bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Trade‐off in the partitioning of recent photosynthate carbon under global change
Authors: Li Fangping , Qing Ting , Wu Fuzhong , Yue Kai , Zhu Jingjing , Ni Xiangyin
Published: December 2023

There may be trade‐offs in the allocation patterns of recent photosynthetic carbon (RPC) allocation in response to environmental changes, with a greater proportion of RPC being directed towards compartments experiencing limited resource availability. Alternatively, the allocation of RPC could shift from sources to sinks as plants processing excess photosynthates. It prompts the question: Does the pattern of RPC allocation vary under global changes? If so, is this variation driven by optimal or by residual C allocation strategies? We conducted a meta‐analysis by complicating 273 pairwise observations from 55 articles with 13C or 14C pulse or continuous labeling to assess the partitioning of RPC in biomass (leaf, stem, shoot, and root), soil pools (soil organic C, rhizosphere, and microbial biomass C) and CO2 fluxes under elevated CO2 (eCO2), warming, drought and nitrogen (N) addition. We propose that the increased allocation of RPC to belowground under sufficient CO2 results from the excretion of excess photosynthates. Warming led to a significant reduction in the percentage of RPC allocated to shoots, alongside an increase in roots allocation, although this was not statistically significant. This pattern is due to the reduced water availability resulting from warming. In conditions of drought, there was a notable increase in the partitioning of RPC to stems (+7.25%) and roots (+36.38%), indicative of a greater investment of RPC in roots for accessing water from deeper soil. Additionally, N addition led to a heightened allocation of RPC in leaves (+10.18%) and shoots (+5.78%), while reducing its partitioning in soil organic C (−8.92%). Contrary to the residual C partitioning observed under eCO2, the alterations in RPC partitioning in response to warming, drought, and N supplementation are more comprehensively explained through the lens of optimal partitioning theory, showing a trade‐off in the partitioning of RPC under global change.
Does good news cover bad news?
Authors: Meng Qingbin , Ke Shaojing , Zhao Daxuan , Chu Yongqiang
Published: December 2023

Does good news cover bad news? We present evidence from the Chinese stock market, in which the fiscal year is always the same as the calendar year. Listed firms are required to announce their annual report by the end of April, coinciding with the deadline for the release of their first‐quarter reports. We find that firms with negative earnings surprises in the previous year are more likely to postpone the announcement of their annual report until they announce their first‐quarter report. However, we find no evidence to suggest that this bundling disclosure weakens market responses to information in annual reports.
Technological affordances in teachers' online professional learning communities: A systematic review
Authors: Jin Fangzhou , Song Zicong , Cheung Wai Ming , Lin Chin‐Hsi , Liu Tiruo
Published: December 2023

Background Study

Previous systematic reviews concluded that online professional‐learning communities (OPLCs) have positive effects on teachers' development, but explored neither the technological affordances that make this possible nor the potential negative impacts of technology use in OPLCs.

Objectives

The aim of this study is to systematically analyse previous research on teachers' OPLCs, and thus help answer the question of what technological affordances (dis)empower members of teachers' OPLCs, and how they do so.

Methods

This study applied the systematic‐review method. A total of 28 studies were identified and analysed using rigorously defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The results are reported as a synthesis.

Results and Conclusions

First, in theme, the selected articles primarily focused on features of OPLCs and of teachers' knowledge. Second, mixed‐methods approaches were commonly used in the sampled research, and the number of studies employing advanced statistical methods and machine learning increased over time. And third, the reviewed studies' findings suggest that technology supports ‘bottom‐up’ teachers' communities (as distinct from ‘top‐down’ professional development organized by educational authorities) in seven ways: that is, by promoting collaboration opportunities, expanding the participants' networks, facilitating knowledge sharing, delivering support more rapidly, providing emotional support, allowing ubiquitous learning, and enabling multiple modes of participation.
Antioxidant treatments in patients with oral submucous fibrosis: A systematic review
Authors: Pérez‐Leal Martín , Lanciano Federico , Flacco Nicla , Estornut Cristina , Carceller María Carmen
Published: December 2023

Introduction

Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) is a well‐known precancerous oral lesion, characterized by scarring, tissue fibrosis, and premalignant lesions. The goal of clinical treatment is to reduce inflammation and improve patients' quality of life by enhancing mouth opening among others. Antioxidant treatment has shown promising results in inducing regression of lesions and preventing OSMF in high‐risk individuals. This study investigates the effectiveness of various antioxidant agents against OSMF.

Materials and Methods

The study followed PRISMA guidelines and searched three scientific databases: PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus, using specific algorithms related to “antioxidant treatment,” “burning sensation,” and “mouth opening.” The quality assessment of controlled clinical studies adhered to Cochrane guidelines.

Results

The analysis included 19 clinical trials comparing different treatments, including various antioxidants. Aloe vera, curcumin, and lycopene, among others, showed positive outcomes in treating OSMF by improving burning sensation, mouth opening, tongue protrusion, and cheek flexibility.

Conclusion

Antioxidant therapies are found to be effective in treating OSMF, even when compared to conventional treatments such as corticosteroids. The study highlights the need for further research and standardization of clinical protocols.
Eco‐physiological arguments on the functional impact of Lepus timidus mitochondrial DNA introgression in Iberian hares (Lepus granatensis)
Authors: Cardoso Beatriz , Carpio Antonio J. , Martinez‐Haro Mónica , Beltrán‐Beck Beatriz , Alzaga Vanesa , Farelo Liliana , Campos Rita , Queirós João , Melo‐Ferreira José , Alves Paulo C. , Acevedo Pelayo
Published: December 2023

Genetic exchanges between species provide valuable opportunities to dissect the relative importance of neutral and selective processes driving introgression events and to test their functional relevance. In the northern half of the Iberian Peninsula, the Iberian hare, Lepus granatensis, presents extensive patterns of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) introgression from the mountain hare, L. timidus, a species that disappeared from the region after the Last Glacial Maximum. Here, we test whether mtDNA introgression affects reproductive success and body condition of Iberian hare individuals. For that end, hares (n = 149) were sampled from populations along the mtDNA introgression gradient during the 2013–2014 and 2014–2015 hunting seasons. Reproductive performance indicators, including pregnancy status and testicular weight, were recorded, while body condition was measured as kidney fat (our response variables). Predictors included individual traits (sex and age), sampling period (month and hunting season), mtDNA introgression, occurrence or burden of different endoparasites and environmental factors. Our results showed that mtDNA introgression was negatively associated with pregnancy in females and body condition in males, while a positive association was found with body condition in females. These results suggest that carrying the mountain hare mtDNA has physiological effects in Iberian hares, but that the allospecific mtDNA type may not always be beneficial for the individual. This study shows that the patterns of mtDNA introgression seen in the Iberian hare today may result from a complex balance between deleterious and beneficial individual effects.
Field‐tested signal controller to mitigate spillover using trajectory data
Authors: Han Yu , Han Zhe , Ding Fan , Li Fuliang , Wang Hao , Wang Xingmin
Published: December 2023

Trajectory data from connected vehicles (CVs) provide a continuous and reliable means of obtaining information that can be leveraged to optimize traffic signals. This paper proposes a real‐time traffic signal control method using CV trajectory data as the sole input. The primary goal of the proposed signal control method is to prevent queue spillover, which may significantly decrease the traffic efficiency on urban networks and induce high delays to the travelers. The proposed method formulates the signal control problem via a linear quadratic optimization model, considering the constraints related to the duration and variability of green lights in practical traffic signal control systems. Compared to conventional max‐pressure‐based methods, the optimization model offers enhanced efficiency in handling these constraints, making it highly suitable for real‐life implementation. The proposed method has undergone testing in both simulated environments and real‐world applications. In the simulation experiments, the proposed method has been demonstrated to effectively reduce spillover risks and outperform a conventional max‐pressure‐based approach even when the CV penetration rate is as low as 5%. In the real‐world experiment, the proposed method had been tested in a traffic network around the Beijing Capital International Airport for several months. The severity of spillovers, which was represented by two performance indicators, had been significantly reduced after implementing the proposed method.
Registered nurses' knowledge and interpretation of ECG rhythms: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Ng Jessie , Christensen Martin
Published: December 2023

Background

Electrocardiographic (ECG) monitoring and recording are seen as the most commonly used non‐invasive diagnostic tool to identify cardiac arrhythmia and myocardial damage in the clinical setting. There is an expectation that critical care nurses are ideally trained to interpret abnormalities and morphology in the ECG more proficiently than nurses from general ward areas. However, the ability to interpret and recognise ECG abnormalities is dependent on which critical care area nurses are currently working in and their level of experience.

Aim

The aim of this study was to investigate registered nurses' knowledge in being able to identify and interpret select electrocardiographic rhythms.

Study Design

This was a cross‐sectional study that evaluated registered nurses' knowledge of electrocardiogram rhythm identification and interpretation. A convenience sample of 105 registered nurses currently enrolled in a 2‐year Master's programme leading to critical care specialism and advanced practice nurse award were recruited. A 20‐item multiple choice questionnaire that provided examples of electrocardiogram rhythm (n=14) abnormalities and rhythm abnormalities caused by electrolyte disturbances (n=6)

Results

The study included registered nurses from critical care and general ward areas. The overall results were poor with only 55% of questions answered correctly. Coronary care nurses scored the highest in identifying ECG rhythms (12/20 ± 1.58; p < .001). When ECG abnormalities associated with electrolyte imbalances were analysed, both groups were unable to identify the effects of hypokalaemia and hypomagnesaemia effectively (p = .748). Length of time as a registered nurse (r = −0.304, p = .002) and length of time in current work environment were weakly correlated (r = −0.328, p = .001). Having a critical care background showed a positive relationship with nursing knowledge of ECG rhythm identification (r = 0.614, p < .001).

Conclusion

The results of this study demonstrate that nurses have a poor knowledge of ECG rhythm identification and interpretation, a consistent finding from other work. A possible solution is a revamp of education and training associated with ECG recognition and morphology.

Relevance to Clinical Practice

Monitoring and assessing ECG morphology provide important details about cardio‐electroconductive stability, especially with fluctuations in serum electrolyte levels seen in critical illness or trauma. For this, critical nurses must improve their proficiency through education/training or internal quality improvement activities in detecting abnormalities associated with ECG changes beyond those most easily recognizable rhythms such as atrial fibrillation or ventricular tachycardia.
Illuminating plant water dynamics: the role of light in leaf hydraulic regulation
Authors: Grunwald Yael , Yaaran Adi , Moshelion Menachem
Published: December 2023

Light intensity and quality influence photosynthesis directly but also have an indirect effect by increasing stomatal apertures and enhancing gas exchange. Consequently, in areas such as the upper canopy, a high water demand for transpiration and temperature regulation is created. This paper explores how light intensity and the natural high Blue‐Light (BL) : Red‐Light (RL) ratio in these areas, is important for controlling leaf hydraulic conductance (Kleaf) by BL signal transduction, increasing water permeability in cells surrounding the vascular tissue, in supporting the enormous water demands. Conversely, shaded inner‐canopy areas receive less radiation, have lower water and cooling demands, and exhibit reduced Kleaf due to diminished intensity and BL induction. Intriguingly, shaded leaves display higher water‐use efficiency (compared with upper‐canopy) due to decreased transpiration and cooling requirements while the presence of RL supports photosynthesis.
Expanding the toolbox for phycobiliprotein assembly: phycoerythrobilin biosynthesis in Synechocystis
Authors: Heck Steffen , Sommer Frederik , Zehner Susanne , Schroda Michael , Gehringer Michelle M. , Frankenberg‐Dinkel Nicole
Published: December 2023

Phycobiliproteins (PBPs) play a vital role in light harvesting by cyanobacteria, which enables efficient utilization of photon energy for oxygenic photosynthesis. The PBPs carry phycobilins, open‐chain tetrapyrrole chromophores derived from heme. The structure and chromophore composition of PBPs is dependent on the organism's ecological niche. In cyanobacteria, these holo‐proteins typically form large, macromolecular antenna complexes called phycobilisomes (PBSs). The PBS of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 (hereafter Synechocystis) consists of allophycocyanin (APC) and phycocyanin (PC), which exclusively harbor phycocyanobilin (PCB) as a chromophore. Investigations into heterologous PBP biosynthesis in E. coli have proven limiting with respect to PBP assembly and their functional characterization. Consequently, we wanted to engineer a platform for the investigation of heterologously produced PBPs, focusing on unusual, phycoerythrobilin (PEB)‐containing light‐harvesting proteins called phycoerythrins (PEs) in Synechocystis. As a first step, a gene encoding for the synthesis of the natural cyanobacterial chromophore, PEB, was introduced into Synechocystis. We provide spectroscopic evidence for heterologous PEB formation and show covalent attachment of PEB to the α‐subunit of PC, CpcA, by HPLC and LC–MS/MS analyses. Fluorescence microscopy and PBS isolation demonstrate a cellular dispersal of PBPs with modified phycobilin content. However, these modifications have minor effects on physiological responses, as demonstrated by growth rates, oxygen evolution, nutrient accumulation, and PBP content analyses. As a result, Synechocystis demonstrates the capacity to efficiently manage PEB biosynthesis and therefore reflects a promising platform for both biochemical and physiological investigations of foreign and unusual PEs.
La utopía zapatista entre jóvenes artesanos contraculturales en San Cristóbal de Las Casas Chiapas en 1998
Authors:   UNIVERSIDAD INTERCULTURAL DEL ESTADO DE PUEBLA, Galán López Felipe Javier
Published: December 2023

En el año de 1998 jóvenes artesanos provenientes de varios lugares de México y de otras partes del mundo, llegaron a la ciudad de San Cristóbal de Las Casas Chiapas, inspirados en el Movimiento Zapatista y en la lucha encabezada por los pueblos indígenas, que desde enero de 1994 se habían alzado en armas. Buscaban construir utopías contraculturales y adaptaron sus vidas al viaje y contra el neoliberalismo del final de siglo, inspirados en los ideales del Ejército Zapatista de Liberación Nacional (EZLN). En este artículo retomo dos crónicas en las que participaron jóvenes, durante dos eventos que sucedieron en el mes de noviembre de 1998 en Chiapas, dichas crónicas forman parte de la tesis "La concepción de lo indio por parte de la juventud contracultural que llega a San Cristóbal de Las Casas", tiene el objetivo de reflexionar sobre el impacto que ha tenido a lo largo del tiempo, el Movimiento Zapatista.
A new genus, new species and new record of eriophyoid mites (Acari: Diptilomiopidae) from Thailand
Authors: Konvipasrunag Ploychompoo , Buttachon Suradet
Published: December 2023

Saraphia siamensis gen. nov. & sp. nov. (Acari: Eriophyoidea) from Mammea siamensis (Miq.) T. Anderson in Thailand is described, illustrated. We provide a geometric morphometric analysis based on different geoghraphic populations. Additionally, we report Vasates spondiasi Boczek & Chandrapatya, 1989, a new record from M. siamensis. No visible damaging symptom was observed for both eriophyoid mite species, indicating that they are vagrants on the underside of leaves.
First report of Amblyomma varium (Ixodida: Ixodidae) as hosts of Ixodiphagus sp. (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae)
Authors: Dominguez A. Lillian , Martins Thiago F. , Kadoch Nathaniel , Bermúdez C. Sergio
Published: December 2023

N/A
Does the COVID-19 pandemic strengthen the volatility spillovers across global stock markets?
Authors: Zhou Yuqin , Wu Shan , Liu Zhenhua
Published: December 2023

This paper investigates the volatility spillover and connectedness among the stock markets of G7, BRICS countries, and other countries where COVID-19 is more severe. For this investigation, we perform static and rolling-window analysis to measure volatility spillovers using the spillover index approach and LASSO-VAR for estimating high-dimensional VARs. We also examine the network connectedness at different periods. Our findings indicate that the recent COVID-19 pandemic intensifies volatility spillovers, supporting the financial contagion effects. Furthermore, the United States, Spain, and Russia markets are net volatility transmitters for most of the period before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
PU-Detector: A PU Learning-based Framework for Real Money Trading Detection in MMORPG
Authors: Wang Yilin , Zhao Sha , Zhao Shiwei , Wu Runze , Xu Yuhong , Tao Jianrong , Lv Tangjie , Li Shijian , Hu Zhipeng , Pan Gang
Published: December 2023

Massive multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPG) have been becoming one of the most popular and exciting online games. In recent years, a cheating phenomenon called real money trading (RMT) has arisen and damaged the fantasy world in many ways. RMT is the sale of in-game items, currency, or even characters to earn real money, breaking the balance of the game economy ecosystem and damaging the game experience. Therefore, some studies have emerged to address the problem of RMT detection. However, they cannot well handle the label uncertainty problem in practice, where there are only labeled RMT samples (positive samples) and unlabeled samples, which could either be RMT samples or normal transactions (negative samples). Meanwhile, the trading relationship between RMTers is modeled in a simple way, leading to some normal transactions being falsely classified as RMT. In this article, we propose PU-Detector, a novel framework based on PU learning (learning from positive and unlabeled data) for RMT detection, considering the fact that there are only labeled RMT samples and other unlabeled transactions. We first automatically estimate the likelihood of one transaction being RMT by developing an improved PU learning method and proposing an assessment rule. Sequentially, we use the estimated likelihood as edge weight to construct a trading graph to learn trader representation. Then, with the trader representations and basic trading features, we detect RMT samples by the improved PU learning method. PU-Detector is evaluated on a large-scale real world dataset consisting of 33,809,956 transaction logs generated by 43,217 unique players. Compared with other approaches, it achieves the state-of-the-art performance and demonstrates its advantages in detecting underlying RMT samples.
Usability of Public Play Spaces for Children with Disabilities
Authors: Haq Asma Nidaul , Ito Yuko , Suyama Natsuka , Bontje Peter , Hanifah Hana , Inoue Kaoru
Published: December 2023

Purpose. To investigate the usability of public play spaces for children with disabilities by exploring their experiences in accessing and using these spaces and to further discuss recommendations for designing such spaces that are usable for these children. Methods. A hermeneutic phenomenological approach was employed to explore the experience of children with disabilities regarding the public play spaces. Seven children and their caregivers from two inclusive elementary schools in Central Java Province, Indonesia, participated in the study. Online semistructured interviews with the children were held using Zoom, followed by telephonic interviews with their parents. In addition, video recordings of the observation of the children’s participation in the play spaces were gathered. The interview and video observation data were analyzed using van Manen’s hermeneutic phenomenology thematic analysis method. Results. Five themes arose regarding the experiences of children with disabilities of accessing and using the public play spaces: (1) where time appeared to speed up, (2) “I like the tall one … I like extreme,” (3) fostering connectedness, (4) the need for a safe space, and (5) how a play space should be. Conclusion. The public play spaces have meaningful values for the children with disabilities and their family, as they offered the opportunities to play, explore, interact with friends and families, enjoy nature, interact with animals, and learn. However, it is essential to provide a safe space in which children are free from physical and emotional harm, so that they can fully participate with confidence and a sense of autonomy. Nevertheless, it was also found that children, regardless of their abilities, craved risky and challenging play opportunities. This study also highlights the necessity of awareness-raising intervention programs to foster the inclusion of children with disabilities in public play space settings.
Primary Synovial Sarcoma of the Scrotum
Authors: Al-Oudah Nourah , Alanazi Sara , Alotaibi Sarah Saad , Alzahrani Nayef
Published: December 2023

The report outlines a case of synovial sarcoma in the scrotal region. A 36-year-old male presented with a scrotal swelling. The lesion was completely resected, whereas the histopathologic examination revealed a spindle cell tumor. The tumor stained positive for pancytokeratin, AE1/AE3, epithelial membrane antigen (EMA), TLE-1, CD99, and BCL-2. The cytogenetic testing showed a chromosomal translocation in the SS18 gene at 18q11.2, consistent with the diagnosis of primary synovial sarcoma. A year later, the patient developed liver, vertebrae, and lung metastasis, which was treated with systemic chemotherapy. Treatment failed to improve the hepatic lesion that was then resected, while the spine and lung lesions were followed by radiotherapy. The patient is now alive and subject to an outstanding follow-up.
Supplementary Table 4 from Pilot Phase II Trial of Neoadjuvant Immunotherapy in Locoregionally Advanced, Resectable Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck
Authors: Ferrarotto Renata , Amit Moran , Nagarajan Priyadharsini , Rubin M. Laura , Yuan Ying , Bell Diana , El-Naggar Adel K. , Johnson Jason M. , Morrison William H. , Rosenthal David I. , Glisson Bonnie S. , Johnson Faye M. , Lu Charles , Mott Frank E. , Esmaeli Bita , Diaz Eduardo M. , Gidley Paul W. , Goepfert Ryan P. , Lewis Carol M. , Weber Randal S. , Wargo Jennifer A. , Basu Sreyashi , Duan Fei , Yadav Shalini S. , Sharma Padmanee , Allison James P. , Myers Jeffrey N. , Gross Neil D.
Published: December 2023

Association between response by RECIST/irRC and Overall Pathologic Response: This table demonstrates the lack of association between imaging and pathologic responses in study patients.
Supplementary Figure 4 from Pilot Phase II Trial of Neoadjuvant Immunotherapy in Locoregionally Advanced, Resectable Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck
Authors: Ferrarotto Renata , Amit Moran , Nagarajan Priyadharsini , Rubin M. Laura , Yuan Ying , Bell Diana , El-Naggar Adel K. , Johnson Jason M. , Morrison William H. , Rosenthal David I. , Glisson Bonnie S. , Johnson Faye M. , Lu Charles , Mott Frank E. , Esmaeli Bita , Diaz Eduardo M. , Gidley Paul W. , Goepfert Ryan P. , Lewis Carol M. , Weber Randal S. , Wargo Jennifer A. , Basu Sreyashi , Duan Fei , Yadav Shalini S. , Sharma Padmanee , Allison James P. , Myers Jeffrey N. , Gross Neil D.
Published: December 2023

Survival
Supplementary Figure 2 from Pilot Phase II Trial of Neoadjuvant Immunotherapy in Locoregionally Advanced, Resectable Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck
Authors: Ferrarotto Renata , Amit Moran , Nagarajan Priyadharsini , Rubin M. Laura , Yuan Ying , Bell Diana , El-Naggar Adel K. , Johnson Jason M. , Morrison William H. , Rosenthal David I. , Glisson Bonnie S. , Johnson Faye M. , Lu Charles , Mott Frank E. , Esmaeli Bita , Diaz Eduardo M. , Gidley Paul W. , Goepfert Ryan P. , Lewis Carol M. , Weber Randal S. , Wargo Jennifer A. , Basu Sreyashi , Duan Fei , Yadav Shalini S. , Sharma Padmanee , Allison James P. , Myers Jeffrey N. , Gross Neil D.
Published: December 2023

Pathologic response assessment
Supplementary Figure 1 from Pilot Phase II Trial of Neoadjuvant Immunotherapy in Locoregionally Advanced, Resectable Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck
Authors: Ferrarotto Renata , Amit Moran , Nagarajan Priyadharsini , Rubin M. Laura , Yuan Ying , Bell Diana , El-Naggar Adel K. , Johnson Jason M. , Morrison William H. , Rosenthal David I. , Glisson Bonnie S. , Johnson Faye M. , Lu Charles , Mott Frank E. , Esmaeli Bita , Diaz Eduardo M. , Gidley Paul W. , Goepfert Ryan P. , Lewis Carol M. , Weber Randal S. , Wargo Jennifer A. , Basu Sreyashi , Duan Fei , Yadav Shalini S. , Sharma Padmanee , Allison James P. , Myers Jeffrey N. , Gross Neil D.
Published: December 2023

Study Schema
Identification of Colorectal Cancer Cell Stemness from Single-Cell RNA Sequencing
Authors: Lin Kangyu , Chowdhury Saikat , Zeineddine Mohammad A. , Zeineddine Fadl A. , Hornstein Nicholas J. , Villarreal Oscar E. , Maru Dipen M. , Haymaker Cara L. , Vauthey Jean-Nicolas , Chang George J. , Bogatenkova Elena , Menter David , Kopetz Scott , Shen John Paul
Published: December 2023

Cancer stem cells (CSC) play a critical role in metastasis, relapse, and therapy resistance in colorectal cancer. While characterization of the normal lineage of cell development in the intestine has led to the identification of many genes involved in the induction and maintenance of pluripotency, recent studies suggest significant heterogeneity in CSC populations. Moreover, while many canonical colorectal cancer CSC marker genes have been identified, the ability to use these classical markers to annotate stemness at the single-cell level is limited. In this study, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing on a cohort of 6 primary colon, 9 liver metastatic tumors, and 11 normal (nontumor) controls to identify colorectal CSCs at the single-cell level. Finding poor alignment of the 11 genes most used to identify colorectal CSC, we instead extracted a single-cell stemness signature (SCS_sig) that robustly identified “gold-standard” colorectal CSCs that expressed all marker genes. Using this SCS_sig to quantify stemness, we found that while normal epithelial cells show a bimodal distribution, indicating distinct stem and differentiated states, in tumor epithelial cells stemness is a continuum, suggesting greater plasticity in these cells. The SCS_sig score was quite variable between different tumors, reflective of the known transcriptomic heterogeneity of CRC. Notably, patients with higher SCS_sig scores had significantly shorter disease-free survival time after curative intent surgical resection, suggesting stemness is associated with relapse.

Implications:

This study reveals significant heterogeneity of expression of genes commonly used to identify colorectal CSCs, and identifies a novel stemness signature to identify these cells from scRNA-seq data.
Supplementary Table 1 from p53R245W Mutation Fuels Cancer Initiation and Metastases in NASH-driven Liver Tumorigenesis
Authors: Dibra Denada , Gagea Mihai , Qi Yuan , Chau Gilda P. , Su Xiaoping , Lozano Guillermina
Published: December 2023

A list of genotyping and RT-qPCR primers that were used in this study
FIGURE 3 from p53R245W Mutation Fuels Cancer Initiation and Metastases in NASH-driven Liver Tumorigenesis
Authors: Dibra Denada , Gagea Mihai , Qi Yuan , Chau Gilda P. , Su Xiaoping , Lozano Guillermina
Published: December 2023

p53R245W displays GOF activities in the liver during tumorigenesis. A, Kaplan–Meier survival curves for animals with genotypes LP+/+ (N = 28), LPfl/+ (N = 28), and LP245/+ (N = 60), with hepatocellular adenomas and carcinomas. B, Kaplan–Meier survival curves for LP+/+ (N = 28) and LPfl/+ (N = 28) combined versus LP245/+ (N = 60), with hepatocellular adenomas and carcinomas. C, Pathologic subtypes of tumors from LP+/+ (N = 28), LPfl/+ (N = 28), and LP245/+ with hepatocellular adenoma (HCA), HCC, CCA, and HCC-CCA. D, Representative H&E sections of liver tumors from mice with different pathologic subtypes. Keratin 19 staining of bile duct, CCA, HCC-CCA. CSP1 stain of CCA and HCC-CCA. Negative control, absence of primary antibody. Arrows point to bile ducts which are positive for CSP1 staining. E, Quantification of p53 stability in liver tumors from LP245/+ genotype. We used a representative breast tumor as a positive control and aged livers without tumors as negative controls. F, Immunofluorescence imaging of mutant p53 (red) and DAPI (blue) in liver tumors.
Analysis of Risk Factors for Febrile Neutropenia in Patients with Small-Cell Lung Cancer Receiving Carboplatin Plus Etoposide Therapy
Authors: Takahashi Masaya , Takahashi Katsuyuki , Kaneda Hiroyasu , Kawaguchi Tomoya , Otori Toru , Nakamura Yasutaka
Published: December 2023

Introduction: Febrile neutropenia (FN) is an oncologic emergency requiring immediate empiric antibiotic therapy. Although carboplatin plus etoposide combination chemotherapy is associated with a relatively high frequency of FN, the risk factors are unclear. Hence, this retrospective study aimed to identify predictive markers of carboplatin/etoposide-induced FN. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis of patients with previously untreated small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) who received combination chemotherapy with carboplatin (area under the concentration curve: 5 mg/mL·min, day 1) and etoposide (80 or 100 mg/m2, days 1–3) between July 2007 and June 2022. FN was assessed during the 21 days after initiation of carboplatin and etoposide therapy according to the Japanese Society of Medical Oncology’s definition. Fisher’s exact test for categorical variables and Mann-Whitney U test for continuous variables were used to compare the two groups. Statistical significance was set at p values <0.05. Explanatory variables with p values <0.05 in the univariate analysis were included in the multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: Among the 176 eligible patients, the incidence of FN during the first cycle of chemotherapy was 25.0% (44/176). Multivariate analysis revealed that co-administration of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) or potassium-competitive acid blockers (PCABs) and body mass index (BMI) were significantly associated with FN (p = 0.0035 and 0.0011, respectively). Patients with both co-administration of PPIs or PCABs and a BMI ≤22.509 kg/m2 presented with significantly higher frequencies of FN compared with the other patients (13/24 [54.2%] vs. 31/152 [20.4%] patients; odds ratio: 4.56, 95% confidence interval: 1.70–12.48; p = 0.00147). Conclusion: Patients who received carboplatin plus etoposide for SCLC with co-administration of PPIs or PCABs and a BMI ≤22.509 kg/m2 more frequently present with FN than those without the two factors.
Neonatal Paratesticular Abscess as the Greatest Mimicker of Testicular Torsion
Authors: Delgado-Miguel Carlos , Aguado Pablo , Fuentes Ennio , Díez Ricardo
Published: December 2023

Introduction: The management of acute scrotal swelling can be challenging in neonatal age, with scrotal abscess being great mimickers of testicular torsion. Case Presentation: We report a 12-day-old previously healthy male infant who presented with 72 h of increasing right-sided scrotal swelling, without fever or irritable behavior. The left testicle was palpable, but the right side was too swollen to palpate a testicle, with absent cremasteric reflex. Biochemical analysis was normal and Doppler sonography demonstrated a hypoechogenic avascular lesion compressing the right testis, without intratesticular flow. Due to these findings, surgical exploration was undertaken on suspicion of potential testicular torsion. Purulent material was encountered and cultured. The testis and epididymis were covered by thick necrotic fibrinous exudate, with no spermatic cord torsion. Gentamicin and vancomycin were begun immediately. The patient remained afebrile and the scrotal induration gradually subsided. Urine and blood cultures were sterile. On the second postoperative day, cultures yielded Escherichia coli sensitive to gentamicin. One-month follow-up testicular ultrasound demonstrated complete inflammation resolution. Conclusion: Paratesticular abscess may be considered as the greatest mimicker of testicular neonatal torsion, due to the frequent absence of classical signs of inflammation. Early surgical exploration can be diagnostic and therapeutic and should be performed in these cases.
Obese Male Mice Exposed to Early Life Stress Display Sympathetic Activation and Hypertension Independent of Circulating Angiotensin II
Authors: Dalmasso Carolina , Ahmed Nermin S. , Ghuneim Sundus , Cincinelli Cole , Leachman Jaqueline R. , Giani Jorge F. , Cassis Lisa , Loria Analia S.
Published: December 2023

Background

We have previously reported that male mice exposed to maternal separation and early weaning (MSEW), a model of early life stress, show sympathetic activation and increased blood pressure in response to a chronic high‐fat diet. The goal of this study was to investigate the contribution of the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system to the mechanism by which MSEW increases blood pressure and vasomotor sympathetic tone in obese male mice.

Methods and Results

Mice were exposed to MSEW during postnatal life. Undisturbed litters served as controls. At weaning, both control and MSEW offspring were placed on a low‐fat diet or a high‐fat diet for 20 weeks. Angiotensin peptides in serum were similar in control and MSEW mice regardless of the diet. However, a high‐fat diet induced a similar increase in angiotensinogen levels in serum, renal cortex, liver, and fat in both control and MSEW mice. No evidence of renin–angiotensin system activation was found in adipose tissue and renal cortex. After chronic treatment with enalapril (2.5 mg/kg per day, drinking water, 7 days), an angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitor that does not cross the blood–brain barrier, induced a similar reduction in blood pressure in both groups, while the vasomotor sympathetic tone remained increased in obese MSEW mice. In addition, acute boluses of angiotensin II (1, 10, 50 μg/kg s.c.) exerted a similar pressor response in MSEW and control mice before and after enalapril treatment.

Conclusions

Overall, elevated blood pressure and vasomotor sympathetic tone remained exacerbated in MSEW mice compared with controls after the peripheral inhibition of angiotensin‐converting enzyme, suggesting a mechanism independent of angiotensin II.
Mechanical Versus Bioprosthetic Aortic Valve Replacement in Patients Undergoing Bentall Procedure
Authors: Chen Cheng‐Yu , Chen Chun‐Yu , Chang Feng‐Cheng , Cheng Yu‐Ting , Wu Victor Chien‐Chia , Lin Chia‐Pin , Chan Yi‐Hsin , Hung Kuo‐Chun , Chu Pao‐Hsien , Chen Shao‐Wei
Published: December 2023

Background

The widely used Bentall procedure is the criterion standard treatment for aortic root pathology. Studies comparing the long‐term outcomes of bioprosthetic and mechanical valves in patients undergoing the Bentall procedure are limited.

Methods and Results

Patients who underwent the Bentall procedure with a bioprosthetic or mechanical valve between 2001 and 2018 were identified from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database. The primary outcome of interest was all‐cause mortality. Inverse probability of treatment weighting was performed to compare the 2 prosthetic types. In total, 1052 patients who underwent the Bentall procedure were identified. Among these patients, 351 (33.4%) and 701 (66.6%) chose bioprosthetic and mechanical valves, respectively. After inverse probability of treatment weighting, no significant differences in the in‐hospital mortality (odds ratio, 0.96 [95% CI, 0.77–1.19];
P
=0.716) and all‐cause mortality (34.1% vs. 38.1%; hazard ratio, 0.90 [95% CI, 0.78–1.04];
P
=0.154) were observed between the groups. The benefits of relative mortality associated with mechanical valves were apparent in younger patients and persisted until ≈50 years of age.

Conclusions

No differences in survival benefits were observed between the valves in patients who underwent the Bentall procedure. Additionally, bioprosthetic valves may be a reasonable choice for patients aged >50 years when receiving the Bentall procedure in this valve‐in‐valve era.
Polygraph Testing in Criminal Proceedings: Safe and Sound or Swimming Against the Tide?
Authors: Mergaerts Lore , Van Daele Dirk
Published: December 2023

In contrast to other Western-European countries, polygraph testing is being used in police investigations in Belgium for about twenty years now. However, until recently, its use was not legally regulated. On 1 January 2021 an amendment to the law came into force which officially regulates the use of the polygraph in the Belgian Code of Criminal Procedure. Yet, in light of findings from academic research polygraph testing in criminal proceedings is controversial. Therefore, these Belgian practices and developments could be considered to be an outlier. Against this background, this article examines the recent legal regulation on polygraph testing and its use in practice from both a legal and criminological-psychological perspective. As such, the article offers important insights for law and practice on polygraph testing and the use of comparable other techniques across Europe and beyond.
Life Before and After
Authors: Hargrave Jocelyn
Published: December 2023

‘Good’ editorial practice – in this case, post-developmental copy-editing work – is typically measured by an editor’s ‘positive invisibility’ (J. Hargrave, Teaching Publishing and Editorial Practice, Cambridge University Press, 2022). Traditionally, editing has been considered a ‘role [that] tends to be pushed into the margins’, taking place ‘behind the scenes’ and existing ‘everywhere and, therefore, nowhere’ (S. Greenberg, ‘When the Editor Disappears, Does Editing Disappear?’, Convergence, 2010, p. 8); a hidden, mysterious business transparent only to those who practise it. Editorial practice is hence often (mis)judged by physical invisibility on the page: that is, an absence of error. An editor’s value is predicated on their positive invisibility, an outcome of which can be their marginalization. With the distinction between work and home life essentially eradicated in the COVID-19 gig economy of 2020–2021, central questions posed for this context were simply: ‘How did editors cope with the work-to-home transition?’, ‘Did editors become more invisible and/or marginalized during COVID-19?’, and, ‘If so, what was the nature of this invisibility and/or marginalization?’ Editors were contacted in 2020 and 2022 to describe their editorial practice and its potential (in)visibility before, during, and after the 2020–2021 pandemic lockdowns. Their responses exposed their at times polarized experiences and work – life challenges, and ongoing systemic problems in industry.
Discovery of Thripida from the Middle Jurassic Yan’an Formation
Authors: HUANG DI-YING
Published: December 2023

Thysanoptera, commonly known as thrips, constitutes a relatively diminutive insect order within the superorder Thripida Fallen, 1814, with at least 6000 described extant species. Thripida has been divided into three clades: Panthysanoptera Nel et al., 2012, Lophioneurida Tillyard, 1921, and Westphalothripidesidae Nel et al., 2012, primarily based on wing venation patterns (Nel et al., 2012).
Intrinsic Low-Frequency Variability in the Upper-Layer Circulation of the East Sea (Sea of Japan)
Authors: Kim Daehyuk , Shin Hong-Ryeol , Kim Cheol-Ho , Kim Joowan , Hirose Naoki
Published: December 2023

The effects of external forcing variation on the intrinsic variability in the upper-layer circulation occurring within the East Sea (Sea of Japan) and its physical mechanism are analyzed using numerical experiments. In this study, the experiments were conducted with climatological annual/monthly mean forcings (constant/seasonal forcings). The intrinsic variability is mainly distributed in the meandering regions around the main current path with the comparatively large variability limited to the southern region. The reason of greater intrinsic variability mainly in the southern part of the East Sea than in the northern part is that more energy is required from external forcings to change the thicker upper layer formed in the northern part due to seasonal forcings (strong wind stress and surface heat flux). Although the experiments show slight differences, westward propagation of the Rossby wave appears in areas where the variability is large. The transport of the eddy momentum flux associated with the Rossby wave modulates the strength of the eastward jet and the north–south shift of its axis. Among the external forcings, the volume transport through the Korea/Tsushima Strait is the most important driver of intrinsic variability, and wind stress plays an important role in expanding and strengthening intrinsic variability.

Significance Statement

Intrinsic variability is an important factor in understanding the total variability in the upper-layer circulation in the East Sea (Sea of Japan). However, the physical mechanisms of intrinsic variability remain unclear. This study investigates the physical mechanisms of intrinsic variability occurring within the East Sea. The intrinsic variability occurs mainly around the main current path, especially the meandering current. Based on numerical experiments, the mechanism of the intrinsic variability is represented by the fluctuation in the strength of the eastward current or the north–south movement of its axis caused by the Rossby wave.
Les jeunes, cœurs de cible et promoteurs d’une orthodoxie juive globalisée
Authors: STRACK Frédéric
Published: December 2023

Since the 1970s, there has been an ‘orthodoxization’ of Judaism worldwide, particularly in France, the United Kingdom, the United States and Israel. This movement is primarily driven by young people. However, until now, studies have not sufficiently addressed the conjunction of globalization, youth and religion in this evolution. This article examines the globalization of an Orthodox Jewish movement, the Lubavitch movement. How does it include youth in a globalization strategy? What are the effects on their religious practice? This faith-based NGO is an important vector of ‘orthodoxization’ among young people. It invests in youth as a priority, in particular through a specific educational system: it aims to encourage integration into the Lubavitch community, through a standardized orthodox training. But within the movement, young people are also agents: they promote a globalized Jewish orthodoxy.
Effect of Mortality alongside 5-Year Survival Rates and Incidence on the Public’s Perceived Benefits of Cancer Screening and Screening Intention: A Web-Based Experimental Study
Authors: Kim Soyun
Published: December 2023

Background

Mortality is critical information in evaluating the benefits of cancer screening. However, 5-y survival rates and incidence, without mortality, have been frequently communicated to the public. Based on the literature that people’s perceptions and judgments can be altered by the way of presenting health statistics, the current study examined whether mortality alongside 5-y survival and incidence would influence laypeople’s perceptions of the effectiveness of cancer screening and screening intention.

Methods

In an online-based experimental survey conducted in South Korea in October 2022, 300 adults were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 groups (mortality: no v. yes) to be presented with 3 different cancers (A, B, and C). The perceived effectiveness of cancer screening and screening intention were measured using 7-point scales for each cancer.

Results

Across all cancers, participants in the no-mortality group perceived cancer screening to be more effective and were more willing to undergo screening compared with those in the mortality group, although the results were not statistically significant on the intention.

Conclusions

In general, mortality had an effect of decreasing the perceived effectiveness of cancer screening and screening intention compared with no mortality, although the effect on the intention was not statistically significant.

Implications

When communicating the benefits of cancer screening to the public, mortality statistics may play a role in mitigating the potentially inflated perception of the benefits of cancer screening and screening intention.

Highlights

Five-year survival rates, either alone or with incidence rates, are frequently communicated to the public in the context of the benefits of cancer screening. However, 5-y survival rates can sometimes be inflated without a reduction in mortality. Including mortality statistics in communications decreased the perceived effectiveness of cancer screening and screening intentions. Mortality information needs to be communicated in the benefits of cancer screening.
Agency Directors’ Reflections on “Success” in Community Corrections: The Role of Traditional and Alternative Measures
Authors: Alexander Kellie D. , Nowacki Jeffrey S. , Opsal Tara , Sims Shelby
Published: December 2023

Community corrections has risen in popularity as a method to reduce incarcerated populations. Although researchers have pointed to the value of thinking about success outside of the traditional recidivism metric, many of the agencies that engage in this sort of work are evaluated by oversight agencies based on traditional metrics such as recidivism and program completion. To understand how alternative measures of success are integrated into different dimensions, we surveyed a sample of leaders across community corrections agencies in six states and asked them to share their perceptions about the goals of their agency, the programming they offer, and the metrics to which they are held accountable; we also examined their mission statements. Responses from more than 30 agencies indicate there is a cultural space and a pragmatic use for agencies to integrate alternative measures more formally into their assessment processes but that strictures from oversight agencies are a notable obstacle.