bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Discourse Analysis of Fatwa Arguments in the Indonesian Ulema Council on Akidah and Religious Sects n 1975-2017
Authors: Ridwan Muhammad , Hadi Syamsul , Ma'ruf Amir
Published: April 2024

Fatwas are a form of persuasive argumentative discourse. This paper aims to describe the superstructure and structure of fatwa arguments regarding Akidah and Religious Traditions. The source of this paper's data is all fatwas of the fatwa commission of the Indonesian ulema council from 1975 to 2017. The method used to collect data and manage data is the document method. Discourse analysis methods are used to analyze data. The discussion of superstructure aspects utilizes Ashqar theory (1976) while Walthon theory (2006) is used to examine the structure of fatwa argumentation. The superstructure aspect of fatwas is realized by the Fatwa Commission of the Indonesian Ulema Council differently. All fatwa texts have presented substantial elements but formal elements are not included. The structure of fatwa argumentation is understood by the format of the text. For fatwas in the format of decrees, premise markers are identified through the vocabulary of "pay attention", "read", "weigh", and "remember" while conclusion markers are presented with the vocabulary of "decide", "establish", and "fatwa". Directly formatted fatwa texts are identified through inference, but some texts lack a premise and inference structure.
Trait responses to direct drivers and effects on multiple macrofauna-mediated ecosystem functions
Authors: Jacquot MP , Snickars M , Bonsdorff E , Nordström MC
Published: April 2024

As humans are facing challenges related to climate change, biodiversity loss and increasingly threatened ecosystems, there is a need to understand human-induced pressures, effects and feedback processes in the marine environment. Our study therefore aimed to identify environmental and anthropogenic drivers for coastal macrozoobenthic communities and the implications for macrofauna-mediated ecosystem functions. A large spatial-temporal data set combining environmental and macrofaunal data allowed us to highlight exposure and human-induced stressors as main drivers for the macrofaunal communities in the Åland archipelago (northern Baltic Sea). A eutrophication gradient from sheltered inner to exposed outer areas was associated with a change in species- and trait-composition, and a change in dominance from r- to K-strategists in the invertebrate community. Sediment properties were significant drivers in explaining macrofaunal structural diversity patterns. The decrease in abundance, biomass and species richness in muddy sediments was associated with a reduction in bioturbation and bioirrigation potential indices. Environmental and human-induced pressures reduced the availability of macrofauna as food resource for mesopredators (i.e. benthivorous fish). Our results provide a deeper understanding of environment-community relationships and the interplay between biotic and abiotic ecosystem components regarding human-induced pressures.
Anchovy on the rise: Investigating environmental drivers of recruitment strength in the northern Canary Current
Authors: Ferreira A , Brito AC , Costa JL , Brotas V , Teles-Machado A , Garrido S
Published: April 2024

Since the mid-2010s, the abundance and recruitment of the European anchovy Engraulis encrasicolus has significantly increased off Western Iberia, leading to a 5-fold increase in anchovy catches. The potential environmental drivers impacting recruitment variability in anchovy in Atlantic Northwestern Iberian waters (NW Iberia) are unknown. Using data spanning 1999-2021, we identified regional changes in biological and physical factors most likely responsible for the persistent increased productivity of anchovy. Anchovy recruitment was strongest during periods with weak downwelling events (-500 to 0 m3 s-1 km-1), lower salinity (<35), and temperature between 15 and 17°C from April through June, months corresponding with annual peak spawning. Positive Winter North Atlantic Oscillation (NAOW) was also associated with years with strong anchovy recruitment. It is likely that local oceanographic features such as the Iberian Poleward Current and the Western Iberia Buoyant Plume contribute to a higher onshore retention of anchovy larvae, promoting life cycle closure and higher survival. The average lower salinity levels observed during spawning seasons since 2009 support this hypothesis. Moreover, random forest models suggested that years with relatively strong anchovy recruitment tended to be those with low abundance of European sardine Sardina pilchardus, suggesting that intra-guild processes such as foraging competition and egg predation are also important in establishing recruitment potential. We highlight future avenues of research needed to gain a mechanistic understanding of recruitment drivers of anchovy in this region to provide robust, science-based advice to managers and improve projections of the potential impacts of climate change.
New Materialist Freedom in Chloé Zhao's Nomadland
Authors: Laist Randy
Published: April 2024

In Chloé Zhao's 2020 film Nomadland, Fern's commitment to eschewing a geolocalizable “home” uproots her from conventional patterns of domesticity and transforms her into an inhabitant of planet earth as a whole, enabling a new way of thinking about identity, environment, and the nature of human freedom. The kind of freedom that Fern's narrative evokes stands in deliberate contrast to the masculinized, heroic style of freedom that American films have done so much to promulgate. In contrast to this conventional representation of freedom, new materialist criticism has examined the many ways that human agency emerges from within a dense web of interconnections that bind together human beings with one another, with other life forms, with inanimate matter, and with the cosmic expanses of time and space. Nomadland can be understood as a film that picks up the iconography of conventional American cinematic freedom in order to redirect this iconography into a new materialist worldview.
Inauthenticity as a Disruption of Neoliberal Resilience Discourse in Brady Corbet'sVox Lux
Authors: Pember Alice
Published: April 2024

Brady Corbet's Vox Lux (2018) depicts school shooting survivor Celeste's transformation into a singing superstar, connecting the trauma of a terrorist attack to the phenomenon of musical celebrity. In so doing, the film narrativises the relationship between the pop singer and neoliberal resilience discourse that has been explored by music philosopher Robin James. Mobilising Jacques Rancière's definition of political art, this article suggests that, rather than endorsing the resilience that it depicts, the film formally critiques the neoliberal function of pop stardom by disrupting the pleasurable affect associated with pop music and celebrity. Whilst Raffey Cassidy's performance of the soundtrack was praised in many reviews, the performance of Natalie Portman (playing the older Celeste) was criticised for its inauthentic delivery. Far from being a weakness of the film, my reading suggests that it is in the formal discord between the pleasurably resilient affect of the music and Portman's laboured performance that the film's political-philosophical critique of neoliberal resilience discourse comes to the fore. Taking an interdisciplinary approach grounded in the perspectives of political philosophy, girlhood studies, and celebrity studies, this article proposes that Vox Lux interrogates the neoliberal function of celebrity through a formal disruption of the pleasurable affect associated with the resilient pop star's musical performance.
A New Model Trial in Turkish Agri-Food Sector
Authors: Şerefoğlu Coşkun
Published: April 2024

The study aims to develop an agri-food model for the agriculture sector which was prioritized in Ankara Regional Innovation Strategy. The model was designed by Ankara Development Agency and implemented at the pilot level. The model consisted of two components. One of them is technology absorption, which matches technology makers and farmers or companies in order to bring technology to this sector, and another one is an extension model that university, research stations, farmers, and food companies work together to spread innovation. This model will shed light on a different approach in developing countries thanks to technological improvement and the great interest of startups and public policies for the agro-food sector. The pilot model was based on ten matches in between farmers, food firms, and universities. The preliminary results showed that the program was welcomed by farmers and food companies as well as start-ups.
ANALYSIS OF THE ECONOMIC EFFICIENCY OF LOCATIONS IN THE FIELD OF TRADE AND THE INFLUENCE OF EXTERNAL FACTORS ON IT
Authors:   Russian Academy of National Economy and Public Administration under the President of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russian Federation, GRINEVA N.V. , TOPYRKIN A.D. ,   Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation
Published: April 2024

The relevance of the article lies in the description of the process of data analysis and modeling for solving the placement problem. The main purpose of the research work is to solve the problem of location and assess the degree of influence of the geographical characteristics of locations on the indicators of the economic efficiency of the organization. The article defines the concepts of economic efficiency and profit, as well as how they are related to each other. A number of tasks are described in solving the placement problem. Questions regarding the geographic data used and the formation of the target variable are covered in detail, namely, the questions are answered. What? How? Why? What-what factors can be used to identify the potential of a location. How is the processing of data on store revenues to the final form of the target variable, why such transformations are needed. The process of correlation analysis and feature selection for the subsequent stage of modeling is shown. The course of building the model and assessing its accuracy is described. And also the analysis of the residuals for the best combinations was carried out using the methods of non-parametric statistics. The main tools in the process of solving these problems were the Python programming language and its libraries pandas, numpy, scikit-learn, xgboost, hyperopt, statsmodels, scipy, matplotlib, seaborn. The result of this research work is the constructed machine learning models to determine the economic potential of a location.
THE CONCEPT OF A UNIFIED DIGITAL SPACE FOR RUSSIAN INDUSTRY: AREAS FOR IMPROVING EFFICIENCY
Authors:   Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russian Federation, ABDIKEEV N.M. , BOGACHEV YU.S. YU.S. , GRINEVA N.V. , ABROSIMOVA O.M.
Published: April 2024

At the moment, the prospects for the development of manufacturing industry are associated with the opportunities of digitalization of the economy. The scientific literature in this case also uses the terms «fourth industrial revolution» and «sixth technological paradigm». The purpose of the article is to develop proposals to improve the efficiency of the implementation of digital transformation of the Russian industry. The paper uses general scientific methods (analysis, synthesis, comparative method), as well as economic and legal methods (analysis of regulatory and legal acts, development strategies). Russian and foreign sources of scientific literature were used in the course of the study. The study showed that the impact of digitalization on the efficiency of the manufacturing industry is realized in the areas of increasing labor productivity, reducing production costs, monitoring of operational processes, operational supply of components, etc.
DIGITAL DEVELOPMENT OF COMPLEMENTARY CURRENCY MARKETS: LEGISLATIVE ASPECTS
Authors:   Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR), Dubna, Russian Federation, SHIRYAEVA L.A.
Published: April 2024

The purpose of the research. The legal aspect requires a clear understanding, and can be considered one of the determining factors of the success in realizing complementary currency (CC) projects, because many of them have a lot questions in the legislative framework. In this regard, the author finds it expedient to find out to what extent some countries are more sympathetic to such currency initiatives than others. To this end, the author confines himself to a relatively representative sample of five countries-France, Great Britain, Canada, Italy and Russia-in terms of the degree of liberality to the CC. The main measure for selecting countries were the degree of popularity of the CC-projects in the countries and the availability of the necessary information. In the context of the current paradigm of digitalization of financial markets in each country, the author assessed the achieved level of «digitization» of the projects under study. Results. As a result of the conducted research, the author comes to the conclusion that there are no separate laws concerning CC projects in the system of legislations of different countries. It is possible to determine the position of a country in this area only by examining the sub-items of currency legislation, securities laws, as well as laws related to banking activities. At the same time, in countries that are liberal to CC projects, there are separate communities that support such initiatives and contribute to their emergence and development, while regulating their appeal.
FEATURES OF INTRA-FIRM COMMUNICATIONS OF INDUSTRIAL ENTERPRISES IN TURBULENT CONDITIONS
Authors:   Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russian Federation, KUSHNIR A.M. ,   A. N. Kosygin Russian State University (Technology. Design. Art),   Russian University of Transport (RUT-MIIT)
Published: April 2024

The purpose of this research is to study the modern specificity of intra-firm communications of industrial enterprises. On the basis of a comprehensive analysis of approaches of various sciences to the phenomenon of intra-firm communications, the following conclusions were formulated in the paper. It has been established that intra-company communications at various levels (vertical links with management and subordinates, symmetrical and supportive communications with colleagues) significantly affect the psychological well-being of employees in conditions of high turbulence of the external environment. It is shown that trust in the organisation mediates the impact on employees' psychological well-being. This study deepens the understanding of psychological well-being of employees in industrial enterprises by examining the impact of internal communication on financial and economic performance. The results of the study can become the basis for practical recommendations on how to promote the psychological well-being of employees by creating an effective intra-company communication environment, both at the level of the whole organisation and at the level of colleagues by increasing the trustworthiness of relationships.
TELEWORKING IN THE DATA ECONOMY FOR GENERATION Z: ANALYZING THE OPINIONS OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
Authors:   Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russian Federation, GUMEROVA G.I. , SHAIMIEVA E.SH.
Published: April 2024

Representatives of generation Z-students of higher education-are active consumers of digital technologies in education and work. The purpose of the study, which is its subject: updating the state of development of teleworking in generation Z by recording responses in the questionnaire process. The object of the study: issues related to the use of teleworking implemented on the basis of information and communication technologies among young people-generation Z-students of higher education during the development of the data economy. Questions (tasks) of the work-a study of the following issues: the prevalence of teleworking among representatives of generation Z-students of higher education: the type of work attractive to respondents; the prevalence of teleworking among the respondents' environment; conditions conducive /hindering the involvement of respondents in the format of teleworking; the essence of « teleworking» for respondents. Research methods: analysis, synthesis, classification, comparative analysis, questionnaire. A survey of youth-generation Z-students of higher education (N=17) was conducted. The questionnaire consists of five parts, seventeen questions: «Characteristics of the student», «For those with and without teleworking experience», «For those with teleworking experience», «For those without teleworking experience», « Teleworking-this is...» The results of the study: the level of distribution of teleworking among generation Z has been confirmed (according to research by the All-Russian Centers for the Study of Public Opinion), research by Russian authors on the threats of teleworking of study and work; the development of the topic of «soft factors» among specialists of future periods. The prospects of teleworking research among generation Z in the form of volunteer activity are highlighted.
Analytical Structures and Transcendental Aspects of the Cosmological Constant in Advanced f(R) Gravity Frameworks
Authors: CHEN WEN-XIANG
Published: April 2024

This study delves into the intricate relationship between statistical mechanics and the geometric underpinnings of general relativity within the scope of f(R) gravity theories, with a special emphasis on the cosmological constant (\(\Lambda\)) viewed as a transcendental element. We present a novel formulation of \(f_R(R)\) by synergizing the Lagrangian's Laurent series expansion with thermodynamic entropy considerations, thereby integrating \(\Lambda\) into the modified Einstein field equations. The latter sections offer a rigorous examination of the numerical and semi-analytical solutions for \(\Lambda\) under specific metric constraints, illustrating the inherent complexities in obtaining purely analytical solutions but highlighting the promise of numerical methodologies.
Transtornos e Dificuldades de Aprendizagem no Contexto Escolar: Considerações a partir da Prática Pedagógica
Authors: Carolaine de Santana Garcia  , Elisa Tomoe Moriya Schlünzen  , Klaus Schlünzen Junior
Published: April 2024

O paradigma educacional brasileiro tem passado por importantes reconfigurações, uma vez que a sociedade contemporânea tenta direcionar suas ações ao ideal de superação de desigualdades e desenvolvimento pleno do ser humano e, nesse processo, os profissionais da escola tornam-se importantes agentes de transformações, sendo diretamente responsáveis pela formação e o desenvolvimento integral dos estudantes, bem como de sua aprendizagem conceitual e para a vida. Nesse contexto, a inclusão de alunos com Transtornos de Aprendizagem (TA) ou Dificuldades de Aprendizagem (DA) nas salas de aula comum do ensino regular, têm desafiado as escolas e os profissionais que nela atuam a reconstruírem e ressignificarem cotidianamente suas práticas frente os princípios de uma educação inclusiva e de qualidade para todos. O presente artigo se caracteriza como um recorte de uma pesquisa de mestrado desenvolvida no Programa de Pós-Graduação em Educação, da Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp), Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Presidente Prudente, e tem como objetivo discutir a realidade escolar de estudantes com Transtornos e Dificuldades de Aprendizagem, em termos da atuação docente e das situações de aprendizagem, de modo a tecer compreensões acerca das possibilidades de aperfeiçoamento do processo educacional na perspectiva da educação inclusiva. Assim, a abordagem metodológica utilizada na pesquisa foi de natureza qualitativa, e fez-se uso das dinâmicas de investigação presentes no grupo focal. Os resultados da pesquisa, apontam, que, as escolas, e as universidades, necessitam promover espaços de formação que ofereçam aos professores as condições necessárias para que consigam desenvolver práticas pedagógicas que superem as dificuldades, valorizem as especificidades e estimulem as potencialidades dos estudantes, sobretudo daqueles que se encontram abaixo das expectativas de aprendizagem esperadas, na perspectiva da educação inclusiva.
Gamificação inclusiva: crianças atípicas e o desenvolvimento de habilidades sociais
Authors: Ana Paula da Silva  , Roseneide Maria Batista Cirino
Published: April 2024

Este artigo é parte da pesquisa de mestrado que se encontra em andamento e aborda a interação e comunicação de crianças com Transtorno do Espectro Autista em contextos inclusivos, propondo o uso da gamificação para auxiliar no desenvolvimento dessas habilidades e fortalecer práticas inclusivas.  Surge da observação de lacunas nas práticas educacionais atuais em relação ao aprimoramento das habilidades de comunicação e interação em estudantes com Transtorno do Espectro Autista. Tem como objetivo avaliar como as práticas pedagógicas, com o suporte da gamificação, podem influenciar no desenvolvimento da comunicação e interação em crianças com Transtorno do Espectro Autista. A pesquisa se baseia na teoria Histórico-Cultural, com referências em Vygotsky, e em autores que defendem o uso de metodologias ativas, como Busarello, Baich e Moran. A metodologia adotada consiste em pesquisa bibliográfica e de campo como método de coleta de dados e aplicou-se experimento didático. O estudo está em desenvolvimento sendo aplicado em uma escola do município de Umuarama-PR. Os participantes são alunos com transtorno que estudam entre 1º ao 5º do ensino fundamental e que apresentam barreiras nas habilidades de comunicação e interação. Os dados produzidos inicialmente indicam, na análise comparativa, que dentre as propostas em prosa e gamificadas os estudantes respondem mais assertivamente, àquelas gamificadas.
A comprehensive review: synergizing stem cell and embryonic development knowledge in mouse and human integrated stem cell-based embryo models
Authors: Dupont Cathérine
Published: April 2024

Mammalian stem cell-based embryo models have emerged as innovative tools for investigating early embryogenesis in both mice and primates. They not only reduce the need for sacrificing mice but also overcome ethical limitations associated with human embryo research. Furthermore, they provide a platform to address scientific questions that are otherwise challenging to explore in vivo. The usefulness of a stem cell-based embryo model depends on its fidelity in replicating development, efficiency and reproducibility; all essential for addressing biological queries in a quantitative manner, enabling statistical analysis. Achieving such fidelity and efficiency requires robust systems that demand extensive optimization efforts. A profound understanding of pre- and post-implantation development, cellular plasticity, lineage specification, and existing models is imperative for making informed decisions in constructing these models. This review aims to highlight essential differences in embryo development and stem cell biology between mice and humans, assess how these variances influence the formation of partially and fully integrated stem cell models, and identify critical challenges in the field.
On photokinetics under polychromatic light
Authors: Maafi Mounir
Published: April 2024

Since the dawn of photochemistry 150 years ago, photoreactions have been conducted under polychromatic light. However, despite the pivotal role that photokinetics should naturally play for such reactive photosystems, the literature lacks a comprehensive description of that area. Indeed, one fails to identify explicit model integrated rate laws for these reactions, a characteristic type for their kinetic behavior, or their kinetic order. In addition, there is no consensus in the community on standardized investigative tools to evaluate the reactivity of these photosystems, nor are there venues for the discussion of such photokinetic issues. The present work is a contribution addressing some of these knowledge gaps. It proposes an unprecedented general formula capable of mapping out the kinetic traces of photoreactions under polychromatic light irradiation. This article quantitatively discusses several reaction situations, including the effects of initial reactant concentration and the presence of spectator molecules. It also develops a methodology for standardizing actinometers and defines and describes both the spectral range of highest reactivity and the photonic yield. The validity of the model equation has been proven by comparing its results to both theoretical counterparts and those generated by fourth-order Runge–Kutta numerical calculations. For the first time, a confirmation of the Φ-order character of the kinetics under polychromatic light was established.
Public engagement through public service advertisements for health care awareness during early COVID-19 in Pakistan
Authors: Elareshi Mokhtar , Habes Mohammed , Ali Sana , Waheeb Attar Razaz
Published: April 2024

The way information disseminated in the early period of COVID-19 led the world to confusion and an unprecedented public health crisis. This paper examines the relationships between public engagement through public service advertisements (PSA) and the effectiveness of health care awareness during early COVID-19. To explore such a relationship and mainly public perceptions, we conducted a very early survey (n = 200) using an online convenience sampling procedure with different age groups in Sahiwal, Pakistan. Data were analyzed using the PLS-SEM software to measure such a relationship. We find that PSA were perceived as a vital platform, which has an impact on public perceptions towards taking precautionary measures during the early pandemic. Importantly, PSA have a strong impact on spreading health awareness in Pakistan. Policymakers and health care professionals should grasp and acknowledge the significance of media content influence to enhance health awareness including the role of PSAs in health care. This comprehension may motivate the adoption of practices and policies in the health sector, contributing to the known ‘new normal’, ensuring their continuity even beyond the COVID-19 era.
Coronary artery lesions in children with Kawasaki disease: status quo and nursing care
Authors: Chen Cen , Chen Qiuhui , Zhang Tong , Ling Yanping
Published: April 2024

Aim

Coronary artery lesion (CAL) is a common yet serious complication in children with Kawasaki disease. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influencing factors of CAL in children with Kawasaki disease, to provide reference for the clinical treatment and care of children with Kawasaki disease.

Design

A retrospective cohort study.

Methods

Children with Kawasaki disease treated in a tertiary hospital in China between 1 January 2021 and 31 December 2022 were selected. The characteristics and clinical data of children with Kawasaki disease were analyzed. Spearman’s correlation analysis was conducted to evaluate the relationship between CAL and the characteristics of children with Kawasaki disease. A logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the influencing factors of CAL in children with Kawasaki disease.

Results

In total, 185 children with Kawasaki disease were included; the incidence of CAL in children with Kawasaki disease was 18.38%. Pearson’s correlation analysis showed that gender (r = 0.504), age (r = 0.611), duration of fever ≥10 days (r = 0.579), hemoglobin (Hb) (r = 0.623), and C-reactive protein (CRP) (r = 0.558) were all correlated with the CAL in children with Kawasaki disease (allp < 0.05). Logistic regression analyses showed that male [odds ratio (OR) = 2.543, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.801–3.077,p = 0.040], age ≤2 years (OR = 3.002, 95% CI: 2.744–3.641,p = 0.012), duration of fever ≥10 days (OR = 2.089, 95% CI: 1.624–2.515,p = 0.028), Hb ≤105 g/L (OR = 1.914, 95% CI: 1.431–2.406,p = 0.013), and CRP ≥100 mg/L (OR = 2.168, 95% CI: 1.893–2.531,p = 0.035) were the risk factors of CAL in children with Kawasaki disease (allp < 0.05).

Conclusions

The incidence of CAL in children with Kawasaki disease is high and there are many related risk factors. Clinical medical workers should take early warning and carry out interventions and nursing care according to these risk factors to improve the prognosis of children with Kawasaki disease.
A multi-criteria decision framework to evaluate sustainable alternatives for repurposing of abandoned or closed surface coal mines
Authors: Singh Atul , Agarwal Siddhartha , Prabhat Aniket
Published: April 2024

Surface coal mines, when abandoned or closed, pose significant environmental and socioeconomic challenges. Repurposing these sites is crucial for sustainable land use and responsible resource management. This study presents a comprehensive decision framework tailored to the Indian mining context, utilizing a hybrid approach combining the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution (TOPSIS) methodology. The proposed framework assesses and ranks alternative repurposing options by considering a multi-criteria evaluation, including ecological, economic, social, and regulatory factors. AHP is employed to determine the relative importance of these criteria, reflecting the unique priorities and perspectives of stakeholders involved in the repurposing process. TOPSIS then identifies the optimal alternatives based on their overall performance against the established criteria. This hybrid methodology contributes to informed decision-making in the sustainable repurposing of abandoned surface coal mines in India. It aids in identifying the most viable and environmentally responsible alternatives, promoting efficient land use and resource conservation while addressing the challenges associated with abandoned mine sites. The methodology’s applicability extends globally to industries facing similar repurposing challenges, facilitating the transition toward a more sustainable and responsible land reclamation and resource management approach. The methodology is implemented using real mine data and demonstrates the analysis for evaluation among multiple alternatives such as solar parks, fish farming, eco-resorts, forestry, and museums. In our study, eco-resorts show more promise based on the significant potential for local economic development, provision of local employment, long-term revenue generation, potential for upskilling local youth in management, gardening, construction, and animal husbandry, and serving as a site for exhibitions of various arts and crafts.
Methane pumping by rapidly refreezing lead ice in the ice-covered Arctic Ocean
Authors: Damm Ellen , Thoms Silke , Angelopoulos Michael , Von Albedyll Luisa , Rinke Annette , Haas Christian
Published: April 2024

If and how the sea ice cycle drives the methane cycle in the high Arctic is an open question and crucial to improving source/sink balances. This study presents new insights into the effects of strong and fast freezing on the physical–chemical properties of ice and offers implications for methane fluxes into and out of newly formed lead ice. During the 2019–2020 transpolar drift of the Multidisciplinary Drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate (MOSAiC), we took weekly samples of growing lead ice and underlying seawater at the same site between January and March 2020. We analyzed concentrations and stable carbon isotopic signatures (δ13C–CH4) of methane and calculated methane solubility capacities (MSC) and saturation levels in both environments. During the first month, intense cooling resulted in the growth of two-thirds of the final ice thickness. In the second month, ice growth speed decreased by 50%. Both growth phases, disentangled, exposed different freeze impacts on methane pathways. The fast freeze caused strong brine entrapment, keeping the newly formed lead ice permeable for 2 weeks. These physical conditions activated a methane pump. An increased MSC induced methane uptake at the air–ice interface, and the still-open brine channels provided top-down transport to the ocean interface with brine drainage. When the subsurface layer became impermeable, the top-down pumping stopped, but the ongoing uptake induced a methane excess on top. During the second growth phase, methane exchange exclusively continued at the ice–ocean interface. The shift in the relative abundance of the 12C and 13C isotopes between lead ice and seawater toward a 13C-enrichment in seawater reveals brine drainage as the main pathway releasing methane from aging lead ice. We conclude that in winter, refrozen leads temporarily function as active sinks for atmospheric methane and postulate that the relevance of this process may even increase when the Arctic fully transitions into a seasonally ice-covered ocean when leads may be more abundant. To highlight the relevance of methane in-gassing at the air–ice interface as a potential but still unconsidered pathway, we include estimates of the occurrence and frequency of young lead ice from satellite observations of leads during MOSAiC.
Inflammatory cytokines may mediate the causal relationship between gut microbiota and male infertility: a bidirectional, mediating, multivariate Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Zou Haoxi , Xu Ningning , Xu Huanying , Xing Xiaoyan , Chen Yanfen , Wu Suzhen
Published: April 2024

Introduction

Studies have shown that the gut microbiota is associated with male infertility (MI). However, their causal relationship and potential mediators need more evidence to prove. We aimed to investigate the causal relationship between the gut microbiome and MI and the potential mediating role of inflammatory cytokines from a genetic perspective through a Mendelian randomization approach.

Methods

This study used data from genome-wide association studies of gut microbes (Mibiogen, n = 18, 340), inflammatory cytokines (NFBC1966, FYPCRS, FINRISK 1997 and 2002, n=13, 365), and male infertility (Finngen, n=120, 706) to perform two-way Mendelian randomization (MR), mediated MR, and multivariate MR(MVMR) analyses. In this study, the inverse variance weighting method was used as the primary analysis method, and other methods were used as supplementary analysis methods.

Results

In the present study, two gut microbes and two inflammatory cytokines were found to have a potential causal relationship with MI. Of the two gut microorganisms causally associated with male infertility, Anaerotruncus increased the risk of male infertility (odds ratio = 1.81, 95% confidence interval = 1.18-2.77, P = 0.0062), and Bacteroides decreased the risk of male infertility (odds ratio = 0.57, 95% confidence interval = 0.33-0.96, P = 0.0363). In addition, of the two inflammatory cytokines identified, hepatocyte growth factor(HGF) reduced the risk of male infertility (odds ratio = 0.50, 95% confidence interval = 0.35-0.71, P = 0.0001), Monocyte chemotactic protein 3 (MCP-3) increased the risk of male infertility (odds ratio = 1.28, 95% confidence interval = 1.03-1.61, P = 0.0039). Mediated MR analysis showed that HGF mediated the causal effect of Bacteroides on MI (mediated percentage 38.9%). Multivariate MR analyses suggest that HGF may be one of the pathways through which Bacteroides affects MI, with other unexplored pathways.

Conclusion

The present study suggests a causal relationship between specific gut microbiota, inflammatory cytokines, and MI. In addition, HGF may mediate the relationship between Bacteroides and MI.
Overweight as a biomarker for concomitant thyroid cancer in patients with Graves’ disease
Authors: Park Joonseon , An Solji , Bae Ja Seong , Kim Jeong Soo , Kim Kwangsoon
Published: April 2024

The incidence of concomitant thyroid cancer in Graves’ disease varies and Graves’ disease can make the diagnosis and management of thyroid nodules more challenging. Since the majority of Graves’ disease patients primarily received non-surgical treatment, identifying biomarkers for concomitant thyroid cancer in patients with Graves’ disease may facilitate planning the surgery. The aim of this study is to identify the biomarkers for concurrent thyroid cancer in Graves’ disease patients and evaluate the impact of being overweight on cancer risk. This retrospective cohort study analyzed 122 patients with Graves’ disease who underwent thyroid surgery at Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital (Seoul, Korea) from May 2010 to December 2022. Body mass index (BMI), preoperative thyroid function test, and thyroid stimulating hormone receptor antibody (TR-Ab) were measured. Overweight was defined as a BMI of 25 kg/m² or higher according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Most patients (88.5%) underwent total or near-total thyroidectomy. Multivariate analysis revealed that patients who were overweight had a higher risk of malignancy (Odds ratios, 3.108; 95% confidence intervals, 1.196–8.831; p = 0.021). Lower gland weight and lower preoperative TR-Ab were also biomarkers for malignancy in Graves’ disease. Overweight patients with Graves’ disease had a higher risk of thyroid cancer than non-overweight patients. A comprehensive assessment of overweight patients with Graves’ disease is imperative for identifying concomitant thyroid cancer.
Evaluating the correlation of sclerostin levels with obesity and type 2 diabetes in a multiethnic population living in Kuwait
Authors: Alramah Tahani , Cherian Preethi , Al-Khairi Irina , Abu-Farha Mohamed , Thanaraj Thangavel Alphonse , Albatineh Ahmed N. , Safadi Fayez , Ali Hamad , Abdul-Ghani Muhammad , Tuomilehto Jaakko , Koistinen Heikki A. , Al-Mulla Fahd , Abubaker Jehad
Published: April 2024

Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) are intricate metabolic disorders with a multifactorial etiology, often leading to a spectrum of complications. Recent research has highlighted the impact of these conditions on bone health, with a particular focus on the role of sclerostin (SOST), a protein molecule integral to bone metabolism. Elevated circulating levels of SOST have been observed in patients with T2DM compared to healthy individuals. This study aims to examine the circulating levels of SOST in a multiethnic population living in Kuwait and to elucidate the relationship between SOST levels, obesity, T2DM, and ethnic background. The study is a cross-sectional analysis of a large cohort of 2083 individuals living in Kuwait. The plasma level of SOST was measured using a bone panel multiplex assay. The study found a significant increase in SOST levels in individuals with T2DM (1008.3 pg/mL, IQR-648) compared to non-diabetic individuals (710.6 pg/mL, IQR-479). There was a significant gender difference in median SOST levels, with males exhibiting higher levels than females across various covariates (diabetes, IR, age, weight, and ethnicity). Notably, SOST levels varied significantly with ethnicity: Arabs (677.4 pg/mL, IQR-481.7), South Asians (914.6 pg/mL, IQR-515), and Southeast Asians (695.2 pg/mL, IQR-436.8). Furthermore, SOST levels showed a significant positive correlation with gender, age, waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, insulin, total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, LDL, ALT, and AST (p-Value ≥0.05). South Asian participants, who exhibited the highest SOST levels, demonstrated the most pronounced associations, even after adjusting for age, gender, BMI, and diabetes status (p-Value ≥0.05). The observed correlations of SOST with various clinical parameters suggest its significant role in the diabetic milieu, particularly pronounced in the South Asian population compared to other ethnic groups.
Play fighting revisited: its design features and how they shape our understanding of its mechanisms and functions
Authors: Pellis Sergio M. , Pellis Vivien C. , Ham Jackson R.
Published: April 2024

Play fighting has been one of the most intensely studied forms of play and so has provided some of our deepest insights into the understanding of play in general. As the label implies, this behavior resembles serious fighting, in that the animals compete for an advantage over one another, but unlike true aggression, for play fighting to remain playful, it also incorporates a degree of cooperation and reciprocity – restrained competition seems to be its hallmark. Despite these common features, it should be noted that both the advantage competed over and the mechanisms by which restraint is achieved varies across species. Such variation mitigates simple generalities. For example, how empirical support for a proposed adaptive function in one species not being replicated in another, is to be interpreted. What has emerged over the past few decades is that play fighting is diverse, varying across several dimensions, some superficial, some fundamental, making choosing species to compare a challenge. In this paper, we explore various design features that constitute play fighting and the ways these can be modified across different species and lineages of species. Given that a major pillar of ethology is that description precedes explanation, having a good grasp of the behavioral diversity of play fighting is an essential starting point for detailed analyses of the mechanisms and functions of play. We show that commonalities across species likely involve different mechanisms than do species idiosyncrasies, and that different styles of play fighting likely afford different adaptive opportunities.
Summer climate information recorded in tree-ring oxygen isotope chronologies from seven locations in the Republic of Korea
Authors: Choi En-Bi , Park Jun-Hui , Sano Masaki , Nakatsuka Takeshi , Seo Jeong-Wook
Published: April 2024

The Republic of Korea is characterized by its north-to-south stretch and high mountain ranges along the eastern coast, resulting in terrain with higher elevation in the east and lower in the west. These geographical features typically lead to regional climate differences, either based on latitude or from east to west. In the present study, for effectiveness, the entire Korean peninsula was divided into four regions based on the geographical features: The Northeast Coast (NEC), Central Inland (MI), Southeast Coast (SEC), and South Coast (SC). Two test sites were chosen from each region, except for the SC. The linear relationship between the altitude of sites and the mean oxygen isotope ratio (δ18O) revealed a negative correlation; the highest (1,447 m a.s.l.) and the lowest altitude (86 m a.s.l.) sites had a mean δ18O of 27.03‰ and 29.67‰, respectively. The sites selected from the same region exhibited stronger correlation coefficients (0.75–0.79) and Glk (Gleichläufigkeit) (74–83%) between the tree-ring oxygen isotope chronologies (δ18OTR chronologies) than those from different regions (0.60–0.69/70–79%). However, subtle variations in pattern were observed in the comparison period during a few selected intervals (approximately 10 years). All the regional δ18OTR chronologies exhibited positive correlations with either June or July temperatures over Korea, whereas negative correlations with regional summer precipitation and SPEI-3. Moreover, the chronologies showed notable negative correlations with the water condition of western Japan. The findings of this study can be used as a scientific reference for the study of variations of rainfall in East Asia using δ18OTR chronology.
Current phenotypic and genetic spectrum of syndromic deafness in Tunisia: paving the way for precision auditory health
Authors: Mkaouar Rahma , Riahi Zied , Marrakchi Jihene , Mezzi Nessrine , Romdhane Lilia , Boujemaa Maroua , Dallali Hamza , Sayeb Marwa , Lahbib Saida , Jaouadi Hager , Boudabbous Hela , Zekri Lotfi , Chargui Mariem , Messaoud Olfa , Elyounsi Meriem , Kraoua Ichraf , Zaouak Anissa , Turki Ilhem , Mokni Mourad , Boucher Sophie , Petit Christine , Giraudet Fabrice , Mbarek Chiraz , Besbes Ghazi , Halayem Soumeyya , Zainine Rim , Turki Hamida , Tounsi Amel , Bonnet Crystel , Mrad Ridha , Abdelhak Sonia , Trabelsi Mediha , Charfeddine Cherine
Published: April 2024

Hearing impairment (HI) is a prevalent neurosensory condition globally, impacting 5% of the population, with over 50% of congenital cases attributed to genetic etiologies. In Tunisia, HI underdiagnosis prevails, primarily due to limited access to comprehensive clinical tools, particularly for syndromic deafness (SD), characterized by clinical and genetic heterogeneity. This study aimed to uncover the SD spectrum through a 14-year investigation of a Tunisian cohort encompassing over 700 patients from four referral centers (2007–2021). Employing Sanger sequencing, Targeted Panel Gene Sequencing, and Whole Exome Sequencing, genetic analysis in 30 SD patients identified diagnoses such as Usher syndrome, Waardenburg syndrome, cranio-facial-hand-deafness syndrome, and H syndrome. This latter is a rare genodermatosis characterized by HI, hyperpigmentation, hypertrichosis, and systemic manifestations. A meta-analysis integrating our findings with existing data revealed that nearly 50% of Tunisian SD cases corresponded to rare inherited metabolic disorders. Distinguishing between non-syndromic and syndromic HI poses a challenge, where the age of onset and progression of features significantly impact accurate diagnoses. Despite advancements in local genetic characterization capabilities, certain ultra-rare forms of SD remain underdiagnosed. This research contributes critical insights to inform molecular diagnosis approaches for SD in Tunisia and the broader North-African region, thereby facilitating informed decision-making in clinical practice.
Higher TIGIT+ γδ TCM cells may predict poor prognosis in younger adult patients with non-acute promyelocytic AML
Authors: Hou Qi , Wang Penglin , Kong Xueting , Chen Junjie , Yao Chao , Luo Xiaodan , Li Yangqiu , Jin Zhenyi , Wu Xiuli
Published: April 2024

Introduction

γδ T cells recognize and exert cytotoxicity against tumor cells. They are also considered potential immune cells for immunotherapy. Our previous study revealed that the altered expression of immune checkpoint T-cell immunoreceptor with immunoglobulin and ITIM domain (TIGIT) on γδ T cells may result in immunosuppression and is possibly associated with a poor overall survival in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). However, whether γδ T-cell memory subsets are predominantly involved and whether they have a relationship with clinical outcomes in patients with AML under the age of 65 remain unclear.

Methods

In this study, we developed a multicolor flow cytometry-based assay to monitor the frequency and distribution of γδ T-cell subsets, including central memory γδ T cells (TCM γδ), effector memory γδ T cells (TEM γδ), and TEM expressing CD45RA (TEMRA γδ), in peripheral blood from 30 young (≤65 years old) patients with newly diagnosed non-acute promyelocytic leukemia (also known as M3) AML (AMLy-DN), 14 young patients with AML in complete remission (AMLy-CR), and 30 healthy individuals (HIs).

Results

Compared with HIs, patients with AMLy-DN exhibited a significantly higher differentiation of γδ T cells, which was characterized by decreased TCM γδ cells and increased TEMRA γδ cells. A generally higher TIGIT expression was observed in γδ T cells and relative subsets in patients with AMLy-DN, which was partially recovered in patients with AMLy-CR. Furthermore, 17 paired bone marrow from patients with AMLy-DN contained higher percentages of γδ and TIGIT+ γδ T cells and a lower percentage of TCM γδ T cells. Multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed the association of high percentage of TIGIT+ TCM γδ T cells with an increased risk of poor induction chemotherapy response.

Conclusions

In this study, we investigated the distribution of γδ T cells and their memory subsets in patients with non-M3 AML and suggested TIGIT+ TCM γδ T cells as potential predictive markers of induction chemotherapy response.