bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Role of PLAG1 in Mouse Brain Development and Neurogenesis
Authors: Gasperoni Jemma G. , Tran Stephanie C. , Grommen Sylvia V. H. , De Groef Bert , Dworkin Sebastian
Published: January 2024

The pleomorphic adenoma gene 1 (Plag1) is a transcription factor involved in the regulation of growth and cellular proliferation. Here, we report the spatial distribution and functional implications of PLAG1 expression in the adult mouse brain. We identified Plag1 promoter-dependent β-galactosidase expression in various brain structures, including the hippocampus, cortex, choroid plexus, subcommisural organ, ependymal cells lining the third ventricle, medial and lateral habenulae and amygdala. We noted striking spatial-restriction of PLAG1 within the cornu ammonis (CA1) region of the hippocampus and layer-specific cortical expression, with abundant expression noted in all layers except layer 5. Furthermore, our study delved into the role of PLAG1 in neurodevelopment, focusing on its impact on neural stem/progenitor cell proliferation. Loss of Plag1 resulted in reduced proliferation and decreased production of neocortical progenitors in vivo, although ex vivo neurosphere experiments revealed no cell-intrinsic defects in the proliferative or neurogenic capacity of Plag1-deficient neural progenitors. Lastly, we explored potential target genes of PLAG1 in the cortex, identifying that Neurogenin 2 (Ngn2) was significantly downregulated in Plag1-deficient mice. In summary, our study provides novel insights into the spatial distribution of PLAG1 expression in the adult mouse brain and its potential role in neurodevelopment. These findings expand our understanding of the functional significance of PLAG1 within the brain, with potential implications for neurodevelopmental disorders and therapeutic interventions.
Selective Reduction of Ca2+ Entry Through the Human NMDA Receptor: a Quantitative Study by Simultaneous Ca2+ and Na+ Imaging
Authors: D’Andrea Tiziano , Benedetti Maria Cristina , Monaco Lucia , Rosa Alessandro , Fucile Sergio
Published: January 2024

Excessive Ca2+ influx through N-methyl-D-aspartate type glutamate receptors (NMDAR) is associated with excitotoxicity and neuronal death, but the inhibition of this receptor-channel causes severe adverse effects. Thus, a selective reduction of NMDA-mediated Ca2+ entry, leaving unaltered the Na+ current, could represent a valid neuroprotective strategy. We developed a new two-fluorophore approach to efficiently assess the Ca2+ permeability of ligand-gated ion channels, including NMDARs, in different conditions. This technique was able to discriminate differential Ca2+/Na+ permeation ratio through different receptor channels, and through the same channel in different conditions. With this method, we confirmed that EU1794-4, a negative allosteric modulator of NMDARs, decreased their Ca2+ permeability. Furthermore, we measured for the first time the fractional Ca2+ current (Pf, i.e. the percentage of the total current carried by Ca2+ ions) of human NMDARs in the presence of EU1794-4, exhibiting a 40% reduction in comparison to control conditions. EU1794-4 was also able to reduce NMDA-mediated Ca2+ entry in human neurons derived from induced pluripotent stem cells. This last effect was stronger in the absence of extracellular Mg2+, but still significant in its presence, supporting the hypothesis to use NMDA-selective allosteric modulators to lower Ca2+ influx in human neurons, to prevent Ca2+-dependent excitotoxicity and consequent neurodegeneration.
The Role of Glia Telomere Dysfunction in the Pathogenesis of Central Nervous System Diseases
Authors: Papageorgakopoulou Manthia A. , Bania Angelina , Lagogianni Ioanna-Aglaia , Birmpas Kyriakos , Assimakopoulou Martha
Published: January 2024

Maintaining the telomere length is decisive for the viability and homeostasis process of all the cells of an organism, including human glial cells. Telomere shortening of microglial cells has been widely associated with the onset and progression of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease. Additionally, traumatic brain injury appears to have a positive correlation with the telomere-shortening process of microglia, and telomere length can be used as a non-invasive biomarker for the clinical management of these patients. Moreover, telomere involvement through telomerase reactivation and homologous recombination also known as the alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) has been described in gliomagenesis pathways, and particular focus has been given in the translational significance of these mechanisms in gliomas diagnosis and prognostic classification. Finally, glia telomere shortening is implicated in some psychiatric diseases. Given that telomere dysfunction of glial cells is involved in the central nervous system (CNS) disease pathogenesis, it represents a promising drug target that could lead to the incorporation of new tools in the medicinal arsenal for the management of so far incurable conditions.
Radiation-induced changes in gene expression in rectal cancer specimens
Authors: Hillson Lily Victoria Sarah , McCulloch Ashley Kathryn , Edwards Joanne , Dunne Philip David , O’Cathail Sean Michael , Roxburgh Campbell Stuart
Published: January 2024

Purpose

The standard-of-care for locally advanced rectal cancer is radiotherapy-based neoadjuvant therapy followed by surgical resection. This article reviews the evidence of molecular changes at the transcriptome level induced through radiotherapy in rectal cancer.

Methods

The PubMed search “(radiation OR radiotherapy) cancer (transcriptome OR “gene expression”) rectal” was used. The studies taken forward utilised gene-expression data on both pre-treatment and post-treatment rectal adenocarcinoma biospecimens from patients treated with RT-based neoadjuvant strategies.

Results

Twelve publications met the review criteria. There was variation in approaches in terms of design, patient population, cohort size, timing of the post-radiotherapy sampling and method of measuring gene expression. Most of the post-treatment biospecimen retrievals were at resection. The literature indicates a broad upregulation of immune activity through radiotherapy using gene-expression data.

Conclusion

Future studies would benefit from standardised prospective approaches to sampling to enable the inclusion of timepoints relevant to the tumour and immune response.
Wind farm site selection using GIS-based multicriteria analysis with Life cycle assessment integration
Authors: Demir Abdullah , Dinçer Ali Ersin , Çiftçi Cihan , Gülçimen Sedat , Uzal Nigmet , Yılmaz Kutay
Published: January 2024

The sustainability of wind power plants depends on the selection of suitable installation locations, which should consider not only economic and technical factors including manufacturing and raw materials, but also issues pertaining to the environment. In the present study, a novel methodology is proposed to determine the suitable locations for wind turbine farms by analyzing from the environmental perspective. In the methodology, the life cycle assessment (LCA) of wind turbines is incorporated into the decision process. The criteria are ranked using analytical hierarchy process (AHP). The study area is chosen as the western region of Türkiye. The obtained suitability map reveals that wind speed is not the sole criterion for selecting a site for wind turbine farms; other factors, such as bird migration paths, distance from urban areas and land use, are also crucial. The results also reveal that constructing wind power plants in the vicinity of İzmir, Çanakkale, Istanbul, and Balıkesir in Türkiye can lead to a reduction in emissions. İzmir and its surrounding area show the best environmental performance with the lowest CO2 per kilowatt-hour (7.14 g CO2 eq/kWh), to install a wind turbine due to its proximity to the harbor and steel factory across the study area. Çanakkale and the northwest region of Türkiye, despite having high wind speeds, are less environmentally favorable than İzmir, Balıkesir, and Istanbul. The findings of LCA reveal that the nacelle and rotor components of the wind turbine contribute significantly (43–97%) to the environmental impact categories studied, while the tower component (0–36%) also has an impact.
Pro-environmental behaviours of generation Z: A cross-cultural approach
Authors: Juma-Michilena Israel-Javier , Ruiz-Molina Maria-Eugenia , Gil-Saura Irene , Belda-Miquel Sergio
Published: January 2024

The mitigation and adaptation strategies to deal with climate change have not been effective so far and we still observe the effects derived from this problem. This paper aims to explore the determinants of individual pro-environmental behaviour of Generation Z, given the relevance of this generational cohort in society. Quantitative research is conducted based on 1050 valid questionnaires from Generation Z Colombian, Mexican and Brazilian citizens. The hypothesised relationships were tested through a structural equation model estimated using the partial least squares (PLS) regression technique. In addition, a multi-group analysis was carried out to examine potential differences among groups of different nationalities. The results support that the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) adequately models human behaviour and that beliefs generate attitude and subsequently behaviour. However, when it comes to environmental issues, other factors such as environmental disaffection, intrinsic motivations and environmental participation are also relevant. From a theoretical point of view, this study proposes an innovative model supported by the literature. Besides, from a practical point of view, it provides an orientation to guide organisational representatives or leaders in climate change mitigation based on behavioural prediction. Finally, the contribution of this study lies in proposing an innovative model that is combined with the TPB to explain a trend of pro-environmental behaviour in generation Z, evaluating it from different perspectives with members of three different nationalities.
Unveiling the silent crisis: global burden of suicide-related deaths among children aged 10–14 years
Authors: Michalek Irmina Maria , Koczkodaj Pawel , Michalek Marzena , Caetano dos Santos Florentino Luciano
Published: January 2024

Background

The rise in suicides among children aged 10–14 years demands urgent attention globally. This study aims to assess the global burden of suicide-related deaths in this age group from 1990 to 2019, considering factors such as sex, geography, and sociodemographics, to inform prevention strategies and interventions.

Methods

The data from Global Burden of Disease 2019, encompassing 204 countries and territories, were analyzed to investigate deaths and years of life lost (YLLs) due to suicide among children aged 10–14 years. Statistical analyses, including mortality rates, YLLs, and the sociodemographic index (SDI), were conducted using standardized tools.

Results

In 2019, a total of 8327 [95% uncertainty interval (UI) = 7073–9685] children aged 10–14 years died globally due to suicide, with a mortality rate of 1.30 (95% UI = 1.10–1.51) per 100,000. The rates varied across countries/territories ranging between 0.05 (95% UI = 0.02–0.10) in South Africa and 7.49 (95% UI = 5.13–10.57) in Greenland. The contribution of suicide-related deaths to all-cause mortality ranged from 0.07% (95% UI = 0.04%–0.15%) in South Africa to 33.02% (95% UI = 24.36%–41.53%) in Greenland. Worldwide, there were approximately 636,196 (95% UI = 540,383–740,009) YLLs due to suicide, with a rate of 99.07 (95% UI = 84.15–115.23) per 100,000. The association between SDI and suicide-related deaths was evident, with higher contributions observed in countries with higher SDI.

Conclusions

This study reveals a concerning global burden of suicide-related deaths among children aged 10–14 years. Despite progress in reducing mortality rates, suicide remains a significant issue. While overall rates have declined, the percentage of deaths caused by suicide in this age group is increasing.

Graphical abstract
The Effects of Legacy Sediment Removal and Floodplain Reconnection on Riparian Plant Communities
Authors: Baltzer Patrick J. , Moore Joel , Salice Christopher J. , Beauchamp Vanessa B.
Published: January 2024

Stream restoration includes a number of different approaches intended to reduce sediment and nutrient export. Legacy sediment removal (LSR) and floodplain reconnection (FR) involve removing anthropogenically derived sediment accumulated in valley bottoms to reconnect incised streams to their floodplains. These projects also present an opportunity to create high-quality riparian and wetland plant communities and provide information about the early stages of wetland vegetation development and succession. We surveyed vegetation immediately after restoration at three sites and at three additional sites 1–3 years post-restoration to determine how LSR/FR affects riparian plant communities. Restoration increased the prevalence of hydrophytic herbaceous species at all sites, suggesting these projects successfully reconnected the stream to the floodplain. Pronounced decreases in woody basal area and stem density likely also influenced an increase in native and graminoid species after restoration. Only 16% of the indicator species identified for restored reaches were planted as part of the restoration, suggesting the local seed bank and other seed sources may be important for vegetation recovery and preservation of regional beta diversity. Although vegetation quality increased after restoration in reaches with initially low-quality herbaceous vegetation, vegetation quality did not improve or decreased after restoration in reaches with higher-quality vegetation before restoration. The practice of LSR/FR has the potential to improve the quality of some riparian vegetation communities, but the preservation of high-quality forested areas, even if they are atop legacy sediment terraces, should be considered, particularly if reductions in nutrient export do not offset losses in tree canopy.
Examining the structure validity of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index among female workers during New Zealand’s initial COVID-19 lockdown
Authors: Helles Margrethe , Fletcher Richard , Münch Mirjam , Gibson Rosemary
Published: January 2024

Sleep is important for good physical and mental health. The COVID-19 pandemic lockdown created a unique context that impacted psychological and social drivers for sleeping well. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) is a widely used measurement tool assessing subjective sleep quality. The traditional model of the PSQI (a one-factor model), whilst validated and used across different populations, has also been questioned with regards to data fit and representativeness of its global score in different social and work-related circumstances. Examination of the structure validity of the PSQI in the unique context of the pandemic has been scarce. This study determined the PSQI structure validity amongst employed women considered to experience increased stressors during the pandemic lockdown. The subjectively reported PSQI data from 498 female workers (mean age 44.6 years) collected during New Zealand’s first national COVID-19 lockdown (April, 2020) was used. Confirmatory factor analyses compared the original one-factor model of the PSQI with the two- and three-factor models used by Jia et al. (2019) within this pandemic context. Results showed that the two-factor model provided a superior fit of the PSQI data compared to the original one-factor or a three-factor model. These findings suggest that a sub-score of the PSQI with two factors appears to be better at describing the sleep quality of healthy working women during the constrained situation of the pandemic lockdown compared to a single global sleep quality score. This indicates the importance of considering the validity of subjective sleep measures when used within unique social contexts and stressors.
A GPU scheme for multi-secret visual sharing with varied secret dimensions and contrast enhancement using blind super-resolution
Authors: Holla M. Raviraja , Suma D.
Published: January 2024

Multi-secret visual sharing schemes are essential for secure and efficient sharing of sensitive visual information. However, existing schemes often overlook important considerations such as varied secret dimensions, contrast enhancement, and computational efficiency. This research addresses these challenges by proposing a comprehensive approach that addresses these limitations. Firstly, the scheme takes into account the varied dimensions of secret images encountered in real-world scenarios, allowing flexibility in sharing and reconstructing images of different sizes and aspect ratios. Secondly, the research integrates contrast enhancement techniques, such as blind super-resolution, to improve the visual quality and visibility of shared secret images affected by factors like noise, compression, or low lighting conditions. Lastly, to enhance the computational efficiency, the scheme leverages the power of Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) for parallel computing, enabling faster processing of large-scale image operations. The proposed scheme achieves outstanding results, with a high PSNR of 98.264, a strong NCC value of 0.965, an exceptionally low NAE value of 0.046, and an impressive SSIM value of 0.983. Furthermore, the GPU implementation provides a remarkable overall speedup of $$112\times$$

112
×

for $$256 \times 256$$

256
×
256

color images.
Variable selection through adaptive elastic net for proportional odds model
Authors: Wang Chunxiang , Li Nan , Diao Hongbin , Lu Lanqing
Published: January 2024

In this paper, we propose a method for fitting the proportional odds model by maximizing the marginal likelihood while incorporating an elastic net penalty. We assign adaptive weights to different coefficients, allowing important variables to receive smaller penalties and be more protectively retained in the final model, while unimportant variables receive larger penalties and are more likely to be eliminated. This approach combines the strengths of adaptively weighted LASSO shrinkage and quadratic regularization, resulting in optimal large sample performance and the ability to effectively handle collinearity. We also present a computational algorithm for the proposed method and compare its performance to that of LASSO, elastic net, and adaptive LASSO through simulation studies and applications to real datasets. The results demonstrate that the proposed method tends to perform better than existing approaches.
Use of immuno-flow cytometry and real-time PCR disclose the epidemiological behaviour of Erwinia amylovora populations during the winter in Portuguese pear orchards
Authors: McGuire Daniel , Costa Telma , Tenreiro Ana , Cruz Joana , Sousa Rui , de Sousa Miguel Leão , Martins Carmo , Pinto Francisco , Gama-Carvalho Margarida , Tenreiro Rogério , Cruz Leonor
Published: January 2024

The persistence and progression of Erwinia amylovora in naturally infected orchards is still not fully understood and the majority of studies have been carried out under controlled or artificial infections. A major hurdle stems from the inability to characterize the viability of the bacterium in its natural state. Most standard tests, including real-time qPCR, fail to differentiate live from dead cells, while culture dependent methods lack sensitivity. Even in orchards with recurring infections, the detection of E. amylovora is erratic. Immuno-flow cytometry (IFCM) is considered a high throughput tool in clinics and food industry but has been rarely used as diagnostic test for plant pathogens. Two pear orchards with fire blight history, located in the central part of Portugal, were selected for epidemiological monitoring between February and June, from 2019 to 2022. A total of 440 samples were tested using EPPO standard diagnostic protocols. To address the epidemiological behaviour of E. amylovora, we devised an IFCM test using specific monoclonal antibodies and viability dyes, validated in a subset of 149 samples, testing positive in routine diagnostic tests. Our IFCM test was able to differentiate live and dead E. amylovora in naturally infected samples with concentrations as low as 3.54 × 104 cell·mL−1, confirming positive results for 91% these samples, while 19.4% were considered positive by isolation, 38% using conventional PCR and 95% for real-time qPCR. Temporal analysis showed the highest number of positive samples regardless of the method employed in April, May and June, while viability values measured with IFCM were the highest in April, coinciding with the exit of dormancy and early flowering of pear trees. Integrative analysis of E. amylovora viability and population dynamics over the growing season allowed identification of distinct outbreak risks associated with these Portuguese pear orchards.
Mating behaviors in ovoviviparous black rockfish (Sebastes schlegelii): molecular function of prostaglandin E2 as both a hormone and pheromone
Authors: Lyu Likang , Yao Yijia , Xie Songyang , Wang Xiaojie , Wen Haishen , Li Yun , Li Jianshuang , Zuo Chenpeng , Yan Shaojing , Dong Jingyi , Qi Xin
Published: January 2024

Prostaglandins (PGs) are profound hormones in teleost sexual behavior, especially in mating. PGs act as pheromones that affect the olfactory sensory neurons of males, inducing the initiation of a series of mating behaviors. However, the molecular mechanism by which PGs trigger mating behavior in ovoviviparous teleosts is still unclear. In the present study, we employed the ovoviviparous black rockfish (Sebastes schlegelii), an economically important marine species whose reproductive production is limited by incomplete fertilization, as a model species. The results showed that when the dose of PGE2 was higher than 10 nmol/L, a significant (P < 0.05) increase in mating behaviors was observed. Dual-fluorescence in situ hybridization indicated that PGE2 could fire specific neurons in different brain regions and receptor cells in the olfactory sac. After combining with specific neurons in the central nervous system (CNS), a series of genes related to reproduction are activated. The intracerebroventricular administration of PGE2 significantly increased lhb levels (P < 0.05) in both sexes. Moreover, steroidogenesis in gonads was also affected, inducing an increase (P < 0.05) in E2 levels in males and T levels in females. PGE2 levels were also increased significantly (P < 0.05) in both sexes. The present study revealed that PGE2 can activate mating behavior in black rockfish in both hormone and pheromone pathways, leading to variations in sex steroid levels and activation of reproductive behaviors. Our results provide not only novel insight into the onset of mating behaviors in ovoviviparous teleosts but also solutions for the incomplete fertilization caused by natural mating in cage aquaculture.
Systematic determination of the optimized Zr content of Ba(ZrxTi1-x)O3 with high dielectric constant at room temperature for high-voltage system application
Authors: Kim Jandi , Seo Ji Hye , Lee Sang Heun , Cho Myunghee , Kwak Hun , Cheon Ran Sae , Cho Seungchan , Cho Sung Beom , Kim Minkee , Lee Yoon-Seok , Kim Yangdo , Choi Moonhee
Published: January 2024

In this study, by replacing the B-site element in BaTiO3, a ferroelectric material, with an element with a larger ionic radius, a ferroelectric material with high permittivity at room temperature was synthesized. The powders were prepared by solid-state reaction to perform lattice substitution with Zr4+ (0.72 Å), which has a larger ionic radius than Ti4+ (0.605 Å). To perform effective solid-state reaction and better understand the correlation between variables, this study introduced a design of experiment (DOE) based on the orthogonal array (OA) method included in the PIAno software. By substituting 0.222 mol of Zr, which has a large ionic radius, the crystal structure was deformed through an effective diffuse phase transition (DPT), and this resulted in the largest improvement in permittivity at room temperature. In addition, the powder, which underwent solid-state reaction at 1300 °C, formed the densest structure during sintering, which established the conditions for realizing the best dielectric properties. These results can be utilized as a key material for improving the properties of passive devices used in high-voltage industrial systems in societies undergoing the fourth industrial revolution.
Digital empowerment and innovation in risk control strategies for fishery supply chain finance—a case study of Puhui agriculture and animal husbandry financing guarantee company limited
Authors: Du Yuan , Xu Huijie , Chen Yuerun
Published: January 2024

To examine how to innovate the model of financing a fishery supply chain and develop risk control strategies for seafood and aquaculture enterprises in the digital empowerment scenario, this study conducts field research on a leading agricultural enterprise, New Hope Liuhe Company Limited (hereinafter referred to as ‘New Hope Liuhe’) and its subsidiary Puhui Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Financing Guarantee Company Limited (hereinafter referred to as ‘Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Guarantee Co.’), based on business and financial risks from three phases of loan application, loan use, and loan recovery. The study found that New Hope Liuhe optimizes the division of functions among core enterprises in supply chain finance and develops innovative digital risk control strategies using ‘online big data + offline visits’ to effectively control business and financial risks in fishery supply chain finance. Accordingly, this study suggests that seafood and aquaculture enterprises that implement supply chain finance should innovate the model of supply chain finance from the perspective of differentiation of core enterprise functions and continuously innovate the risk control strategies using digital empowerment and big data in fishery operation.
The location of high-degree vertices in weighted recursive graphs with bounded random weights
Authors: Lodewijks Bas
Published: January 2024

We study the asymptotic growth rate of the labels of high-degree vertices in weighted recursive graphs (WRGs) when the weights are independent, identically distributed, almost surely bounded random variables, and as a result confirm a conjecture by Lodewijks and Ortgiese (‘The maximal degree in random recursive graphs with random weights’, preprint, 2020). WRGs are a generalisation of the random recursive tree and directed acyclic graph models, in which vertices are assigned vertex-weights and where new vertices attach to
$m\in\mathbb{N}$
predecessors, each selected independently with a probability proportional to the vertex-weight of the predecessor. Prior work established the asymptotic growth rate of the maximum degree of the WRG model, and here we show that there exists a critical exponent
$\mu_m$
such that the typical label size of the maximum-degree vertex equals
$n^{\mu_m(1+o(1))}$
almost surely as n, the size of the graph, tends to infinity. These results extend results on the asymptotic behaviour of the location of the maximum degree, formerly only known for the random recursive tree model, to the more general weighted multigraph case of the WRG model. Moreover, for the weighted recursive tree model, that is, the WRG model with
$m=1$
, we prove the joint convergence of the rescaled degree and label of high-degree vertices under additional assumptions on the vertex-weight distribution, and also extend results on the growth rate of the maximum degree obtained by Eslava, Lodewijks, and Ortgiese (Stoch. Process. Appl.158, 2023).
A Very European Way Out: Polity Maintenance and the Design of Article 50
Authors: Ganderson Joseph , Donati Niccolò , Ferrera Maurizio , Kyriazi Anna , Truchlewski Zbigniew
Published: January 2024

Multilevel polities do not typically facilitate secession, so why did the European Union adopt Article 50? Revisiting formative debates from the 2003 Convention on the Future of Europe, we combine archival research with an original dataset of delegate debates over two levels: the existence and procedural operation of an exit article. This reveals essential new detail on the genealogy of Article 50. We locate this institutional innovation within a Rokkanian–Hirschmanian theoretical framework which treats exit closure as necessary for loyalty and resilience. Further refining this ‘polity’ perspective, we find many participants showed awareness of the potentially disruptive implications of an exit article. Yet, given extant tensions around ‘ever closer union’, a Eurocentric procedural design prevailed as a safety valve, granting EU authorities default control over any exit process. This European logic of ‘controlled opening' offers a potential blueprint for other integrating compound polities and international organizations facing backlashes from member states.
Automated detection of edge clusters via an overfitted mixture prior
Authors: Pham Hanh T. D. , Sewell Daniel K.
Published: January 2024

Most community detection methods focus on clustering actors with common features in a network. However, clustering edges offers a more intuitive way to understand the network structure in many real-life applications. Among the existing methods for network edge clustering, the majority are algorithmic, with the exception of the latent space edge clustering (LSEC) model proposed by Sewell (Journal of Computational and Graphical Statistics, 30(2), 390–405, 2021). LSEC was shown to have good performance in simulation and real-life data analysis, but fitting this model requires prior knowledge of the number of clusters and latent dimensions, which are often unknown to researchers. Within a Bayesian framework, we propose an extension to the LSEC model using a sparse finite mixture prior that supports automated selection of the number of clusters. We refer to our proposed approach as the automated LSEC or aLSEC. We develop a variational Bayes generalized expectation-maximization approach and a Hamiltonian Monte Carlo-within Gibbs algorithm for estimation. Our simulation study showed that aLSEC reduced run time by 10 to over 100 times compared to LSEC. Like LSEC, aLSEC maintains a computational cost that grows linearly with the number of actors in a network, making it scalable to large sparse networks. We developed the R package aLSEC which implements the proposed methodology.
The Effects of Import Shocks, Electoral Institutions, and Radical Party Competition on Legislator Ideology: Evidence from France
Authors: Meyerrose Anna M. , Watson Sara
Published: January 2024

Across advanced industrialized democracies, the political centre is collapsing as politicians on the far right and far left enjoy increasing electoral success. Recent research links import shocks to voter support for far-right parties. However, we know comparatively less about how these shocks impact individual legislator ideology, especially that of mainstream politicians. Do import shocks drive economic or cultural ideological shifts among mainstream legislators? If so, to what extent do local competitive contexts shape these shifts? Using a dataset of French Senate roll call votes, we find that localized increases in import exposure moves elite ideology to the left economically; this is magnified in departments with majoritarian electoral systems. We show that legislators shift their cultural positions in response to import shocks, but only when faced with extremist political competitors focused on cultural issues. Our results suggest the value of attending to how political and economic geography intersect to shape elite policy positions.
On hydromagnetic wave interactions in collisionless, high-βplasmas
Authors: Majeski S. , Kunz M.W.
Published: January 2024

We describe the interaction of parallel-propagating Alfvén waves with ion-acoustic waves and other Alfvén waves, in magnetized, high-$\beta$collisionless plasmas. This is accomplished through a combination of analytical theory and numerical fluid simulations of the Chew–Goldberger–Low (CGL) magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equations closed by Landau-fluid heat fluxes. An asymptotic ordering is employed to simplify the CGL-MHD equations and derive solutions for the deformation of an Alfvén wave that results from its interaction with the pressure anisotropy generated either by an ion-acoustic wave or another, larger-amplitude Alfvén wave. The difference in time scales of acoustic and Alfvénic fluctuations at high-$\beta$means that interactions that are local in wavenumber space yield little modification to either mode within the time it takes the acoustic wave to Landau damp away. Instead, order-unity changes in the amplitude of Alfvénic fluctuations can result after interacting with frequency-matched acoustic waves. Additionally, we show that the propagation speed of an Alfvén-wave packet in an otherwise homogeneous background is a function of its self-generated pressure anisotropy. This allows for the eventual interaction of separate co-propagating Alfvén-wave packets of differing amplitudes. The results of the CGL-MHD simulations agree well with these predictions, suggesting that theoretical models relying on the interaction of these modes should be reconsidered in certain astrophysical environments. Applications of these results to weak Alfvénic turbulence and to the interaction between the compressive and Alfvénic cascades in strong, collisionless turbulence are also discussed.
Tackling the dual burden of malnutrition in pregnancy – pregnancy after weight loss surgery
Authors: Maslin Kate , Hart Kathryn H , Shawe Jill
Published: January 2024

The dual burden of malnutrition is characterised by the coexistence of undernutrition alongside overweight/obesity and diet-related noncommunicable diseases. It is a paradox which disproportionately affects women and is applicable to those who become pregnant after weight loss surgery. Obesity before and during pregnancy is associated with increased risk of adverse perinatal outcomes in both mother and child. Overall lifestyle interventions targeting weight loss in the preconception period have not proven effective, with people, and women in particular, increasingly seeking weight loss surgery. In women with severe obesity, surgery may normalise hormonal abnormalities and improve fertility. In those who become pregnant after surgery, evidence suggests a better overall obstetric outcome compared to those with severe obesity managed conservatively; however, there is heightened risk of maternal nutritional deficiencies and infants born small for gestational age. Specifically, pregnancy soon after surgery, in the catabolic phase when rapid weight loss is occurring, has the potential for poor outcomes. Lifelong micronutrient supplementation is required, and there is considerable risk of malnutrition if nutritional aftercare guidelines are not adhered to. It is therefore recommended that pregnancy is delayed until a stable weight is achieved and is supported by individualised advice from a multidisciplinary team. Further research is required to better understand how weight loss surgery affects the chances of having a healthy pregnancy and to ultimately improve nutritional management and patient care. In this review, we aim to summarise the evidence and guidance around nutrition during pregnancy after weight loss surgery.
Editorial: nutrition at key stages of the lifecycle
Authors: Abayomi Julie , Charnley Margaret , Stone Genevieve , Lane Katie , Stevenson Leo , Davies Ian , Webb Richard
Published: January 2024

Nutritional requirements of individuals vary across the lifecycle, according to activity, age and gender. To optimize human health, consideration of nutritional priorities at each stage is needed. This conference brought together multidisciplinary experts in maternal and child nutrition and health, cardiometabolic and plant-based nutrition and dietitians involved in the care of vulnerable populations, plus nutritional metabolism, health and ageing. The presentations highlighted the most important nutrition research in these areas, updating knowledge and suggesting how dietary advice and policy could be adapted to incorporate research findings. With the global increase in non-communicable disease (NCD) and nutrition being considered as a key modifiable risk factor for the prevention and management of NCD, this conference was much needed.
The Berbero-Semitic adjective
Authors: van Putten Marijn
Published: January 2024

It has long been recognized that the Semitic suffix conjugation and the Berber adjectival perfective suffix conjugation have striking similarities in their morphology, which has been correctly attributed to be the result of a shared inheritance from Proto-Afro-Asiatic. Nevertheless, the function of these conjugations in the respective language families is quite distinct. This article argues that ultimately this suffix conjugation is a predicative suffix in the common ancestor of Berber and Semitic, and moreover shows that Semitic and Berber have significant overlap in the stem formations of adjectives. It is argued that these formations must likewise be reconstructed for their common ancestor.
Navigating nuclear narratives in contemporary television: The BBC’s Vigil
Authors: Faux Emily
Published: January 2024

This article explores the BBC television drama Vigil (2021) as a significant site for the construction of public knowledge about nuclear weapons. In doing so, it extends beyond discourse-oriented approaches to explore how nuclear discourses manifest in visual communication, everyday encounters, and popular imagination. In a close reading of Vigil, this article questions concepts of security, peace, and deterrence, revealing how the series (occasionally) challenges conventional discourses while reproducing gendered and racialised representations of nuclear weapons politics. The exploration asks questions of responsibility for nuclear decision-making, the portrayal of anti-nuclear activists, and the depiction of nuclear weapons as agents of both peace and destruction. While the BBC series reproduces existing (and problematic) discourses, it also provides a ‘thinking space’ for critical engagement. Amid the current geopolitical landscape, this article emphasises the urgency of studying contemporary representations of nuclear weapons and the need for scholarship that challenges traditional Cold War perspectives.
How first- and second-language emotion words influence emotion perception in Swedish–English bilinguals
Authors: Champoux-Larsson Marie-France , Nook Erik C.
Published: January 2024

Emotional experiences are often dulled in one's second language. We tested whether emotion concepts are more strongly associated with first language (L1) than second language (L2) emotion words. Participants (140 L1-Swedish–L2-English bilinguals) saw a facial expression of an emotion (cue) followed by a target, which could either be another facial expression, an L1 emotion word, or an L2 emotion word. Participants indicated whether the cue and target represented the same or different emotions as fast as possible. Participants were faster and more accurate in both the L1 and L2 word conditions compared to the face condition. However, no significant differences emerged between the L1 and L2 word conditions, suggesting that emotion concepts are not more strongly associated with L1 than L2 emotion words. These results replicate prior research showing that L1 emotion words speed facial emotion perception and provide initial evidence that words (not only first language words) shape emotion perception.
Validation of the Short Dark Tetrad (SD4) in Persian
Authors: Qaderi Bagajan Kaveh , Ziegler Matthias , Soleimani Mehdi , Paulhus Delroy L. , Soleimani Zahra Asl , Kordbagheri Mohammadreza , Alavinejad Leila , Amiri Hamid , Asl Vida Yousefi , Hoseini Sepideh , Bagajan Hadi Qaderi
Published: January 2024

Abstract: The Short Dark Tetrad of Personality (SD4) is a self-report instrument for screening individuals with dark personality traits, including narcissism, Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and sadism. In the present study, we examined the psychometric properties of the Persian version in an Iranian sample. After translating the instrument, we conducted a large online survey that included 1,696 participants (67% female), aged 18–60 years. We performed a series of confirmatory factor analyses and examined the nomological network to validate the instrument. After assessing five competing structural models, the four-factor model showed the best fit based on standard goodness-of-fit indices. The sub-scales also showed coherent links with risk-taking and pathological personality traits. We conclude that the Persian SD4 has a distinct four-factor structure with adequate reliability and validity. Therefore, it can be used to measure dark personality traits in Farsi-speaking samples.
Effects of lockdowns on neurobiological and psychometric parameters in unipolar depression during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Unterholzner Jakob , Kautzky Alexander , Reed Murray Bruce , Wechsler Theresa Friederike , Popper Valentin , Spurny-Dworak Benjamin , Stöhrmann Peter , Klöbl Manfred , Varghese Nimmy , Mühlberger Andreas , Eckert Anne , Frey Richard , Rujescu Dan , Lanzenberger Rupert , Vanicek Thomas
Published: January 2024

Defying the COVID-19 pandemic required restriction measures of unprecedented scale, that may induce and exacerbate psychiatric symptoms across the population. We aimed to assess in vivo dynamic effects of mitigation strategies on human brain neurobiology, neuroplastic as well as psychometric parameters. Three structural magnetic resonance imaging measurements, serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (sBDNF) analyses, and psychometric assessments (Beck Depression Inventory-II and Perceived Stress Questionnaire-20) were performed in healthy individuals and patients with a recurrent major depressive disorder in the period from September 2020 to July 2021. Group differences and changes over time in structural imaging, neuroplastic and psychometric parameters were assessed with linear mixed models. Analysis of data from 18 patients with a recurrent major depressive disorder and 28 healthy individuals showed clinically relevant scores for depression and stress in the patient group as well as significant cross-sectional differences in depression scores (F = 30.89, p < 0.001) and three subscales of the Perceived Stress Questionnaire (Worries: F = 19.19, p < 0.001, Tension: F = 34.44, p < 0.001, Joy: F = 12.05, p = 0.001). Linear mixed models revealed no significant changes over time in cortical thickness of the prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, hippocampus, and amygdala (F = 0.29, p > 0.1) and no interaction with group (F = 0.28, p > 0.1). Further, analysis revealed no main effect of time and no interaction of time x group in depressive symptoms, perceived stress subscales, and sBDNF (all p > 0.1). Despite the limited sample size, the strength of this investigation lies in the multimodal assessment of peri-pandemic lockdown effects. Nine months of varying restrictions measures did not result in observable changes in brain morphology nor impact depressive symptoms in either psychiatric patients with a recurrent major depressive disorder or healthy individuals. While these neurobiological and psychometric data stand in contrast to initial expectations about the effects of restriction measures, they might inform future investigations of longitudinal effects of restriction measures on mental health.
Representation and quantification of module activity from omics data with rROMA
Authors: Najm Matthieu , Cornet Matthieu , Albergante Luca , Zinovyev Andrei , Sermet-Gaudelus Isabelle , Stoven Véronique , Calzone Laurence , Martignetti Loredana
Published: January 2024

The efficiency of analyzing high-throughput data in systems biology has been demonstrated in numerous studies, where molecular data, such as transcriptomics and proteomics, offers great opportunities for understanding the complexity of biological processes. One important aspect of data analysis in systems biology is the shift from a reductionist approach that focuses on individual components to a more integrative perspective that considers the system as a whole, where the emphasis shifted from differential expression of individual genes to determining the activity of gene sets. Here, we present the rROMA software package for fast and accurate computation of the activity of gene sets with coordinated expression. The rROMA package incorporates significant improvements in the calculation algorithm, along with the implementation of several functions for statistical analysis and visualizing results. These additions greatly expand the package’s capabilities and offer valuable tools for data analysis and interpretation. It is an open-source package available on github at:www.github.com/sysbio-curie/rROMA. Based on publicly available transcriptomic datasets, we applied rROMA to cystic fibrosis, highlighting biological mechanisms potentially involved in the establishment and progression of the disease and the associated genes. Results indicate that rROMA can detect disease-related active signaling pathways using transcriptomic and proteomic data. The results notably identified a significant mechanism relevant to cystic fibrosis, raised awareness of a possible bias related to cell culture, and uncovered an intriguing gene that warrants further investigation.
Altered grey matter structural covariance in chronic moderate–severe traumatic brain injury
Authors: Symons Georgia F. , Gregg Matthew C. , Hicks Amelia J. , Rowe Christopher C. , Shultz Sandy R. , Ponsford Jennie L. , Spitz Gershon
Published: January 2024

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) alters brain network connectivity. Structural covariance networks (SCNs) reflect morphological covariation between brain regions. SCNs may elucidate how altered brain network topology in TBI influences long-term outcomes. Here, we assessed whether SCN organisation is altered in individuals with chronic moderate–severe TBI (≥ 10 years post-injury) and associations with cognitive performance. This case–control study included fifty individuals with chronic moderate–severe TBI compared to 75 healthy controls recruited from an ongoing longitudinal head injury outcome study. SCNs were constructed using grey matter volume measurements from T1-weighted MRI images. Global and regional SCN organisation in relation to group membership and cognitive ability was examined using regression analyses. Globally, TBI participants had reduced small-worldness, longer characteristic path length, higher clustering, and higher modularity globally (p < 0.05). Regionally, TBI participants had greater betweenness centrality (p < 0.05) in frontal and central areas of the cortex. No significant associations were observed between global network measures and cognitive ability in participants with TBI (p > 0.05). Chronic moderate–severe TBI was associated with a shift towards a more segregated global network topology and altered organisation in frontal and central brain regions. There was no evidence that SCNs are associated with cognition.