bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Beyond the counter: unveiling the financial informality dynamics of female entrepreneurs in Lima’s Bodega sector
Authors: Gómez García Luis Demetrio , Zambrano Aranda Gloria María , Toledo Concha Emerson Jesus
Published: November 2024

Purpose

This study examines the interrelations among educational level, financial literacy, financial inclusion and informal financial business practices of female entrepreneurs in Lima, Peru, focusing on their intentions toward business formalization. Additionally, it explores the influence of legal formalization on both business formality and tendencies toward informality intentions.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology involved a self-administered survey among 118 female entrepreneurs in the small vendor “Bodega” sector, with statistical analysis conducted via partial least structural equation modeling.

Findings

The study’s outcomes validated the significant role of financial literacy and inclusion as mediators between educational level and formalization intentions. Notably, legal formalization did not significantly alter these dynamics.

Research limitations/implications

Limitations arise from the study’s explanatory power and lack of predictive capability for all dependent variables, likely due to sample specificity. Additionally, the quantitative research approach does not allow for a deeper understanding of these phenomena.

Practical implications

We advocate reevaluating prevailing attitudes toward legal formality and informal practices, emphasizing tailored public policies for older female entrepreneurs and access to formal financing independent of legal registration. This underscores the need for enhanced educational levels for young women and coordinated efforts among institutional actors to more effectively promote formality.

Originality/value

This research contributes original insights into the emphasis on informal practices over mere legal registration, especially pertinent to female entrepreneurship. It also highlights the counterintuitive significant inverse relationship between age and formalization intentions, enriching the discourse on entrepreneurial motivation.
Is corporate reputation associated with voluntary cybersecurity risk reporting?
Authors: Singh Harmandeep
Published: November 2024

Purpose

This study investigated the effect of voluntary cybersecurity risk reporting (VCRR) on corporate reputation. By examining the association between VCRR and corporate reputation, this study aims to provide exploratory evidence of how cybersecurity risk is sensitive to a company’s image and reputation.

Design/methodology/approach

An automated content analysis of VCRR by 95 Bombay Stock Exchange-listed companies was undertaken using Python code. Signaling and legitimacy theories were adopted to interpret the findings, establishing whether VCRR was related to corporate reputation.

Findings

The results confirm that VCRR improves the corporate reputation in the financial market. The results also confirm the signalling and legitimacy theory that a company can manage reputational risks through higher voluntary risk disclosure.

Practical implications

The corporation’s managers can gain insights from the study’s findings and proactively address cybersecurity risks through strategic disclosure and management practices. In addition, organizations can recognize that investors value transparency and establish a positive reputation for those who communicate openly.

Social implications

A significant association between VCRR and corporate reputation implies that such disclosures enhance trust and transparency in the business sector and induce security and accountability among investors engaging with the company.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first that empirically investigates this issue and adds to the international literature a new explanatory variable, corporate reputation, to explain VCRR practices.
The effects of propolis supplementation on blood pressure in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials
Authors: El-Sehrawy Amr Ali Mohamed Abdelgawwad , Uthirapathy Subasini , Kumar Abhinav , Alkadir Ola Kamal A. , Lal Madan , Kaur Parjinder , Zwamel Ahmed Hussein
Published: November 2024

Purpose

Recent trials have found that propolis supplementation can beneficially reduce blood pressure (BP) in adults, but there is no definitive consensus on this topic. The purpose of this study is to provide an overview and update the current documents regarding the effects of propolis supplementation on BP by presenting a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Design/methodology/approach

The systematic search was conducted, considering all studies published up to July 2024, in the following databases: PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library and ISI Web of Science. Data were pooled by using the random-effects model, and weighted mean difference (WMD) was considered as the summary effect size.

Findings

In this systematic review and meta-analysis, eight clinical trials were included. The obtained results show that propolis supplementation caused a significant decrease in systolic BP (WMD = −3.93 mmHg, 95% CI = −7.05 to −0.82, p = 0.01 and I2 = 45.2%). However, the meta-analysis results showed that propolis supplementation did not significantly change the levels of diastolic BP (WMD = −1.64 mmHg, 95% CI = −4.60 to 1.32, p = 0.27 and I2 = 74.0%).

Originality/value

The findings of this study suggest that propolis supplementation may be used as a dietary supplement to improve systolic BP, but further studies are needed to confirm these results.
Spirituality and workplace performance: a theoretical insight
Authors: Kuhn Nuvea , Lopes Luis Felipe Dias , Silva Wesley Vieira da , da Silva Luciana Santos Costa Vieira , Veiga Claudimar Pereira da
Published: November 2024

Purpose

The primary objective of the study is to explore and elucidate the relationship between spirituality and workplace performance. This study aims to fill a gap in the existing literature by presenting a theoretical–methodological framework that incorporates various aspects and research propositions, differentiating them based on specific mediating variables.

Design/methodology/approach

This research uses a systematic literature review methodology, analyzing 95 articles published over 20 years (2002–2022). This approach is designed to collate and synthesize evidence supporting the proposed relationship between spirituality and workplace performance and to understand the nuances of spirituality’s influence on performance.

Findings

The systematic review reveals recurring mediating constructs and various established theoretical–empirical relationships between spirituality and workplace performance throughout the study period. It highlights the significant role of spirituality in enhancing worker well-being, engagement and productivity.

Social implications

This study addresses the impacts on societal views of work, employee well-being and organizational culture, especially considering the growing discussions around holistic and spiritually inclusive workplaces.

Originality/value

This paper introduces originality by presenting a theoretical–methodological framework that emphasizes five distinct research propositions. These propositions, rooted in a comprehensive literature review, provide insights into how spirituality might influence workplace performance through various mediating variables.
Viable and sustainable tourism for developing countries: a horizon 2050 paper
Authors: Jenkins Carson Lewis , Fan Daisy X.F.
Published: November 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to consider whether developing countries can create viable and sustainable tourism sectors.

Design/methodology/approach

To provide a focus and context to answer the question, the introduction to the subject reviews some of the earlier publication relating to tourism in the developing countries beginning from 1950 and notes how many of these publications foresaw the benefits of using tourism as a supportive activity for general development but also indicated many of the challenges and disadvantages the countries faced in so doing.

Findings

Looking to 2050, the paper makes two assumptions. First, the demand for international tourism will continue. Second, any future disruption of demand caused by wars, terrorism, epidemics or economic difficulties will be short-term and not as universally disruptive to international travel demand as was caused by Covid-19. The paper concludes that developing countries can create viable tourism sectors but that sustainability is unlikely in the absence of careful and sensitive management of the tourism sector.

Practical implications

Tourism development options must be evaluated within the potential and capacities of the individual country. There is no single development model. An important initiative is to help identify and develop local talent for the tourism sector, particularly related to planning, policy and implementation requirements. Government and the private sector should be encouraged to cooperate in development initiatives.

Originality/value

This paper provides an “insider view” of the realities of pursuing sustainable tourism development options and the related challenges and opportunities and emphasises the role of government in this process.
Delayed and immediate cutaneous adverse events during pembrolizumab combination chemotherapy against cervical cancer: Case series
Authors: Adachi Takeya , Matsui Tomoya , Okata‐Karigane Utako , Takahashi Chiaki , Tahara Umi , Hyodo Mari , Miyagawa Akihiro , Kobayashi Kenta , Nakamura Yoshio , Funakoshi Takeru , Nishio Hiroshi , Yamagami Wataru , Takahashi Hayato
Published: November 2024

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), such as pembrolizumab (PEM), are widely recognized for their antitumor efficacy, but they can also lead to various cutaneous adverse events (CAEs). While most CAEs can be managed with topical corticosteroids, severe cases may necessitate halting immunotherapy. The incidence of severe CAEs is notably higher in combination therapies involving ICIs than in monotherapies, emphasizing the need for stringent, long‐term management strategies. This includes potential modifications or discontinuations of the combination therapy. PEM, when added to the conventional paclitaxel + cisplatin (or carboplatin) ± bevacizumab regimen, has shown significant improvements in overall and progression‐free survival for patients with Stage IVB metastatic or locally uncontrolled recurrent cervical cancer. This case series retrospectively examined the incidence and management of CAEs in 19 female patients treated with this combination therapy between October 2022 and May 2023. Four patients exhibiting CTCAE grade 3 were identified. The four cases of severe CAEs involved erythema multiforme after the initial course of PEM combination chemotherapy. Notably, three patients experienced immediate hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis, during subsequent treatments. This observation underscores the necessity for rigorous dermatological monitoring of patients undergoing PEM combination chemotherapy. Such vigilance is crucial for early detection of adverse reactions and timely adjustment of treatment regimens, thereby enhancing patient safety.
Functional differences between herbs and woody species in a semiarid Mediterranean plant community: A whole‐plant perspective on growth, nutrient‐use and size
Authors: Illuminati Angela , Matesanz Silvia , Pías Beatriz , Sánchez Ana M. , de la Cruz Marcelino , Ramos‐Muñoz Marina , López‐Angulo Jesús , Pescador David S. , Escudero Adrián
Published: November 2024

Despite decades of research, a comprehensive understanding of trait coordination at the whole‐plant level remains elusive. Furthermore, while the link between above‐ground growth rates and leaf traits related to nutrient use is well established, much less is known about the below‐ground compartment. Herbs and woody species exhibit distinct above‐ground growth and nutrient‐use strategies, but whether these differences extend to root traits below‐ground remains unclear.

We carried out a common garden experiment with 23 perennials (7 herbs and 16 woody species) coexisting in a Mediterranean shrubland and measured 17 above‐ground and below‐ground traits related to growth, nutrient use and size. We analysed the links between growth rate and nutrient use focusing especially on roots and considering potential differences between herbs and woody species. We also combined plant size data from experimental juveniles and field‐sampled adults to determine the effects of life stage on whole‐plant phenotypic integration.

We found a significant relationship between growth rates (both above‐ground and below‐ground) and root nutrient‐use strategies. Root diameter was negatively associated to growth rate only in herbs. Specific root area and root tissue density were positively and negatively correlated with growth rate, respectively, in both herbs and woody species. Moreover, we found significant differences in roots traits between herbs and woody species. Plant growth rate and root nutrient‐use strategies were both positively associated to plant size (height and above‐ground diameter) in juveniles, while a negative relationship was observed in adults.

Our work provides insights on the links between whole‐plant growth rate and nutrient‐use strategies in species from a dry Mediterranan shrubland. Specifically, we show that whole‐plant growth rate is strongly associated to root traits, with more acquisitive root nutrient‐use strategies related to faster growth rates, which in turn translated to greater plant size in juveniles but smaller in adults. Our results also highlight root functional differences and contrasting patterns of whole‐plant phenotypic integration between herbs and woody species, offering deeper insights into species coexistence in species‐rich dry Mediterranean environments.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
Balancing the cart: Milk, plant‐based alternatives and nutrient availability in New Zealand households
Authors: Cleland Josiah , Fernandez Mario A. , Villa‐Cox Gonzalo
Published: November 2024

Milk is a near‐universal source of essential nutrients and contributes significantly to global nutrient availability. Global demand for milk continues to rise, driven by population growth, rising household incomes and favourable consumption patterns. Plant‐based alternatives (PBAs) to milk seek to cater to the preferences of a share of consumers regarding sustainability, lifestyle or health‐related matters (e.g. allergies and lactose intolerance). Though popular, PBAs do not stand as suitable nutritional substitutes for milk. These considerations emphasise the complex relationships between nutritional content and consumer preferences. This paper estimates a demand system for milk and PBAs in the New Zealand (NZ) market. We explore patterns of complementarity or substitutability between standard milk, reduced‐fat milk and organic milk, and an aggregate group of PBAs. We use these results to calculate nutrient elasticities and assess changes in nutrient availability in response to prices and expenditure variations. We estimate a Quadratic Almost Ideal Demand System using purchase records for 2460 NZ households in 2021. We find that demand for standard milk does not show any substitutional relationship with PBAs. On the contrary, increases in the PBAs price lead households to switch towards standard milk, thereby increasing the availability of essential nutrients. That is, in the case of price increases, milk effectively offsets the reduction in essential nutrients as households switch away from PBAs, but PBAs cannot offset any reduction in essential nutrients as households do not find them to be adequate substitutes for milk.
Examining the impact of the veterans affairs community care program on mental healthcare in rural veterans: A qualitative study
Authors: Kenneally Lauren , Riblet Natalie , Stevens Susan , Rice Korie , Scott Robert
Published: November 2024

Objective

To investigate provider and administrators' perspectives about the impact of the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) Community Care program on acute and residential mental health treatment of rural Veterans.

Data Sources and Study Setting

Primary data were collected from participants via interviews. Participants were employees of VA Healthcare Systems located in Northern New England, or employees of non‐VA mental health treatment settings affiliated with VA in Northern New England.

Study Design

This study was informed by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR), with Community Care as the implemented program. Individual, semi‐structured interviews were conducted.

Data Collection/Extraction Methods

Individual interviews were transcribed, coded deductively using the CFIR, and inductively coded by locating themes.

Principal Findings

Twenty‐one people completed interviews. Commonly reported challenges included community programs not focused on Veterans' needs, poor coordination of care, communication challenges, and problems tracking Veteran care. Facilitators included increased access to care and strengthening coordination of care.

Conclusions

The VA's Community Care program can address the acute or residential mental health needs of Veterans in rural settings in some circumstances, however there are challenges to successful implementation.
Clinical effectiveness of baricitinib and abatacept in patients with rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Asai Shuji , Takahashi Nobunori , Terabe Kenya , Yoshioka Yutaka , Kojima Toshihisa , Kobayakawa Tomonori , Sobue Yasumori , Watanabe Tatsuo , Hirano Yuji , Kanayama Yasuhide , Kato Takefumi , Hanabayashi Masahiro , Suzuki Mochihito , Imagama Shiro
Published: November 2024

Aim

The objective of this study was to compare the clinical effectiveness of baricitinib and abatacept in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods

This study included 274 patients treated with abatacept and 241 treated with baricitinib who were followed for >52 weeks. Potential treatment selection bias was addressed by using inverse probability of treatment weighting. The paired t‐test was used to assess differences in Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) score relative to baseline. A generalized estimating equation was used to compare the two treatment groups.

Results

The estimated mean CDAI score was 18.2 at baseline and significantly decreased to 12.6 at 4 weeks, 8.9 at 12 weeks, 7.4 at 24 weeks, and 6.1 at 52 weeks in the abatacept group. The estimated mean CDAI score was 18.6 at baseline and significantly decreased to 9.5 at 4 weeks, 6.5 at 12 weeks, 5.7 at 24 weeks, and 5.5 at 52 weeks in the baricitinib group. The baricitinib group had significantly lower CDAI scores at 4, 12, and 24 weeks compared to the abatacept group. Subgroup analyses revealed that this difference was evident among patients with high disease activity and without concomitant use of methotrexate but was less pronounced among those with remission to moderate disease activity status with methotrexate use.

Conclusion

Both baricitinib and abatacept were effective in reducing disease activity in patients with RA. Baricitinib demonstrated potential advantages over abatacept in terms of early disease control, particularly in patients with high disease activity and without methotrexate use.
Influence of reef habitat on coral microbial associations
Authors: Gantt Shelby E. , Kemp Keri M. , Colin Patrick L. , Hoadley Kenneth D. , LaJeunesse Todd C. , Warner Mark E. , Kemp Dustin W.
Published: November 2024

Corals have complex symbiotic associations that can be influenced by the environment. We compare symbiotic dinoflagellate (family: Symbiodiniaceae) associations and the microbiome of five scleractinian coral species from three different reef habitats in Palau, Micronesia. Although pH and temperature corresponded with specific host‐Symbiodiniaceae associations common to the nearshore and offshore habitats, bacterial community dissimilarity analyses indicated minimal influence of these factors on microbial community membership for the corals Coelastrea aspera, Psammocora digitata, and Pachyseris rugosa. However, coral colonies sampled close to human development exhibited greater differences in microbial community diversity compared to the nearshore habitat for the coral species Coelastrea aspera, Montipora foliosa, and Pocillopora acuta, and the offshore habitat for Coelastrea aspera, while also showing less consistency in Symbiodiniaceae associations. These findings indicate the influence that habitat location has on the bacterial and Symbiodiniaceae communities comprising the coral holobiont and provide important considerations for the conservation of coral reef communities, especially for island nations with increasing human populations and development.
Proteo‐metabolomic insights for early dual physical and cognitive impairments: A search for biomarkers of healthy aging based on muscle–brain crosstalk
Authors: Huang Yi‐Long , Chang Wei‐Ju , Huang Chen‐Hua , Lin Chao‐Hsiung , Peng Li‐Ning , Chung Chih‐Ping , Chen Liang‐Kung , Lee Wei‐Ju
Published: November 2024

We employed an untargeted proteo‐metabolomic approach to profile circulating biomarkers in plasma samples from the I‐Lan Longitudinal Aging Study, aiming to identify biomarkers and pathways associated with physio‐cognitive decline syndrome (PCDS). In 115 propensity score‐matched PCDS case–control pairs, pathway analyses implicated dysregulation of fatty acid metabolism and inflammation in PCDS pathogenesis. Sex‐specific associations were observed, with disruptions in central carbon metabolism (elevated PKM, MDH1, and GAPDH; decreased MINPP1) and tyrosine metabolism (decreased MIF, DBH; increased thyroxine) characterizing in men. In contrast, perturbations in glutathione and phenylalanine metabolism, including increased ANPEP, GSTP1, and decreased pyroglutamic acid, were identified in women. Results suggest that dysregulated energy and redox homeostasis likely contribute to PCDS development. Notably, ANPEP, PKM, and MIF emerged as potential biomarkers, elucidating the muscle–brain crosstalk framework. Our findings provide insights into potential molecular mechanisms underlying PCDS and the muscle–brain crosstalk, marking progress toward elucidating biomarkers in the journey of healthy aging.
Coronary Angiographic Features of de Winter Syndrome: More Than Just Occlusion of the Left Anterior Descending Artery
Authors: Tang Wenyi , Xu Junwei , Cheng Fangyuan , Liu Tianmin , Lin Zijian , Chen Bairong , Chen Jian , Luo Liyun
Published: November 2024

Background

The de Winter electrocardiogram (ECG) pattern is a rare presentation of ST‐segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) equivalent. The clinical profile of de Winter syndrome remains to be clarified.

Methods

Medical records of 1865 consecutive patients with acute myocardial infarction admitted from November 2018 to July 2023 were screened. Twelve patients (0.6%) with de Winter syndrome were included. STEMI patients whose culprit vessel was the left anterior descending artery (LAD) but without de Winter ECG pattern were selected as controls after 1:2 matching for age and sex.

Results

The de Winter syndrome patients were all male, aged 49.0 (46.3–52.5) years. The culprit lesion was the proximal LAD in seven patients (58.3%), the middle LAD in three (25%), the left main coronary artery in one (8.3%), and the ramus intermedius artery in the other. All of their culprit lesions had TIMI Thrombus Grade < 4, Cohen‐Rentrop Score ≤ 2, and residual stenosis ≥ 80% after pretreatment with thrombus aspiration or balloon predilatation. Intracoronary imaging data were available in four patients, showing severe atherosclerotic stenosis. Compared with STEMI, de Winter syndrome had a higher prevalence of prior recurrent angina (75.0% vs. 37.5%, p = 0.034), better coronary collateralization (Cohen‐Rentrop Score: 1 vs. 0, p = 0.001), lower thrombus burden (TIMI grade: 1 vs. 2, p = 0.005) but more severe atherosclerotic stenosis in the culprit lesions (90% vs. 60%, p < 0.001).

Conclusions

The culprit lesions of de Winter syndrome have a low thrombus burden, severe atherosclerotic stenosis, and poor collateral circulation protection.
Targeting RNA modifications in leukaemia: Epitranscriptomic drugs are the new kids on the block
Authors: Esteller Manel
Published: November 2024

In this article, Chen et al. show that a chemical modification of transfer RNA, along its corresponding RNA modifier enzyme, is diminished in acute myeloid leukaemia. These findings further support the role of an aberrant epitranscriptome in haematological malignancies.

Commentary on: Chen et al. Hydroxy‐wybutosine tRNA modifications as indicators of disease progression and therapeutic targets in leukemia. Br J Haematol 2025; 206:517‐530.
Dual effects of mefenamic acid on the IKs molecular complex
Authors: Chan Magnus , Pourrier Marc , Eldstrom Jodene , Sahakyan Harutyun , Vardanyan Vitya , Fedida David
Published: November 2024

Background and Purpose

Mutations in both KCNQ1 and KCNE1, which together form the cardiac IKs current, are associated with inherited conditions such as long and short QT syndromes. Mefenamic acid, a non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drug, is an IKs potentiator and may be utilised as an archetype to design therapeutically useful IKs agonists. However, here we show that mefenamic acid can also act as an IKs inhibitor, and our data reveal its dual effects on KCNQ1/KCNE1 channels.

Experimental Approach

Effects of mefenamic acid on wild type (WT) and mutant KCNQ1/KCNE1 channels expressed in tsA201 cells were studied using whole cell patch clamp. Molecular dynamics simulations were used to determine trajectory clustering.

Key Results

Mefenamic acid inhibits WT IKs at high concentrations while preserving some attributes of current potentiation. Inhibitory actions of mefenamic acid are unmasked at lower drug concentrations by KCNE1 and KCNQ1 mutations in the mefenamic acid binding pocket, at the extracellular end of KCNE1 and in the KCNQ1 S6 helix. Mefenamic acid does not inhibit KCNQ1 in the absence of KCNE1 but inhibits IKs current in a concentration‐dependent manner in the mutant channels. Inhibition involves modulation of pore kinetics and/or voltage sensor domain‐pore coupling in WT and in the KCNE1 E43C mutant.

Conclusion and Implications

This work highlights the importance of structural motifs at the extracellular inter‐subunit interface of KCNQ1 and KCNE1 channels, and their interactions, in determining the nature of drug effects on the IKs channel complex and has important implications for treating patients with specific long QT mutations.
GADD45β‐MTK1 signaling axis mediates oncogenic stress‐induced activation of the p38 and JNK pathways
Authors: Kawataki Saeko , Kubota Yuji , Katayama Kotoe , Imoto Seiya , Takekawa Mutsuhiro
Published: November 2024

The ERK pathway governs essential biological processes such as cell proliferation and survival, and its hyperactivation by various oncogenes ultimately drives carcinogenesis. However, normal mammalian cells typically recognize aberrant ERK signaling as oncogenic stress and respond by inducing cell cycle arrest or apoptosis through activation of the p38 and JNK pathways. Despite the critical role of this response in preventing carcinogenesis, the precise molecular mechanisms underlying oncogene‐induced, ERK‐dependent activation of p38/JNK and its tumor‐suppressive effects remain unclear. Here, we demonstrate that MAP three kinase 1 (MTK1), a stress‐responsive MAPKKK, serves as a key mediator of p38/JNK activation induced by oncogenic ERK signaling. Mechanistically, aberrant ERK signaling induces sustained expression of the transcription factor early growth response protein 1 (EGR1), which promotes the production of the MTK1 activator GADD45β, leading to persistent activation of MTK1‐p38/JNK signaling. Gene knockout and transcriptome analyses revealed that this GADD45β/MTK1‐mediated cross‐talk between the ERK and p38/JNK pathways preferentially upregulates a specific set of genes involved in apoptosis and the immune response. Notably, the expression of EGR1, GADD45β, and MTK1 is frequently downregulated in many cancers with high ERK activity, resulting in the disruption of the tumor‐suppressive ERK‐p38/JNK cross‐talk. Restoring GADD45β expression in cancer cells reactivates p38/JNK signaling and suppresses tumorigenesis. Our findings delineate a molecular mechanism by which normal cells sense and respond to oncogenic stress to prevent abnormal growth, and highlight the significance of its dysregulation in cancer.
A little imprecision goes a long way in launching memory development
Authors: Sloutsky Vladimir M. , Ralston Robby , Turner Brandon M. , Ghetti Simona
Published: November 2024

From the earliest moments in their lives, infants begin to build memories about their past and accumulate knowledge about the world. In this article, we focus on the distinction between memory for specific events and memory for general information, and the ongoing debate about which type of memory provides the foundation for the development of the other. Some researchers argue that specific memory developmentally precedes general memory, whereas others support the opposite position. Our literature review suggests that the latter position is inconsistent with many empirical findings and theoretical principles of memory captured by computational models capable of accounting for these findings. We propose that just good enough mnemonic acuity could be a starting point for memory development, and that it can support both specific and generalized memories.
PTP1B Modulates Carotid Plaque Vulnerability in Atherosclerosis Through Rab5‐PDGFRβ‐Mediated Endocytosis Disruption and Apoptosis
Authors: Zhang Xiao , Xu Ran , Wang Tao , Li Jiayao , Sun Yixin , Cui Shengyan , Xing Zixuan , Lyu Xintao , Yang Ge , Jiao Liqun , Li Wenjing
Published: November 2024

Background

Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) is a protein tyrosine phosphatase and modulates platelet‐derived growth factor (PDGF)/platelet‐derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR) signaling in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) via endocytosis. However, the related molecular pathways that participated in the interaction of endo‐lysosome and the trafficking of PDGFR are largely unknown. This study aims to determine the subcellular regulating mechanism of PTP1B to the endo‐lysosome degradation of PDGFR in atherosclerotic carotid plaques, thereby offering a potential therapeutic target for the stabilization of carotid plaques.

Methods

The immunohistochemical staining technique was employed to assess the expression levels of both PDGFR‐β and Caspase 3 in stable and vulnerable carotid plaques. Tunnel staining was utilized to quantify the apoptosis of carotid plaques. Live‐cell imaging was employed to observe endocytic motility, while cell apoptosis was evaluated through Propidium Iodide staining. In an in vivo experiment, ApoE−/− mice were administered a PTP1B inhibitor to investigate the impact of PTP1B on atherosclerosis.

Results

The heightened expression of PDGFR‐β correlates with apoptosis in patients with vulnerable carotid plaques. At the subcellular level of VSMCs, PDGFR‐β plays a pivotal role in sustaining a balanced endocytosis system motility, regulated by the expression of Rab5, a key regulator of endocytic motility. And PTP1B modulates PDGFR‐β signaling via Rab5‐mediated endocytosis. Additionally, disrupted endocytic motility influences the interplay between endosomes and lysosomes, which is crucial for controlling PDGFR‐β trafficking. Elevated PTP1B expression induces cellular apoptosis and impedes migration and proliferation of carotid VSMCs. Ultimately, mice with PTP1B deficiency exhibit a reduction in atherosclerosis.

Conclusion

Our results illustrate that PTP1B induces disruption in endocytosis and apoptosis of VSMCs through the Rab5‐PDGFRβ pathway, suggesting a potential association with the heightened vulnerability of carotid plaques.
Breaking down abundance to understand conservation for small populations: A case study of North Atlantic right whales
Authors: Reed Joshua , Corkeron Peter , New Leslie , Harcourt Robert
Published: November 2024

The world is currently facing a biodiversity crisis and for many species, this is exacerbated by historic exploitation. Monitoring programs provide an integral tool to understand changes in abundance and the impact of threats informing conservation actions. However, measures of absolute abundance for management can be misleading, particularly when there is a biased sex ratio. Here we recommend focusing on the rate‐limiting cohort for management actions using the case of North Atlantic right whales. The North Atlantic right whale has a male‐biased sex ratio, with reproductively active females making up less than a fifth of the species. We highlight the importance of understanding and incorporating reproductive potential into management actions to provide species with the best chance of recovery.
Surrendering Noble Lies Where We Buried the Bodies: Formative Civic Education for Embodied Citizenship
Authors: Fraser‐Burgess Sheron , Higgins Chris
Published: November 2024

To enact democracy, which is to live in communication with difference, requires a formative process that involves an education of the whole person for and through civic life. Drawing on Charles Mills's theory of Herrenvolk ethics and Jonathan Lear's analysis of psychosocial lapses that ail us, Sheron Fraser‐Burgess and Chris Higgins pursue a critical, historiographical, and psychosocial reading of our failures to live up to this aspiration, offering (1) a critique of our tendency to saddle ourselves with a false choice between a homogenizing unity and a differentiated but fractured republic; (2) a demonstration of why we must eschew a thin universalism of principles and confront difference as embodied; (3) an argument from the ethics of risk against the urge to reify and compartmentalize difference; and (4) an evocation of how deep pluralism itself might serve as a unifying creed. Civic education is not a matter of informing but of forming and cultivating vision and values. In pursuing the credal deep pluralism that is required to do justice to the prospects and perils of our democracy‐in‐the‐making, the task of the formative educator may be more difficult; but by embracing this creed, teachers may inspire their students to do the same.
Estimating Demographic Parameters for Bearded Seals, Erignathus barbatus, in Alaska Using Close‐Kin Mark‐Recapture Methods
Authors: Taras Brian D. , Conn Paul B. , Bravington Mark V. , Kilian Andrzej , Lang Aimée R. , Bryan Anna , Stimmelmayr Raphaela , Quakenbush Lori
Published: November 2024

Reliable estimates of population abundance and demographics are essential for managing harvested species. Ice‐associated phocids, “ice seals,” are a vital resource for subsistence‐dependent coastal Native communities in western and northern Alaska, USA. In 2012, the Beringia distinct population segment of the bearded seal, Erignathus barbatus nauticus, was listed as “threatened” under the US Endangered Species Act requiring greater scrutiny for management assessments. We sought to estimate requisite population parameters from harvested seals by using close‐kin mark‐recapture (CKMR) methods, the first such application for marine mammals. Samples from 1758 bearded seals harvested by Bering, Chukchi, and Beaufort Sea communities during 1998–2020 were genotyped, genetically sexed, and aged by tooth annuli. After rigorous quality control, kin relationships were established for 1484 seals including two parent–offspring pairs (POPs) and 25 potential second‐order kin pairs. Most of the second‐order kin were half‐sibling pairs (HSPs), but four were potential grandparent‐grandchild pairs (GGPs). There were no full sibling pairs, suggesting a lack of mate fidelity. Mitochondrial DNA analysis identified 17 potential HSPs as paternally related, providing substantial evidence of persistent heterogeneity in reproductive success among adult males. The statistical CKMR model incorporates probabilities associated with POPs, HSPs, and GGPs and assumes known ages and a stable population. Our top model accommodates heterogeneity in adult male breeding success and yields an abundance estimate of ~409,000 with a coefficient of variation (CV) = 0.35, which is substantially greater than the “non‐heterogeneity” model estimate of ~232,000 (CV = 0.21), an important difference for managing a harvested species. Using CKMR methods with harvested species provides estimates of abundance with the added opportunity to acquire information about adult survival, fecundity, and breeding success that could be applied to other species of concern, marine and terrestrial.
Mapping the Hydrogeological Structure of a Small Danish Island Using Transient Electromagnetic Methods
Authors: McLachlan Paul , Vang Mathias Ø. , Pedersen Jesper B. , Kraghede Rune , Christiansen Anders V.
Published: November 2024

Small island communities often rely on groundwater as their primary source of fresh water. However, the limited land area and high proportion of coastal zones pose unique challenges to groundwater management. A detailed understanding of the subsurface structure can provide valuable insights into aquifer structure, groundwater vulnerability, saltwater intrusion, and the location of water resources. These insights can guide groundwater management strategies, for example, pollution regulation, promotion of sustainable agriculture, establishment of coastal buffer zones, and re‐naturalization of land cover. Ordinarily, structural characterization relies on geological mapping and boreholes, however, such approaches can have insufficient spatial resolution to aid groundwater management. In this study, transient electromagnetic (TEM) methods are used to map the subsurface of a small, 13.2 km2, Danish Island. The approach successfully identified two previously unknown paleochannels, where the interface between Quaternary aquifer units and an underlying Paleogene Clay aquiclude had maximum depths of 100 and 160 m below sea level. Before this, the interface was assumed to be 15 to 25 m below sea level: therefore, these paleochannels present substantial potential groundwater resources. Resolving geological heterogeneity within the Quaternary deposits was less successful and future work will focus on addressing these limitations. Nonetheless, in several locations, evidence of saltwater intrusion was observed within the Quaternary units. This work demonstrates how TEM mapping can identify water resources, define aquifer boundaries, and aid water management decisions. Such approaches could be applied in other areas, particularly small islands, where similar groundwater challenges exist.
Neuroendocrine differentiation and serotonin expression in oesophageal adenocarcinomas after neoadjuvant therapy: correlation with clinicopathological features and outcome
Authors: Dodington David W. , Serra Stefano , Bracey Tim , Chetty Runjan , Nowak Klaudia M.
Published: November 2024

Aims

Oesophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) is a glandular or mucinous epithelial malignancy that can show immunohistochemical evidence of neuroendocrine differentiation (NED) and express the hormone serotonin. The objective of this study was to correlate the presence of NED and serotonin with clinicopathological characteristics and patient outcome after neoadjuvant chemoradiation.

Methods and results

A retrospective cohort of patients treated between 2002 and 2021 was established and included 218 oesophagectomy specimens with residual tumour. Representative full‐face sections of tumour were stained for synaptophysin, chromogranin‐A and serotonin by immunohistochemistry, and staining results were correlated with disease‐free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). In total, 129 (59%) tumours showed evidence of NED, defined as immunohistochemical expression of synaptophysin or chromogranin‐A, while 40 (18%) showed evidence of NED and expressed serotonin. Patients with neuroendocrine‐positive tumours had significantly shorter median OS compared to those with neuroendocrine‐negative tumours (22.5 versus 48.8 months, P = 0.006), but similar median DFS (13.3 versus 17.8 months, P = 0.34). Using Cox regression, the association between NED and OS was significant in univariate [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.68, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.16–2.45] and multivariate (HR = 1.65, 95% CI = 1.08–2.52) analysis. Patients with serotonin‐expressing tumours had similar median OS (21.7 versus 25.9 months, P = 0.24) and DFS (7.3 versus 15.6 months, P = 0.12) compared to those with NED but lacking serotonin. Using Cox regression, serotonin expression was associated with reduced OS in univariate (HR = 1.62, 95% CI = 1.06–2.47) but not multivariate (HR = 1.03, 95% CI = 0.64–1.65) analysis.

Conclusions

Our findings support NED as independent predictor of OS in EAC after neoadjuvant chemoradiation. While a subset of tumours with NED expressed serotonin, this did not provide additional prognostic information.
Unveiling the power of artificial intelligence for image‐based diagnosis and treatment in endodontics: An ally or adversary?
Authors: Fontenele Rocharles Cavalcante , Jacobs Reinhilde
Published: November 2024

Background

Artificial intelligence (AI), a field within computer science, uses algorithms to replicate human intelligence tasks such as pattern recognition, decision‐making and problem‐solving through complex datasets. In endodontics, AI is transforming diagnosis and treatment by applying deep learning algorithms, notably convolutional neural networks, which mimic human brain function to analyse two‐dimensional (2D) and three‐dimensional (3D) data.

Objectives

This article provides an overview of AI applications in endodontics, evaluating its use in 2D and 3D imaging and examining its role as a beneficial tool or potential challenge.

Methods

Through a narrative review, the article explores AI's use in 2D and 3D imaging modalities, discusses their limitations and examines future directions in the field.

Results

AI significantly enhances endodontic practice by improving diagnostic accuracy, workflow efficiency, and treatment planning. In 2D imaging, AI excels at detecting periapical lesions on both periapical and panoramic radiographs, surpassing expert radiologists in accuracy, sensitivity and specificity. AI also accurately detects and classifies radiolucent lesions, such as radicular cysts and periapical granulomas, matching the precision of histopathology analysis. In 3D imaging, AI automates the segmentation of fine structures such as pulp chambers and root canals on cone‐beam computed tomography scans, thereby supporting personalized treatment planning. However, a significant limitation highlighted in some studies is the reliance on in vitro or ex vivo datasets for training AI models. These datasets do not replicate the complexities of clinical environments, potentially compromising the reliability of AI applications in endodontics.

Discussion

Despite advancements, challenges remain in dataset variability, algorithm generalization, and ethical considerations such as data security and privacy. Addressing these is essential for integrating AI effectively into clinical practice and unlocking its transformative potential in endodontic care. Integrating radiomics with AI shows promise for enhancing diagnostic accuracy and predictive analytics, potentially enabling automated decision support systems to enhance treatment outcomes and patient care.

Conclusions

Although AI enhances endodontic capabilities through advanced imaging analyses, addressing current limitations and fostering collaboration between AI developers and dental professionals are essential. These efforts will unlock AI's potential to achieve more predictable and personalized treatment outcomes in endodontics, ultimately benefiting both clinicians and patients alike.
BANKING AND BANKING REFORMS IN CHINA IN A MODEL OF COSTLY STATE VERIFICATION
Authors: Luo Jie , Wang Cheng
Published: November 2024

We present a macro view of China's financial system where a monopolistic banking sector coexists endogenously with bonds and private loans. In equilibrium smaller firms raise finance from private lending, larger firms through bank loans, and the largest by issuing bonds. The model predicts that expanding credit supply increases bank loans but reduces bond finance and private lending, in absolute terms and relative to total credit. In addition, removing the interest rate ceiling on bank lending—a recent reform in China—induces larger loans and higher lending rates, lowering the share of bank loans in total credit. Empirical evidence is presented to support these predictions.
When academia met industry: working toward a needle‐free vaccination future in the sunshine state
Authors: Medhavy Arti , Johnston Alex , Bermingham Imogen , Stanisic Danielle I
Published: November 2024

Located in Brisbane's Northshore riverfront precinct, just meters from the iconic Brisbane River, is the new Vaxxas Biomedical Facility. Dr Imogen Bermingham is a Principal Scientist in the Formulation and Analytical Team at Vaxxas, an Australian biotech company focused on developing a needle‐free vaccination technology. Here, we discuss her work at Vaxxas, highlighting the opportunities for translational research within the growing biotech industry landscape in Queensland, Australia. Dr Bermingham also reflects on her transition from academia to industry, leveraging her skill set and expanding her capabilities within the dynamic research environment at Vaxxas.
Role of inflammasomes and neuroinflammation in epilepsy
Authors: Hollis Ava , Lukens John R.
Published: November 2024

Epilepsy is a brain disorder characterized by recurrent seizures, which are brief episodes of abnormal electrical activity in the brain and involuntary movement that can lead to physical injury and loss of consciousness. Seizures are canonically accompanied by increased inflammatory cytokine production that promotes neuroinflammation, brain pathology, and seizure propagation. Understanding the source of pro‐inflammatory cytokines which promote seizure pathogenesis could be a gateway to precision epilepsy drug design. This review discusses the inflammasome in epilepsy including its role in seizure propagation and negative impacts on brain health. The inflammasome is a multiprotein complex that coordinates IL‐1β and IL‐18 production in response to tissue damage, cellular stress, and infection. Clinical evidence for inflammasome signaling in epileptogenesis is reviewed followed by a discussion of emerging strategies to modulate inflammasome activity in epilepsy.
Adjusting Self‐Protective and Non‐Response Behaviours in Sensitive Prevalence Estimation by a Two‐Stage Multilevel Randomised Response Technique
Authors: Lukusa Martin T. , Francesco Perri Pier , Hsieh Shu‐Hui
Published: November 2024

When using the customary direct questioning approach to collect sensitive information in a survey, some respondents may have no problem disclosing their true status or opinion, while others may be reluctant to reveal them. The problem of response bias is likely to arise as some responses tend to be more socially desirable than truthful. Hence, the indirect questioning approach can be used to guarantee privacy protection and reduce the influence of social desirability bias. This paper introduces a new technique which combines, both the direct and indirect questioning approaches and allows Bayesian estimates of the prevalence of multisensitive attributes to be obtained by taking into account the estimated proportion of honest respondents under direct questioning. Our proposal stems from a real survey in Taiwan and is illustrated with two motivating examples concerning voting behaviours and sexual identity. The empirical analysis reinforces that the proposed two‐stage multilevel method is satisfactory in mitigating the effects of respondents' self‐protective behaviour, and produces results that are more reliable than those based on the traditional direct questioning approach and better than a previous version of the multilevel randomised response method that ignores the presence of cheating behaviours in the direct questioning stage.