bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Using Subsidies, Fines, and Restitution with Budget Balance to Combat Digital Piracy
Authors: Fereidouni Meysam , Nault Barrie R.
Published: January 2025

Despite utilizing technical prevention methods and enacting copyright protection legislation, digital piracy has remained a persistent problem. We examine policy remedies to digital piracy whereby the policymaker has to balance its budget between fines on detected pirates, subsidies for legal purchases, and restitution to the firm. In our model, users choose whether to subscribe, copy, or not use the good, a firm decides on subscription fee and quality, and a policymaker determines subsidies, fines, and restitution. We find that the firm’s subscription fee is always increasing in subsidies, fines, and restitution under a budget balance constraint. The impact of these policy instruments on the firm’s investment in quality depends on how user marginal utility is influenced by the quality of the good and how the policymaker redistributes fines back to society, if at all. Using two specific functional forms with additive and multiplicative utility, we explain how these factors come into play. With additive utility, fines increase the firm’s investment in quality. However, with multiplicative utility the firm’s investment in quality decreases with fines if fines are used alone or alongside subsidies. In contrast to prior research, findings of our general framework illustrate that imposing fines on detected pirates “can” be socially optimal when accounting for the policymaker’s budget balance. Our specific functional forms also serve as two instances where imposing fines is always welfare maximizing. Finally, we find that although the policymaker’s optimal intervention improves social welfare and mitigates digital piracy, it leads to a reduction in consumer surplus.

This paper was accepted by Hemant Bhargava, information systems.

Funding: This work was supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada [Grant 435-2016-0431].

Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2021.03463 .
Monetary Easing, Leveraged Payouts, and Lack of Investment
Authors: Acharya Viral , Plantin Guillaume
Published: January 2025

We study a model in which a low monetary policy rate lowers the cost of corporate debt, potentially spurring productive investment; low interest rates, however, also induce firms to lever up so as to increase payouts to equity. Whereas such leveraged payouts privately benefit shareholders, leverage comes at the social cost of distorting their incentives, thereby lowering productivity and discouraging investment. If leverage is unregulated (for example, because of the presence of a shadow banking system), then the optimal monetary policy seeks to contain such socially costly leveraged payouts by stimulating investment in response to adverse shocks only up to a level below the first best. The optimal monetary policy may even consist of leaning against the wind, that is, not stimulating the economy at all, in order to fully contain leveraged payouts and maintain productive efficiency.

This paper was accepted by Tomasz Piskorski, finance.

Supplemental Material: The online appendix and data files are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2022.01440 .
Structural Estimation of Attrition in a Last-Mile Delivery Platform: The Role of Driver Heterogeneity, Compensation, and Experience
Authors: Wang Lina , Webster Scott , Rabinovich Elliot
Published: January 2025

Problem definition: We examine how to manage turnover among drivers delivering parcels for last-mile platforms. Although driver attrition in these platforms is both commonplace and costly, there is little understanding of the processes responsible for this phenomenon. Methodology/results: We collaborate with a platform to build a structural model to estimate the effects of key predictors of drivers’ decisions to leave or remain at the platform. For this estimation, we apply a dynamic discrete-choice framework in a two-step procedure that accounts for unobserved heterogeneity among drivers while circumventing the use of approximation or reduction methods commonly used to solve dynamic choice problems in the operations management domain. Drivers are compensated using a combination of regular payments that reward their productivity and subsidy payments that support them as they gain experience on the job. We find that regular pay has a greater effect on drivers’ retention. Furthermore, the marginal effects of both regular and subsidy pay diminish with drivers’ tenure at the platform, but the latter diminishes faster than the former. Additionally, we find significant heterogeneity among drivers in their unobserved nonpecuniary taste for the jobs at the platform and a significantly greater probability of retention among drivers with greater taste for these jobs. Managerial implications: Platforms can leverage our results to improve driver retention and design more profitable payment policies. We perform counterfactual analyses and develop a modeling framework to guide platforms toward this goal.

Funding: This study was partially funded by a grant from TForce Logistics.

Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/msom.2021.0367 .
¿Cómo los murciélagos escuchan el mundo invisible?
Authors: Hernández-Díaz Daniela Iraís , Aguilar-Rodríguez Pedro Adrián , Bolívar-Cimé Beatríz del Socorro
Published: January 2025

La noche es fascinante y trae consigo deslumbrantes y enigmáticos animales nocturnos, entre ellos a los murciélagos, los cuales son capaces de producir sonidos ultrasónicos con una alta intensidad, pero ¿cómo logran escuchar el mundo “invisible”?
Mascotas espinosas: El caso de los erizos
Authors: López-López Sara P. , Landeros-López Jessica G.
Published: January 2025

Los erizos terrestres son animales pequeños, dóciles y curiosos que llaman nuestra atención. Pero alguna vez te has preguntado, ¿cómo llegaron a ser mascotas?, ¿son animales de origen mexicano?, ¿los estamos cuidando bien?  Aquí trataremos de resumir su historia y situación actual.
A atuação de Anália Franco na formação de meninas desvalidas: o caso de Álbum das Meninas (1898-1901)
Authors: Pinheiro dos Santos de Souza Mariana Elena , Mondêgo Pacheco Pinto Gabrielle Carla , Ribeiro de Carvalho Cassano Michele
Published: January 2025

Analisa-se a colaboração de Anália Franco (1853-1919) no processo de formação moral de meninas e mulheres pobres por meio da fundação do periódico Álbum das Meninas – Revista Litteraria e Educativa dedicada às jovens brasileiras (São Paulo, 1898-1901). Sua importância recai sob a ação filantrópica de sua fundadora, uma vez que visava mulheres em situação de vulnerabilidade social e se tratava de um periódico feminino produzido, financiado e pensado por uma mulher. A pesquisa, de cunho teórico-documental, explicita formas de educabilidade previstas por Anália Franco e parte de suas concepções acerca dos conceitos de família, educação e sociedade no âmbito de Álbum das Meninas. Para tanto, as pesquisas de Chagas e Panizzolo (2014); Chagas (2016); Vasconcelos e Patroclo (2021); Pinto (2021); Oliveira (2007) se mostraram seminais para o estudo.
História do esoterismo: da genealogia de um conceito à construção de um campo disciplinar
Authors: Waga Augusto
Published: January 2025

O presente trabalho tem como objetivo analisar o conceito polissêmico de “esoterismo”, não com o enfoque de encontrar uma definição apriorística para tal, e sim de elucidar como a forma de operacionalização desse conceito por diversos intelectuais são capazes de construir tanto diversas perspectivas de análise, como também diferentes projetos e formulações institucionais dentro do campo disciplinar da história do esoterismo. Nesse sentido, estarão em exame as abordagens de Frances Yates, Antoine Faivre, Wounter Hanegraaff, as críticas contemporâneas a essa constelação de autores, bem como suas filiações intelectuais e institucionais. Assim, tendo como pressuposto a genealogia do esoterismo, objetiva-se capturar a perambulação de um conceito, ou seja, sua dinâmica de sobrevivência e reinvenção em termos históricos e sociológicos.
O barão do Rio Branco e a escrita periódica na década de 1870: páginas de uma trajetória intelectual
Authors: Santos de Carvalho Elizabeth
Published: January 2025

A atuação na imprensa fazia parte do processo de formação da elite letrada do Oitocentos, de modo a complementar a instrução formal. Experiência que proporcionava a familiarização com a escrita periódica e demonstrava o potencial dessa prática como instrumento de ação política. Diante desse contexto, analiso a participação de Paranhos Júnior, o futuro barão do Rio Branco, no jornal A Nação, na década de 1870. Este exame tem como objetivo recuperar aspectos da sua trajetória, visto que essa produção é representativa do personagem multifacetado, permitindo observar a sua inserção no cenário político através da palavra escrita, onde a atividade como jornalista dialoga com suas pesquisas históricas. As nuances dessa escrita contribuem para uma proposta biográfica construída a partir da produção intelectual do barão do Rio Branco, avançando, assim, por uma perspectiva até então pouco explorada.
Entrevista con Pierre-Antonie Fabre: formación académica y desempeño, producción intelectual y proyectos de investigación
Authors: Fleck Eliane , Amantino Marcia , Fogelman Patrícia
Published: January 2025

En esta entrevista, Pierre-Antoine Fabre habla de su trayectoria académica, posicionándosecomo un intelectual que ha producido importantes obras y también como gestor deimportantes proyectos, instituciones y cofundador de la Sociedad Internacional de EstudiosJesuitas (SIEJ). A lo largo de su presentación, señala las influencias que ha tenido en su carreray que han tenido un impacto variado en su propia concepción de la historia. También destacala relevancia del tema de la religiosidad en sus investigaciones y trabajos, indicando lo muchoque queda por hacer en cuanto al análisis de este tema y de la Compañía de Jesús. Pierre-Antonie Fabre concluye la entrevista describiendo sus proyectos futuros, señalando que haemprendido estudios sobre las «Cartas Edificantes», la traducción de los sermones del PadreAntonio Vieira, la interpretación cristiana del Arca de Noé y, sobre todo, el análisis de la ideade santidad en el catolicismo moderno y contemporáneo.Palabras clave: Entrevista, trayectoria, producción bibliográfica, intelectual
Para além e a partir da Missão: a Produção Intelectual Jesuíta e sua Contribuição para a Filosofia, a Política e a Ciência Modernas
Authors: Fleck Eliane , Amantino Marcia , Pineda Alillo Julieta
Published: January 2025

Apresentação do dossiê: Para além e a partir da Missão: a Produção Intelectual Jesuíta e sua Contribuição para a
Filosofia, a Política e a Ciência Modernas
Nominata de Pareceristas 2025/1
Authors: Intellèctus Revista
Published: January 2025

Avaliadores que atuaram no processo editorial para a edição de 2025/1.
(Inclui artigos publicados e recusados. Vínculo institucional na época de emissão do parecer)
Affective Perception Characteristics in School-aged Children with High-functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder according to Prosody and Semantic Consistency
Authors: Kim Bora , Chung Bhuja
Published: January 2025

Objectives: The perception of emotions through prosody is crucial to social communication. However, children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often struggle to recognize others’ emotions based on various non-verbal cues. This study aims to investigate whether school-aged children with high-functioning ASD rely more on semantic cues or prosodic cues when perceiving others’ emotions. Additionally, the study examines how emotion recognition differs depending on the consistency of emotional cues. Methods: Seven school-aged children with high-functioning ASD and seven typically developing schoolaged children matched by chronological age participated in this study. Both groups were presented with 40 sentence tasks, consisting of 20 sentences where semantic and prosodic cues were consistent (consistency condition) and 20 inconsistent sentences (inconsistency condition). The accuracy and response time of the children’s affective perception based on prosody were measured. Results: There was no significant difference in accuracy between the groups in both consistent and inconsistent conditions. However, children with highfunctioning ASD exhibited slower affective perception response times compared to typically developing children in all conditions except for the indirect cue-inconsistency condition. Conclusion: The slower response times observed in children with high-functioning ASD may be explained by the multimodal binding and inferential processing deficit. Further research with a larger sample size and more diverse groups is necessary to validate these findings.
A Survey on Speech-Language Pathologists’ Perceptions of Speech Therapy for Children with Borderline Intellectual Functioning
Authors: Yang Chan-Ju , Park Hyun-Rin
Published: January 2025

Objectives: Research and data on children with BIF (borderline intellectual functioning) is limited compared to other areas of disability, which has made it difficult for speech-language pathologists in the field to understand and to treat them. This study aims to identify speech-language pathologists’ perceptions of speech therapy for children with BIF and to explore their educational and institutional needs. Methods: The data were collected using a questionnaire (needs and perceptions of speech therapy for BIF children, self-efficacy, therapy goals and therapy termination criteria, educational and institutional needs) from 109 SLPs. Questionnaire were developed based on previous research, distributed and collected in Google Form through an online URL. Results: In terms of perceptions of the need for and perception of speech and language therapy, the statement ‘the approach should take into account the individual characteristics of the BIF children’ was the most highly rated. Regarding the goals of speech-language therapy, the statements ‘language development (reading and writing), vocabulary development (receptive and expressive), and peer interaction’ were the highest score. In terms of educational programs to be supported, participants indicated a need for programs to train primary caregivers in providing guidance (emotional and behavioral) to children, as well as institutional improvements to facilitate collaboration between primary caregivers, school teachers, and speech-language pathologists. Perceptions of speech-language pathology differed significantly by level of speech-language pathologist certification. Conclusion: Speech-language pathologists recognized the importance of speech-language therapy for children with BIF, but lacked specific and systematic guidance.
BOAS NOTÍCIAS, MÁS OPINIÕES: a cobertura de imprensa sobre o ChatGPT em Portugal
Authors: Essenfelder Renato
Published: January 2025

Este artigo analisa 53 artigos publicados nos jornais portugueses Público e Expresso sobre o ChatGPT. Os artigos foram categorizados como artigos de opinião e artigos informativos, e foram aplicadas uma análise de conteúdo, uma análise de sentimento e uma classificação geral de polaridade (positiva, negativa ou neutra) sobre os textos. Os resultados mostram que houve correlação entre textos de Opinião e os sentimentos de raiva e medo, apontando que, enquanto o noticiário vê o fenômeno da inteligência artificial generativa como algo positivo ou neutro, os comentadores desses jornais são reticentes frente à tecnologia.
CLICKBAIT CORPORATIVO: o polêmico como ferramenta de visibilidade
Authors: Frazon Terra Carolina
Published: January 2025

O texto aborda a estratégia de clickbait no âmbito corporativo. Com títulos chamativos e fatos polêmicos para atrair mais cliques e aumentar o alcance de visibilidade dos conteúdos on-line, a prática é cada vez mais comum nas organizações. Modalidades que dão visibilidade às marcas são trazidas com fins de ilustração do quanto o apelo do inusitado atrai a atenção dos usuários das mídias sociais e da imprensa. Também levanta questões sobre a ética e a qualidade do conteúdo que é produzido dessa forma.
Potential of Rhizopus delemar and Rhizopus microsporus as tempeh starters
Authors: HARTANTI ANASTASIA T. , KURNIAWAN BAGAS CRISTANTO , GUNAWAN AGUSTIN WYDIA
Published: January 2025

Abstract. Hartanti AT, Kurniawan BC, Gunawan AW. 2024. Potential of Rhizopus delemar and Rhizopus microsporus as tempeh starters. Biodiversitas 25: 4208-4214. The biodiversity of tempeh-associated Rhizopus in Indonesia has decreased due to the widespread use of commercial starters. This study aimed to conserve three pure Rhizopus strains (Rhizopus delemar ATH 53, R. microsporus ATH 1 and ATH 24) of tempeh starters and optimize their use in tempeh production. Using rice flour and Rhizopus spores at 106/mL concentration, tempeh starters were made and stored for up to 12 weeks, maintaining spore viability at 106/g with 7-14% water content. Tempeh production experiments utilized three starter doses (0.1, 0.2, 0.3 g per 100 g soybeans) and three different incubation temperatures (27, 30, and 35°C), all of which successfully yielded tempeh. Sensory evaluations revealed that ATH 1 and ATH 53 starters were superior over ATH 24, which produced a distinct yellow tempeh that sporulated easily. It was also noted that 0.1 g of starter per 100 g of soybeans was sufficient for producing high-quality tempeh, offering an efficient use of starter. By successfully conserving these Rhizopus strains as viable tempeh starters for at least 12 weeks, results of present study demonstrate a promising approach to maintaining biodiversity in Indonesian tempeh production, paving the way for further exploration of traditional Rhizopus strains in tempeh making.
The community structure of Echinodermata (Echinoidea and Holothuroidea) on seagrass ecosystem in Gunungkidul, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Authors: NURCAHYO FURQON DARMA , ZEN HAFIZH MUHAMAD , ‘AZIZAH HUSNA’ PUTRI NUR , NUGROHO GILANG DWI , RAMDHUN DEVESEE , YAP CHEE KONG , INDRAWAN MUHAMMAD , SETYAWAN AHMAD DWI
Published: January 2025

Abstract. Nurcahyo FD, Zen HM, ‘Azizah HPN, Nugroho GD, Ramdhun D, Yap CK, Indrawan M, Setyawan AD. 2024. The community structure of Echinodermata (Echinoidea and Holothuroidea) on seagrass ecosystem in Gunungkidul, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 25: 4561-4571. Echinoderms, which encompass various classes such as sea urchins and sea cucumbers, play a crucial role in marine ecosystems and contribute significantly to maintaining ecological balance. Therefore, this study was conducted to understand the composition structure of echinoderms (Echinoidea and Holothuroidea) in several beaches of Gunungkidul, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The survey was conducted on March 2024 at Pringjono Beach, Dadap Ayam Beach, Ngrenehan Beach, Torohudan Beach, and Ngrawah Beach. Data analyzed included species diversity, density and ecological indices of echinoderms (Echinoidea and Holothuroidea) at each beach location. The research findings revealed that across the five beaches of Gunungkidul, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, there were two classes of echinoderms, namely Echinoidea (sea urchins) and Holothuroidea (sea cucumbers), with a total of 7 identified species, namely Echinometra mathaei, Echinometra oblonga, Heterocentrotus trigonarius, Tripneustes gratilla, Colobocentrotus atratus, Stomopneustes variolaris, and Holothuria leucospilota. Only one beach recorded the presence of sea cucumbers, while the number of sea urchin species varied at each beach. Dadap Ayam Beach recorded the highest number of sea urchin species, followed by Ngrenehan Beach. Additionally, Dadap Ayam Beach exhibited higher values of species diversity and richness compared to other beaches. A total of seven echinoderm species were identified, with a total abundance of 367 individuals/1000 m2. The beaches in this study showed variations in the diversity and distribution of echinoderms, particularly Echinoidea and Holothuroidea. However, overall species diversity and richness values were generally low, indicating the potential vulnerability of these ecosystems.
„war etwas ganz tolles“ – Erzählungen über die Grenzöffnung 1989 im Kontext frame-semantischer und korpusbasierter Analysen
Authors: Palliwoda Nicole , Sauer Verena , Sauermilch Stephanie
Published: January 2025

For more than 30 years, the inner-German border as a physical border between the GDR and FRG no longer exists. From a linguistic perspective, “unification” can be assumed. The linguistic differences between the former East and West Germans are smaller than those between the various German dialect speakers (cf. i. a. Hellmann 1984; Gärtig/Plewnia/Rothe 2010; Plewnia 2015). However, categories such as Ossi and Ostdeutsch or Wessi and Westdeutsch can still be found today, although the terms for the inhabitants of the GDR (Ossi, Ostdeutsch, Ostler etc.) are more productive. The physical inner-German border seems to have turned into a wall in people’s minds.
This article takes up the current discourse and asks about the underlying patterns and frames that constitute this mental border or enable its reconstruction. Autobiographical narrative interviews with people of two age groups who grew up or were socialised at the former inner-German border serve as a basis for this.
Dual-function plasmonic sensor based on brass alloy for simultaneous detection of salinity and crude oil contamination
Authors: Treena Tahmina Tabassum , Karim Mohammad Ataul , Munim Nasir Muhammad
Published: January 2025

To our knowledge, this paper presents a novel plasmonic lab-on-chip (LoC) sensor with one input port and two output ports, allowing simultaneous detection of two distinct samples while preventing any cross-contamination. Finite element method (FEM) simulations were used to analyze the sensor’s performance, resulting in a high sensitivity of 1780nm per refractive index unit (RIU). The sensor also achieved a figure of merit (FOM) of 65.7 within the NIR (Near-Infrared) wavelength region, with a detection limit (DL) of 5.617 × 10−7 RIU. The metal-insulator-metal (MIM) structure of the sensor was evaluated and optimized with three different brass alloy compositions as the sensing surface. An optimal alloy composition of 70% copper and 30% zinc achieved a notable transmission coefficient (TC) of approximately -25 dB, surpassing standard optical performance while also enhancing analyte interaction through nanoscale light confinement. The MIM-based LoC sensor enables precise and accurate measurements of subtle changes in RI, making it ideal for portable, real-world applications in resource-limited environments. This sensor holds significant potential for seawater monitoring, efficiently detecting both crude oil contamination and salinity levels with minimal sample volume, contributing to improved environmental monitoring capabilities.
Dialogue mechanisms between astrocytic and neuronal networks: A whole-brain modelling approach
Authors: Ali Obaï Bin Ka’b , Vidal Alexandre , Grova Christophe , Benali Habib
Published: January 2025

Astrocytes critically shape whole-brain structure and function by forming extensive gap junctional networks that intimately and actively interact with neurons. Despite their importance, existing computational models of whole-brain activity ignore the roles of astrocytes while primarily focusing on neurons. Addressing this oversight, we introduce a biophysical neural mass network model, designed to capture the dynamic interplay between astrocytes and neurons via glutamatergic and GABAergic transmission pathways. This network model proposes that neural dynamics are constrained by a two-layered structural network interconnecting both astrocytic and neuronal populations, allowing us to investigate astrocytes’ modulatory influences on whole-brain activity and emerging functional connectivity patterns. By developing a simulation methodology, informed by bifurcation and multilayer network theories, we demonstrate that the dialogue between astrocytic and neuronal networks manifests over fast–slow fluctuation mechanisms as well as through phase–amplitude connectivity processes. The findings from our research represent a significant leap forward in the modeling of glial-neuronal collaboration, promising deeper insights into their collaborative roles across health and disease states.
Benchmarking residue-resolution protein coarse-grained models for simulations of biomolecular condensates
Authors: Feito Alejandro , Sanchez-Burgos Ignacio , Tejero Ignacio , Sanz Eduardo , Rey Antonio , Collepardo-Guevara Rosana , Tejedor Andrés R. , Espinosa Jorge R.
Published: January 2025

Intracellular liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) of proteins and nucleic acids is a fundamental mechanism by which cells compartmentalize their components and perform essential biological functions. Molecular simulations play a crucial role in providing microscopic insights into the physicochemical processes driving this phenomenon. In this study, we systematically compare six state-of-the-art sequence-dependent residue-resolution models to evaluate their performance in reproducing the phase behaviour and material properties of condensates formed by seven variants of the low-complexity domain (LCD) of the hnRNPA1 protein (A1-LCD)—a protein implicated in the pathological liquid-to-solid transition of stress granules. Specifically, we assess the HPS, HPS-cation–π, HPS-Urry, CALVADOS2, Mpipi, and Mpipi-Recharged models in their predictions of the condensate saturation concentration, critical solution temperature, and condensate viscosity of the A1-LCD variants. Our analyses demonstrate that, among the tested models, Mpipi, Mpipi-Recharged, and CALVADOS2 provide accurate descriptions of the critical solution temperatures and saturation concentrations for the multiple A1-LCD variants tested. Regarding the prediction of material properties for condensates of A1-LCD and its variants, Mpipi-Recharged stands out as the most reliable model. Overall, this study benchmarks a range of residue-resolution coarse-grained models for the study of the thermodynamic stability and material properties of condensates and establishes a direct link between their performance and the ranking of intermolecular interactions these models consider.
Diversification and recurrent adaptation of the synaptonemal complex in Drosophila
Authors: Zakerzade Rana , Chang Ching-Ho , Chatla Kamalakar , Krishnapura Ananya , Appiah Samuel P. , Zhang Jacki , Unckless Robert L. , Blumenstiel Justin P. , Bachtrog Doris , Wei Kevin H-C.
Published: January 2025

The synaptonemal complex (SC) is a protein-rich structure essential for meiotic recombination and faithful chromosome segregation. Acting like a zipper to paired homologous chromosomes during early prophase I, the complex is a symmetrical structure where central elements are connected on two sides by the transverse filaments to the chromatin-anchoring lateral elements. Despite being found in most major eukaryotic taxa implying a deeply conserved evolutionary origin, several components of the complex exhibit unusually high rates of sequence turnover. This is puzzlingly exemplified by the SC of Drosophila, where the central elements and transverse filaments display no identifiable homologs outside of the genus. Here, we exhaustively examine the evolutionary history of the SC in Drosophila taking a comparative phylogenomic approach with high species density to circumvent obscured homology due to rapid sequence evolution. Contrasting starkly against other genes involved in meiotic chromosome pairing, SC genes show significantly elevated rates of coding evolution due to a combination of relaxed constraint and recurrent, widespread positive selection. In particular, the central element cona and transverse filament c(3)G have diversified through tandem and retro-duplications, repeatedly generating paralogs with novel germline activity. In a striking case of molecular convergence, c(3)G paralogs that independently arose in distant lineages evolved under positive selection to have convergent truncations to the protein termini and elevated testes expression. Surprisingly, the expression of SC genes in the germline is prone to change suggesting recurrent regulatory evolution which, in many species, resulted in high testes expression even though Drosophila males are achiasmic. Overall, our study recapitulates the poor conservation of SC components, and further uncovers that the lack of conservation extends to other modalities including copy number, genomic locale, and germline regulation. Considering the elevated testes expression in many Drosophila species and the common ancestor, we suggest that the activity of SC genes in the male germline, while still poorly understood, may be a prime target of constant evolutionary pressures driving repeated adaptations and innovations.
The dependence of shugoshin on Bub1-kinase activity is dispensable for the maintenance of spindle assembly checkpoint response in Cryptococcus neoformans
Authors: Polisetty Satya Dev , Bhat Krishna , Das Kuladeep , Clark Ivan , Hardwick Kevin G. , Sanyal Kaustuv
Published: January 2025

During chromosome segregation, the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) detects errors in kinetochore-microtubule attachments. Timely activation and maintenance of the SAC until defects are corrected is essential for genome stability. Here, we show that shugoshin (Sgo1), a conserved tension-sensing protein, ensures the maintenance of SAC signals in response to unattached kinetochores during mitosis in a basidiomycete budding yeast Cryptococcus neoformans. Sgo1 maintains optimum levels of Aurora B kinase Ipl1 and protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) at kinetochores. The absence of Sgo1 results in the loss of Aurora BIpl1 with a concomitant increase in PP1 levels at kinetochores. This leads to a premature reduction in the kinetochore-bound Bub1 levels and early termination of the SAC signals. Intriguingly, the kinase function of Bub1 is dispensable for shugoshin’s subcellular localization. Sgo1 is predominantly localized to spindle pole bodies (SPBs) and along the mitotic spindle with a minor pool at kinetochores. In the absence of proper kinetochore-microtubule attachments, Sgo1 reinforces the Aurora B kinaseIpl1-PP1 phosphatase balance, which is critical for prolonged maintenance of the SAC response.
Community health worker and caregiver experiences and perceptions of a multimodal handheld pulse oximeter used in sick child consultations in rural Burundi: A qualitative evaluation
Authors: Bauler Sarah , Nivyindika Leocadie , Kirwa Titus , Habonimana Vital , Nizigiyimana Dionis , Kirby Miles A. , Tolossa Asrat
Published: January 2025

Community Health Workers (CHWs) in low- and middle-income countries are essential in providing primary health care to remote communities. However, due to limited diagnostic tools, CHWs often struggle to correctly identify childhood illnesses, especially pneumonia. We conducted a prospective pilot study and used qualitative research methods to evaluate acceptability and feasibility of a multimodal pulse oximeter used by CHWs during their integrated community case management (iCCM) of childhood illness consultations in rural Burundi. We used purposive sampling to recruit CHWs and trained them to use the oximeters during household iCCM consultations for children 6–59 months of age. After eight weeks of using the devices, we conducted eight focus group discussions to evaluate experiences and perceptions of the device among CHWs and caregivers. Our thematic analysis, based upon deductive and inductive reasoning, identified the following themes: durability, storability, trust, self-efficacy, child agitation, ease of using the device, and interpretation of parameters. CHWs deemed the devices highly acceptable and took pride in safely storing them but reported challenges in utilizing respiration rate, pulse, and oxygen saturation (though temperature was understood). Child agitation was a barrier to oximeter use, especially among children 6–12 months. Additional CHW capacity-building on interpreting parameters is needed when using oximeters during household iCCM consultations in Burundi, including an iCCM job aid (decision-making tree) with oxygen saturation and respiratory rate cut-offs for treatment and/or referral. Training and using child-calming techniques could be an important strategy for obtaining quality measurements. While CHWs and caregivers highly valued the oximeters during sick child visits, the devices may be better utilized and scalable at the health facility level.
Factors associated with tuberculosis treatment initiation among bacteriologically negative individuals evaluated for tuberculosis: An individual patient data meta-analysis
Authors: Kim Sun , Can Melike Hazal , Agizew Tefera B. , Auld Andrew F. , Balcells Maria Elvira , Bjerrum Stephanie , Dheda Keertan , Dorman Susan E. , Esmail Aliasgar , Fielding Katherine , Garcia-Basteiro Alberto L. , Hanrahan Colleen F. , Kebede Wakjira , Kohli Mikashmi , Luetkemeyer Anne F. , Mita Carol , Reeve Byron W. P. , Silva Denise Rossato , Sweeney Sedona , Theron Grant , Trajman Anete , Vassall Anna , Warren Joshua L. , Yotebieng Marcel , Cohen Ted , Menzies Nicolas A.
Published: January 2025

Background

Globally, over one-third of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) disease diagnoses are made based on clinical criteria after a negative bacteriological test result. There is limited information on the factors that determine clinicians’ decisions to initiate TB treatment when initial bacteriological test results are negative.

Methods and findings

We performed a systematic review and individual patient data meta-analysis using studies conducted between January 2010 and December 2022 (PROSPERO: CRD42022287613). We included trials or cohort studies that enrolled individuals evaluated for TB in routine settings. In these studies, participants were evaluated based on clinical examination and routinely used diagnostics and were followed for ≥1 week after the initial test result. We used hierarchical Bayesian logistic regression to identify factors associated with treatment initiation following a negative result on an initial bacteriological test (e.g., sputum smear microscopy (SSM), Xpert MTB/RIF).

Multiple factors were positively associated with treatment initiation: male sex [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.61 (1.31, 1.95)], history of prior TB [aOR 1.36 (1.06, 1.73)], reported cough [aOR 4.62 (3.42, 6.27)], reported night sweats [aOR 1.50 (1.21, 1.90)], and having HIV infection but not on ART [aOR 1.68 (1.23, 2.32)]. Treatment initiation was substantially less likely for individuals testing negative with Xpert [aOR 0.77 (0.62, 0.96)] compared to smear microscopy and declined in more recent years. We were not able assess why clinicians made treatment decisions, as these data were not available.

Conclusions

Multiple factors influenced decisions to initiate TB treatment despite negative test results. Clinicians were substantially less likely to treat in the absence of a positive test result when using more sensitive, PCR-based diagnostics.
Business environment and its impact on high-quality economic development: A configurational analysis of enhancement pathways
Authors: Hou Guanyu , Sun Chengji , Lu Zishun
Published: January 2025

The nexus between the business environment and high-quality economic development is pivotal for fostering sustainable growth. This study delves into their interrelationship, recognizing its profound practical significance. We have developed a comprehensive index system to evaluate high-quality economic development, encompassing four key dimensions: green development quality, robust economic growth, innovation dynamics, and equitable societal benefits. Concurrently, a business environment index system has been constructed, capturing the nuances of government functionality, social context, and market dynamics. Employing system theory and a configurational approach, this research utilizes the fsQCA method to decode the intricate mechanisms, dynamic pathways, and synergistic interactions among diverse elements within the business environment that influence high-quality economic development. The empirical findings underscore the substantial impact of the business environment on high-quality economic development, highlighting two primary catalyst pathways: the "Rule of Law-Government Efficiency" trajectory and the "Market-Led-Credit Environment" route. These pathways reveal that government efficiency, credit accessibility, legal frameworks, market fairness, and openness are instrumental in driving high-quality economic development. Conversely, inefficiencies in the market mechanism and governmental roles often result in suboptimal development trajectories. The study advocates for policy formulations that recognize and leverage regional distinctiveness, optimizing local resources and strengths to spur high-quality economic development tailored to each region’s unique context.
Optimizing costs and sustainability for gamma knife radiosurgery: A cost and breakeven analysis at India’s largest neurosurgery centre
Authors: Agrawal Nitin , Sharma Nishant , Jamwal Tilotma , Singh Kshitija , Siddharth Vijaydeep , Satpathy Sidhartha
Published: January 2025

Background

Establishing and maintaining gamma knife facility incurs significant costs, mandating healthcare institutions to meticulously assess financial implications for sustainability.

Methods

This study explores the financial implications of setting up and operating a Gamma Knife facility, with an aim to ascertain user charges for achieving breakeven. The study was conducted from January to June 2019 at the largest neurosurgery centre of an Institute of National Importance (INI), in Delhi, India. Applying both Traditional and Time-Driven Activity-Based Costing (TD-ABC) methodologies, capital and operating expenses were calculated. (1US$ = INR 70.4 –Average value for the year 2019).

Results

The average cost per gamma knife radio surgery procedure was calculated to be US $2,469 (INR 1,73,832), with major costs attributed to machinery & equipment (43.6%), followed by manpower (32.5%), electricity (9.67%), equipment maintenance (8.61%) etc. The initial investment to establish a Gamma Knife facility is significantly higher with an MRI unit (Model A) at US $ 9,836,423 (INR 69,24,84,164) compared to one without (Model B) at US $7,294,986 (INR 51,35,66,988). Currently, the patient has to pay US $1,065 (INR 75,000) for a gamma knife radio surgery, which poses a challenge for achieving breakeven since the variable cost for the same is US $1,367 (INR 96,239) per procedure.

Conclusion

The study serve as a tool for strategic planning, pricing adjustments, and enhancing operational efficiencies, thus ensuring that such high-end technologies can be sustainably integrated into the public healthcare landscape of a developing country like India.
Modeling maize aflatoxins and fumonisins in a Tanzanian smallholder system: Accounting for diverse risk factors improves mycotoxin models
Authors: Stafstrom William , Ngure Francis , Mshanga John , Wells Henry , Nelson Rebecca J. , Mischler John
Published: January 2025

Human exposure to mycotoxins is common and often severe in underregulated maize-based food systems. This study explored how monitoring of these systems could help to identify when and where outbreaks occur and inform potential mitigation efforts. Within a maize smallholder system in Kongwa District, Tanzania, we performed two food surveys of mycotoxin contamination at local grain mills, documenting high levels of aflatoxins and fumonisins in maize destined for human consumption. A farmer questionnaire documented diverse pre-harvest and post-harvest practices among smallholder farmers. We modeled maize aflatoxins and fumonisins as a function of diverse indicators of mycotoxin risk based on survey data, high-resolution geospatial environmental data (normalized difference vegetation index and soil quality), and proximal near-infrared spectroscopy. Interestingly, mixed linear models revealed that all data types explained some portion of variance in aflatoxin and fumonisin concentrations. Including all covariates, 2015 models explained 27.6% and 20.6% of variation in aflatoxin and fumonisin, and 2019 models explained 39.4% and 40.0% of variation in aflatoxin and fumonisin. This study demonstrates the value of using low-cost risk factors to model mycotoxins and provides a framework for designing and implementing mycotoxin monitoring within smallholder settings.
Impact of driving characteristic parameters and vehicle type on fuel consumption and emissions performance over real driving cycles
Authors: Bagheri Elmira , Tehrani Masoud Masih , Azadi Mohammad , Moosavian Ashkan
Published: January 2025

With the growing need for sustainable transportation solutions, understanding the relationship between driving characteristic parameters, vehicle type, and their impact on emissions and fuel consumption over real driving scenarios is becoming increasingly important. In this paper, four conventional vehicles and one hybrid vehicle with different technologies were compared in four distinct routes in Tehran city. Nineteen real driving cycles were generated using widely employed K-means and PCA algorithms. The vehicles were simulated on MATLAB/Simulink according to their specifications. Twelve driving characteristic parameters, fuel consumption, CO, NOx, HC, and CO2 of vehicles with different powertrains, engines, and body styles were calculated over real and standard driving cycles. Notable findings show that driving characteristic parameters exhibit distinct influences on fuel consumption and emissions, depending on the specific driving conditions and vehicle type. Additionally, the hybrid vehicle achieved 39% and 26% fuel savings compared to gasoline and dual fuel vehicles, respectively. However, it emitted significantly higher levels of CO and HC. In contrast, the turbocharged vehicle increased CO and HC emissions compared to the naturally aspirated vehicle, but consumed less fuel (approximately 6%) and emitted lower amounts of CO2 (approximately 19%). In real driving cycles, the sedan vehicle generally exhibited slightly lower values compared to petrol SUV due to lower weight and drag coefficient.
Rabies transmitted from vampires to cattle: An overview
Authors: Soler-Tovar Diego , Escobar Luis E.
Published: January 2025

Rabies is a zoonotic infectious disease of global distribution that impacts human and animal health. In rural Latin America, rabies negatively impacts food security and the economy due to losses in livestock production. The common vampire bat, Desmodus rotundus, is the main reservoir and transmitter of rabies virus (RABV) to domestic animals in Latin America. Desmodus rotundus RABV is known to impact the cattle industry, from small farmers to large corporations. We assessed the main patterns of rabies in cattle attributed to D. rotundus RABV across Latin America. Epidemiological data on rabies from Latin America were collected from the Pan American Health Organization spanning the 1970–2023 period. Analyses revealed an average of 450 outbreaks annually for the countries where D. rotundus is distributed, with at least 6 animals dying in each outbreak. Brazil, Colombia, Peru, and Mexico were the Latin American countries with the highest number of rabies outbreaks during the study period and are the most affected countries in recent years. Findings suggest a re-emergence of bat-borne rabies in the region with more outbreaks reported in recent years, especially during the 2003–2020 period. Rabies outbreaks in cattle in the 2000–2020 period were significantly more frequent than in previous decades, with an increase in cross-species transmission after 2002. The size of outbreaks, however, was smaller in recent years, involving lower cattle mortality. Peru, El Salvador, and Brazil showed a strong association (R = 0.73, p = 0.01) between rabies incidence in D. rotundus (rates per million humans: 1.61, 0.94, and 1.09, respectively) and rabies outbreaks in cattle (rates per million cattle: 465.85, 351.01, and 48.22, respectively). A sustained, standardized, and widespread monitoring of D. rotundus demography and health could serve to inform an early warning system for the early detection of RABV and other bat-borne pathogens in Latin America. Current data can be used to forecast when, where, and in which intensity RABV outbreaks are more likely to occur in subtropical and tropical Latin America. A decrease in the size of outbreaks could suggest that strategies for epidemic management (e.g., education, early diagnosis, vaccination) have been effective. The increase in the number of outbreaks could suggest that the factors facilitating cross-species transmission could be on the rise.
Shaping sustainable perceptions: The role of metaphors in Olympic news discourse
Authors: Peng Wei
Published: January 2025

The dissemination of sustainable development concepts in large international events like the Olympics has garnered great attention. As a major international sports event, the Beijing Winter Olympics served as an important platform for showcasing China’s sustainable development philosophy through its official news coverage. In this context, metaphor, as a powerful cognitive tool, plays a crucial role in shaping public perception and facilitating the dissemination of values by mapping concrete source domains onto abstract target domains. This paper constructs a critical metaphor analysis framework for sustainable development, analyzing the mechanisms by which metaphors map the concepts of social, economic, and ecological sustainability, and their multifaceted roles in conveying policy proposals, ideologies, cultural values, and social group behaviors. The findings indicate that metaphors effectively facilitate public understanding of sustainability by concretizing abstract concepts. In the social dimension, metaphors emphasize fairness, cultural diversity, and social solidarity; in the economic dimension, they highlight resource recycling, technological innovation, and industrial upgrading; while in the ecological dimension, the focus is on environmental protection and the harmonious coexistence of humanity and nature. Metaphors play a crucial role in shaping public perceptions of policy, reflecting specific values and socio-cultural contexts, facilitating cultural communication and understanding, and enhancing public responsibility and participation awareness.