bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Repeated Sub-anaesthetic dose of Ketamine Elevates Superoxide Dismutase in Pharmacological Model of Schizophrenia-Like Phenotypes in Mice
Authors: Yusuf Usman , Adegbuyi Aderibigbe Oladele , Adewale Fehintola Fatai
Published: August 2024

Objective

The study evaluated behavioural phenotypes and the level of Superioxde Dismutase activity in repeated sub-anaesthetic dose of ketamine administered to model schizophrenia in animal study.

Method

Animals were divided into groups (n=6), control group received distilled water (10mL/kg) as vehicle (VEH), Ketamine treated group (KET) received sub-anaesthetic dose of ketamine (20mg/kg) for 14 days consecutively. Animals in risperidone treated group (KET+RISP) were pre-treated with sub-anaesthetic dose of ketamine (20mg/kg) alone for 7 consecutive days, and from day 8-14, risperidone (0.5mg/kg) was administered 1 hour post-ketamine treatment. All treatment were administered intraperitoneally (i.p). Twenty-four (24) hours after the last treatment, Behavioural phenotypes (locomotor activity and cognition) were assessed in locomotor activity cage and elevated maze plus. Thereafter level of superioxde dismutase (SOD) activity was evaluated in homogenized brain tissue of each mouse using spectrophotometric analysis.

Result

KET group showed significant (p<0.05) increase in movement counts and number of rearing events in locomotor activity test, also prolonged latency to enter the open arms in cognitive assessment compared to animals that received distilled water (10mg/kg), and risperidone (0.5mg/kg) treatment. The level of Superioxide Dismutase (SOD) activity was significantly elevated in KET group compare with vehicle control and risperidone treated animals.

Conclusion

Repeated dose of ketamine may pose differential effect on endogenous antioxidant system which may elevate superioxide dismutase activity in ketamine induced schizophrenic rodent as positive control mechanism.
Genotoxicity of Prenatal and Early Childhood Exposure to Pesticides: A Protocol and Pilot Study of a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Sherif Moustafa , Darwish Aya , Ádám Balázs
Published: August 2024

1.

Objectives

To systematically review and meta-analyse the genotoxic impact of prenatal and early childhood pesticide exposure, investigating prevalence, specific pesticides, effect size, mechanisms, genetic susceptibility, and vulnerable periods.

Study Design

A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis. A pilot study was also conducted to develop appropriate extraction and risk of bias tool.

Methods

Adhering to 2020 PRISMA guidelines, the review will explore genotoxic impact of prenatal and early childhood pesticide exposure in children up to 5 years. The protocol had been registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) database (CRD42024510877). Searches was done across PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Scopus use keywords ‘prenatal or childhood’, ‘pesticides’, and ‘genotoxicity’. Manual reference screening supplements searches. Eligible observational studies (cross-sectional, case-control, cohort designs) in English will be included, while excluding case reports and in vitro studies, using Covidence screening tool. Two independent reviewers will use Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and novel tool for cross-sectional studies for screening, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment. Findings will be synthesized narratively, with potential meta-analysis of genotoxicity outcomes. GRADE approach will assess the evidence quality.

Results

A pilot test screened 1,405 studies, resulting in 21 eligible for full-text screening. Twelve were excluded. Data extraction and risk of bias assessment followed pre-defined protocols. Findings informed the refinement of study procedures.

Conclusions

The protocol outlines a comprehensive approach to systematically review the genotoxic impact of prenatal and early childhood pesticide exposure, aiming to provide necessary insights to a better understanding of this environmental risk.
Memory-boundk-mer selection for large and evolutionarily diverse reference libraries
Authors: Şapcı Ali Osman Berk , Mirarab Siavash
Published: August 2024

Usingk-mers to find sequence matches is increasingly used in many bioinformatic applications, including metagenomic sequence classification. The accuracy of these downstream applications relies on the density of the reference databases, which are rapidly growing. Although the increased density provides hope for improvements in accuracy, scalability is a concern. Referencek-mers are kept in the memory during the query time, and saving allk-mers of these ever-expanding databases is fast becoming impractical. Several strategies for subsampling have been proposed, including minimizers and finding taxon-specifick-mers. However, we contend that these strategies are inadequate, especially when reference sets are taxonomically imbalanced, as are most microbial libraries. In this paper, we explore approaches for selecting a fixed-size subset ofk-mers present in an ultra-large data set to include in a library such that the classification of reads suffers the least. Our experiments demonstrate the limitations of existing approaches, especially for novel and poorly sampled groups. We propose a library construction algorithm calledk-mer RANKer (KRANK) that combines several components, including a hierarchical selection strategy with adaptive size restrictions and an equitable coverage strategy. We implement KRANK in highly optimized code and combine it with the locality-sensitive hashing classifier CONSULT-II to build a taxonomic classification and profiling method. On several benchmarks, KRANKk-mer selection significantly reduces memory consumption with minimal loss in classification accuracy. We show in extensive analyses based on CAMI benchmarks that KRANK outperformsk-mer-based alternatives in terms of taxonomic profiling and comes close to the best marker-based methods in terms of accuracy.
Crystal structure of a tris(2-aminoethyl)methane capped carbamoylmethylphosphine oxide compound
Authors: Wackerle Brandon G. , Werner Eric J. , Staples Richard J. , Biros Shannon M.
Published: August 2024

The molecular structure of the tripodal carbamoylmethylphosphine oxide compound diethyl {[(5-[2-(diethoxyphosphoryl)acetamido]-3-{2-[2-(diethoxyphosphoryl)acetamido]ethyl}pentyl)carbamoyl]methyl}phosphonate, C25H52N3O12P3, features six intramolecular hydrogen-bonding interactions. The phosphonate groups have key bond lengths ranging from 1.4696 (12) to 1.4729 (12) Å (P=O), 1.5681 (11) to 1.5811 (12) Å (P—O) and 1.7881 (16) to 1.7936 (16) Å (P—C). Each amide group adopts a nearly perfect trans geometry, and the geometry around each phophorus atom resembles a slightly distorted tetrahedron.
Structural analysis of a ligand-triggered intermolecular disulfide switch in a major latex protein from opium poppy
Authors: Carr Samuel C. , Facchini Peter J. , Ng Kenneth K. S.
Published: August 2024

Several proteins from plant pathogenesis-related family 10 (PR10) are highly abundant in the latex of opium poppy and have recently been shown to play diverse and important roles in the biosynthesis of benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIAs). The recent determination of the first crystal structures of PR10-10 showed how large conformational changes in a surface loop and adjacent β-strand are coupled to the binding of BIA compounds to the central hydrophobic binding pocket. A more detailed analysis of these conformational changes is now reported to further clarify how ligand binding is coupled to the formation and cleavage of an intermolecular disulfide bond that is only sterically allowed when the BIA binding pocket is empty. To decouple ligand binding from disulfide-bond formation, each of the two highly conserved cysteine residues (Cys59 and Cys155) in PR10-10 was replaced with serine using site-directed mutagenesis. Crystal structures of the Cys59Ser mutant were determined in the presence of papaverine and in the absence of exogenous BIA compounds. A crystal structure of the Cys155Ser mutant was also determined in the absence of exogenous BIA compounds. All three of these crystal structures reveal conformations similar to that of wild-type PR10-10 with bound BIA compounds. In the absence of exogenous BIA compounds, the Cys59Ser and Cys155Ser mutants appear to bind an unidentified ligand or mixture of ligands that was presumably introduced during expression of the proteins in Escherichia coli. The analysis of conformational changes triggered by the binding of BIA compounds suggests a molecular mechanism coupling ligand binding to the disruption of an intermolecular disulfide bond. This mechanism may be involved in the regulation of biosynthetic reactions in plants and possibly other organisms.
Exploring consumer perceptions and adoption intention of home meal kit services
Authors: Maneerat Nitjaree , Byrd Karen , Behnke Carl , Nelson Douglas , Almanza Barbara
Published: August 2024

Purpose

This study aimed to determine the factors affecting consumers’ perceptions and intention to purchase home meal kit services (HMK), a convenient home-cooked meal option, considering the moderating effects of monetary restriction, through the lens of the theory of planned behaviour (TPB).

Design/methodology/approach

This cross-sectional study used an online, self-administered survey to collect data from 374 US adults. Results were tested for variable associations via multiple linear regression and moderation analyses.

Findings

HMK adoption intention was positively associated with attitude and subjective norms but negatively associated with perceived behavioural control. Consumers’ HMK attitude demonstrated a significant positive relationship with food safety concerns and perceived time constraints. Income and financial constraints were significant moderators of the associations between TPB determinants and HMK intention. The findings emphasised the possibility of using HMK as a foodservice option for time-challenged consumers with food safety concerns.

Originality/value

This study addressed the limited research on HMK, a competitive meal option that foodservice businesses could implement to boost revenue. The study establishes the contribution in understanding the motivators and barriers that potentially affect consumers’ HMK behaviour through the lens of TPB. The results expand the scope of the TPB application in food-related research, providing a deeper understanding of antecedents and other factors on consumers’ HMK behavioural attitudes. Understanding this information will enable practitioners to develop strategies that meet consumers’ concerns when embracing this service to promote HMK.
Airbnb customer experience in long-term stays: a structural topic model and ChatGPT-driven analysis of the reviews of remote workers
Authors: Ramos-Henriquez Jose M. , Morini-Marrero Sandra
Published: August 2024

Purpose

This study aims to characterize remote workers’ Airbnb experiences through the cognitive outcomes of their experiences and to consider the differences between long and short stays.

Design/methodology/approach

The structural topic model methodology was used to identify relevant topics. Data were collected from InsideAirbnb for Lisbon, Portugal and Austin, Texas, USA, for 2022 and early 2023, focusing on reviews that mentioned remote work.

Findings

The Airbnb experiences of remote workers and digital nomads are characterized as professionals who express mostly affective outcomes, but also have behavioral and nonaffective outcomes during their stay. In addition, the findings support the moderating role of length of stay and city.

Research limitations/implications

This paper contributes to the literature by exploring how length of stay affects the priorities of remote workers on Airbnb, highlighting the different needs of long-term and short-term stays, and helping to consolidate and clarify the scattered research on customers’ long-term experiences in tourism and hospitality.

Practical implications

The Airbnb experience of remote workers is the highly valued as evidenced by the high rate of commending reviews indicating a willingness to stay there again. It is suggested that Airbnb hosts continue their helpful role and ensuring the functionality and availability of essential facilities and emphasizing neighborhood amenities specific to long and short stays. ChatGPT4 was found to be valuable for extracting data and assigning topic labels.

Originality/value

This study uses a novel structural topic model, augmented with ChatGPT4, to analyze Airbnb customer reviews that mention remote work, thereby improving inferences about the characterization of remote workers.
Data-driven sensegiving and sensemaking: a phenomenological investigation
Authors: Namvar Morteza , Im Ghiyoung P. , Li Jingqi (Celeste) , Chung Claris
Published: August 2024

Purpose

Business analytics (BA) is a new frontier of technology development and has enormous potential for value creation. Information systems research shows ample evidence of its positive business impacts and organizational performance. However, there is limited understanding of how decision-makers or users of BA outcomes actually engage with data analysts in the process of data-driven insight generation and how they improve their understanding of business environments using BA outcomes. To aid this engagement and understanding, this study investigates the interaction between decision-makers and data analysts when they attempt to uncover data capacities and business needs and acquire business insights from BA tools.

Design/methodology/approach

This study employs an interpretive field study with thematic analysis. The authors conducted interviews with 31 participants who all relied on BA in their daily decisions. The study participants were engaged in different BA roles, including data analysts and decision-makers. They validated the applicability and usefulness of our findings through a focus group with eight practitioners, including decision-makers and data analysts from the same companies.

Findings

This study proposes a process model of data-driven sensemaking and sensegiving based on Weick’s sensemaking framework. The findings exhibit that decision-makers are engaged in sensemaking by identifying areas of focus, determining BA scope, evaluating generated insights and turning BA into action. The findings also show that data analysts engage in sensemaking by consolidating data, data understanding, preparing preliminary outcomes and generating actionable reports. This study shows how sensemaking processes and sensegiving activities work together over time through immediate enactment, selection and decision cycles.

Originality/value

This study is a first attempt to understand interactions in the context of BA using the perspective of sensemaking and sensegiving.
EU membership and income inequality: escaping the single and binary treatment approach
Authors: Serwach Tomasz
Published: August 2024

Purpose

In this paper, the impact of the 2004 European Union accession on income inequalities within New Member States is analyzed.

Design/methodology/approach

An empirical analysis is conducted with nine New Member States over the period 1991–2015, with 55 economies serving as a control group. The newly introduced (by de Chaisemartin and D’Haultfœuille, 2023) method belonging to the family of difference-in-differences (DID) estimators is applied to allow for multiple non-binary treatments.

Findings

While accession to the European Union had a positive and significant impact on the market and net Gini coefficients in the treated countries, no evidence of the impact of accession on redistribution was found. Single-unit estimates signal that income inequalities rose due to EU membership in some member countries; the most convincing evidence shows that income distribution in Latvia was especially affected.

Originality/value

The author applied the method which addresses the presence of multiple non-binary treatments. Full-fledged membership was preceded by association status, and accession to the EU was accompanied or followed by engagement in other layers of integration (European Monetary Union and Schengen Area). Controlling for these features, the author was able to assess whether the pure EU effect contributed to increases in income inequalities.
Assessing risk allocation preferences of partners in international construction joint venture projects in Ghana
Authors: Akunyumu Stephen , Fugar Frank D.K. , Adinyira Emmanuel
Published: August 2024

Purpose

Equitable risk allocation is important for the effective management of inevitable risks in International Construction Joint Venture (ICJV) projects. Previous studies have documented risks facing ICJV projects. However, there is a dearth of studies on the risk allocation preferences that take into consideration the opinions of both the local and foreign partners. This study aims to fill this gap by ascertaining the risk allocation preferences of the partners of ICJV projects for effective risk management.

Design/methodology/approach

Through a survey, data on risk allocation preferences were collected from both local and foreign partners of ICJV projects using a comprehensive register of 74 risks.

Findings

Following analysis, six risks were allocated to the local partner, 11 were allocated to the foreign partner, 51 risks were shared, four were allocated to a third party and two were to be negotiated based on the specific circumstances of the project. Practically, the study’s findings will help ICJV partners in drafting their ICJV contracts to adequately allocate risks and reduce contract negotiation time considerably.

Practical implications

The findings from this study will help partners in drafting their joint venture contract agreement and also reduce the period for contract negotiation. Knowledge of the preferred risk allocation is important in allocating risks in the contract agreement to the relevant partner for effective management.

Originality/value

This study, to the best knowledge of the authors, is one of the early studies to ascertain the risk allocation preferences of ICJV project partners in the Ghanaian construction industry – a departure from previous studies which focused on the identification and evaluation of risks. This study is also different from previous studies by considering the allocation preferences of both partners of the ICJV. The collection of data from both partners of the ICJV helped to consider their perceptions on risk allocation and evaluation, essentially leading to cross-cultural and optimal risk allocation preferences.
The role of digital resilient agility: how digital capability incompatibility affects knowledge cooperation performance in project network organizations
Authors: Liu Fengcai , Zhang Lianying
Published: August 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to explore how digital capability incompatibility affects knowledge cooperation performance through the mediating effect of digital resilient agility and the moderating effect of project complexity in project network organizations (PNOs).

Design/methodology/approach

A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted with 207 middle and senior managers in PNOs. Based on validated questionnaire items and construct definitions, a dynamic panel regression was performed using 292 project-focused firms’ annual reports.

Findings

The results show that digital capability incompatibility facilitates knowledge cooperation performance by enhancing digital resilient agility in PNOs. Increased project complexity strengthens this relationship, promoting better knowledge cooperation performance.

Practical implications

Managers can use partner firms’ diverse digital knowledge to quickly develop technologies and tackle digital transformation challenges, thereby improving knowledge cooperation. They can also evaluate the project environment to manage digitally-supported cooperation effectively.

Originality/value

This research reveals how firms in PNOs transform digital capability incompatibility into knowledge cooperation performance through digital transformation efforts. This research extends the boundary of this relationship to project-level factors and proposes digital resilient agility as a digital transformation effort for knowledge cooperation in PNOs than previous research.
Investigation of synergy: emotional intelligence and authentic leadership among nurse managers
Authors: Koç Aslan Saliha , Eryiğit Sarıca Eda , Akın Bestegül , Soyer Er Özlem
Published: August 2024

Purpose

Emotional intelligence (EI) and authentic leadership are essential attributes for effective healthcare management. Understanding their interplay can inform leadership development and improve patient care outcomes. This study aims to determine the relationship between EI and authentic leadership among nurse managers.

Design/methodology/approach

Study conducted a cross-sectional study, collecting data from 198 nurse managers using surveys assessing EI and authentic leadership. Correlation and regression analyses were used to explore the relationship and impact of EI on authentic leadership. STROBE checklist used to report the study.

Findings

The findings revealed a positive and significant relationship between nurse managers’ EI and their authentic leadership characteristics. Higher EI scores were associated with increased authenticity in leadership. EI, particularly interpersonal EI, plays a crucial role in authentic leadership. Enhancing nurse managers’ EI can foster more authentic leadership, positively impacting healthcare settings.

Originality/value

This research underscores the importance of EI in leadership development and its potential for improving patient care and organizational outcomes.
Digital age imperatives and firm internal control quality: evidence from CEOs personal trait and type of state-owned enterprises
Authors: Maqsood Umer Sahil , Wang Shihao , Zahid R.M. Ammar
Published: August 2024

Purpose

In the context of an evolving digital-based global economy, this study aims to investige the impact of digital transformation (DT) on a firm’s internal control (IC) quality. It also explores how the personal traits of (CEOs) – such as age, gender and educational background – intersect with DT to shape the IC quality in various types of state-owned enterprises (SOEs).

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses the data from China A-shares non-financial enterprises, listed on Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges between 2007 and 2020. Using the fixed effect regression method alongside various statistical techniques, such as propensity score matching, alternative analysis and instrumental variables analysis, yields robust findings. These methods effectively address issues related to functional form misspecification and potential biases from omitted explanatory variables.

Findings

The findings reveal a positive impact of DT on firm IC quality, and this impact is more pronounced in firms when the CEO is female, young and possesses a higher level of education. Notably, the study also distinguishes between central and local state-owned enterprises (SOEs), highlighting that DT has a greater influence on IC quality in central SOEs, where CEOs often have higher political ranks and closer to government monitoring. Overall, the findings are robust and consist to alternative variable and other statistical methods.

Research limitations/implications

Following are the significant implications for both academia and business. First, firms that effectively adopt DT to enhance IC not only gain a strategic advantage over competitors but also establish efficient risk management practices and a robust IC system. Second, better IC resulting from DT can enhance investor and stakeholder confidence. This is particularly important for publicly traded companies, where investors and analysts closely scrutinize the robustness of IC systems. Third, DT could result in cost savings over time, as automation and streamlined processes may reduce the need for manual efforts and resource-intensive tasks associated with IC.

Originality/value

The findings are contributed to the literature in multiple ways. It enhances our comprehension of the intricate DT-IC quality relationship, and provides valuable insights into the transformative impact of DT on organizational operations and risk management. It also introduces a novel perspective by investigating how CEOs personal traits intersect with DT to shape IC quality, contributing to upper echelons theory. Furthermore, it expands the discussions on firm ownership by considering the types of SOEs (central vs. local), in the DT-IC quality context.
A comprehensive overview of sodium, total and saturated fat content in meat products sold in Brazil
Authors: Avelar de Sousa Camila Cristina , de Jesus Pereira dos Santos Luccas , da Silva Mauricio Costa Alves , Cavalheiro Carlos Pasqualin
Published: August 2024

Purpose

Meat is a crucial source of protein and other nutrients for human health. However, excessive consumption of meat products is not advisable due to their elevated sodium and animal fat levels. Hence, there is a strong recommendation for reducing sodium and fat content in meat products. This study aims to delve into the current sodium, total and saturated fat content of meat products in the Brazilian market.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 1,600 products underwent analysis.

Findings

The highest sodium concentrations were identified in jerked beef (5.48 g/100 g), charqui (5.21 g/100 g) and salted pork meat (2.58 g/100 g). In contrast, the highest total and saturated fat levels were observed in bacon (35.33 and 12.50 g/100 g), salami (26.00 and 9.25 g/100 g) and pork coppa (22.00 and 9.75 g/100 g). Most meat products were categorized as medium in terms of sodium (77.75%), total fat (52.93%) and saturated fat (48.25%). However, many meat products exhibited high total and saturated fat levels.

Originality/value

This study represents the first comprehensive examination of the sodium, total fat and saturated fat content listed on the labels of many meat products in Brazil.
Perceived age discrimination: what is the workplace experience?
Authors: Butler Steve
Published: August 2024

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the existence of perceived discrimination as a covert form of discrimination present in the workplace and its relationship to age and gender in the context of the UK financial services industry.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used and validated the Workplace Age Discrimination Scale (WADS) to identify perceived age and gender discrimination in the workplace. The study used the results from WADS quantitative survey of 168 financial services industry employees to measure the extent of perceived age discrimination.

Findings

This study evidences that in the organisations researched there is a higher degree of perceived discrimination for younger workers which significantly decreases with age, while perceived gender discrimination in women is constant throughout their careers.

Originality/value

This research paper proves that the concept of perceived discrimination as a covert form of discrimination regardless of age or gender is present in the UK financial services industry.
Finite element algorithm for rigid pavement resting on Pasternak elastic foundation model under aircraft loading
Authors: Wani Khair Ul Faisal , K. Nallasivam
Published: August 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to numerically model the rigid pavement resting on Pasternak soil and to examine its various response parameters and stress resultants like deflection, rotation, bending moment and shear force when subjected to aircraft loading.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is carried out using a one-dimensional (1D) beam element based on the finite element method (FEM). Each node in this element has three rotational and three translational degrees of freedom (DOF). MATLAB programming is used to perform the static analysis of rigid pavement.

Findings

Response parameters and stress resultants of the rigid pavement were determined. The FEM used in this work is validated by two closed-form numerical examples, which are in great accord with previous research findings with a maximum divergence of 4.64%, therefore verifying the finite element approach used in the current study. Additionally, various parametric studies have been carried out to study the variations in response parameters and stress resultants.

Research limitations/implications

The investigation at hand focuses exclusively on the static analysis of the pavement. The study constraints pertaining to the preliminary design phase of rigid pavements are such that a comprehensive three-dimensional finite element analysis is deemed unnecessary.

Originality/value

As limited previous research had performed the static analysis of rigid pavement on Pasternak foundation with 6 DOF. Furthermore, no prior study has done seven separate parametric investigations on the static analysis of rigid pavement.
The Detri2match conceptual framework: Matching detritivore and detritus traits to unravel consumption rules in a context of decomposition
Authors: Marchand Théo , Lecerf Antoine , Brousseau Pierre‐Marc , Chauvat Matthieu , Danger Michael , Forey Estelle , Handa I. Tanya , Hedde Mickael , Maunoury‐Danger Florence , Santonja Mathieu , Pey Benjamin
Published: August 2024

From soil to freshwater ecosystems, decomposition can be conceived as the result of interactions between organic matter and a diversity of organisms. This function is driven in part by detritivores, invertebrates that feed on detritus or graze on its associated microbes and that have a significant but extremely variable contribution to decomposition.

In order to better understand and predict detritivore–detritus pairwise interactions, we propose a conceptual framework, called Detri2match, to study the consumption of detritus by detritivores, using a trait‐matching approach at the individual detritivore level. Here, we focus on the interaction between saprophagous detritivores that fragment plant detritus.

We propose a novel definition of a saprophagous detritivore as an animal that consumes plant detritus when its traits match sufficiently the traits of its resource, passing through five interaction facets of consumption. These include (1) a spatial match rule regarding the encounter, (2) a biomechanical match rule regarding ingestion, (3) a digestive match rule regarding assimilation, (4) an energetic match rule regarding the fulfilment of metabolic needs and (5) a nutritional match rule regarding the fulfilment of chemical element needs in adapted proportions.

The main goal of this framework is to guide future research to establish generic rules of misunderstood detritus–detritivore pairwise interactions by identifying relevant interaction facets and their key associated traits for both detritivores and detritus. This investigation should be conducted over the temporal variability of trait‐matching constraints throughout the whole decomposition process. Coupled with adequate accumulation of trait information, the Detri2match framework could also facilitate predictions by inference of non‐tested pairwise detritivore–litter interactions.

We also outline conceptual, methodological and analytical challenges of this framework. The main challenge would be to scale up these pairwise rules at the detrital network level and to test their genericity, which would contribute to a better understanding of the functioning of the detrital network and its contribution to decomposition.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
Setting the stage for plant–soil feedback: Mycorrhizal influences over conspecific recruitment, plant and fungal communities, and coevolution
Authors: Eagar Andrew C. , Abu Princess H. , Brown Megan A. , Moledor Sara M. , Smemo Kurt A. , Phillips Richard P. , Case Andrea L. , Blackwood Christopher B.
Published: August 2024

Plant–soil feedback (PSF) plays a central role in determining plant community dynamics, yet our understanding of how different combinations of plants and microbes influence PSF remains limited. Plants of different mycorrhizal types often exhibit contrasting PSF outcomes, influencing plant recruitment and spatial structure. Generalizing across plant species based on mycorrhizal type creates the potential to examine broader effects on ecological communities.

We review mechanisms contributing to different PSF outcomes between arbuscular mycorrhizal and ectomycorrhizal trees. We focus on how plant and fungal traits that differ between mycorrhizal types interact with pathogenic and saprotrophic microorganisms and nutrient and carbon cycling.

Synthesis. Building on this framework, we propose several new research directions. First, mycorrhizal‐induced changes in soils can operate beyond the conspecific level, spilling over from abundant plant species onto less abundant ones. This community‐level ‘mycorrhizal spillover’ is hypothesized to affect PSF in ways that are additive and interactive with conspecific density dependence. Second, we describe how mycorrhizal effects on PSF could structure the way plant communities respond to global change. Third, we discuss how they may influence plant evolution by altering the balance of selection pressures on traits and genes related to pathogen defence and mutualism formation.
3‐Hydroxypropionate production from myo‐inositol by the gut acetogen Blautia schinkii
Authors: Trischler Raphael , Rustler Stefanie M. , Poehlein Anja , Daniel Rolf , Breitenbach Milena , Helfrich Eric J. N. , Müller Volker
Published: August 2024

Species of the genus Blautia are not only abundant in the human gut but also contribute to human well‐being. Our study demonstrates that the gut acetogen Blautia schinkii can grow on myo‐inositol. We identified the pathway of myo‐inositol degradation through a combination of physiological and biochemical studies, genome‐wide expression profiling and homology searches. Initially, myo‐inositol is oxidized to 2‐keto‐myo‐inositol. This compound is then metabolized by a series of enzymes – a dehydratase, hydrolase, isomerase and kinase – to form 2‐deoxy‐5‐keto‐d‐gluconic acid 6‐phosphate. This intermediate is split by an aldolase into malonate semialdehyde and dihydroxyacetone phosphate, which is an intermediate of the Embden–Meyerhof–Parnas pathway. This pathway leads to the production of pyruvate and, subsequently, acetate. Concurrently, malonate semialdehyde is reduced to 3‐hydroxypropionate (3‐HP). The genes responsible for myo‐inositol degradation are clustered on the genome, except for the gene encoding the aldolase. We identified the putative aldolase Fba_3 and 3‐HP dehydrogenase Adh1 encoding genes bioinformatically and verified them biochemically using enzyme assays with heterologously produced and purified protein. The major fermentation end products were 3‐HP and acetate, produced in similar amounts. The production of the unusual fermentation end product 3‐HP is significant not only for human health but also for the potential bioindustrial production of this highly desired compound.
PUBLIC‐MAKING IN HYPER‐DIVERSITY: Politics, Elections and the Democratic Party in Queens, New York
Authors: DeFilippis James , Simon Elana R.
Published: August 2024

Queens is the most diverse county in the country and much of its diversity comes from relatively recent immigration. It is therefore exactly the kind of place that a variety of theorists have argued cannot have ‘a public’ through which questions of politics, plans and policies can be discussed and debated. In this article we explore the potential for a public in such spaces of hyper‐diversity and do so through the lens of electoral politics and the state. A set of findings emerges from this research. First, the hyper‐diversity in Queens does not change the reality that much of what is happening is the very typical and mundane ‘drama’ of power politics in a city. Secondly, in that mundane competition for power, racial and ethnic differentiation are not preexisting forces of nature that determine political behavior, but are co‐constituted with political, economic and social processes that often play out in ideology and geography (neighborhood). Finally, this leads us away from views of ‘the public’ that implicitly accept or assume either a fixity of its identity or an essential set of characteristics in its constitution.
STRATEGIES AND TACTICS IN PLATFORM URBANISM: Contested Spatial Production through Quick Delivery Platforms in Berlin and Barcelona
Authors: Palacios Crisóstomo Nicolás , Kaufmann David
Published: August 2024

Amid the Covid‐19 pandemic, the food and grocery delivery sector became a multibillion‐dollar industry, making riders with squared backpacks visible in our urban landscapes. We explore the role of quick delivery platforms in spatial production—and especially the strategies platforms employed and the tactics of platform workers in relation to this production. By adopting a Lefebvrian perspective, we introduce the concepts of ‘strategies of spatial abstraction’ and ‘spatial tactics of resistance’. We argue that strategies of platforms such as territorialization and digital Taylorism homogenize spatial relations, while platform workers use tactics to resist and to negotiate their everyday lives mediated by platforms. We draw on vignettes from Barcelona and Berlin to illustrate the spatial implications of these strategies and tactics. Territorialization anchors platforms to urban locations through physical infrastructure, while digital Taylorism utilizes algorithms to standardize spatial practices. These strategies contain contradictions: territorialization reduces worker atomization, while digital Taylorism catalyzes worker resistance tactics, especially logistical resistance around the platforms’ dark stores and warehouses. This article contributes to the growing body of literature on platform urbanism, revealing the complex and often contradictory nature of platform‐mediated production of urban space.
ZONING AND THE ‘RIGHT’ CITY: The Challenges of Zoning in the Global South and Possibilities for Unzoning Informality
Authors: Geyer Herman
Published: August 2024

This article presents a poststructuralist analysis of zoning practices and their implementation in the global South, critically analysing the development of two parallel housing processes arising as a consequence of zoning: informality and customary land use management systems in peri‐urban settlements. Using a Bourdieusian analysis, the article evaluates the tension between zoning and informality in which zoning furthers special interests and creates highly unequal power relations by commodifying space and marginalizing the urban poor. In response, pro‐poor forms of counter‐conduct such as inclusionary zoning and informality serve to alter the perspective of normative planning and create alternative spaces that generate agency for the urban poor. This raises questions regarding the nature of current zoning practices in terms of social justice and distributive ethics.
Comparison of dosimetric parameters for predicting radiation‐induced cataract in paediatric patients
Authors: Leangcharoensap Siriphan , Thephamongkhol Kullathorn , Chanwichu Putthipong , Treechairusame Teeradon , Suntornpong Nan , Rongthong Warissara
Published: August 2024

Introduction

This study compared the predictive ability of radiation‐induced cataract between maximum point dose of the lens (Lens Dmax) ≥7 Gy, mean lens dose (Lens Dmean) ≥7 Gy, Lens Dmax ≥10 Gy, and Lens Dmean ≥10 Gy.

Methods

Patients aged 3–18 years received cranial irradiation or radiation therapy at head and neck area between January 2010 and December 2019 at our institute were included. Patients without baseline and/or follow‐up eye examination were excluded. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves identified potential predictors and Cox regression analysed correlations between potential factors and cataract occurrence.

Results

Sixty‐three patients (122 eyes) were analysed. Cataracts were detected in 14 eyes (11.5%). Median follow‐up time was 4 years (range 0.5–10 years), with cataract developing in a median of 2.5 years (range 0.3–7 years). Three patients (21.4%) developed grade ≥3 cataract. Lens Dmean ≥10 Gy was associated with cataract formation.

Conclusion

Lens Dmean ≥10 Gy showed the highest ability for predicting radiation‐induced cataract in paediatric patients. Net reclassification improvement (NRI) suggested that changing lens dose constraint from Dmax <7 Gy to Dmean <10 Gy would miss 7% of cataract cases but avoid 28% of unnecessary restrictions. Adopting a mean lens dose <10 Gy was suggested as a constraint for lens dose.
Effects of BRCA variation on prognosis in patients with nonmetastatic breast cancer
Authors: Türkel Alper , Onur Ilknur Deliktaş , Anik Hicran , Öner Irem , Erdem Haktan Bağiş , Bahsi Taha , Özalp Özge , Öksüzoğlu Berna , Ateş Öztürk , Karaçin Cengiz
Published: August 2024

Background

To compare the clinicopathological characteristics of nonmetastatic breast cancer patients with and without BRCA variations and to investigate the impact of BRCA variations on prognosis.

Methods

This retrospective single‐center study involved an analysis of 938 patients with localized or locally advanced breast cancer who underwent BRCA variation testing. The patients were divided into three groups: 757 were without BRCA variation, 64 were with BRCA1 variation, and 117 were with BRCA2 variation.

Results

In patients with BRCA1 variation, the Ki67, grade, and frequency of triple‐negative breast cancer were significantly higher than in patients without BRCA variation and with BRCA2 variation. The 5‐year disease‐free survival in patients with BRCA1 variation was significantly worse than the other two groups (without BRCA, BRCA1, and BRCA2; 87.7%, 69.9%, and 95.3%, respectively, p = 0.049). Multivariate analysis detected no significant difference between groups. The pathological complete response rates with neoadjuvant therapy were significantly better in patients with BRCA variations than those without BRCA variations (49.2% vs. 29.6%, p = 0.024).

Conclusion

Patients with BRCA1 variation had more aggressive tumor characteristics, such as higher Ki67 and higher grade. Also, triple‐negative breast cancer was more common. The presence of BRCA1 variation may worsen survival outcomes. Neoadjuvant treatment responses of patients with BRCA variations were significantly better, and neoadjuvant treatment may contribute to survival outcomes in nonmetastatic patients with BRCA variations.
Simulation‐based education in the Pacific Islands: educational experience, access, and perspectives of healthcare workers
Authors: Robinson Samuel James Alexander , McLeod Elizabeth , Nestel Debra , Pacilli Maurizio , Nataraja Ramesh Mark
Published: August 2024

Background

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends simulation‐based education (SBE) to acquire skills and accelerate learning. Literature focusing on SBE in the Pacific Islands is limited. The aim of this study was to determine Pacific Island healthcare workers' experiences, perspectives, and access to SBE.

Methods

This was a cross‐sectional survey of Pacific Island healthcare workers. We designed an online questionnaire based on existing literature and expert consultation. The questionnaire included Likert scales, multiple‐choice, multi‐select and open‐ended questions. Participants were healthcare workers recruited from professional networks across the region. Descriptive statistics and relative frequencies summarized data, and comparative testing included unpaired t‐tests, Mann–Whitney U, Chi‐squared and Fisher's exact tests. Free‐text responses were presented to illustrate findings.

Results

Responses from 56 clinicians working in 11 Pacific Island countries were included. Fifty were medical doctors (89%), including 31 (55%) surgeons. Participants reported experience with scenario‐based simulation (73%), mannequins (71%), and simulated patients (61%). Discrepancies were identified between previous simulation experience and current access for simulated patients (P = 0.002) and animal‐based part‐task trainers (P = 0.002). SBE was seen as beneficial for procedural skills, communication, decision‐making and teamwork. Interest in further SBE was reported by most participants (96%). Barriers included equipment access (59%), clinical workload (45%) and COVID‐19 restrictions (45%).

Conclusion

Some Pacific Island healthcare workers have experience with SBE, but their ongoing access is predominantly limited to low‐technology modalities. Despite challenges, there is interest in SBE initiatives. These findings may inform planning for SBE in the Pacific Islands and may be considered prior to programme implementation.
Lithium‐ion battery related burns and emerging trends: a retrospective case series and data analysis of emergency presentations
Authors: Duff Michelle , Manzanero Silvia , Barker Ruth , Barlas Panos , Westacott Genevieve , Lisec Carl
Published: August 2024

Introduction

The rising prevalence of battery powered devices is driving a steady increase in lithium‐ion battery‐related burns. We present a case series of patients with lithium‐ion battery‐related burns and describe the clinical characteristics of this cohort. To further understand emerging trends, we compare our specialty inpatient case series with emergency department (ED) data collated by the Queensland Injury Surveillance Unit (QISU).

Methods

This is a retrospective case series of all patients admitted to the Professor Stuart Pegg Adult Burns Centre for burns relating to lithium‐ion batteries between January 2014 and October 2023. In addition, we provide a retrospective data analysis of ED presentations for lithium‐ion battery‐related burns or blast injuries collated by the QISU.

Results

Within the case series data, the most common injuries caused by lithium‐ion batteries leading to burn unit admissions were due to e‐scooters (57.1%). Burns relating to e‐scooter batteries were more likely to involve a larger total body surface area and to be deeper in nature, than burns due to other products. The most common ED presentations were from energy storage devices such as powerpacks (43%).

Conclusion

Lithium‐ion battery‐related burns are becoming more frequent. The majority of inpatient managed cases involved burns due to larger lithium‐ion batteries used in e‐scooters. This is the first Australian case series describing severe burns caused by this mechanism. Primary prevention through design, technological and behavioural strategies is required.
Creativity and Deadness. Going Beyond the Binary Division between True and False Self
Authors: Sala‐Hołubowicz Elżbieta
Published: August 2024

In this article, I describe my work with a patient who presented as a creative individual, yet felt like a fictional character. He was driven by a compulsion to maintain and repair broken connections at any cost, utilising his creativity for this purpose. My work with this patient, among others, allowed me to identify a group of patients who feel forced to constantly integrate and transform their external environment. I call them bricoleurs and explain the difference between bricolage and Donald Winnicott's play and Hanna Segal's reparation. I propose that the emergence of this psychological structure is caused by the child's early experiences with significant objects—the childhood necessity to constantly repair and enliven the disturbed mind of the caregiver. One of the metaphors of the article is that of the machine, through which I aim to illustrate the automated internal world of the bricoleur, generated not only by the compulsion to destroy but also by the compulsion to repair and create. In the article, I highlight that working with such patients requires the analyst to carefully examine countertransference and to fully mourn the illusion created in the analytic process. I also reflect on the categories of true and false self, pondering the possibility of moving beyond the binary nature of this division.