bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Spatial Distribution of Gamma Dose Rates and Radioactivity Levels in Some Parts of Iju Community in Ado-Odo Ota, Ogun State
Authors: Omeje M. , Adewoyin O. O. , Ekwueme B. N. , Soheil S. , Okafor I. F. , George G. C. , Ukaegbu T. M. , Promise N. A. O. , Tenebe I. T. , Odokuma O. E.
Published: May 2024

This study investigates the background dose rates and radiological risk exposure to Iju community in Ado-Odo Ota. Using a hand-held calibrated gamma detector (RS-125 Gamma-Spec), the study area’s outdoor gamma dose rates and radionuclide activity concentrations of 40K, 238-U, and 32-Th were measured in situ. The results showed differing activities of the primordial radionuclides (40-K, 238-U, and 232-Th) with average values lying within the recommended limits, with the exception of 40K, which geologically can be caused by regional subsidence while on marine transgression. Based on statistical analysis, the correlation results verified that 40K, 238-U, and 232-Th were the primary causes of the elevated outdoor dose rates at Iju community. The International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) specified allowable limits for radiation exposure, and the estimated mean hazard indices for the increased lifetime cancer risk in the research area exceeded these limitations. In order to ensure sufficient radiation protection, the research area needs attention right away.
Disaster Resilient Infrastructure: A Bibliometric Analysis of Global Research Trends
Authors: Adejola F. O. , Ngaunje S. , Ogunlolu A. , Aliu U. I. , Ajiferuke O. O. , Adetoro O. C. , Omoniwa F. H. , Sofolahan O. , Miju R. B. , Olagunju O. , Akinola G. , Tunji-Olayeni P. F.
Published: May 2024

The vital role of infrastructure in the delivery of essential services and the severity of disasters globally calls for more research and discourse on disaster resilient infrastructure. Despite the increasing body of knowledge on disaster resilient infrastructure, an assessment of research on the subject is lacking. This study fills this gap by assessing the global research trend in disaster resilient infrastructure. The study adopted a bibliometric analysis with the use of the VOSviewer. The main search words used in the study were “Disaster”, “Resilient”, AND “Infrastructure. Initial extracted papers with these keywords were 1041. After refining based on language, document type, and key words, a total of 278 papers were found suitable for the analysis. The years 2020 to 2022 indicated the highest research outputs while countries with highest number of publication on the subject of disaster-resilient infrastructure were the United States, United Kingdom and Japan. Most of the highly cited works were review-based, case studies and a few experimental. The findings of this study serve as a source of baseline data on disaster resilient infrastructure which can provide new research directions and also guide the design and implementation of policies on disaster-resilient infrastructure.
Amino-functionalized graphene quantum dots as a photoluminescent probe for in vitro cellular imaging of human lung cancer cell lines
Authors: Anjusha A J , Ashraf M , Pandi M , Dhanapandian S , Krishnakumar N
Published: May 2024

Graphene-based fluorescent materials, particularly graphene quantum dots (GQDs), have emerged as a new class of biomedical agents. In the present study, functionalised GQDs have a better chance of being employed in a broader range of bioapplications because of their proven low toxicity, outstanding biocompatibility, and enhanced fluorescence properties. For this purpose, amino-functionalised GQDs (AF-GQDs) were synthesised via hydrothermal treatment by treating graphene oxide in ammonia with heat and water. The as-prepared AF-GQDs samples were characterised using a variety of techniques, including x-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. The results show that AF-GQDs are merely hexagonal, with an average size of about 8 nm. Also, AF-GQDs are highly soluble in water and display excellent luminescence behaviour. After 48 h of incubation, the MTT results showed that more than 63% of the cells were still alive, even at high concentrations (500 g ml−1) of AF-GQDs. In addition, the AO/EB staining results also showed that the AF-GQDs had the most robust green fluorescence (viable cells). This makes them a promising agent for biomedical imaging because they have good optical properties, are readily soluble in water, are biocompatible, and are not toxic.
Isolation and characterization of banyan tree root filler for polymer composites in light-weight applications
Authors: Sivaram R Nalaeram , Thiagamani Senthil Muthu Kumar , Khan Anish , Ayrilmis Nadir
Published: May 2024

The applicability of bio fillers as reinforcement with polymers is promoted by economic and ecological concerns. Nowadays, a large range of reinforcements are employed for this purpose, including cellulosic fillers and natural fibres owing to the favorable mechanical behavior, cheap price, negligible tool wear, low density, and eco-friendliness etc. The motive of this investigation is to explore the possibilities of utilizing plant sources as reinforcing filler in polymeric matrices. In this study particulate fillers were obtained from banyan tree’s aerial roots and were subjected to various characterization such as physiochemical evaluation, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), x-ray diffraction (XRD), thermal analysis (TGA), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). From the physiochemical analysis it was found that the banyan tree aerial root filler (BTAR) contained 40.13% of Cellulose, 15.22% of Hemicellulose, 15.31% of Lignin and 6.86% of Pectin. The density of the BTAR filler was found to be 0.27 gm cc−1 whereas the average particle size was 136.3 μm. The maximum inflection temperature referred to the maximum degradation of the BTAR filler was 295.7 °C. The SEM analysis exposed the rough surface of filler, with micro-structured strands and pores. The rough surface and the pores could help in better bond ability of the matrix and reinforcement when combined. Given the features of the examined BTAR filler, it is suggested as potential reinforcing filler for polymer composites to strengthen material properties for different light weight applications.
Enhancing performance and longevity of solid-state zinc-iodine batteries with fluorine-rich solid electrolyte interphase
Authors: Huang Yongxin , Wang Yiqing , Peng Xiyue , Lin Tongen , Huang Xia , Alghamdi Norah S , Rana Masud , Chen Peng , Zhang Cheng , Whittaker Andrew K , Wang Lianzhou , Luo Bin
Published: May 2024

Rechargeable zinc-iodine (ZnI2) batteries have gained popularity within the realm of aqueous batteries due to their inherent advantages, including natural abundance, intrinsic safety, and high theoretical capacity. However, challenges persist in their practical applications, notably battery swelling and vulnerability in aqueous electrolytes, primarily linked to the hydrogen evolution reaction and zinc dendrite growth. To address these challenges, this study presents an innovative approach by designing a solid-state ZnI2 battery featuring a solid perfluoropolyether based polymer electrolyte. The results demonstrate the formation of a solid electrolyte interphase layer on zinc, promoting horizontal zinc growth, mitigating dendrite penetration, and enhancing battery cycle life. Moreover, the solid electrolyte hinders the iodine ion shuttle effect, reducing zinc foil corrosion. Symmetric batteries employing this electrolyte demonstrate excellent cycle performance, maintaining stability for approximately 5000 h at room temperature, while solid-state ZnI2 batteries exhibit over 7000 cycles with a capacity retention exceeding 72.2%. This work offers a promising pathway to achieving reliable energy storage in solid-state ZnI2 batteries and introduces innovative concepts for flexible and wearable zinc batteries.
IQ in high school as a predictor of midlife alcohol drinking patterns
Authors: Druffner Natalie , Egan Donald , Ramamurthy Swetha , O’Brien Justin , Davis Allyson Folsom , Jack Jasmine , Symester Diona , Thomas Kelston , Palka Jayme M , Thakkar Vishal J , Sherwood Brown E
Published: May 2024

Aims

The aim of the present study was to assess the relationship between adolescent IQ and midlife alcohol use and to explore possible mediators of this relationship.

Methods

Study data were from 6300 men and women who participated in the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study of high-school students graduating in 1957. IQ scores were collected during the participants’ junior year of high school. In 2004, participants reported the number of alcoholic beverages consumed (past 30 days) and the number of binge-drinking episodes. A multinomial logistic regression was conducted to determine the relationship between adolescent IQ and future drinking pattern (abstainer, moderate drinker, or heavy drinker), and Poisson regression was used to examine the number of binge-drinking episodes. Two mediators—income and education—were also explored.

Results

Every one-point increase in IQ score was associated with a 1.7% increase in the likelihood of reporting moderate or heavy drinking as compared to abstinence. Those with higher IQ scores also had significantly fewer binge-drinking episodes. Household income, but not education, partially mediated the relationship between IQ and drinking pattern.

Conclusions

The present study suggests that higher adolescent IQ may predict a higher likelihood of moderate or heavy drinking in midlife, but fewer binge-drinking episodes. The study also suggests that this relationship is mediated by other psychosocial factors, specifically income, prompting future exploration of mediators in subsequent studies.
Robotic, transanal, and laparoscopic total mesorectal excision for locally advanced mid/low rectal cancer: European multicentre, propensity score-matched study
Authors: de’Angelis Nicola , Marchegiani Francesco , Martínez-Pérez Aleix , Biondi Alberto , Pucciarelli Salvatore , Schena Carlo Alberto , Pellino Gianluca , Kraft Miquel , van Lieshout Annabel S , Morelli Luca , Valverde Alain , Lupinacci Renato Micelli , Gómez-Abril Segundo A , Persiani Roberto , Tuynman Jurriaan B , Espin-Basany Eloy , Ris Frederic ,   European MRI and Rectal Cancer Surgery (EuMaRCS) Study Group, Bianchi Giorgio , Martí-Martínez Eva , Torres-Sánchez Teresa , Sebastián-Tomás Juan Carlos , Maretto Isacco , Spolverato Gaya , Guadagni Simone , Solis Alejandro
Published: May 2024

Background

Total mesorectal excision (TME) is the standard surgery for low/mid locally advanced rectal cancer. The aim of this study was to compare three minimally invasive surgical approaches for TME with primary anastomosis (laparoscopic TME, robotic TME, and transanal TME).

Methods

Records of patients undergoing laparoscopic TME, robotic TME, or transanal TME between 2013 and 2022 according to standardized techniques in expert centres contributing to the European MRI and Rectal Cancer Surgery III (EuMaRCS-III) database were analysed. Propensity score matching was applied to compare the three groups with respect to the complication rate (primary outcome), conversion rate, postoperative recovery, and survival.

Results

A total of 468 patients (mean(s.d.) age of 64.1(11) years) were included; 190 (40.6%) patients underwent laparoscopic TME, 141 (30.1%) patients underwent robotic TME, and 137 (29.3%) patients underwent transanal TME. Comparative analyses after propensity score matching demonstrated a higher rate of postoperative complications for laparoscopic TME compared with both robotic TME (OR 1.80, 95% c.i. 1.11–2.91) and transanal TME (OR 2.87, 95% c.i. 1.72–4.80). Robotic TME was associated with a lower rate of grade A anastomotic leakage (2%) compared with both laparoscopic TME (8.8%) and transanal TME (8.1%) (P = 0.031). Robotic TME (1.4%) and transanal TME (0.7%) were both associated with a lower conversion rate to open surgery compared with laparoscopic TME (8.8%) (P < 0.001). Time to flatus and duration of hospital stay were shorter for patients treated with transanal TME (P = 0.003 and 0.001 respectively). There were no differences in operating time, intraoperative complications, blood loss, mortality, readmission, R0 resection, or survival.

Conclusion

In this multicentre, retrospective, propensity score-matched, cohort study of patients with locally advanced rectal cancer, newer minimally invasive approaches (robotic TME and transanal TME) demonstrated improved outcomes compared with laparoscopic TME.
Assessing the cortical microstructure in contralesional sensorimotor areas after stroke
Authors: Wróbel Paweł P , Guder Stephanie , Feldheim Jan F , Graterol Pérez Jose A , Frey Benedikt M , Choe Chi-un , Bönstrup Marlene , Cheng Bastian , Rathi Yogesh , Pasternak Ofer , Thomalla Götz , Gerloff Christian , Shenton Martha E , Schulz Robert
Published: May 2024

Cortical thickness analyses have provided valuable insights into changes in cortical brain structure after stroke and their association with recovery. Across studies though, relationships between cortical structure and function show inconsistent results. Recent developments in diffusion-weighted imaging of the cortex have paved the way to uncover hidden aspects of stroke-related alterations in cortical microstructure, going beyond cortical thickness as a surrogate for cortical macrostructure. Animal data obtained in rats and monkeys have evidenced that contralesional motor areas undergo degenerative alterations in their microstructure which are accompanied by compensatory changes as well. We hypothesized that cortical diffusion imaging can detect similar changes in human stroke survivors. We re-analysed clinical and imaging data of 42 well-recovered chronic stroke patients from two independent cohorts (mean age 64 years, 4 left-handed, 71% male, 16 right-sided strokes) and 33 healthy controls of similar age and gender. Cortical fractional anisotropy, axial diffusivity, radial diffusivity and cortical thickness values were obtained for six key sensorimotor areas of the contralesional hemisphere. The regions included the primary motor cortex, dorsal and ventral premotor cortex, supplementary and pre-supplementary motor areas and primary somatosensory cortex. Linear models were estimated for group comparisons between patients and controls and for correlations between cortical fractional anisotropy, axial diffusivity, radial diffusivity and cortical thickness and clinical scores. Against our hypothesis, we did not find any significant alterations in contralesional cortical microstructure after stroke. Likewise, we did not detect any correlations between cortical microstructure and behavioural scores. Future analyses are warranted to investigate whether such alterations might occur in different populations, e.g. in later stages of recovery, in more severely impaired patients, or only in the ipsilesional hemisphere in patients with specific lesion patterns.
Interactions between physical exercise, associative memory, and genetic risk for Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Igloi Kinga , Marin Bosch Blanca , Kuenzi Noémie , Thomas Aurélien , Lauer Estelle , Bringard Aurélien , Schwartz Sophie
Published: May 2024

The ε4 allele of the APOE gene heightens the risk of late onset Alzheimer’s disease. ε4 carriers, may exhibit cognitive and neural changes early on. Given the known memory-enhancing effects of physical exercise, particularly through hippocampal plasticity via endocannabinoid signaling, here we aimed to test whether a single session of physical exercise may benefit memory and underlying neurophysiological processes in young ε3 carriers (ε3/ε4 heterozygotes, risk group) compared with a matched control group (homozygotes for ε3). Participants underwent fMRI while learning picture sequences, followed by cycling or rest before a memory test. Blood samples measured endocannabinoid levels. At the behavioral level, the risk group exhibited poorer associative memory performance, regardless of the exercising condition. At the brain level, the risk group showed increased medial temporal lobe activity during memory retrieval irrespective of exercise (suggesting neural compensatory effects even at baseline), whereas, in the control group, such increase was only detectable after physical exercise. Critically, an exercise-related endocannabinoid increase correlated with task-related hippocampal activation in the control group only. In conclusion, healthy young individuals carrying the ε4 allele may present suboptimal associative memory performance (when compared with homozygote ε3 carriers), together with reduced plasticity (and functional over-compensation) within medial temporal structures.
The Impact of Firm Heterogeneity on International Risk-Sharing
Authors: Chang Ming-Jen , Chen Shikuan , Wu Yen-Chen
Published: May 2024

This study is significant as it explores whether firm heterogeneity with non-tradable goods and financial integration contributes to better international risk-sharing. We construct a dynamic stochastic general equilibrium framework to examine the impact of wealth effects on international risk-sharing. Our findings reveal that the wealth effect is another crucial factor for the limited risk-sharing observed in response to a positive idiosyncratic shock affecting heterogeneous firms, despite the non-tradable goods sector and incomplete financial market being the primary reasons for limited risk-sharing between the two countries. We further investigate the implication of wealth effects for international risk-sharing and demonstrate that financial frictions across borders impede the spillover of wealth effects from the home country to the foreign country, resulting in decreased risk-sharing (the consumption co-movement across countries is low). The impact of wealth effects will be weakened if domestic households prefer to consume more non-tradable or home-produced goods, leading to lower risk-sharing.
Control of sulfur number in sulfur-containing compounds: the effect of base type, equivalent of the base, and reaction solvent in synthesizing linear sulfur
Authors: Nishimura Ryuto , Kobayashi Yuichiro , Kamioka Ryunosuke , Hashimoto Shun , Yamaguchi Hiroyasu
Published: May 2024

Since the properties of sulfur-containing compounds depend on the number of sulfur atoms (sulfur number) contained in the compounds, it is desirable to develop a method to control the sulfur number. A common method for synthesizing sulfur-containing compounds is to mix sulfur with a base to form linear sulfur, which is then reacted with an organic compound to obtain a sulfur-containing compound. In this study, we systematically investigated the relationships between the type of base, equivalent amount of base, the reaction solvent, and the sulfur number in the resulting sulfur-containing compound. The sulfur numbers of sulfur-containing compounds prepared in water were controlled by the equivalent ratio of elemental sulfur (S8) and base. Sulfur-containing compounds with high sulfur values were obtained using solvents with low dielectric constants and with lower base equivalents compared to S8.
Bakry–Émery–Ricci curvature: an alternative network geometry measure in the expanding toolbox of graph Ricci curvatures
Authors: Mondal Madhumita , Samal Areejit , Münch Florentin , Jost Jürgen
Published: May 2024

The characterization of complex networks with tools originating in geometry, for instance through the statistics of so-called Ricci curvatures, is a well established tool of network science. Various types of such Ricci curvatures capture different aspects of network geometry. In the present work, we investigate Bakry–Émery–Ricci curvature, a notion of discrete Ricci curvature that has been studied much in geometry, but so far has not been applied to networks. We explore on standard classes of artificial networks as well as on selected empirical ones to what the statistics of that curvature are similar to or different from that of other curvatures, how it is correlated to other important network measures, and what it tells us about the underlying network. We observe that most vertices typically have negative curvature. Furthermore, the curvature distributions are different for different types of model networks. We observe a high positive correlation between Bakry–Émery–Ricci and both Forman–Ricci and Ollivier–Ricci curvature, and in particular with the augmented version of Forman–Ricci curvature while comparing them for both model and real-world networks. We investigate the correlation of Bakry–Émery–Ricci curvature with degree, clustering coefficient and vertex centrality measures. Also, we investigate the importance of vertices with highly negative curvature values to maintain communication in the network. Additionally, for Forman–Ricci, Augmented Forman–Ricci and Ollivier–Ricci curvature, we compare the robustness of the networks by comparing the sum of the incident edges and the minimum of the incident edges as vertex measures and find that the sum identifies vertices that are important for maintaining the connectivity of the network. The computational time for Bakry–Émery–Ricci curvature is shorter than that required for Ollivier–Ricci curvature but higher than for Augmented Forman–Ricci curvature. We therefore conclude that for empirical network analysis, the latter is the tool of choice.
CoSFISH: a comprehensive reference database of COI and 18S rRNA barcodes for fish
Authors: Wang Yuanyuan , Yang Yexin , Liu Yi , Liu Chao , Xu Meng , Fang Miao , Mu Xidong
Published: May 2024

Fish, being a crucial component of aquatic ecosystems, holds significant importance from both economic and ecological perspectives. However, the identification of fish at the species level remains challenging, and there is a lack of a taxonomically complete and comprehensive reference sequence database for fish. Therefore, we developed CoSFISH, an online fish database. Currently, the database contains 21 535 cytochrome oxidase I sequences and 1074 18S rRNA sequences of 21 589 species, belonging to 8 classes and 90 orders. We additionally incorporate online analysis tools to aid users in comparing, aligning and analyzing sequences, as well as designing primers. Users can upload their own data for analysis, in addition to using the data stored in the database directly. CoSFISH offers an extensive fish database and incorporates online analysis tools, making it a valuable resource for the study of fish diversity, phylogenetics and biological evolution.

Database URL:  http://210.22.121.250:8888/CoSFISH/home/indexPage.
PDB NextGen Archive: centralizing access to integrated annotations and enriched structural information by the Worldwide Protein Data Bank
Authors: Choudhary Preeti , Feng Zukang , Berrisford John , Chao Henry , Ikegawa Yasuyo , Peisach Ezra , Piehl Dennis W , Smith James , Tanweer Ahsan , Varadi Mihaly , Westbrook John D , Young Jasmine Y , Patwardhan Ardan , Morris Kyle L , Hoch Jeffrey C , Kurisu Genji , Velankar Sameer , Burley Stephen K
Published: May 2024

The Protein Data Bank (PDB) is the global repository for public-domain experimentally determined 3D biomolecular structural information. The archival nature of the PDB presents certain challenges pertaining to updating or adding associated annotations from trusted external biodata resources. While each Worldwide PDB (wwPDB) partner has made best efforts to provide up-to-date external annotations, accessing and integrating information from disparate wwPDB data centers can be an involved process. To address this issue, the wwPDB has established the PDB Next Generation (or NextGen) Archive, developed to centralize and streamline access to enriched structural annotations from wwPDB partners and trusted external sources. At present, the NextGen Archive provides mappings between experimentally determined 3D structures of proteins and UniProt amino acid sequences, domain annotations from Pfam, SCOP2 and CATH databases and intra-molecular connectivity information. Since launch, the PDB NextGen Archive has seen substantial user engagement with over 3.5 million data file downloads, ensuring researchers have access to accurate, up-to-date and easily accessible structural annotations.

Database URL: http://www.wwpdb.org/ftp/pdb-nextgen-archive-site
An interactive web application for exploring systemic lupus erythematosus blood transcriptomic diversity
Authors: Bettacchioli Eléonore , Chiche Laurent , Chaussabel Damien , Cornec Divi , Jourde-Chiche Noémie , Rinchai Darawan
Published: May 2024

In the field of complex autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), systems immunology approaches have proven invaluable in translational research settings. Large-scale datasets of transcriptome profiling have been collected and made available to the research community in public repositories, but remain poorly accessible and usable by mainstream researchers. Enabling tools and technologies facilitating investigators’ interaction with large-scale datasets such as user-friendly web applications could promote data reuse and foster knowledge discovery. Microarray blood transcriptomic data from the LUPUCE cohort (publicly available on Gene Expression Omnibus, GSE49454), which comprised 157 samples from 62 adult SLE patients, were analyzed with the third-generation (BloodGen3) module repertoire framework, which comprises modules and module aggregates. These well-characterized samples corresponded to different levels of disease activity, different types of flares (including biopsy-proven lupus nephritis), different auto-antibody profiles and different levels of interferon signatures. A web application was deployed to present the aggregate-level, module-level and gene-level analysis results from LUPUCE dataset. Users can explore the similarities and heterogeneity of SLE samples, navigate through different levels of analysis, test hypotheses and generate custom fingerprint grids and heatmaps, which may be used in reports or manuscripts. This resource is available via this link: https://immunology-research.shinyapps.io/LUPUCE/. This web application can be employed as a stand-alone resource to explore changes in blood transcript profiles in SLE, and their relation to clinical and immunological parameters, to generate new research hypotheses.
Validation of the CREST model and comparison with SCAI shock classification for the prediction of circulatory death in resuscitated out-of-hospital cardiac arrest
Authors: Watson Samuel A , Mohanan Shamika , Abdrazak Muhamad , Roy Roman , Parczewska Alexandra , Kanyal Ritesh , McGarvey Michael , Dworakowski Rafal , Webb Ian , O’Gallagher Kevin , Melikian Narbeh , Auzinger Georg , Patel Sameer , Jaguszewski Miłosz J , Stahl Daniel , Shah Ajay , MacCarthy Philip , Byrne Jonathan , Pareek Nilesh
Published: May 2024

Aims

We validated the CREST model, a 5 variable score for stratifying the risk of circulatory aetiology death (CED) following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) and compared its discrimination with the SCAI shock classification. Circulatory aetiology death occurs in approximately a third of patients admitted after resuscitated OHCA. There is an urgent need for improved stratification of the patient with OHCA on arrival to a cardiac arrest centre to improve patient selection for invasive interventions.

Methods and results

The CREST model and SCAI shock classification were applied to a dual-centre registry of 723 patients with cardiac aetiology OHCA, both with and without ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), between May 2012 and December 2020. The primary endpoint was a 30-day CED. Of 509 patients included (62.3 years, 75.4% male), 125 patients had CREST = 0 (24.5%), 162 had CREST = 1 (31.8%), 140 had CREST = 2 (27.5%), 75 had CREST = 3 (14.7%), 7 had a CREST of 4 (1.4%), and no patients had CREST = 5. Circulatory aetiology death was observed in 91 (17.9%) patients at 30 days [STEMI: 51/289 (17.6%); non-STEMI (NSTEMI): 40/220 (18.2%)]. For the total population, and both NSTEMI and STEMI subpopulations, an increasing CREST score was associated with increasing CED (all P < 0.001). The CREST score and SCAI classification had similar discrimination for the total population [area under the receiver operating curve (AUC) = 0.72/calibration slope = 0.95], NSTEMI cohort (AUC = 0.75/calibration slope = 0.940), and STEMI cohort (AUC = 0.69 and calibration slope = 0.925). Area under the receiver operating curve meta-analyses demonstrated no significant differences between the two classifications.

Conclusion

The CREST model and SCAI shock classification show similar prediction results for the development of CED after OHCA.
Selection leads to false inferences of introgression using popular methods
Authors: Smith Megan L , Hahn Matthew W
Published: May 2024

Detecting introgression between closely related populations or species is a fundamental objective in evolutionary biology. Existing methods for detecting migration and inferring migration rates from population genetic data often assume a neutral model of evolution. Growing evidence of the pervasive impact of selection on large portions of the genome across diverse taxa suggests that this assumption is unrealistic in most empirical systems. Further, ignoring selection has previously been shown to negatively impact demographic inferences (e.g. of population size histories). However, the impacts of biologically realistic selection on inferences of migration remain poorly explored. Here, we simulate data under models of background selection, selective sweeps, balancing selection, and adaptive introgression. We show that ignoring selection sometimes leads to false inferences of migration in popularly used methods that rely on the site frequency spectrum. Specifically, balancing selection and some models of background selection result in the rejection of isolation-only models in favor of isolation-with-migration models and lead to elevated estimates of migration rates. BPP, a method that analyzes sequence data directly, showed false positives for all conditions at recent divergence times, but balancing selection also led to false positives at medium-divergence times. Our results suggest that such methods may be unreliable in some empirical systems, such that new methods that are robust to selection need to be developed.
Spearmint targets microtubules by (−)-carvone
Authors: Hering Nathalie , Schmit Anne-Catherine , Herzog Etienne , Corbin Louis-Thibault , Schmidt-Speicher Leona , Ahrens Ralf , Fauconnier Marie-Laure , Nick Peter
Published: May 2024

Allelopathy can provide sustainable alternatives to herbicides because it is based on specific signals rather than generic toxicity. We show that the allelopathic activity of Spearmint and Watermint is linked with their main compounds, (−)-carvone and (+)-menthofuran, both deriving from (−)-limonene. Germination of Poppy and Cress, and root growth of Arabidopsis thaliana are inhibited by very low concentrations of (−)-carvone, acting even through the gas phase. (+)-Menthofuran is active as well, but at lower efficacy. Using fluorescently tagged marker lines in tobacco BY-2 cells and Arabidopsis roots, we demonstrate a rapid degradation of microtubules and a remodeling of actin filaments in response to (−)-carvone and, to a milder extent, to (+)-menthofuran. This cytoskeletal response is followed by cell death. By means of a Root Chip system, we can follow the tissue dependent response of the cytoskeleton and show a cell-type dependent gradient of sensitivity between meristem and distal elongation zone, accompanied by programmed cell death.
A Culture of Commodification? Labour Rights in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union
Authors: Alexandris Polomarkakis Konstantinos
Published: May 2024

This article examines the deficiencies of the labour rights enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (EU). It draws on the notion of labour as a fictive commodity in order to showcase how labour rights in the Charter can also be framed as being part of a commodification process, owing to a culture of commodification that is prevalent across the various institutions of the EU, and which has influenced the drafting, application and interpretation of those rights. As a result, labour rights may exist, but are only allocated a perfunctory role of maintaining the status of labour as a commodity. Their justiciability is questionable and there are limitations on their scope and direct effect. Finally, labour rights in the Charter are often conceived as subordinate to economic freedoms, exhibiting strong path-dependence and leading to a series of missed opportunities for their decommodifying potential to materialise.
The atmosphere: a transport medium or an active microbial ecosystem?
Authors: Lappan Rachael , Thakar Jordan , Molares Moncayo Laura , Besser Alexi , Bradley James A , Goordial Jacqueline , Trembath-Reichert Elizabeth , Greening Chris
Published: May 2024

The atmosphere may be Earth’s largest microbial ecosystem. It is connected to all of Earth’s surface ecosystems and plays an important role in microbial dispersal on local to global scales. Despite this grand scale, surprisingly little is understood about the atmosphere itself as a habitat. A key question remains unresolved: does the atmosphere simply transport microorganisms from one location to another, or does it harbour adapted, resident, and active microbial communities that overcome the physiological stressors and selection pressures the atmosphere poses to life? Advances in extreme microbiology and astrobiology continue to push our understanding of the limits of life towards ever greater extremes of temperature, pressure, salinity, irradiance, pH, and water availability. Earth’s atmosphere stands as a challenging, but potentially surmountable, extreme environment to harbour living, active, resident microorganisms. Here, we confront the current understanding of the atmosphere as a microbial habitat, highlighting key advances and limitations. We pose major ecological and mechanistic questions about microbial life in the atmosphere that remain unresolved and frame the problems and technical pitfalls that have largely hindered recent developments in this space, providing evidence-based insights to drive future research in this field. New innovations supported by rigorous technical standards are needed to enable progress in understanding atmospheric microorganisms and their influence on global processes of weather, climate, nutrient cycling, biodiversity, and microbial connectivity, especially in the context of rapid global change.
Significant UK Environmental Law Cases 2023–24
Authors: Helme Ned , David Stephanie , Leydon Eleanor , Reynolds Celia
Published: May 2024

This case law overview comments on significant UK environmental law cases for the period 1 April 2023–31 March 2024 (with one exception where a High Court decision within that period was overturned on appeal just after it). It begins with an overarching introduction, which draws some general themes from our selection of cases, focussing on the breadth of environmental law and issues of public concern in public and private law disputes. It then addresses 12 significant cases concerning the accrual of causes of action in private nuisance, whether there is power to vary abatement notices in respect of statutory nuisances, climate change, habitats, flooding, cumulative environmental impact assessment, river basin management plans, storm overflow discharge reduction plans, Regulators’ Codes, and public rights on Dartmoor Commons. It ends with some final thoughts on this year’s cases and the year ahead.
Indoor tent management for extending honey bee research season: benefits and caveats
Authors: Bawden Trevor , Dolezal Adam G , Cook Chelsea N
Published: May 2024

Honey bees are important organisms for research in many fields, including physiology, behavior, and ecology. Honey bee colonies are relatively easy and affordable to procure, manage, and replace. However, some difficulties still exist in honey bee research, specifically that honey bee colonies have a distinct seasonality, especially in temperate regions. Honey bee colonies transition from a large society in which workers have a strict temporal division of labor in the summer, to a group of behaviorally flexible workers who manage the colony over winter. Furthermore, opening colonies or collecting bees when they are outside has the potential to harm the colony because of the disruption in thermoregulation. Here, we present a simple and affordable indoor management method utilizing a mylar tent and controlled environmental conditions that allows bees to freely fly without access to outdoor space. This technique permits research labs to successfully keep several colonies persistently active during winter at higher latitudes. Having an extended research period is particularly important for training students, allowing preliminary experiments to be performed, and developing methods. However, we find distinct behavioral differences in honey bees managed in this situation. Specifically learning and thermoregulatory behaviors were diminished in the bees managed in the tent. Therefore, we recommend caution in utilizing these winter bees for full experiments until more is known. Overall, this method expands the research potential on honey bees, and calls attention to the additional research that is needed to understand how indoor management might affect honey bees.
Combined treatment with amitraz and thymol to manage Varroa destructor mites (Acari: Varroidae) in Apis mellifera honey bee colonies (Hymenoptera: Apidae)
Authors: Aurell Dan , Wall Clint , Bruckner Selina , Williams Geoffrey R
Published: May 2024

The parasitic mite Varroa destructor (Anderson and Trueman) is one of the greatest stressors of Apis mellifera (L.) honey bee colonies. When Varroa infestations reach damaging levels during fall, rapid control is necessary to minimize damage to colonies. We performed a field trial in the US Southeast to determine if a combination of registered treatments (Apivar, amitraz-based; and Apiguard, thymol-based) could provide rapid and effective control of Varroa. We compared colonies that received this combination treatment against colonies that received amitraz-based positive control treatments: (i) Apivar alone; or (ii) amitraz emulsifiable concentrate (“amitraz EC”). While not registered, amitraz EC is used by beekeepers in the United States in part because it is thought to control Varroa more rapidly and effectively than registered products. Based on measurements of Varroa infestation rates of colonies after 21 days of treatment, we found that the combination treatment controlled Varroa nearly as rapidly as the amitraz EC treatment: this or other combinations could be useful for Varroa management. At the end of the 42-day trial, colonies in the amitraz EC group had higher bee populations than those in the Apivar group, which suggests that rapid control helps reduce Varroa damage. Colonies in the combination group had lower bee populations than those in the amitraz EC group, which indicates that the combination treatment needs to be optimized to avoid damage to colonies.
Effective pest management approaches can mitigate honey bee (Apis mellifera) colony winter loss across a range of weather conditions in small-scale, stationary apiaries
Authors: Gray Darcy , Goslee Sarah , Kammerer Melanie , Grozinger Christina M
Published: May 2024

Managed honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) colonies in North America and Europe have experienced high losses in recent years, which have been linked to weather conditions, lack of quality forage, and high parasite loads, particularly the obligate brood parasite, Varroa destructor. These factors may interact at various scales to have compounding effects on honey bee health, but few studies have been able to simultaneously investigate the effects of weather conditions, landscape factors, and management of parasites. We analyzed a dataset of 3,210 survey responses from beekeepers in Pennsylvania from 2017 to 2022 and combined these with remotely sensed weather variables and novel datasets about seasonal forage availability into a Random Forest model to investigate drivers of winter loss. We found that beekeepers who used treatment against Varroa had higher colony survival than those who did not treat. Moreover, beekeepers who used multiple types of Varroa treatment had higher colony survival rates than those who used 1 type of treatment. Our models found weather conditions are strongly associated with survival, but multiple-treatment type colonies had higher survival across a broader range of climate conditions. These findings suggest that the integrated pest management approach of combining treatment types can potentially buffer managed honey bee colonies from adverse weather conditions.
Honey bee (Apis mellifera) nurse bee visitation of worker and drone larvae increases Varroa destructor mite cell invasion
Authors: Reams Taylor , Rueppell Olav , Rangel Juliana
Published: May 2024

The life cycle of Varroa destructor, the ectoparasitic mite of honey bees (Apis mellifera), includes a dispersal phase, in which mites attach to adult bees for transport and feeding, and a reproductive phase, in which mites invade worker and drone brood cells just prior to pupation to reproduce while their bee hosts complete development. In this study, we wanted to determine whether increased nurse bee visitations of adjacent drone and worker brood cells would increase the likelihood of Varroa mites invading those cells. We also explored whether temporarily restricting the nurses’ access to sections of worker brood for 2 or 4 h would subsequently cause higher nurse visitations, and thus, higher Varroa cell invasions. Temporarily precluding larvae from being fed by nurses subsequently led to higher Varroa infestation of those sections in some colonies, but this pattern was not consistent across colonies. Therefore, removing highly infested sections of capped worker brood could be further explored as a potential mechanical/cultural method for mite control. Our results provide more information on how nurse visitations affect the patterns of larval cell invasion by Varroa. Given that the mite’s successful reproduction depends on the nurses’ ability to visit and feed developing brood, more studies are needed to understand the patterns of Varroa mite invasion of drone and worker cells to better combat this pervasive honey bee parasite.
Current honey bee stressor investigations and mitigation methods in the United States and Canada
Authors: Walsh Elizabeth M , Simone-Finstrom Michael
Published: May 2024

Honey bees are the most important managed insect pollinators in the US and Canadian crop systems. However, the annual mortality of colonies in the past 15 years has been consistently higher than historical records. Because they are eusocial generalist pollinators and amenable to management, honey bees provide a unique opportunity to investigate a wide range of questions at molecular, organismal, and ecological scales. Here, the American Association of Professional Apiculturists (AAPA) and the Canadian Association of Professional Apiculturists (CAPA) created 2 collections of articles featuring investigations on micro and macro aspects of honey bee health, sociobiology, and management showcasing new applied research from diverse groups studying honey bees (Apis mellifera) in the United States and Canada. Research presented in this special issue includes examinations of abiotic and biotic stressors of honey bees, and evaluations and introductions of various stress mitigation measures that may be valuable to both scientists and the beekeeping community. These investigations from throughout the United States and Canada showcase the wide breadth of current work done and point out areas that need further research.
Neonicotinoid exposure increases Varroa destructor (Mesostigmata: Varroidae) mite parasitism severity in honey bee colonies and is not mitigated by increased colony genetic diversity
Authors: Bartlett Lewis J , Alparslan Suleyman , Bruckner Selina , Delaney Deborah A , Menz John F , Williams Geoffrey R , Delaplane Keith S
Published: May 2024

Agrochemical exposure is a major contributor to ecological declines worldwide, including the loss of crucial pollinator species. In addition to direct toxicity, field-relevant doses of pesticides can increase species’ vulnerabilities to other stressors, including parasites. Experimental field demonstrations of potential interactive effects of pesticides and additional stressors are rare, as are tests of mechanisms via which pollinators tolerate pesticides. Here, we controlled honey bee colony exposure to field-relevant concentrations of 2 neonicotinoid insecticides (clothianidin and thiamethoxam) in pollen and simultaneously manipulated intracolony genetic heterogeneity. We showed that exposure increased rates of Varroa destructor (Anderson and Trueman) parasitism and that while increased genetic heterogeneity overall improved survivability, it did not reduce the negative effect size of neonicotinoid exposure. This study is, to our knowledge, the first experimental field demonstration of how neonicotinoid exposure can increase V. destructor populations in honey bees and also demonstrates that colony genetic diversity cannot mitigate the effects of neonicotinoid pesticides.
Is Cryocide an Ethically Feasible Alternative to Euthanasia?
Authors: Andrade Gabriel , Campo Redondo Maria
Published: May 2024

While some countries are moving toward legalization, euthanasia is still criticized on various fronts. Most importantly, it is considered a violation of the medical ethics principle of non-maleficence, because it actively seeks a patient’s death. But, medical ethicists should consider an ethical alternative to euthanasia. In this article, we defend cryocide as one such alternative. Under this procedure, with the consent of terminally-ill patients, their clinical death is induced, in order to prevent the further advance of their brain’s deterioration. Their body is then cryogenically preserved, in the hope that in the future, there will be a technology to reanimate it. This prospect is ethically distinct from euthanasia if a different criterion of death is assumed. In the information-theoretic criterion of death, a person is not considered dead when brain and cardiopulmonary functions cease, but rather, when information constituting psychology and memory is lost.
Identifying Prediction Mistakes in Observational Data
Authors: Rambachan Ashesh
Published: May 2024

Decision makers, such as doctors, judges, and managers, make consequential choices based on predictions of unknown outcomes. Do these decision makers make systematic prediction mistakes based on the available information? If so, in what ways are their predictions systematically biased? In this article, I characterize conditions under which systematic prediction mistakes can be identified in empirical settings such as hiring, medical diagnosis, and pretrial release. I derive a statistical test for whether the decision maker makes systematic prediction mistakes under these assumptions and provide methods for estimating the ways the decision maker’s predictions are systematically biased. I analyze the pretrial release decisions of judges in New York City, estimating that at least 20% of judges make systematic prediction mistakes about misconduct risk given defendant characteristics. Motivated by this analysis, I estimate the effects of replacing judges with algorithmic decision rules and find that replacing judges with algorithms where systematic prediction mistakes occur dominates the status quo.