bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Movement patterns of two northern quolls after a large wildfire
Authors: Cowan M. A. , Rangers Nyamal , Dunlop J. A. , Moore H. A. , Nimmo D. G.
Published: July 2024

Understanding how animals respond to fire is crucial for conservation efforts in fire‐prone regions across the world. How fire affects animal movement is of particular interest, as it determines access to resources, exposure to risks, and connectivity of populations. We report on observations of the movement patterns and habitat selection of two northern quolls (Dasyurus hallucatus, an endangered marsupial predator), one male and one female, in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. We employed GPS tracking and integrated step selection functions to analyse habitat preferences in relation to fire, and used accelerometry data to assess the energetic costs of using burnt areas. The male northern quoll avoided recently burnt areas, likely due to increased energetic demands and predation risks during the breeding season. In contrast, the female northern quoll neither avoided nor preferred burnt areas, but showed a preference for rocky areas. The female appeared to move through burnt areas to access suitable breeding habitat. The movement patterns observed in the two individuals might reflect a broader pattern of sex‐specific responses to fire, but further research is required to confirm how general the pattern is. Our observations indicate that fire can influence northern quoll movement, with female dependence on rocky areas increasing use of suboptimal habitats, and male avoidance of burnt areas raising potential implications for breeding dispersal and population dynamics. Given the expected increases in fire size and frequency, further research on northern quoll responses to fire in the Pilbara is needed to determine if the pattern we observed is consistent across the broader population.
High‐salinity water use of euryhaline catfish Genidens genidens revealed by otolith microchemistry
Authors: Rodrigues Maciel Thaís , Moreno Enzo , Maichak de Carvalho Barbara , Miller Nathan , Vianna Marcelo , Avigliano Esteban
Published: July 2024

Migratory patterns of the catfish Genidens genidens in four estuaries along the Brazilian Atlantic coast are reconstructed from otolith Sr/Ca, a salinity proxy, to test estuarine‐dependency. To facilitate interpretation of this proxy in otolith core‐to‐edge profiles, a Sr/Ca Reference Value for High Salinity (RVHSSr/Ca) of 4.88 mmol/mol was established experimentally, from fish specimens reared in water with a salinity level (33 psu) between estuarine and high salinity (marine) water. All wild specimens exhibited otolith Sr/Ca values higher than RVHSSr/Ca, suggesting that G. genidens utilizes environments with marine salinity. Our results reveal highly variable environmental histories, with at least five major habitat usage patterns. Most distinctive among these, we find that (a) fish from Paranaguá Estuarine Complex (PEC) exhibit high intraindividual heterogeneity; (b) most fish (57%) from Guanabara Bay (GB) exhibit prolonged exposure to very high salinities, often exceeding 36.5 psu levels found in some shelf sectors; and (c) some fish from Paraiba do Sul River, GB and PEC exhibit Sr/Ca values below RVHSSr/Ca consistent with estuarine residence. These results suggest that G. genidens is not strictly estuarine‐dependent.
Toward a contemporary understanding of organizational trust in socio‐economic systems: Connecting theoretical perspectives of the management and business ethics literature
Authors: van Rietschoten Erik , van Bommel Koen
Published: July 2024

This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the evolution of 30 years of academic research on organizational trust in socio‐economic practice in the management and business ethics literature. A systematic review of 160 papers published in leading management and business ethics academic journals reveals two interpretations—one based on a transactional, cause‐and‐effect idea of the benefit of trust within relationships (or utilitarian trust), and one based on personal, sincere, and virtuous attributes of character allowing the participant to engage in trusting (or virtuous trust). Our review contributes an analysis of the state of prior research and the literature's intertextual coherence which allows problematization of the current theory and identification of opportunities for further contributions. Future work could be based on the interconnections among these two research traditions, ways to expand the current understanding of utilitarian trust, and proposals for a basic moral framework to support virtuous trust from the perspective of an understanding of trust in the socio‐economic practice in which contemporary trust problems arise. Our reinforcement of the theoretical underpinnings of trust also offers practical guidance as it sheds light on trust's nuanced dimensions in complex organizational and socio‐economic environments.
Rolling the DICEP on lymphoma salvage treatments? Choose wisely
Authors: Balzarotti Monica , Bagnoli Filippo
Published: July 2024

Although immunotherapy is rapidly changing the treatment approach to r/r diffuse large B cell lymphoma, there is still a place for autologous stem cell transplantation in some patients. The report by Stewart et al. focuses on induction therapy and the importance of the pretransplantation phase.

Commentary on: Stewart et al. Canadian cancer trials group LY.17: A randomized phase II study evaluating novel salvage therapy pre‐autologous stem cell transplant in relapsed/refractory diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma—Outcome of rituximab‐dose‐intensive cyclophosphamide, etoposide, cisplatin (R‐DICEP) versus R‐GDP. Br J Haematol 2024; 205:881‐890.
Quality of life in childhood immune thrombocytopenia: Revision of the Kids' ITP Tools (KIT)
Authors: Dhir Vinita , Zhang Caseng , Sucha Ewa , Barrowman Nick , Grace Rachael F. , Grainger John D. , Young Nancy L. , Klaassen Robert J.
Published: July 2024

The Kids ITP Tools (KIT) is a health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) questionnaire that evaluates quality of life in children with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). There are three formats: Child Self‐Report, Parent Proxy‐Report and Parent Impact‐Report. This study aimed to develop a domain structure by grouping‐related questions from the questionnaire into domains that independently reflect various aspects of HRQoL. The study was conducted in two phases. Phase 1 involved an online survey distributed to experts to identify conceptual domains for the KIT. Phase 2 utilized a statistical approach to analyse responses from patients with ITP and their families. A revised KIT 2.0 was ultimately developed to aid in treatment decision‐making and monitoring of ITP.
IDH2‐NADPH pathway protects against acute pancreatitis via suppressing acinar cell ferroptosis
Authors: Peng Qi , Li Bin , Song Pengli , Wang Ruiyan , Jiang Jing , Jin Xuerui , Shen Jie , Bao Jingpiao , Ni Jianbo , Han Xiao , Hu Guoyong
Published: July 2024

Background and Purpose

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is associated with acinar cell death and inflammatory responses. Ferroptosis is characterized by an overwhelming lipid peroxidation downstream of metabolic dysfunction, in which NADPH‐related redox systems have been recognized as the mainstay in ferroptosis control. Nevertheless, it remains unknown how ferroptosis is regulated in AP and whether we can target it to restrict AP development.

Experimental Approach

Metabolomics were applied to explore changes in metabolic pathways in pancreatic acinar cells (PACs) in AP. Using wild‐type and Ptf1aCreERT2/+IDH2fl/fl mice, AP was induced by caerulein and sodium taurocholate (NaT). IDH2 overexpressing adenovirus was constructed for infection of PACs. Mice or PACs were pretreated with inhibitors of FSP1 or glutathione reductase. Pancreatitis severity, acinar cell injury, mitochondrial morphological changes and pancreatic lipid peroxidation were analysed.

Key Results

Unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis and the tricarboxylic acid cycle pathways were significantly altered in PACs during AP. Inhibition of ferroptosis reduced mitochondrial damage, lipid peroxidation and the severity of AP. During AP, the NADPH abundance and IDH2 expression were decreased. Acinar cell‐specific deletion of IDH2 exacerbated acinar cell ferroptosis and pancreatic injury. Pharmacological inhibition of NADPH‐dependent GSH/GPX4 and FSP1/CoQ10 pathways abolished the protective effect of IDH2 overexpression on ferroptosis in acinar cells. CoQ10 supplementation attenuated experimental pancreatitis via inhibiting acinar cell ferroptosis.

Conclusion and Implications

We identified the IDH2‐NADPH pathway as a novel regulator in protecting against AP via restricting acinar cell ferroptosis. Targeting the pathway and its downstream may shed light on AP treatment.
Applying a hierarchical Bayesian framework to reveal how fear and animal ownership drive human's valuation of and interactions with coyotes
Authors: Rivera Kimberly , Garcia‐Quijano Carlos , Sonnet Virginie , Gerber Brian D.
Published: July 2024

Human dimensions research is valuable to managing human‐wildlife interactions, especially in urban environments where such interactions are common. Survey data, which commonly contain Likert scales and questions, are useful in this field; however, these data can be difficult to analyze with formal modeling approaches. We demonstrate one approach, based on hierarchical Bayesian ordinal regression, to evaluate human‐coyote relationships in Rhode Island, USA. We implemented a survey to collect demographic and sociocultural characteristics of Rhode Island residents and information related to their knowledge of and experiences with coyotes. Our objectives were to assess how these characteristics affected respondents' valuation of and interactions (sightings and incidents) with coyotes. We analyzed 980 surveys from October to December 2020. We found that respondents who had fear of coyotes or experienced an incident between an owned animal and coyote, had the lowest valuation of coyotes. The same demographic of respondents also reported the highest sightings of and incidents with coyote. These results indicate that fearful residents, in addition to pet and livestock owners, are priority targets for disseminating information or programming about coyotes. Our analyses and findings demonstrate how Bayesian ordinal regression can provide clear and appropriate inference from survey data on how groups of people vary in their relationship with wildlife. These results are important in effectively and efficiently allocating resources towards mitigation, education, and management of human‐wildlife interactions.
Minority stress and relationship satisfaction in same‐sex couples: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Song Chao , Buysse Ann , Zhang Wei‐Hong , Dewaele Alexis
Published: July 2024

Objective

The present study conducted a meta‐analysis to synthesize the associations between sexual minority stress and relationship satisfaction, as well as to examine actor and partner effects.

Background

Sexual minority individuals in same‐sex couples experience various distinct and chronic stressors related to their stigmatized identities and romantic relationships, and these stressors negatively impact relationship satisfaction. Although there have been two meta‐analyses that sought to examine these influences, some fundamental questions remain unanswered. In particular, the roles of dyadic processes and different types of sexual minority stressors remain unclear.

Method

A comprehensive search identified 67 studies with 147 effect sizes representing 24,542 individuals.

Results

The results revealed a significant small association (r = −.100 to −.188) between sexual minority stressors and relationship satisfaction. Internalized stressors were more strongly associated with relationship satisfaction than other types of sexual minority stressors (e.g., prejudice events and concealment). Dyadic analyses demonstrated a significant actor effect of concealment, experiencing prejudice events, and internalized stressors on relationship satisfaction, with the largest effect size for concealment effects.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that sexual minority stressors could potentially contribute to same‐sex relational problems. They also underscore the importance of interdependence (both partners' responses as well as their interaction with sexual minority stressors). This understanding may be instrumental in shaping prevention strategies.

Implications

The meta‐analysis emphasizes the nuanced impact of sexual minority stressors on same‐sex relationship satisfaction, highlighting the importance of targeted interventions. It underscores the role of dyadic processes, emphasizing the significance of both partners' responses and interactions with stressors in developing effective prevention strategies for healthier same‐sex relationships.
‘The Norm Is to Not Openly Collaborate’: Using the Lens of Co‐Production to Evaluate the Development of a COVID‐19 ICU Triage Policy
Authors: Scholz Brett , Grey Flick , Graham Joyce , Mitchell Imogen , Kirk Lucy , Warner Terri
Published: July 2024

Introduction

In 2020, surging cases of COVID‐19 meant that health services had to plan for crisis‐level triage. In the Australian Capital Territory, the Clinical Health Emergency Coordination Centre sought to develop a triage policy in collaboration with a range of consumer, carer and community groups. This study aims to map the collaborative development of the COVID‐19 ICU triage policy onto the principles of co‐production.

Methods

Interviews were conducted with facilitators, members of advocacy or consumer groups and clinicians who were involved in the development of the triage policy. Interviews were thematically analysed using both theory‐ and data‐driven approaches to, respectively, draw on the theoretical framework of co‐production, and to explore participants' perspectives relevant to but beyond the scope of this theoretical framework.

Results

The findings suggest that at each stage of the initiative, there were ways in which the principles of co‐production were met, and ways in which they were not met. One of the fundamental concerns that arose was about whether trying to solve a problem based on resources was compatible with a solution based on human rights.

Conclusion

Literature about co‐production has been critiqued for being limited to aspirational concerns, or implying co‐production is easily achievable. The current study contributes to existing research through the application of the theoretical framework of co‐production and exploring ways its aims were met and not met within a system‐level collaboration developing a high‐stakes health policy.

Patient or Public Contribution

This study has been conducted and written by researchers working from lived experience perspectives, and other researchers working from traditionally mainstream health disciplines, including psychology and medicine. Further, the study is about patient and public involvement in the development of a health policy. Thus it both embodies and is about non‐tokenistic collaboration between people with lived experience and other health professionals.
Structural, optical, and radiation shielding properties of cyclosilicates crystals: Hirshfeld topological geometries
Authors: Al‐Omari S. , Afaneh F. , Khattari Z. Y.
Published: July 2024

This study explores the structural, radiation, and optical properties of cyclosilicates minerals (CMs), providing comprehensive analyses of molar volumes, densities, band gap values, and effective atomic numbers. The structural properties were found to be dependent on the correlations with the interatomic interactions derived from the analysis of Hirshfeld topological surfaces (HTSs) and their voids. In examining a broad energy spectrum from 0.015 to 15 MeV, the study focuses on mass attenuation coefficient (MAC) and linear mass attenuation coefficient (LAC). Results show that MAC values are the highest for the BaTi(SiO3)3 crystal, highlighting its superior γ‐ray attenuation capabilities among other CMs. The study finds that Hirshfeld volume, and surface ranged between 344.21 and 2640.98 Å3 and 388.91 and 1326.97 Å2, reveals distinct electron density distribution characteristics in CM materials. The study probes the impact of HTSs on structural (113 < Vm < 686 cm3/mol), optical (1.95 < n < 2.38), and radiation shielding (13.0 < LAC < 102.0 1/cm at E = 15.0 keV) values, demonstrating that altering the O…A (A = atom in the CM crystal) interactions align with the charge density, potentially tuning other physical values.
Long non‐coding RNA‐mediated modulation of endoplasmic reticulum stress under pathological conditions
Authors: Çiftçi Yusuf Cem , Yurtsever Yiğit , Akgül Bünyamin
Published: July 2024

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, which ensues from an overwhelming protein folding capacity, activates the unfolded protein response (UPR) in an effort to restore cellular homeostasis. As ER stress is associated with numerous diseases, it is highly important to delineate the molecular mechanisms governing the ER stress to gain insight into the disease pathology. Long non‐coding RNAs, transcripts with a length of over 200 nucleotides that do not code for proteins, interact with proteins and nucleic acids, fine‐tuning the UPR to restore ER homeostasis via various modes of actions. Dysregulation of specific lncRNAs is implicated in the progression of ER stress‐related diseases, presenting these molecules as promising therapeutic targets. The comprehensive analysis underscores the importance of understanding the nuanced interplay between lncRNAs and ER stress for insights into disease mechanisms. Overall, this review consolidates current knowledge, identifies research gaps and offers a roadmap for future investigations into the multifaceted roles of lncRNAs in ER stress and associated diseases to shed light on their pivotal roles in the pathogenesis of related diseases.
Framing the allopathic approach to health and disease labels through patient narratives during the COVID‐19 pandemic first wave in Ecuador: An understudied and underutilized tool in health care practice and delivery
Authors: Saleh Marwa
Published: July 2024

Presented in this article is a search for folk, popular, and professional health care labels through patient narratives. Fieldwork was done in the Ecuadorian communities of Santa Rosa and Pano during the first wave of COVID‐19. The results emphasize the utility of studying labels to better understand what communities experience in health crises, the opportunities to improve allopathic health care delivery and engagement with the folk and popular sectors. Both communities had adapted labels that were familiar to them from prior health experiences and served to inform their personal medical care during the pandemic. Meanwhile, in Pano, an Indigenous predominant community, people had inherited labels for plants and pandemics in both the Kichwa and Spanish language, and those provided a vocabulary of hope to the people. In Santa Rosa the labels demonstrated the grief and difficult times the community had experienced with the limited health resources available.
Spoken word choreographies in additional language learning practices in upper secondary school: Entanglements between languaging‐and‐dancing
Authors: Jusslin Sofia , Kaarla Lotta , Korpinen Kaisa , Lilja Niina
Published: July 2024

There are calls for developing ways to teach language that can inspire and motivate students to study additional languages. While previous research has pointed toward benefits of arts‐based activities in language learning, combining language and dance has mainly been studied with younger language learners. Contextualized within the course “Dance with language,” this study explores spoken word choreographies—word‐ and movement‐based choreographies—that combine dance and the learning of Swedish as an additional language at a Finnish upper secondary school. The study engages with new materialist theories to understand languaging as an activity and relational, embodied, and material processes. Using diffractive analysis with comics‐based research strategies, the analysis suggests that languaging‐and‐dancing become entangled through four doings: exploring, re‐working, co‐creating, and negotiating‐and‐switching. The spoken word choreographies offer a potentially valuable way to teach language in their move beyond students’ potential restrictions of vocabulary, structure, and grammar in the language to emphasize playfulness and creative explorations as part of language‐learning processes. In conclusion, the study proposes that dancing and spoken word, and the combination thereof, bring specific qualities to creating smooth languaging spaces that embrace wild, playful, creative, and unpredictable forces and movements in language‐learning practices.
Subversive mythical figures and feminist resistance: On the rise of posthuman ‘professionals’
Authors: Turcotte Pier‐Luc , Holmes Dave , Johansson Jim , Saïd‐Gagné Sagal , Perron Amélie
Published: July 2024

Within the context of neoliberal healthcare, nurses and other health professionals face working conditions that leave them perpetually feeling inadequate, as though they are not enough. They are consistently expected to achieve more with less resources. In such an environment, mere professionalism proves wholly insufficient, enforcing norms of altruism and kindness. Professionals must transcend this disciplinary tool and embody a ‘more‐than‐professional’ approach. This study, informed by critical posthumanism, employs three mythical archetypes—the Medusa, the Witch and the Siren—to illuminate potential avenues for resistance against prevailing trends in healthcare. Drawing on the perspectives of Hélène Cixous, Silvia Federici and Jacques Rancière, we introduce a process of resistance for healthcare professionals pushing back against the challenges of crumbling healthcare systems. Cixous' feminist reimagining of Medusa symbolizes intensified embodied sensory experiences, emphasizing the power of irony, laughter and writing in highlighting the daily struggles faced by healthcare workers. Federici's depiction of the Witch exposes clandestine alliances among healthcare workers and patients, akin to a pact with the devil, countering the individualistic, alienating approach to care provision and resisting neoliberal pressures. The Witch archetype embodies resistance grounded in creativity against the commodification of public healthcare. Finally, Rancière's ‘politics of the Siren' offers a strategy for disrupting entrenched hierarchies from the underworld. Like Sirens, healthcare workers and patients can subversively transform their silence into songs of resistance, simultaneously operating from beneath the surface of accountability measures. Our intention is to showcase the emergence of posthuman ‘professionals’ who adapt by forging new modes of social relations in response to neoliberal constraints, straying from conventional, apolitical notions of ‘professionalism’. Drawing lessons from mythical figures of resistance offers a fresh understanding of subversion as a catalyst for social and political transformation within the healthcare sector.
Modulation of external and internal aluminum resistance by ALS3‐dependent STAR1‐mediated promotion of STOP1 degradation
Authors: Fan Ni , Li Xinbo , Xie Wenxiang , Wei Xiang , Fang Qiu , Xu Jingyi , Huang Chao‐Feng
Published: July 2024

The ALMT1 transporter aids malate secretion, chelating Al3+ ions to form nontoxic Al–malate complexes, believed to exclude Al from the roots. However, the extent to which malate secreted by ALMT1 is solely used for the exclusion of Al3+ or can be reutilized by plant roots for internal Al tolerance remains uncertain.

In our investigation, we explored the impact of malate secretion on both external and internal Al resistance in Arabidopsis thaliana. Additionally, we delved into the mechanism by which the tonoplast‐localized bacterial‐type ATP‐binding cassette (ABC) transporter complex STAR1/ALS3 promotes the degradation of the Al resistance transcription factor STOP1 to regulate ALMT1 expression.

Our study demonstrates that the level of secreted malate influences whether the Al–malate complex is excluded from the roots or transported into root cells. The nodulin 26‐like intrinsic protein (NIP) subfamily members NIP1;1 and NIP1;2, located in the plasma membrane, coordinate with STAR1/ALS3 to facilitate Al–malate transport from root apoplasm to the symplasm and eventually to the vacuoles for the internal Al detoxification. ALS3‐dependent STAR1 interacts with and promotes the degradation of STOP1, regulating malate exudation.

Our findings demonstrate the dual roles of malate exudation in external Al exclusion and Al absorption for internal Al detoxification.
The single RRM domain‐containing protein SARP1 is required for establishment of the separation zone in Arabidopsis
Authors: Yun Ju , Lee Inhye , Lee Jae Ho , Kim Seonghwan , Jung Su Hyun , Oh Sung Aeong , Lee Jiyoun , Park Soon Ki , Soh Moon‐Soo , Lee Yuree , Kwak June M.
Published: July 2024

Abscission is the shedding of plant organs in response to developmental and environmental cues. Abscission involves cell separation between two neighboring cell types, residuum cells (RECs) and secession cells (SECs) in the floral abscission zone (AZ) in Arabidopsis thaliana. However, the regulatory mechanisms behind the spatial determination that governs cell separation are largely unknown.

The class I KNOTTED‐like homeobox (KNOX) transcription factor BREVIPEDICELLUS (BP) negatively regulates AZ cell size and number in Arabidopsis. To identify new players participating in abscission, we performed a genetic screen by activation tagging a weak complementation line of bp‐3. We identified the mutant ebp1 (enhancer of BP1) displaying delayed floral organ abscission.

The ebp1 mutant showed a concaved surface in SECs and abnormally stacked cells on the top of RECs, in contrast to the precisely separated surface in the wild‐type. Molecular and histological analyses revealed that the transcriptional programming during cell differentiation in the AZ is compromised in ebp1. The SECs of ebp1 have acquired REC‐like properties, including cuticle formation and superoxide production.

We show that SEPARATION AFFECTING RNA‐BINDING PROTEIN1 (SARP1) is upregulated in ebp1 and plays a role in the establishment of the cell separation layer during floral organ abscission in Arabidopsis.
Revisiting plant cuticle biophysics
Authors: Heredia Antonio , Benítez José J. , González Moreno Ana , Domínguez Eva
Published: July 2024

The plant cuticle is located at the interface of the plant with the environment, thus acting as a protective barrier against biotic and abiotic external stress factors, and regulating water loss. Additionally, it modulates mechanical stresses derived from internal tissues and also from the environment. Recent advances in the understanding of the hydric, mechanical, thermal, and, to a lower extent, optical and electric properties of the cuticle, as well as their phenomenological connections and relationships are reviewed. An equilibrium based on the interaction among the different biophysical properties is essential to ensure plant growth and development. The notable variability reported in cuticle geometry, surface topography, and microchemistry affects the analysis of some biophysical properties of the cuticle. This review aimed to provide an updated view of the plant cuticle, understood as a modification of the cell wall, in order to establish the state‐of‐the‐art biophysics of the plant cuticle, and to serve as an inspiration for future research in the field.
READRetro: natural product biosynthesis predicting with retrieval‐augmented dual‐view retrosynthesis
Authors: Kim Taein , Lee Seul , Kwak Yejin , Choi Min‐Soo , Park Jeongbin , Hwang Sung Ju , Kim Sang‐Gyu
Published: July 2024

Plants, as a sessile organism, produce various secondary metabolites to interact with the environment. These chemicals have fascinated the plant science community because of their ecological significance and notable biological activity. However, predicting the complete biosynthetic pathways from target molecules to metabolic building blocks remains a challenge.

Here, we propose retrieval‐augmented dual‐view retrosynthesis (READRetro) as a practical bio‐retrosynthesis tool to predict the biosynthetic pathways of plant natural products. Conventional bio‐retrosynthesis models have been limited in their ability to predict biosynthetic pathways for natural products. READRetro was optimized for the prediction of complex metabolic pathways by incorporating cutting‐edge deep learning architectures, an ensemble approach, and two retrievers.

Evaluation of single‐ and multi‐step retrosynthesis showed that each component of READRetro significantly improved its ability to predict biosynthetic pathways. READRetro was also able to propose the known pathways of secondary metabolites such as monoterpene indole alkaloids and the unknown pathway of menisdaurilide, demonstrating its applicability to real‐world bio‐retrosynthesis of plant natural products.

For researchers interested in the biosynthesis and production of secondary metabolites, a user‐friendly website (https://readretro.net) and the open‐source code of READRetro have been made available.
Current advances of oral cancer in Taiwan
Authors: Yang Yi‐Hsin
Published: July 2024

Objectives

To provide updated statistics of oral cancer incidence and mortality in Taiwan, and to describe recent developments for oral cancer control to reduce oral cancer incidence and mortality.

Methods

The Taiwan Cancer Registry Annual Report 2023, the Taiwan Cancer Registry Online Interactive Search System, and the 2023 Health Promotion Administration Annual Report are consulted and summarized. A literature search using PubMed was also conducted to identify Taiwan oral cancer control‐related studies.

Results

Taiwan, with a long history of areca/betel quid chewing, has battled with oral cancer for decades. In 2021, the male lip and oral cavity cancer incidence is 29.77 (per 100,000 persons) and mortality is 11.25. Over these years, the male chewing prevalence was reduced to 6.2% in 2018. Taiwan has a sustained national oral cancer screening programme provided to high‐risk groups biennially.

Conclusions

Although the age‐standardized incidence rates have been slowly decreasing since 2009, due to Taiwan's ageing population, the actual oral cancer burden is still stringent. The collaboration of multi‐ministries and agencies on promoting areca nut and betel quid control, improving oral cancer awareness, and delivering cancer care remains essential to prevent oral cancer and reduce oral cancer deaths.
Estimating the loss‐reduction effects of disaster preparedness and mitigation: An empirical study of US coastal states
Authors: Miao Qing , Davlasheridze Meri
Published: July 2024

As extreme weather events like floods and storms continue to increase, it is crucial to examine the degree to which various disaster preparedness and mitigation investments can lower these risks. In this research, we empirically examine the effects of multiple federal disaster aid programs on reducing subsequent flood‐ and storm‐related damages across US coastal states. Our analysis distinguishes aid programs and their funded projects targeting different emergency management functions, including preparedness, nonstructural and structural mitigation, emergency response and protective measures, and rehabilitation of public infrastructure. We construct panel data of more than 1800 US counties over the years 2000–2019 and estimate a fixed‐effects model with time‐varying county‐level socioeconomic and demographic characteristics. We find that disaster aid generally helps mitigate property damages, although this loss‐reduction effect varies by program. Among all aid programs, the Emergency Management Performance Grant results in the largest reduction of future flood damages. The Public Assistance grants supporting emergency work are also found to exert a strong effect on risk reduction. We also find that the impacts of disaster aid are higher in coastal counties. Our study is one of the first few examining the resilience implication of disaster aid in coastal counties, and our results underscore the importance of investing in capacity building, contingency planning, and consistency in maintenance.
Literary Insanity and Psychiatric Literacy: Youth, Mental Health, and Contemporary Russian Fiction
Authors: Kaminer Jenny
Published: July 2024

In the first post‐Soviet decade, Russian mental health professionals sounded the alarm about a looming psychiatric crisis affecting the nation’s youth. Some twenty years later, a spate of literary works seemingly marked the fictional apotheosis of these anxieties. Although critics have identified and reflected upon the significance of the “insanity cluster” in prose published around 2017, the youth of the protagonists has remained largely unconsidered. This essay focuses on three literary works that emerged at the intersection of two recent turns in contemporary Russian culture: the adolescent and the psychotherapeutic. These works featuring young, psychologically disturbed protagonists emphasize the corporeal aspects of mental illness. The characters strive to overcome the psyche or soul through empirically observable, bodily phenomena, such as violence against themselves and others, or sexual promiscuity. All three works unmask the harmful consequences of externalizing psychic abnormalities, of their teenage heroes’ belief that scarring one’s own body or that of another sentient being can ameliorate the symptoms of schizophrenia or other mental disturbances. With their complex and nuanced literary exploration of the interplay between “consciousness” and “flesh,” the three novels provide a fictional retort to narrowly mechanistic understandings of the psychology and behavior of youth.
Identification of shared immune infiltration characteristic molecules in dermatomyositis and nasopharyngeal carcinoma using bioinformatics
Authors: Kai Jinyan , Huang Haitao , Su Jiaqi , Chen Qiong
Published: July 2024

Background

Dermatomyositis (DM) is a kind of dermatologically associated autoimmune disease that is notably associated with an increased risk of concurrent malignancies, although the underlying mechanisms remain to be fully elucidated. The purpose of this investigation was to examine the immunological parallels between DM and nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), with the aim of identifying pivotal biomarkers that could facilitate a deeper understanding and enhance the predictive capabilities of NPC in DM patients.

Method

Data for DM and NPC were sourced from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Immune infiltration was analyzed using the “cibersort” R package, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified with the “limma” package, and functional pathways were investigated through Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Gene Ontology (GO) analyses. Characteristic genes were determined by Utilizing Protein–Protein Interaction (PPI) and Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO), and their features were validated using the GSE53819 dataset.

Results

In comparison to normal samples, significant infiltration of macrophage M1 was observed in both DM and NPC. The analysis revealed 77 DEGs in DM and 1051 DEGs in NPC, with 22 genes found to be co‐DEGs. Following PPI and LASSO analysis, six distinctive genes were retained. Notably, CCL8, IFIH1, CXCL10, and CXCL11 exhibited optimal diagnostic efficacy for NPC and displayed significant correlation with macrophage M1 infiltration within the carcinoma.

Conclusion

Four characteristic genes, CCL8, IFIH1, CXCL10, and CXCL11 are risk factors for both DM and NPC. They exhibit a robust correlation with the incidence of NPC and offer a commendable diagnostic efficacy. Furthermore, they may serve as prospective predictive biomarkers for the emergence of NPC in DM.
Causality of inflammatory bowel disease and seborrheic keratosis: A bidirectional two‐sample Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Lin Zhipeng , Zhang Qi , Miao Yu , Jiang Lin , Wang Aoxue
Published: July 2024

Background

Previous studies have revealed a potential link between inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and seborrheic keratosis (SK). However, whether this association is causal or confounded remains unknown.

Methods

We conducted this two‐sample Mendelian randomization (TSMR) analysis to clarify bidirectional causality between IBD, including its two primary conditions Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), and SK. The summary genetic data of IBD, CD, UC and SK were obtained from accessible genome‐wide association studies (GWAS). This TSMR study was primarily performed using inverse‐variance weighted (IVW) method, complemented by MR‐Egger, weighted median (WM), Bayesian weighted MR (BWMR), MR‐robust adjusted profile score (MR‐RAPS), MR‐pleiotropy residual sum and outlier (MR‐PRESSO), and radial IVW MR analyses with modified second‐order weights (IVW [Mod 2nd]) methods. Assessment of sensitivity and identification of potential outliers were subsequently conducted to aid interpretation of results.

Results

The forward MR results showed that IBD [odds ratio (OR) = 1.068, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.010–1.129, p = 0.020) and its subtype CD (OR = 1.088, 95%CI = 1.038–1.139, p < 0.001) increased the risk of SK. However, the occurrence of SK could not be affected by UC (OR = 1.090, 95%CI = 0.977–1.216, p = 0.123). In the reverse analysis, no causal relationship between SK and IBD (OR = 0.905, 95%CI = 0.813–1.008, p = 0.069), UC (OR = 0.959, 95%CI = 0.860–1.068, p = 0.443), and CD (OR = 0.933, 95%CI = 0.846–1.029, p = 0.165) was identified.

Conclusion

These findings demonstrate that IBD and its subtype CD could increase the incidence of SK in European populations, whereas SK does not affect IBD occurrence.
From waste to soil: Can we create functioning manufactured soils by recycling rock processing waste?
Authors: Bucka Franziska B. , Guigue Julien , Reifschneider Lena , Pihlap Evelin , Garcia‐Franco Noelia , Kühnel Anna , Kögel‐Knabner Ingrid , Vidal Alix
Published: July 2024

Rock mining industries do not only exploit and transform extensive areas of land, but also produce vast amounts of rock waste material that lacks an adequate utilization. Some of these rock wastes have the potential to provide nutrients to plants and can therefore have positive impacts on soil properties. Consequently, we tested their potential for valorization as components of manufactured soils for use in urban areas. We conducted a 10‐week incubation experiment of soil mesocosms with sunflowers (Helianthus annuus L.) to evaluate the performance of manufactured soils with respect to plant growth and soil properties. We used three common rock materials (augite‐porphyry, greywacke‐hornfels, basalt), ground to powder and mixed into natural soils of either clayey or sandy texture. In order to test the performance under challenging environmental conditions, we applied a drought treatment in addition to a regular watering treatment. All manufactured soils were able to maintain plant growth, although the yield of aboveground biomass was significantly lower compared to the original soils. However, the effects of the water regime and the original soils on the overall plant growth were stronger than the effect of the rock powders, indicating that the manufactured soils were not hampering plant development more than challenging environmental conditions. The preparation of the manufactured soils altered the grain size distribution of the originally sandy and clayey soils. Since the rock powders contributed mainly to the silt‐sized particles, their addition to soils may improve the physical properties of the soil, especially the plant's available water content. We used wet‐sieving to isolate aggregate size fractions and thus analyse the formation of soil aggregates. The manufactured soils had a higher mass contribution of microaggregate‐sized particles, although this was mostly attributed to the presence of silt‐sized rock powder particles instead of aggregate formation. The total organic carbon (OC) content of the original soils was diluted in the manufactured soils, as the rock powders did not contain OC. However, the manufactured soils may have the potential for future OC storage due to the abundance of OC‐free mineral surfaces, which can retain organic matter as well as capture CO2 through enhanced weathering of primary minerals. Based on this work, the tested rock materials have the potential to be utilized as components in manufactured soils in the urban context that provide soil‐like functions, particularly in terms of sustaining plant growth. For improved results, additional measures to initiate a rapid development of soil structure are highly recommended, for example, by adding an easily decomposable source of organic matter.
Combining field measurements and process‐based modelling to analyse soil tillage and crop residues management impacts on crop production and carbon balance in temperate areas
Authors: Delandmeter Mathieu , Colinet Gilles , Pierreux Jérôme , Bindelle Jérôme , Dumont Benjamin
Published: July 2024

Crop residues management is an important issue in the context of climate change. They might be kept on the field and restituted to the soil to enhance its fertility or exported for other uses such as the production of energy through biomethanization. Furthermore, the choices regarding tillage operations impact the potential to incorporate residues, which in turn affects soil physical (e.g. structure, water retention), biological (e.g. organic matter, microorganisms) and chemical (e.g. nutrient release through mineralization) fertility. We combined measurements from a 14‐year field experiment in the Hesbaye loamy region of Belgium and its simulation with the STICS soil‐crop model to investigate the impacts of soil tillage and crop residues management on crop production, soil characteristics and carbon balance. Four treatments were compared, where all combinations of the incorporation versus exportation of crop residues and conventional versus reduced tillage were tested. The comparison of field observations with model simulations proved that the STICS model is adequate to explore the impacts of such contrasted management. The combined analysis of field data and soil‐crop model outputs showed that crop production was positively influenced by conventional tillage but unresponsive to crop residues fate. Reduced tillage led to a clear stratification in observed SOC content in the topsoil (0–30 cm), but also to an increase in simulated SOC stocks (0–26 cm). This SOC gain led to greater water retention under reduced tillage. Moreover, in both tillage treatments, incorporating residues increased soil organic carbon despite the associated augmentation in soil heterotrophic respiration. Finally, the importance of environmental conditions in carbon balance suggests that crop modelling might be very useful to explore the impacts of soil tillage and crop residues management in specific agro‐pedoclimatic contexts, especially when facing climate change.
Perspectives on biovigilance and transmission of infection of donor origin in deceased organ donation—The evolving scenario in the United Kingdom
Authors: Ushiro‐Lumb Ines , Geoghegan Christie , McGowan Olive , Baker Richard
Published: July 2024

Background

A biovigilance program that has oversight of the entire organ and tissue donation and transplantation pathways underpins the quality and safety system in the United Kingdom.

Method

A synopsis of the microbiological characterization of potential deceased organ donors and the processes for notification and investigation of possible donor‐derived infections are described. A summary of the outcome of investigations performed over a 10‐year period and a subset data frame of 5 years showing the proportion of infection incidents in relation to other incident types are also presented.

Conclusion

A single, centralized system overseeing the entire donation and transplantation pathway has become an essential part of transplantation practice across the United Kingdom. Revision of processes and management options, awareness of clinical conditions, and review of guidance are some examples of benefits gained over time. Transmission figures provided reflect the UK setting; these should be interpreted in context, as donor and recipient epidemiology differs across regions and nations. Despite a well‐established system in place, under reporting of cases continues to occur, with ongoing efforts to reassure professionals and patients of the true benefits of biovigilance in driving improvements in practice and patient outcomes.

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Elevated serum gamma‐glutamyltransferase activity and immunohistochemistry in two dogs with renal carcinoma
Authors: Stowe Devorah M. , Held Elizabeth P. , Cross Emily A. , Meritet Danielle , Hess Paul R. , Ferris Kelli , Mochizuki Hiroyuki
Published: July 2024

During a 3‐year time period, a 15‐year‐old male castrated Terrier mix (dog 1) and a 6‐year‐old female spayed Labrador Retriever (dog 2) presented to the North Carolina State Veterinary Hospital with similar blood work abnormalities and no significant physical examination findings. A CBC, chemistry panel, and urinalysis performed on both dogs were relatively unremarkable, other than a marked increase in serum gamma‐glutamyltransferase (GGT) activity. Through imaging, both patients were diagnosed with a renal mass, and histopathology of both masses revealed a carcinoma. Immunohistochemical staining of the renal mass in both dog 1 and dog 2 were intensely positive for GGT. Dog 1 had the affected kidney removed, which normalized the GGT value. Dog 2 was euthanized, and metastasis to the lung was noted upon postmortem examination. There have been limited case studies documenting an elevation in serum GGT in dogs diagnosed with renal carcinoma. While renal carcinoma is uncommon in dogs, it is an important differential to keep in mind when there is a marked increase in serum GGT without accompanying increases in other measured liver enzymes. In addition, serum GGT can serve as a helpful biomarker for disease resolution and recurrence, as surgical removal of the renal mass (dog 1) led to the resolution of the elevated serum GGT. To our knowledge, this is the first report demonstrating IHC staining for GGT in a canine renal carcinoma.
FIELD HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY OF SOME MALAYSIAN PEAT
Authors: Katimon Ayob , Mat Hassan Abd Mutallib
Published: July 2024

Field measurements on the hydraulic conductivity (K) of several developed and undeveloped peat soils using auger hole method were conducted. Developed deep peat has hydraulic conductivity values in the range of 6.32x 10-4 to 4.44 X 10-3 (0.55 to 3.84 mid). The studies also indicated that developed shallow peat has a conductivity value of 5.55xlO-4 to 5.67xI0-3 cm/s (0,48 to 4.90 mid), while shallow undeveloped peat K value was in the range of 9.24xlO-4 to 1.92x10-3 cmls (0.80 to 1.66 mid). The values of peat hydraulic conductivity's were found to be difficult to relate with their depth and development stages . This is because a number of uncertain variables such as the capillary potential, the existence of macro and micro-pores and their tortuosity are difficult to measure. These variables can definitely contribute to the K value of peat.
HYBRID SANDWICH PANEL WITH NATURAL FIBRE COMPOSITE INTERMEDIATE LAYER: MANUFACTURING PROCESS AND SIGNIFICANCE ANALYSIS
Authors: Fajrin Jauhar , Zhuge Yan , Bullen Frank , Wang Hao
Published: July 2024

Natural fiber reinforced plastic (NFRP) has drawn more attention as an alternative materials, particularly when dealing with the concept of green or sustainable building. Although many efforts have been introduced, most results remain unsatisfied either structurally or economically. In this study, NFRP laminates were incorporated as the intermediate layer of hybrid structural insulated panels (hybrid SIPs). Two types of natural fibers, Jute and Hemp, were used to produce laminates for the intermediate layer. A total of 24 panels samples were tested using 4 point bending load scheme under half and full scale model followed by a statistical analysis of the results. The result shows the potential of using NRFP to improve the structural properties of hybrid SIPs.