bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Alpine refugial isolation drove divergence of the cold‐adapted montane scorpionfly Cerapanorpa obtusa (Mecoptera: Panorpidae)
Authors: Gao Kai , Hua Yuan , He Le‐Le , Hua Bao‐Zhen
Published: December 2024

Quaternary climate fluctuations and complex mountain systems had a prominent impact on the genetic diversification and speciation of montane organisms. However, the genetic imprints of the interplay between past climate events and rugged relief on montane species remain largely unresolved. Here, we analyzed the phylogeny, population structure, divergence time, demographic simulations, and ecological niche modeling of the montane scorpionfly Cerapanorpa obtusa (Cheng) from 36 populations in the mountains of central China (MCC) using three mitochondrial and two nuclear genes to explore its evolutionary history. The results show that C. obtusa originated from the Minshan Mountains, and currently consists of six genetically fragmented lineages that diverged 1.25–0.52 Ma. Four minor lineages (S1−S4) are confined to the topographically rugged Minshan Mountains, and two major lineages (NW and NE) are widely distributed in the northern MCC with relatively homogeneous landscapes. The Minshan Mountains are likely interglacial microrefugia for C. obtusa, and as spatial buffers in response to past climate changes. These findings provide some evidence that the interplay between climate changes and rugged relief may play a significant role in shaping the distinct phylogeographical pattern of cold‐adapted montane insects. These results would also seem to suggest the importance of topographically rugged mountain systems in the conservation of evolutionary diversity and endemic species.
Governance Index for Prioritisation of Afrotropical Inland Lakes for Conservation and Sustainability
Authors: Aura Christopher Mulanda , Musa Safina , Owiti Horace Onyango , Awour Fonda Jane
Published: December 2024

Existing scientific methods can be combined with insights on the socio‐ecological landscape of Afrotropical lakes to provide better policy options for stakeholders and to develop more efficient resource management strategies. Using integrated African resource and ecosystem maps and an approach for the developed Governance Index for Prioritisation (GIP) of Lake Victoria resources, our study highlights prospects for adopting the GIP methodology to increase understanding and management of Afrotropical lakes. The use of GIP is recommended for adoption and promotion in areas where such approaches appear defensible for the assessment of lake‐wide practices, and in areas with robust indigenous knowledge to provide a broad view of the ecological health of the Afrotropical ecosystem.
A Novel Tool for Soybean Pods and Branches Recognition by Deep Learning Based Approach
Authors: Xie Qize , Du Hongbo , Yang Qing , Liu Zhi , Jin Xin , Li Chuanfeng , Wei Yu , Tang Futong , Tao Peijun , Yan Long
Published: December 2024

Phenotypic trait identification is crucial in cultivating new soybean varieties with high yield and quality. The traditional soybean phenotypic trait identification relies on manual pod counting and plant height measuring with a ruler. The heavy workload causes the data collected by human resources to be extremely prone to error. Therefore, developing an efficient and high‐quality method to obtain phenotypic data of soybean pods and branches is urgently needed. Three network models including ResNet‐101, Swin‐S and ConvNeXt‐S are compared in this study, and the ConvNeXt‐S model is identified as optimal, with a mAP@0.5 of 0.95, which could reach 74.2%. A deep learning–based approach soybean plant phenotype detection and data storage system is developed, including information on plants, pods and branches. The R2 between the number of pods detected by the system and the true value reached 0.995. These results indicate that the system is more accurate and stable than the manual phenotype identification. Our study paves the way for reducing economic and time costs as well as improving phenotype identification efficiency and accuracy in detecting soybean phenotypes.
Erratum to: The Effect of Space Flight Factors on the Interaction of Escherichia coli with Bacteriophage T7
Authors: Sykilinda N. N. , Lukyanova A. A. , Lavrikova V. V. , Kutnik I. V. , Panin N. V. , Staritsyn N. A. , Miroshnikov K. A.
Published: December 2024

An Erratum to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1134/S0003683824030025
Optimization of Aerobic Synthesis of Fumaric Acid from Glucose by a Recombinant Escherichia coli Strain Functioning in a Whole-Cell Biocatalyst Mode
Authors: Skorokhodova A. Yu. , Stasenko A. A. , Gulevich A. Yu.
Published: December 2024

Biocatalytic synthesis of fumaric acid from glucose by the previously engineered E. coli strain FUM1.0 (pMW119-kgd) (E. coli MG1655 ∆ackA-pta, ∆ldhA, ∆adhE, ∆ptsG, PL-glk, Ptac-galP, ∆fumB, ∆fumAC, poxB::PL-pycABs, pMW119-kgd) was optimized. The maximal yield of the target substance was achieved upon its synthesis through a variant of the tricarboxylic acid cycle mediated by the action of heterologous 2-ketoglutarate decarboxylase. The enhanced expression of the genes encoding components of the succinate dehydrogenase enzymatic complex did not markedly affect the biosynthetic characteristics of the producing strain. A positive effect of decreasing the intracellular ATP supply on the conversion of the carbohydrate substrate into the target product was demonstrated. The activation of the futile cycle of pyruvate–phosphoenolpyruvate–pyruvate due to an increase in the expression of the ppsA gene led to a slight increase in the yield of fumaric acid. Upon uncoupling the H+-ATP synthase complex subunits resulting in ATP formation cessation via oxidative phosphorylation, due to deletion of the atpFH genes, the molar yield of fumaric acid from glucose demonstrated by the strain functioning in the whole-cell biocatalyst mode reached 92%.
Comparison of Genomes, Resistomes, and Antimicrobial Properties of the Three Lactococcus lactis Strains from Fermented Milk and Cereal Products of South Africa and Russia
Authors: Moiseenko K. V. , Glazunova O. A. , Savinova O. S. , Fedorova T. V.
Published: December 2024

Whole-genome sequencing was carried out, and the main characteristics of the genomes of three new strains of L. lactis AM1, MA1, and dlA, isolated from fermented milk and cereal grain products of South Africa and Russia, were established. The dual approach of in vitro and in silico analysis used in this work allowed us to assess more fully the bacteriocinogenic potential and antibiotic resistance of L. lactis strains. It was shown that L. lactis AM1 and dlA had an antagonistic effect against the test cultures of Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538. The growth retardation of E. coli and S. aureus after 48 hours of cocultivation was 65–75 and 30–50%, respectively. The L. lactis MA1 strain did not exhibit a significant antagonistic effect; the growth inhibition of E. coli and S. aureus was 13 and 26%, respectively. According to the results of in silico analysis using the BAGELv4.0 service, gene clusters of class IId lactococcin-like bacteriocins were found in the genomes of all three strains. In the genomes of the dlA and AM1 strains, the sactipeptide cluster, a class I bacteriocin, is additionally annotated. In silico analysis of the L. lactis genomes showed the absence of transmissible antibiotic resistance genes, and all three strains showed a phenotype susceptible to the main classes of clinically relevant antibiotics (ampicillin, streptomycin, kanamycin, gentamicin, erythromycin, clindamycin, vancomycin, tetracycline, and chloramphenicol). Taken together, the results provide valuable information about the intraspecific diversity of L. lactis and indicate the promise of using new strains as starter cultures and biopreservatives.
Afamin Ameliorates Testosterone Propionate (TP)-Induced Oxidative Stress and Mitochondrial Damage in Human Ovarian Granulosa Tumor Cells (KGN) by Upregulating the Expression of SIRT1
Authors: Ma Y. L. , Li Z. W. , Wang Z. , Yang A. J.
Published: December 2024

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder affecting women of reproductive age. Considerable research has confirmed that afamin is associated with the prevalence and development of metabolic syndrome. Thus, this study investigated the mechanism of action of afamin in PCOS and its potential therapeutic value. We found that PCOS patients had higher levels of afamin than normal control subjects. Afamin significantly enhanced the overall antioxidant ability and activity of antioxidant enzymes and reduced the levels of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), malondialdehyde (MDA), reactive oxygen species (ROS) and superoxide anion ($${\text{O}}_{2}^{{\centerdot {\kern 1pt} - }}$$) in human ovarian granulosa tumor cells (KGN cells). In addition, afamin was also found to protect KGN cells against testosterone propionate (TP)-induced mitochondrial damage and apoptosis. Additionally, silencing of SIRT1 revealed that SIRT1 protected KGN cells against TP-induced oxidative stress (OS) injury, mitochondrial damage and apoptosis. Furthermore, this study showed that besides restoring the estrous cycle in PCOS mice, afamin might also reduce the increased cycling testosterone (T) and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels and LH/Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) ratio, as well as decrease the number of cystic follicles, indicating the significance of afamin in the treatment of PCOS. Moreover, afamin reduced oxidative damage in PCOS mice by enhancing their antioxidant capacity. Also, afamin may protect KGN cells against TP-induced OS by enhancing their antioxidant ability, restoring mitochondrial function, and inhibiting cell apoptosis by upregulating the expression of SIRT1. Thus, afamin may play a protective role in PCOS mice.
Difficult airway foreign body removal
Authors: Ramakrishna Golla , Gulla Krishna Mohan , Kumar Ketan , Das Rashmi Ranjan
Published: December 2024

Foreign body (FB) aspiration in children is a common emergency. Traditionally, rigid bronchoscopy has been considered to be the mainstay for removal. However, in certain cases, flexible bronchoscopy can prove to be a better option and avoid thoracic surgery and unnecessary morbidity. Here, we describe the case of a child with accidental aspiration of a 4 cm long sewing needle, lodged in the lateral basal segment of the left lower lobe. Rigid bronchoscopy was unsuccessful as it could not access the distally placed needle. Instead, a flexible bronchoscopy performed through the endotracheal tube after sedating and paralysing the patient was effective and the needle could be grasped and removed using a wire basket. We describe our patient management protocol for paediatric airway FBs, which has been quite effective and prevents procedural delay. Expertise of the operator and a concerted team effort are the recipe for success.
Revisiting medical oaths: how student-driven ethical codes reflect changing values
Authors: Stein Michael , Gruenbaum Shaun Evan , Jotkowitz Alan
Published: December 2024

Background

Medical oaths and ethical codes play a crucial role in guiding physicians through their professional responsibilities. This study extends prior research on ethical codes created by students at the Medical School for International Health (MSIH) by analysing codes from the years 2007 to 2022.

Objective

The objective of this study is to evaluate changes in the ethical principles emphasised by MSIH students over time and to compare these with previous cohorts.

Methods

Ethical codes from MSIH classes (2007–2022) were analysed using the framework developed by Baker. This framework categorises oaths into four sections: preamble, covenant, code of duties to patients and peroration. The focus was primarily on the code of duties to patients. Quantitative analysis was used to assess the prevalence of specific ethical principles.

Results

The study found an increased emphasis on principles such as ‘respect for patients’ and ‘cultural competence/sensitivity’, while traditional values like ‘benevolence’ and ‘honesty’ were mentioned less frequently. New themes, including ‘patient autonomy’ and ‘cultural competence’, emerged, reflecting a shift towards patient-centred care and justice, though emerging issues like artificial intelligence ethics were not addressed.

Conclusions

MSIH students’ ethical codes have evolved to emphasise patient respect and cultural competence. The findings suggest a maturation in the ethical perspectives of medical students, though gaps remain in addressing contemporary challenges. Future studies should explore how ethical codes can incorporate emerging issues in healthcare.
Table 1 from Oxygen-Enhanced MRI Detects Incidence, Onset, and Heterogeneity of Radiation-Induced Hypoxia Modification in HPV-Associated Oropharyngeal Cancer
Authors: Dubec Michael J. , Price James , Berks Michael , Gaffney John , Little Ross A. , Porta Nuria , Sridharan Nivetha , Datta Anubhav , McHugh Damien J. , Hague Christina J. , Cheung Susan , Manoharan Prakash , van Herk Marcel , Choudhury Ananya , Matthews Julian C. , Parker Geoff J.M. , Buckley David L. , Harrington Kevin J. , McPartlin Andrew , O’Connor James P.B.
Published: December 2024

Clinical information and MRI scan details for image datasets from the 24 patients used in subsequent analysis.
Supplementary Table S3 from Oxygen-Enhanced MRI Detects Incidence, Onset, and Heterogeneity of Radiation-Induced Hypoxia Modification in HPV-Associated Oropharyngeal Cancer
Authors: Dubec Michael J. , Price James , Berks Michael , Gaffney John , Little Ross A. , Porta Nuria , Sridharan Nivetha , Datta Anubhav , McHugh Damien J. , Hague Christina J. , Cheung Susan , Manoharan Prakash , van Herk Marcel , Choudhury Ananya , Matthews Julian C. , Parker Geoff J.M. , Buckley David L. , Harrington Kevin J. , McPartlin Andrew , O’Connor James P.B.
Published: December 2024

Supplementary Table S3. Results from repeatability assessment including results from Shapiro-Wilks test for normality and whether data were subsequently log-transformed to obtain wCV and RC data.
Supplementary Table S2 from Oxygen-Enhanced MRI Detects Incidence, Onset, and Heterogeneity of Radiation-Induced Hypoxia Modification in HPV-Associated Oropharyngeal Cancer
Authors: Dubec Michael J. , Price James , Berks Michael , Gaffney John , Little Ross A. , Porta Nuria , Sridharan Nivetha , Datta Anubhav , McHugh Damien J. , Hague Christina J. , Cheung Susan , Manoharan Prakash , van Herk Marcel , Choudhury Ananya , Matthews Julian C. , Parker Geoff J.M. , Buckley David L. , Harrington Kevin J. , McPartlin Andrew , O’Connor James P.B.
Published: December 2024

Supplementary Table S2. Whole tumor volume (WTV) measurements for each lesion (T = Primary Tumor, N = Metastatic Lymph Node) and patient at the baseline (BL).
Perfil emprendedor en estudiantes de educación superior chilenos
Authors: Quintano-Méndez Felipe , Riquelme-Segura Leonor , Morales-Pizarro Jorge , Balmaceda-Gallardo Ingrid , Manríquez-Bravo Gerald
Published: December 2024

(analytical)Entrepreneurship currently has a relevant position in vocational training. This study sought to identify entrepreneurial profiles among students in the Faculty of Business and Administration at the Instituto Profesional de Chile. A non-probabilistic sample of 240 students was used. The results of the research showed a high level of entrepreneurial behaviors, subjective norms, self-belief and entrepreneurial intentions, as well as the identification of four different profiles: natural entrepreneur, informal entrepreneur, entrepreneur due to necessity and non-entrepreneur. These results provide new information about entrepreneurship among young people that can be used to inform educational processes, pedagogical practices, teacher training, developing links with local settings and the design of graduate profiles for business and administration degrees.
Keywords:  Entrepreneurship; competence development; vocational education; youth; quantitative analysis.
Avaliação dos atributos dos serviços de Atenção Primária à Saúde na perspectiva dos profissionais de saúde
Authors: Barra Jhayne Fonda , Laurindo Cosme Rezende , Garcia Mariana Coelho Moura , Carbogim Fábio da Costa , Nascimento Thiago Cesar , Silva Simone Albino da , Silva Érika Andrade e , Leite Isabel Cristina Gonçalves , Lanza Fernanda Moura , Coelho Angélica da Conceição Oliveira
Published: December 2024

Objective: To assess the presence and extent of primary health care (PHC) attributes from the perspective of health professionals. Methods: This is an analytical cross-sectional study, carried out through the self-application of the Primary Care Assessment Tool (PCATool-Brasil) questionnaire, in the health professional’s version. General, essential and derived scores were assigned to each attribute. Results: General score indicated low performance for PHC. Essential attributes Ongoing care, Coordination of Services (information systems), Comprehensiveness (services available) and derived attributes (Family-centeredness and Community orientation) showed high orientation. Family Health Teams showed significantly higher scores in the attributes Ongoing care, Comprehensiveness (services provided) and Family-centeredness. Presence of specialization and residency in family health was positively associated with the attributes Ongoing care and Coordination of Services (integration of care). Conclusions: The study identified the presence and extension of the attributes, pointed out weaknesses, potentialities and possibilities for the services, both at the organizational level and as in the work process of the professionals. The qualification of professionals was associated with better results.
Tendência das internações por leishmaniose visceral na população brasileira, 2010-2019
Authors: Cantanhede Joycilene Garces , Rodrigues Lívia dos Santos , Costa Luciana Cavalcante , D’Eça Júnior Aurean , Salvador Emanuel Pericles
Published: December 2024

Introduction: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a serious parasitic disease with potential evolutionto death. Objective: analyze the trend of hospitalizations for VL in Brazil from 2010 to 2019. Methodology: this is an ecological study of time series, using data from the SUS Hospital Information System (SIH/SUS). The hospitalization rate per Brazilian state was calculated for each year in the selected period. The hospitalization rate trend was analyzed by Prais-Winsten regression using Stata 14.0. Results: In Brazil, 24,259 hospitalizations due to VL were registered between 2010 and 2019. The lowest number of cases occurred in the state of Amapá (4 cases), while the highest number occurred in the state of Maranhão (3,601 cases). Analyzing the hospitalization rates for VL, the highest rates were observed in the state of Tocantins and the lowest rates in Paraná (Table 2). There was an increasing trend of hospitalization for VL in the states of Paraíba, Pernambuco, Alagoas, Rio Grande do Sul and Goiás, and decreasing in the states of São Paulo, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul and the Federal District. Conclusion: The trend of hospitalizations was increasing in five states of Brazil and decreasing in four of them. The other Brazilian states showed a stable trend.
Uso irregular de protetor solar e fatores associados em adultos e idosos: estudo de base populacional no Sul do Brasil
Authors: Sasso Sergio Emerson , Meller Fernanda de Oliveira , Quadra Micaela Rabelo , Petry Sofia Garbin , Schäfer Antônio Augusto
Published: December 2024

Introduction: The southern region leads skin cancer statistics in Brazil, with multiple factors related to this predisposition. Ultraviolet radiation is the main modifiable risk factor, and regular use of sunscreens has proven effective in reducing risk. Despite this, the prevalence of irregular sunscreen use has been higher than desired. Objective: To evaluate the association between irregular sunscreen use and sociodemographic, behavioral, and health characteristics in adults and older individuals. Method: A cross-sectional population-based study conducted in 2019 with adult residents in the urban area of Criciúma, state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. The outcome variable was irregular use of sunscreens. Exposure variables included sex, age, skin color, education, income, paid work, smoking, household registration in a Primary Health Care unit, access to supplementary health insurance, preventive medical and dental visits in the last year, walking in leisure time, commuting on foot or by bicycle, sufficient physical activity, personal history of cancer of any organ and the skin. To assess the association between irregular sunscreen use and these variables, crude and adjusted analyses were performed using Poisson Regression with a significance level of 5%. Results: In total, 820 individuals were studied. The prevalence of irregular sunscreen use was 52.8%. Factors associated with an increased prevalence of irregular sunscreen use were: male sex (PR 1.57; 95%CI 1.39-1.77), smoking (PR 1.19; 95%CI 1.03-1.37), being 60 years or older (PR 1.62; 95%CI 1.26-2.09), and lower education (inverse linear trend: p<0.001). On the other hand, having supplementary health insurance (PR 0.84; 95%CI 0.71-0.99) and walking in leisure time (PR 0.76; 95%CI 0.64-0.90) were protective factors. Conclusion: This study allowed us to identify the profile of individuals at higher risk of irregular sunscreen use, representing a potential health benefit by better targeting strategies for preventing skin cancer in older populations and adults.
Europeanization in 21st Century Hong Kong Written Chinese (HKWC)
Authors: Liang Minhua
Published: December 2024

Europeanization of written Chinese refers to the influence of European languages on the Chinese lexicon and syntactic structures. As a regional variety, Hong Kong Written Chinese (HKWC) also possesses various Europeanized features. Most studies have spotted Europeanized features in written Chinese, whereas the consolidation of data sources and updated corpus-based analysis is required. This study fills the gap by tallying the usage frequency and examining the change in the degree of societal acceptance of the significant Europeanized features in HKWC in the 2020s. The usage frequency reveals that some of the debatable features have fallen into disuse, whereas the rest have been legitimized and incorporated as part of the normative standards in today’s HKWC. The corpus-based analysis shows that certain Europeanized features have evolved into new usage. In addition, this study also identifies semantic shift and other contact-induced phenomena resulting from Europeanization.
Freedom of Association in France: A Freedom in Danger?
Authors: Barbé Vanessa
Published: December 2024

Freedom of association has been an important fundamental right in France since a landmark ruling by the Constitutional Court in 1971. In that decision, the Court not only ruled that freedom of association was a constitutional right that was not explicitly mentioned in the Constitution, but also that the Constitutional Court could overrule an Act of Parliament if it was incompatible with such a fundamental constitutional right. That kind of ‘Marbury v Madison’ decision was a small revolution in France. In 1971, it was the first time that a piece of legislation was annulled by the Constitutional Court because it was incompatible with a fundamental right when Parliament wanted to change the system of declaration of associations into a system of authorisation. Nevertheless, since 2017, there has never been such a high number of dissolutions of associations. Moreover, since the statute against separatism in August 2021, there has been a new ground to dissolve associations that “provoke armed demonstrations or acts of violence against persons or property.” The change in the law in 2021 has led to a marked increase in the number of dissolutions, which might lead one to believe that freedom of association is under threat in France.
Notes on the Force of Black Domesticity
Authors: Jordan Taryn D.
Published: December 2024

Drawing on histories of black domesticity, Simone de Beauvoir’s writings about woman’s situation in housework, and Angela Y. Davis’s refutation of the myth of the black matriarch, this article argues that the force of the black domestic is elusive because it cannot be understood through immanence and transcendence. Through an alternative logic based on black female presence that exceeds the confines of the human, the force of black domesticity emerges as a proliferation of objects that endure the test of time.
Mémoire, genre et activisme
Authors: Silva de Sousa Igor Thiago , Rousseau Déus Frantz
Published: December 2024

Cet article analyse les luttes menées par des casseuses de noix de babassu pour leurs territoires dans l’État de Maranhão, au Brésil. L’analyse est basée sur les réflexions de deux femmes noires casseuses de noix de babassu et sur les témoignages de Maria do Rosário et Rosalva Gomes. Il est possible de problématiser les processus d’organisation des luttes collectives des casseuses de babassu du Maranhão et la manière dont ces femmes ont résisté à la violence, à la fois sur les plans personnel et communautaire.
‘Shut up and Resign’: a Contrastive Investigation of Gender-Based Online Aggression on Twitter in Spanish vs. Greek
Authors: Vladimirou Dimitra , Fernández-Amaya Lucía
Published: December 2024

Violence against Women in Politics has emerged as an interdisciplinary field of research of global relevance (Esposito and Zollo 2021). The present paper aims to contribute to this field, adopting a linguistically-anchored, doubly contrastive angle to the study of gender-based online aggression. Borrowing our conceptual tools from feminist pragmatics (Christie, 2000), language aggression and impoliteness research (Bou-Franch, 2014; Bou-Franch and Garcés-Conejos Blitvitch, 2014; Culpeper, 2011) and inspired by insights from Social Media Critical Discourse Studies (SM-CDS) (KhosraviNik and Esposito, 2018), we explore how Spanish-speaking and Greek-speaking Twitter users target two female politicians positioned at opposite ends of the political spectrum: the Spanish left-wing former MP, Irene Montero and the Greek right-wing MP, Niki Kerameus. The results reveal that, despite the opposing social values and ideological positionings reflected in the tweets examined, misogynistic abuse anchored in sexist representations of women emerges as a salient shared strategy in both Spanish-speaking and Greek-speaking datasets.
A Newly Discovered Binding Fragment of Talmud Yerushalmi Shevuot (Vat. ebr. 726, f. 6r–v)
Authors: Katz Menachem , Golinkin David
Published: December 2024

The current contribution is aimed at publishing a Talmudic fragment that was discovered in strips in a repository of scattered fragmentary materials located in the Vatican Library’s Restoration Workshop in May 2023. The fragment once belonged to a late twelfth century Ashkenazi testimony of the Talmud Yerushalmi. While the Babylonian Talmud has been preserved in 68 manuscripts and thousands of fragments from the Cairo Genizah and the European Genizah, the Talmud Yerushalmi has only been preserved in one complete Italian manuscript from 1289 (Leiden Or. 4720), two partial manuscripts (Vat. ebr. 133 and Escorial G 1.3.1), along with 61 Cairo Genizah fragments and 18 European Genizah fragments. Therefore, every newly discovered fragment of the TY is of particular importance.
Description of a new subspecies of Lethe gemina Leech, 1891 from northern Guangdong of China (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae, Satyrinae)
Authors: XUE GUO-XI , LIU ZHI-FA , LI XIAO-JUAN , LI MENG
Published: December 2024

Based upon morphological and molecular evidences, a new subspecies of Lethe gemina Leech, 1891, namely L. gemina bicolor subsp. nov., is described from northern Guangdong Province of China. The adults and genitalia of both sexes are illustrated. Differences in wing patterns of this new taxon and the seven known subspecies of L. gemina are discussed.
Looking Into the Abyss—How Many Species of Biting Midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) Are There? Their Remarkable Diversity in Costa Rica and Elsewhere
Authors: BORKENT ART , SPINELLI GUSTAVO R. , DÍAZ FLORENTINA , STEINKE DIRK , PEREZ KATE H.J. , STUR ELISABETH , HALLWACHS WINNIE , JANZEN DANIEL H.
Published: December 2024

The biting midges (Ceratopogonidae) are one of the most species-rich families of insects on the planet with over 6,200 named species. However, their true diversity is unknown and this paper is the first to address the question. Our systematic study of the family in Costa Rica indicates that 192 species were present in a four hectare area of cloudforest at Zurquí de Moravia, at 1,600 m after a year of intensive sampling. Combined with a collection from a single Malaise trap at Tapantí for one year, about 40 kms away and also at 1,600 m, the total was 245 species with significant differences between the two areas and with the strong majority unnamed. This compares to 430 named species for all of Costa Rica and 1,314 for the entire Neotropical Region. Barcoding of 221,407 specimens from Costa Rica similarly indicates large numbers of unnamed species with 4,023 BINs present. On this basis, we project at least 5,000 species in Costa Rica and using ratios of named species here and elsewhere, we suggest that nearly 73,000 are present worldwide. Details from Malaise traps in the Área de Conservación Guanacaste also indicate various levels of endemism. Samples from Bolivia support an interpretation of high diversity.
The diversification of the family was examined by comparing phyletic lineages, rather than merely comparing numbers of species in various genera, providing insight as to why some lineages are more diverse than others. Zoogeographic patterns of named species suggest stronger southern connections for Costa Rican Ceratopogonidae in both cloudforest habitats as well as the country as a whole, although many are also more broadly distributed north and south of the country. Comparisons between various collecting methods at Zurquí de Moravia indicate the efficacy of Malaise traps but also the importance of light traps and other methods in sampling adults of Ceratopogonidae. Phenological data from the Malaise traps in the Área de Conservación Guanacaste suggest some patterns of emergence of adults in Costa Rica, the first for any tropical country anywhere.
DNEA: an R package for fast and versatile data-driven network analysis of metabolomics data
Authors: Patsalis Christopher , Iyer Gayatri , Brandenburg Marci , Karnovsky Alla , Michailidis George
Published: December 2024

Background

Metabolomics is a high-throughput technology that measures small molecule metabolites in cells, tissues or biofluids. Analysis of metabolomics data is a multi-step process that involves data processing, quality control and normalization, followed by statistical and bioinformatics analysis. The latter step often involves pathway analysis to aid biological interpretation of the data. This approach is limited to endogenous metabolites that can be readily mapped to metabolic pathways. An alternative to pathway analysis that can be used for any classes of metabolites, including unknown compounds that are ubiquitous in untargeted metabolomics data, involves defining metabolite-metabolite interactions using experimental data. Our group has developed several network-based methods that use partial correlations of experimentally determined metabolite measurements. These were implemented in CorrelationCalculator and Filigree, two software tools for the analysis of metabolomics data we developed previously. The latter tool implements the Differential Network Enrichment Analysis (DNEA) algorithm. This analysis is useful for building differential networks from metabolomics data containing two experimental groups and identifying differentially enriched metabolic modules. While Filigree is a user-friendly tool, it has certain limitations when used for the analysis of large-scale metabolomics datasets.

Results

We developed the DNEA R package for the data-driven network analysis of metabolomics data. We present the DNEA workflow and functionality, algorithm enhancements implemented with respect to the package’s predecessor, Filigree, and discuss best practices for analyses. We tested the performance of the DNEA R package and illustrated its features using publicly available metabolomics data from the environmental determinants of diabetes in the young. To our knowledge, this package is the only publicly available tool designed for the construction of biological networks and subsequent enrichment testing for datasets containing exogenous, secondary, and unknown compounds. This greatly expands the scope of traditional enrichment analysis tools that can be used to analyze a relatively small set of well-annotated metabolites.

Conclusions

The DNEA R package is a more flexible and powerful implementation of our previously published software tool, Filigree. The modular structure of the package, along with the parallel processing framework built into the most computationally extensive steps of the algorithm, make it a powerful tool for the analysis of large and complex metabolomics datasets.
A brief effective screening protocol for identifying cataract patients with binocular vision anomalies
Authors: Tan Qing-Qing , Tan Jia-Hao , Luo Chang-Kang , Lai Chun-Yan , Zhao Wei , Lan Chang-Jun , Lewis James , Aljohani Saeed , Liao Xuan , Scheiman Mitchell
Published: December 2024

Background

To compare the effectiveness of a brief binocular vision screening protocol to a comprehensive examination for detecting binocular vision anomalies before and after cataract surgery.

Methods

A comprehensive binocular vision test battery as a gold standard were administered on recruited patients before the first surgery and at the third visit after surgery on the second eye. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted to illustrate the diagnostic ability of each test. In addition, a univariate logistic regression analysis was performed to further determine the contribution of each preoperative test to the prediction of pre- and post-surgical binocular vision anomalies.

Results

Significant differences were shown for the difference in phoria from distance to near measured by the cover test (Area Under Curve [AUC] = 0.96, P < 0.01), step vergence testing of positive fusional vergence at distance (AUC = 0.71, P < 0.01) and near (AUC = 0.77, P < 0.01). The other tests did not show statistically significant differences. The ROC curve generated by combining the difference in distance and near phoria with positive fusional vergence at both distance and near demonstrated a more robust measure of diagnostic accuracy. (AUC = 0.98, P < 0.01).

Conclusion

Distance and near phoria difference measured by cover test has similar effectiveness as a comprehensive binocular vision testing protocol for the diagnosis of binocular vision anomalies. Distance and near positive fusional vergence measured by step vergence testing also have significant predictive value. A combination of the two tests is an outstanding screening protocol for binocular vision anomalies before cataract surgery.

Trial registration

The study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03592615, Date of registration: July 19, 2018).
Effect of antipsychotic on mismatch negativity amplitude and evoked theta power in drug-naïve patients with schizophrenia
Authors: Xiong Yan-Bing , Bo Qi-Jing , Li Xian-Bin , Liu Yi , Guo Qi-Bo , Wang Chuan-Yue
Published: December 2024

Background

Recurrent observations have indicated the presence of deficits in mismatch negativity (MMN) among schizophrenia. There is evidence suggesting a correlation between increased dopaminergic activity and reduced MMN amplitude, but there is no consensus on whether antipsychotic medications can improve MMN deficit in schizophrenia.

Methods

We conducted clinical assessments, cognitive function tests, and EEG data collection and analysis on 31 drug-naïve patients with schizophrenia. Comprehensive evaluation tools such as PANSS and MCCB. MMN amplitude was analyzed by event-related potential (ERP) approaches, evoked theta power was analyzed by event-related spectral perturbation (ERSP) approaches.

Results

Our findings indicate that antipsychotic treatment significantly improved clinical symptoms, as evidenced by reductions in PANSS positive, negative, general symptoms, and total scores (all p < 0.001). Cognitive function improvements were observed in language learning, working memory, and overall MCCB scores (p < 0.05), although other cognitive domains showed no significant changes. However, no significant improvements were noted in MMN amplitude and evoke theta power after four weeks of antipsychotic treatment (p > 0.05).

Conclusion

These results suggest that while antipsychotic medications effectively alleviate clinical symptoms, their impact on MMN amplitude and evoke theta power deficit is limited in the short term. Moreover, the amelioration of cognitive impairment in individuals with schizophrenia is not readily discernible, and it cannot be discounted that the enhancement observed in language acquisition and working memory may be attributed to a learning effect. These findings underscore the complexity of the neurobiological mechanisms involved and highlight the need for further research to optimize individualized treatment strategies for schizophrenia.

Trial Registration

ChiCTR2000038961, October 10, 2020.
Psychological therapy for the prevention of suicide in prison: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Pratt Daniel , Kirkpatrick Tim , Awenat Yvonne , Hendricks Caroline , Perry Amanda , Carter Leslie-Anne , Crook Rebecca , Duxbury Paula , Lennox Charlotte , Knowles Sarah , Brooks Helen , Davies Linda , Shields Gemma , Honeywell David , Appleby Louis , Gooding Patricia , Edge Dawn , Emsley Richard , Shaw Jenny , Haddock Gillian
Published: December 2024

Background

Suicide is the leading cause of preventable death in prisons. Deaths from suicide in prison are significantly, and persistently, elevated compared to those living in the community. Psychological therapies have been shown to be a potentially effective means of alleviating suicidal thoughts, plans and behaviours, but patients located in prison often have no access to evidence-based psychological interventions targeting suicide. The objectives of this programme of research are to investigate the clinical and cost effectiveness of a new psychological therapy programme delivered to male prisoners at risk of suicide.

Methods

The PROSPECT trial is a two-armed single blind, pragmatic, randomised controlled trial and will recruit a target sample size of 360 male prisoners, identified as at-risk of suicide, across 4 prisons in the North of England. Participants will be randomised to receive a psychological talking therapy (Cognitive Behavioural Suicide Prevention, CBSP) plus treatment as usual, or treatment as usual alone. Co-primary outcomes (Suicide Ideation and Suicide Behaviours), as well as related secondary outcomes, will be assessed at baseline and at 6-months follow-up. An intention to treat analysis will be conducted with primary stratification based on prison site and lifetime history of suicide attempt (yes/no). A nested qualitative process evaluation will investigate the nature and context in which the intervention is delivered, with specific focus upon the facilitators and barriers to the implementation of the therapy within prisons.

Discussion

The key outputs from this trial will be to determine whether a psychological therapy for suicidal prisoners is clinically and cost effective; and to generate a project implementation platform that identifies how best to implement the new intervention across the broader prison estate.

Trial registration

ISRCTN (reference ISRCTN14056534 https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN14056534; 24th September 2021). Registration confirmed prior to participant recruitment commencing. Modifications to protocol are listed on the study website at ISRCTN.
Efficacy and safety of a non-immersive virtual reality-based neuropsychological intervention for cognitive stimulation and relaxation in patients with critical illness: study protocol of a randomized clinical trial (RGS-ICU)
Authors: Godoy-González Marta , López-Aguilar Josefina , Fernández-Gonzalo Sol , Gomà Gemma , Blanch Lluís , Brandi Santiago , Ramírez Sergi , Blasi Joel , Verschure Paul , Rialp Gemma , Roca Miquel , Gili Margalida , Jodar Mercè , Navarra-Ventura Guillem
Published: December 2024

Background

Experiencing a critical illness may be a stressful life event that is also associated with cognitive dysfunction during and after the intensive care unit (ICU) stay. A deep-tech solution based on non-immersive virtual reality, gamification and motion capture called Rehabilitation Gaming System for Intensive Care Units (RGS-ICU) has been developed that includes both cognitive stimulation and relaxation protocols specifically designed for patients with critical illness. This study aims to evaluate whether the cognitive and relaxation protocols of the RGS-ICU platform are 1) effective in improving neuropsychological outcomes during and after ICU stay and 2) safe for patients with critical illness.

Methods

This is a study protocol for a multicenter longitudinal randomized clinical trial. At least 80 patients with critical illness will be included: 40 experimental subjects and 40 control subjects. Patients in the experimental group will receive daily 20-min sessions of cognitive stimulation and relaxation with the RGS-ICU platform adjuvant to standard ICU care in their own rooms during the ICU stay and until discharge from the ICU or up to a maximum of 28 days after randomization, provided they are alert and calm. Patients in the experimental group will be constantly monitored as part of standard ICU care to ensure the safety of the intervention and that no avoidable adverse events occur. Patients in the control group will receive standard ICU care. The primary outcome is objective cognition 12 months after ICU discharge, assessed with a composite index including measures of attention, working memory, learning/memory, executive function and processing speed. The secondary outcome is the safety of the intervention, assessed by considering the number of sessions terminated early due to unsafe events in physiological parameters. Other outcomes are comfort experienced during the ICU stay, and subjective cognition, mental health (anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder), functionality and health-related quality of life 12 months after ICU discharge.

Discussion

The expected results are 1) better neuropsychological outcomes during and after the ICU stay in patients in the experimental group compared to patients in the control group and 2) that the cognitive and relaxation protocols of the RGS-ICU platform are safe for patients with critical illness.

Trial registration

Clinicaltrials.gov NCT06267911. Registered on February 20, 2024.
Investigating stress, anxiety, and coping strategies among higher education students in extreme contexts: insights from Romania during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Simionescu Mihaela , Mahmoud Ali B. , Strielkowski Wadim , Jula Nicolae-Marius
Published: December 2024

Background

Using the perspective of the recent COVID-19 pandemic, which represents a public health challenge that also affects education and the psychological well-being of students, this paper aims to assess the vulnerability to anxiety and stress of the Romanian students from the Faculty of Administration and Business of the University of Bucharest pursuing their degrees in administration and business.

Methods

Our study is based on the results of the survey that was administered to a sample of 422 students (39.6% females and 60.4% males) selected from the pool of 2000 recruited respondents. We employed the ANOVA/linear Dependent Dirichlet Process mixture model to explain the causes of stress and anxiety after various grouping variables represented by gender, specialisation, as well as labour market status.

Results

Our results revealed that more than 80% of the students in the sample yielded medium and high vulnerability to stress, while 64% of the respondents were affected by severe anxiety (high frequency of psychological, social, and physical problems that were difficult for them to control). The most important stressors were the fear of getting infected and social distancing, while self-control was considered the most effective coping strategy by 62.6% of employed students.

Conclusions

These results allow us to provide practical recommendations for effectively coping with stress and anxiety among students in Romania and beyond and to help stakeholders and policymakers design strategies for strengthening students’ resilience, mental health, and well-being in case of future pandemics or other extreme contexts.
Impact of the input of women’s working hours on household non-economic welfare
Authors: Chu Liming , Zhang Qi
Published: December 2024

Background

The economic functions of families are strengthened by the labor supply of family members. However, an in-depth discussion can still be held on the impact of the labor supply of family members on the non-economic functions of families, such as residential, social and psychological functions. This paper sought to understand the household non-economic welfare of women’s working hours. In addition, the household non-economic welfare effects of women’s working hours in terms of subdividing women’s working hours and fine-tuning household non-economic welfare were explored. The residential, social and psychological effects of women’s working hours were clarified.

Method

This paper addressed the above problems based on Sen’s welfare theory and Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory, adopted the feasible ability method, and used nationally representative, timely survey data and data from the 2014–2018 China Family Panel Studies (CFPS).

Results

In this study, it was shown that the psychological effects of women’s working hours are the largest on average, with an average increase of one hour per week boosting psychological effects by 0.53%. The impact of women’s working hours on both residential and social effects has the extreme points of 68.78 and 35.89 h, respectively. By the interval, the residential effects of women’s working hours are 12.7-16.2% compared with those of weekly working hours shorter than 30 h. Additionally, women’s weekly working hours of more than 60 h have the greatest impact on residential effects, which is 16.2%. From the perspective of gender, the residential effects of women’s working hours are above those of men’s working hours. Compared to weekly working hours of less than 30 h, the social and psychological effects of women’s working hours are weaker than those of men’s working hours.

Conclusions

This study not only contributes to the understanding of contributions to households from the perspective of labor value but also provides lessons for enhancing household non-economic welfare.

Contributions to the literature

Limited evidence shows the contributions of working hours and healthy family development in social policies.Women’s working hours increase the residential, social and psychological effects of families. Psychological effects are the largest, with an average increase of one hour per week being associated with an increase of 0.53% in psychological effects. The impact of women’s working hours on subjective health is lower than that of men’s working hours.Few studies systematically analyze the impact of women’s working hours on family residence, socialization and subjective health, and thus target family-friendly policies.