bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
PRDM9 drives the location and rapid evolution of recombination hotspots in salmonid fish
Authors: Raynaud Marie , Sanna Paola , Joseph Julien , Clément Julie , Imai Yukiko , Lareyre Jean-Jacques , Laurent Audrey , Galtier Nicolas , Baudat Frédéric , Duret Laurent , Gagnaire Pierre-Alexandre , de Massy Bernard
Published: January 2025

In many eukaryotes, meiotic recombination occurs preferentially at discrete sites, called recombination hotspots. In various lineages, recombination hotspots are located in regions with promoter-like features and are evolutionarily stable. Conversely, in some mammals, hotspots are driven by PRDM9 that targets recombination away from promoters. Paradoxically, PRDM9 induces the self-destruction of its targets and this triggers an ultra-fast evolution of mammalian hotspots. PRDM9 is ancestral to all animals, suggesting a critical importance for the meiotic program, but has been lost in many lineages with surprisingly little effect on meiosis success. However, it is unclear whether the function of PRDM9 described in mammals is shared by other species. To investigate this, we analyzed the recombination landscape of several salmonids, the genome of which harbors one full-length PRDM9 and several truncated paralogs. We identified recombination initiation sites in Oncorhynchus mykiss by mapping meiotic DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). We found that DSBs clustered at hotspots positioned away from promoters, enriched for the H3K4me3 and H3K36me3 and the location of which depended on the genotype of full-length Prdm9. We observed a high level of polymorphism in the zinc finger domain of full-length Prdm9, indicating diversification driven by positive selection. Moreover, population-scaled recombination maps in O. mykiss, Oncorhynchus kisutch and Salmo salar revealed a rapid turnover of recombination hotspots caused by PRDM9 target motif erosion. Our results imply that PRDM9 function is conserved across vertebrates and that the peculiar evolutionary runaway caused by PRDM9 has been active for several hundred million years.
Functional analysis of conserved C. elegans bHLH family members uncovers lifespan control by a peptidergic hub neuron
Authors: Aguilar G. Robert , Vidal Berta , Ji Hongzhu , Evenblij Joke , Liao Chien-Po , Ji Hongfei , Valperga Giulio , Fang-Yen Christopher , Hobert Oliver
Published: January 2025

Throughout the animal kingdom, several members of the basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) family act as proneural genes during early steps of nervous system development. Roles of bHLH genes in specifying terminal differentiation of postmitotic neurons have been less extensively studied. We analyze here the function of 5 Caenorhabditis elegans bHLH genes, falling into 3 phylogenetically conserved subfamilies, which are continuously expressed in a very small number of postmitotic neurons in the central nervous system. We show (a) that 2 orthologs of the vertebrate bHLHe22/e23 genes, called hlh-17 and hlh-32, function redundantly to specify the identity of a single head interneuron class (AUA), as well as an individual motor neuron (VB2); (b) that the PTF1a ortholog hlh-13 acts as a terminal selector to control terminal differentiation and function of the sole octopaminergic neuron class in C. elegans, RIC; and (c) that the NHLH1/2 ortholog hlh-15 controls terminal differentiation and function of the peptidergic AVK head interneuron class, a known neuropeptidergic signaling hub in the animal. Strikingly, through null mutant analysis and cell-specific rescue experiments, we find that loss of hlh-15/NHLH in the peptidergic AVK neurons and the resulting abrogation of neuropeptide secretion from these neurons causes a substantially extended lifespan of the animal, which we propose to be akin to hypothalamic control of lifespan in vertebrates. Our functional analysis reveals themes of bHLH gene function during terminal differentiation that are complementary to the earlier lineage specification roles of other bHLH family members. However, such late functions are much more sparsely employed by members of the bHLH transcription factor family, compared to the function of the much more broadly employed homeodomain transcription factor family.
Learning predictive signatures of HLA type from T-cell repertoires
Authors: Ruiz Ortega María , Pogorelyy Mikhail V. , Minervina Anastasia A. , Thomas Paul G. , Mora Thierry , Walczak Aleksandra M.
Published: January 2025

T cells recognize a wide range of pathogens using surface receptors that interact directly with peptides presented on major histocompatibility complexes (MHC) encoded by the HLA loci in humans. Understanding the association between T cell receptors (TCR) and HLA alleles is an important step towards predicting TCR-antigen specificity from sequences. Here we analyze the TCR alpha and beta repertoires of large cohorts of HLA-typed donors to systematically infer such associations, by looking for overrepresentation of TCRs in individuals with a common allele.TCRs, associated with a specific HLA allele, exhibit sequence similarities that suggest prior antigen exposure. Immune repertoire sequencing has produced large numbers of datasets, however the HLA type of the corresponding donors is rarely available. Using our TCR-HLA associations, we trained a computational model to predict the HLA type of individuals from their TCR repertoire alone. We propose an iterative procedure to refine this model by using data from large cohorts of untyped individuals, by recursively typing them using the model itself. The resulting model shows good predictive performance, even for relatively rare HLA alleles.
Long-term impact of 10-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine among children <5 years, Uganda, 2014–2021
Authors: Wanyana Mercy Wendy , Migisha Richard , King Patrick , Bulage Lilian , Kwesiga Benon , Kadobera Daniel , Ario Alex Riolexus , Harris Julie R.
Published: January 2025

Pneumonia is the second leading cause of hospital admissions and deaths among children <5 years in Uganda. In 2014, Uganda officially rolled out the introduction of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) into routine immunization schedule. However, little is known about the long-term impact of PCV on pneumonia admissions and deaths. In this study, we described the trends and spatial distribution of pneumonia hospital admissions and mortality among children <5 years in Uganda, 2014–2021. We analysed secondary data on pneumonia admissions and deaths from the District Health Information System version 2 during 2014–2021. The proportion of pneumonia cases admitted and case-fatality rates (CFRs) for children <5 years were calculated for children <5 years presenting at the outpatient department. At national, regional, and district levels, pneumonia mortality rates were calculated per 100,000 children <5 years. The Mann-Kendall Test was used to assess trend significance. We found 667,122 pneumonia admissions and 11,692 (2%) deaths during 2014–2021. The overall proportion of pneumonia cases admitted among children <5 years was 22%. The overall CFR was 0.39%, and the overall pneumonia mortality rate among children <5 years was 19 deaths per 100,000. From 2014 to 2021, there were declines in the proportion of pneumonia cases admitted (31% to 15%; p = 0.051), mortality rates (24/100,000 to 14 per 100,000; p = 0.019), and CFR (0.57% to 0.24%; p = 0.019), concomitant with increasing PCV coverage. Kotido District had a persistently high proportion of pneumonia cases that were admitted (>30%) every year while Kasese District had persistently high mortality rates (68–150 deaths per 100,000 children <5 years). Pneumonia admissions, mortality, and case fatality among children <5 years declined during 2013–2021 in Uganda after the introduction of PCV. However, with these trends it is unlikely that Uganda will meet the 2025 GAPPD targets. There is need to review implementation of existing interventions and identify gaps in order to highlight priority actions to further accelerate declines.
Soil bacterial and fungal diversity and composition respond differently to desertified system restoration
Authors: Pan Chengchen , Yuan Feng , Liu Yaling , Yu Xiaoya , Liu Jiliang
Published: January 2025

Desertification is a major ecological issue worldwide that results in the destruction of terrestrial ecosystems. Restoration of desertified ecosystems has been carried out in recent decades, but the role of soil microorganisms in this process is poorly understood. Thus, to deconstruct the effects of desertified system restoration on soil microbial communities, we examined the changes in soil characteristics as well as the variations in and drivers of soil microbial diversity and community composition of the Hulun Buir Sandy Land in Northeast China, where restoration activities have been performed for approximately 30 years. The results revealed that with desertified system restoration, plant species richness and aboveground biomass increased significantly. The soil properties, characterized by organic carbon, total nitrogen and available nitrogen content improved. Moreover, soil pH decreased significantly from 7.75 in mobile dunes to 7.17 in fixed dunes (P < 0.05). Compared to mobile dunes, the Chao1 and Shannon diversity indices of bacteria increased significantly in fixed dunes. In contrast, the fungal richness index (Chao1 index) decreased significantly during desertified system restoration. The fungal Shannon diversity index also showed a decreasing trend, although it was not significant (P > 0.05). Proteobacteria was the most prevalent bacterial phylum, with a relative abundance of over 40%. In fixed dunes, the relative abundances of Actinobacteria, Acidobacteria, Gemmatimonadetes, and Chloroflexi significantly increased, whereas the relative abundance of Firmicutes significantly decreased. For fungi, Ascomycota was the dominant phylum, with a relative abundance of 97.6% in fixed dunes compared with 82.4% in mobile dunes. Plant species richness and soil pH were the major determinants of the soil microbial communities. This research provides important insights into the changes in soil microbial communities and their relationships with environmental factors during desertified system restoration, which can help guide sustainable land management practices and the restoration of desertified areas.
Preventing zoonotic spillover through regulatory frameworks governing wildlife trade: A scoping review
Authors: Aguiar Raphael , Gray Ryan , Gallo-Cajiao Eduardo , Ruckert Arne , Clifford Astbury Chloe , Labonté Ronald , Tsasis Peter , Viens A. M. , Wiktorowicz Mary
Published: January 2025

Wildlife trade can create adverse impacts for biodiversity and human health globally, including increased risks for zoonotic spillover that can lead to pandemics. Institutional responses to zoonotic threats posed by wildlife trade are diverse; understanding regulations governing wildlife trade is an important step for effective zoonotic spillover prevention measures. In this review, we focused on peer-reviewed studies and grey literature conducted on regulatory approaches that govern domestic and international wildlife trade in order to assess the role of local, national and global-level institutions in the prevention of zoonotic spillover and infection transmission between humans. The five-stage scoping review protocol described by Arksey and O’Malley to map key concepts and main sources and types of evidence available was followed to understand and analyze empirical evidence from peer-reviewed studies and grey literature conducted on regulatory approaches that govern domestic and international wildlife. Sources were included if they discuss at least one of three points: regulatory approaches governing the wild animal trade, including wild animal markets, traditional medicine or exotic pets; regulatory approaches governing importation of wild animals and the international wildlife supply chain; or the role of local, national, and global-level institutions in regulating wild animal trade for food, traditional medicine or exotic pets. A total of 1598 sources were retrieved, from which 32 sources were included in the final review (30 studies + 2 grey literature reports). Based on published literature, regulations governing wildlife trade are inconsistent within and between countries. Organizations regulating wildlife trade may have competing interests, which can lead to fragmentation and a lack in coordination and oversight. National compliance with international regulations can be an issue. Reducing the probability of spillover events in wildlife trade is key to prevent future pandemics. Our results indicate a need for enhanced regulatory harmonization within and between national and supranational regulations. Coordination and collaboration for prevention of zoonotic infection and spillover may be enhanced through future research focused on the effectiveness of timely Information sharing and global- and national- level harmonization of wildlife trade regulations.
Are companies responding to minimum wage increases by reducing corporate social responsibility?
Authors: Wang Hao , Zhang Tao , Wang Xi
Published: January 2025

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has been widely discussed. However, the existing literature does not delve into the theoretical mechanism to show how companies adjust their CSR in the face of minimum wage increases. This may be due to the lack of a theoretical framework that clarifies the relationship between minimum wage increases and CSR adjustments. The objectives of this study is to fill this gap by investigating the impact of minimum wage increases on CSR, employing both cost stickiness and optimal distinctiveness theories. We use the data from the CSMAR database, the Human Resources and Social Security Administration, and Hexun rating system. The subject of this study is China’s A-share listed companies during 2010–2020. This study employs fixed-effects models for a panel data. The findings reveal that minimum wage increases are significantly associated with a reduction in both strategic CSR and responsive CSR. Notably, the decrease in responsive CSR outweighs that of strategic CSR. Furthermore, our results indicate that customer concentration or CSR sensitivity significantly moderates this relationship. More particularly, firms with higher customer concentration are less responsive to minimum wage increases in their CSR activities. Firms with higher sensitivity in CSR are more likely to mitigate the reducing effect of the minimum wage on CSR. By revealing how minimum wage increases affect CSR and its economic consequences, our study provides scientific recommendations for policymakers to measure the impact of minimum wage policies at the firm level.
Metabolite changes during developmental transitions in Adonis amurensis Regel et Radde flowers: Insights from HPLC-MS analysis
Authors: Xingzun Zun , Hongtao Wang
Published: January 2025

Adonis amurensis Regel et Radde is a remarkable and important spring ephemeral plant and gained considerable attention because of its remarkable medicinal properties. Extensive research has been conducted on its therapeutic applications, physical characteristics, flowering patterns, reproductive, cultural and molecular biology. However, there is a lack of comprehensive understanding regarding the metabolic changes associated with flower developmental stages. This study was designed to investigate the changes in metabolites and their interrelationships at five distinct developmental stages of A. amurensis flower: Flower Primordium (FP), Sepal Stage (SE), Perianth Primordium (PE), Stamens Stage (SE), and Pistil Stage (PI). High-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) was utilized to investigate and characterize the metabolites associated with specific flower developmental stages. The various stages of flower development exerted a substantial influence on both the quantity and composition of metabolites present, signifying significant changes in the types and quantities of metabolites throughout the developmental progression of the flower. Metabolite Set Enrichment Analysis (MSEA) and annotation via the KEGG database highlighted enriched pathways such as flavonoid biosynthesis and plant hormone signal transduction, which are crucial for flower maturation. The highest number of differentially expressed metabolites was identified between the SE and PI stages, emphasizing a marked appreciation in metabolite expression linked to the development of reproductive organs. Key pathways such as flavonoid biosynthesis and plant hormone signal transduction were markedly enriched, underscoring their roles in flower maturation and potential pharmacological applications. Our research not only helps us in understanding the metabolomic dynamics during the flower development of A. amurensis but also emphasizes the potential pharmacological implication of stage-specific metabolites. Identifying these metabolites can help targeted bioprospecting and optimization of extraction methods to tackle the plant’s full therapeutic potential, particularly in the development of treatments for cardiac insufficiency, edema, and possibly cancer.
Peran Measles-Containing-Vaccine dalam Pencegahan Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
Authors: Tatiana Diandra , Utami Felicitas Anindya , Devaera Yoga
Published: January 2025

Latar belakang. Saat ini, penyebaran virus Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) atau Novel Coronavirus masih terus berkembang. Novel alphacoronavirus dan paramyxoviruses (keluarga campak) memiliki strain virus yang mirip. Selain itu, terdapat homologi urutan asam amino antara virus COVID-19 dan virus rubella yang dapat memunculkan reaktivitas imun silang. Hingga saat ini, belum ada vaksin COVID-19 yang dapat diberikan kepada anak di bawah 12 tahun. Pertanyaan yang muncul adalah apakah pemberian vaksin Measles-Containing-Vaccine (MCV) memiliki peran dalam pencegahan COVID-19 jika dibandingkan dengan vaksinasi virus hidup lainnya.Tujuan. Mengetahui peran vaksin MCV pada anak terhadap mortalitas dan morbiditas COVID-19.Metode. Penelusuran pustaka dilakukan melalui database elektronik, yaitu Pubmed, Cochrane, dan Google Scholar dengan kata kunci “MCV vaccine” AND “COVID-19 children” AND “mortality” AND “morbidity”.Hasil. Dari penelusuran literatur, diperoleh 3 artikel yang terpilih dan kemudian dilakukan telaah kritis. Pemberian vaksin MMR (RR= 0.56; p=0,0032) berhubungan dengan tingkat infeksi yang lebih rendah. Sedangkan vaksin MCV menunjukkan 87,5% (OR=0,125, 95% CI) berhubungan dengan gejala ringan (p<0,0001). Vaksin MCV berpengaruh terhadap mortalitas dan morbiditas infeksi COVID-19, karena sekuens glikoprotein virus SARS-CoV-2 dan virus dalam MCV memiliki kemiripan.Kesimpulan. Vaksin MCV berperan dalam mengurangi infeksi COVID-19 secara langsung. Pemberian vaksin MCV menurunkan angka kematian COVID-19, tingkat infeksi, dan severitas manifestasi infeksi COVID-19.
Prevalence and Risk Factors of Spondyloarthritis Symptoms in a US-Based Multicenter Cohort of Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Authors: Hong Simon J. , Dalal Rahul S. , Kuhn Kristine A. , Stahly Andrew , Scott Frank I. , Click Benjamin H. , Way Anna , Malik Fardina , Davis John M. , Shmais Manar , Raffals Laura E , Silfen Alexa , Rubin David T. , Dharia Ishaan , Bhattacharya Abhik , Moghaddam Bahar , Mains Trayton , Kurland Jayde , Patel Sheena , Weisman Michael H. , Ermann Joerg , Jan Reem
Published: January 2025

INTRODUCTION:

Spondyloarthritis (SpA), the most common extraintestinal manifestation of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), is reported in up to 39% of patients with IBD. Despite this high prevalence, risk factors of developing SpA in patients with IBD are not well described. In this study, we aimed to determine the factors associated with SpA symptoms and their prevalence in an IBD cohort.

METHODS:

Two validated screening questionnaires for the detection of SpA in IBD (DETAIL = DETection of Arthritis in Inflammatory boweL diseases, IBIS-Q = IBD Identification of Spondyloarthritis Questionnaire) were administered to patients with IBD without a prior diagnosis of SpA in 6 US academic medical centers. Demographic data, IBD characteristics, and medication history were recorded.

RESULTS:

Screening questionnaires were completed by 588 patients (220 ulcerative colitis, 349 Crohn's disease, and 19 IBD-unclassified), with a median age of 40 years (interquartile range 30–53) and median disease duration of 12 years (interquartile range 6–22). The number of positive screens was 130 (22%) for DETAIL, 196 (33%) for IBIS-Q, and 204 (35%) for either DETAIL or IBIS-Q. Age, female sex, history of smoking, prior bowel surgery, and history of any biologic or targeted small molecule exposure were associated with a positive screen on univariate analysis. After multivariate analysis, female sex (odds ratio [OR] 2.03, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.41–2.93), older age (OR 1.02, 95% CI 1.01–1.04), history of smoking (OR 1.67, 95% CI 1.04–2.69), and history of any biologic or targeted small molecule exposure (OR 2.27, 95% CI 1.34–3.84) were independently associated with positive screens. Higher number of biologic exposures was associated with higher risk of positive screens, with the highest risk seen with 3 or more exposures (OR 3.25, 95% CI 1.75–6.03).

DISCUSSION:

A substantial number of patients with IBD screen positive for SpA symptoms, indicating a potentially high burden of undiagnosed illness. Factors associated with SpA symptoms include older age, female sex, and more severe disease (based on increased number of advanced therapies or prior surgery), whereas IBD phenotype does not independently increase the risk of a positive SpA screen. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings and better characterize SpA in IBD.
Rebound in Fecal Testing, Colonoscopy Utilization, and Colorectal Neoplasia Detection During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Langevin Michael J. , Jensen Christopher D. , Marks Amy R. , Merchant Sophie A. , Badalov Jessica , Lee Jeffrey K. , Lam Angela Y. , Halm Ethan A. , Levin Theodore R.
Published: January 2025

INTRODUCTION:

The COVID-19 pandemic reduced colorectal cancer (CRC) screening, but the rebound in testing and outcomes after the pandemic has not been widely reported. We evaluated CRC test utilization and colorectal neoplasia detection among screening eligible patients in a large health system in 2020 and 2021, compared with 2019 (prepandemic).

METHODS:

Using a retrospective cohort study design, fecal immunochemical test (FIT) and colonoscopy utilization, FIT positivity, and neoplasia detection were evaluated annually in 2019–2021 among Kaiser Permanente Northern California patients aged 50–75 years overall and by sex, age, race and ethnicity, and spoken language preference.

RESULTS:

Compared with 2019, reductions in FIT, colonoscopy, FIT positivity, and neoplasia detection in 2020 were followed by a strong rebound in 2021 and no subgroups by age and sex or minority subgroups by race and ethnicity or spoken language preference demonstrably lagged in their recovery in 2021. Among White persons and those with an Englishlanguage preference, there was a small lag in recovery to baseline levels. The overall decline in CRC testing by colonoscopy in 2020 was offset by a lesser decrease in FIT utilization in 2020, and a strong rebound in FIT utilization in 2021 helped to offset the small lag in the rebound in colonoscopies completed in 2021.

DISCUSSION:

Findings may help guide organizations looking to improve CRC screening and minimize health care disparities related to national emergencies such as pandemics. Long-term studies are needed to evaluate how pandemic-related changes in CRC screening practices will affect future CRC outcomes.
Reduced Gastric Mucosal Nerve Density in Functional Dyspepsia: Clinical Significance and Functional Correlation
Authors: Yang Yao-Chun , Tseng Ping-Huei , Chen Chieh‐Chang , Cheng Ya‐Yin , Wei Jing-Jung , Lin Cheng-Chen , Yeh Ti-Yen , Chao Chi‐Chao , Hsieh Sung‐Tsang
Published: January 2025

INTRODUCTION:

The aim of this study was to quantitatively examine gastric mucosal nerve density (GMND) in patients with functional dyspepsia (FD) and analyzed its clinical correlation.

METHODS:

We prospectively enrolled 35 patients with FD and 16 age-matched and gender-matched healthy controls for comparison of GMND on endoscopic biopsy, scores of Gastroparesis Cardinal Symptom Index, and gastric emptying scintigraphy.

RESULTS:

Patients with FD had lower GMND than the controls in gastric antrum, body, and fundus. GMND was inversely correlated with the Gastroparesis Cardinal Symptom Index scores, but not correlated with gastric emptying scintigraphy parameters.

DISCUSSION:

GMND was reduced in FD and inversely correlated with the symptom severity.
Platform Development as an Iterative Process: An OER Design Case of EdTech Books
Authors: Jensen Melanie W. , Nissen Rebecca N. , Moreno Isaac Munoz , Bondah Fanny E. , Smalley Pamela P. , Pilcher Toni E. , Jackson Karina M. , Alba Adriana , Kimmons Royce
Published: January 2025

In this design case, we review the iterative process of designing EdTech Books (ETB)—an online platform through which open educational resources can be published and accessed by the public. We discuss the context and framework within which the platform was created. We then review the chronology of the platform’s evolution through the lens of discovering and addressing challenges the developer faced, particularly those that relate to the 5 Rs of Openness and challenges specific to the publishing of open educational resources (OER).
Empire and Popular Arts: A Note
Authors: Davis Dylan , Buhle Paul , Peart-Smith Paul
Published: January 2025

This month, we at MR had the great pleasure of publishing this note on Roxanne Dunbar Ortiz's Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States: A Graphic Interpretation, written by Dylan Davis and Paul Buhle, with illustrations from the book by illustrator Paul Peart-Smith.
Ownership Concentration and Environmental, Social, Governance Engagement: Do CEO’s Characteristics Moderate the Relationship?
Authors: DasGupta Ranjan , Pathak Rajesh
Published: January 2025

In this study we examine the role of ownership concentration (OC) in determining environmental, social, governance (ESG) engagement of Indian firms. Furthermore, we evaluate the moderating role of firm’s CEO’s characteristics to attenuate or strengthen the OC and ESG linkage. This study has collected the firm level data from Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy’s (CMIE’s) Prowess Database. Its final sample consists of 161 firms for the period 2014-19, i.e., 805 firm-year observations. We have used panel fixed effect models with appropriate specifications and tests. Our results do not prove any ESG engagement due to PPC conflicts initially, however, when the firm is run by an old CEO or a busy CEO or a CEO with long tenure within a firm, ESG engagement increases. This augments agency problems in Indian firms. This is the first study to examine principal-principal conflicts from the lens of ESG performance and how CEO’s characteristics can moderate those impacts in the emerging market context of India.
Jubiläumsjahr 2025: Ein kurzer Rückblick auf 50 Jahre DGH
Authors: Simon Karl-Heinz , Glaeser Bernhard
Published: January 2025

Die Deutsche Gesellschaft für Humanökologie (DGH) wird nächstes Jahr 50 Jahre alt. Auf der Jahrestagung 2025 will die DGH eine selbstkritische Bilanz ziehen: Welche Beiträge zu Nachhaltigkeitsforschung und -praxis hat die Humanökologie geleistet? An dieser Stelle
geben wir einen Überblick über bisherige Arbeitsschwerpunkte.
Navigating role conflicts and responsibilities in higher education for sustainable development. Insights from German university teachers
Authors: Schlieszus Ann-Kathrin , Weselek Johanna , Siegmund Alexander
Published: January 2025

Higher education for sustainable development can be a challenge for university teachers, as the concept’s normativity may contrast with their self-perception as neutral researchers and teachers. Based on an interview study, the authors examine three role conflicts which may occur
in higher education for sustainable development and offer perspectives on how these may turn into learning opportunities.Higher education for sustainable development (HESD) can be challenging for university teachers. The normative core of the concept may be perceived as a contrast to the
ideal of objective knowledge production which has dominated Western academia for a long time. As university teachers concurrently fulfil different roles, they can be exposed to sometimes incompatible expectations. In this paper, we present role conflicts university teachers may face when implementing
ESD in their courses. For this, we used sociological role theory as a framework to analyse data from a qualitative interview study conducted with university teachers. The results show three typical role conflicts: 1. the “personal stance” conflict, 2. the “practice what you
preach” conflict, and 3. the “lethargic institution” conflict. In order to support university teachers in coping with these conflicts, we recommend reflecting on ESD-related values and ambiguities in university classes, reinforcing professional development for university
teachers in ESD, especially in the field of emotional competence, and the implementation of Whole Institution Approaches.
Nutrient nexus: Linking soil, plants, animals and humans
Authors: Soorya M , Suganya S , Elayarajan M , Davamani V , Chitra P
Published: January 2025

The complex interrelationships between soil, plants, animals, and humans form the nutrient nexus, where the health and well-being of each component are intricately linked. This article comprehensively explores the dynamics of nutrients through this continuum, emphasizing the vital role of nutrient management in ensuring food security, sustainable agriculture, and a balanced ecosystem. It delves into the importance of nutrients at various levels, investigating case studies that illustrate the correlation between soil nutrient availability, plant uptake, animal nutrition, and human health. The article also examines government initiatives, nutrient management practices, and strategies like dietary diversification, biofortification, food fortification, and supplementation to combat nutrient deficiencies. The integration of traditional knowledge with modern scientific advancements advocates for a holistic approach to nutrient management, considering local resources, cultural practices, and environmental conditions. Ultimately, the article highlights the necessity of efficient nutrient management not only for ensuring food security but also for preserving the delicate balance of our planet's ecosystems for future generations.
Sky to soil: Role of drones in maximizing agricultural crops yield
Authors: Nithya K A A , Muthumanickam D , Pazhanivelan S , Kumaraperumal R , Kannan P
Published: January 2025

As agricultural practices aim to boost productivity to meet global food demand, drones have emerged as transformative tools offering aerial intelligence to guide data-driven crop management. Drones are revolutionizing agriculture by their capacity to perform precise tasks related to crop health monitoring, pest and disease detection, spraying, mapping and other related activities. Comparing the advancement with traditional ground techniques such as manual crop scouting, ground-based sprayers and satellite imagery reveals many advantages regarding accessibility, precision, efficiency, safety and sustainability, besides increasing farm productivity. Drones also help to make well-informed decisions by delivering timely, high-quality agricultural data to increase yields. However, significant obstacles, such as battery life restrictions, expertise shortages and problems with data processing, are highlighted. The various applications of drones in optimizing agricultural outcomes, ranging from assessing crop vigour to assisting in pollination, are conferred. Additionally, there is a vast potential for drones to transform farming through precision agriculture, provided that proactive measures are taken to address the limitations. With remote sensing and autonomous capacities improving continually, drones can grant farmers unmatched awareness and control to reduce risks and extract the maximum productivity from finite land resources.
Promising segregants for enhanced grain yield under moisture stress in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)
Authors: Sahithya B L , Uday G , Kumar D L
Published: January 2025

This study aimed to identify transgressive segregants with enhanced yield under moisture stress condition. A population of UAS 375 × HTWYT_66 was developed by hybridizing UAS 375 (a rainfed variety) with HTWYT_66 (NDVI > 0.74 under stress). A total of 125 F3:4 progeny lines were evaluated under restricted irrigation during the rabi 2023-24 season, revealing significant genetic variation. Traits such as peduncle length, flag leaf length, grains per spike, and grain yield exhibited high heritability coupled with high genetic advance, indicating the predominance of additive gene action, which makes them ideal for selection. Grain yield was positively correlated with plant height, peduncle length, flag leaf length, tillers per plant, and thousand-grain weight. Conversely, early maturity showed a negative correlation with grain yield, suggesting that early-maturing varieties perform better under moisture stress conditions. Path coefficient analysis revealed strong direct effects of thousand-grain weight (0.409), peduncle length (0.253), and plant height (0.129) on grain yield, emphasizing these traits as key targets for selection. Principal component analysis indicated that three components collectively explained 61.5% of the observed variation in the UAS 375 × HTWYT_66 population. Selection indices incorporating traits such as plant height, thousand-grain weight, and grain yield demonstrated high genetic gains with a minimal number of characters involved. Promising segregants, including F4:23-24 (11) and F4:23-24 (71), exhibited high yields under moisture stress, making them potential donor lines for breeding programs aimed at enhancing yield in such challenging conditions.
Time-varying reproductive number estimation for practical application in structured populations
Authors: Clancey Erin , Lofgren Eric T.
Published: January 2025

Objectives

EpiEstim is a popular statistical framework designed to produce real-time estimates of the time-varying reproductive number,

R

t

${\mathcal{R}}_{t}$

. However, the methods in EpiEstim have not been tested in small, non-randomly mixing populations to determine if the resulting

R

̂

t

${\hat{\mathcal{R}}}_{t}$

estimates are temporally biased. Thus, we evaluate the temporal performance of EpiEstim

R

̂

t

${\hat{\mathcal{R}}}_{t}$

estimates when population structure is present, and then demonstrate how to recover temporal accuracy using an approximation with EpiEstim.

Methods

Following a real-world example of a COVID-19 outbreak in a small university town, we generate simulated case report data from a two-population mechanistic model with an explicit generation interval distribution and expression to compute true

R

t

${\mathcal{R}}_{t}$

. To quantify the temporal bias, we compare the time points when true

R

t

${\mathcal{R}}_{t}$

and estimated

R

̂

t

${\hat{\mathcal{R}}}_{t}$

from EpiEstim fall below the critical threshold of 1.

Results

When population structure is present but not accounted for

R

̂

t

${\hat{\mathcal{R}}}_{t}$

estimates from EpiEstim prematurely fall below 1. When incidence data is aggregated over weeks the estimates from EpiEstim fall below the critical threshold at a later time point than estimates from daily data, however, population structure does not further affect timing differences between aggregated and daily data. Last, we show it is possible to recover the correct timing when by using the lagging subpopulation outbreak to estimate

R

̂

t

${\hat{\mathcal{R}}}_{t}$

for the total population with EpiEstim.

Conclusions

R

t

${\mathcal{R}}_{t}$

is a key parameter used for epidemic response. Since population structure can bias

R

t

${\mathcal{R}}_{t}$

near the critical threshold of 1, EpiEstim should be prudently applied to incidence data from structured populations.
Characteristic study of intra woven green fibers for structural application
Authors: Kar Sasmita , Pattnaik Sarojrani , Sutar Mihir Kumar
Published: January 2025

The current study uses three engineered fibres: white flax, brown flax, and jute fibres to form plain intra-woven fabrics. The fabrics were alkali treated with a 5 % NaOH solution and mechanical, physical, and thermal tests were conducted to characterize the individual fabrics. It was observed that treated woven fabrics significantly enhanced the overall mechanical strength compared to untreated fabrics. White and brown flax interlaced fabrics increased the tensile strength by 157 % and 574 %, Young’s modulus by 36 % and 26 %, and breaking strain by 58 % and 89 % than jute interlaced brown and white flax, respectively. Thermo-gravimetric analysis revealed that the fabric containing white flax fibre exhibited a maximum degradation temperature of 364.45 °C and after treatment, each fabric revealed a higher degradation temperature. The change in chemical composition of the green fibres after treatment was studied through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis.
Localized exciton emission from monolayer WS2 nanoribbon at cryogenic temperature
Authors: Qiang Gang , Saunders Ashley P. , Trinh Cong T. , Liu Na , Jones Andrew C. , Liu Fang , Htoon Han
Published: January 2025

We conducted low-temperature photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy experiments on individual WS2 and MoSe2 nanoribbons prepared by gold-assisted exfoliation from the slanted surface of bulk crystals with a vicinal and stepwise pattern. The nanoribbons are predominantly monolayer and have widths varying from hundreds of nanometers down to tens of nanometers. Most MoSe2 NRs display an emission profile similar to 2D excitons of MoSe2 monolayers. In contrast, WS2 nanoribbons are characterized with sharp emission peaks that can be attributed to the emission from localized excitons or trions. Moreover a broad low energy emission peak can be also observed from some of the WS2 nanoribbons, which originates from bilayer regions. In this manuscript, we analyze spectral diffusion behavior along with pump power and temperature dependence of the localized exciton emission peaks, shedding light on potential of TMDC nanoribbons in sensing and opto-electronic applications.
OPORTUNIDADES COMERCIALES BASADAS EN LA INNOVACIÓN: MODELO PARA LA VINCULACIÓN DE PATENTES DEL SECTOR AGROPECUARIO
Authors: Herrera-Quevedo K. I. , Torres-Acosta J. F. J. , Sánchez J. E. , Aguilar- Marcelino L.
Published: January 2025

La política pública del sector agroalimentario en México enfrenta retos que requieren investigaciones más aplicadas y vinculadas al sector productivo. Sin embargo, la falta de esquemas claros dificulta este proceso. Para solucionar esto, se propone crear un modelo que vincule las patentes generadas en instituciones públicas del sector agropecuario, con el fin de promover su desarrollo financiero y comercial. Actualmente, el modelo está en desarrollo, y su primera fase se centra en identificar oportunidades comerciales emergentes basadas en innovaciones tecnológicas. Para ello, se utiliza un sistema de evaluación del nivel de madurez tecnológica (Technology Readiness Level, TRL), con el objetivo de priorizar las tecnologías patentadas que estén más cerca de la comercialización. Un ejemplo concreto de este modelo es la colaboración con un equipo de investigación que ha desarrollado un producto nutracéutico para el control de nematodos gastrointestinales en pequeños rumiantes, utilizado como aditivo alimenticio en dietas integrales. Este trabajo no solo demuestra la efectividad del modelo de vinculación de patentes, sino que también busca validar su viabilidad y aplicabilidad en el sector agropecuario.
Ten out of ten: a review of the last decade
Authors: Arnold Ken , Bandelli Andrea , Ellis Rachel , Henderson Jane , Henning Michelle , Mellor Rebecca , Moussouri Theano , Nanoru Michal , Redler-Hawes Hannah , Snelson Tim
Published: January 2025

In honour of the Journal’s tenth birthday, we asked a collection of authors with huge and varied experience of the cultural sector to think about the last decade and pick one thing that stands out for them. The brief was open and included books, exhibitions, digital innovation and general trends. The only restriction was that the contributions were short and were accompanied by a single image.
Conversation With Mark Solms
Authors: Solms Mark , Busch Fred , Rolnik Eran , Kernberg Otto , Kassouf Susan , Ahlskog Gary , Jacobs Carl , Pahl Kerstin , Wagner Aleksandra
Published: January 2025

Occasioned by the publication of The Revised Standard Edition of the Complete Psychological Works of Sigmund Freud, the text represents exchanges held in the summer of 2024 at the invitation of The Psychoanalytic Review. It addresses the genesis and the history of the project, and its impact on psychoanalytic rethinking, formation, and practice. While exploring the potential and the limits of revisioning, it also raises questions about the nature of transmission of psychoanalytic knowledge and about the field's relation to the state of its own standards in the age of Anthropocene.
The Therapist Translator: Reflections on Working With Countertransference in the Therapeutic Relationship
Authors: Gianotti Patricia , Hassert Derrick
Published: January 2025

While developments within psychoanalytic thought have expanded our understanding of the phenomenon of countertransference and its meaning, clinicians are often left with a sense that negative countertransference is a sign of a therapist's own “unfinished business.” Within the context of clinical supervision, the model of putting countertransference reactions through The Therapist Translator is introduced as a means of exploring how to best give voice to and make use of the emotional responses that arise from within the intersubjective analytic field. In this article, the authors introduce a group process dynamic that utilizes the free association of multiple clinicians to assist in “translating” relatively unformulated material into conscious, linguistic information that can be incorporated into the treatment.
Historical and Psychological Authenticity
Authors: Strozier Charles B.
Published: January 2025

In this reflection the author examines the question of authenticity in the culture and in his own experience as a historian and psychoanalyst. His vantage points are death and totalism, the nature of facts, and the spiritual and psychological access to truth.
Somewhere Recordings
Authors: Tuck Eve
Published: January 2025

This article shares some of Unanga○ scholar Eve Tuck’s journey with recordings-based practices to thinking alongside xwélmexw artist, curator, and writer Dylan Robinson’s Hungry Listening and other works (2014, 2017) on insurgent sound practices Tuck shares examples from her teaching and research that are in conversation with Robinson’s theorizing.
Implementation of Global Sustainable Development Goals at the Local Level: Studies of Home Industry in Kedunglengkong Village, Simo sub-district, Boyolali District, Central Java Province, Indonesia
Authors: Puji Hardati  , Dewi Liesnoor Setyowati  , Satya Budi Nugraha  , M Fikri Amrullah  , Amanah Kartika Ratnaningsih
Published: January 2025

A Development is carried out to reduce disparities between regions. The increase in human population is followed by the intensity of land and resource use, interactions and changes that occur, until nature has boundaries, or planetary boundaries. Sustainable development has 17 goals that are universal, comprehensive and involve all countries. How to implement sustainable development goals at the local level. This research aims to analyze the implementation of sustainable development goals at the local level, namely responsible industry and consumption. This research uses a quantitative approach, the research location is Kedunglengkong Village, Simo District, Boyolali Regency, Central Java Province. The research population is home industry owners with a population of 35 people, using total sampling or the entire population as the unit of analysis. The research variables are indicators of sustainable development goal 12, responsible consumption and productive patterns. The data source used is primary data collected through observation and in-depth interviews. Data analysis uses descriptive percentages, with tables and figures. The research results show that there are 35 home industries that use raw materials from plastic waste. The raw material used is plastic waste originating from the surrounding environment. Home industries that use plastic waste as raw material are a concrete manifestation of the implementation of responsible industry and consumption, in accordance with the Sustainable Development Goal indicators at point 12.5., namely by 2030, substantially reducing waste production through prevention, reduction, recycling and use return. Furthermore, in indicator 12.5.1 (a) the amount of recycled waste generated.
Petani Milenial dan Konservasi Budaya Kerja Bertani di Dalam Keluarga Petani di Desa Mlandi, Garung, Wonosobo
Authors: Brata Nugroho Trisnu , Tjahjono Heri , Akhiroh Ninuk Sholikhah , Fatimah Nurul , Pramono Didi , Alimi Moh Yasir
Published: January 2025

Terjadinya pergeseran nilai-nilai budaya masyarakat dari tradisional ke dalam masyarakat modern berdampak luas, antara lain pada budaya kerja pertanian. Tujuan kajian ini menganalisis hubungan antara fenomena petani milenial dengan upaya konservasi budaya kerja bertani di kalangan petani. Bekerja adalah salah satu unsur dari tujuh unsur universal kebudayaan. Peneliti menggunakan metode penelitian kualitatif dan teknik penggalian data dengan observasi, partisipasi-observasi, dan wawancara mendalam. Hasil dan pembahasan menunjukkan bahwa pekerjaan bidang pertanian mengalami kekurangan tenaga kerja karena berbagai alasan. Hal ini dianggap mengkhawatirkan karena masa depan sebagai negara agraris akan kehilangan motor penggerak. Kemudian muncul inovasi gagasan dan aksi melakukan konservasi budaya kerja bertani agar aktivitas bertani tetap berjalan. Inovasi dan aksi ini dilakukan oleh petani kaya, pemerintah desa, dan generasi muda. Muncul juga fenomena petani milenial yang memanfaatkan kemajuan teknologi informasi. Sebagai saran, inovasi ini patut dicontoh oleh masyarakat petani lain sehingga anggapan bahwa bertani merupakan pekerjaan rendah yang kotor oleh lumpur dan penghasilan rendah bisa sedikit demi sedikit hilang.
Dinamika Abrasi terkait Perubahan Garis Pantai di Desa Pantai Bahagia Kabupaten Bekasi
Authors: Nur Elmanda Nisrina , Ananto Aji  , Heri Tjahjono  , Fahrudin Hanafi
Published: January 2025

Desa Pantai Bahagia merupakan salah satu pesisir di Kabupaten Bekasi tepatnya di Kecamatan Muaragembong yang telah mengalami abrasi dengan sangat signifikan. Kejadian abrasi ini disebabkan oleh naiknya permukaan air laut dan adanya faktor pemicu berupa konversi lahan kawasan mangrove oleh masyarakat untuk keperluan pertambahan lahan tambak. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah menganalisis dinamika abrasi secara multitemporal selama 30 tahun di Desa Pantai Bahagia dari tahun 1993, 2000, 2007, 2012, 2020, 2023. Metode yang dilakukan adalah tahapan ekstraksi garis pantai dengan algoritma MNDWI (Modified Diference Water Index). Data garis pantai yang didapatkan lalu dihitung statistik dengan bantuan tools extension DSAS (Digital Shoreline Analysis System) pada ArcMap 10.8 untuk pengolahan data luas perubahan garis pantai yang memiliki nilai abrasi. Statistik yang digunakan yaitu EPR (End Point Rate) dengan membandingkan dua garis pantai serta LRR (Linear Regression Rate).  Hasil yang dilakukan uji ground check di area garis pantai pada transek yang mengalami abrasi meningkat setiap tahunnya menyebabkan pengurangan daratan menjadi laut di Dukuh Muara Bendera Timur, Gobah Timur, Kampung Beting dan Blukbuk Timur. Rata –rata pengurangan daratan yang terjadi sebesar -18,77m/tahun pada 1992-2000, di tahun 2000-2007 terjadi sebesar -16,19 m/tahun, pada tahun 2007-2012 terjadi sebesar -31,86 m/tahun, pada tahun 2012-2020 memiliki rata-rata pengurangan daratan sebesar -130,13 m/tahun, serta di tahun 2020-2023 terjadi pengurangan daratan sebesar -60,32 m/tahun.