bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fixed investment or financial assets investment: Evidence from political uncertainty in China
Authors: Yao Chengxue , Jiang Fan , Guo Liang
Published: December 2022

Using a comprehensive dataset of listed firms and detailed turnover data on top provincial leaders in China, we explore how political uncertainty affects a firm's portfolio choice. During political turnover, a firm decreases its fixed investment and increases its financial asset investment, but the promotional effect of political turnover on the financial asset investment of politically dependent enterprises (PDEs) is not obvious. We explain this finding through the mediating effect of stock price informativeness and degree of political dependence. Our results suggest that non‐PDEs rely on market information to make investment decisions, whereas PDEs are also affected by political resource information.
Estimation of genetic heritabilities of human traits in case–control studies
Authors: Hu Die , Chen Shuyue , Zhang Hong
Published: December 2022

It is of great interest to detect missing heritability for human complex traits. Additive genetic effects (ADD), maternal genetic effects (MGE), and parent‐of‐origin effects (POE) play important roles in genetic mechanisms. Methods have been developed in the literature to analyze heritabilities due to ADD, POE, and MGE separately but not simultaneously. In this paper, a new model termed APM is proposed based on mother–child duos genetic data, which orthogonally decomposes heritabilities due to ADD, POE, and MGE. This orthogonal decomposition is biologically interpretable since it ideally characterizes independent contributions due to the three effects. We focus on case–control data that are widely adopted in genetics studies and develop a novel method R‐PCGC by adjusting estimation biases due to sampling bias in case–control studies and imposing nonnegative constraints on the heritability estimates. Large sample properties such as consistency and asymptotic normality are established for R‐PCGC. The desired properties of R‐PCGC (i.e., asymptotic unbiasedness and nonnegativity) are confirmed through simulations. Finally, R‐PCGC regression is applied to a case–control study of preterm births from the Danish National Birth Cohort (DNBC).
Low Apgar score and need for resuscitation increased the probability of receiving therapeutic hypothermia more strongly than acidosis at birth
Authors: Lagerström Ida , Daugeliene Dalia , Bolk Jenny , Cnattingius Sven , Skiöld Beatrice , Altman Maria , Johansson Stefan
Published: December 2022

Aim

The aim of this study was to investigate how individual markers for birth asphyxia, so‐called A criteria, were associated with the probability of receiving therapeutic hypothermia.

Methods

This population‐based cohort study included 1336 live‐born singleton term infants with any A criterion in the Stockholm‐Gotland Region, Sweden during 2008 to 2014. The Swedish Neonatal Quality Register and National Patient Register were used for data collection. Results were presented as adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results

There were 89 infants, 44 boys and 45 girls with mean gestational age 40.5 weeks, who received therapeutic hypothermia. Low Apgar score, aOR 12.44 (95% CI 5.99–25.86), and resuscitation, aOR 9.18 (95% CI 3.77–22.34), were strongly associated with therapeutic hypothermia. A pH <7.0 was less associated with the outcome, aOR 2.02 (95% CI 1.02–4.0). No infant who received therapeutic hypothermia fulfilled the criteria of base deficit ≥16 mmol/L only.

Conclusion

A low Apgar score of and/or a need for resuscitation is more relevant for identifying infants eligible for therapeutic hypothermia, compared to other A criteria. This knowledge could be used clinically to identify cases for review and avoid unnecessary monitoring of infants.
Economic and social inclusion of person with disability and transgender through skills development program of BRAC: A qualitative study
Authors: Shatil Tanvir , Kamruzzaman Md , Islam M. Rezaul
Published: December 2022

This article is based on the Skills Training for Advancing Resources (STAR) project for the youth initiative of the Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC) in Bangladesh. The objective was to explore the consequences of social and economic inclusion of this project for the persons with disability (PWDs) and transgender (TG) youth people. The research focused on how inclusive programmatic interventions created multidimensional impacts among the “marginalized” and “excluded” PWD and TG youths at the grassroots level. This study adopted a qualitative approach where in‐depth case interviews and observation were applied for data collection. PWD and TG graduates, master craft persons (MCPs), employers, and program staff members were the participants in this study. Results found that PWD and TG youths faced vulnerabilities and social stigma in their lives and livelihood trajectories due to their physical inability and low level of social dignity. The STAR project has a certain level of contribution to the livelihoods of PWD and TG people, where these helped them to gain their social, cultural, and economic capital. Findings would be an important guideline for policymakers, NGO managers, and human rights workers.
Links between repeating and growing pattern knowledge and math outcomes in children and adults
Authors: Borriello Giulia A. , Grenell Amanda , Vest Nicholas A. , Moore Kyler , Fyfe Emily R.
Published: December 2022

This study examined repeating and growing pattern knowledge and their associations with procedural and conceptual arithmetic knowledge in a sample of U.S. children (N = 185; Mage = 79.5 months; 55% female; 88% White) and adults (N = 93; Mage = 19.5 years; 62% female; 66% White) from 2019 to 2020. Three key findings emerged: (1) repeating pattern tasks were easier than growing pattern tasks, (2) repeating pattern knowledge robustly predicted procedural calculation skills over and above growing pattern knowledge and covariates, and (3) growing pattern knowledge modestly predicted procedural and conceptual math outcomes over and above repeating pattern knowledge and covariates. We expand existing theoretical models to incorporate these specific links and discuss implications for supporting math knowledge.
Astrocytic mitochondrial frataxin—A promising target for ischemic brain injury
Authors: Hazra Rimi , Novelli Enrico M. , Hu Xiaoming
Published: December 2022

In the ischemic brain, hypoxia leads to mitochondrial dysfunction, insufficient energy production, and astrocyte activation. Yet, most studies investigating mitochondrial dysfunction in cerebral ischemia have focused exclusively on neurons. This review will highlight the importance of the morphological, molecular, and functional heterogeneity of astrocytes in their role in brain injuries and explore how activated astrocytes exhibit calcium imbalance, reactive oxygen species overproduction, and apoptosis. In addition, special focus will be given to the role of the mitochondrial protein frataxin in activated astrocytes during ischemia and its putative role in the pharmacological management of cerebral ischemia.
Change in climatically suitable breeding distributions reduces hybridization potential between Vermivora warblers
Authors: Hightower Jessica N. , Crawford Dolly L. , Thogmartin Wayne E. , Aldinger Kyle R. , Swarthout Sara Barker , Buehler David A. , Confer John , Friis Christian , Larkin Jeffery L. , Lowe James D. , Piorkowski Martin , Rohrbaugh Ronald W. , Rosenberg Kenneth V. , Smalling Curtis , Wood Petra B. , Vallender Rachel , Roth Amber M.
Published: December 2022

Aim

Climate change is affecting the distribution of species and subsequent biotic interactions, including hybridization potential. The imperiled Golden‐winged Warbler (GWWA) competes and hybridizes with the Blue‐winged Warbler (BWWA), which may threaten the persistence of GWWA due to introgression. We examined how climate change is likely to alter the breeding distributions and potential for hybridization between GWWA and BWWA.

Location

North America.

Methods

We used GWWA and BWWA occurrence data to model climatically suitable conditions under historical and future climate scenarios. Models were parameterized with 13 bioclimatic variables and 3 topographic variables. Using ensemble modeling, we estimated historical and modern distributions, as well as a projected distribution under six future climate scenarios. We quantified breeding distribution area, the position of and amount of overlap between GWWA and BWWA distributions under each climate scenario. We summarized the top explanatory variables in our model to predict environmental parameters of the distributions under future climate scenarios relative to historical climate.

Results

GWWA and BWWA distributions are projected to substantially change under future climate scenarios. GWWA are projected to undergo the greatest change; the area of climatically suitable breeding season conditions is expected to shift north to northwest; and range contraction is predicted in five out of six future climate scenarios. Climatically suitable conditions for BWWA decreased in four of the six future climate scenarios, while the distribution is projected to shift east. A reduction in overlapping distributions for GWWA and BWWA is projected under all six future climate scenarios.

Main Conclusions

Climate change is expected to substantially alter the area of climatically suitable conditions for GWWA and BWWA, with the southern portion of the current breeding ranges likely to become climatically unsuitable. However, interactions between BWWA and GWWA are expected to decline with the decrease in overlapping habitat, which may reduce the risk of genetic introgression.
Investigating language, social cognition, and executive function in cerebral palsy outcomes
Authors: Eslinger Paul
Published: December 2022

This commentary is on the original article by Burgess et al. on pages 674–682 of this issue.
An Ethics of Refusal: The Insistence of Possibles as a Speculative Pragmatic Challenge to Systemic Racism in Education
Authors: Mikulan Petra
Published: December 2022

To address an ethics of refusal in higher education is to wager in the name of future possibles not already governed by the extractive politics of colonial progress and oppressive regimes of knowing and doing. In this essay, Petra Mikulan shows American pragmatism to have always been, in a certain sense, post‐Anthropocene in its condition of emergence, bound up with settler colonialism and its extractive geopolitics. However, pragmatism in its speculative trust can also help engage education in thinking of a future that does not belong to a presupposed humanity and its “nature” by dramatizing a certain insistence of educational institutions on maintaining comfort and trust in the “common good.” What is at stake in education facing planetary ecological devastation and intensified racial and social injustices, Mikulan contends, is an ethics of refusal of institutionalized learning, knowing, and doing tout court, particularly if these educational regimes continue to insist on governing what are deemed the only possible (and thus impossible) enactments of education.
Immune thrombocytopenic purpura secondary to COVID‐19 vaccination: A systematic review
Authors: Bidari Ali , Asgarian Sara , Pour Mohammad Arash , Naderi Delaram , Anaraki Shiva Rahimipour , Gholizadeh Mesgarha Milad , Naderkhani Mahya
Published: December 2022

Introduction

This systematic review aimed to retrieve patients diagnosed with de novo immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) after COVID‐19 immunization to determine their epidemiological characteristics, clinical course, therapeutic strategies, and outcome.

Materials and Methods

We conducted the review using four major databases, comprising PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and the Cochrane library, until April 2022. A systematic search was performed in duplicate to access eligible articles in English. Furthermore, a manual search was applied to the chosen papers' references to enhance the search sensitivity. Data were extracted and analyzed with the SPSS 20.1 software.

Results

A total of 77 patients with de novo COVID‐19 vaccine‐associated ITP were identified from 41 studies, including 31 case reports and 10 case series. The median age of patients who developed COVID‐19 vaccine‐associated ITP was 54 years (IQR 36–72 years). The mRNA‐based COVID‐19 vaccines, including BNT16B2b2 and mRNA‐1273, were most implicated (75.4%). Those were followed by the adenovirus vector‐based vaccines, inclusive of ChAdOx1 nCoV‐19 and vAd26.COV2.S. No report was found relating ITP to other COVID‐19 vaccines. Most cases (79.2%) developed ITP after the first dose of COVID‐19 vaccination. 75% of the patients developed ITP within 12 days of vaccination, indicating a shorter lag time compared to ITP after routine childhood vaccinations. Sixty‐seven patients (87%) patients were hospitalized. The management pattern was similar to primary ITP, and systemic glucocorticoids, IVIg, or both were the basis of the treatment in most patients. Most patients achieved therapeutic goals; only two individuals required a secondary admission, and one patient who presented with intracranial hemorrhage died of the complication.

Conclusions

De novo ITP is a rare complication of COVID‐19 vaccination, and corresponding reports belong to mRNA‐based and adenovirus vector‐based vaccines, in order of frequency. This frequency pattern may be related to the scale of administration of individual vaccines and their potency in inducing autoimmunity. The more the COVID‐19 vaccine is potent to induce antigenic challenge, the shorter the lag time would be. Most patients had a benign course and responded to typical treatments of primary ITP.
Coordination of economics spectra in leaf, stem and root within the genus Artemisia along a large environmental gradient in China
Authors: Liu Rong , Yang Xuejun , Gao Ruiru , Huang Zhenying , Cornelissen Johannes H. C.
Published: December 2022

Aim

The plant economics spectrum provides a fundamental framework for understanding functional trait variation along environmental gradients. However, it is unclear whether there is a general whole‐plant economics spectrum across organs at the finer taxonomic scale (e.g. within genera), and if there is, which factors affect the trait coordination of the different organs. Here, we examined whether resource economics spectra of different organs (i.e. leaf, stem and root) can be integrated at the whole‐plant level within a single genus, and how environment, intraspecific variation and taxonomic scale shape the whole‐plant spectrum.

Location

China.

Time period

2018.

Major taxa studied

Artemisia.

Methods

We sampled 1,022 individuals of 62 Artemisia species in central and eastern China to test trait coordination patterns from organ to whole‐plant level. From the resource economics spectrum perspective, 15 traits were chosen to represent the trade‐off between structural and nutrient investments, including organs’ C, N, P and dry matter content, specific leaf area, specific stem length and specific root length.

Results

Pairwise trait correlations and the trade‐off patterns along the resource economic axis were consistent at both organ and whole‐plant levels. Environmental gradients did not strongly affect the correlations among leaf, stem and root economics spectra, that is, the intraspecific variation weakened but did not mask this coordination. Taxonomic scale did not affect the degree of trait coordination as the genus‐wide whole‐plant economics spectrum also emerged within each of the three subgenera.

Main conclusions

Our results support the hypothesis that the coordination of economics spectra across organs forms a whole‐plant economics spectrum representing a ‘fast–slow’ resource management strategy, which is robust to recent evolution (genotypic variation, even for species within a single genus) and present‐day environmental variation. Further studies should elucidate in which circumstances or phylogenetic branches the coordinated pattern found for Artemisia is representative of other widely distributed genera.
Synthesis of high‐performance mullite ceramics based on associated rare‐earth kaolin
Authors: Gao Xiong , Feng Xueru , Zhang Deng , Zhang Jiamin , Peng Yuqing , Pan Zhicheng , Dai Zongming
Published: December 2022

The objective of this work was to prepare high‐purity, high‐strength mullite ceramics from low‐cost, associated rare‐earth kaolin (AREK). A reaction sintering process using calcined AREK and γ‐Al2O3 powders was used to synthesize high‐performance mullite ceramics. Mineralogical, morphological, and chemical characteristics of AREK were given. The effects of associated REEs in kaolin and sintering temperature on the microstructural evolution, phase transformation, and physical properties of mullite were studied. The results showed that the mullite contents were 98.8%, the maximum aspect ratio was 8.22 μm, the relative density was 93.04%, and the micro‐Vickers hardness and flexural strength were 10.63 GPa and 184.24 MPa, after sintering at 1500°C for 4 h. For comparison, calcined without rare‐earth kaolin was also employed as a raw material to synthesize mullite ceramics, and the mullite content prepared by sintering the two kaolin clays at 1320–1480°C for 4 h was quite similar. However, mullite prepared using AREK forms secondary mullite in the temperature range of 1480–1500°C with a significantly higher mullite content, and therefore, the advantages of preparing mullite based on AREK as the raw material are high purity, low mullitization temperature, and high strength.
The coming of age of neutrophil extracellular traps in thrombosis: Where are we now and where are we headed?
Authors: Van Bruggen Stijn , Martinod Kimberly
Published: December 2022

Thrombosis remains a major problem in our society, manifesting across multiple demographic groups and with high associated morbidity and mortality. Thrombus development is the result of a complex mechanism in which multiple cell types and soluble factors play a crucial role. One cell that has gained the most attention in recent years is the neutrophil. This key member of the innate immune system can form neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) in response to activating stimuli in circulation. NETs form a scaffold for thrombus formation, both initiating the process and stabilizing the final product. As the first responders of the host immune system, neutrophils have the flexibility to recognize a variety of molecules and can quickly interact with a range of different cell types. This trait makes them sensitive to exogenous stimuli. NET formation in response to pathogens is well established, leading to immune‐mediated thrombus formation or immunothrombosis. NETs can also be formed during sterile inflammation through the activation of neutrophils by fellow immune cells including platelets, or activated endothelium. In chronic inflammatory settings, NETs can ultimately promote the development of tissue fibrosis, with organ failure as an end‐stage outcome. In this review, we discuss the different pathways through which neutrophils can be activated toward NET formation and how these processes can result in a shared outcome: thrombus formation. Finally, we evaluate these different interactions and mechanisms for their potential as therapeutic targets, with neutrophil‐targeted therapies providing a future approach to treating thrombosis. In contrast to current practices, such treatment could result in reduced pathogenic blood clot formation without increasing the risk of bleeding.
Managing artificial intelligence projects: Key insights from an AI consulting firm
Authors: Vial Gregory , Cameron Ann‐Frances , Giannelia Tanya , Jiang Jinglu
Published: December 2022

While organisations are increasingly interested in artificial intelligence (AI), many AI projects encounter significant issues or even fail. To gain a deeper understanding of the issues that arise during these projects and the practices that contribute to addressing them, we study the case of Consult, a North American AI consulting firm that helps organisations leverage the power of AI by providing custom solutions. The management of AI projects at Consult is a multi‐method approach that draws on elements from traditional project management, agile practices, and AI workflow practices. While the combination of these elements enables Consult to be effective in delivering AI projects to their customers, our analysis reveals that managing AI projects in this way draw upon three core logics, that is, commonly shared norms, values, and prescribed behaviours which influence actors' understanding of how work should be done. We identify that the simultaneous presence of these three logics—a traditional project management logic, an agile logic, and an AI workflow logic—gives rise to conflicts and issues in managing AI projects at Consult, and successfully managing these AI projects involves resolving conflicts that arise between them. From our case findings, we derive four strategies to help organisations better manage their AI projects.
Thermodynamic assessment within the Zr–B–C–O quaternary system
Authors: Pham David , Gai Fangyuan , Rochester Jacob , Dycus Joseph H. , LeBeau James M. , Manga Venkateswara Rao , Corral Erica L.
Published: December 2022

Thermodynamic modeling of Zr–B–C–O quaternary system is conducted within the CALPHAD framework by employing data obtained from first‐principle calculations and literature. The lower order binary B–O is assessed in this work by estimating the thermodynamic properties of stable solid phases of B2O3 and B6O and by estimating the gas and liquid phases. First‐principle calculations, in conjunction with special quasirandom structure were used to predict enthalpies of mixing for the ternary solid‐solution phase of FCC‐Zr(C, O). The calculated results were used to optimize the model parameters pertaining to the cubic phase, which is described by a two‐sublattice model. The modeled Zr–C–O ternary phase diagrams calculated at 1923 and 2273 K under ambient pressure and 4 Pa, respectively, are in agreement with experimental phase diagrams.
Labour Justice in the Platform Economy
Authors: Bieber Friedemann
Published: December 2022

Recent years have witnessed the rise of digital platforms that allow economic agents to arrange ever more fine‐grained contracts. This article zooms in on labour‐based platforms that permit the hire of labour in a just‐in‐time fashion (and are part of the broader trend towards on‐demand work). Its principal contribution comes in three parts. First, exposing the frequently overlooked diversity of labour‐based platforms, the article proposes to distinguish platform companies, which directly sell services and then purchase the labour needed to provide them, and broker platforms, which act merely as intermediaries. Second, it examines how platforms of each type pose distinct threats to labour justice, thereby extending Daniel Halliday's (2021) analysis. Drawing on empirical studies of the experiences of platform workers, it identifies a power imbalance as the root cause of these threats across all platforms. Finally, the article assesses three strategies to counter these threats: introducing stricter regulation, turning platforms into worker‐run co‐ops, and improving outside job opportunities. In exploring how each strategy could be implemented for specific platforms, it makes the case for always discussing labour‐based platforms with one eye to their specific structural features and the other eye to the broader labour market.
Artificial neural network and kinetic modeling of capers during dehydration and rehydration processes
Authors: Demir Hasan , Demir Hande , Lončar Biljana , Nićetin Milica , Pezo Lato , Yilmaz Fatma
Published: December 2022

This study aimed to investigate the drying kinetics of capers at different temperatures and to examine the morphological changes of capers during the drying and rehydration processes. Computer‐aided image processing and Artificial Neural Network models (ANN) were used to analyze the shrinkage and moisture ratio of capers (drying) and the expansion of capers (rehydration). Lewis, Page, Fick's law, and logarithmic models were investigated to describe the conventional drying kinetics of capers at 50, 60, and 70°C; the logarithmic model was shown to be the best describing model (r2: 0.9996, 0.9996 and 0.9981, respectively). Effective diffusivities varied between 1.91 × 10−10 and 2.62 × 10−10 m2/s for the temperature range. The activation energy was 14.572 kJ/mol. Image processing revealed that diameter reduction rates were 1 × 10−4 mm/s for 50 and 70°C and 7 × 10−5 mm/s for 60°C. ANN was applied using multilayer perceptron models with three layers (input: ANN1, hidden: ANN2, and output: ANN3) which were sufficiently valid for predicting the experimental parameters (r2: 0.9992, 0.9915, and 0.8484, respectively). All morphological properties were reduced with drying, and shrinkage of capers was increased proportionally with the moisture content. The Global Sensitivity Analysis recognized treatment time as the most influential parameter affecting the moisture ratio and the caper diameter changes.

Practical applications

One of the major problems for humans has been to improve food preservation techniques for long‐term storage. The major scope of industry is the drying of fruits and/or vegetables to produce dried foods with high quality and a long shelf life. To the best of our knowledge, drying of capers regarding the drying kinetics, modeling and quality changes has not been published to date. In this study, goal was to better understand drying kinetics and geometric changes that occur to capers during the dehydration and rehydration processes at various drying temperatures. Quantitative information regarding geometrical changes to capers was supplied by the image processing of the acquired pictures, which enabled rapid monitoring of physical changes during dehydration and rehydration. The remarked kinetic model, ANN model, and Quantitative information regarding geometrical changes are valuable information for researchers studying on drying of food and large‐scale dryer designers.
The challenge of proving the value of medical care in the home
Authors: Boling Peter A. , Kinosian Bruce
Published: December 2022

This editorial comments on the article by Federman et al. in this issue.
Impact of a dietitian in general practice: paediatric food allergy
Authors: Collinson Avril , Waddell Lisa , Freeman‐Hughes Amy , Hickson Mary
Published: December 2022

Background

Food allergy in infants and young children places a significant burden on primary care. This study evaluated a dietetic‐led paediatric food allergy service, which attempts to provide more rapid access to the dietitian and reduce the need for general practitioner (GP) and secondary care appointments.

Methods

Two community dietetic services for children referred with food allergy were compared. The first was dietetic‐led care where dietitians train community children's nurses to recognise potential cases of food allergy, undertake basic diagnostic assessment and subsequently refer to the dietitian. The other was a more traditional dietetic community service where patients were referred predominantly by the GP or secondary care.

Results

In dietetic‐led care 86 patients were seen, compared to 96 in dietetic community care. Dietetic‐led care received fewer referrals from the GP, 36% versus 67% (p < 0.001); GP appointments for allergy‐related conditions prior to dietetic referral were lower, 3 versus 6 visits (p = 0.001); and input from secondary care was also lower, 8 versus 25 patients (p = 0.002) compared with dietetic community care. Children referred to dietetic‐led care were younger, 78% <6 months versus 40% (p < 0.001) in dietetic community care.

Conclusions

Dietetic‐led care describes a model that has the potential to reduce GP and secondary care appointments, identify patients more quickly and reduce the time to receive dietetic input, thereby resolving symptoms more quickly and reducing prescribed medications. This model demonstrates the importance of integrated care and multidisciplinary working, offering a solution to reducing GP workload while maintaining or improving patient care.
A social life cycle assessment of vanadium redox flow and lithium‐ion batteries for energy storage
Authors: Koese Maarten , Blanco Carlos F. , Vert Vicente B. , Vijver Martina G.
Published: December 2022

Battery energy storage systems (BESS) are expected to fulfill a crucial role in the renewable energy systems of the future. Within current regulatory frameworks, assessing the sustainability as well as the social risks for BESS should be considered. In this research we conducted a social life cycle assessment (S‐LCA) of two BESS: the vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) and the lithium‐ion battery (LIB). The S‐LCA was conducted based on the guidelines set by UNEP/SETAC and using the PSILCA v.3 database. It was found that most social risks related to the life cycle of the batteries are associated with the raw material extraction stage, while sectors related to chemicals also entail considerable risks. Workers are the stakeholder group affected most. These results apply to supply chains located in both China and Germany, but risks were lower for similar supply chains in Germany. An LIB with a nickel manganese cobalt oxide cathode is associated with considerably larger risks compared to a LIB with lithium manganese oxide cathode. For a VRFB life cycle with an increased vanadium price, the social risks were higher than those of the VRFB supply chain with a regular vanadium price. Our paper shows that S‐LCA through the PSILCA database can provide interesting insights into the potential social risks associated with a certain product's life cycle. Generalizations of the results are not recommended, and one should be careful with assessments for technologies that have not yet matured due to the cost sensitivity of the methodology.
Mitochondrial sodium/calcium exchanger NCLX regulates glycolysis in astrocytes, impacting on cognitive performance
Authors: Cabral‐Costa João Victor , Vicente‐Gutiérrez Carlos , Agulla Jesús , Lapresa Rebeca , Elrod John W. , Almeida Ángeles , Bolaños Juan P. , Kowaltowski Alicia J.
Published: December 2022

Intracellular Ca2+ concentrations are strictly controlled by plasma membrane transporters, the endoplasmic reticulum, and mitochondria, in which Ca2+ uptake is mediated by the mitochondrial calcium uniporter complex (MCUc), while efflux occurs mainly through the mitochondrial Na+/Ca2+ exchanger (NCLX). RNAseq database repository searches led us to identify the Nclx transcript as highly enriched in astrocytes when compared with neurons. To assess the role of NCLX in mouse primary culture astrocytes, we inhibited its function both pharmacologically or genetically. This resulted in re‐shaping of cytosolic Ca2+ signaling and a metabolic shift that increased glycolytic flux and lactate secretion in a Ca2+‐dependent manner. Interestingly, in vivo genetic deletion of NCLX in hippocampal astrocytes improved cognitive performance in behavioral tasks, whereas hippocampal neuron‐specific deletion of NCLX impaired cognitive performance. These results unveil a role for NCLX as a novel modulator of astrocytic glucose metabolism, impacting on cognition.

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Physiopathological changes of ferritinmRNAdensity and distribution in hippocampal astrocytes in the mouse brain
Authors: Tortuyaux Romain , Avila‐Gutierrez Katia , Oudart Marc , Mazaré Noémie , Mailly Philippe , Deschemin Jean‐Christophe , Vaulont Sophie , Escartin Carole , Cohen‐Salmon Martine
Published: December 2022

Astrocytes are thought to play a crucial role in brain iron homeostasis. How they accomplish this regulation in vivo is unclear. In a recent transcriptomic analysis, we showed that polysomalFtl1andFth1mRNAs, encoding the ferritin light (Ftl) and heavy (Fth) chains that assemble into ferritin, a critical complex for iron storage and reduction, are enriched in perisynaptic astrocytic processes as compared to astrocytic soma. These data suggested that ferritin translation plays a specific role at the perisynaptic astrocytic interface and is tighly regulated by local translation. Here, we used our recently describedAstroDot3D in situ methodology to study the density and localization of ferritin mRNAs in astrocytes in the hippocampus in three different contexts in which local or systemic iron overload has been documented: aging, the hepcidin knock‐out mouse model of hemochromatosis and the APP/PS1dE9 mouse model of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Our results showed that in wild type mice,Fth1mRNA density was higher thanFtl1and that both mRNAs were mostly distributed in astrocyte fine processes. Aging and absence of hepcidin caused an increasedFth1/Ftl1ratio in astrocytes and in the case of aging, led to a redistribution ofFth1mRNAs in astrocytic fine processes. In contrast, in AD mice, we observed a lowerFth1/Ftl1ratio.Fth1mRNAs became more somatic andFtl1mRNAs redistributed in large processes of astrocytes proximal to Amyloid beta (Aß) deposits. Hence, we propose that regulation of ferritin mRNA density and distribution in astrocytes contribute to iron homeostasis in physiology and pathophysiology.

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ABCG2 transporter plays a key role in the biodistribution of melatonin and its main metabolites
Authors: Álvarez‐Fernández Laura , Gomez‐Gomez Alex , Haro Noemí , García‐Lino Alba M. , Álvarez Ana I. , Pozo Oscar J. , Merino Gracia
Published: December 2022

The ATP‐binding cassette G2 (ABCG2) is an efflux transporter expressed in the apical membrane of cells from a large number of tissues, directly affecting bioavailability, tissue accumulation, and secretion into milk of both xenobiotics and endogenous compounds. The aim of this work was to characterize the role of ABCG2 in the systemic distribution and secretion into milk of melatonin and its main metabolites, 6‐hydroxymelatonin, and 6‐sulfatoxymelatonin. For this purpose, we first showed that these three molecules are transported by this transporter using in vitro transepithelial assays with MDCK‐II polarized cells transduced with different species variants of ABCG2. Second, we tested the in vivo effect of murine Abcg2 in the systemic distribution of melatonin and its metabolites using wild‐type and Abcg2−/− mice. Our results show that after oral administration of melatonin, the plasma concentration of melatonin metabolites in Abcg2−/− mice was between 1.5 and 6‐fold higher compared to the wild‐type mice. We also evaluated in these animals differences in tissue accumulation of melatonin metabolites. The most relevant differences between both types of mice were found for small intestine and kidney (>sixfold increase for 6‐sulfatoxymelatonin in Abcg2−/− mice). Finally, melatonin secretion into milk was also affected by the murine Abcg2 transporter, with a twofold higher milk concentration in wild‐type compared with Abcg2−/− lactating female mice. In addition, melatonin metabolites showed a higher milk‐to‐plasma ratio in wild‐type mice. Overall, our results show that the ABCG2 transporter plays a critical role in the biodistribution of melatonin and its main metabolites, thereby potentially affecting their biological and therapeutic activity.
Pathwise CVA regressions with oversimulated defaults
Authors: Abbas‐Turki Lokman A. , Crépey Stéphane , Saadeddine Bouazza
Published: December 2022

We consider the computation by simulation and neural net regression of conditional expectations, or more general elicitable statistics, of functionals of processes . Here an exogenous component Y (Markov by itself) is time‐consuming to simulate, while the endogenous component X (jointly Markov with Y) is quick to simulate given Y, but is responsible for most of the variance of the simulated payoff. To address the related variance issue, we introduce a conditionally independent, hierarchical simulation scheme, where several paths of X are simulated for each simulated path of Y. We analyze the statistical convergence of the regression learning scheme based on such block‐dependent data. We derive heuristics on the number of paths of Y and, for each of them, of X, that should be simulated. The resulting algorithm is implemented on a graphics processing unit (GPU) combining Python/CUDA and learning with PyTorch. A CVA case study with a nested Monte Carlo benchmark shows that the hierarchical simulation technique is key to the success of the learning approach.
Long‐wavelength‐sensitive (lws) opsin gene expression, foraging and visual communication in coral reef fishes
Authors: Stieb Sara M. , Cortesi Fabio , Jardim de Queiroz Luiz , Carleton Karen L. , Seehausen Ole , Marshall N. Justin
Published: December 2022

Coral reef fishes are diverse in ecology and behaviour and show remarkable colour variability. Investigating the visual pigment gene (opsin) expression in these fishes makes it possible to associate their visual genotype and phenotype (spectral sensitivities) to visual tasks, such as feeding strategy or conspecific detection. By studying all major damselfish clades (Pomacentridae) and representatives from five other coral reef fish families, we show that the long‐wavelength‐sensitive (lws) opsin is highly expressed in algivorous and less or not expressed in zooplanktivorous species. Lws is also upregulated in species with orange/red colours (reflectance >520 nm) and expression is highest in orange/red‐coloured algivores. Visual models from the perspective of a typical damselfish indicate that sensitivity to longer wavelengths does enhance the ability to detect the red to far‐red component of algae and orange/red‐coloured conspecifics, possibly enabling social signalling. Character state reconstructions indicate that in the early evolutionary history of damselfishes, there was no lws expression and no orange/red coloration. Omnivory was most often the dominant state. Although herbivory was sometimes dominant, zooplanktivory was never dominant. Sensitivity to long wavelength (increased lws expression) only emerged in association with algivory but never with zooplanktivory. Higher lws expression is also exploited by social signalling in orange/red, which emerged after the transition to algivory. Although the relative timing of traits may deviate by different reconstructions and alternative explanations are possible, our results are consistent with sensory bias whereby social signals evolve as a correlated response to natural selection on sensory system properties in other contexts.
The role of plastic and evolvedDNAmethylation in parallel adaptation of threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus)
Authors: Hu Juntao , Barrett Rowan D. H.
Published: December 2022

Repeated phenotypic patterns among populations undergoing parallel evolution in similar environments provide support for the deterministic role of natural selection. Epigenetic modifications can mediate plastic and evolved phenotypic responses to environmental change and might make important contributions to parallel adaptation. While many studies have explored the genetic basis of repeated phenotypic divergence, the role of epigenetic processes during parallel adaptation remains unclear. The parallel evolution of freshwater ecotypes of threespine stickleback fish (Gasterosteus aculeatus) following colonization of thousands of lakes and streams from the ocean is a classic example of parallel phenotypic and genotypic adaptation. To investigate epigenetic modifications during parallel adaptation of threespine stickleback, we reanalysed three independent data sets that investigated DNA methylation variation between marine and freshwater ecotypes. Although we found widespread methylation differentiation between ecotypes, there was no significant tendency for CpG sites associated with repeated methylation differentiation across studies to be parallel versus nonparallel. To next investigate the role of plastic versus evolved changes in methylation during freshwater adaptation, we explored if CpG sites exhibiting methylation plasticity during salinity change were more likely to also show evolutionary divergence in methylation between ecotypes. The directions of divergence between ecotypes were generally in the opposite direction to those observed for plasticity when ecotypes were challenged with non‐native salinity conditions, suggesting that most plastic responses are likely to be maladaptive during colonization of new environments. Finally, we found a greater number of CpG sites showing evolved changes when ancestral marine ecotypes are acclimated to freshwater environments, whereas plastic changes predominate when derived freshwater ecotypes transition back to their ancestral marine environments. These findings provide evidence for an epigenetic contribution to parallel adaptation and demonstrate the contrasting roles of plastic and evolved methylation differences during adaptation to new environments.
Acute transvenous pacemaker lead thrombosis early after implantation: A rare clinical scenario
Authors: Domain Guillaume , Strubé Camille , Plourde Benoit , Steinberg Christian , Sarrazin Jean‐François , Roy Karine , Poirier Paul , Philippon François
Published: December 2022

Symptomatic thrombus formation due to a permanent pacemaker (PM) lead is a rare complication. It could be associated with serious outcome and should be suspected in patients who present with unexplained right heart failure, dyspnea, or syncope following dual‐chamber PM implantation. A timely decision to perform an echocardiographic examination, followed by medical, thrombolytic, or surgical treatment can be necessary. We describe the case of an 84‐year‐old man who presented with syncope and hypotension a few days after PM implantation. A transesophageal echocardiography revealed a mobile mass in the right atrium attached to the pacemaker lead. Intravenous heparin allowed a complete resolution of the thrombus.
Temporal relationships between changes in depression and suicidal ideation: A mediation analysis in a randomized double‐blinded clinical trial
Authors: Shaygan Maryam , Hosseini Fahimeh Alsadat , Negad Soheila Sheybani
Published: December 2022

Objectives

There is a considerable debate regarding the possible dependence between depression and suicidal ideation treatments. The present study used a novel mediation approach in a randomized comparison of pharmacotherapy and combined therapy to explore whether depressive symptoms mediate the association between treatment and suicidal ideation and whether it depends on the treatment condition.

Design

This study is a randomized, controlled, parallel group (1:1), clinical trial using a novel mediation approach for longitudinal data. Latent difference score modelling was utilized to investigate whether changes in depressive symptoms drive subsequent changes in suicide ideation.

Method

Participants were 94 depressive suicidal outpatients who were assessed regarding depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation over the course of an experiment (0–2‐7 months). Direct and indirect associations between (change in) depressive symptoms and (change in) suicidal ideation were explored using Pearson's correlations and latent difference score model.

Results

The results showed that depression treatment affects not only suicidal ideation directly but also its influence on suicidal ideation occurs via improvement in depressive symptoms. It was found a more significant effect of combining pharmacotherapy and PPT (in comparison with the pharmacotherapy alone) on the early and late improvements of suicidal ideation (Δ 0–2 and Δ 2–7) via the early improvement of depressive symptoms (Δ 0–2).

Conclusions

The findings indicate that changes in depressive symptoms preceded changes in suicidal ideation. Our results highlighted that improving depressive symptoms could be a primary target in treating patients with depression experiencing suicidal thoughts.
Outcomes of pediatric obesity‐related lifestyle disease screenings in Kumamoto
Authors: Nagamatsu Fusa , Kido Jun , Suginohara Yoshiko , Nakamura Toshiro , Nakamura Rie , Komatsu Nagisa , Miyamoto Daisuke , Hamada Yasuyuki , Kashiwagi Takafumi , Sugino Shigeto , Kiyohara Hideo , Nakamura Kimitoshi , Matsumoto Shirou
Published: December 2022

Background

Obesity is an important issue causing both health hazards and socioeconomic loss to those affected. Kumamoto City regularly performs obesity‐related lifestyle disease screenings for fourth grade children with obesity, including physical examinations, blood tests, and special examination referrals. We retrospectively analyzed the outcomes of the screenings conducted from 2011 to 2020.

Methods

The percentage of overweight was calculated using data from the Lifestyle Disease Screening Board of Kumamoto City from 2011 to 2020. The percentage of overweight, abdominal circumference, blood pressure, and laboratory test outcomes of the Secondary Lifestyle Disease Test were evaluated.

Results

The proportion of children with obesity in grades 1–4 in Kumamoto was higher than the national average, while that in grades 5–6 was lower than the national average. Among the fourth graders screened, 6521 were eligible for the Secondary Lifestyle Disease Tests, of which 3291 children underwent the test. In the testing, 22.3% of the boys and 29.1% of the girls were nonobese. Moreover, 25.9% of the boys and 19.2% of the girls, including nonobese children, required further examination and intervention. Notably, 62.1% of the boys and 46.2% of the girls who were nonobese and required special examination had a waist circumference of ≥75 cm or waist‐to‐height ratios of ≥0.5.

Conclusions

Obesity‐related lifestyle disease screenings contributed to preventing obesity progression. Abdominal circumference measurements may be useful in determining nonobese children at a risk of lifestyle diseases.
Acclimation Response of Green Microalgae Chlorella Sorokiniana to 2,3′,4,4′,6‐Pentachlorobiphenyl
Authors: Volgusheva Alena A. , Todorenko Daria A. , Konyukhov Ivan V. , Voronova Elena N. , Pogosyan Sergey I. , Plyusnina Tatyana Yu , Khruschev Sergey S. , Antal Taras K.
Published: December 2022

The effect of the toxicant 2,3′,4,4′,6‐pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB‐119) on the growth, chlorophyll content, and PSII activity of C. sorokiniana cells was investigated. A strong negative effect of the toxicant was observed at PCB concentration of 0.05 μg mL−1, when culture growth ceased, chlorophyll strongly bleached, and cell death occurred. The use of original highly sensitive fluorimeter to measure three types of high‐resolution chlorophyll fluorescence kinetics allowed us to detect an initial dramatic decrease in the activity of primary photosynthetic reactions, followed by their almost complete recovery at the end of the incubation period when most cells were dead. The study of the distribution of individual cells in culture in terms of Fv/Fm parameter, which reflects the quantum yield of PSII photochemistry, revealed the existence of 2–3% of cells retaining high Fv/Fm (>0.7) in the presence of the toxicant. The treated cultures were able to resume growth after prolonged incubation in fresh medium. The high sensitivity fluorescence methods used made it possible to identify stress‐resistant cells which maintain high photosynthetic activity in the presence of lethal doses of toxic substances; these cells provide recovery of the population after stress.