bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Do natural resource rents aid renewable energy transition in resource‐rich African countries? The roles of institutional quality and its threshold
Authors: Olaniyi Clement Olalekan , Odhiambo Nicholas Mbaya
Published: March 2024

Transitioning to a carbon‐neutral renewable energy (REN) option to decarbonize ecosystems and mitigate carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and the negative impacts of climate change is consistent with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 7 and 13. Scholars have identified natural resource wealth and institutions as critical factors in the REN transition in resource‐rich countries. Financial barriers are arguably the most significant impediments to transitioning to REN, as it is more capital‐intensive and costly to produce, invest in, and use than traditional fossil fuel‐based energy. Meanwhile, weak institutions and corruption in most resource‐rich countries culminate in the resource curse phenomenon and the mismanagement of natural resource wealth. It implies that institutions (weak or strong) modify the natural resource rent contribution to the REN transition. Previous research has paid little attention to the impact of the interplay between natural resources and institutional quality on the REN transition in resource‐rich African countries. This study examines how institutions moderate the contribution of natural resource wealth to accelerating or inhibiting the REN switch in resource‐rich African countries for the period 2000–2021, using fully modified ordinary least squares, a Driscoll–Kraay nonparametric covariance matrix, and moments‐based quantile regression estimators. This study departs from earlier studies by determining the institutional quality threshold above which institutions significantly stimulate natural resource rents to accelerate Africa's REN transition. The findings indicate that institutions in resource‐rich African countries breed inefficient bureaucracies and corruption in natural resource rent administration. These undermine the ability of natural resource incomes to facilitate a shift to renewable energy sources. The threshold analyses indicate that most resource‐rich African countries operate below the institutional quality threshold. This finding corroborates that inefficient institutions abet natural resource rent mismanagement and hinder the channeling of resource income toward the REN transition. The findings' policy implications are robustly articulated and outlined.
Why are employee assistance programmes under‐utilised and marginalised and how to address it? A critical review and a labour process analysis
Authors: Long Tianyi
Published: March 2024

The exploding employee demands on mental health services and the under‐utilised employee assistance programmes (EAPs) stand in stark contrast. Despite widespread coverage and awareness of EAPs, their low utilisation rates have marginalised them in organisations' human resource strategies. This study explores why employees are resistant to using EAPs from the perspective of dynamic contention, drawing on insights from labour process theory. Through a critical review of the literature, it yields a picture of neither perfect managerial control nor condition‐altering resistance in EAPs. In addition, despite their potential to mediate between labour and management, EAPs often align too closely with management, fail to provide avenues for employee input, and struggle to adapt to changing work dynamics. The study concludes with suggestions for effectively leveraging EAPs' constructive broker role to strategically bridge labour and management and address their under‐utilisation and marginalisation.
Predicting posthospitalization falls in Brazilian older adults: External validation of the Carpenter instrument
Authors: Curiati Pedro K. , Arruda Marcela dos S. , Carpenter Christopher R. , Morinaga Christian V. , Melo Hugo M. A. , Avelino‐Silva Thiago J. , Aliberti Marlon R.
Published: March 2024

Objectives

This study sought to explore and externally validate the Carpenter instrument's efficacy in predicting postdischarge fall risk among older adults admitted to the emergency department (ED) for reasons other than falls or related injuries.

Methods

A prospective cohort study was conducted on 779 patients aged ≥ 65 years from a tertiary hospital in São Paulo, Brazil, who were monitored for up to 6 months post‐ED hospitalization. The Carpenter instrument, which evaluates the four risk factors nonhealing foot sores, self‐reported depression, inability to self‐clip toenails, and prior falls, was utilized to assess fall risk. Follow‐up by telephone occurred at 30, 90, and 180 days to identify falls and mortality. Fine–Gray models estimated the predictive power of Carpenter instrument for future falls, considering death as a competing event and sociodemographic factors, frail status, and clinical measures as confounders.

Results

Among 779 patients, 68 (9%) experienced a fall within 180 days post‐ED admission, and 88 (11%) died. The majority were male (54%), with a mean age of 79 years. Upon utilizing the Carpenter score, those with a higher fall risk (≥2 points) displayed more comorbidities, greater frailty, and increased clinical severity at baseline. Regression analyses showed that every additional point on the Carpenter score increased the hazard of falls by 73%. Two primary contributors to its predictive potential were identified: a history of falls in the preceding year and an inability to self‐clip toenails. However, the instrument's discriminative accuracy was suboptimal, with an area under the curve of 0.62.

Conclusions

While the Carpenter instrument associated with a higher 6‐month postadmission fall risk among older adults post‐ED visit, its accuracy for individual patient decision making was limited. Given the significant impact of falls on health outcomes and health care costs, refining risk assessment tools remains essential. Future research should focus on enhancing these assessments and devising targeted proactive strategies.
Update for surgeons on novel induction treatments for acute severe inflammatory bowel disease associated colitis
Authors: Levar Timothy , Johnston Michael , Ding Nik S. , Behrenbruch Corina
Published: March 2024

Background

The landscape of biologic agents for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) associated colitis is rapidly evolving, requiring surgeons to be up‐to‐date as part of multi‐disciplinary, evidence‐based care. An update on novel therapies used to induce remission in IBD‐associated colitis is presented.

Methods

A systematic search through Ovid MEDLINE and CENTRAL using a combination of MeSH terms and Boolean operators was conducted.

Results

One thousand and twenty articles from which 38 articles were selected for inclusion in this review. Novel agents were trialled as 4th or 5th line treatment following conventional treatment failure. Rates of serious adverse effects were low. Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors (upadacitinib and tofacitinib) were efficacious in inducing remission in ulcerative colitis, and IL‐23p19 inhibitors (mirikizumab, guselkumab, and risankizumab) in Crohn's colitis. Evidence was limited for other drug classes.

Conclusion

JAK‐inhibitors and IL‐23p19 inhibitors were found to be the most effective agents for inducting remission following failure of standard of care treatment. A significant proportion of patients did not respond, highlighting the inherent challenge in optimizing treatment for moderate to severe IBD‐associated colitis. More robust study designs and comparator trials are required.
Efficacy of surgical staple line reinforcement in Glissonean stapling: A single‐center pilot study
Authors: Toriguchi Kan , Kaihara Satoshi , Kitamura Koji , Ishikawa Tatsuki , Oshima Nobu , Kondo Masato , Kobayashi Hiroyuki , Hashida Hiroki , Uryuhara Kenji
Published: March 2024

Vascular staplers are routinely used in laparoscopic liver resection, which has become a standard procedure in advanced medical facilities. Although previous reports have outlined the benefits of staple line reinforcement (SLR), its application in Glissonean pedicle transection during hepatic resection remains poorly studied. This study investigated surgical SLR as a tool to enhance staple line strength and improve perioperative hemostasis. Here, 10 patients who underwent laparoscopic liver resection using the Tri‐StapleTM2.0 Reinforced Reload were included. Patient characteristics, surgical details, and outcomes were assessed. The results demonstrated successful outcomes with no complications related to bile leakage or injuries during staple insertion. Overall, our findings suggest that SLR can be safely utilized in Glissonean pedicle transection during laparoscopic liver resections. Further studies are required to comprehensively evaluate its benefits compared with conventional surgical staplers.
The consequences of dishonesty—A mediation‐moderation praxis of greenwashing, tourists' green trust, and word‐of‐mouth: The role of connectedness to nature
Authors: Pham Nhat Tan , Huy Le Van , Phan Quyen Phu Thi , Phan Hoang Long , Tuan Tran Hoang
Published: March 2024

The relationship between greenwashing and visitors' green behavior remains an under‐researched topic in the tourism and hospitality literature, despite evidence of the harmful effect of greenwashing on the reputation and competitive advantage of organizations. This study extends attribution theory into the green context to develop a research framework for investigating the interrelationship between greenwashing, green trust, and green word‐of‐mouth (WOM), especially the roles of green trust and connectedness to nature. We conducted a survey of 289 visitors staying in four‐ and five‐star hotels in Vietnam. The findings indicated that hotels should avoid greenwashing due to its negative impact on visitors' green trust and green WOM. Moreover, the study found that greenwashing had an indirect and negative influence on green WOM based on visitors' green trust. Importantly, the research revealed the value of connectedness in moderating green attitudes and behaviors among visitors.
Are low‐income preschoolers physically active at preschool settings? A cross‐sectional study
Authors: da Silva Taís Feitosa , Mota Jéssica Gomes , Okely Anthony , Telles María Arias , Tassitano Rafael Miranda , Guerra Paulo Henrique , Mota Jorge , de Lucena Martins Clarice Maria
Published: March 2024

Background

Preschools may provide opportunities for children to engage in physical activity (PA), to benefit their health, although little is known when concerning low‐income preschoolers. This study aimed (1) to describe time spent in PA among low‐income children during preschool hours and (2) to analyse how many children meet the PA recommendations during preschool hours.

Methods

A total of 204 low‐income preschoolers (4.51 ± 0.79 years) from João Pessoa/Brazil provided valid accelerometer (Actigraph, WGT3‐X) data during the preschool period. Children were grouped in quartiles of PA in counts per minute, according to sex and age. The General Linear Model Univariate was used to examine the differences in PA intensities between the quartiles and the time spent in total PA (TPA) and moderate‐to‐vigorous PA (MVPA) by quartiles, according to age. An hour‐by‐hour description of children's PA was presented.

Results

TPA during preschool hours ranged from 68.33% to 113.89% of the recommended and from 28.34% to 81.68% of the MVPA recommendations. Among 5‐year‐old children, those in the highest quartile met the PA recommendations. All children were more active outdoors than indoors. For the less actives, preschool time corresponded to 30% of the recommended daily MVPA.

Conclusion

The current results reinforce the importance of preschool settings for promoting preschoolers' PA and provide particularly important and useful information for tailoring preschool‐based interventions focused on those who need it most. Strategies to increase children's MVPA should be prioritized during free‐play time.
Präoperativer Hochfrequenzultraschall: Ein zuverlässiges Managementinstrument bei nichtmelanozytärem Hautkrebs der Ohrmuschel und der Nase
Authors: Crisan Diana , Wortsman Ximena , Catalano Orlando , Badea Radu , Kastler Sabine , Badea Alexandru , Manea Avram , Scharffetter‐Kochanek Karin , Strilciuc Stefan , Crisan Maria , Schneider Lars Alexander
Published: March 2024

Hintergrund und Zielsetzung

Das Wissen über die Tiefeninfiltration bei nichtmelanozytärem Hautkrebs (NMSC) mithilfe präoperativer Sonographie könnte den Ärzten ermöglichen, den am besten geeigneten therapeutischen Ansatz zu wählen, unnötige Operationen und teure bildgebende Verfahren zu vermeiden und die Diagnose und Behandlung nicht zu verzögern. In unserer retrospektiven, monozentrischen Studie haben wir die Nützlichkeit des Hochfrequenzultraschalls (HFUS) zur Beurteilung der Tiefeninfiltration bei aurikulären und nasalen NMSC‐Fällen untersucht und die darauffolgende Änderung des therapeutischen Ansatzes bewertet.

Patienten und Methodik

In 60 NMSC‐Fällen haben wir die Genauigkeit des HFUS bei der Erkennung von Knorpel‐ und Knocheninfiltration sowie die Korrelation sonographischer und histologischer Parameter beurteilt.

Ergebnisse

In 16,6% der Fälle wurde präoperativ eine tiefe Knorpel‐/Knochenbeteiligung oder eine lokoregionale Erkrankung identifiziert, was zu einer geänderten therapeutischen Strategie mit radioimmunologischer Behandlung anstelle von Operation führte. In zwei Fällen identifizierte der präoperative HFUS eine lokale Knorpelinfiltration, was die Anzahl der chirurgischen Eingriffe reduzierte. Bei den verbleibenden 48 Läsionen ohne Tiefeninfiltration wurde eine Korrelation von > 99% zwischen der histologischen und sonographischen Tumoreindringtiefe gefunden (p <0.001).

Schlussfolgerungen

Präoperativer HFUS beeinflusst das therapeutische Vorgehen bei NMSC, indem es eine subklinische Beteiligung tieferer Strukturen erkennt, umfangreichere diagnostische Maßnahmen vermeidet, Kosten reduziert und die Qualität der Gesundheitsversorgung verbessert. HFUS sollte in der Dermatochirurgie vor der Tumorentfernung zur optimierten Therapie und zur verbesserten Patientenberatung eingesetzt werden.
The case for 100% money: Ten reasons for separating money issuance from banking
Authors: Demeulemeester Samuel
Published: March 2024

The ‘100% money’ proposal aims at divorcing the creation of money from banking, by requiring 100% reserves on transaction accounts. The public monetary authority would then be the sole issuer of means of payment, while the banks would function as true intermediaries, financing loans with pre‐existing money. This article, building on the works of 1930s economists such as Irving Fisher, presents ten arguments in favour of this reform proposal — arguing that it would, in particular, prevent cumulative variations in the money stock, facilitate monetary control, reduce government intervention in banking, improve public finances, and make money creation more neutral.
Reassessing the Bengal Famine of 1943
Authors: Jungkow Hira , Anderson Herbert
Published: March 2024

The Bengal famine of 1943 has received significant attention from academia, politicians and the public. This is the result both of its considerable death toll and the range of factors held responsible, including politicians. However, despite the quantity of discussion and controversy that it has generated, three areas have thus far been insufficiently addressed: the results of the Bengal Food Drive, the geographic link between famine and the ‘denial policy’, and the economic Balkanisation of India. This article addresses these areas to draw a more rounded conclusion on the debate around the famine.
A positive feedback to climate change: The effect of temperature on the respiration of key wood‐decomposing fungi does not decline with time
Authors: Journeaux Katie L. , Boddy Lynne , Rowland Lucy , Hartley Iain P.
Published: March 2024

Heterotrophic soil microorganisms are responsible for ~50% of the carbon dioxide released by respiration from the terrestrial biosphere each year. The respiratory response of soil microbial communities to warming, and the control mechanisms, remains uncertain, yet is critical to understanding the future land carbon (C)‐climate feedback. Individuals of nine species of fungi decomposing wood were exposed to 90 days of cooling to evaluate the medium‐term effect of temperature on respiration. Overall, the effect of temperature on respiration increased in the medium term, with no evidence of compensation. However, the increasing effect of temperature on respiration was lost after correcting for changes in biomass. These results indicate that C loss through respiration of wood‐decomposing fungi will increase beyond the direct effects of temperature on respiration, potentially promoting greater C losses from terrestrial ecosystems and a positive feedback to climate change.
Mapping the distance between fire hazard and disaster for communities in Canadian forests
Authors: Wang Xianli , Swystun Tom , McFayden Colin B. , Erni Sandy , Oliver Jacqueline , Taylor Stephen W. , Flannigan Mike D.
Published: March 2024

Communities interspersed throughout the Canadian wildland are threatened by fires that have become bigger and more frequent in some parts of the country in recent decades. Identifying the fireshed (source area) and pathways from which wildland fire may ignite and spread from the landscape to a community is crucial for risk‐reduction strategy and planning. We used outputs from a fire simulation model, including fire polygons and rate of spread, to map firesheds, fire pathways and corridors and spread distances for 1980 communities in the forested areas of Canada. We found fireshed sizes are larger in the north, where the mean distances between ecumene and fireshed perimeters were greater than 10 km. The Rayleigh Z test indicated that simulated fires around a large proportion of communities show significant directional trends, and these trends are stronger in the Boreal Plains and Shields than in the Rocky Mountain area. The average distance from which fire, when spreading at the maximum simulated rate, could reach the community perimeter was approximately 5, 12 and 18 km in 1, 2 and 3 days, respectively. The average daily spread distances increased latitudinally, from south to north. Spread distances were the shortest in the Pacific Maritime, Atlantic Maritime and Boreal Plains Ecozones, implying lower rates of spread compared to the rest of the country. The fire corridors generated from random ignitions and from ignitions predicted from local fire history differ, indicating that factors other than fuel (e.g. fire weather, ignition pattern) play a significant role in determining the direction that fires burn into a community.
Prevalence of frailty and pain in hospitalised cancer patients: implications for older adult care
Authors: Lane Heather , Saunders Rosemary , Crookes Kate , Ang Seng G. M. , Bulsara Caroline , Bulsara Max K. , Ewens Beverley , Gallagher Olivia , Gullick Karen , Haydon Sue , Hughes Jeff , Nguyen Kim‐Huong , Seaman Karla , Etherton‐Beer Christopher
Published: March 2024

A hospital‐wide point prevalence study investigated frailty and pain in patients with a cancer‐related admission. Modifiable factors associated with frailty in people with cancer were determined through logistic regression. Forty‐eight patients (19%) with cancer‐related admissions were 2.65 times more likely to be frail and 2.12 more likely to have moderate pain. Frailty and pain were highly prevalent among cancer‐related admissions, reinforcing the need for frailty screening and importance of pain assessment for patients with cancer.
A Slicing‐Free Perspective to Sufficient Dimension Reduction: Selective Review and Recent Developments
Authors: Li Lu , Shao Xiaofeng , Yu Zhou
Published: March 2024

Since the pioneering work of sliced inverse regression, sufficient dimension reduction has been growing into a mature field in statistics and it has broad applications to regression diagnostics, data visualisation, image processing and machine learning. In this paper, we provide a review of several popular inverse regression methods, including sliced inverse regression (SIR) method and principal hessian directions (PHD) method. In addition, we adopt a conditional characteristic function approach and develop a new class of slicing‐free methods, which are parallel to the classical SIR and PHD, and are named weighted inverse regression ensemble (WIRE) and weighted PHD (WPHD), respectively. Relationship with recently developed martingale difference divergence matrix is also revealed. Numerical studies and a real data example show that the proposed slicing‐free alternatives have superior performance than SIR and PHD.
Learning Newtonian mechanics with an intrinsically integrated educational game
Authors: van der Linden Anne , Meulenbroeks Ralph F. G. , van Joolingen Wouter R.
Published: March 2024

Background

Research on cognitive effects of educational games in general shows promising results. However, there are large variations in learning outcomes between individual educational games. Research on the design process and different design elements of educational games has led to some interesting directions, but some design aspects remain unclear.

Objectives

We examined how an educational game designed on the basis of intrinsic integration theory, based on a strong alignment between game and learning goals, supports the learning of Newtonian mechanics.

Methods

This study applied a mixed‐methods approach (N = 223). A pre‐ and post‐test design was used to examine possible learning and transfer effects fostered by playing the educational game, Newton's Race. To examine how players played the game, log data for each player were digitally recorded during gameplay.

Results and Conclusions

Our findings demonstrated a significant positive learning effect of Newton's Race (p = 0.003, d = 0.201). This can be explained through the acquired log data. Log data show that players' gameplay mostly matched expected learning during the game, with physically correct game settings occurring more and more as gameplay progressed. The ability to transfer learned knowledge to other situations was shown to be limited to situations closely resembling the game environment.

Implications

Similarly, designed intrinsically integrated games on different (physics) subjects could also foster learning in a relative short time. To foster transfer to other situations we propose embedding the game within other instructional activities.
All‐trans retinoic acid exhibits anti‐proliferative and differentiating activity in Merkel cell carcinoma cells via retinoid pathway modulation
Authors: Mazziotta Chiara , Badiale Giada , Cervellera Christian Felice , Morciano Giampaolo , Di Mauro Giulia , Touzé Antoine , Pinton Paolo , Tognon Mauro , Martini Fernanda , Rotondo John Charles
Published: March 2024

Background

The limited therapies available for treating Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC), a highly aggressive skin neoplasm, still pose clinical challenges, and novel treatments are required. Targeting retinoid signalling with retinoids, such as all‐trans retinoic acid (ATRA), is a promising and clinically useful antitumor approach. ATRA drives tumour cell differentiation by modulating retinoid signalling, leading to anti‐proliferative and pro‐apoptotic effects. Although retinoid signalling is dysregulated in MCC, ATRA activity in this tumour is unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of ATRA on the pathological phenotype of MCC cells.

Methods

The effect of ATRA was tested in various Merkel cell polyomavirus‐positive and polyomavirus‐negative MCC cell lines in terms of cell proliferation, viability, migration and clonogenic abilities. In addition, cell cycle, apoptosis/cell death and the retinoid gene signature were evaluated upon ATRA treatments.

Results

ATRA efficiently impaired MCC cell proliferation and viability in MCC cells. A strong effect in reducing cell migration and clonogenicity was determined in ATRA‐treated cells. Moreover, ATRA resulted as strongly effective in arresting cell cycle and inducing apoptosis/cell death in all tested MCC cells. Enrichment analyses indicated that ATRA was effective in modulating the retinoid gene signature in MCC cells to promote cell differentiation pathways, which led to anti‐proliferative and pro‐apoptotic/cell death effects.

Conclusions

These results underline the potential of retinoid‐based therapy for MCC management and might open the way to novel experimental approaches with other retinoids and/or combinatorial treatments.
Does Alternative Data Improve Financial Forecasting? The Horizon Effect
Authors: DESSAINT OLIVIER , FOUCAULT THIERRY , FRESARD LAURENT
Published: March 2024

Existing research suggests that alternative data are mainly informative about short‐term future outcomes. We show theoretically that the availability of short‐term‐oriented data can induce forecasters to optimally shift their attention from the long term to the short term because it reduces the cost of obtaining short‐term information. Consequently, the informativeness of their long‐term forecasts decreases, even though the informativeness of their short‐term forecasts increases. We test and confirm this prediction by considering how the informativeness of equity analysts' forecasts at various horizons varies over the long run and with their exposure to social media data.
Gender, age and nationality differences in chronic kidney disease prevalence in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, UAE
Authors: Almadani Ayman Kamal , Ahmed Wasim , Al Obaidli Ali Abdul Kareem , Holt Stephen G.
Published: March 2024

Aim

We aimed to better understand the prevalence of chronic kidney disease in Abu Dhabi, UAE, where a very diverse ethnic population lives, each with their own risk profile.

Methods

Data were analysed on all patients who were tested for serum creatinine in December 2019 for 4 years within our healthcare network. We analysed data for kidney disease by age, gender and nationality to study differences in prevalence and risk.

Results

The entire cohort (EC) consisted 1 925 672 samples from 703 122 patients. 24% of patients had GFR < 90 mL/min/1.73 m2 (CKD2‐5), 4% had more severe kidney dysfunction (CKD3‐5) and 2% had UACR >3 mg/mmol and with GFR > 90 (CKD1).

The long follow‐up (LFU) group comprised 45.6% of patients who had eGFR on at least two occasions more than 90 days apart, and of these 19.5% had sustained eGFR <90, and 5.2% had CKD3‐5.

Males had lower eGFR than females in the EC (RR 1.68) and the LFU group (RR 1.76). Emirati Females had the lowest prevalence in the EC (2.9%) and expatriate females in the LFU (3.5%) groups. The relative risks of CKD in expatriate males were highest in the EC (2.14) and the LFU (2.39) groups.

When we looked at the age distribution by nationality there were highly significant differences in some populations being highly represented at younger ages.

Conclusion

The prevalence of kidney disease in Abu Dhabi has a male predominance, with younger expatriates highly represented. A targeted strategy to identify those at high risk may identify early CKD to prevent progression to end‐stage kidney disease.

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Genome‐wide DNA methylation dynamics following recent polyploidy in the allotetraploid Tragopogon miscellus (Asteraceae)
Authors: Shan Shengchen , Gitzendanner Matthew A. , Boatwright J. Lucas , Spoelhof Jonathan P. , Ethridge Christina L. , Ji Lexiang , Liu Xiaoxian , Soltis Pamela S. , Schmitz Robert J. , Soltis Douglas E.
Published: March 2024

Polyploidy is an important evolutionary force, yet epigenetic mechanisms, such as DNA methylation, that regulate genome‐wide expression of duplicated genes remain largely unknown. Here, we use Tragopogon (Asteraceae) as a model system to discover patterns and temporal dynamics of DNA methylation in recently formed polyploids.

The naturally occurring allotetraploid Tragopogon miscellus formed in the last 95–100 yr from parental diploids Tragopogon dubius and T. pratensis. We profiled the DNA methylomes of these three species using whole‐genome bisulfite sequencing.

Genome‐wide methylation levels in T. miscellus were intermediate between its diploid parents. However, nonadditive CG and CHG methylation occurred in transposable elements (TEs), with variation among TE types. Most differentially methylated regions (DMRs) showed parental legacy, but some novel DMRs were detected in the polyploid. Differentially methylated genes (DMGs) were also identified and characterized.

This study provides the first assessment of both overall and locus‐specific patterns of DNA methylation in a recent natural allopolyploid and shows that novel methylation variants can be generated rapidly after polyploid formation. Together, these results demonstrate that mechanisms to regulate duplicate gene expression may arise soon after allopolyploid formation and that these mechanisms vary among genes.
David versus Goliath? Indigenous people, carbon majors and climate litigation in South Africa
Authors: du Toit Louise , Soyapi Caiphas , Kotzé Louis J.
Published: March 2024

In two recent South African cases, Indigenous communities successfully challenged proposed fossil fuel exploration activities by the Shell petroleum company off South Africa's pristine West Coast. In contrast to earlier climate litigation cases in South Africa, the litigants relied specifically on their Indigenous rights and knowledge. In this case note, we highlight the ways in which the two courts engaged with the communities' cultural beliefs and practices as well as their knowledge related to sustainability and how this relates to protecting their livelihoods, cultural practices and identities that are threatened by the proposed activities. We highlight the important role played by Indigenous communities in the climate movement and argue that, in the future, Indigenous and related considerations could provide a strong basis for climate litigation in South Africa and potentially contribute to efforts to protect Indigenous communities against the activities of carbon majors.
The formation mechanism of the Xilekuduke porphyry Mo‐Cu deposit, NW China, revealed by the fluid inclusions and H‐O‐S isotopes
Authors: Ma Jing , You Jun , Hong Tao , Gao Jun , Wu Chu , Xu Xing‐Wang , Wu Qi
Published: March 2024

The Xilekuduke porphyry Mo‐Cu deposit is located in the Altay‐East Junggar region of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt, northwest China. The orebodies occurring as vein type are host within the monzogranite and granite porphyry. Ore minerals include mainly molybdenite, pyrite, and chalcopyrite, whilst the major alteration include potassic, sericite, carbonate, and silicic. Mineralization can be divided into three stages: quartz‐K‐feldspar–polymetallic stage (Stage I), quartz‐polymetallic stage (Stage II), and quartz–calcite–pyrite (minor) stage (Stage III). Three types of fluid inclusion are present in the Mo‐Cu sulfide–calcite–quartz veins: CO2‐bearing (C‐type), aqueous (W‐type), and daughter mineral‐bearing (S‐type). Petrographic and microthermometric analyses of the fluid inclusions yielded homogenization temperatures for Stage I, II, and III to be 402–499°C, 214–391°C, and 136–254°C, respectively, with corresponding salinities of 39.2–59.6, 3.7–44.9 and 4.1–14.4 wt% NaCl equivalent. The δ18OH₂O and δD values of fluid inclusions in quartz are determined to be 5.3–6.0 ‰ and −76 to −60 ‰ (Stage I), 1.7–3.2 ‰ and −96 to −90 ‰ (Stage II), and −2.6 to −2.4 ‰ and −106 ‰ (Stage III), respectively. These results indicate that the primary ore‐forming fluids (stages I and II) were derived from granitic magma and were mixed with meteoric water in stage III. For the sulfide and sulfate (anhydrite), their δ34S values are of 0.4–5.8 ‰, 13.9–14.4 ‰, respectively, also that suggest a magmatic source. Fluid immiscibility, meteoric water interaction, and ore fluid‐wallrock interactions may have been critical for molybdenum precipitation.
Size Effect of Yielding of Particle-Reinforced Composites
Authors: Zhang R. J. , Liu Yan
Published: March 2024

This paper illustrates how particle size affects the initial yield stress of particle-reinforced composites. A formulation in a closed form is presented to demonstrate the size effect of yielding of the composites. This paper also demonstrates that there is an upper bound and a lower bound for the size-dependent yield stress with the change of particle size. This means that decreasing particle size increases its yield stress up to an upper bound. Similarly, increasing particle size decrease its yield stress up to a lower bound. In this paper the asymptotic homogenization method is used in framework of the Cosserat elasticity. A virtual “unreinforced matrix” is introduced as a reference configuration. As a numerical example, the size effect of yielding of SiCp/Al is predicted.
Automatically Discovering Mechanical Functions From Physical Behaviors via Clustering
Authors: Chiu Kevin N. , Fuge Mark D.
Published: March 2024

Computational design methods provide opportunities to discover novel and diverse designs that traditional optimization approaches cannot find or that use physical phenomena in ways that engineers have overlooked. However, existing methods require supervised objectives to search or optimize for explicit behaviors or functions—e.g., optimizing aerodynamic lift. In contrast, this article unpacks what it means to discover interesting behaviors or functions we do not know about a priori using data from experiments or simulation in a fully unsupervised way. Doing so enables computers to invent or re-invent new or existing mechanical functions given only measurements of physical fields (e.g., fluid velocity fields) without directly specifying a set of objectives to optimize. This article explores this approach via two related parts. First, we study clustering algorithms that can detect novel device families from simulation data. Specifically, we contribute a modification to the hierarchical density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise algorithm via the use of the silhouette score to reduce excessively granular clusters. Second, we study multiple ways by which we preprocess simulation data to increase its discriminatory power in the context of clustering device behavior. This leads to an insight regarding the important role that a design’s representation has in compactly encoding its behavior. We test our contributions via the task of discovering simple fluidic devices and show that our proposed clustering algorithm outperforms other density-based algorithms, but that K-means clustering outperforms density-based algorithms, as measured by adjusted Rand score. However, the device types may have an even stronger impact on the clustering. This opens up new avenues of research wherein computers can automatically derive new device functions, behaviors, and structures without the need for human labels or guidance.
Electrochemically structured tantalum surfaces via anodization for core-shell nanostructures: Optimization and characterization of Zn-ZnO nanoparticle deposition using magnetron sputtering
Authors: Kara Levent , Calderon Sebastian , Carvalho Sandra
Published: March 2024

This study explores the electrochemical anodization of tantalum surfaces to create nanostructured substrates for the deposition of Zn-ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) through magnetron sputtering. The anodization process, conducted at different potentials (25 V and 50 V), resulted in tantalum surfaces with distinct dimple structures. The formation of these nano-level dimples is attributed to the dynamic equilibrium between the continuous formation and dissolution of the anodic TaOx layer. The dimple diameter is observed to increase with applied potential, correlating with the dissolution rate of the anodic oxide. The NP deposition parameters were studied in two steps. First, the effect of the deposition conditions on the nanoparticle size and distribution was evaluated and optimized on silicon substrates. Second, the conditions that resulted in the optimum size and distribution of the nanoparticles were utilized in tantalum substrates and evaluated to which extent these conditions were reproduced onto the anodized Ta substrate. Comparisons of Zn-ZnO nanoparticle depositions on silicon and tantalum substrates reveal similar island growth trends, with differences in nanoparticle size and distribution attributed to substrate properties. Further investigation involves anodized tantalum substrates with varying dimple sizes, and deposition conditions are adjusted with bias voltage, pressure, and deposition time to control nanoparticle characteristics. Characterization of the Zn-ZnO nanoparticles deposited on anodized tantalum surfaces is performed using scanning electron microscopy, high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy. The resulting core-shell structures are confirmed through structural analysis, revealing a core of hexagonal close-packed Zn and a shell of ZnO. The study demonstrates the influence of substrate properties and deposition conditions on the morphology and composition of Zn-ZnO nanoparticles, providing insights for applications in nanoelectronics and catalysis.
Vitamin A resolves lineage plasticity to orchestrate stem cell lineage choices
Authors: Tierney Matthew T. , Polak Lisa , Yang Yihao , Abdusselamoglu Merve Deniz , Baek Inwha , Stewart Katherine S. , Fuchs Elaine
Published: March 2024

Lineage plasticity—a state of dual fate expression—is required to release stem cells from their niche constraints and redirect them to tissue compartments where they are most needed. In this work, we found that without resolving lineage plasticity, skin stem cells cannot effectively generate each lineage in vitro nor regrow hair and repair wounded epidermis in vivo. A small-molecule screen unearthed retinoic acid as a critical regulator. Combining high-throughput approaches, cell culture, and in vivo mouse genetics, we dissected its roles in tissue regeneration. We found that retinoic acid is made locally in hair follicle stem cell niches, where its levels determine identity and usage. Our findings have therapeutic implications for hair growth as well as chronic wounds and cancers, where lineage plasticity is unresolved.
Sister chromatid cohesion is mediated by individual cohesin complexes
Authors: Ochs Fena , Green Charlotte , Szczurek Aleksander Tomasz , Pytowski Lior , Kolesnikova Sofia , Brown Jill , Gerlich Daniel Wolfram , Buckle Veronica , Schermelleh Lothar , Nasmyth Kim Ashley
Published: March 2024

Eukaryotic genomes are organized by loop extrusion and sister chromatid cohesion, both mediated by the multimeric cohesin protein complex. Understanding how cohesin holds sister DNAs together, and how loss of cohesion causes age-related infertility in females, requires knowledge as to cohesin’s stoichiometry in vivo. Using quantitative super-resolution imaging, we identified two discrete populations of chromatin-bound cohesin in postreplicative human cells. Whereas most complexes appear dimeric, cohesin that localized to sites of sister chromatid cohesion and associated with sororin was exclusively monomeric. The monomeric stoichiometry of sororin:cohesin complexes demonstrates that sister chromatid cohesion is conferred by individual cohesin rings, a key prediction of the proposal that cohesion arises from the co-entrapment of sister DNAs.
Two rings to rule them all
Authors: Rolland Antoine , Heffernan Brendan M.
Published: March 2024

A single photonic device accommodates three different modes of operation
In Other Journals
Authors: Ash Caroline , Ray L. Bryan , Kelly Priscilla N. , Stern Peter , Smith H. Jesse , Stajic Jelena , Funk Michael A.
Published: March 2024

Editors’ selections from the current scientific literature
The human adenovirus PI3K-Akt activator E4orf1 is targeted by the tumor suppressor p53
Authors: Göttig Lilian , Jummer Simone , Staehler Luisa , Groitl Peter , Karimi Maryam , Blanchette Paola , Kosulin Karin , Branton Philip E. , Schreiner Sabrina
Published: March 2024

Human adenoviruses (HAdV) are classified as DNA tumor viruses due to their potential to mediate oncogenic transformation in non-permissive mammalian cells and certain human stem cells. To achieve transformation, the viral early proteins of the E1 and E4 regions must block apoptosis and activate proliferation: the former predominantly through modulating the cellular tumor suppressor p53 and the latter by activating cellular pro-survival and pro-metabolism protein cascades, such as the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K-Akt) pathway, which is activated by HAdV E4orf1. Focusing on HAdV-C5, we show that E4orf1 is necessary and sufficient to stimulate Akt activation through phosphorylation in H1299 cells, which is not only hindered but repressed during HAdV-C5 infection with a loss of E4orf1 function in p53-positive A549 cells. Contrary to other research, E4orf1 localized not only in the common, cytoplasmic PI3K-Akt-containing compartment, but also in distinct nuclear aggregates. We identified a novel inhibitory mechanism, where p53 selectively targeted E4orf1 to destabilize it, also stalling E4orf1-dependent Akt phosphorylation. Co-IP and immunofluorescence studies showed that p53 and E4orf1 interact, and since p53 is bound by the HAdV-C5 E3 ubiquitin ligase complex, we also identified E4orf1 as a novel factor interacting with E1B-55K and E4orf6 during infection; overexpression of E4orf1 led to less-efficient E3 ubiquitin ligase-mediated proteasomal degradation of p53. We hypothesize that p53 specifically subverts the pro-survival function of E4orf1-mediated PI3K-Akt activation to protect the cell from metabolic hyper-activation or even transformation.

IMPORTANCE

Human adenoviruses (HAdV) are nearly ubiquitous pathogens comprising numerous subtypes that infect various tissues and organs. Among many encoded proteins that facilitate viral replication and subversion of host cellular processes, the viral E4orf1 protein has emerged as an intriguing yet under-investigated player in the complex interplay between the virus and its host. Nonetheless, E4orf1 has gained attention as a metabolism activator and oncogenic agent, while recent research is showing that E4orf1 may play a more important role in modulating the cellular pathways such as phosphoinositide 3-kinase-Akt-mTOR. Our study reveals a novel and general impact of E4orf1 on host mechanisms, providing a novel basis for innovative antiviral strategies in future therapeutic settings. Ongoing investigations of the cellular pathways modulated by HAdV are of great interest, particularly since adenovirus-based vectors actually serve as vaccine or gene vectors. HAdV constitute an ideal model system to analyze the underlying molecular principles of virus-induced tumorigenesis.
Human trophoblast stem cells restrict human cytomegalovirus replication
Authors: Rollman Tyler B. , Berkebile Zachary W. , Okae Hiroaki , Bardwell Vivian J. , Gearhart Micah D. , Bierle Craig J.
Published: March 2024

Placental infection plays a central role in the pathogenesis of congenital human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infections and is a cause of fetal growth restriction and pregnancy loss. HCMV can replicate in some trophoblast cell types, but it remains unclear how the virus evades antiviral immunity in the placenta and how infection compromises placental development and function. Human trophoblast stem cells (TSCs) can be differentiated into extravillous trophoblasts (EVTs), syncytiotrophoblasts (STBs), and organoids, and this study assessed the utility of TSCs as a model of HCMV infection in the first-trimester placenta. HCMV was found to non-productively infect TSCs, EVTs, and STBs. Immunofluorescence assays and flow cytometry experiments further revealed that infected TSCs frequently only express immediate early viral gene products. Similarly, RNA sequencing found that viral gene expression in TSCs does not follow the kinetic patterns observed during lytic infection in fibroblasts. Canonical antiviral responses were largely not observed in HCMV-infected TSCs and TSC-derived trophoblasts. Rather, infection dysregulated factors involved in cell identity, differentiation, and Wingless/Integrated signaling. Thus, while HCMV does not replicate in TSCs, infection may perturb trophoblast differentiation in ways that could interfere with placental function.

IMPORTANCE

Placental infection plays a central role in human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) pathogenesis during pregnancy, but the species specificity of HCMV and the limited availability and lifespan of primary trophoblasts have been persistent barriers to understanding how infection impacts this vital organ. Human trophoblast stem cells (TSCs) represent a new approach to modeling viral infection early in placental development. This study reveals that TSCs, like other stem cell types, restrict HCMV replication. However, infection perturbs the expression of genes involved in differentiation and cell fate determination, pointing to a mechanism by which HCMV could cause placental injury.
Complete genome sequences of seven
Microbacterium foliorum
phages Albedo, Kenzers, Swervy, Cranjis, JaimeB, Fullmetal, and Stormbreaker
Authors: Valentin Caban Keyshla , Kalesnik Elizabeth , Green Kaitlyn A. , Negro Christopher J. , Nunez Rodriguez Ulises , Peele Milan C. , Nguyen Casandra T. , Cahill Sydney , Dougherty Keara , Logue Melissa , Hargraves Star , Radziak Hannah , Willette Luke , Ogunyinka Esther , Campbell Davia C. , Adebamiro Oluwatomiwa , Schmeltzer Cecelia , Onimus Jonathan , Asaka Hannah A. , Bangura Wilfred , Shimp Christina M. , Alade Ameera , Sequira Daekwon M. , Jimenez Tommy ,   Neumann University Phage Discovery Group, Swerdlow Sarah J. , Harrison Melinda K. , Fallest-Strobl Patricia C. , Mastropaolo Matthew D.
Published: March 2024

Seven bacteriophages were isolated from soil in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin using the host
Microbacterium foliorum
. These bacteriophages range in the number of predicted genes encoded, from 25 to 91, and are distributed across actinobacteriophage clusters EB, EC, EE, and EK.
Synglacial carbonate records of snowball Earth ocean composition—Evidence from the Nantuo Formation, South China
Authors: Zhu Guangyou , Zhao Kun , Ding Weiming , Wang Ruimin , Ma Haoran , Lang Xianguo , Li Tingting , Li Chao , Shen Bing
Published: March 2024

The Cryogenian (ca. 717–635 Ma) snowball Earth glaciations ended with the precipitation of “cap” carbonate successions with negative carbon isotope (δ13Ccarb) values, which have been explained by the addition of various 13C-depleted carbon sources in the deglacial process. These arguments assumed that marine dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) was enriched in 13C in the synglacial ocean. However, this assumption has not yet been tested, because the synglacial ocean chemistry is unknown. In this study, we carried out detailed analyses of the petrology, carbonate carbon (δ13Ccarb) and oxygen (δ18Ocarb) isotopes, organic carbon (δ13Corg) isotopes, major and minor elemental compositions (Ca, Mg, Mn, Fe, Sr), and iron speciation (total Fe, highly reactive Fe, pyrite Fe) of the carbonate layers (also called synglacial carbonate layers) from the Nantuo Formation (ca. 650–635 Ma) on the Yangtze block, South China. Petrographic observations indicated that the synglacial carbonate comprises dolomicrite, mud-crystal powder dolomite, lime dolomite, and dolomitic limestone, supporting an authigenic carbonate origin, and thus, it potentially recorded the ocean chemistry during the Marinoan ice age. The synglacial carbonate is characterized by extreme Mn enrichment, low Fe/Mn ratios, and low δ13Ccarb (−7‰) values. High Mn contents and low Fe/Mn ratios imply marine redox conditions favoring Mn2+ accumulation and Fe2+ oxidation, while low δ13Ccarb values might be attributed to CO2 degassing of submarine volcanoes as well as low primary burial during the glaciation. Since the δ13CDIC value of the synglacial ocean was lower than the δ13Ccarb values of most cap carbonates, we infer the addition of 13C-enriched DIC or removal of 12C during cap carbonate precipitation, such as through carbonate weathering or organic carbon burial. These findings provide new insights into the nature of Cryogenian glaciation, the origin of cap carbonates, and the aftermath of global glaciation.