bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Medication Use Quality and Safety in Older Adults: 2023 Update
Authors: Hart Laura A. , Vo Su , Hanlon Joseph T. , Schmader Kenneth E. , Gray Shelly L.
Published: January 2025

Improving the quality of medication use and medication safety are important priorities for healthcare providers who care for older adults. The objective of this article was to identify four exemplary articles with this focus in 2023. We selected high‐quality studies that advanced this field of research. The chosen articles cover domains related to deprescribing/discontinuation, optimizing medication use, medication safety/adverse drug events, and other. The first study was a randomized clinical trial evaluating the efficacy of the patient‐centered Shed‐MEDS deprescribing intervention among older adults transitioning from the hospital to postacute care facilities (domain: deprescribing/discontinuation). The second study, a retrospective cohort study among Medicare beneficiaries, described the phenomenon of a prescribing cascade relic and evaluated continued potassium use after discontinuation of a loop diuretic (domain: optimizing medication use). The third study was a systematic review and meta‐analysis describing the prevalence of drug–drug interactions among community‐dwelling older adults (domain: other). Lastly, the fourth study was a retrospective cohort study among Medicare beneficiaries that evaluated concurrent gabapentin and opioid use and risk of mortality (domain: medication safety). Collectively, this review succinctly highlights pertinent topics related to promoting safe use of medications and promotes awareness of optimizing older adults' medication regimens.
Who Owns the Indonesian Countryside? From Corporate Capital to Capitalist Farmers and Landlord Capitalists
Authors: Habibi Muchtar
Published: January 2025

Many recent studies on Indonesia have underlined the importance of corporate capital, either private or state‐owned, as the dominant actors in the countryside. This paper argues that in the different contexts of rurality in Indonesia, noncorporate capital, including capitalist farmers and landlord capitalists, functions as a prominent segment of the rural ruling class. The paper develops an understanding of these dominant actors by exploring internal differentiation among them. Different fractions within both capitalist farmers, including ‘typical capitalist farmers’, ‘politico‐bureaucrat capitalist farmers’ and ‘professional capitalist farmers’, and landlord capitalists, including ‘present landlords’ and ‘absentee landlords’, shape the nature of their cooperation and competition and how they relate to other classes. The internal dynamics of the rural ruling class shape the organization of commodity production and class reproduction (accumulation) strategies in specific settings. Drawing on the processes of agrarian change in rural Java and Sumatra, this paper sheds light on the nature of the rural ruling class, an important segment of the current trajectories of capitalism in Indonesia. By doing so, it adds a new perspective on the broader power relations in the countryside.
Opportunistic assessment of steatotic liver disease in lung cancer screening eligible individuals
Authors: Weiss Jakob , Bernatz Simon , Johnson Justin , Thiriveedhi Vamsi , Mak Raymond H. , Fedorov Andriy , Lu Michael T. , Aerts Hugo J. W. L.
Published: January 2025

Background

Steatotic liver disease (SLD) is a potentially reversible condition but often goes unnoticed with the risk for end‐stage liver disease.

Purpose

To opportunistically estimate SLD on lung screening chest computed tomography (CT) and investigate its prognostic value in heavy smokers participating in the National Lung Screening Trial (NLST).

Material and methods

We used a deep learning model to segment the liver on non‐contrast‐enhanced chest CT scans of 19,774 NLST participants (age 61.4 ± 5.0 years; 41.2% female) at baseline and on the 1‐year follow‐up scan if no cancer was detected. SLD was defined as hepatic fat fraction (HFF) ≥5% derived from Hounsfield unit measures of the segmented liver. Participants with SLD were categorized as lean (body mass index [BMI] < 25 kg/m2) and overweight (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2). The primary outcome was all‐cause mortality. Cox proportional hazard regression assessed the association between (1) SLD and mortality at baseline and (2) the association between a change in HFF and mortality within 1 year.

Results

There were 5.1% (1000/19,760) all‐cause deaths over a median follow‐up of 6 (range, 0.8–6) years. At baseline, SLD was associated with increased mortality in lean but not in overweight/obese participants as compared to participants without SLD (hazard ratio [HR] adjusted for risk factors: 1.93 [95% confidence interval 1.52–2.45]; p = 0.001). Individuals with an increase in HFF within 1 year had a significantly worse outcome than participants with stable HFF (HR adjusted for risk factors: 1.29 [1.01–1.65]; p = 0.04).

Conclusion

SLD is an independent predictor for long‐term mortality in heavy smokers beyond known clinical risk factors.
Multicenter validation of secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis diagnostic criteria
Authors: Lachmann Gunnar , Heeren Patrick , Schuster Friederike S. , Nyvlt Peter , Spies Claudia , Feinkohl Insa , Schenk Thomas , Ammouri Wafa , Debaugnies France , Galicier Lionel , Jia Yuan , Meena Nikhil , Nagant Carole , Neth Olaf , Nierkens Stefan , San Martin Juan , Sun Hao Wei (Linda) , Wang Yini , Wang Zhao , Yoon Jae‐Ho , Brunkhorst Frank M. , La Rosée Paul , Janka Gritta , Lachmann Cornelia
Published: January 2025

Background:

Five fulfilled hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH)‐2004 criteria, and the HScore are widely used and recommended by international expert consensus to diagnose secondary HLH. Both diagnostic scores have never been validated in heterogeneous patient cohorts of secondary HLH patients. We aimed to systematically optimize and validate diagnostic criteria of secondary HLH using a multicenter approach.

Methods:

We developed optimized criteria in our cohort of critically ill patients as a first step. We next validated these new criteria together with the original and modified HLH‐2004 criteria as well as the HScore using original data of 13 published cohorts, which were identified by a systematic literature search.

Results:

The best performing HLH diagnostic criteria sets over all 13 validation cohorts were the original HLH‐2004 criteria with a decreased cut‐off (cut‐off 4, mean sensitivity 86.5%, mean specificity 86.1%), followed by the revised HLH‐2004 criteria (natural killer cell activity removed; cut‐off 4, mean sensitivity 83.8%, mean specificity 87.8%) and the HScore (cut‐off 169, mean sensitivity 82.4%, mean specificity 87.6%). Our newly developed HLH diagnostic criteria showed inferior performance. Ferritin ≥500 µg/L had 94.0% mean sensitivity over all cohorts.

Conclusions:

In this first multicenter validation study, four fulfilled HLH‐2004 criteria and an HScore of 169 were suitable to diagnose secondary HLH, which will lead to rapid diagnosis and improved patient outcomes. Ferritin proved as a reliable HLH screening marker. Our results should be taken into account in clinical recommendations and in designing new studies.
Daily association between feeling needed and useful and adolescent emotional and social well‐being: Differences by suicidal ideation
Authors: Chiang Shou‐Chun
Published: January 2025

Prior research suggests that feeling needed and useful plays a central role in adolescent psychosocial development and well‐being. However, little is known about whether feeling needed and useful benefits adolescents' well‐being in daily life, especially for those with suicidal ideation. The current study examined the daily association between feeling needed and useful and emotional and social well‐being in a daily diary sample of adolescents (N = 122; Mage = 12.64) with and without suicidal ideation. Results from multilevel modeling showed that on days when youth experienced higher levels of feeling needed and useful, they reported lower negative emotions, higher positive emotions, and increased family connectedness. Furthermore, significant moderation effects indicated that daily feelings of being needed and useful were associated with higher positive emotions and peer connectedness only for youth with suicidal ideation. The findings support the importance of feeling needed and useful in adolescent development and highlight its beneficial effects among adolescents at risk for suicide.
Evaluation of the Effect of Bacteriophages and Organic Acids as a Feed Additive to Reduce Salmonella enteritidis in Challenged Chickens
Authors: Saleh Hassan , Mirakzehi Mohammad Taher , bidokhti Hosin Moradi , Kazemi Mohsen
Published: January 2025

This study aimed to compare the effects of dietary supplementation of bacteriophage (BP) and acidifiers on performance, meat quality, morphology, and intestinal microbiota in chickens challenged and unchallenged with Salmonella enteritidis (SE) and also to investigate the possibility of replacing them in the diet with antibiotics. A total of 1760 male Ross (308) chicks were randomly assigned to 11 dietary treatments (8 pens/with 20 male chickens in each). Dietary treatments were as follows: SE‐uninfected (negative control (NC), a basal diet without supplemention; NC+ 500 g/t BP (NBP1); NC+ 1000 g/t BP (NBP2); NC+ 300 mg/kg acidifier A (NAA); NC+ 300 mg/kg acidifier B (NAB)) and SE‐infected (positive control (PC), a basal diet without supplemention; PC+ 40 mg/kg Antibiotic enrofloxacin (PA); PC+ 500 g/t BP (PBP1); PC+ 1000 g/t BP (PBP2); PC+ 3000 mg/kg acidifier A (PAA); PC+ 3000 mg/kg acidifier B (PAB)). At 13 D birds in challenged groups were orally gavaged with 1 mL bacterial suspension containing approximately 108 CFU Salmonella enterica. The results indicated that chicks challenged with SE impaired performance so that BWG and FI significantly decreased and FCR increased (p < 0.05). Diets containing a high dose of BP increased BW and improved FCR in challenged and unchallenged chickens. The quality of breast meat showed a decline in oxidation in chickens challenged with SE (p < 0.05). The inclusion of bacteriophage in the diet of chickens (1000 g/t) improved the L*, b*, and oxidation of meat. The use of bacteriophage and acidifier A in the diet significantly increased the Lactobacillus, and LAB count, especially in the challenged groups. The challenge of chickens with SE decreased the villus height and crypt depth in different parts of the small intestine (p < 0.05). The results of the present study suggested that 1000 g/t of BP probably improves chicken performance by increasing beneficial bacteria and decreasing pathogenic bacteria. Also, bacteriophage showed an improvement in the performance reduction of chickens with Salmonella infection. In addition, improved meat quality and beneficial changes in the microbiome and intestinal morphology indicate the effectiveness of BP as an alternative antibiotic growth promoter in broiler diets.
Not enough: Medicaid expansion, medical debt, and cost avoidance in rural American Indian and Alaska Native households
Authors: Hubbard Sean
Published: January 2025

Purpose

Despite expanding health insurance coverage under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), many Americans struggle with financial barriers to health care. Medicaid expansion was meant to help alleviate these barriers, particularly for rural communities, but has shown mixed results. The American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) community, which faces both racial and geographic disparities, is a group that should benefit from Medicaid expansion. This paper examines differences in medical debt and cost avoidance for rural American Indian and Alaskan Native households in Medicaid expansion and nonexpansion states.

Methods

This study uses data from the National Financial Capability Study in binomial logistic regression models to examine whether AI/AN households in rural areas are more likely to have medical and engage in cost avoidance than their urban counterparts.

Findings

The results show no differences between Medicaid expansion status but do find a higher likelihood of medical debt for those living in rural areas. The results also show a higher likelihood of medical debt and cost avoidance for those living farther from Indian Health Services (IHS)/Tribal health care facilities.

Discussion/Conclusions

The results indicate that rural AI/AN individuals continue to face financial barriers to health care despite the expansion of Medicaid under the ACA. This suggests that rural AI/AN individuals are seeking care outside of the IHS/Tribal system due to limited access to IHS providers. Addressing these barriers may require policies and programs focusing on rural AI/AN communities.
Development and Evaluation of a Virtual Reality Intervention for Reducing Exposure to Endocrine Disruptors in Female Adolescents: A Pilot Study
Authors: Park SoMi , Hwang Yun Jeong , Chung ChaeWeon
Published: January 2025

Purpose

This study aimed to develop a virtual reality (VR) intervention for reducing exposure to endocrine disruptors (EDs) and examined the effect of the intervention among Korean adolescent girls.

Design and Methods

A methodological design was employed involving five phases for developing the VR tool and its evaluation of validity testing. The five development phases were conducted through (1) a literature review and surveys to select appropriate VR content for adolescents’ snack shopping, (2) a VR scenario composition based on the information‐motivation‐behavioral (IMB) skills model, (3) implementation of the VR tool using Oculus Quest 2, (4) heuristic and usability evaluations of the VR tool, and (5) the confirmation of final maintenance. For the evaluation, a one‐group pre‐ and post‐test design was utilized with a convenience sample of 19 adolescent girls who were recruited from a high school located in W city. Knowledge about EDs and sensitivity to women's reproductive health problems were measured using a self‐administered questionnaire.

Results

The prototype of a 15‐min VR intervention was developed based on the waterfall model and evaluation criteria yielded acceptable results through content validity, heuristic evaluation, and usability test. The Wilcoxon signed‐rank test showed significant differences in knowledge about EDs (U = 3.57, p < 0.001) and sensitivity to women's reproductive health problems (U = 4.36, p < 0.001) between pre‐ and post‐intervention.

Practice Implications

The VR intervention was found to be applicable and effective for reducing exposure to EDs in female adolescents. School and community health centers need to expand the application of VR‐based health education to provide adolescents with a conducive environment for engaging in health behaviors and enhancing learning experiences.
Long‐Term Effects of Direct‐Acting Antivirals on Hepatitis C: Trends in Liver Disease–Related Hospitalisations in Italy
Authors: Mennini Francesco Saverio , Sciattella Paolo , Simonelli Claudia , Marcellusi Andrea , Rosato Stefano , Kondili Loreta A.
Published: January 2025

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of direct‐acting antivirals (DAAs) on hepatitis C virus (HCV) hospitalisation trends in Italy, the country with not only the highest burden of HCV‐related disease but also the highest number of patients treated for chronic HCV infection in Europe. Incident hospital discharge records in Italy from 2012 to 2019 that included a liver cirrhosis diagnosis without mention of alcohol, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), HCV and liver cirrhosis without mention of alcohol and/or HCC, cirrhosis with mention of alcohol, as defined by the International Classification of Diseases (ICD‐9‐CM) were reviewed. An interrupted time series analysis compared the incidence of cirrhosis and HCC before and after the introduction of DAAs (Year 2015). Overall, non‐alcoholic cirrhosis significantly decreased after the introduction of DAAs (β3 = 0.03) and for those 40–59 years of age (β3 = 0.025). HCV with cirrhosis and/or HCC significantly reduced overall for those aged 40–59 and older than 60 (). HCC‐related hospitalisation rates significantly decreased in patients younger than 60 (). Cirrhosis‐related hospitalisations with mention of alcohol did not differ during the study period before and after the year 2015 (). There was a significant reduction in HCV‐related hospitalisations throughout Italy after introducing DAAs.
Immunological Poetics and Postcolonial Echoes: Traversing the Medical Narratives From T.S. Eliot to J.M. Coetzee
Authors: Liu Huiming
Published: January 2025

This article explores the intersection of immunological discourse and literary narrative through the works of T.S. Eliot and J.M. Coetzee. The paper examines the early twentieth‐century shift from holistic disease models to germ theory, paralleling this scientific evolution with Eliot's use of chemical metaphors in “Tradition and the Individual Talent.” Eliot's essay is analyzed alongside scientific insights from scholars like Michael Whitworth and Kevin Brazil, highlighting the blend of personal insight and historical awareness in poetic and scientific innovation. This analysis extends to Coetzee's Age of Iron, contrasting Eliot's impersonal poetics with Coetzee's nuanced exploration of cancer, apartheid, and racial and gendered bodies. Through an immunological lens, the paper delves into how literature can challenge canonical boundaries, advocate for inclusive narratives, and foster cross‐racial empathy. By drawing parallels between medical narratives and literary expressions of illness and identity, it proposes literature as a means to navigate and reconcile the divides between health, the body, and the postcolonial other.
Genetic Variants of GBP4: Reduced Risks for Drug‐Induced Acute Liver Failure in Non‐Finnish European Population
Authors: Liao Tsung‐Jen , Xia Menghang , Hayashi Paul , Pan Bohun , Aithal Guruprasad P. , Lucena M. Isabel , Andrade Raúl J. , Rule Jody A. , Lee William M. , Rakela Jorge , Huang Ruili , Chen Minjun
Published: January 2025

Background and Aims

Acute liver failure (ALF) is a serious condition, typically in individuals without prior liver disease. Drug‐induced ALF (DIALF) constitutes a major portion of ALF cases. Our research aimed to identify potential genetic predispositions to DIALF.

Methods

We analysed the potential genetic variants associated with DIALF using the whole exome sequencing data from 75 cases, including 40 non‐Finnish European cases in the pilot study. Chi‐square tests were performed for case–control analysis against the 1000 genomes project as the control. A replication study of 44 DIALF cases that included 24 non‐Finnish Europeans was conducted to validate candidate variants. The association between clinical phenotype and genotypes was analysed using one‐way analysis of variance.

Results

Eight variants (rs561037, rs561042, rs608339, rs655260, rs1142886, rs1142888, rs1142889 and rs1142890) in the guanylate binding protein 4 (GBP4) were significantly associated with DIALF in non‐Finnish Europeans in the pilot study and confirmed in the replication study. Rs561037 and rs561042 were highly significant with the lowest allele frequencies in both pilot and replication studies. An association was also found between these variants and milder clinical outcomes, indicated by lower peak levels of ALT, AST and higher Karnofsky performance scores.

Conclusion

Our study identified eight GBP4 missense variants linked to a lower risk of DIALF in the non‐Finnish European population. The GBP4 protein, activated by interferon‐gamma, plays a critical role in innate immunity. These findings suggest that GBP4 variants might influence immune and inflammatory responses in DIALF, though further studies are needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms.
Assessment of Four Essential Features of the Alive & Thrive Initiative to Improve Maternal, Infant, Young Child, and Adolescent Nutrition
Authors: Frongillo Edward A. , Escobar‐DeMarco Jessica , Bose Sujata
Published: January 2025

Alive & Thrive has been a major global nutrition initiative that aimed to learn how to improve maternal, infant, young child, and adolescent nutrition and health on a large scale. During 2009–2014, Alive & Thrive developed and implemented interventions to improve infant and young child feeding at scale in three countries. Subsequently, Alive & Thrive expanded its work to more than 15 geographies, including six country‐specific and two regional programs, to additionally address maternal and adolescent nutrition while adding agriculture and social protection programs to improve maternal, infant, and young child nutrition. Reflecting on the big picture of what the Alive & Thrive initiative has accomplished in its 16 years and how it did so, four features warranted emphasis because additional learning was needed. These four features were: commitment to exemplary large‐scale social and behaviour change communication, explicit focus on policy and advocacy to achieve and sustain change, promotion of country‐led initiatives through technical assistance, and attention to quality assurance and improvement in programming. For each feature, an assessment across the Alive & Thrive portfolio was commissioned, each led by an external consultant or team. The assessments highlighted designing and implementing exemplary social and behaviour change programming and policy advocacy in each country, undertaking a large‐scale effort through careful, in‐depth, and evidence‐based planning that is bolstered by strong engagement with relevant stakeholders at multiple levels. The assessments also highlighted technical assistance that is responsive to country contexts to support country‐led initiatives and attention to assuring and improving the quality of programming to achieve effectiveness.
Exploring the Complex Interplay Between Ineffective Esophageal Motility and Reflux Burden
Authors: Marchetti Lorenzo , Ribolsi Mentore
Published: January 2025

The role of esophageal motility in determining GERD severity has been widely explored. Kamboj et al. show that IEM diagnosis is associated with increased GERD severity. We aim to further highlight the impact of IEM in reflux burden, as demonstrated by several recent studies in patients with both typical and atypical symptoms.
Exploring the Relevance of Indigenous Knowledges to Dementia Care in Nursing
Authors: Meng Christine , Brown Helen
Published: January 2025

In this paper, we engage in philosophical inquiry to consider the relevance of Indigenous Knowledges (IKs) for reimagining dementia care for individuals living with dementia. We outline the limitations of philosophical perspectives aligned with Eurocentric academic knowledge, arguing that such knowledge relies on an individualistic view of self and neglects the body and embodied experience in dementia care. We demonstrate how a personal diachronicity perspective diminishes the importance of valuing the fluid and dynamic self‐identities of persons living with dementia. We then turn to the epistemological foundations of IKs through philosophical inquiry, focusing on relationality, connectiveness, and holism, and discuss the role of IKs in institutional knowledge systems. We then explore the potential relevance of IKs to widen the epistemological and ontological gaze centering on the relational concepts of personhood, holism, continuity, embodiment, and homogeneity of self that are foundational to reimaging dominant approaches to dementia care.
An Elusive Diagnosis of Solitary Maxillary Plasmacytoma: Case Report and Updated Literature Review
Authors: Cavalcante Renan Carlos Lopes , Al‐Moraissi Essam , Grillo Ricardo
Published: January 2025

Objectives

Solitary plasmacytoma is a rare neoplasm of plasma cells that typically manifests as a singular site of involvement in bone or soft tissue. The diagnosis of solitary plasmacytoma can be challenging, as clinical and radiographic findings may lack specificity, and the condition may imitate other more prevalent disorders. This report details a complex case of solitary maxillary plasmacytoma, underscores the diagnostic and management difficulties and provides a comprehensive literature review to enhance comprehension of this infrequent ailment.

Case Report

This article delineates the case of a 66‐year‐old female who presented with painless swelling in the maxillary region. The diagnosis was confirmed via biopsy of the lesion, which, in conjunction with immunohistochemical assessment, revealed a solitary plasmacytoma of the maxilla. The patient underwent treatment through curettage and has remained free of disease for 6 months.

Conclusion

Solitary maxillary plasmacytoma is an unusual condition that can pose challenges in terms of diagnosis and management. The present case report, along with the literature review, offers valuable insights into the clinical presentation, diagnosis and treatment of this rare condition, which could aid clinicians in delivering timely and appropriate management.
Nano‐Selenium Elevating Leaf Quality and Growth Via Microbial‐Regulating Nitrogen Availability Under Ammonium and Nitrate Spraying in Tea Plants
Authors: Liu Miao , Ye Liyun , Zhao Wenting , Li Zhengzhen , Korpelainen Helena , Li Chunyang
Published: January 2025

Nano‐selenium fertilizers can promote plant growth and nitrogen availability. However, little information is available on the effects of nano‐selenium on tea leaf quality, soil nutrient availability and associated microbe‐driven mechanisms. This study examined the effects of nano‐selenium on the tea leaf quality and soil nitrogen cycling in 20‐year‐old tea plantations when the leaves were sprayed with ammonium or nitrate. Leaf selenium and amino acid contents increased ninefold and 9%, respectively, with nano‐selenium in “Zhongcha108” and “Longjing43.” Rhizosphere bacterial and fungal community compositions were more sensitive to selenium and nitrogen applications in “Longjing43” than in “Zhongcha108.” “Zhongcha108” enriched more taxa related to microbial growth, while more taxa related to cellular maintenance and nutrient acquisition enriched in “Longjing43.” Nano‐selenium application decreased the copy number of AOA and AOB genes, and nosZ and nirK genes by 59%, 53%, 37% and 46% under ammonium, and by 77%, 43%, 38% and 65%, respectively, under nitrate spraying, in “Longjing43.” However, the expression of these genes increased by nano‐selenium in “Zhongcha108” with ammonium spraying. It is concluded that a nano‐selenium application increases tea leaf quality, and this effect on nitrogen cycling and ecological functioning largely depends on the tea cultivar‐specific bacterial and fungal composition and function.
Copper‐Induced Transgenerational Plasticity in Plant Defence Boosts Aphid Fitness
Authors: Chávez Alexandra , Schreyer Anne , Prüsener Pauline , Schäfer Martin , Xu Shuqing , Huber Meret
Published: January 2025

Transgenerational plasticity in plants is an increasingly recognized phenomenon, yet it is mostly unclear whether transgenerational plasticity is relevant to both the fitness of the plant and its interacting species. Using monoclonal strains of the giant duckweed (Spirodela polyrhiza) and its native herbivore, the waterlily aphid (Rhopalosiphum nymphaeae), we assessed whether pre‐treating plants with copper excess, both indoors and outdoors, induces transgenerational plasticity in plant defences that alter plant and herbivore fitness. Outdoors, copper pre‐treatment tended to increase plant growth rates under recurring copper excess. Indoors, copper pre‐treatment either increased or decreased plant growth rates under recurring conditions, depending on the plant genotype. Copper pre‐treatment induced anthocyanins that protected plants against copper toxicity, and these elevated levels were transgenerationally retained. Copper pre‐treatment also transgenerationally increased the levels of 12‐oxo‐phytodienoic acid (OPDA), a jasmonate precursor. Nevertheless, aphids grew up to 50% better when the plants were pre‐treated with copper. The increased aphid growth was likely caused by transgenerationally elevated OPDA levels, as aphids grew better when jasmonates were externally applied to plants. Taken together, this study shows that transgenerational plasticity is relevant to both plant and herbivore fitness, which highlights the role of transgenerational plasticity in plant evolution and species interactions.
Allometric Relationships of Branch Water‐Storage Capacity and Capacitance in Four European Trees Species
Authors: Hernando Sonia , Binks Oliver J. , Martínez‐Vilalta Jordi , Martin‐StPaul Nicolas K. , Delzon Sylvain , Mencuccini Maurizio
Published: January 2025

Water storage capacity and capacitance in trees regulate hydration levels, providing water reserves during drought. However, the effects of varying traits, tissue fractions and of different water pools on the allometry of branch‐/sample‐level properties have not been systematically investigated. We analyse the relationships between branch size and branch capacity and capacitance with respect to wood density, xylem vulnerability to embolism, and tissue fractions. The analysis was performed using data from four tree species sampled from 12 to 15 sites across Europe. We show that of the three phases of the water release curve, the second phase (dominated by elasticity) was significantly influenced by leaf and bark proportions, the sapwood/heartwood ratio and xylem vulnerability to embolism for capacity and/or capacitance. However, the first (dominated by capillarity) and the third phase (characterised by embolism) were not influenced by the morpho‐physiological properties measured. Our results indicate that branch capacity and capacitance are allometrically related (slope < 1) to branch dry mass, leaf area and total water content, indicating that normalising by these size measures does not completely remove size‐dependency. We conclude that the only means of obtaining size‐independent water storage traits directly applicable in comparative and modelling studies is by normalising by water quantity per phase.
The impact of cytokines and tumour‐conditioned medium on the properties of murine in vitro generated myeloid‐derived suppressor cells
Authors: Awad Mona , Sen'kova Aleksandra , Zenkova Marina , Markov Oleg
Published: January 2025

Myeloid‐derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are a heterogeneous group of immature myeloid cells playing a critical role in immune suppression. In vitro‐generated MDSCs are a convenient tool to study the properties of tumour‐associated MDSCs. Here, we compared six protocols for in vitro generation of functional mouse MDSCs from bone marrow progenitors. The protocols included granulocyte‐macrophage colony‐stimulating factor (GM‐CSF) alone or in combination with interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) or granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor (G‐CSF), with or without a tumour‐conditioned medium (TCM) derived from B16‐F10 melanoma. Obtained MDSCs were characterized by morphology, phenotype, gene expression of key immunosuppressive factors, and in vitro suppression of T cell proliferation. All tested protocols yielded approximately 25% monocytic and 50% polymorphonuclear MDSCs. Protocols using IL‐6 generated MDSCs with reduced maturation and differentiation status, upregulated Arg1 and Nos1 mRNA expression, increased levels of Arg‐1 and TGF‐β proteins and enhanced ROS production compared to the other protocols. All tested protocols yielded MDSCs that efficiently inhibited T cell proliferation in vitro, with some advantage for the GM‐CSF and G‐CSF + GM‐CSF protocols. Interestingly, a combination of protocols with B16‐F10‐derived TCM resulted in the generation of MDSCs with reduced immunosuppressive properties. Our results provide valuable insights into the optimal conditions for in vitro generation of MDSCs with specific immunosuppressive properties.
Chromosome‐level assembly of basil genome unveils the genetic variation driving Genovese and Thai aroma types
Authors: Zhang Jing , Abu‐Abied Mohamad , Milavski Renana , Adler Chen , Shachter Alona , Kahane‐Achinoam Tali , Melnik‐Ben‐Gera Hadas , Davidovich‐Rikanati Rachel , Powell Adrian F. , Chaimovitsh David , Carmi Gon , Dudai Nativ , Strickler Susan R. , Gonda Itay
Published: January 2025

Basil, Ocimum basilicum L., is a widely cultivated aromatic herb, prized for its culinary and medicinal uses, predominantly owing to its unique aroma, primarily determined by eugenol for Genovese cultivars or methyl chavicol for Thai cultivars. To date, a comprehensive basil reference genome has been lacking, with only a fragmented draft available. To fill this gap, we employed PacBio HiFi and Hi‐C sequencing to construct a homeolog‐phased chromosome‐level genome for basil. The tetraploid basil genome was assembled into 26 pseudomolecules and further categorized into subgenomes. High levels of synteny were observed between the two basil subgenomes but comparisons to Salvia rosmarinus show collinearity quickly breaks down in near relatives. We utilized a bi‐parental population derived from a Genovese × Thai cross to map quantitative trait loci (QTL) for the aroma chemotype. We discovered a single QTL governing the eugenol/methyl chavicol ratio, which encompassed a genomic region with 95 genes, including 15 genes encoding a shikimate O‐hydroxycinnamoyltransferase (HCT/CST) enzyme. Of them, only ObHCT1 exhibited significantly higher expression in the Genovese cultivar and showed a trichome‐specific expression. ObHCT1 was functionally confirmed as a genuine HCT enzyme using an in vitro assay. The high‐quality, contiguous basil reference genome is now publicly accessible at BasilBase, a valuable resource for the scientific community. Combined with insights into cell‐type‐specific gene expression, it promises to elucidate specialized metabolite biosynthesis pathways at the cellular level.
Impact of Digital Inclusive Finance on common prosperity in China’s Social Media Era
Authors: Xiong Qin
Published: January 2025

Achieving common prosperity (CP) is a pivotal goal in China’s modernization, particularly as social media increasingly shapes public awareness and policy discourse. In China’s social media era, digital inclusive finance (DIF) has emerged as a key financial model impacting this goal. This study, drawing on data from Guangdong Province from 2011 to 2021 as an example, uses the entropy method to calculate the CP index and assesses the impact of DIF on it. Results indicate significant regional variations in CP levels and highlight the positive effects of DIF on it in Guangdong. The theoretical contribution of this study lies in understanding how financial inclusion interacts with social equity. In practical significance, the findings may provide some suggestions and decision-making basis for policy makers, promoting the coverage of DIF and driving sustainable socio-economic development.
A Machine Learning Approach for Rapid Solution of Three-Dimensional Moving Source Problems in Manufacturing
Authors: Heydari Mahtab , Tai Bruce L.
Published: January 2025

Moving heat source problems are commonly seen in many manufacturing applications, while numerical modeling often takes time to analyze. This article presents a convolution neural network (CNN)-based framework for rapid prediction of temperature distribution and two methods to improve the overall efficiency and accuracy when the framework is scaled to large 3D geometries. The first method, referred to as geometric subsection training, reduces the amount of spatial data needed by over 90% for the specific 3D geometry used in this framework. The second method, referred to as the boundary-focused training method, allows for further scalability of the framework to large and/or complicated geometries using a clustering approach to classify the spatial data. Then, a tandem learning approach is adopted to train a series of CNNs for each respective cluster. These methods are implemented on a complex 3D geometry and a random sequential moving heat source as proof of concept. Results show a high level of agreement with the ground truth generated by finite element analysis. The scalability and limitations of this approach are also discussed in this article.
Rate-controlled cycle etching of GaN by cycle exposure to BCl3 and F2-added Ar plasma at a substrate temperature of 400 °C
Authors: Nakamura Shohei , Tanide Atsushi , Nadahara Soichi , Ishikawa Kenji , Hori Masaru
Published: January 2025

Cycle etching of GaN with high etching rate controllability was achieved by cycle exposure to BCl3 gas and F2-added Ar plasma at an ion energy of 23 eV and a substrate temperature of 400 °C. Surfaces chlorinated by exposure to BCl3 gas were removed by ion bombardment during exposure to the F2-added Ar plasma. By controlling the plasma irradiation time, the etching amount per cycle for GaN can be regulated. Because of the lower energies of ion bombardments, no degradation of the cathodoluminescence intensity attributable to the energy bandgap edge of GaN was observed after cycle etching.
Film characteristics of atmospheric pressure plasma-treated chitosan solution
Authors: Siao Vera Angela , Mahinay Christian Lorenz , Dela Cruz Catherine Joy , Taaca Kathrina Lois
Published: January 2025

Chitosan (Cs) is a biopolymer that can be used to create films with high swelling capacity. Its application, however, is restricted by its weak mechanical strength. To address this limitation, atmospheric pressure plasma (APP) treatment was integrated into the Cs film synthesis. This was done by exposing the Cs solution to air plasma at varying times—2, 4, and 6 min. Improved dissolution of Cs was observed in the scanning electron microscope images where no traces of excess Cs particles were found on the surface. Spectroscopic techniques such as optical emission spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy suggested that chain scission and cross-linking synergistically occurred to establish the network of the Cs films. This possible reaction mechanism of film formation was manifested as changes in the peak intensities of the different Cs attributes such as the pyranose ring, –OH, the C–O–C glycosidic, and the amide linkages. Shorter treatment time (2 min) resulted in the dominance of degradation where scission occurred to open the Cs rings. When using a longer treatment time (>4 min), cross-linking reactions occurred along the scission sites, which acted as initiation points. As a result, the hydrophilicity and swelling behavior of the Cs films were influenced by the APP treatment. The fabricated Cs films were generally hydrophilic. However, utilizing a longer treatment time decreased the hydrophilic nature of the film. A decreased swelling capacity for APP-treated Cs films also accompanied the decreased hydrophilicity. This observed phenomenon was attributed to the addition of Cs chains possibly caused by cross-linking. The study revealed that the water absorption ability of the Cs films was based on the relaxation of the Cs chains upon interaction with water. The integration of APP treatment for film synthesis may provide easier processing of Cs films.
Surface treatment of carbon fiber reinforced polymer for adhesive bonding with pioneer epoxy using atmospheric pressure plasma jet
Authors: Antipuesto Catherine Joy Enrile , Dela Cruz Catherine Joy M. , Mahinay Christian Lorenz S.
Published: January 2025

A recent technique used in surface preparation for adhesive bonding is plasma treatment. In the Philippines, one of the most accessible brands of adhesive is Pioneer epoxy adhesive and, currently, there has been no existing research on the effect of plasma treatment with this adhesive. Thus, this research aims to investigate the effects of plasma pretreatment on the adhesive bonding of carbon fiber-reinforced epoxy adherents with the Pioneer epoxy adhesive. To achieve this, carbon fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRPs) samples were first plasma treated using an atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ) for 0, 1, 2, and 3 min. Then, these were used to form the joint systems with three different adherent combinations. The samples were characterized using the lap shear test, contact angle measurements, optical microscope, laser microscope, and Raman spectroscopy. The result shows that the surface free energy and roughness of the CFRP increase with increasing plasma treatment time. However, the roughness is contributed by the introduction of impurities, which can weaken the bonding. Thus, when the CFRP has adhered using Pioneer epoxy adhesive, the lap shear stress (LSS) of the treated CFRP proves to be lower than that of untreated samples, with a statistically significant p-value of 0.0069. From Tukey’s honestly significant difference (HSD) test, it is concluded that plasma treating the adherent weakens the adhesive bonding of the CFRP and Pioneer adhesive joint system instead of improving it. Potential explanations for this result include the introduction of impurities by the APPJ and the presence of Mercaptan polymer in the epoxy.
Appetite-Control and Eating-Behavior Traits Might Not Be Impacted by a Single Weight-Cycling Episode in Weight-Cycling Athletes: Results of the Wave Study
Authors: Bagot Sarah , Ramos Inès , Hackney Anthony C. , Finlayson Graham , Fournier Elora , Boirie Yves , Duclos Martine , Isacco Laurie , Thivel David
Published: January 2025

Purpose: The impact of weight cycling (WC)—successive weight loss (WL) and weight regain (WG)—on athlete performance is well documented, but effects on appetite are not. This study assessed the impact of a WC episode on dietary and appetitive profiles in athletes, considering sex and sport type. Methods: Athletes (28 male, 20 female) from combat (n = 23), strength (n = 12), and endurance (n = 13) sports participated in 3 conditions during a WC episode (baseline, WL, WG). Measurements included body composition (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry), energy intake (48-h food record), appetite (visual analog scale), dietary profile (questionnaires), and food reward (computer task). Results: Overall, athletes lost 4.4% (2.3%) of their body weight and regained 4.5% (2.9%) (P < .001). Energy intake decreased during WL (P < .001) with a higher protein intake (% of energy intake) before returning to baseline in WG (P > .05). WL increased hunger, prospective food consumption, and desire to eat compared with the baseline condition, but these changes were not seen in WG. Liking and wanting for fat and sweet foods were higher during WL and remained elevated in WG (P < .05). No eating disorders were found during the WC episode, but combat-sport athletes and females had a higher binge-eating risk than others, independent of the condition. Conclusions: Moderate WC episodes do not seem to impair appetite responses in athletes experienced with WC, likely due to their maintaining high physical activity levels. However, their long-term eating-behavior traits, especially in combat and female athletes, seem negatively affected. Practitioners should consider the long-term impacts of these WC practices on nutritional health.
Herbicide glyphosate efficiently inhibits growth of pathogenic
Prototheca
algae species, suggesting the presence of novel pathways for the development of anti-algal drugs
Authors: Makarova Olga , Steinke Diana , Roesler Uwe
Published: January 2025

Prototheca
are ubiquitous algae and occasional pathogens of humans and animals. While rare, the infection is often fatal and treatment options are limited to antifungals with low efficiency. Here, using growth curve assays, we demonstrate that five pathogenic species of
Prototheca
(
P. blaschkeae, P. wickerhamii, P. cutis, P. ciferrii, P. bovis
) were fully inhibited by 50–100 μg/mL of herbicide glyphosate, suggesting novel pathways that can be considered for anti-algal drug development.

IMPORTANCE

Prototheca
are algae frequently found in the environment that occasionally cause infections in humans and animals. Although these infections are rare, they are often deadly for immunocompromised patients. Considering the rising ambient temperatures that promote algal bloom and a growing number of immunocompromised patients globally, such cases are likely to increase and will require efficient medications. Currently, the treatment is limited to antifungals that affect algal and animal membranes alike at concentrations close to toxic. Here, we hypothesized that targeting a pathway that is present in plants but not animals may be a new approach to the development of novel anti-algal compounds with high efficiency and lower toxicity. In this proof-of-principle study, we found that herbicide glyphosate, which targets the shikimate pathway found in plants but not in animals, efficiently inhibits all five tested pathogenic
Prototheca
, suggesting that the shikimate pathway may be a promising target for anti-algal drug development.
The Formation of K-Cymrite in Subduction Zones and Its Potential for Transport of Potassium, Water, and Nitrogen into the Mantle
Authors: Sokol A. G. , Korsakov A. V. , Kruk A. N.
Published: January 2025

The conditions of the formation of K-cymrite in volatile-rich pelite and partially devolatilized mica quartz–muscovite–chlorite schist were experimentally investigated at pressures of 5.5, 6.3, and 7.8 GPa and temperatures ranging from 900 to 1090°C corresponding to hot subduction geotherm. Experimental samples at these P–T conditions formed assemblage of solid phases (Grt + Coe + Phe + Cpx + Ky, with accessory Po + Ru + Zrn ± Mnz) and water-enriched supercritical fluid–melt. Analysis of the obtained data indicates that the stability of phengite and its potential replacement by K-cymrite depends on the P–T conditions and the amount of volatiles in the metasediment. In samples of volatile-rich pelite and mica schist at 5.5 GPa and 900°C, as well as at 6.3 GPa and 1000°C, phengite remains stable in equilibrium with 3–13 wt % of the fluid–melt. With increasing pressure up to 7.8 GPa and temperature up to 1090°C, the fraction of supercritical fluid–melt in pelite reaches 20 wt %, while phengite disappears. Only 5 wt % supercritical fluid–melt are formed in the schist at 7.8 GPa and 1070°C, while most part of phengite is preserved. For the first time, phase assemblage with phengite and K-cymrite (±kokchetavite) was obtained in the pelite and schist samples at 7.8 GPa and 1070°C. The assemblage was identified using Raman mapping. At stepwise devolatilization (with removal of fluid–melt portion forming in equilibrium with volatile-bearing minerals that are stable at P–T conditions of experiments), phengite has been preserved up to 7.8 GPa and 1090°C, but K-cymrite is not formed in the absence of fluid–melt. It was concluded that the most effective transport of volatiles (first of all, water) in the metasediment to depths over 240 km may occur during its partial and early (before the formation of supercritical fluid–melt) devolatilization. In this case, almost all phengite may reach depths of 240 km during metasediment subduction and then transform into water-bearing K-cymrite, or, in the presence of nitrogen in the metasediment, into nitrogen-bearing K-cymrite, thus facilitating the further transport of LILE (large-ion lithophile elements), water, and nitrogen. However, the formation of a significant portion of supercritical fluid–melt leads to the complete dissolution of phengite with increasing P–T conditions, making further transport of LILE, water, and nitrogen impossible. During deep multi-stage devolatilization, phengite remains stable up to depths of 240 km; however, during further subduction, it likely transforms into an anhydrous K-hollandite (KAlSi3O8).
Substituted Ureas and Their Analogs Containing Framework Fragments: I. 1-(4-Hydroxyadamantan-1-yl)-3-(fluoro/chlorophenyl)ureas
Authors: Danilov D. V. , D’yachenko V. S. , Zapravdina D. M. , Ilyina E. S. , Degtyarenko E. K. , Burmistrov V. V.
Published: January 2025

A series of 1,3-disubstituted ureas containing a 4-(hydroxyadamantan-1-yl)-fragment were synthesized in yields of 55–87% by the reaction of 1-(4-oxoadamantan-1-yl)-3-(halophenyl)ureas with sodium borohydride . The synthesized ureas are potential metabolites and promising soluble human epoxide hydrolase inhibitors.