bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The p97/VCP adapter UBXD1 drives AAA+ remodeling and ring opening through multi-domain tethered interactions
Authors: Braxton Julian R. , Altobelli Chad R. , Tucker Maxwell R. , Tse Eric , Thwin Aye C. , Arkin Michelle R. , Southworth Daniel R.
Published: May 2023

p97/VCP is an essential cytosolic AAA+ ATPase hexamer that extracts and unfolds substrate polypeptides during protein homeostasis and degradation. Distinct sets of p97 adapters guide cellular functions but their roles in direct control of the hexamer are unclear. The UBXD1 adapter localizes with p97 in critical mitochondria and lysosome clearance pathways and contains multiple p97-interacting domains. We identify UBXD1 as a potent p97 ATPase inhibitor and report structures of intact p97:UBXD1 complexes that reveal extensive UBXD1 contacts across p97 and an asymmetric remodeling of the hexamer. Conserved VIM, UBX, and PUB domains tether adjacent protomers while a connecting strand forms an N-terminal domain lariat with a helix wedged at the interprotomer interface. An additional VIM-connecting helix binds along the second AAA+ domain. Together these contacts split the hexamer into a ring-open conformation. Structures, mutagenesis, and comparisons to other adapters further reveal how adapters containing conserved p97-remodeling motifs regulate p97 ATPase activity and structure.
Design and implementation of suspended drop crystallization
Authors: Gillman Cody , Nicolas William J. , Martynowycz Michael W. , Gonen Tamir
Published: May 2023

In this work, a novel crystal growth method termed suspended drop crystallization has been developed. Unlike traditional methods, this technique involves mixing protein and precipitant directly on an electron microscopy grid without any additional support layers. The grid is then suspended within a crystallization chamber designed in-house, allowing for vapor diffusion to occur from both sides of the drop. A UV-transparent window above and below the grid enables the monitoring of crystal growth via light, UV or fluorescence microscopy. Once crystals have formed, the grid can be removed and utilized for X-ray crystallography or microcrystal electron diffraction (MicroED) directly without having to manipulate the crystals. To demonstrate the efficacy of this method, crystals of the enzyme proteinase K were grown and its structure was determined by MicroED following focused ion beam/scanning electron microscopy milling to render the sample thin enough for cryoEM. Suspended drop crystallization overcomes many of the challenges associated with sample preparation, providing an alternative workflow for crystals embedded in viscous media, sensitive to mechanical stress and/or subject to preferred orientation on electron microscopy grids.
A note on the wedge reversion antisymmetry operation and 51 types of physical quantities in arbitrary dimensions
Authors: Fabrykiewicz Piotr
Published: May 2023

The paper by Gopalan [(2020). Acta Cryst. A76, 318–327] presented an enumeration of the 41 physical quantity types in non-relativistic physics, in arbitrary dimensions, based on the formalism of Clifford algebra. Gopalan considered three antisymmetries: spatial inversion, 1, time reversal, 1′, and wedge reversion, 1†. A consideration of the set of all seven antisymmetries (1, 1′, 1†, 1′†, 1
†, 1′, 1′†) leads to an extension of the results obtained by Gopalan. It is shown that there are 51 types of physical quantities with distinct symmetry properties in total.
Developing and testing a social media-based intervention for improving business skills and income levels of young smallholder farmers
Authors: Gever Verlumun Celestine , Abdullah Nabaz Nawzad , Onakpa Mohammed Shaibu , Onah Ogochukwu Gabriella , Onyia Chukwuemeka Chiebonam , Iwundu Ifeanyi E. , Gever Esther Rita
Published: May 2023

Purpose

This study aimed to develop and test the impact of a social media-based intervention for improving the business skills and income of young smallholder farmers.

Design/methodology/approach

First, the researchers used an exploratory approach to develop a social media-based intervention for acquiring business skills and improving income. Second, the researchers tested the effectiveness of the developed programme on a sample of 506 young smallholder farmers. Finally, the intervention and data collection took place over five years (2017–2021).

Findings

The result showed steady improvements in business skills and income from 2017 to 2021 for the treatment group, unlike the control group. Also, improvements in business skills led to a reduction in expenses and an increase in profit from 2017 to 2021. A further evaluation of the result showed that an addition of 5.1 mean scores in business skills led to the addition of $91 income between 2017 and 2018; for 2018–2019, 2.6 improvements in business skills increased income by $123. For 2019–2020, a 2.7 improvement increased income by $209, whilst for 2020–2021, a 1.6 improvement increased income by $320.

Originality/value

The results of this study could help explore ways of using social media to change behaviour aimed at improving income amongst young smallholder farmers.
Is critical thinking a future skill for business success: science mapping and literature review
Authors: Skrzek-Lubasińska Małgorzata , Malik Radosław
Published: May 2023

Purpose

This article aims to review critical thinking (CT) as a future skill in business.

Design/methodology/approach

The study employed two research methods: science mapping analysis based on bibliometric keyword co-occurrence data and systematic literature review following PRISMA guidelines. The application of two distinctive research methods meant that we could obtain a broad picture thematic overview as well as a detailed, fine-grained insight into the content of CT business research.

Findings

Research in CT in business studies is dominated by themes related to education, university and learning that far outweigh CT business application, which focuses on three research axes. These are specific business functions (e.g. accounting, marketing, human resources and identifying business opportunities), certain skills used in business (e.g. decision-making and creativity) and other business-related topics (including ethics, stakeholder relations and individual employee performance).

Practical implications

The article identifies new research gaps related to the link between CT and business performance, a firm’s ability to innovate and company characteristics. Moreover, the article highlights that CT positively influences business decision-making under the influence of cognitive biases and heuristics.

Originality/value

The article provides the first literature review on CT in business research. It uses a novel method of science mapping analysis to show unbiased algorithmic-based insight into the structure of the research, followed by a systematic literature review.
The importance of being … transnational
Authors: Ietto-Gillies Grazia
Published: May 2023

Purpose

The paper takes the lead from Forsgren and Yamin (2022), “The MNE as the ‘crown of creation’?: A commentary on mainstream theories of multi-national enterprises”, and accepts that the MNE can, indeed, be seen as the “crown of creation” in the world of business. The purpose of the paper is to show that this is due to advantages of multi/transnationality that must be sought outside rather than within the firm itself.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper argues that the advantages of multi-nationality derive from the differences in regulatory regimes between nation-states and, specifically, from laws and regulations regarding the following: labour and social security, industrial policy, taxation and environmental regulations. Some examples are given.

Findings

It is claimed that the transnational company (TNC) has the ability to operate as a unified centre of strategic decision-making, and this gives it an advantage compared to operators it bargains with who do not possess such ability. Three such operators are discussed: labour, governments of nation-states and suppliers. In TNCs’ operations with foreign countries, a distinction is made between the spatial dimension and the regulatory regimes dimension. The interaction between these two dimensions leads to discussions on: regions within nation-states and their regulatory regimes, global value chains (GVCs) and free/investment zones (F/IZs). The conclusions draw policy implications and research agenda implications touching also on issues of TNCs as creator/destructors of social values.

Research limitations/implications

The paper refers to other published work by the author – solo or as co-author – where the arguments are further developed, including the finding of a detailed case study. There are policy implications regarding labour and its trade unions (TUs) as well governments and their taxation and industrial policies. Details of such policies need further development.

Practical implications

There are implications for theory development, policies and for research agendas.

Social implications

Governments of nation-states and institutions within them – such as TUs – should try to co-ordinate rather than compete with each other in their bargaining with transnational companies. The breakaway of regions within nation-states further increases the power of TNCs.

Originality/value

In the development of theories of the TNC, this work shifts the focus from internal characteristics within the firm and its markets to external ones: to the nation-states as jurisdictional loci. The distinction between spatial and regulatory regimes dimensions in dealing with transnational activities allows a novel viewpoint on: regions, GVCs and IZs. A novel viewpoint is also given in relation to the role of TNCs in social value.
Self-directed learning motivational drivers of working professionals: confirmatory factor models
Authors: Baber Hasnan , Deepa V. , Elrehail Hamzah , Poulin Marc , Mir Faizan Ashraf
Published: May 2023

Purpose

As learning at the workplace is predominantly self-motivated, this study is aimed to identify and categorize the motivational drivers for working professionals to pursue self-directed learning (SDL) at the workplace.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 23 variables were identified as drivers for working professionals to initiate, pursue and sustain self-directed learning at the workplace through literature review, interviews and focused group discussions with senior leaders from the industry. The participants were a mix of senior professionals responsible for leading large teams in their organizations and those appointed as people development leaders in their respective organizations. A questionnaire was developed based on the identified drivers and administered online. Around 315 working professionals were surveyed. Structural equation modelling and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) methods were used to verify the scale and assess its validity and reliability.

Findings

The results suggested that SDL motivational drivers for working professionals can be categorized into two broad categories, namely extrinsic (14 drivers) and intrinsic (9 drivers). Further, extrinsic drivers were subdivided into three categories: job expectations (6 drivers), negative consequence (2 drivers) and positive reinforcement (6 drivers) based on the initial exploratory and subsequent confirmatory analysis. The results suggest that job expectations and positive reinforcement positively influence the intrinsic motivation of an individual to pursue SDL and negative consequences negatively impact the intrinsic motivation.

Practical implications

The findings from the study will be useful for human resource practitioners, managers and e-Learning companies to draw strategies for building an SDL culture. It also supports the advancement of research in adult education and learning in the workplace.

Originality/value

A new scale to measure motivation for SDL by employees at the workplace is proposed. There are no scales available to measure employee motivation for pursuing SDL at the workplace to the best of our knowledge.
The effect of gender and code of ethics on budgetary slack ethical judgment: experimental evidence from Indonesia
Authors: Lucyanda Jurica , Sholihin Mahfud
Published: May 2023

Purpose

This research aims to study budgetary slack from a behavioural perspective, especially examining the effect of gender and code of ethics on budgetary slack ethical judgment.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopts the experimental method of 2 × 3 between-subjects mixed factorial design with 102 participants to test the hypotheses. The participants are undergraduate and postgraduate accounting students at a major university in Indonesia.

Findings

The results show that gender affects budgetary slack ethical judgment, in which women judge budgetary slack as more unethical than men. Additionally, the results indicate that individuals consider budgetary slack more unethical when a code of ethics is present than when it is absent.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the management accounting literature and behavioural research by understanding budgetary slack from an ethical perspective. Additionally, this study contributes to ethics literature by identifying the effect of gender and code of ethics on budgetary slack righteous judgment.
Mitigating challenges of collaborative science through team ethnography
Authors: Piqueiras Eduardo , Stanley Erin , Laskey Allison
Published: May 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to expand the use of ethnography to advance research on team science by revealing the barriers to teamwork as manifesting at institutional, cultural, and interpersonal contextual scales. The analysis suggests strategies to enhance team science's collaborative potential.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper considers some of the practical and analytical challenges of team science through the use of ethnographic methods. The authors formed a three-person subteam within a larger multisited, federally-funded, interdisciplinary scientific team. The authors conducted six months of participant observation, semi-structured interviews, and a focus group, using iterative deductive and inductive analyses to investigate the larger team's roles, relationships, dynamics, and tensions.

Findings

Integrating ethnography into the study of team science can uncover and mitigate barriers faced by teams at three primary levels: (1) academic culture, (2) institutional structures, and (3) interpersonal dynamics. The authors found that these three contextual factors are often taken for granted and hidden in the team science process as well as that they are interactive and influence teams at multiple scales of analysis. These outcomes are closely related to how team science is funded and implemented in academic and institutional settings.

Originality/value

As US federal funding initiatives continue to require scientific collaboration via inter-, multi-, and transdisciplinary research, there is little work done on how teams grapple with the practical tensions of scientific teamwork. This paper identifies and addresses many practical tensions and contextual factors across institutional and organizational structures that affect and challenge the conduct of collaborative scientific teamwork. The authors also argue that ethnography can be a method to challenge myths, understand contextual factors, and improve the goals of team science.
Empathy doesn't just mean “if I were in your shoes”: serial mediation model to unearth relationship between organizational empathy and learning
Authors: Murat Eminoğlu Gülay , Elçi Meral
Published: May 2023

Purpose

The present research aims to demonstrate the relationship between organizational empathy (OE) and organizational learning (OL), and the serial mediation effect of organizational identity (OI) and organizational helping behavior (OHB) in this relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from a total of 270 companies through the survey method. Then, validity and reliability tests were conducted. Next, Hayes' model 6 was used to test the serial mediator effect.

Findings

The authors found that (1) OE is positively related to OL, (2) OI mediates the relationship between OE and OL, (3) OHB mediates the relationship between OE and OL and (4) the relationship between OE and OL is serially mediated by OI and OHB.

Originality/value

Empathy is an important power in regulating interpersonal behavior and relationships. Organizational empathy is also an important criterion for organizations to achieve their goals. However, despite the importance emphasized in the literature, how organizational empathy influences other organizational outcomes is still a black box. For this purpose, the authors conducted this study to uncover the relationship between OE and OL. In addition, the serial mediator effect of OI and OHB is revealed in this relationship. Hence, we aimed to make a humble contribution to the literature. Although there are many studies on “individual empathy” in the literature, there is no study in which “organizational empathy” is measured empirically. The authors hope that this study will be useful for future research.
Mythical systems: sign and symbol
Authors: Usó Doménech José Luis , Gash Hugh , Nescolarde-Selva Josué Antonio , Segura-Abad Lorena
Published: May 2023

Purpose

The process of elaboration of the symbolic universe leads to important insights into the role of symbols in understanding human reasoning. Symbols become explanatory axes of universal global realities. Myths were constructed on these explanatory paths forming a superstructure of all belief systems with paraconsistent logic for the symbolism and a symbolic syntax. Myths and symbols are to be found in all cultures. Some of the most powerful and influential ones occur in popular culture since these often have the greatest immediate social impact.

Design/methodology/approach

Semiotic and logical development of the symbols is in mythical systems. The dissolution of the myth and the degradation of the myth's symbols constitute a long-drawn-out process in modern Western society and wherever s influence reaches. Myth is a story that may contain symbolic elements, but compared to the symbols or images of the exceptional, myth is characterized by a “story.”

Findings

Starting from a minimal definition to define myths and propose the following definition: Myth is a traditional tale that relates memorable and exemplary actions of extraordinary personages in prestigious and distant times, and myths have various forms and functions, perhaps some more clearly defined with a signifier than others, and different approaches can be combined for a better understanding of the myths. Dispensing with such simplistic assertions, and starting from a minimal definition to define myth, myth is a traditional tale that relates memorable and exemplary actions of extraordinary personages in prestigious and distant times.

Originality/value

Any symbol F originates in a unit that has two aspects and functions when the unit is restored. Thus, the symbol is rather “for something” than “of something” and the symbolic objects express the objects' correspondence in one unit or hendiadys. One semantic characteristic of symbols is “recognition”. The symbol F reveals a reality by means of the homogenous association of the signifier and significance in the symbol's constitution; although reality is separate, there is a homogeneous relation between the symbolizing and symbolized in symbolization.
Ecological traits of social insects: Colony, queen and worker size relationships reveal a nexus trait with broad ecological relevance
Authors: Ohyama Leo , Booher Douglas B. , King Joshua R.
Published: May 2023

Trait‐based ecology has surged in recent decades but a framework to assess eusocial taxa, such as ants and termites, has been left underdeveloped because ecological trait‐based approaches have yet to examine the ecological relationships and potential mechanisms between different trait components (i.e. queen, colony and worker).

We collected worker‐, queen‐ and colony‐scale traits of the ants of Florida, an ant faunae comprised of ~25% nonnative species, based on morphology, natural and life histories and combined these traits with geospatial data.

We used these data to assess and develop the beginnings of a hypothesis‐testing framework to aid in better understanding trait ecology for eusocial organisms and to understand the spatial structure and drivers of eusocial insect traits by examining individual‐ and colony‐scale trait relationships.

Results show that queen–worker dimorphism, the morphological difference between workers and queens, shows exceptional potential as a nexus trait for which other colony‐scale traits, especially colony size, have significant relationships with. Colony size is therefore the key trait that should be measured, whenever possible, to better understand these other, emergent relationships.

We also find differences between native and nonnative regional patterns of colony size and queen–worker dimorphism across environmental gradients.

We show the potential for a more holistic trait approach to ants and potentially other eusocial taxa given the state of current trait knowledge, providing an advanced path forward in functional and trait ecology of eusocial organisms.

Read the freePlain Language Summaryfor this article on the Journal blog.
Hurricanes affect diversification among individual life courses of a primate population
Authors: Diaz Alexis A. , Steiner Ulrich K. , Tuljapurkar Shripad , Zuo Wenyun , Hernández‐Pacheco Raisa
Published: May 2023

Extreme climatic events may influence individual‐level variability in phenotypes, survival and reproduction, and thereby drive the pace of evolution. Climate models predict increases in the frequency of intense hurricanes, but no study has measured their impact on individual life courses within animal populations.

We used 45 years of demographic data of rhesus macaques to quantify the influence of major hurricanes on reproductive life courses using multiple metrics of dynamic heterogeneity accounting for life course variability and life‐history trait variances.

To reduce intraspecific competition, individuals may explore new reproductive stages during years of major hurricanes, resulting in higher temporal variation in reproductive trajectories. Alternatively, individuals may opt for a single optimal life‐history strategy due to trade‐offs between survival and reproduction.

Our results show that heterogeneity in reproductive life courses increased by 4% during years of major hurricanes, despite a 2% reduction in the asymptotic growth rate due to an average decrease in mean fertility and survival by that is, shortened life courses and reduced reproductive output. In agreement with this, the population is expected to achieve stable population dynamics faster after being perturbed by a hurricane (; 95% CI: 1.488, 1.538), relative to ordinary years .

Our work suggests that natural disasters force individuals into new demographic roles to potentially reduce competition during unfavourable environments where mean reproduction and survival are compromised. Variance in lifetime reproductive success and longevity are differently affected by hurricanes, and such variability is mostly driven by survival.
A meta‐analysis of native and non‐native Amur three‐lips (Opsariichthys uncirostris uncirostris) population growth rates in western Japan
Authors: Tsunoda Hiroshi
Published: May 2023

The growth rates of freshwater fish are known to change among populations under different habitat conditions. The Amur three‐lips (Opsariichthys uncirostris uncirostris), a cyprinid predator, is an endemic subspecies in the Lake Biwa–Yodogawa River system and Lake Mikata in western Japan but has also been unintentionally introduced into nonindigenous regions. Non‐native populations are known to have downsized owing to their adaptation to small habitats; however, only two habitats with substantially different sizes have been assessed previously. Therefore, in this study, native and non‐native Amur three‐lips populations were assessed, and their growth rates associated with population type (i.e., native/non‐native), habitat size, and sample period (i.e., in the 1960s or after the 2000s) were analyzed statistically. According to a literature search, seven previous studies reported the growth of this species and included mean length‐at‐age data (measured as body length with estimated age using otolith reading). They included three cases from the largest native habitat, Lake Biwa from different sample periods. The result of the multivariate analysis indicated that the growth rate of Amur three‐lips was higher in native populations than in non‐native populations and increased as habitat size increased. In addition, a model selection approach indicated that population type was a more influential covariate than habitat size. These findings suggest that Amur three‐lips exhibit “home‐field advantage” in terms of growth rate, that is, native populations grow larger than non‐native populations. Future studies conducted on a larger geographic scale will provide further insights into the adaptation of Amur three‐lips under various habitat conditions.
The relationship between interest rate volatility and the shadow economy in OECD countries: An asymmetric analysis
Authors: Hajilee Massomeh , Niroomand Farhang , Hayes Linda A.
Published: May 2023

Interest rate changes by central banks are a strong monetary policy tool that has a significant impact on the performance of the real economy via various channels. Despite extensive theoretical and empirical studies in this area, the current literature lacks a comprehensive assessment of the relationship between interest rate volatility and the shadow economy. This study explores the link between interest rate volatility and the shadow economy for 38 Organisation for Economic Co‐operation and Development (OECD) member countries over the period 1991–2021 using both linear and non‐linear ARDL models. The use of the non‐linear ARDL specification will allow for the possibility of an asymmetric effect of interest rate volatility on the shadow economy. In addition to the examination of the potential asymmetric effects, we also discuss the ramifications for policymakers with respect to monetary and financial policies while considering each country's specific economic structure.
Jung’s Psychoid Monism
Authors: Pylkkö Pauli
Published: May 2023

Jung’s final psychoid theory of archetypes was an additional attempt to find a solution to the philosophical problem of how to relate mind and matter. In the following essay Jung’s solution is summarized by a set of 17 theses, and Jung’s philosophy will be calledpsychoid monism. According to psychoid monism, what ultimately and primarily is, is the psycho‐physically neutral domain of instinctual experience. The origin of this view can be traced back to Post‐Kantian German Idealism (Schopenhauer, Schelling, Hölderlin), and a systematization of the view requires a dialectic approach and, in particular, contradiction‐tolerant dialectic logic.
Modes‐of‐action of antifungal compounds: Stressors and (target‐site‐specific) toxins, toxicants, or toxin–stressors
Authors: Noel Delphine , Hallsworth John E. , Gelhaye Eric , Darnet Sylvain , Sormani Rodnay , Morel‐Rouhier Mélanie
Published: May 2023

Fungi and antifungal compounds are relevant to the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals. However, the modes‐of‐action of antifungals—whether they are naturally occurring substances or anthropogenic fungicides—are often unknown or are misallocated in terms of their mechanistic category. Here, we consider the most effective approaches to identifying whether antifungal substances are cellular stressors, toxins/toxicants (that are target‐site‐specific), or have a hybrid mode‐of‐action as toxin–stressors (that induce cellular stress yet are target‐site‐specific). This newly described ‘toxin–stressor’ category includes some photosensitisers that target the cell membrane and, once activated by light or ultraviolet radiation, cause oxidative damage. We provide a glossary of terms and a diagrammatic representation of diverse types of stressors, toxic substances, and toxin–stressors, a classification that is pertinent to inhibitory substances not only for fungi but for all types of cellular life. A decision‐tree approach can also be used to help differentiate toxic substances from cellular stressors (Curr Opin Biotechnol 2015 33: 228–259). For compounds that target specific sites in the cell, we evaluate the relative merits of using metabolite analyses, chemical genetics, chemoproteomics, transcriptomics, and the target‐based drug‐discovery approach (based on that used in pharmaceutical research), focusing on both ascomycete models and the less‐studied basidiomycete fungi. Chemical genetic methods to elucidate modes‐of‐action currently have limited application for fungi where molecular tools are not yet available; we discuss ways to circumvent this bottleneck. We also discuss ecologically commonplace scenarios in which multiple substances act to limit the functionality of the fungal cell and a number of as‐yet‐unresolved questions about the modes‐of‐action of antifungal compounds pertaining to the Sustainable Development Goals.
An unusual presentation of immunoglobulin A gammopathy in a patient with Schnitzler's syndrome
Authors: Kaganov Elizabeth , Jhaveri Divita , Peters Peter , IJdo Jacob W.
Published: May 2023

This case summarizes a 69‐year‐old woman who presented with a history of recurrent fevers, widespread urticarial rash and generalized myalgias for several years with an eventual diagnosis of Schnitzler's syndrome. This is a rare autoinflammatory condition which typically involves a chronic urticarial rash, monoclonal immunoglobulin M (IgM) or IgG gammopathy. Rapid improvement in above symptoms were noted with anakinra, an interleukin‐1 receptor antagonist. We report an unusual case of a 69‐year‐old woman who presented with an isolated IgA monoclonal gammopathy.
Isolated inferior thyroidal artery vasculitis: A rare cause of neck pain
Authors: Deniz Rabia , Güzelbey Tevfik , Özgür Duygu Sevinç , Karaalioğlu Bilgin , Akkuzu Gamze , Yıldırım Fatih , Bes Cemal
Published: May 2023

Vasculitis is the inflammatory changes in vessels of any size that usually have a systemic involvement with a quite variable clinical presentation affecting various organs. Although systemic presentation is more common, in some cases localized inflammation of vasculature of a single organ or limited branches of aorta are reported. Here we present, an isolated vasculitis of bilateral inferior thyroidal arteries in a female patient aged 49 years, who presented with neck pain and was diagnosed with ultrasonography and computed tomographic angiography. The clinical and imaging findings were managed successfully with glucocorticoid induction and addition of methotrexate to the treatment. Localized forms of vasculitis are rarer and the limited size of the affected area makes diagnostic investigations and management more complicated. Non‐invasive imaging modalities rather than conventional angiography provide useful information in a safer and easier way. Isolated vasculitis of thyroidal arteries is an extremely uncommon site and should be excluded in case of unexplained neck pain, even in the presence of normal laboratory examinations, probably because of the size of the involved vessels.
AnimalTA: A highly flexible and easy‐to‐use program for tracking and analysing animal movement in different environments
Authors: Chiara Violette , Kim Sin‐Yeon
Published: May 2023

Computer programs for video tracking of animal movement are evolving increasingly efficient, using complex algorithms or artificial intelligence systems. Despite the consequent progress in this field, researchers still face some fundamental problems in the use of such programs. For example, the best‐performing programs are often uneasy to use, and user‐friendly programs require source videos recorded under strict conditions (e.g. homogenous environments, constant lighting and high resolution), which may be difficult to meet in both laboratory and field studies.

We present here AnimalTA, a new program that tracks and analyses animal movement in diverse environments. This program aims to be accessible to everyone, including those without knowledge of coding and image analysis. AnimalTA allows to process rapidly a high number of videos and manage multi‐arena tracking. It is adapted to follow the movement of targets in variable conditions, including heterogenous and complex environments, or in low‐quality videos. AnimalTA provides tools for editing videos and correcting problems caused by camera tremors, light changes or perspective deformation.

AnimalTA also allows the user to easily correct tracking errors and repeat the tracking in a subsample of the video. The target's identity can be personalized to facilitate video analysis.

The tracking results can be analysed in AnimalTA to obtain many different variables related to the trajectory of each target, such as average speed, total distance travelled, latency to reach defined areas, distance to a defined point, distance to other individuals, number of contacts with others, explored surface, among others. Users can set and control different parameters for these analyses and directly view the results.
Phorid fly parasitism rates vary between individual colonies of the leaf‐cutting ant Atta laevigata
Authors: Bragança Marcos A. L. , Souza Maria Lucimar O. , Oliveira Rafael J. , Samuels Richard I.
Published: May 2023

Phorid flies are important natural enemies of leaf‐cutting ants. Female phorids lay eggs in the worker ants' bodies and the parasitoid larvae feed on the host's internal tissues.

Here we investigated the parasitism rates by four species of phorids when attacking individual Atta laevigata colonies at three different field sites in order to further understand the host‐parasitoid relationship.

There were distinct variations in parasitism rates when comparing phorid species attacking individual colonies. In 13 of the colonies sampled, parasitism by Apocephalus attophilus or Eibesfeldtphora erthali was predominant. However, in four of the colonies, Myrmosicarius grandicornis and Apocephalus vicosae were the predominant species.

Variations in parasitism rates by the four phorid species were investigated in relation to the size of the potential hosts that had been collected from the foraging trails of each colony.

When correlating the size of potential hosts to phorid species, ants with head capsule widths of >2 mm were predominantly parasitized by A. vicosae and E. erthali. Smaller ants, with head capsule widths of 2 mm or less, were predominantly parasitized by A. attophilus and M. grandicornis.

The highest parasitism rates by E. erthali were observed in individual colonies that had the highest proportions of large workers on the trails.

Although almost half the size of E. erthali, A. attophilus parasitized both large (head capsule width > 2 mm) and small workers (<2 mm). This was related to the fact that between 1 and 16 larvae can develop within an individual host, depending on host size.

M. grandicornis parasitized smaller workers (mean head capsule width = 2 mm) as these phorids are themselves small and only one larva develops within each host.

This study demonstrated that the parasitism profiles of individual A. laevigata colonies were related to the size of foragers on the trails.
Robotic distal gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy for advanced gastric cancer with celiac‐arterial anomaly (Adachi type VI, group 26): Case report
Authors: Ueno Kohdai , Hara Kentaro , Endo Kazuya , Onodera Atsushi , Funatsu Nozomi , Takagi Maki , Cho Haruhiko
Published: May 2023

In gastric cancer surgery, some celiac‐arterial anomalies are associated with a risk of anatomical misidentification and insufficient lymphadenectomy. We herein report a case of successful robotic distal gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy based on preoperative, anatomical recognition using three‐dimensional computed tomography (3D‐CT) in a patient with advanced gastric cancer and a rare anomaly of the celiac artery. A 64‐year‐old, male patient was referred to our division with a diagnosis of advanced gastric cancer. The 3D‐CT angiography demonstrated an Adachi type VI, group 26 celiac‐arterial anomaly, in which the common hepatic artery branched from the left gastric artery but was widely dislocated from the supra‐pancreatic region. Moreover, the left gastric artery branched three gastric branches, although the right gastric artery was absent. Robotic surgery enabled the safe and precise gastrectomy and lymphadenectomy.
Against commercial‐assisted suicide
Authors: Della Croce Yoann
Published: May 2023

The idea of commercial‐assisted suicide lives a marginal existence in the bioethical literature, despite its significant presence in popular culture. The practice of commercial‐assisted suicide (CAS) is defined as suicide assistance performed for a financial reward through a contractual agreement between a customer and a service‐provider, who does not necessarily need to be a medical professional. While CAS does indeed offer some potential solutions regarding the moral controversies surrounding physician‐assisted suicide (PAS), I defend the idea that adopting it as policy ultimately proves morally indefensible and practically inefficient. This is due to the fact that the commodification of a given good necessarily implies the creation of a market of said good; as such, what I propose in this paper is a moral and practical evaluation of a market of CAS. In order to do so, I first examine the arguments in favor of CAS as put forward by Roland Kipke, who argues that any liberal defense of PAS necessarily implies a defense of CAS. In the first section, I argue against this idea using the liberal values of autonomy and equality of opportunity. In the second section of the paper, I argue that a market of CAS would be gravely dysfunctional due to one particular characteristic of death, namely, that is not compensable ex post. I conclude by arguing that while the practice of CAS may not prove morally problematic, the inevitable market that it will create should it be legalized most certainly will.
A Case Study of Glucose Levels During Sleep Using Multilevel Fast Function on Scalar Regression Inference
Authors: Sergazinov Renat , Leroux Andrew , Cui Erjia , Crainiceanu Ciprian , Aurora R. Nisha , Punjabi Naresh M. , Gaynanova Irina
Published: May 2023

Continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) are increasingly used to measure blood glucose levels and provide information about the treatment and management of diabetes. Our motivating study contains CGM data during sleep for 174 study participants with type II diabetes mellitus measured at a 5-min frequency for an average of 10 nights. We aim to quantify the effects of diabetes medications and sleep apnea severity on glucose levels. Statistically, this is an inference question about the association between scalar covariates and functional responses observed at multiple visits (sleep periods). However, many characteristics of the data make analyses difficult, including (1) nonstationary within-period patterns; (2) substantial between-period heterogeneity, non-Gaussianity, and outliers; and (3) large dimensionality due to the number of study participants, sleep periods, and time points. For our analyses, we evaluate and compare two methods: fast univariate inference (FUI) and functional additive mixed models (FAMMs). We extend FUI and introduce a new approach for testing the hypotheses of no effect and time invariance of the covariates. We also highlight areas for further methodological development for FAMM. Our study reveals that (1) biguanide medication and sleep apnea severity significantly affect glucose trajectories during sleep and (2) the estimated effects are time invariant.
Genomic landscape and its prognostic significance in stage III colorectal cancer: JCOG1506A1, an ancillary of JCOG0910
Authors: Shida Dai , Kuchiba Aya , Shibata Tatsuhiro , Hamaguchi Tetsuya , Yamasaki Satoshi , Ito Masaaki , Kobatake Takaya , Tonooka Toru , Masaki Tadahiko , Shiozawa Manabu , Takii Yasumasa , Uetake Hiroyuki , Okamura Shu , Ojima Hitoshi , Kazama Shinsuke , Takeyama Hiroshi , Kanato Keisuke , Shimada Yasuhiro , Murakami Yoshinori , Kanemitsu Yukihide
Published: May 2023

Large‐scale genomic sequencing of colorectal cancers has been reported mainly for Western populations. Differences by stage and ethnicity in the genomic landscape and their prognostic impact remain poorly understood. We investigated 534 Japanese stage III colorectal cancer samples from the Phase III trial, JCOG0910. Targeted‐capture sequencing of 171 potentially colorectal cancer‐associated genes was performed, and somatic single‐nucleotide variants and insertion–deletions were determined. Hypermutated tumors were defined as tumors with MSIsensor score >7 and ultra‐mutated tumors with POLE mutations. Genes with alterations associated with relapse‐free survival were analyzed using multivariable Cox regression models. In all patients (184 right‐sided, 350 left‐sided), mutation frequencies were TP53, 75.3%; APC, 75.1%; KRAS, 43.6%; PIK3CA, 19.7%; FBXW7, 18.5%; SOX9, 11.8%; COL6A3, 8.2%; NOTCH3, 4.5%; NRAS, 4.1%; and RNF43, 3.7%. Thirty‐one tumors were hypermutated (5.8%; 14.1% right‐sided, 1.4% left‐sided). Modest associations were observed: poorer relapse‐free survival was seen with mutant KRAS (hazard ratio 1.66; p = 0.011) and mutant RNF43 (2.17; p = 0.055), whereas better relapse‐free survival was seen with mutant COL6A3 (0.35; p = 0.040) and mutant NOTCH3 (0.18; p = 0.093). Relapse‐free survival tended to be better for hypermutated tumors (0.53; p = 0.229). In conclusion, the overall spectrum of mutations in our Japanese stage III colorectal cancer cohort was similar to that in Western populations, but the frequencies of mutation for TP53, SOX9, and FBXW7 were higher, and the proportion of hypermutated tumors was lower. Multiple gene mutations appeared to impact relapse‐free survival, suggesting that tumor genomic profiling can support precision medicine for colorectal cancer.
Tigers at a crossroads: Shedding light on the role of Bangladesh in the illegal trade of this iconic big cat
Authors: Uddin Nasir , Enoch Sam , Harihar Abishek , Pickles Rob S. A. , Hughes Alice C.
Published: May 2023

Unsustainable wildlife trade is a major threat to many species, but quantifying trade remains challenging, as seizure data provides an incomplete understanding. For this reason, integrating multiple types of information, including interviews with actors involved in trade, is crucial if we are to understand the problem better. Hence, in this study, we digitized Bangladesh Forest Department tiger seizure records to identify trade routes and interviewed 163 individuals involved in trafficking tigers through Bangladesh's air, sea and land ports, including poachers, smugglers, and traders. We identified six ports used to import tigers, 14 ports used for tiger export and three ports showing bi‐directional trade. Elite Bangladeshis were the most important consumer group, and tigers were sourced from populations in NE India, Myanmar and Bangladesh Sundarbans to supply domestic demand. Tiger products were exported to 14 countries, including seven G20 nations, with Bangladeshi expatriates as the consumer group in three countries (United Kingdom, Germany and Qatar). Rising economic development in Bangladesh over the last decade, combined with deep‐rooted cultural ties to tiger consumption, has led to a rise in domestic demand. Additionally, rapid growth in international transport links has increased smuggling and connected local traders with global markets, increasing the complexity of global trade. These findings suggest Bangladesh is poised to play a pivotal role in tiger conservation over the next decade, requiring strong national strategies to reduce trade opportunities, disrupt networks and weaken demand.
Collective behavior in relation with changing environments: Dynamics, modularity, and agency
Authors: Gordon Deborah M.
Published: May 2023

Collective behavior operates without central control, using local interactions among participants to adjust to changing conditions. Many natural systems operate collectively, and by specifying what objectives are met by the system, the idea of agency helps to describe how collective behavior is embedded in the conditions it deals with. Ant colonies function collectively, and the enormous diversity of more than 15K species of ants, in different habitats, provides opportunities to look for general ecological patterns in how collective behavior operates. The foraging behavior of harvester ants in the desert regulates activity to manage water loss, while the trail networks of turtle ants in the canopy tropical forest respond to rapidly changing resources and vegetation. These examples illustrate some broad correspondences in natural systems between the dynamics of collective behavior and the dynamics of the surroundings. To outline how interactions among participants, acting in relation with changing surroundings, achieve collective outcomes, I focus on three aspects of collective behavior: the rate at which interactions adjust to conditions, the feedback regime that stimulates and inhibits activity, and the modularity of the network of interactions. To characterize the dynamics of the surroundings, I consider gradients in stability, energy flow, and the distribution of resources and demands. I then propose some hypotheses that link how collective behavior operates with changing environments.
Bernard Williams, realistic liberalism, and the politics of “normativity”
Authors: Dannenberg Jorah
Published: May 2023

Following in the footsteps of Bernard Williams, I aim to delineate and advance a more realistic, less moralistic approach to thinking about morals and politics in a liberal culture. To do so, I push back against one framing of what Williams meant in urging greater realism, and in criticizing what he saw as political theory's excessive moralism, which has recently gained traction. According to a number of recent authors, the important issue Williams raised should be understood in terms of whether there are two “kinds” or “sources” of “normativity” found in liberal politics and morality, respectively: Realists are said to accuse their Moralist opponents of countenancing only one normativity, which is moral, when in fact there are two, one of which is “distinctively political.” I show how this now popular framing leads to a number of distortions, particularly insofar as our aim is to understand Williams' moral and political thought. I go on to argue that, once these are sorted out, the term ‘normativity’ itself contributes to the problem—current usages of the term are inextricably bound up with a recognizably moralistic style of thought, of the sort that Williams encouraged us to oppose.