bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Global gene expression of human malaria parasite liver stages throughout intrahepatocytic development
Authors: Zanghi Gigliola , Patel Hardik , Camargo Nelly , Smith Jenny L. , Bae Yeji , Flannery Erika L. , Chuenchob Vorada , Fishbaugher Matthew E. , Mikolajczak Sebastian A , Roobsoong Wanlapa , Sattabongkot Jetsumon , Hayes Kiera , Vaughan Ashley M. , Kappe Stefan H. I.
Published: January 2023

Plasmodium falciparum(Pf) is causing the greatest malaria burden, yet the liver stages (LS) of this most important parasite species have remained poorly studied. Here, we used a human liver-chimeric mouse model in combination with a novel fluorescentPfNF54 parasite line (PfNF54cspGFP) to isolatePfLS-infected hepatocytes and generate transcriptomes that cover the major LS developmental phases in human hepatocytes. RNA-seq analysis of earlyPfLS trophozoites two days after infection, revealed a central role of translational regulation in the transformation of the extracellular invasive sporozoite into intracellular LS. The developmental time course gene expression analysis indicated that fatty acid biosynthesis, isoprenoid biosynthesis and iron metabolism are sustaining LS development along with amino acid metabolism and biosynthesis. Countering oxidative stress appears to play an important role during intrahepatic LS development. Furthermore, we observed expression of the variant PfEMP1 antigen-encodingvargenes, and we confirmed expression of PfEMP1 protein during LS development. Transcriptome comparison of the latePfliver stage schizonts withP. vivax(Pv) late liver stages revealed highly conserved gene expression profiles among orthologous genes. A notable difference however was the expression of genes regulating sexual stage commitment. WhilePvschizonts expressed markers of sexual commitment, thePfLS parasites were not sexually committed and showed expression of gametocytogenesis repression factors. Our results provide the first comprehensive gene expression profile of the human malaria parasitePfLS isolated duringin vivointrahepatocytic development. This data will inform biological studies and the search for effective intervention strategies that can prevent infection.
Comparison of SARS-CoV-2 entry inhibitors based on ACE2 receptor or engineered Spike-binding peptides
Authors: Llewellyn George N. , Chen Hsu-Yu , Rogers Geoffrey L. , Huang Xiaoli , Sell Philip J. , Henley Jill E. , Cannon Paula M.
Published: January 2023

With increasing resistance of SARS-CoV-2 variants to antibodies, there is interest in developing entry inhibitors that target essential receptor binding regions of the viral Spike protein and thereby present a high bar for viral resistance. Such inhibitors can be derivatives of the viral receptor, ACE2, or peptides engineered to interact specifically with the receptor-binding pocket. We compared the efficacy of a series of both types of entry inhibitors, constructed as fusions to an antibody Fc domain. Such a design can increase protein stability and act to both neutralize free virus and recruit effector functions to clear infected cells. We tested the reagents against prototype variants of SARS-CoV-2, using both Spike pseudotyped VSV vectors and viral plaque assays. These analyses revealed that an optimized ACE2 derivative could neutralize all variants we tested with high efficacy. In contrast, the Spike-binding peptides had varying activities against different variants, with resistance observed for the Spike proteins from Beta, Gamma and Omicron. The resistance mapped to mutations at Spike residues K417 and N501 and could be overcome for one of the peptides by linking two copies in tandem, effectively creating a tetrameric reagent in the Fc fusion. Finally, both the optimized ACE2 and tetrameric peptide inhibitors provided some protection to human ACE2 transgenic mice challenged with the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant, which typically causes death in this model within 7-9 days.

Importance

The increasing resistance of SARS-CoV-2 variants to therapeutic antibodies has highlighted the need for new treatment options, especially in individuals who do not respond to vaccination. Receptor decoys that block viral entry are an attractive approach because of the presumed high bar to developing viral resistance. Here, we compare two entry inhibitors based on derivatives of the ACE2 receptor or engineered peptides that bind to the receptor binding pocket of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein. In each case, the inhibitors were fused to immunoglobulin Fc domains, which can further enhance therapeutic properties, and compared for activity against different SARS-CoV-2 variants. Potent inhibition against multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants was demonstratedin vitro, and even relatively low single doses of optimized reagents provided some protection in mouse models, confirming their potential as an alternative to antibody therapies.
Differences in self-perceived employability between university and VET students: an analysis of emerging adults in Spain
Authors: Sánchez-Queija María Inmaculada , Sánchez-García Laura , Rothwell Andrew T. , Parra Águeda
Published: January 2023

Purpose

The present study analyzes differences in self-perceived employability (SPE) among Spanish university and vocational education and training (VET) students. It also aims to determine whether factors such as gender, work experience and perceptions of the precariousness of the job market have a differential effect on SPE in accordance with the training pathway chosen by emerging adults.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 1,715 university students (64.7% women) and 488 VET students (37.1% women) aged between 18 and 29 years completed a self-administered questionnaire that included measures of perceived employability and precarious employment.

Findings

The results indicate higher SPE among VET students than among their university counterparts. Female university students scored lower also than their male colleagues, an effect that was not observed among VET students. Prior work experience improved internal SPE among students on both training pathways. However, among university students, work experience and precarious employment reduced external SPE, an affect that was not observed among VET students.

Practical implications

The analysis of differences in SPE between university and VET students highlights the importance of an educational curriculum that includes practical competences for enhancing employability. The results also reflect the negative consequences of precarious employment on feelings of employability during this life stage, particularly among those studying at university.

Originality/value

This is one of the first studies to analyze the perceived employability of emerging adults on two different training pathways in Spain.
Protection of intellectual property and human rights during health emergencies: an assessment of the patent waiver proposal
Authors: Nambiar Vishnu , Kunte Gayatri , Bhat Varadurga
Published: January 2023

Purpose

Several countries, such as South Africa and India, believe that intellectual property rights (IPRs), including patents, impede the efficient increase in vaccine production to inoculate the global population as they scramble to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Their proposal at the World Trade Organization (WTO) to waive these pharmaceutical patents has been met with resistance from a few developed countries, who believe that the abrogation of IPRs is unnecessary, even during a pandemic. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the impact of a potential waiver of medical patents at the WTO versus the status quo of IPR laws in the global economy.

Design/methodology/approach

This study examines key arguments from economic and moral standpoints regarding the provisions of the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) agreement and other related international agreements and their validity based on the premise of the internalisation of positive externalities posed by vaccines.

Findings

The effectiveness of the TRIPS agreement in securing medical access is weak on account of the ability of profit-making multinationals to secure IP rights and on account of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a multilateral agreement that supports patent evergreening and a period of protection on test data which challenges the access to medicines and the fundamental human right to health.

Originality/value

This study examines international IPRs through the lens of human rights and proposes a new system that balances the two.
Spreading the word: exploring spiritual consumption on social media
Authors: Williams Janine , Krisjanous Jayne
Published: January 2023

Purpose

The rapidly increasing practice of “sharing” and “liking” religious and spiritually inspiring content on social media platforms suggests it is engaging for consumers, but it is unclear why. This study aims to investigate consumer interpretations of spiritual content on social media in relation to participatory roles.

Design/methodology/approach

Qualitative in-depth interviews and thematic analysis are used. Members of social networks actively engaged in social media posting were identified through researcher networks and snowballing.

Findings

The social media space facilitates enhanced consumer agency in the consumption of spiritual messages which are readily accessible in this secular context. Three levels of interpretive meaning for consumers, conditional on the perceived sender motivations and temporality of receipt and related to participatory roles are identified. Despite being widely disseminated and immersed in the profane, some participants receive spiritual inspiration, which helps them achieve self-transcendence. Others receive inspiration through affirmation of their values and identity; however for a few, inspirational messages are met with scepticism and are not meaningful. Social media facilitates consumers’ ability to provide others with positive inspiration, however, this is not always their intent.

Originality/value

This work contributes unique insight regarding consumption of spirituality in a social media environment highlighting the importance of sender mediation and temporal context with implications for spiritual meaning and online engagement with spiritual content. A unique typology relating interpretive meaning to participatory roles is presented.
The financial market's ability to forecast economic growth: information from sectoral movements
Authors: Marfatia Hardik
Published: January 2023

Purpose

Financial market holds superior information that can give insights into the future trajectory of economic growth. Further, identifying sectors that hold the key to future economic growth is important for all economies, but particularly relevant to emerging markets. However, unlike existing studies, the paper provides new insights into the forward-oriented nexus between financial markets and economic growth.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper takes a forward-looking approach of using financial market information to predict future economic growth. The authors use ARDL modeling approach to predict economic growth using the information from stock market sectoral returns.

Findings

The authors find that sectoral stock returns significantly improve economic growth forecasts. However, the forecasting superiority is not uniform across sectors and horizons. Auto, consumers' spending, materials and realty sectors provide the most forecasting gains. In contrast, banking, capital goods and industrial sectors provide superior forecasts, but only at horizons beyond one year. The authors also find that the forecast superiority of sectors at longer horizons is inversely related to volatility.

Research limitations/implications

Research highlights the need for sector-focused policy actions in driving economic growth. Further, the findings of the paper identify sectors that drive short-, medium- and long-term economic growth.

Practical implications

There is a significant heterogeneity among different sectors and across horizons in predicting economic growth. Results suggest that targeted policy actions in sectors like materials, metals, oil and gas, and realty are key in driving economic growth. Further, policies geared toward the grassroots industries are at least as beneficial as the large-scale industries. Evidence also suggests the need for an active fiscal policy to address infrastructural bottlenecks in primary industries like basic materials and energy. Evidence nevertheless does not undermine the role of monetary policy actions.

Originality/value

Unlike any paper till date, the innovation of the paper is that it takes an ARDL modeling approach to measure stock market sectoral returns' ability to forecast economic growth several months ahead in the future. Though the paper considers the Indian case, the innovation and contribution extents to the entire field of economic studies.
Working in times of COVID-19: investigating the effect of daily risk perception of COVID-19 infection on goal progress
Authors: Seo Donghun , Mah Sunghyuck , Yoo Sophia Miri , Oh Minju , Kim Byung-Im , Lee Jeong-Yeon , Yun Seokhwa
Published: January 2023

Purpose

Based on the transactional theory of stress and coping, this study aims to understand the daily impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on employee goal progress. In particular, the authors explore how COVID-19 induces anxiety related to task setbacks that consequently influences one's goal progress.

Design/methodology/approach

A daily diary study was conducted with a total of 558 observations from 60 participants. The data were analyzed using multilevel path analysis with random slopes.

Findings

The perceived risk of COVID-19 infection was positively associated with COVID-19 task setback anxiety, which in turn improved end-of-day goal progress. Lower employee conscientiousness strengthened the relationship between perceived risk of COVID-19 infection and COVID-19 task setback anxiety, and lower supervisor bottom-line mentality strengthened the relationship between COVID-19 task setback anxiety and end-of-day goal progress.

Practical implications

Although COVID-19 task setback anxiety results in higher end-of-day goal progress, the authors recommend caution as the cost of coping exists. Thus, supervisors should focus on supporting the employees rather than having a bottom-line mentality.

Originality/value

This study advances stress and coping literature by examining how employees appraise and cope with COVID-19 in work context. The authors demonstrate that a perceived risk of COVID-19 induces task setbacks related to anticipatory anxiety, which in turn influences employee outcomes. In addition, the authors identify employee conscientiousness and supervisor bottom-line mentality as a boundary condition of this process.
Exploring how organizational performance feedback influences corporate social responsibility (CSR): the moderating role of LGBT inclusion
Authors: Kotiloglu Serhan
Published: January 2023

Purpose

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) captures organizational actions that account for economic, social and environmental performance. CSR is becoming increasingly relevant for organizations because of changing societal norms and attitudes. Prior research on CSR shows that socially responsible actions are beneficial for the firm and the society. However, much less is known about the antecedents of CSR. The authors suggest that CSR is a strategic organizational decision and use organizational performance feedback theory to explain how organizations decide on CSR activities.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a longitudinal sample of 189 US public firms with 1,050 observations, the authors test how performance decreases below aspirations and performance increases above aspirations influence CSR. The authors also test for the moderation effect of LGBT inclusion on these relationships as a proxy for CSR consistency and stakeholder support.

Findings

The authors find that as organizational performance decreases further below aspirations, CSR increases and LGBT inclusion strengthens this increase. The authors also find that as performance increases above aspirations, organizations become more engaged in CSR, but LGBT inclusion does not moderate this relationship.

Originality/value

Prior research recently started extending the performance feedback theory to CSR, but empirical findings on the relationships between performance feedback and CSR are seemingly inconclusive. Moreover, studies had primarily focused on performance below aspirations and to a much lesser extent on performance above aspirations. This study aims to better integrate organizational performance feedback theory to the CSR discourse.
Modelling the drivers of data science techniques for real estate professionals in the fourth industrial revolution era
Authors: Osunsanmi Temidayo Oluwasola , Olawumi Timothy O. , Smith Andrew , Jaradat Suha , Aigbavboa Clinton , Aliu John , Oke Ayodeji , Ajayi Oluwaseyi , Oyeyipo Opeyemi
Published: January 2023

Purpose

The study aims to develop a model that supports the application of data science techniques for real estate professionals in the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) era. The present 4IR era gave birth to big data sets and is beyond real estate professionals' analysis techniques. This has led to a situation where most real estate professionals rely on their intuition while neglecting a rigorous analysis for real estate investment appraisals. The heavy reliance on their intuition has been responsible for the under-performance of real estate investment, especially in Africa.

Design/methodology/approach

This study utilised a survey questionnaire to randomly source data from real estate professionals. The questionnaire was analysed using a combination of Statistical package for social science (SPSS) V24 and Analysis of a Moment Structures (AMOS) graphics V27 software. Exploratory factor analysis was employed to break down the variables (drivers) into meaningful dimensions helpful in developing the conceptual framework. The framework was validated using covariance-based structural equation modelling. The model was validated using fit indices like discriminant validity, standardised root mean square (SRMR), comparative fit index (CFI), Normed Fit Index (NFI), etc.

Findings

The model revealed that an inclusive educational system, decentralised real estate market and data management system are the major drivers for applying data science techniques to real estate professionals. Also, real estate professionals' application of the drivers will guarantee an effective data analysis of real estate investments.

Originality/value

Numerous studies have clamoured for adopting data science techniques for real estate professionals. There is a lack of studies on the drivers that will guarantee the successful adoption of data science techniques. A modern form of data analysis for real estate professionals was also proposed in the study.
On the interdependencies between mortgage, credit card and auto loans delinquency rates: evidence from the US states plus the District of Columbia
Authors: Fuinhas José Alberto , Silva Nuno , Duarte Joshua
Published: January 2023

Purpose

This study aims to explain how delinquency shocks in one type of debt contaminate the others. That is, the authors aim to shed light on the time pattern of delinquencies in different debt types.

Design/methodology/approach

This study analyzes the interdependencies between mortgage, credit card and auto loans delinquency rates in the USA from 2003 to 2019, using a panel VAR-X, the panel Granger causality tests and the Geweke linear dependence measures. The authors also compute the impulse response functions of a shock to one kind of debt on the others and decompose the variance of the forecast errors.

Findings

The authors find a statistically significant bidirectional Granger causality between the delinquencies. The Geweke measures of linear dependence and the Dumitrescu and Hurlin Granger non-causality tests support that mortgage predominantly causes credit card and auto loan delinquencies. Auto loans also cause credit card delinquencies. The impulse response functions confirm this pattern. This scenario aligns with a sequence where debtors consider rational first to default on credit cards, second on auto loans and only on mortgages in the last instance. Indeed, credit card delinquencies Granger-cause delinquencies in other debts when it occurs.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to focus on the temporal pattern of delinquency rates for all the US states, using panel data. Furthermore, the results call for policymakers to design regulations to break the transmission channel from debt delinquencies.
National traditional festival tourism and visitors’ national identity: a dual collaborative framework of cultural inheritance and inherited innovation
Authors: Deng Fang , Ruan Wen-Qi , Zhang Shu-Ning
Published: January 2023

Purpose

This study aims to explore and clarify the role of national traditional festival tourism in cultivating national identity (NI) and confirm its construction model.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on social identity theory and complexity theory, a complex nurturing framework for visitors’ NI is developed. The paper with 479 samples used fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis to analyse NI from the holistic perspective of “cultural inheritance” (festival authenticity [FA], historical re-enactment [HR] and cultural experience [CE]) and “inherited innovation” (event design innovation [EDI], cultural innovation [CUI], aesthetic innovation [AI] and creative innovation [CRI]).

Findings

The findings indicated three driving modes of forming NI: cultural inheritance-led, inherited innovation-led and the dual coordination of cultural inheritance and inherited innovation. FA, HR, CE, AI and CRI are core incentives, whereas event design and CUI are AI.

Practical implications

The findings provide directions for strengthening visitors’ national emotion, which has significant value for the development of traditional festival tourism.

Originality/value

The study offers a new perspective for the cultivation of NI in the tourism context and provides theoretical guidance for the coordinated development of cultural inheritance and inherited innovation in national traditional festival tourism destinations.
DsrCis involved in fermentative growth and interacts directly with theFlxABCD–HdrABCcomplex inDesulfovibrio vulgarisHildenborough
Authors: Ferreira Delfim , Venceslau Sofia S. , Bernardino Raquel , Preto André , Zhang Lichun , Waldbauer Jacob R. , Leavitt William D. , Pereira Inês A. C.
Published: January 2023

DsrC is a key protein in dissimilatory sulfur metabolism, where it works as co‐substrate of the dissimilatory sulfite reductase DsrAB. DsrC has two conserved cysteines in a C‐terminal arm that are converted to a trisulfide upon reduction of sulfite. In sulfate‐reducing bacteria, DsrC is essential and previous works suggested additional functions beyond sulfite reduction. Here, we studied whether DsrC also plays a role during fermentative growth ofDesulfovibrio vulgarisHildenborough, by studying two strains where the functionality of DsrC is impaired by a lower level of expression (IPFG07) and additionally by the absence of one conserved Cys (IPFG09). Growth studies coupled with metabolite and proteomic analyses reveal that fermentation leads to lower levels of DsrC, but impairment of its function results in reduced growth by fermentation and a shift towards more fermentative metabolism during sulfate respiration. In both respiratory and fermentative conditions, there is increased abundance of the FlxABCD–HdrABC complex and Adh alcohol dehydrogenase in IPFG09 versus the wild type, which is reflected in higher production of ethanol. Pull‐down experiments confirmed a direct interaction between DsrC and the FlxABCD–HdrABC complex, through the HdrB subunit. Dissimilatory sulfur metabolism, where sulfur compounds are used for energy generation, is a key process in the ecology of anoxic environments, and is more widespread among bacteria than previously believed. Two central proteins for this type of metabolism are DsrAB dissimilatory sulfite reductase and its co‐substrate DsrC. Using physiological, proteomic and biochemical studies ofDesulfovibrio vulgarisHildenborough and mutants affected in DsrC functionality, we show that DsrC is also relevant for fermentative growth of this model organism and that it interacts directly with the soluble FlxABCD‐HdrABC complex that links the NAD(H) pool with dissimilatory sulfite reduction.
Overcoming data barriers in spatial agri‐food systems analysis: A flexible imputation framework
Authors: Yi Jing , Cohen Samantha , Rehkamp Sarah , Canning Patrick , Gómez Miguel I. , Ge Houtian
Published: January 2023

Suppressions in public data severely limit the usefulness of spatial data and hinder research applications. In this context, data imputation is necessary to deal with suppressed values. We present and validate a flexible data imputation method that can aid in the completion of under‐determined data systems. The validations use Monte Carlo and optimisation modelling techniques to recover suppressed data tables from the 2017 US Census of Agriculture. We then use econometric models to evaluate the accuracy of imputations from alternative models. Various metrics of forecast accuracy (i.e., MAPE, BIC, etc.) show the flexibility and capacity of this approach to accurately recover suppressed data. To illustrate the value of our method, we compare the livestock water withdrawal estimations with imputed data and suppressed data to show the bias in research applications when suppressions are simply dropped from analysis.
Intrathecal injection of methotrexate combined with dexamethasone for Cogan's syndrome with neurological involvement: A case report and literature review
Authors: Hu Jiarui , Du Hongjia , Su Jiang , Wu Tong , Wu Rui , Zhu Jing
Published: January 2023

Cogan's syndrome (CS) is a rare autoimmune disease in which approximately 10%–13% of people with the condition develop neurological symptoms. While glucocorticoids are the standard of care for patients with CS, disease‐modifying anti‐rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and biologics agents are more widely used to treat the systemic and vestibular auditory manifestations of CS. Herein, we report a rare case of CS with central nervous system damage who failed to respond to systemic use of glucocorticoids and DMARDs. However, his symptoms were successfully improved by intrathecal injection of methotrexate (MTX) and dexamethasone. To our knowledge, the use of intrathecal injections of MTX and dexamethasone to treat CS has not been reported in any literature. Therefore, the present case may provide a new idea for clinicians to treat central nervous system symptoms in patients with CS.
Characteristics of intussusception among children in Hokkaido, Japan, during the pre‐ and post‐rotavirus vaccine eras (2007–2016)
Authors: Fukuda Yuya , Akane Yusuke , Honjo Saho , Kawasaki Yukihiko , Tsutsumi Hiroyuki , Tsugawa Takeshi
Published: January 2023

Aim

To analyse the epidemiology of intussusception in Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan during a 10‐year period spanning the introduction of the rotavirus (RV) vaccine (2007–2016).

Methods

Using a standard questionnaire, a retrospective surveillance was conducted across 17 hospitals with paediatric beds in Hokkaido Prefecture. We compared the data between the pre‐vaccine era (2007–2011) and post‐vaccine era (2012–2016).

Results

In total, 208 and 110 intussusception cases were in the pre‐ and post‐vaccine eras, respectively. A significant reduction of the intussusception incidence in children aged <1 year was observed from the pre‐ to the post‐vaccine era (102.4–56.5 per 100 000 infants; incidence rate ratio, 0.55; p = 0.004). There was a relatively high‐positive RV antigen detection rate (29.4%, 5/17) during the RV epidemic period in Japan (March–May) in the pre‐vaccine era. None of the intussusception cases in the 31 patients with a history of RV vaccination occurred within 1 month after the administration of an RV vaccine dose.

Conclusions

The incidence of intussusception in children aged <1 year decreased significantly after RV vaccine introduction in Japan. Another survey is needed to determine how the incidence of intussusception has changed further since the introduction of routine RV vaccination in 2020.
Plasmacytoid dendritic cells in the setting of myeloid neoplasms: Diagnostic guide to challenging pathologic presentations
Authors: El Hussein Siba , Wang Wei
Published: January 2023

In this article, we describe three broad pathologic presentations of plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) that may be encountered in clinical practice, in which an association between pDCs and myeloid neoplasms is identified: (1) myeloid neoplasms with mature pDC expansion, most commonly seen in chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia (CMML); (2) myeloid neoplasms with pDC differentiation, in which pDCs show a spectrum of maturation from early immature pDCs to mature forms, most commonly seen in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML); (3) myeloid neoplasms associated with blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN), either stemming from the same precursor or representing an independent clonal process. Additionally, we also discuss AML with pDC‐like phenotype, in which myeloblasts show immunophenotypic features that may mimic those seen in pDCs. Using these presentations, we provide a diagnostic algorithm for appropriate pathologic classification, while attempting to clarify and homogenize nomenclatures pertaining to different biologic states of pDCs.
Do cultural and creative entrepreneurs make affectively driven decisions? Not when they evaluate their opportunities
Authors: Díaz‐Portugal Celia , Delgado‐García Juan Bautista , Blanco‐Mazagatos Virginia
Published: January 2023

Our research studies the influence of positive affect on entrepreneurs' evaluations of opportunities (i.e. novelty assessments and entrepreneurial selection) as well as how this influence may be different for entrepreneurs belonging to cultural and creative industries. Drawing on arguments on the role of affect in cognition and considering the particular situational and individual‐level factors of entrepreneurship in cultural and creative industries, we hypothesize that positive affect influences entrepreneurs' opportunity evaluation. We also hypothesize that this effect of positive affect is barely present for cultural and creative entrepreneurs. We test our hypotheses in a sample of nascent entrepreneurs who took part in entrepreneurship training programmes in six incubators in Spain, who we asked to evaluate their own opportunity. Our results show that positive affect positively impacts the perceived novelty and entrepreneurial selection of non‐creative entrepreneurs though this impact is limited for cultural and creative entrepreneurs.
Gaining consensus around patient risk groups and prognostic profiles to guide CMV management among patients with solid organ transplant: Insights from a Delphi panel with SOT experts
Authors: Pednekar Priti , Graf Marlon , Tuly Rifat , Batt Katharine , Wang Connie
Published: January 2023

Introduction

This study aimed to characterize patient risk groups and respective prognostic profiles to optimize clinical decision‐making and guide appropriate medical cytomegalovirus (CMV) management among patients with solid organ transplant (SOT).

Methods

Between September 2021 and February 2022, a three‐round modified Delphi study was conducted to generate consensus among 14 international experts in virology and organ transplantation. Experts were asked about treatment and prognoses for patients in seven distinct clinical scenarios. Furthermore, experts were asked to risk‐stratify patients by pre‐/post‐transplant characteristics. Consensus around opting for/against a treatment was observed if ≥75% or <25% of experts reported ≥50% likelihood to recommend or if treatments were ranked inside/outside the top two options and ≥75% of experts were within 1 standard deviation of the mean rank.

Results

Experts agreed on several unmet needs in CMV disease management post‐SOT, particularly avoidance of treatment‐limiting toxicities with conventional CMV therapy and emergence of both primary refractory and drug resistant treatment failures. Experts considered CMV viral load, resistance profile, and route of administration as critical to treatment selection. For newer CMV therapeutic options, experts listed lack of long‐term use data, concerns over potential resistance, high cost and limited availability as challenges restricting adoption, and successful patient management.

Conclusion

Experts achieved consensus around patient risk stratifications and factors influencing therapeutic options. Recommendations emerging from this Delphi study may support practicing physicians when confronted with challenging CMV scenarios in SOT patients, but additional experiences with newer anti‐CMV agents are needed to re‐validate expert consensus and update post‐transplant CMV guidelines.
Small‐scale genetic structure of coral populations in Palau based on whole mitochondrial genomes: Implications for future coral resilience
Authors: Palumbi Stephen R. , Walker Nia S. , Hanson Erik , Armstrong Katrina , Lippert Marilla , Cornwell Brendan , Nestor Victor , Golbuu Yimnang
Published: January 2023

The ability of local populations to adapt to future climate conditions is facilitated by a balance between short range dispersal allowing local buildup of adaptively beneficial alleles, and longer dispersal moving these alleles throughout the species range. Reef building corals have relatively low dispersal larvae, but most population genetic studies show differentiation only over 100s of km. Here, we report full mitochondrial genome sequences from 284 tabletop corals (Acropora hyacinthus) from 39 patch reefs in Palau, and show two signals of genetic structure across reef scales from 1 to 55 km. First, divergent mitochondrial DNA haplotypes exist in different proportions from reef to reef, causing PhiST values of 0.02 (p = 0.02). Second, closely related sequences of mitochondrial Haplogroups are more likely to be co‐located on the same reefs than expected by chance alone. We also compared these sequences to prior data on 155 colonies from American Samoa. In these comparisons, many Haplogroups in Palau were disproportionately represented or absent in American Samoa, and inter‐regional PhiST = 0.259. However, we saw three instances of identical mitochondrial genomes between locations. Together, these data sets suggest two features of coral dispersal revealed by occurrence patterns in highly similar mitochondrial genomes. First, the Palau‐American Samoa data suggest that long distance dispersal in corals is rare, as expected, but that it is common enough to deliver identical mitochondrial genomes across the Pacific. Second, higher than expected co‐occurrence of Haplogroups on the same Palau reefs suggests greater retention of coral larvae on local reefs than predicted by many current oceanographic models of larval movement. Increased attention to local scales of coral genetic structure, dispersal, and selection may help increase the accuracy of models of future adaptation of corals and of assisted migration as a reef resilience intervention.
Melanocortin 1 receptor variants and their association with phenotypic characteristics and sporadic multiple primary melanomas in a cohort of 402 Spanish subjects
Authors: Vírseda‐González Daniel , Lázaro‐Ochaita Pablo , Ribas Despuig Gloria , Avilés‐Izquierdo Jose Antonio
Published: January 2023

The melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) gene is considered to be a major determinant of the risk of melanoma. The role of MC1R polymorphisms as predisposing factors for the development of a second primary melanoma is not well established. The present study analyses the characteristics from subjects with certain MC1R variants without any other genetic predisposition, as well as the risk of second primary melanoma associated with these variants. We performed a prospective longitudinal single‐centre study based on follow‐up information of 402 patients diagnosed with cutaneous melanoma. MC1R gene was sequenced in all subjects. High‐risk variants were defined as those previously associated with melanoma (V60L, V92M, I155T, R160W, R163Q and D294H). 253 (63%) patients had at least one predisposing variant. These individuals had higher proportion of red/blonde hair, multiple primary melanomas and first melanoma diagnosis under the age of 60. Second primary melanomas were detected in 28 (3.8%) subjects. Having more than 25 melanocytic nevi was associated significantly to the development of second primary melanomas. A higher proportion of individuals carrying at least one predisposing MC1R variant develop a second melanoma, although statistical significance was not reached. Therefore, some MC1R polymorphisms might determine clinical and histological differences between patients with cutaneous melanoma and may represent a risk factor for second primary melanoma, although more studies are needed.
Estimation of Groundwater and Spring Water Residence Times near the Coast of Fukushima, Japan
Authors: Yabusaki Shiho , Asai Kazuyoshi
Published: January 2023

The massive Tohoku earthquake, colloquially known as “The 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake,” occurred off the Pacific coast of Japan on March 11, 2011. The coastal area of the Tohoku region was severely affected by the tsunami, and the tsunami also caused severe damage to the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) releasing a large amount of radioactive material into the atmosphere and environment. Determining the residence time of groundwater is important for evaluating how long radioactive materials are present after nuclear accidents such as FDNPP and multiple methods are needed to account for mixing between old/young water that can occur. The apparent residence times of spring water, groundwater, and artesian well water samples obtained during 2014 to 2018 from the northern coastal area of Fukushima Prefecture were estimated using tritium (3H), chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) concentrations. The lowest 3H concentrations were within the background range (1‐5 TU) and were observed in artesian wells in Shinch, Soma and Minamisoma. The highest 3H concentrations (∼8‐15 TU) were observed near the FDNPP, and were probably affected by the accident following the 2011 earthquake. The average apparent residence time of spring water/shallow groundwater was 29 years based on the SF6 concentration and exponential mixing model, whereas that of artesian well water was 62 years based on the CFC‐12 concentration and piston flow model. Considering the relatively short apparent residence time of spring water/shallow groundwater, it is important to conduct continuous observations to understand the influence of the FDNPP accident.
Water dynamics of cover crops: No evidence for relevant water input through occult precipitation
Authors: Selzer Tabea , Schubert Sven
Published: January 2023

Rising temperatures and disruption of rainfall patterns due to climate change make water a limiting growth factor even in regions of temperate climates. Thus, producing ‘more crop per drop’ is of utmost importance. While cover crops provide many benefits to cropping systems, their influence on soil water is discussed controversially. While an increase in transpiration can lead to soil water depletion, the reduction of evaporation in combination with possible additional water inputs could provide a water benefit for a succeeding crop. Occult precipitation could be such an additional water input. The objective of this study was to quantify whether cover crops provide a net water benefit over a bare fallow due to the occurrence of occult precipitation. In a 2‐year experiment, seven different cover crops were cultivated in pure stands and as a mixture under semi‐controlled conditions in a container experiment. Water fluxes and meteorological conditions were closely monitored. Although favourable conditions occurred during both vegetation periods, we found no evidence of occult precipitation. In autumn, soil water was depleted by fast‐growing cover crops. In winter, soil water was recharged due to the early preparation of a mulch layer combined with high winter precipitation while in early spring rising temperatures increased transpiration losses of a winter‐hardy cover crop, leading to a reduction of soil water. For middle European conditions, this shows that (1) living cover crops do not provide any water benefits and that (2) soil water recharge in winter is highly dependent on meteorological conditions and cover crop management. From a water budget viewpoint, negative effects on a succeeding cash crop can only be prevented if cover crops are terminated early enough for replenishment of soil water.
Phaeogromids of the mesopelagic marine plankton: Temporal variability of concentrations and observations of feeding structures of four species from the mesopelagic in the Mediterranean Sea
Authors: Dolan John R. , Coppola Laurent
Published: January 2023

Challengerids, phaeogromids rhizarian protists, are emblematic protists of the deep sea but are also enigmatic as they occur in very low concentrations. In previous studies, we reported on temporal changes in abundance at a near‐shore mesopelagic site, but only as part of sampling of the entire microplankton assemblage, not well‐suited for examining phaeogromids. Consequently, we turned to using a closing plankton net to provide material from large volumes of seawater, thus allowing for more robust estimates of concentrations and material for observations of living cells, to our knowledge the first made. Here, we report our results on the four most commonly occurring species: Challengeranium diadon, Challengereron willemoesii, Challengeria xiphodon, and Euphysetta lucani. In contrast to our previous report, we found that changes in concentrations were not related to water column stratification, and the four species roughly co‐varied with time. Observations of live cells revealed that all four species deploy tentacle‐like pseudopods and also very large unstructured webs of fine pseudopods. The similarities in feeding webs suggest similar prey are exploited, and the similar temporal changes in abundances suggest a common factor or factors (unknown at this time) govern their concentrations. Films of live cells are provided in Supplementary Files.
Unravelling the life‐history patterns and habitat preferences of the Japanese eel (Anguilla japonica) in the Pearl River, China
Authors: Shuai Fangmin , Li Haiyan , Li Jie , Jiang Tao , Yang Jian , Yang Wanling
Published: January 2023

Eels have fascinated biologists for centuries due to their amazing long‐distance migrations between freshwater habitats and very distant ocean spawning areas. The migratory life histories of the Japanese eel, Anguilla japonica, in the waters of south China are not very clear despite its ecological importance, and the need for fishery regulation and management. In this study, strontium (Sr) and calcium (Ca) microchemical profiles of the otoliths of silver eels were measured by X‐ray electron probe microanalysis based on data collected from different habitats (including freshwater and brackish habitats), in the large subtropical Pearl River. The corresponding habitat preference characteristics were further analysed using redundancy analysis (RDA). A total of 195 Japanese eels were collected over 6 years. The collected individuals ranged from 180 to 771 mm in total length and from 8 to 612 g in body weight. Two‐dimensional pictures of the Sr:Ca concentrations in otoliths revealed that the A. japonica in the Pearl River are almost entirely river eels, spending the majority of their lives in fresh water without exposure to salt water, while the catadromous migration time has delayed about 1 month in the Pearl River estuary in the past 20 years. RDA analysis further indicated that juveniles and adults preferred water with high salinity and high tide levels. Youth preferred habitats with high river fractals. Our findings contribute to a growing body of evidence showing that the eels are extremely scarce currently and conservation measures against them are imminent, including the protection of brackish and freshwater areas where they live in south China.
Biochemical and hormonal abnormalities in adult female acne
Authors: Meena Amit Kumar , Mendiratta Vibhu , Goyal Rajeev , Bisherwal Kavita , Yadav Vidya , Prasadh Vivin
Published: January 2023

Background

Prevalence of adult patients with acne is increasing and women comprise majority of the cases. There is lack of data on biochemical and hormonal abnormalities in adult female acne (AFA).

Aims

To evaluate biochemical and hormonal parameters in 60 patients of AFA.

Methods

A cross‐sectional observational study conducted from November 2018 to March 2020 in Dermatology outpatient department of a tertiary care hospital in North India. Adult females (age > 25 years) with a clinical diagnosis of acne were included in the study.

Results

60 cases of AFA were included. The age ranged between 26–41 years with mean age at presentation being 29.45 years. 53.3% patients had persistent acne while 46.7% had late‐onset acne. 50% patients had history of premenstrual flare‐up of their acne. Raised FBG was found in 25% patients. 10% had raised serum insulin levels. HOMA‐IR index was deranged in 55% patients. At least one lipid alteration was reported in 91.6% of patients. In hormonal parameters, raised TT was present in 6.7%, LH in 3.3%, FSH in 18.3%, prolactin in 3.3%, and TSH in 15%. No association was found between acne severity and biochemical and hormonal parameters.

Conclusions

Our study highlighted the importance of measuring lipid profile in AFA and calculating HOMA‐IR index for measuring insulin resistance rather than simply measuring serum insulin levels. In our study, additional parameter deranged in significant number of patients was FBG. Hence, we recommend routine screening of lipid profile, FBG and calculation of HOMA‐IR index in AFA.
Interpretable machine learning learns complex interactions of urban features to understand socio‐economic inequality
Authors: Fan Chao , Xu Jeffrey , Natarajan Barane Yoga , Mostafavi Ali
Published: January 2023

Inequality in cities is a phenomenon arising from the complex interactions among urban systems and population activities. Conventional statistics and mathematical models like multiple regression models require assumptions of feature interactions with specified mathematical forms that may fail to fully capture complex interactions of heterogeneous urban components, creating challenges in systematically assessing socio‐economic inequality in cities. To overcome the limitations of these conventional mathematical models, in this work, we propose an interpretable machine learning model to capture the complex interactions of urban variables and the main interaction effects on socio‐economic statuses. We extract urban features from high‐resolution anonymized mobile phone data with billions of activity records related to people and facilities in 47 US metropolitan areas and predict the attributes of urban areas from six income and race groups. We show that socio‐economic inequality in cities can be effectively measured by the predictability of trained machine learning models in controlled experiments. We also examine the tradeoff between spatial resolution, sample size, and model accuracy; test the presence of influential features; and measure the transferability of the trained models to identify the optimal values for controlled factors. The results show that metropolitan areas share similar patterns of inequality, which could be moderated by improved polycentric facility distribution and road density. The generality of associated factors and transferability of machine learning models can help bridge data gaps between cities and inform about inequality alleviation strategies. Despite similarities, 50% to 90% of variations among cities are still present, which shows the need for localized policies for inequality alleviation and mitigation. Our study shows that machine learning models could be an effective approach to examine inequality, which opens avenues for more data‐centric and complexity‐informed planning, design, policymaking, and engineering toward equitable cities.