudenciales que regulan en Colombia, el contrato de reaseguro, así como la forma en que se aplica la institución de la prescripción extintiva a aquel, con miras exponer las distintas posiciones y problemáticas existentes en la materia.
Sacha inchi (Plukenetia volubilis L.) husks and seed shells are sources of phenolic compounds with potential health benefits
Authors: Polanía Cuellar Nicole Valeria , Hern´ández Peñaranda Indira Paola , Villalba Rey Deicy , Acuña Rodríguez Katherin Natalia , Gómez Jaimes Franci Nathalie
Published: December 2024

Sacha inchi (Plukenetia volubilis L.) is an oilseed plant that yields a highly nutritious oil. However, its husks and seed shells are under-utilized byproducts. In this study, ethanolic extracts of sacha inchi husks (SI-husk) and seed shells (SI-shell) were obtained using ultrasound-assisted extraction, evaluating the effects of extraction temperature and solvent-to-solid ratio on the yields. The extracts’ total phenolic contents, phenolic profiles, antioxidant activities, and antimicrobial activities against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria were investigated. Under the selected extraction conditions for SI-husk (60 °C, 1:8 s/s, 280W, 120 min) and SI-shell (60 °C, 1:3 s/s, 280W, 120 min), the extracts’ total phenolic contents were 80.18 ± 0.32 and 50.94 ± 0.48 mg GAE (gallic acid equivalents)/g, respectively. Cyanidin, naringenin, and kaempferol were principally found in the SI-husk extract (79.4 %) and vanillic acid in the SI-shell extract (79.9 %). Both extracts exhibited antioxidant activity, with ORAC values of 360.36 ± 0.21 and 228.11 ± 0.14 µmol TE/g, respectively. The antimicrobial activity of the extracts was evaluated against S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, and E. coli using the agar disk diffusion assay. SI-husk (1 mg) exhibited antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, with an inhibition zone of 10.5 ± 1.8 mm. Our results provide new insights into sacha inchi byproducts as sources of bioactive compounds with potential health benefits.
Resistance and rangatiratanga in a time of political change
Authors: Cox Kendra , Baines Donna , Joy Eileen , Beddoe Liz
Published: December 2024

Editorial in 2 parts: 'Social work, the politics of cruelty and political resistance' by Kendra Cox, Donna Baines, Eileen Joy andLiz Beddoe; and 'On rangatiratanga' by Kendra Cox.
Ecological features of microbial community linked to stochastic and deterministic assembly processes in acid mine drainage
Authors: Liu Zhenghua , Jiang Chengying , Yin Zhuzhong , Ibrahim Ibrahim Ahmed , Zhang Teng , Wen Jing , Zhou Lei , Jiang Guoping , Li Liangzhi , Yang Zhendong , Huang Ye , Yang Zhaoyue , Gu Yabing , Meng Delong , Yin Huaqun
Published: December 2024

Ecological processes greatly shape microbial community assembly, but the driving factors remain unclear. Here, we compiled a metagenomic data set of microbial communities from global acid mine drainage (AMD) and explored the ecological features of microbial community linked to stochastic and deterministic processes from the perspective of species niche position, interaction patterns, gene functions, and viral infection. Our results showed that dispersal limitation (DL) (48.5%~93.5%) dominated the assembly of phylogenetic bin in AMD microbial community, followed by homogeneous selection (HoS) (3.1%~39.2%), heterogeneous selection (HeS) (1.4%~22.2%), and drift (DR) (0.2%~2.7%). The dominant process of dispersal limitation was significantly influenced by niche position in temperature (
r
= −0.518,
P
= 0.007) and dissolved oxygen (
r
= 0.471,
P
= 0.015). Network stability had a significantly negative correlation with the relative importance of dispersal limitation, while it had a positive correlation with selection processes, implying changes in network properties could be mediated by ecological processes. Furthermore, we found that ecological processes were mostly related to the gene functions of energy production and conversion (C), and amino acid transport and metabolism (E). Meanwhile, our results showed that the number of proviruses and viral genes involved in arsenic (As) resistance is negatively associated with the relative importance of ecological drift in phylogenetic bin assembly, implying viral infection might weaken ecological drift. Taken together, these results highlight that ecological processes are associated with ecological features at multiple levels, providing a novel insight into microbial community assembly in extremely acidic environments.

IMPORTANCE

Unraveling the forces driving community assemblage is a core issue in microbial ecology, but how ecological constraints impose stochasticity and determinism remains unknown. This study presents a comprehensive investigation to uncover the association of ecological processes with species niche position, interaction patterns, microbial metabolisms, and viral infections, which provides novel insights into community assembly in extreme environments.
On professional mutualism: a blueprint for early-career virologists
Authors: Shah Priya S.
Published: December 2024

Are you an early-career virologist looking for an independent position? Are you searching for the right home for your lab and not sure what you are looking for? I am here to tell you that the right professional home may not be what you expected. The key is to find a home that offers professional mutualism—it allows you and your home department to grow in new directions and hopefully thrive in the process.