bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nonviral technologies can pave the way for CAR-NK cell therapy
Authors: Bexte Tobias , Reindl Lisa Marie , Ullrich Evelyn
Published: July 2023

Natural killer cells are a promising platform for cancer immunotherapy. Natural killer cells have high intrinsic killing capability, and the insertion of a chimeric antigen receptor can further enhance their antitumor potential. In first-in-human trials, chimeric antigen receptor–natural killer cells demonstrated strong clinical activity without therapy-induced side effects. The applicability of natural killer cells as an “off-the-shelf” product makes them highly attractive for gene-engineered cell therapies. Traditionally, viral transduction has been used for gene editing; however, the use of viral vectors remains a safety concern and is associated with high costs and regulatory requirements. Here, we review the current landscape of nonviral approaches for chimeric antigen receptor–natural killer cell generation. This includes transfection of vector particles and electroporation of mRNA and DNA vectors, resulting in transient modification and chimeric antigen receptor expression. In addition, using nonviral transposon technologies, natural killer cells can be stably modified ensuring long-lasting chimeric antigen receptor expression. Finally, we discuss CRISPR/Cas9 tools to edit key genes for natural killer cell functionality.
The Girl in the Ape’s House: A folktale in a North-Eastern Neo-Aramaic variety of Urmiya, Russia
Authors: Lyavdansky Alexey , Kozhanov Kirill , Ovsjannikova Maria
Published: July 2023

The article discusses dialectal and folkloristic features of an oral narrative in a North-Eastern Neo-Aramaic (NENA) variety recently recorded in the Southern Russian village of Urmiya. The dialect of the tale belongs to the NENA varieties originating in the easternmost regions of Turkey, which is corroborated by the tale’s speaker, who named its places of origin as Lewən, Albaq, and Gawar. These dialects remain largely undescribed and are highly endangered. The plot of the story is not known from hitherto published Neo-Aramaic field texts. Even though it resembles some of the folktales recorded in Iran and India, the story contains a unique combination of narrative motifs.
GCPBayes pipeline: a tool for exploring pleiotropy at the gene level
Authors: Asgari Yazdan , Sugier Pierre-Emmanuel , Baghfalaki Taban , Lucotte Elise , Karimi Mojgan , Sedki Mohammed , Ngo Amélie , Liquet Benoit , Truong Thérèse
Published: July 2023

Cross-phenotype association using gene-set analysis can help to detect pleiotropic genes and inform about common mechanisms between diseases. Although there are an increasing number of statistical methods for exploring pleiotropy, there is a lack of proper pipelines to apply gene-set analysis in this context and using genome-scale data in a reasonable running time. We designed a user-friendly pipeline to perform cross-phenotype gene-set analysis between two traits using GCPBayes, a method developed by our team. All analyses could be performed automatically by calling for different scripts in a simple way (using a Shiny app, Bash or R script). A Shiny application was also developed to create different plots to visualize outputs from GCPBayes. Finally, a comprehensive and step-by-step tutorial on how to use the pipeline is provided in our group’s GitHub page. We illustrated the application on publicly available GWAS (genome-wide association studies) summary statistics data to identify breast cancer and ovarian cancer susceptibility genes. We have shown that the GCPBayes pipeline could extract pleiotropic genes previously mentioned in the literature, while it also provided new pleiotropic genes and regions that are worthwhile for further investigation. We have also provided some recommendations about parameter selection for decreasing computational time of GCPBayes on genome-scale data.
Surrounding landscape, habitat and hybridization dynamics drive population structure and genetic diversity in the Saltmarsh Sparrow
Authors: Walsh Jennifer , Fenderson Lindsey E , Elphick Chris S , Cohen Jonathan B , Field Christopher R , Garey Laura K , Hodgman Thomas P , Kocek Alison R , Longenecker Rebecca , O’Brien Kathleen M , Olsen Brian J , Ruskin Katharine J , Shriver W Gregory , Kovach Adrienne I
Published: July 2023

Determining factors that shape a species’ population genetic structure is beneficial for identifying effective conservation practices. We assessed population structure and genetic diversity for Saltmarsh Sparrow (Ammospiza caudacuta), an imperiled tidal marsh specialist, using 13 microsatellite markers and 964 individuals sampled from 24 marshes across the breeding range. We show that Saltmarsh Sparrow populations are structured regionally by isolation-by-distance, with gene flow occurring among marshes within ~110 to 135 km of one another. Isolation-by-resistance and isolation-by-environment also shape genetic variation; several habitat and landscape features are associated with genetic diversity and genetic divergence among populations. Human development in the surrounding landscape isolates breeding marshes, reducing genetic diversity, and increasing population genetic divergence, while surrounding marshland and patch habitat quality (proportion high marsh and sea-level-rise trend) have the opposite effect. The distance of the breeding marsh to the Atlantic Ocean also influences genetic variation, with marshes farther inland being more divergent than coastal marshes. In northern marshes, hybridization with Nelson’s Sparrow (A. nelsoni) strongly influences Saltmarsh Sparrow genetic variation, by increasing genetic diversity in the population; this has a concomitant effect of increasing genetic differentiation of marshes with high levels of introgression. From a conservation perspective, we found that the majority of population clusters have low effective population sizes, suggesting a lack of resiliency. To conserve the representative breadth of genetic and ecological diversity and to ensure redundancy of populations, it will be important to protect a diversity of marsh types across the latitudinal gradient of the species range, including multiple inland, coastal, and urban populations, which we have shown to exhibit signals of genetic differentiation. It will also require maintaining connectivity at a regional level, by promoting high marsh habitat at the scale of gene flow (~130 km), while also ensuring “stepping stone” populations across the range.
The impact of transition of Spina Bifida Care: A retrospective population-based cohort study comparing outcomes and health care costs longitudinally from adolescence into adulthood
Authors: Playfair Matthew , McClure James Andrew , Le Britney , Cassidy Caitlin , Wang Peter , Welk Blayne , Dave Sumit
Published: July 2023

Introduction

Transition from multidisciplinary paediatric to adult care results in a significant change in the intensity of care provided to patients with spina bifida (SB).

Objective

To compare planned and unplanned health care utilization and costs of care of transitioning SB patients.

Study Design

Through a retrospective population-based cohort study, patients with SB born in Ontario between 1988 and 1999 were studied using routinely collected data analysed at ICES. Patients were followed longitudinally from age 16 to 22 years with comparisons made between the paediatric baseline year (age 16) to the first 3 years of adulthood (ages 19 to 21). A composite primary outcome of unplanned emergency room (ER) visits, hospitalizations and emergency surgical procedures, was compared before and after transition. Secondary outcomes included these variables individually and estimated health care costs.

Results

In the 299 patients, no significant differences were identified in the composite primary outcome between periods (P = 0.09). Unplanned ER visits (P = 0.004) and emergency surgical procedures (P = 0.02) increased after transition. Despite this, the estimated individual total cost of care declined after transition (P = 0.03). Further, multivariable analysis identified rural residence (RR 1.78, confidence interval [CI] 1.30 to 2.44) and previous urologic surgery (RR 1.91, CI 1.41 to 2.57) as significant predictors of increased need for emergent care and health care costs, respectively.

Conclusion

Patients with SB in Ontario have higher rates of ER usage and unplanned surgery after the transition to adult care. While this does not drive an increase in health care costs, improvements in the care of transitioned SB patients, particularly rural patients and those with prior urologic surgery, may decrease the requirement for acute care.
The royal food of termites shows king and queen specificity
Authors: Tasaki Eisuke , Mitaka Yuki , Takahashi Yutaka , Waliullah A S M , Tamannaa Zinat , Sakamoto Takumi , Islam Ariful , Kamiya Masaki , Sato Tomohito , Aramaki Shuhei , Kikushima Kenji , Horikawa Makoto , Nakamura Katsumasa , Kahyo Tomoaki , Takata Mamoru , Setou Mitsutoshi , Matsuura Kenji
Published: July 2023

Society in eusocial insects is based on the reproductive division of labor, with a small number of reproductive individuals supported by a large number of nonreproductive individuals. Because inclusive fitness of all colony members depends on the survival and fertility of reproductive members, sterile members provide royals with special treatment. Here, we show that termite kings and queens each receive special food of a different composition from workers. Sequential analysis of feeding processes demonstrated that workers exhibit discriminative trophallaxis, indicating their decision-making capacity in allocating food to the kings and queens. Liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry analyses of the stomodeal food and midgut contents revealed king- and queen-specific compounds, including diacylglycerols and short-chain peptides. Desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry imaging analyses of 13C-labeled termites identified phosphatidylinositol and acetyl-l-carnitine in the royal food. Comparison of the digestive tract structure showed remarkable differences in the volume ratio of the midgut-to-hindgut among castes, indicating that digestive division of labor underlies reproductive division of labor. Our demonstration of king- and queen-specific foods in termites provides insight into the nutritional system that underpins the extraordinary reproduction and longevity of royals in eusocial insects.
The Effects of Mindfulness Meditation on Nursing Students’ Stress and Anxiety Levels
Authors: Heinrich Debra S. , O’Connell Kathleen A.
Published: July 2023

AIM

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a virtual mindfulness meditation intervention on stress and anxiety levels of 145 nursing students.

BACKGROUND

Because of the twin demands of classroom and clinical workloads, nursing students experience greater amounts of stress and anxiety than the average college student. Mindfulness meditation is a promising method to alleviate stress and anxiety.

METHOD

A pretest-posttest randomized controlled design was used. Participants received either weekly mindfulness meditation recordings or recordings on nursing information. Participants completed the Perceived Stress Scale and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 Scale.

RESULTS

A two-way mixed analysis of variance and follow-up simple main effects tests revealed that participants in the experimental group, who received meditation recordings, experienced significantly lower levels of stress and anxiety on posttest surveys than the control group.

CONCLUSION

Mindfulness meditation can reduce stress and anxiety levels in nursing students. This can improve students’ overall mental and physical well-being.
Advances in targeted therapy and immunotherapy for esophageal cancer
Authors: Yang Haiou , Li Xuewei , Yang Wenhui
Published: July 2023

Esophageal cancer (EC) is one of the most common aggressive malignant tumors in the digestive system with a severe epidemiological situation and poor prognosis. The early diagnostic rate of EC is low, and most EC patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage. Multiple multimodality treatments have gradually evolved into the main treatment for advanced EC, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. And the emergence of targeted therapy and immunotherapy has greatly improved the survival of EC patients. This review highlights the latest advances in targeted therapy and immunotherapy for EC, discusses the efficacy and safety of relevant drugs, summarizes related important clinical trials, and tries to provide references for therapeutic strategy of EC.
Heart Disease and Microgravity: The Dawn of a New Medical Era?: A Narrative Review
Authors: Giacinto Omar , Garo Maria Luisa , Pelliccia Francesco , Minati Alessandro , Chello Massimo , Lusini Mario
Published: July 2023

After a decline in interest in space missions following the cessation of the Apollo missions, there has been a recent resurgence. Activities on the International Space Station have raised awareness of a positive resumption of space travel to more challenging destinations such as Mars and a possible adaptation of human life on the Moon. The biological and physiological studies conducted on these stations in low Earth orbit are crucial in familiarizing humanity with the potential problems that can arise during long journeys. Cosmic rays and microgravity are the 2 main negative phenomena in space flights. Microgravity in the interplanetary environment plays a special role in altering normal organic processes. These studies are compared to studies conducted on Earth with laboratory technologies that mimic the space environment. To date, the molecular and physiological adaptations of the human body to this unnatural environment are very poor. The aim of this review is therefore to provide an overview of the most important findings on the molecular and physiological anomalies that develop during microgravity in short and long space flights.
Use of drug purchase tasks in medications development research: orexin system regulation of cocaine and drug demand
Authors: Strickland Justin C. , Hatton Kevin W. , Hays Lon R. , Rayapati Abner O. , Lile Joshua A. , Rush Craig R. , Stoops William W.
Published: July 2023

Commodity purchase tasks provide a useful method for evaluating behavioral economic demand in the human laboratory. Recent research has shown how responding to purchase tasks for blinded drug administration can be used to study abuse liability. This analysis uses data from a human laboratory study to highlight how similar procedures may be particularly useful for understanding momentary changes in drug valuation when screening novel interventions. Eight nontreatment-seeking participants with cocaine use disorder (one with partial data) were enrolled in a cross-over, double-blind, randomized inpatient study. Participants were maintained on the Food and Drug Administration-approved insomnia medication suvorexant (oral; 0, 5, 10, 20 mg/day) in randomized order with experimental sessions completed after at least 3 days of maintenance on each suvorexant dose. Experimental sessions included administration of a sample dose of 0, 10 and 30 mg/70 kg intravenous cocaine. Analyses focused on purchase tasks for the blinded sample dose as well as alcohol, cigarettes and chocolate completed 15 min after the sample dose. As expected based on abuse liability, near zero demand was observed for placebo with dose-related increases in cocaine demand. Suvorexant maintenance increased cocaine demand in a dose-related manner with the greatest increase observed for the 10 mg/kg cocaine dose. Increased demand under suvorexant maintenance was also observed for alcohol. No effect of cocaine administration was observed for alcohol, cigarette, or chocolate demand. These data support the validity of demand procedures for measuring blinded drug demand. Findings also parallel self-administration data from this study by showing increases in cocaine use motivation under suvorexant maintenance.
Menstrual cycle influences on cue-induced smoking cravings and heart rate variability
Authors: Ethier Ashley , Sykes Tottenham Laurie , Singh Jyotpal , Neary J. Patrick , Piskorski Jaroslaw , Gordon Jennifer L.
Published: July 2023

Women experience greater difficulties in quitting smoking than men, though the hormonal factors contributing to this sex difference remain to be clarified. The current study aimed to examine menstrual cycle effects on smoking cue-induced cravings as well as examine dynamic reproductive hormone change as a potential mediator underlying any cycle effects observed. Twenty-one women who smoke underwent two laboratory sessions – one in the mid-follicular phase and the other in the late luteal phase – involving an in-vivo smoking cue task, administered before and after exposure to a psychosocial laboratory stressor. Heart rate variability (HRV) and subjective smoking cravings were assessed in response to the cue task. The degree of change in the urinary metabolites of estradiol and progesterone from 2 days before to the day of each laboratory session was measured. Results revealed that both before and following exposure to psychosocial stress, highly nicotine-dependent women exhibited smaller cue-induced increases in HRV relative to the follicular phase. In contrast, less nicotine-dependent women exhibit an increase in HRV in both menstrual cycle phases. Results furthermore suggest that menstrual cycle effects seen in highly nicotine-dependent women are driven by the decline in estradiol and progesterone occurring in the late luteal phase. Though limited by a small sample size, this study suggests that withdrawal from reproductive hormones in the late luteal phase may alter highly nicotine-dependent women’s physiological response to smoking cues, which may reflect greater difficulty resisting temptation. These findings may provide some insight regarding women’s greater difficulty in maintaining abstinence after quitting smoking.
Publication Rates of Registered Corneal Trials on ClinicalTrials.gov
Authors: Cehelyk Eli K. , Crespo Marcos A. , Syed Zeba A.
Published: July 2023

Purpose:

This study aimed to characterize cornea-centered clinical trials, completed before 2020, registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and identify discrepancies in publication.

Methods:

ClinicalTrials.gov, a database from the National Institutes of Health, was queried to identify registered cornea-related clinical trials. Trials were included if they were interventional and completed before January 1, 2020. ClinicalTrials.gov, PubMed.gov, and Google Scholar were then searched to evaluate publications from the trial. Data collected for each trial included sponsor, intervention type, phase, dry eye focus, and location of the principal investigator.

Results:

A total of 520 trials were included in the final analysis. Of all studies, 270 (51.9%) were found to have published results. Industry-sponsored studies were associated with drug intervention trials, dry eye focus, and the principal investigator's location within the United States (P < 0.05 for all). Nonindustry sponsors were associated with device and procedure intervention trials (P < 0.05 for both). Overall, trials that were categorized as procedure interventions were published at a significantly higher rate than other interventional categories (64.2% vs. 50.1%; P = 0.03). Subgroup analysis revealed that among nonindustry studies, late-phase trials and procedural-based trials were published at a significantly higher rate compared with other studies (67.2% vs. 51.6%; P = 0.04 and 67.8% vs. 51.6%; P = 0.03).

Conclusions:

Only 51.9% of registered interventional cornea-based clinical trials result in publications in the peer-reviewed literature, highlighting potential publishing discrepancies.
Successful Medical and Surgical Management of Recalcitrant Acanthamoeba Keratitis, Scleritis, and Culture-Positive Scleral Abscess
Authors: Heath Michael , Riaz Kamran M. , Davis Alexander
Published: July 2023

Purpose:

The purpose of this study was to describe the management of a case of recurrent scleritis and Acanthamoeba-positive scleral abscess in a patient after the use of miltefosine for recalcitrant Acanthamoeba keratitis.

Methods:

This is a case study.

Results:

In this study, we report a case of advanced Acanthamoeba keratitis with resultant corneal perforation with therapeutic keratoplasty and associated scleritis who later developed a scleral abscess after treatment with oral miltefosine. The scleral abscess was positive for Acanthamoeba cysts and trophozoites, and after treatment for an additional several months, the patient had complete resolution of her disease.

Conclusions:

Acanthamoeba scleritis is a rare complication associated with Acanthamoeba keratitis. It has traditionally been treated as an immune reaction and associated inflammation, especially with the use of miltefosine. Management can require a multitude of different approaches, and in this situation, it has been demonstrated that scleritis can be infectious and that conservative management can be effective.
Acute Suppurative Thyroiditis in Children: Clinical Decision-Making
Authors: Gómez Silvia , Mora Cristina , López de Suso Dorleta , Escalada Pellitero Silvia , Aragón Paula , Parrón Manuel , Bartolomé-Benito Margarita , Sanz-Santaeufemia Francisco Jose , Méndez-Echevarría Ana
Published: July 2023

Acute suppurative thyroiditis are infrequent infections, although their early and proper management are needed to reduce complications and recurrences. We review the clinical presentation, etiology, clinical outcome and management of 9 cases of thyroid infections diagnosed in children, and analyze the existence of predisposing factors for these infections.
Temperature change exerts sex-specific effects on behavioural variation
Authors: Brand Jack A. , Yee Winston K. W. , Aitkenhead Ian J. , Martin Jake M. , Polverino Giovanni , Chown Steven L. , Wong Bob B. M. , Dowling Damian K.
Published: July 2023

Temperature is a key factor mediating organismal fitness and has important consequences for species' ecology. While the mean effects of temperature on behaviour have been well-documented in ectotherms, how temperature alters behavioural variation among and within individuals, and whether this differs between the sexes, remains unclear. Such effects likely have ecological and evolutionary consequences, given that selection acts at the individual level. We investigated the effect of temperature on individual-level behavioural variation and metabolism in adult male and female
Drosophila melanogaster
(
n
= 129), by taking repeated measures of locomotor activity and metabolic rate at both a standard temperature (25°C) and a high temperature (28°C). Males were moderately more responsive in their mean activity levels to temperature change when compared to females. However, this was not true for either standard or active metabolic rate, where no sex differences in thermal metabolic plasticity were found. Furthermore, higher temperatures increased both among- and within-individual variation in male, but not female, locomotor activity. Given that behavioural variation can be critical to population persistence, we suggest that future studies test whether sex differences in the amount of behavioural variation expressed in response to temperature change may result in sex-specific vulnerabilities to a warming climate.
Raptorial appendages of the Cambrian apex predatorAnomalocaris canadensisare built for soft prey and speed
Authors: Bicknell Russell D. C. , Schmidt Michel , Rahman Imran A. , Edgecombe Gregory D. , Gutarra Susana , Daley Allison C. , Melzer Roland R. , Wroe Stephen , Paterson John R.
Published: July 2023

The stem-group euarthropodAnomalocaris canadensisis one of the largest Cambrian animals and is often considered the quintessential apex predator of its time. This radiodont is commonly interpreted as a demersal hunter, responsible for inflicting injuries seen in benthic trilobites. However, controversy surrounds the ability ofA. canadensisto use its spinose frontal appendages to masticate or even manipulate biomineralized prey. Here, we apply a new integrative computational approach, combining three-dimensional digital modelling, kinematics, finite-element analysis (FEA) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to rigorously analyse anA. canadensisfeeding appendage and test its morphofunctional limits. These models corroborate a raptorial function, but expose inconsistencies with a capacity for durophagy. In particular, FEA results show that certain parts of the appendage would have experienced high degrees of plastic deformation, especially at the endites, the points of impact with prey. The CFD results demonstrate that outstretched appendages produced low drag and hence represented the optimal orientation for speed, permitting acceleration bursts to capture prey. These data, when combined with evidence regarding the functional morphology of its oral cone, eyes, body flaps and tail fan, suggest thatA. canadensiswas an agile nektonic predator that fed on soft-bodied animals swimming in a well-lit water column above the benthos. The lifestyle ofA. canadensisand that of other radiodonts, including plausible durophages, suggests that niche partitioning across this clade influenced the dynamics of Cambrian food webs, impacting on a diverse array of organisms at different sizes, tiers and trophic levels.
Epidemiology of Haemophilus influenzae carriage among Children in Lombok Island, Indonesia
Authors: Putri Nina Dwi , Salsabila Korrie , Prayitno Ari , Aprianti Shindy Claudya , Paramaiswari Wisiva Tofriska , Krisna Made Ananda , Safari Dodi
Published: July 2023

The Haemophilus influenzae serotype b (Hib) conjugate vaccine routine immunisation program has been implemented for almost a decade; however, there is limited surveillance of H. influenzae carriage rates in the Indonesian population. H. influenzae was isolated from nasopharyngeal (NP) swab specimens of healthy children on Lombok Island, West Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia from 2018–2019. Serotyping was performed using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. We identified H. influenzae in 40 of the 96 (41.6%) NP swab specimens. We identified 39 non-typeable H. influenzae (NTHi) isolates and 1 Hib isolate.
Teledentistry for improving access to, and quality of oral health care: A protocol for an overview of systematic reviews and meta-analyses
Authors: Talla Pascaline Kengne , Allison Paul , Bussières André , Giraudeau Nicolas , Komarova Svetlana , Basiren Quentin , Bergeron Frédéric , Emami Elham
Published: July 2023

Digital technologies are becoming essential to address and optimize the suboptimal performance of healthcare systems. Teledentistry involves the use of information and communication technology to improve access to oral health care and the quality of oral health care delivery. Several systematic reviews (SRs) have been conducted to synthesize evidence on the effectiveness of teledentistry but with conflicting results. The aim of this review is to comprehensively summarize available SRs and provide evidence on the impact of teledentistry on access to oral care, patients’ and oral healthcare providers’ outcomes, quality of oral health care and costs. This protocol has been registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO CRD42022373964). Six electronic databases including MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase (Embase.com), CINAHL (EBSCO), Web of Science, Cochrane Library and Epistemonikos will be searched for SRs of quantitative, qualitative, and mixed reviews evaluating teledentistry modalities involving both patients and/or oral health care providers (OHCPs). We will include only studies published in English or French. The primary outcomes will be considered from the patients’ perspective (e.g., access to oral health care, patient-reported outcomes, and experiences). The secondary outcomes will include outcomes from patients and OHCPs (e.g., clinical outcomes, safety, behaviors, and costs). Two independent reviewers will perform data screening, data extraction and will assess the quality of included studies using the AMSTAR 2 and ROBIS tools. Data will be synthesized narratively and presented by tables and graphs. We will report any overlap of primary studies in the SRs. A statement on the strength of evidence for each outcome will be provided if possible. This review will inform decision-makers, patients, OHCPs, and researchers on the potential effectiveness, benefits, and challenges of teledentistry and support them in making recommendations for its use. Results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications, presentations at conferences, and on social media.
Courtship Conditioning/Suppression Assays inDrosophila
Authors: von Philipsborn Anne C. , Shohat-Ophir Galit , Rezaval Carolina
Published: July 2023

Naive males court both virgin and mated females but learn through experience to discriminate between them, thus minimizing futile investments in nonreceptive female flies. In the laboratory, we can exploit the innate courtship enthusiasm of males and manipulate their behavior by placing them with a nonreceptive female (immature virgin females, decapitated mature virgin females, or mature mated females), termed as the courtship suppression/conditioning assay. Early studies showed that male flies that experience failure to mate upon interaction with nonreceptive previously mated females show decreased motivation to court (courtship suppression). Courtship suppression is an important experimental paradigm for studying genes and neuronal circuits that mediate short- and long-term memory. The anti-aphrodisiac male-specific pheromone 11-cis-vaccenyl-acetate plays a key role in this conditioned response, as male flies learn to associate its presence on mated females with the failure to mate.
Female Fly Postmating Behaviors
Authors: von Philipsborn Anne C. , Shohat-Ophir Galit , Rezaval Carolina
Published: July 2023

Upon copulation, females undergo a switch-like change in their behavior and physiology, known as “postmating responses.” These strong behavioral and physiological changes are triggered by the transfer of male seminal proteins during copulation. Postmating response is associated with strong reduction in receptivity, indicated by the females kicking their legs toward the suitor and curving their abdomen downward to hide their genitalia from them and extruding their ovipositor at the tip of the abdomen, which physically prevents copulation. The transfer of male-specific pheromones, such as 11-cis-vaccenyl-acetate, during copulation further reduces female attractiveness. In addition, mated females exhibit increased ovulation, egg-laying behavior, enhanced feeding behavior, and changes in food preference. However, females increase their rate of remating when they are in social groups or in the presence of food. This protocol describes methods for measuring female postmating behaviors, such as oviposition, female sexual receptivity, and mating plug ejection.
Characterizing Mosquito Biting Behavior Using the BiteOscope
Authors: Murray Gregory P.D. , Giraud Emilie , Hol Felix J.H.
Published: July 2023

The biteOscope enables the high-resolution monitoring and video recording of blood-feeding mosquitoes. Mosquito biting is induced by combining host cues, an artificial bloodmeal, a membrane, and a transparent heater in a transparent behavioral arena. Machine vision techniques enable the tracking and pose estimation of individual mosquitoes to discern behavior and resolve individual feeding events. The workflow allows multiple replicates and large amounts of imaging data to be generated rapidly. These data are suitable for downstream analysis using machine learning tools for behavioral analysis, allowing subtle behavioral effects to be characterized.
The impact of regulatory requirements on German financial institutions’ outsourcing arrangements
Authors: Hasan Riffat , Kruse Oliver
Published: July 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyse and investigate how intensified regulatory requirements related to outsourcing have influenced and changed the outsourcing activities of German financial institutions.

Design/methodology/approach

The study involved interviewing 11 outsourcing experts in the German financial sector, including four of the five largest banks in Germany. In coding and analysing the collected data, this study adopted the approach of a qualitative content analysis framework.

Findings

The study found that the revised legal requirements have had a significant and potentially negative impact on the efficiency of outsourcing, leading to a necessity for German financial institutions to internally realign their outsourcing managements. The study further revealed practical realigned methods German financial institutions executed to meet the legal requirements.

Originality/value

The impact, meaning and relevance of legal requirements in the outsourcing environment of German financial institutions has been relatively under-researched from a qualitative perspective and focused on other primary fields of investigation like outsourcing decisions and outcomes. This study has, by adopting a qualitative approach, addressed the identified gap by providing first-hand insights and new knowledge.
Essential 5: what can collaborative research look like in PDSs and school–university partnerships?
Authors: Polly Drew , Badiali Bernard , Burns Rebecca West , Coler Cynthia , Cosenza Michael , Goree Krystal , Stoicovy Donnan , Zenkov Kristien
Published: July 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to describe the important aspects and provide examples of Essential 5 in the Second Edition of the National Association for Professional Development Schools (NAPDS) Nine Essentials.
Explicating Essential Nine of the Second Edition of the NAPDS Nine Essentials
Authors: Badiali Bernard , Burns Rebecca West , Coler Cynthia , Cosenza Michael , Goree Krystal , Polly Drew , Stoicovy Donnan , Zenkov Kristien
Published: July 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to describe the key aspects of and provide examples about Essential Nine of the Second Edition of the National Association for Professional Development Schools (NAPDS) Nine Essentials.
An energy company's journey toward standardized sustainability reporting: addressing governance challenges
Authors: Maione Gennaro
Published: July 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to provide a comprehensive examination of corporate sustainability reporting strategies, focusing on the rationale for adopting the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards, the challenges to be faced and the implications that can arise for accounting professionals, managers, policymakers and scholars alike.

Design/methodology/approach

The single case study approach was followed. Qualitative content analysis and thematic analysis were used for an in-depth, contextual examination of Enel Green Power's sustainability reporting practices and the adoption of the GRI Standards. The documents analyzed include annual sustainability reports, integrated reports and press releases over the period ranging from 2018 to 2022.

Findings

The GRI Standards' adaptability, modular structure and emphasis on stakeholder involvement emerged as stimulating factors for Enel Green Power. GRI Standards allowed the company to benchmark its sustainability performance against competitors and identify areas for improvement. The company faced challenges during the implementation of the GRI Standards concerning data collection and management across global operations, stakeholder identification and engagement and alignment of sustainability reporting with corporate strategy. The company addressed these challenges by investing in robust data management systems, maintaining active communication with stakeholders and embedding sustainability into its corporate culture.

Research limitations/implications

This research contributes to the academic literature on sustainability reporting and accounting, offers valuable insights for managers and professionals and informs policymakers about the potential benefits and challenges associated with the adoption of GRI Standards. The paper highlights the importance of aligning organizational strategies with global sustainability frameworks and fostering a culture of transparency and stakeholder engagement.

Originality/value

This work offers a novel contribution to the scholarly discourse on sustainability reporting standardization, shedding light on the governance challenges to be faced and providing potential solutions.
When is warmer better? Disentangling within‐ and between‐generation effects of thermal history on early survival
Authors: Rebolledo Adriana P. , Sgrò Carla M. , Monro Keyne
Published: July 2023

Understanding the fitness consequences of thermal history is necessary to predict organismal responses to global warming. This is especially challenging for ectotherms with complex life cycles, where distinct life stages can differ in thermal sensitivity, acclimate to different thermal environments and accrue responses to acclimation within and between generations.

Although acclimation is often hypothesized to benefit organisms by helping them (or their offspring) to compensate for negative impacts of environmental change, mixed support for this hypothesis highlights the need to assess alternatives. Assessments that explicitly dissect responses across life stages and generations, however, remain limited.

We assess alternative hypotheses of acclimation (none, beneficial, colder‐is‐better and warmer‐is‐better) within and between generations of a marine tubeworm whose vulnerability to warming rests on survival at early planktonic stages (gametes, embryos and larvae). First, we acclimate parents, gametes and embryos to ambient and projected warmer temperatures (17°C and 22°C) factorially by life stage. Next, we rear offspring with differing acclimation histories to the end of larval development at test temperatures from 10°C to 28°C (lower and upper survival limits respectively). Last, we estimate thermal survival curves for development, and compare them among thermal histories.

We show that survival curves are most responsive to parental acclimation followed by acclimation at embryogenesis, but are buffered against acclimation at fertilization. Moreover, curves respond independently to acclimation within and between generations, and respond largely as predicted by the warmer‐is‐better hypothesis, despite the semblance of beneficial acclimation after successive doses of warmer temperature.

Our study demonstrates the varied nature of thermal acclimation and the importance of considering how responses aggregate across complex life cycles when predicting vulnerability to warming.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
Community form, function and phylogenetic diversity respond differently across microhabitat and recovery gradients
Authors: Barden Phillip
Published: July 2023

Research Highlight: Hoenle, P. O., Staab, M., Donoso, D. A., Argoti, A., & Blüthgen, N. (2023). Stratification and recovery time jointly shape ant functional reassembly in a neotropical forest. Journal of Animal Ecology, https://doi.org/10.1111/1365‐2656.13896. Space, time and abiotic variation are primary axes across investigations of community ecology and disturbed ecosystems offer tractable systems for assessing their relative impact. While recovering forests can act as isolated case studies in understanding community assembly, it is not well understood how individual microhabitats respond to recovery and ultimately shape community attributes. Hoenle et al. (2023) leverage the ubiquity and microhabitat‐specific diversity of ants across a gradient from active agricultural sites to old‐growth forest and assess how recovery and stratification together shape communities. The authors find distinct stratification across phylogenetic, functional and trait diversity as forest recovery time increases, while also recovering unique recovery trajectories contingent on trait sampling. While stratified, phylogenetic and functional diversity did not increase along this recovery gradient. Ten out of 13 sampled traits were jointly influenced by both stratification and recovery time. In contrast to intuitive predictions, a majority of trait means converged throughout the recovery period. Results highlight the multifaceted nature of recovery‐based community assembly and the capacity of multidimensional sampling to uncover surprising patterns in ecologically diverse lineages.
Integrating climate change into agroforestry conservation: A case study on native plant species in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest
Authors: Lima Valdeir Pereira , Ferreira de Lima Renato A. , Joner Fernando , D'Orangeville Loïc , Raes Niels , Siddique Ilyas , ter Steege Hans
Published: July 2023

Designing multispecies systems with suitable climatic affinity and identifying species' vulnerability under human‐driven climate change are current challenges to achieve successful adaptation of natural systems. To address this problem, we need to (1) identify groups of species with climatic similarity under climate scenarios and (2) identify areas with high conservation value under predicted climate change.

To recognize species with similar climatic niche requirements that can be grouped for mixed cropping in Brazil, we employed ecological niche models (ENMs) and Spearman's ρ for overlap. We also used prioritization algorithms to map areas of high conservation value using two Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSP2‐4.5 and SSP5‐8.5) to assess mid‐term (2041–2060) and long‐term (2061–2080) climate change impacts.

We identified 15 species groups with finer climatic affinities at different times depicted on hierarchical clustering dendrograms, which can be combined into agroecological agroforestry systems. Furthermore, we highlight the climatically suitable areas for these groups of species, thus providing an outlook of where different species will need to be planted over time to be conserved. In addition, we observed that climate change is predicted to modify the spatial association of these groups under different future climate scenarios, causing a mean negative change in species climatic similarity of 9.5% to 13.7% under SSP2‐4.5 scenario and 9.5% to 10.5% under SSP5‐8.5, for 2041–2060 and 2061–2080, respectively.

Synthesis and applications. Our findings provide a framework for agroforestry conservation. The groups of species with finer climatic affinities identified and the climatically suitable areas can be combined into agroecological productive systems, and provide an outlook of where different species may be planted over time. In addition, the conservation priority zones displaying high climate stability for each species individually and all at once can be incorporated into Brazil's conservation plans by policymakers to prioritize specific sites. Lastly, we urge policymakers, conservation organizations and donors to promote interventions involving farmers and local communities, since the species' evaluated have proven to maintain landscapes with productive forest fragments and can be conserved in different Brazilian ecosystems.
Deficiency of leukotriene B4 receptor type 1 ameliorates ovalbumin‐induced allergic enteritis in mice
Authors: Kato Shinichi , Onishi Suzuka , Sasai Misaki , Yasuda Hiroyuki , Saeki Kazuko , Matsumoto Kenjiro , Yokomizo Takehiko
Published: July 2023

Leukotriene B4 receptor type 1 (BLT1), a high‐affinity receptor for leukotriene B4 (LTB4), plays an important role in inflammatory responses, including allergic airway inflammation. In this study, we examined the effect of genetic BLT1 deletion (BLT1KO) on ovalbumin (OVA)‐induced allergic enteritis in mice to determine the pathogenic role of LTB4/BLT1 in allergic enteritis, a gastrointestinal form of food allergy. Repeated oral OVA challenges after sensitization with OVA and aluminium potassium sulphate induced allergic enteritis, characterized by systemic allergic symptoms (scratching, immobility and swelling), diarrhoea, colonic oedema and colonic goblet cell hyperplasia, accompanied by increased colonic peroxidase activity, colonic inflammatory cytokine expression and increased serum OVA‐specific IgE levels. The severity of enteritis was significantly attenuated in BLT1KO mice compared with wild‐type (WT) mice, without an increase in serum OVA‐specific IgE levels. The accumulation of neutrophils, eosinophils, M2‐macrophages, dendritic cells, CD4+ T cells and mast cells was observed in the colonic mucosa of allergic enteritis, and such accumulation was significantly lower in BLT1KO mice than in WT mice. BLT1 expression was upregulated and colocalized mostly in neutrophils and partly in eosinophils and dendritic cells in the colonic mucosa of allergic enteritis. These findings indicate that BLT1 deficiency ameliorates OVA‐induced allergic enteritis in mice and that LTB4/BLT1 contributes to neutrophil and eosinophil accumulation in the allergic colonic mucosa. Therefore, BLT1 is a promising drug target for treating food allergies.
Structural and functional microbial diversity in deadwood respond to decomposition dynamics
Authors: Pioli Silvia , Clagnan Elisa , Chowdhury Atif Aziz , Bani Alessia , Borruso Luigimaria , Ventura Maurizio , Tonon Giustino , Brusetti Lorenzo
Published: July 2023

We investigated the changes in microbial community diversities and functions in natural downed wood at different decay stages in a natural oak forest in the Italian Alps, through metagenomics analysis and in vitro analysis. Alfa diversity of bacterial communities was affected by the decay stage and log characteristics, while beta diversity was mainly driven by log diameter. Fungal and archaeal beta diversities were affected by the size of the sampled wood (log diameter), although, fungi were prominently driven by wood decay stage. The analysis of genes targeting cell wall degradation revealed higher abundances of cellulose and pectin‐degrading enzymes in bacteria, while in fungi the enzymes targeting cellulose and hemicellulose were more abundant. The decay class affected the abundance of single enzymes, revealing a shift in complex hydrocarbons degradation pathways along the decay process. Moreover, we found that the genes related to Coenzyme M biosynthesis to be the most abundant especially at early stages of wood decomposition while the overall methanogenesis did not seem to be influenced by the decay stage. Intra‐ and inter‐kingdom interactions between bacteria and fungi revealed complex pattern of community structure in response to decay stage possibly reflecting both direct and indirect interactions.
Molecular evolution of Toll‐like receptors in rodents
Authors: SU Qianqian , CHEN Yi , HE Hongxuan
Published: July 2023

Toll‐like receptors (TLRs), the key sensor molecules in vertebrates, trigger the innate immunity and prime the adaptive immune system. The TLR family of rodents, the largest order of mammals, typically contains 13 TLR genes. However, a clear picture of the evolution of the rodent TLR family has not yet emerged and the TLR evolutionary patterns are unclear in rodent clades. Here, we analyzed the natural variation and the evolutionary processes acting on the TLR family in rodents at both the interspecific and population levels. Our results showed that rodent TLRs were dominated by purifying selection, but a series of positively selected sites (PSSs) primarily located in the ligand‐binding domain was also identified. The numbers of PSSs differed among TLRs, and nonviral‐sensing TLRs had more PSSs than those in viral‐sensing TLRs. Gene‐conversion events were found between TLR1 and TLR6 in most rodent species. Population genetic analyses showed that TLR2, TLR8, and TLR12 were under positive selection in Rattus norvegicus and R. tanezumi, whereas positive selection also acted on TLR5 and TLR9 in the former species, as well as TLR1 and TLR7 in the latter species. Moreover, we found that the proportion of polymorphisms with potentially functional change was much lower in viral‐sensing TLRs than in nonviral‐sensing TLRs in both of these rat species. Our findings revealed the first thorough insight into the evolution of the rodent TLR genetic variability and provided important novel insights into the evolutionary history of TLRs over long and short timescales.