bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rapid intracellular acidification is a novel plant defense response countered by the brown planthopper
Authors: Jiang Yanjuan , Zhang Xiao-Ya , Li Shaoqin , Xie Yu-Cheng , Luo Xu-Mei , Yang Yongping , Pu Zhengyan , Zhang Li , Lu Jia-Bao , Huang Hai-Jian , Zhang Chuan-Xi , He Sheng Yang
Published: May 2023

The brown planthopper (BPH) is the most destructive insect pest in rice. Through a stylet, BPH secrets a plethora of salivary proteins into rice phloem cells as a crucial step of infestation. However, how various salivary proteins function in rice cells to promote insect infestation is poorly understood. Among them, one of the salivary proteins is predicted to be a carbonic anhydrase (NlCA). The survival rate of theNlCA-RNA interference (RNAi) BPH insects was extremely low on rice, indicating a vital role of this salivary protein in BPH infestation. We generatedNICAtransgenic rice plants and found thatNlCAexpressed in rice plants could restore the ability ofNlCA-RNAi BPH to survive on rice. Next, we produced rice plants expressing the ratiometric pH sensor pHusion and found thatNlCA-RNAi BPH induced rapid intracellular acidification of rice cells during feeding. Further analysis revealed that bothNlCA-RNAi BPH feeding and artificial of lowering intracellular pH activated plant defense responses, and that NICA-mediated intracellular pH stabilization is linked to diminished defense responses, including reduced callose deposition at the phloem sieve plates and suppressed defense gene expression. Given the importance of pH homeostasis across the kingdoms of life, discovery of NICA-mediated intracellular pH modulation uncovered a new dimension in the interaction between plants and piecing/sucking insect pests. The crucial role of NICA for BPH infestation of rice suggests that NICA is a promising target for chemical or trans-kingdom RNAi-based inactivation for BPH control strategies in plants.

Highlights

Rapid intracellular acidification is a novel plant defense response.

Brown planthopper delivers into rice tissues a major virulence protein, carbonic anhydrase (NlCA), critical for survival.

NlCA counters intracellular acidification to suppress plant defense.

Results implicate existence of pH-responsive regulators of defense responses in the rice-brown planthopper interaction.

In brief

The brown planthopper (BPH) is the most devasting insect pest in rice. Jianget al. discovered that BPH secretes a salivary carbonic anhydrase (NICA) to regulate the intracellular pH of the rice cell to facilitate its feeding and survival on rice plants and that NICA-counters host intracellular pH acidification to diminished defense responses. These findings uncovered that intracellular pH homeostasis is a previously uncharacterized battleground in plant-insect interactions, but also open a door to future discovery of pH-responsive intracellular regulators of defense responses, which could add a new research dimension in the study of plant-biotic interactions.
Local contribution to the somatosensory evoked potentials in rat’s thalamus
Authors: Średniawa Władysław , Borzymowska Zuzanna , Kondrakiewicz Kacper , Jurgielewicz Paweł , Mindur Bartosz , Hottowy Paweł , Wójcik Daniel Krzysztof , Kublik Ewa
Published: May 2023

Local Field Potential (LFP), despite its name, often reflects remote activity. Depending on the orientation and synchrony of their sources, both oscillations and more complex waves may passively spread in brain tissue over long distances and be falsely interpreted as local activity at such distant recording site. Current Source Density method was proposed to recover locally active currents from multi-site LFP recordings. Here we use a model-based kernel CSD (kCSD) to study the contribution of local and distant currents to LFP recorded with dense multichannel probes from rat thalamic nuclei and barrel cortex, activated by whisker stimulation. We show that the evoked potential wave seen in the thalamic nuclei around 7–15 ms post-stimulus has a substantial negative component reaching from cortex. This component can be analytically removed and truly local thalamic LFP, with purely thalamic contributions, can be recovered reliably using kCSD. In particular, concurrent recordings from the cortex are not essential for reliable thalamic CSD estimation. Proposed framework can be used to analyse LFP from other brain areas and has consequences for general LFP interpretation and analysis.

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BRIEF SUMMARY

While recording LFP simultaneously in multiple structures, we often see significant correlations between the observed waves. A natural question is if they are propagated passively from one structure to another or if they are simultaneously generated by different, separated sets of sources. We argue this can be answered reliably using CSD analysis. We focus on the case of thalamic and cortical recordings in the somatosensory system in response to whisker stimulation where we observe significant correlations between early thalamic and cortical responses to whisker deflection.
Mice expressing A53T / A30P mutant alpha-synuclein in dopamine neurons do not display behavioral deficits
Authors: Keomanivong Cameron , Schamp Josephine , Tabakovic Ervina , Thangavel Ramasamy , Aldridge Georgina , Pieper Andrew A. , Narayanan Nandakumar S.
Published: May 2023

Alpha-synuclein has been implicated in neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease and Dementia with Lewy bodies, with A53T and A30P mutations shown to be disease-causing. It has been reported that transgenic mice with tyrosine hydroxylase promotor-driven expression of A53T / A30P mutant alpha-synuclein in dopamine neurons provide a useful preclinical model of these conditions by virtue of developing dopaminergic neuronal cell death and related behavioral deficits. Here, we report a lack of replication of this finding. Despite detecting robust overexpression of A53T / A30P mutant alpha-synuclein in dopamine neurons, we observed neither cell death or related behavioral deficits in these mice. Our results demonstrate that preclinical models of synucleinopathy need careful validation in the field.
Comparative transcriptomics shows the evolutionary origin of acoustic fat bodies through a trade-off with skull muscles in toothed whales
Authors: Takeuchi Hayate , Matsuishi Takashi Fritz , Hayakawa Takashi
Published: May 2023

Toothed whales (odontocetes) have developed acoustic fat bodies, which include forehead melon, extra-mandibular fat body and intra-mandibular fat body. These contribute to the sound transmission pathways in the unique echolocation process of toothed whales. The acoustic fat bodies of Odontocetes accumulate unusual fatty acids, making them novel traits with unique functional anatomy and chemistry. This study provides new insights into the evolutionary origin and lipid utilisation of acoustic fat bodies in harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) and Pacific white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens) using comparative transcriptomics. Comprehensive gene expression analyses indicated that the acoustic fat bodies of toothed whales are composites of muscle and adipose tissues, mainly composed of intramuscular fat. The extra-mandibular fat body is a homologue of the masseter muscle. Additionally, we demonstrated that gene expression-based functional enrichments for specialised branched-chain amino acid metabolism, endocytosis, lysosomes and peroxisomes contribute to the maintenance of the unique fatty characteristics of the acoustic fat bodies of toothed whales. A trade-off occurred in the evolution of acoustic fat bodies as a result of the fatty reorganisation of head muscles involved in aquatic adaptation in toothed whales.
Spatial relationships in the urothelial and head and neck tumor microenvironment predict response to combination immune checkpoint inhibitors
Authors: Gil-Jimenez Alberto , van Dijk Nick , Vos Joris L. , Lubeck Yoni , van Montfoort Maurits L. , Peters Dennis , Hooijberg Erik , Broeks Annegien , Zuur Charlotte L. , van Rhijn Bas , Vis Daniel J. , van der Heijden Michiel S. , Wessels Lodewyk F. A.
Published: May 2023

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) currently achieve remarkable clinical results in urothelial cancer (UC). However, the relationship between the tumor microenvironment (TME), usually characterized by immune cell density, and response to ICI is unclear.

We quantified the TME immune cell densities and spatial relationships (SRs) using the multiplex immunofluorescence data of 24 UC pre-treatment tumor resections. We described SRs by approximating the 1-NN distance distribution with a Weibull distribution and evaluated the association between TME metrics (spatial and density parameters) and ipilimumab+nivolumab response.

Immune cell density did not discriminate between response groups. However, the Weibull SR metrics of CD8+T-cells or macrophages to their closest cancer cell were positively associated with response. CD8+T-cells close to B-cells were characteristic of non-response. The G- function, a threshold dependent alternative SR metric, yielded variable effect sizes and statistical power in association studies with response. We validated our SR response associations in a cohort of head and neck tumors with a comparable treatment design. Our data confirm that SRs, in contrast to density metrics, are strong biomarkers of response to ICIs, a finding with significant translational relevance.
DeepRaccess: High-speed RNA accessibility prediction using deep learning
Authors: Hara Kaisei , Iwano Natsuki , Fukunaga Tsukasa , Hamada Michiaki
Published: May 2023

RNA accessibility is a useful RNA secondary structural feature for predicting RNA-RNA interactions and translation efficiency in prokaryotes. However, conventional accessibility calculation tools, such as Raccess, are computationally expensive and require considerable computational time to perform transcriptome-scale analyses. In this study, we developed DeepRaccess, which predicts RNA accessibility based on deep learning methods. DeepRaccess was trained to take artificial RNA sequences as input and to predict the accessibility of these sequences as calculated by Raccess. Simulation and empirical dataset analyses showed that the accessibility predicted by DeepRaccess was highly correlated with the accessibility calculated by Raccess. In addition, we confirmed that DeepRaccess can predict protein abundance inE.coliwith moderate accuracy from the sequences around the start codon. We also demonstrated that DeepRaccess achieved tens to hundreds of times software speed-up in a GPU environment. The source codes and the trained models of DeepRaccess are freely available athttps://github.com/hmdlab/DeepRaccess.
Designing patient-oriented combination therapies for acute myeloid leukemia based on efficacy/toxicity integration and bipartite network modeling
Authors: Mirzaie Mehdi , Gholizadeh Elham , Miettinen Juho J. , Ianevski Filipp , Ruokoranta Tanja , Saarela Jani , Manninen Mikko , Miettinen Susanna , Heckman Caroline A. , Jafari Mohieddin
Published: May 2023

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a heterogeneous and aggressive blood cancer, does not respond well to single-drug therapy. A combination of drugs is required to effectively treat this disease. Computational models are critical for combination therapy discovery due to the tens of thousands of two-drug combinations, even with approved drugs. While predicting synergistic drugs is the focus of current methods, few consider drug efficacy and potential toxicity, which are crucial for treatment success. To find effective new drug candidates, we constructed a bipartite network using patient-derived tumor samples and drugs. The network is based on drug-response screening and summarizes all treatment response heterogeneity as drug response weights. This bipartite network is then projected onto the drug part, resulting in the drug similarity network. Distinct drug clusters were identified using community detection methods, each targeting different biological processes and pathways as revealed by enrichment and pathway analysis of the drugs’ protein targets. Four drugs with the highest efficacy and lowest toxicity from each cluster were selected and tested for drug sensitivity using cell viability assays on various samples. Results show that the combinations of ruxolitinib-ulixertinib and sapanisertib-LY3009120 are the most effective with the least toxicity and best synergistic effects on blasts. These findings lay the foundation for personalized and successful AML therapies, ultimately leading to the development of drug combinations that can be used alongside standard first-line AML treatment.

Key Points

Ruxolitinib-ulixertinib and sapanisertib-LY3009120 have the best synergistic effects on AML, with the least toxicity.

This study’s combinations destroy blasts without harming other healthy cells, unlike standard chemotherapy, which is less specific.
Extensive DNA methylome rearrangement during early lamprey embryogenesis
Authors: Angeloni Allegra , Fissette Skye , Kaya Deniz , Hammond Jillian M. , Gamaarachchi Hasindu , Deveson Ira W. , Klose Robert J. , Li Weiming , Zhang Xiaotian , Bogdanovic Ozren
Published: May 2023

DNA methylation (5-methylcytosine, 5mC) is a repressive gene regulatory mark widespread in vertebrate genomes, yet the developmental dynamics in which 5mC patterns are established vary across species. While mammals undergo two rounds of global 5mC erasure, the zebrafish genome exhibits localized maternal-to-paternal 5mC remodeling, in which the sperm epigenome is inherited in the early embryo. To date, it is unclear how evolutionarily conserved such 5mC remodeling strategies are, and what their biological function is. Here, we studied 5mC dynamics during the embryonic development of sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus), a jawless vertebrate which occupies a critical phylogenetic position as the sister group of the jawed vertebrates. We employed base-resolution 5mC quantification in the lamprey germline, embryonic and somatic tissues, and discovered large-scale maternal-to-paternal epigenome remodeling that affects >30% of the embryonic genome and is predominantly associated with partially methylated domains (PMDs). We further demonstrate that sequences eliminated during programmed genome rearrangement (PGR), a hallmark of lamprey embryogenesis, are hypermethylated in sperm prior to the onset of PGR. Our study thus unveils important insights into the evolutionary origins of vertebrate 5mC reprogramming, and how this process might participate in diverse developmental strategies.
A three lenses approach to employability: transdisciplinary approaches to TNE students' careers education
Authors: Brammar Laura
Published: May 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to explore a transdisciplinary approach to the careers and employability education of transnational education (TNE) students of higher education. It proposes that an approach which adopts three lenses of academic study, lived experience and career stage can provide maximum benefits to the TNE students' careers education, particularly in response to the modern workplace. The study aims illustrate the potential benefits of such an approach to multiple stakeholders within higher education.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper adopts a viewpoint approach drawing on higher education career service practitioner-based experience of using a specific approach to employability with TNE students studying with a large university based in the UK. Student evaluation data from this practice are referred to in the paper.

Findings

This paper provides insights into how this approach to employability was received by higher education TNE students who participated in a pilot project led by a higher education careers service, which adopted the three lenses approach.

Originality/value

This paper illustrates how a transdisciplinary approach to the careers and employability education of TNE students can be of significant value to the higher education students themselves, the institutions within which they study and the graduate recruiters looking to attract future employees for the workplaces of the future. It is hoped that by sharing this approach more stakeholders within the TNE and careers and employability communities within higher education will adopt a similar approach.
Impact of school climate and resources on principal workload stress and job satisfaction: multinational evidence from TALIS 2018 data
Authors: Chen Junjun , Bellibaş Mehmet Şükrü , Gümüş Sedat
Published: May 2023

Purpose

The research aimed to examine the effects of school climate (school violence and community engagement) and resources (staff shortages and resource shortages) on job satisfaction mediated by the workload stress of school principals, using pooled data from 47 jurisdictions around the world.

Design/methodology/approach

This study employed a rigorous secondary analysis of principal job satisfaction using the Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS) 2018 dataset. The mediation analysis of structural equation modeling (SEM) performed using STATA software established a structured model by controlling region-fixed effect, principal demographic and school contextual characteristics.

Findings

This study established a model detailing the associations between school climate and resources and principal job satisfaction mediated by workload stress.

Originality/value

Given the crucial role of a school principal in leading school survival and success, this study may provide one timely method to enhance job satisfaction and performance of principals during a period of constant change marked by increasing job demands.
The service empowerment model: a collaborative approach to reducing vulnerability
Authors: Koppenhafer Leslie , Scott Kristin , Weaver Todd , Mulder Mark
Published: May 2023

Purpose

Service researchers have been tasked with improving the well-being of consumers experiencing vulnerability. The current research aims to demonstrate how these consumers can experience empowerment through transformative service improvements to the traditional microfinance model.

Design/methodology/approach

To ground the research in a real-world setting with consumers experiencing vulnerability, the research team worked with a nonprofit microfinance organization offering loans to communities of Indigenous women entrepreneurs. The research team worked in six communities and conducted over 25 borrower interviews and 14 staff and volunteer interviews totaling 1,200 min of recorded content.

Findings

The present investigation of a unique approach to microfinance offers a new theoretical model, the service empowerment model (SEM), which illustrates how empowerment emanates from processes and outcomes at three distinct levels: micro, meso and macro. Recognizing that change occurs individually and also at familial and societal levels begins to challenge deeply rooted structural and cultural norms involved in the services ecosystem.

Practical implications

Originating from the microfinance service setting, the SEM can be explored, tested and implemented as a pilot program in a variety of service settings that involve transformative service initiatives (e.g. homelessness, refugees, etc.).

Social implications

As society pursues solutions to the pressing problems of consumers experiencing vulnerability, the present research offers critical insights into how services should be designed.

Originality/value

The present research defines a new term, service empowerment, and creates a new theoretical model, the SEM, to aid in improving transformative service initiatives.
Linking entrepreneurial leadership and innovation performance in hospitality firms: the roles of innovation strategy and knowledge acquisition
Authors: Hoang Giang , Nguyen Huong , Luu Tuan Trong , Nguyen Thuy Thu
Published: May 2023

Purpose

To achieve business success in a competitive market, hospitality firms are urged to search for different ways to enhance the firms' innovation capabilities. Drawing on dynamic capability theory, this study examined the role of entrepreneurial leadership in promoting product and process innovation through the mediating effect of innovation strategy and the moderating effect of knowledge acquisition.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected through a time-lagged (two waves, two months apart) survey from 137 managers and 322 employees working in 103 Vietnamese hotels. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test the proposed hypotheses in our conceptual model.

Findings

The findings revealed that entrepreneurial leadership is positively associated with both product and process innovation. In addition, these relationships are mediated by innovation strategy. While the relationship between innovation strategy and product innovation is moderated by knowledge acquisition, evidence was not obtained for the moderation effect of knowledge acquisition on the link between innovation strategy and process innovation.

Originality/value

The findings advance innovation and leadership literature by identifying the roles of entrepreneurial leaders in managing an organization as a dynamic system and developing appropriate innovation strategy to adapt to rapidly changing environments. In addition, this study offers important implications for hospitality firms that are investing in innovation activities and are seeking ways to promote the firms' innovation of products and processes.
What makes electricity consumers change their behavior? Influence of attitude and perceived impact of DR programs on awareness
Authors: Bâra Adela , Oprea Simona-Vasilica
Published: May 2023

Purpose

In this study, the authors propose a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to create a tenable measurement model and identify the factors that have the potential to enhance awareness of pro-environmental measures. The successful implementation of demand response (DR) programs and their required infrastructure is significant for moving towards green energy communities and a better environment for living. Not only can renewable energy capacities contribute to this desideratum, but also electricity consumers who, until the last decade, have played a passive role.

Design/methodology/approach

To answer these questions, a complex data set of 243 post-trial questions created by the Irish CER are analyzed using first-order and hierarchical CFA models with several SAS procedures (PROC CALIS, MIANALYZE). The questionnaire was launched to over 3,000 electricity consumers from Ireland that were participants to a trial program after the installation of smart metering systems and implementation of DR programs.

Findings

The effect of five latent factors – positive attitude, negative attitude, perceived impact of own actions, price- and incentive-DR programs – is measured. With a bi-factor CFA measurement model, the authors assess that they significantly influence the electricity consumers' awareness.

Research limitations/implications

However, these findings have to be backed up by relevant information and simulations showing consumers benefits in exchange to their efforts. They have research implications on the design of the business models and DR programs pointing out the importance of benefits and fairness of value sharing mechanisms within energy communities.

Practical implications

Thus, the electricity consumers may change their consumption behavior as they positively perceive the implementation of DR programs.

Originality/value

This paper fulfills an identified need to study post-trial questionnaire and reveal latent factors that make electricity consumer change their behavior.
Exploring the impact of knowledge management capability on firm performance: the mediating role of business model innovation
Authors: Chen Shuting , Yu Dengke
Published: May 2023

Purpose

Knowledge management (KM) capability plays an important role in the promotion of firm performance in the knowledge economy era. However, empirical evidence on how KM capability affects firm performance is still limited. The study therefore aims to explore the impacts of internal and external KM capabilities on firm performance via the parallel mediation of efficiency-centered and novelty-centered business model innovations (BMIs).

Design/methodology/approach

The authors empirically analyzed a survey data of 295 Chinese innovative enterprises by applying partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA).

Findings

According to the results of PLS-SEM, the relationship between internal KM capability and firm performance is not significant, instead it is fully mediated by efficiency-centered and novelty-centered BMIs. External KM capability can directly and positively affect firm performance, while the relationship is also partially mediated by BMIs. Furthermore, the authors recognized the antecedent conditions for high-level and low-level firm performance by fsQCA analysis, which substantiate the above findings.

Originality/value

It not only enriches the literature that links KM and innovation management but also contributes to the new theoretical perspective on firm sustainable growth. Methodologically, it combines symmetric and asymmetric analyses together. Additionally, it provides some insights for managers to understand how KM capability drives firm performance through BMI.
Economic impacts of the Black Sea Grain Initiative
Authors: Poursina Davood , Aleks Schaefer K. , Hilburn Sidany , Johnson Tuff
Published: May 2023

In this research, we use econometric analysis to estimate the impacts of the Black Sea Grain Initiative on international wheat and corn prices. Using these results, we assess the economic value of the treaty to the global food system, as well as the regional distribution of the associated welfare savings. We find that the Russian Invasion created economic costs of approximately $116.05 billion in the global wheat and corn markets. In the international wheat market, the Black Sea Grain Initiative reduced prices by 7.9%, offsetting approximately $21.48 billion of these costs. The largest winners from the Initiative outside Ukraine are primarily in the developing world, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa. We do not observe any economically meaningful impacts of the Initiative in the international corn market.
Open‐source workflow approaches to passive acoustic monitoring of bats
Authors: Brinkløv Signe M. M. , Macaulay Jamie , Bergler Christian , Tougaard Jakob , Beedholm Kristian , Elmeros Morten , Madsen Peter Teglberg
Published: May 2023

The affordability, storage and power capacity of compact modern recording hardware have evolved passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) of animals and soundscapes into a non‐invasive, cost‐effective tool for research and ecological management particularly useful for bats and toothed whales that orient and forage using ultrasonic echolocation. The use of PAM at large scales hinges on effective automated detectors and species classifiers which, combined with distance sampling approaches, have enabled species abundance estimation of toothed whales. But standardized, user‐friendly and open access automated detection and classification workflows are in demand for this key conservation metric to be realized for bats.

We used the PAMGuard toolbox including its new deep learning classification module to test the performance of four open‐source workflows for automated analyses of acoustic datasets from bats. Each workflow used a different initial detection algorithm followed by the same deep learning classification algorithm and was evaluated against the performance of an expert manual analyst.

Workflow performance depended strongly on the signal‐to‐noise ratio and detection algorithm used: the full deep learning workflow had the best classification accuracy (≤67%) but was computationally too slow for practical large‐scale bat PAM. Workflows using PAMGuard's detection module or triggers onboard an SM4BAT or AudioMoth accurately classified up to 47%, 59% and 34%, respectively, of calls to species. Not all workflows included noise sampling critical to estimating changes in detection probability over time, a vital parameter for abundance estimation. The workflow using PAMGuard's detection module was 40 times faster than the full deep learning workflow and missed as few calls (recall for both ~0.6), thus balancing computational speed and performance.

We show that complete acoustic detection and classification workflows for bat PAM data can be efficiently automated using open‐source software such as PAMGuard and exemplify how detection choices, whether pre‐ or post‐deployment, hardware or software‐driven, affect the performance of deep learning classification and the downstream ecological information that can be extracted from acoustic recordings. In particular, understanding and quantifying detection/classification accuracy and the probability of detection are key to avoid introducing biases that may ultimately affect the quality of data for ecological management.
Retracted: Clinical effect of surgical treatment for lung metastasis and prognostic risk factor analysis: a single‐centred cohort study
Authors: Peng Dongge , Sun Wei
Published: May 2023

Aim

This study aimed to compare the clinical effects of lobectomy and sublobar resection in the treatment of lung metastasis and to analyse the factors affecting patient prognosis.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of patients with pulmonary metastasis who underwent thoracic surgery at the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University between March 2010 and May 2021.

Results

A total of 165 patients who underwent pulmonary metastasectomy (PM) for lung metastasis met the inclusion criteria. Compared with the lobectomy group, the sublobar resection group had shorter operation time for pulmonary metastases (P < 0.001), lower intraoperative blood loss (P < 0.001), lower drainage volume on the first day after surgery (P < 0.001), lower incidence of prolonged air leak (P = 0.004), shorter drainage tube indwelling time (P = 0.002), and shorter postoperative hospital stay (P = 0.023). Multivariate analysis showed that sex (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.390–0.974; P = 0.038), disease‐free interval (DFI) (95% CI, 1.082–2.842; P = 0.023), and postoperative adjuvant therapy (95% CI, 1.352–5.147; P = 0.004) were independent influencing factors of disease‐free survival of patients who underwent PM. DFI (95% CI, 1.062–3.894; P = 0.032) and preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level (95% CI, 1.420–5.163; P = 0.002) were independent factors influencing the overall survival of patients in this group.

Conclusion

Sublobar resection provides a safe and effective treatment option for patients with pulmonary metastasis on the premise of ensuring resection of lung metastasis R0. Female sex, longer DFI, the use of postoperative adjuvant therapy and a lower preoperative CEA level were all favourable prognostic factors.
Coronary microcirculation and left ventricular diastolic function but not myocardial deformation indices are impaired early in patients with chronic kidney disease
Authors: Lakkas Lampros , Naka Katerina K. , Bechlioulis Aris , Duni Anila , Moustakli Maria , Balafa Olga , Theodorou Ioanna , Katsouras Christos S. , Dounousi Evangelia , Michalis Lampros K.
Published: May 2023

Aim

To investigate abnormalities in myocardial strain and classic echocardiographic indices and coronary flow reserve (CFR), in younger versus older CKD patients.

Methods

Sixty consecutive CKD patients (<60 years oldn = 30, ≥60 years oldn = 30) and 30 healthy controls (age‐ and gender‐matched with younger CKD patients) were recruited. An echocardiographic assessment including myocardial strain indices (i.e. global longitudinal strain ‐GLS ‐, TWIST, UNTWIST rate) was performed at baseline and following dipyridamole administration in all participants.

Results

Younger CKD patients had higherE/e', left ventricular mass index and relative wall thickness and lowerE' (p < .005 for all) compared to healthy controls. Older CKD patients had lowerE/AandE' (p < .05 for both) compared to younger CKD patients; these differences did not remain significant after adjustment for age. CFR was higher in healthy controls compared to younger and older CKD patients (p < .05 for both) without a significant difference between CKD groups. There were no significant differences in GLS, TWIST or UNTWIST values among the three groups of patients. Dipyridamole‐induced changes did not differ significantly among the three groups.

Conclusions

Compared to healthy controls, impaired coronary microcirculation and left ventricular diastolic function, but not myocardial strain abnormalities, are found in young CKD patients and deteriorate with aging.
It is not only group size: Soldiers also modulate the tolerance to insecticide in termites (Blattodea: Isoptera)
Authors: Watanabe Sara Y. M. , Ferreira Larissa F. , Cruz Marília R. P. , Araújo Ana P. A. , Desouza Og , Cristaldo Paulo F.
Published: May 2023

The survivorship of social insects is known to increase with group size, even in situations of stress, such as starvation and exposure to insecticides. However, in termites, studies have been undertaken only with workers, disregarding the possible effect of soldiers. The role of soldiers in the termite colonies goes beyond defense, mainly in Nasutitermes species. It is already known that soldiers initiate the foraging as well as improve the decision‐making of food resources. Here, we evaluated the effect of group size and the presence of soldiers on exposure to sublethal doses of the insecticide imidacloprid in Nasutitermes corniger (Termitidae: Nasutitermitinae). To do so, toxicity bioassays were undertaken initially to determine the dose of the insecticide required to kill 50% of the N. corniger population (LD50) to be used in the main experiments. Survival bioassays were then carried out with termite groups, with and without soldiers, in different sizes (6, 10, 14, 22, 26, 30 and 60), exposed and nonexposed to insecticide. In general, the mean time to death of termites increases linearly with group size. However, the mean time to death in groups with soldiers was significantly longer only in groups exposed to the insecticide. Our results indicate that soldiers can help to increase the tolerance of nasute termite groups to insecticides, in addition to the group size, as already shown in the previous study. The size of the group and social context could, therefore, modulate behavioral and/or physiological responses that enhance the ability to survive under stressful situations.
Use of human behaviour change models to investigate horse owner intention to adopt emergency colic recommendations
Authors: Lightfoot Katie L. , Frost Ellie , Burford John H. , England Gary C. W. , Freeman Sarah L.
Published: May 2023

Background

Behavioural models are widely used within human medicine to understand beliefs and intention associated with major health interventions.

Objectives

To investigate horse‐owner beliefs and practices associated with emergency colic planning.

Study design

Cross‐sectional study.

Methods

An online survey incorporating the Trans‐Theoretical Model of behaviour change and the Theory of Planned Behaviour was developed to assess owner intention to adopt three areas of emergency colic planning: (1) prevention/recognition, (2) involvement of others and (3) personal preparation. Participants were recruited using a snowball sampling strategy; multivariable logistic regression of data was performed.

Results

There were 701 horse‐owners who completed the survey. Respondents fell into one of two categories: no intention to adopt or already implementing emergency planning recommendations. Most agreed that emergency colic plans would improve their horse's welfare (68%) and aid in decision making (78%). Most disagreed that colic was inevitable (66%) and that treatment options were not within their control (69%). Multivariable analysis showed that those who believed emergency plans were worth creating were more likely to adopt preventive (OR: 2.33, 95% CI: 1.27–4.30, p = 0.007) and personal preparation (OR: 1.61, 95% CI: 1.31–1.97, p < 0.001) recommendations. Preventive recommendations were also associated with ‘REACT’ campaign awareness (OR 2.36, 95% CI: 1.40–3.97, p = 0.001). Favourable behavioural beliefs, such as the acknowledgement of welfare and decision‐making benefits, were linked to the involvement of others in planning (OR: 2.93, 95% CI: 1.78–4.81, p < 0.001).

Main limitations

Potential response bias and small sample size.

Conclusions

The majority of owners were either unwilling to adopt suggested recommendations or believed that their approach was currently sufficient. Most owners perceived veterinary professionals as most influential on their decision to plan for a colic emergency, highlighting their importance in any educational campaign.
Envisioning a successful professional self through a negotiation‐themed advanced Chinese course
Authors: Zeng Zhini , Jia Junqing (Jessie)
Published: May 2023

A great deal of research has recognized the necessity of receiving proper predeparture training for being able to truly benefit from international internship experiences. However, few researchers have taken the next step by exploring how domestic programs could pedagogically and psychologically prepare students for their professional experiences abroad. This study examines the role that a language‐for‐specific‐purposes course plays in the process of preparing students for their upcoming internship experiences in the target culture, with a focus on intercultural negotiation. The findings suggest the students were able to successfully develop the cultural awareness and communicative skills necessary to engage in the negotiation of cultural boundaries. Furthermore, the study discusses how the introduction of a role model, in‐depth workplace scenarios, and creating a holistic view of one's learning experiences are the three pedagogical elements that contribute to the construction of a professional L2 self.
Organic‐rich bimineralic ooids record biological processes in Shark Bay, Western Australia
Authors: Ramey‐Lariviere Juliet Y. F. , Gong Jian , Baldes Matthew J. , Chatterjee Nilanjan , Bosak Tanja , Pruss Sara B.
Published: May 2023

Marine ooids have formed in microbially colonized environments for billions of years, but the microbial contributions to mineral formation in ooids continue to be debated. Here we provide evidence of these contributions in ooids from Carbla Beach, Shark Bay, Western Australia. Dark 100–240 μm diameter ooids from Carbla Beach contain two different carbonate minerals. These ooids have 50–100 μm‐diameter dark nuclei that contain aragonite, amorphous iron sulfide, detrital aluminosilicate grains and organic matter, and 10–20 μm‐thick layers of high‐Mg calcite that separate nuclei from aragonitic outer cortices. Raman spectroscopy indicates organic enrichments in the nuclei and high‐Mg calcite layers. Synchrotron‐based microfocused X‐ray fluorescence mapping reveals high‐Mg calcite layers and the presence of iron sulfides and detrital grains in the peloidal nuclei. Iron sulfide grains within the nuclei indicate past sulfate reduction in the presence of iron. The preservation of organic signals in and around high‐Mg calcite layers and the absence of iron sulfide suggest that organics stabilized high‐Mg calcite under less sulfidic conditions. Aragonitic cortices that surround the nuclei and Mg‐calcite layers do not preserve microporosity, iron sulfide minerals nor organic enrichments, indicating growth under more oxidizing conditions. These morphological, compositional, and mineralogical signals of microbial processes in dark ooids from Shark Bay, Western Australia, record the formation of ooid nuclei and the accretion of magnesium‐rich cortical layers in benthic, reducing, microbially colonized areas.
Social assessment of miscanthus cultivation in Croatia: Assessing farmers' preferences and willingness to cultivate the crop
Authors: Marting Vidaurre Nirvana A. , Jurišić Vanja , Bieling Claudia , Magenau Elena , Wagner Moritz , Kiesel Andreas , Lewandowski Iris
Published: May 2023

Social aspects of miscanthus cultivation have been investigated in a limited way in the scientific literature. Adopting existing frameworks for social life‐cycle assessment enables assessments to include numerous social aspects; however, the relevance of these aspects depends on the local context. This study aims to identify the most relevant social aspects from the farmers' perspective using a previously proposed framework for the assessment of the stakeholder ‘farmer’. It is based on a case study for miscanthus production in Sisak Moslavina in Croatia. The existence of abandoned lands in Croatia presents an opportunity for the cultivation of miscanthus as a potential source of biomass for the production of bio‐based materials and fuels. The study seeks to assess the feasibility of cultivating miscanthus in the region, taking into account potential challenges and opportunities, as well as farmers' willingness to adopt the crop, and to understand the reasons behind land abandonment. We conducted a survey among 44 farmers in the region and used a scoring method to identify the most relevant social aspects. The aspects most valued by the farmers were health and safety, access to water, land consolidation and rights, income and local employment, and food security. Responses to the question of whether they would adopt the crop highlight the importance of an established market, good trading conditions and profitability of cultivation. The survey also enabled an understanding of farmers' preferences with respect to the production conditions of crops. The farmers regarded the provision of subsidies as one of the main factors that render a crop attractive. Opportunities for the adoption of the miscanthus cultivation include high yields and low input requirements. Barriers include land conflicts and land availability. Despite the opportunities for miscanthus development in the region, there are important challenges to consider for successful implementation of the crop.
Exploring the content of self‐help toolkits as an intervention for non‐suicidal self‐injury in young people in England
Authors: Fenton Clare , Attwell Leah , Standley Emma , Holmes Jannah
Published: May 2023

Non‐suicidal self‐harm has been increasing in young people over the last decade leading to several self‐help interventions being developed. Self‐help toolkits are given a variety of names, such as ‘hope box’ and ‘self‐soothe kit’, but all seek to provide young people with the tools to manage thoughts to self‐harm by bringing together a collection of personal items, distress tolerance activities and help‐seeking prompts. They represent a low‐cost, low‐burden and accessible intervention. This study explored what child and adolescent mental health professionals working with young people are currently recommending as the content of these self‐help toolkits. A questionnaire was sent to child and adolescent mental health services and residential units across England and received 251 responses from professionals. Sixty‐six per cent described self‐help tool kits as being effective or very effective for helping young people manage self‐harm urges. The content was categorized into sensory items (subcategorized by sense), distraction activities, relaxation and mindfulness activities, seeking positives and coping strategies, with the caveat that all toolkits should be individualized. The results of this study help to inform the future manualization of the use of self‐help toolkits in clinical practice as a self‐harm intervention for children and young people.
Online Evidential Nearest Neighbour Classification for Internet of Things Time Series
Authors: Toman Patrick , Ravishanker Nalini , Rajasekaran Sanguthevar , Lally Nathan
Published: May 2023

The ‘Internet of Things’ (IoT) is a rapidly developing set of technologies that leverages large numbers of networked sensors, to relay data in an online fashion. Typically, knowledge of the sensor environment is incomplete and subject to changes over time. There is a need to employ classification algorithms to understand the data. We first review of existing time series classification (TSC) approaches, with emphasis on the well‐knownk‐nearest neighbours (kNN) methods. We extend these to dynamicalkNN classifiers, and discuss their shortcomings for handling the inherent uncertainty in IoT data. We next reviewevidentialkNN ( ) classifiers that leverage the well‐knownDempster–Shafertheory to allow principled uncertainty quantification. We develop a dynamic approach for classifying IoT streams via algorithms that use evidential theoretic pattern rejection rules for (i) classifying incoming patterns into a set oforacleclasses, (ii) automatically pruning ambiguously labelled patterns such as aberrant streams (due to malfunctioning sensors, say), and (iii) identifying novel classes that may emerge in new subsequences over time. While these methods have wide applicability in many domains, we illustrate the dynamic and approaches for classifying a large, noisy IoT time series dataset from an insurance firm.
A genome‐wide comparison between selected and unselected Valle del Belice sheep reveals differences in population structure and footprints of recent selection
Authors: Ben Jemaa Slim , Tolone Marco , Sardina Maria Teresa , Di Gerlando Rosalia , Chessari Giorgio , Criscione Andrea , Persichilli Christian , Portolano Baldassare , Mastrangelo Salvatore
Published: May 2023

About three decades of breeding and selection in the Valle del Belìce sheep are expected to have left several genomic footprints related to milk production traits. In this study, we have assembled a dataset with 451 individuals of the Valle del Belìce sheep breed: 184 animals that underwent directional selection for milk production and 267 unselected animals, genotyped for 40,660 single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Three different statistical approaches, both within (iHS and ROH) and between (Rsb) groups, were used to identify genomic regions potentially under selection. Population structure analyses separated all individuals according to their belonging to the two groups. A total of four genomic regions on two chromosomes were jointly identified by at least two statistical approaches. Several candidate genes for milk production were identified, corroborating the polygenic nature of this trait and which may provide clues to potential new selection targets. We also found candidate genes for growth and reproductive traits. Overall, the identified genes may explain the effect of selection to improve the performances related to milk production traits in the breed. Further studies using high‐density array data, would be particularly relevant to refine and validate these results.
Editorial Perspective: When is a ‘small effect’ actually large and impactful?
Authors: Carey Emma Grace , Ridler Isobel , Ford Tamsin Jane , Stringaris Argyris
Published: May 2023

Reporting of effect sizes is standard practice in psychology and psychiatry research. However, interpretation of these effect sizes can be meaningless or misleading – in particular, the evaluation of specific effect sizes as ‘small’, ‘medium’ and ‘large’ can be inaccurate depending on the research context. A real‐world example of this is research into the mental health of children and young people during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Evidence suggests that clinicians and services are struggling with increased demand, yet population studies looking at the difference in mental health before and during the pandemic report effect sizes that are deemed ‘small’. In this short review, we utilise simulations to demonstrate that a relatively small shift in mean scores on mental health measures can indicate a large shift in the number of cases of anxiety and depression when scaled up to an entire population. This shows that ‘small’ effect sizes can in some contexts be large and impactful.