bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lord Byron and Genre
Authors: Allen Emily , Felluga Dino Franco
Published: August 2024

Byron’s poetry, especially Don Juan, has had a vexed relationship with critical efforts to make sense of Romanticism and of the genres that make up this field of study. One clear reason for this poor canonical fit is because Wordsworth and Coleridge were so influential in disseminating the expressivist theory of kairotic lyric poetry that came to define not only Romanticism but also poetry itself. This chapter asks: Does the history of generic form—especially of the two generic dominants of twentieth-century criticism, the lyric and the novel—look different when Byron’s Don Juan is factored into the historical equation? We examine how Byron’s poetry works against the new formal principles of both narrative and lyric, and we illustrate the ways that he proposes a more radical approach to event and temporality that is inspired by the French Revolution and that resembles Alain Badiou’s concepts, event and future anterior.
Crisis, Collectivism, and Change
Authors: Allen Emily , Felluga Dino Franco
Published: August 2024

We propose in this chapter that we adopt the strategy of the future anterior that we have been exploring in this book to address the crises currently faced not only by the humanities but also by humanity at large. The limit case is climate change, and we consider what special awareness the humanities bring to the current situation: an understanding of the ethical limitations, global implications, and historical emergence of our presumptions. We propose a model for acting collectively to change our trajectory and to protect what will have been.
Dialysate Sodium Levels, Ambulatory Aortic Blood Pressure, and Arterial Stiffness in Hemodialysis Patients
Authors: Bratsiakou Adamantia , Theodorakopoulou Marieta , Iatridi Fotini , Sarafidis Pantelis , Davoulos Christos , Goumenos Dimitrios S , Papachristou Evangelos , Papasotiriou Marios
Published: August 2024

BACKGROUND

Increased aortic blood pressure (BP) and arterial stiffness are associated with higher cardiovascular risk in hemodialysis. Previous works showed that lower dialysate sodium is associated with lower brachial-BP; data on aortic-BP and arterial stiffness are limited. This study aimed to investigate the effects of different dialysate sodium concentrations on 72-hour aortic-BP and arterial stiffness parameters in hemodialysis patients.

METHODS

This analysis is part of a prospective, non-randomized interventional study. Twenty-five hemodialysis patients underwent a set of 3 periods of different dialysate sodium concentrations; 6 sessions with dialysate sodium of 137 mEq/l, followed consecutively by 6 sessions with 139 mEq/l and, finally, 6 sessions with 141 mEq/l. At the start of the sixth hemodialysis session on each sodium concentration, 72-hour ABPM (Mobil-O-Graph) was performed to evaluate aortic-BP and arterial stiffness indices during the overall 72-hour, different 24-hour, daytime, and nighttime periods.

RESULTS

Mean 72-hour aortic systolic blood pressure (SBP)/diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were higher with increasing dialysate sodium concentrations (137 mEq/l: 114.2 ± 15.3/77.0 ± 11.8 mm Hg vs. 139 mEq/l: 115.4 ± 17.3/77.9 ± 14.0 mm Hg vs. 141 mEq/l: 120.5 ± 18.4/80.5 ± 14.7 mm Hg, P = 0.002/P = 0.057, respectively). Wave-reflection parameters (AIx, AIx(75), AP) were not significantly different between the 3 dialysate sodium concentrations. Ambulatory pulse wave velocity (PWV) was significantly higher with increasing dialysate sodium concentrations (137 mEq/l: 8.5 ± 1.7 m/s vs. 139 mEq/l: 8.6 ± 1.6 m/s vs. 141 mEq/l: 8.8 ± 1.6 m/s, P < 0.001). In generalized linear mixed models including 72-hour brachial SBP as a random covariate, the adjusted marginal means of 72-hour PWV were not significantly different between groups.

CONCLUSIONS

This study showed that higher dialysate sodium concentrations are associated with significant increases in ambulatory aortic BP and PWV. These findings further support the need for modification of dialysate sodium concentration in hemodialysis.
Airborne particulate matter and diesel engine exhaust on infrastructure construction sites in the Copenhagen metropolitan area
Authors: Ferree Patrick L , Polat Merve , Nøjgaard Jakob K , Jensen Keld A
Published: August 2024

Diesel engine exhaust (DEE) is carcinogenic and potentially hazardous for those working in close proximity to diesel-powered machines. This study characterizes workplace exposure to DEE and its associated particulate matter (PM) during outdoor construction activities. We sampled at 4 construction sites in the Copenhagen metropolitan area. We used portable constant-flow pumps and quartz-fiber filters to quantify personal exposure to elemental carbon (EC), and used real-time instruments to collect activity-based information about particle number and size distribution, as well as black carbon (BC) concentration. Full-shift measurements of EC concentration ranged from < 0.3 to 6.4 µg/m3. Geometric mean (GM) EC exposure was highest for ground workers (3.4 µg/m3 EC; geometric standard deviation, GSD = 1.3), followed by drilling rig operators (2.6 µg/m3 EC; GSD = 1.4). Exposure for non-drilling-rig machine operators (1.2 µg/m3 EC; GSD = 2.9) did not differ significantly from background (0.9 µg/m3 EC; GSD = 1.7). The maximum 15-min moving average concentration of BC was 17 µg/m3, and the highest recorded peak concentration was 44 µg/m3. In numbers, the particle size distributions were dominated by ultrafine particles ascribed to DEE and occasional welding activities at the sites. The average total particle number concentrations (PNCs) measured in near-field and far-field positions across all worksites were 10,600 (GSD = 3.0) and 6,000 (GSD = 2.8)/cm3, respectively. Sites with active drilling rigs saw significantly higher average total PNCs at their near-field stations (13,600, 32,000, and 9,700/cm3; GSD = 2.4, 3.4, and 2.4) than sites without (4,700/cm3; GSD = 1.6). Overall, the DEE exposures at these outdoor construction sites were below current occupational exposure limits for EC (10 µg/m3 in Denmark; 50 µg/m3 in the European Union), but extended durations of exposure to the observed DEE levels may still be a health risk.
Machine learning-assisted substrate binding pocket engineering based on structural information
Authors: Wang Xinglong , Xu Kangjie , Zeng Xuan , Linghu Kai , Zhao Beichen , Yu Shangyang , Wang Kun , Yu Shuyao , Zhao Xinyi , Zeng Weizhu , Wang Kai , Zhou Jingwen
Published: August 2024

Engineering enzyme–substrate binding pockets is the most efficient approach for modifying catalytic activity, but is limited if the substrate binding sites are indistinct. Here, we developed a 3D convolutional neural network for predicting protein–ligand binding sites. The network was integrated by DenseNet, UNet, and self-attention for extracting features and recovering sample size. We attempted to enlarge the dataset by data augmentation, and the model achieved success rates of 48.4%, 35.5%, and 43.6% at a precision of ≥50% and 52%, 47.6%, and 58.1%. The distance of predicted and real center is ≤4 Å, which is based on SC6K, COACH420, and BU48 validation datasets. The substrate binding sites of Klebsiella variicola acid phosphatase (KvAP) and Bacillus anthracis proline 4-hydroxylase (BaP4H) were predicted using DUnet, showing high competitive performance of 53.8% and 56% of the predicted binding sites that critically affected the catalysis of KvAP and BaP4H. Virtual saturation mutagenesis was applied based on the predicted binding sites of KvAP, and the top-ranked 10 single mutations contributed to stronger enzyme–substrate binding varied while the predicted sites were different. The advantage of DUnet for predicting key residues responsible for enzyme activity further promoted the success rate of virtual mutagenesis. This study highlighted the significance of correctly predicting key binding sites for enzyme engineering.
Sex differences in long-term heart failure prognosis: a comprehensive meta-analysis
Authors: Qiu Weida , Wang Wenbin , Wu Shiping , Zhu Yanchen , Zheng He , Feng Yingqing
Published: August 2024

Aims

Sex differences in the long-term prognosis of heart failure (HF) remain controversial, and there is a lack of comprehensive pooling of the sex differences in outcomes of HF. This study aims to characterize the sex differences in the long-term prognosis of HF and explore whether these differences vary by age, HF course, left ventricular ejection fraction, region, period of study, study design, and follow-up duration.

Methods and results

A systematic review was conducted using Medline, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library, from 1 January 1990 to 31 March 2024. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality (ACM), and the secondary outcomes included cardiovascular mortality (CVM), hospitalization for HF (HHF), all-cause hospitalization, a composite of ACM and HHF, and a composite of CVM and HHF. Pooled hazard ratios (HRs) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using random-effects meta-analysis. Ninety-four studies (comprising 96 cohorts) were included in the meta-analysis, representing 706,247 participants (56.5% were men; the mean age was 71.0 years). Female HF patients had a lower risk of ACM (HR 0.83; 95% CI 0.80, 0.85; I2 = 84.9%), CVM (HR 0.84; 95% CI 0.79, 0.89; I2 = 70.7%), HHF (HR 0.94; 95% CI 0.89, 0.98; I2 = 84.0%), and composite endpoints (ACM + HHF: HR 0.89; 95% CI 0.83, 0.95; I2 = 80.0%; CVM + HHF: HR 0.85; 95% CI 0.77, 0.93; I2 = 87.9%) compared with males. Subgroup analysis revealed that the lower risk of mortality observed in women was more pronounced among individuals with long-course HF (i.e. chronic HF, follow-up duration > 2 years) or recruited in the randomized controlled trials (P for interaction < 0.05).

Conclusion

Female HF patients had a better prognosis compared with males, with lower risks of ACM, CVM, HHF, and composite endpoints. Despite the underrepresentation of female populations in HF clinical trials, their mortality benefits tended to be lower than in real-world settings.

Registration

PROSPERO: CRD42024526100
Short-Term Coupling Associations Between State Loneliness and Cognitive Performance in Daily Life Among Older Adults
Authors: Kang Jee eun , Graham-Engeland Jennifer E , Martire Lynn M , Almeida David M , Sliwinski Martin J
Published: August 2024

Objectives

Despite extensive efforts to study individual differences in loneliness and neurocognitive health, little is known about how within-person changes in state loneliness relate to cognitive performance. This study addressed this gap by examining the association between within-person variation in state loneliness and cognitive performance assessed objectively in daily life.

Methods

Participants were 313 community-dwelling older adults (70–90 years) who reported momentary feelings of loneliness and completed smartphone-based cognitive tests 5 times daily for 14 consecutive days. Mobile cognitive tests assess visual associative memory, processing speed, and spatial memory.

Results

At the day level, average state loneliness levels were negatively related to cognitive performance on the same day and subsequent day. Consistent with the day-level analysis, momentary assessments of increased loneliness were consistently linked to worse cognitive performance on concurrent assessments. However, moments characterized by lower cognitive performance predicted higher levels of loneliness 3–4 hr later (next occasion), but not vice versa.

Discussion

The findings suggest a prospective association between loneliness and cognitive performance, with higher daily loneliness negatively associated with cognitive performance on the same day and predicting worse performance the following day. Notably, within a single day, lower cognitive performance at a given moment predicted elevated loneliness later in the day. This highlights a complex, reciprocal relationship—loneliness predicting and being predicted by cognitive performance depending on timescale.
Deciphering cancer genomes with GenomeSpy: a grammar-based visualization toolkit
Authors: Lavikka Kari , Oikkonen Jaana , Li Yilin , Muranen Taru , Micoli Giulia , Marchi Giovanni , Lahtinen Alexandra , Huhtinen Kaisa , Lehtonen Rainer , Hietanen Sakari , Hynninen Johanna , Virtanen Anni , Hautaniemi Sampsa
Published: August 2024

Background

Visualization is an indispensable facet of genomic data analysis. Despite the abundance of specialized visualization tools, there remains a distinct need for tailored solutions. However, their implementation typically requires extensive programming expertise from bioinformaticians and software developers, especially when building interactive applications. Toolkits based on visualization grammars offer a more accessible, declarative way to author new visualizations. Yet, current grammar-based solutions fall short in adequately supporting the interactive analysis of large datasets with extensive sample collections, a pivotal task often encountered in cancer research.

Findings

We present GenomeSpy, a grammar-based toolkit for authoring tailored, interactive visualizations for genomic data analysis. By using combinatorial building blocks and a declarative language, users can implement new visualization designs easily and embed them in web pages or end-user–oriented applications. A distinctive element of GenomeSpy’s architecture is its effective use of the graphics processing unit in all rendering, enabling a high frame rate and smoothly animated interactions, such as navigation within a genome. We demonstrate the utility of GenomeSpy by characterizing the genomic landscape of 753 ovarian cancer samples from patients in the DECIDER clinical trial. Our results expand the understanding of the genomic architecture in ovarian cancer, particularly the diversity of chromosomal instability.

Conclusions

GenomeSpy is a visualization toolkit applicable to a wide range of tasks pertinent to genome analysis. It offers high flexibility and exceptional performance in interactive analysis. The toolkit is open source with an MIT license, implemented in JavaScript, and available at https://genomespy.app/.
Business organizations and the financing of business
Authors: Scott Peter
Published: August 2024

This chapter deals with the different features of each type of business organization and the advantages and disadvantages of each format. It presents the different methods of finance available to each type of business and the obligations that each different financing method imposes. The chapter also considers the features of ordinary and preference share capital, how cash is raised from issuing shares and the features of bonus issues and rights issues. Finally, it examines how limited companies make dividend distributions and whether they have the capacity to make such distributions.
Ratio analysis 2: liquidity, working capital and long-term financial stability
Authors: Scott Peter
Published: August 2024

This chapter discusses the ratios related to liquidity, working capital and long-term financial stability. It begins with the definition of liquidity and the cash flow cycle. It discusses aspects critical to an organization’s liquidity, solvency and cash flow generating capacity. It considers how an entity’s capital structure contributes to an assessment of that entity’s long-term financial stability. In addition, it looks at the key ratios in the assessment of an entity’s capital structure as well as evaluating an organization’s ability to survive with high levels of borrowings and with low current and quick ratios.
Designing Work Well
Authors: McWha-Hermann Ishbel , Macdonald Emma
Published: August 2024

This chapter explains how organizations can design work well. It presents the external and internal pressures of issues facing the contemporary workplace, according to the World Economic Forum, before citing its relevance for management. Work that is designed well encourages motivated and satisfied employees, who are committed to their organization, so structuring job tasks and designing fair and engaging work allows employees to thrive and flourish. The chapter then looks into the key concepts of SMART work design, decent work, and organizational justice. It explains that organizational structure typically focuses on how much hierarchy there is within a given organization.
Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Authors: Glosenberg Alexander , Macdonald Emma
Published: August 2024

This chapter provides an overview of the key concepts of entrepreneurship and innovation. It explains that entrepreneurship and innovation are related concepts which focus on creating and implementing something new. Essentially, entrepreneurship is both a manageable process characterized by experimentation with novel ideas and a mindset characterized by proactivity, innovativeness, and resilience. The chapter looks into entrepreneurship as a set of processes of discovering, evaluating, and pursuing opportunities and as a mindset of beliefs and attitudes. It then references examples of real-life entrepreneurs, Grove CEO Stuart Landesberg, Danielle Jezienicki, and Rochelle Webb, to explore the different types of entrepreneurship and their subsequent role in society.
Managing finance
Authors: Gillespie Andrew
Published: August 2024

This chapter focuses on the significance of the management of finances in an organization. It provides an overview of the different types of accounting before detailing how they can help managers. Managers are responsible for resources in their organization and need to allocate these appropriately to have the maximum impact. The finance function of businesses plays a vital role in determining the activities of a business and assessing their worth. The chapter also explains that financial accountants produce reports on the financial position of the business, while management accountants provide the financial information that managers need to make decisions.
Analysing the external environment of business
Authors: Gillespie Andrew
Published: August 2024

This chapter examines the external environment of business. Business decisions will be affected by and affect the environment in which they operate. The business environment changes constantly, so the wider world and businesses need to try and prepare for and be ready to respond to these changes. The five forces analysis offers a way of analysing the competitive environment of an industry, including the profitability that is likely to occur within the industry. The chapter also highlights the significance of technological changes in business as they create new ways of reaching customers, markets, and ways of working. It explains that PEST analysis occurs when managers consider the key macro-external factors in their business environment.
Growth and international business strategies
Authors: Gillespie Andrew
Published: August 2024

This chapter provides an overview of growth and international business strategies. It provides definitions of mergers, acquisitions, takeovers, horizontal integration, vertical integration, and conglomerate integration. Growth occurs when the size of a business increases, which can be measured through the value of sales, market share, number of stores, and market capitalization. Internationalization occurs when a business expands overseas and enters new markets abroad. The chapter notes how a PESTLE analysis provides a framework to analyse the different aspects of the external business environment. It then elaborates on the increase in international business over the recent years as businesses have increasingly seen opportunities overseas for expansion.
Protocells: Compartmentalization, Replication, and Integrated Molecular Function
Authors: Fahrenbach Albert C. , Cleaves Henderson J.
Published: August 2024

While all contemporary life is cellular, it is not clear how life became this way. The concept of the protocell has been introduced to scaffold thinking on what intermediary types of material organization may have existed during the evolution of life. Protocells in this context...
Plant and Cell Architecture
Authors: Taiz Lincoln , Møller Ian Max , Murphy Angus , Peer Wendy A.
Published: August 2024

This chapter provides an overview of the basic anatomy and cell biology of plants, from the macroscopic structure of organs and tissues to the microscopic ultrastructure of cellular organelles. It begins by looking at the unifying principles of plant life processes. All plants convert solar energy to chemical energy. They use growth instead of motility to obtain resources, and have vascular systems, rigid structures, and mechanisms to avoid desiccation on land. Plants develop from embryos sustained and protected by tissues from the mother plant. The chapter then explains plant classification and plant life cycles, before presenting an overview of plant structure. It describes plant cell types, plant cell organelles, the plant cytoskeleton, the nucleus, the endomembrane system, independently dividing semiautonomous organelles, and cell cycle regulation.
Water and Plant Cells
Authors: Taiz Lincoln , Møller Ian Max , Murphy Angus , Peer Wendy A.
Published: August 2024

This chapter discusses how water plays a crucial role in the life of the plant. Photosynthesis requires that plants draw carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and at the same time exposes them to water loss and the threat of dehydration. To prevent leaf desiccation, water must be absorbed by the roots and transported through the plant body. Even slight imbalances between the uptake and transport of water and the loss of water to the atmosphere can cause water deficits and severe malfunctioning of many cellular processes. The chapter then considers how water moves into and out of plant cells, emphasizing the molecular properties of water and the physical forces that influence water movement at the cell level. It looks at how cell walls allow plant cells to build up large internal hydrostatic pressures, called turgor pressure, and differentiates between diffusion and osmosis.
Photosynthesis: The Carbon Reactions
Authors: Taiz Lincoln , Møller Ian Max , Murphy Angus , Peer Wendy A.
Published: August 2024

This chapter begins by analysing the metabolic cycle that incorporates atmospheric CO2 into organic compounds appropriate for life: the Calvin–Benson cycle. It then considers how the unavoidable phenomenon of photorespiration—a consequence of a side reaction with molecular oxygen—releases part of the assimilated CO2. Because photorespiration decreases the efficiency of photosynthetic CO2 assimilation, the chapter also examines biochemical mechanisms for mitigating the loss of CO2: CO2 pumps, C4 metabolism, and crassulacean acid metabolism. Finally, the chapter briefly looks at the formation of the two major products of the photosynthetic CO2 fixation. These are starch, the reserve polysaccharide that accumulates transiently in chloroplasts, and sucrose, the disaccharide that is exported from leaves to developing and storage organs of the plant.
Translocation in the Phloem
Authors: Taiz Lincoln , Møller Ian Max , Murphy Angus , Peer Wendy A.
Published: August 2024

This chapter studies translocation in the phloem of angiosperms, because most of the research has been conducted on that group of plants. The phloem is the tissue that transports (translocates) the products of photosynthesis, particularly sugars, from mature leaves to areas of growth and storage, including the roots. Along with sugars, the phloem also transmits signals in the form of regulatory molecules and redistributes water and various compounds throughout the plant body. All of these molecules appear to move with the transported sugars. The compounds to be redistributed, some of which initially arrive in the mature leaves via the xylem, can be either transferred out of the leaves without modification or metabolized before redistribution. The fluid that flows through the phloem—the water plus all its solutes—is called phloem sap. The chapter also considers phloem loading, the pressure-flow model, phloem unloading, photosynthate distribution, and the transport of signaling molecules.
Flowering and Double Fertilization
Authors: Taiz Lincoln , Møller Ian Max , Murphy Angus , Peer Wendy A.
Published: August 2024

This chapter assesses flowering and double fertilization. Flowering at the correct time of the year is crucial for the reproductive fitness of the plant. The transition to flowering involves major changes in the pattern of morphogenesis and cell differentiation at the shoot apical meristem (SAM). Ultimately, this process leads to the production of the floral organs: sepals, petals, stamens, and carpels. The process by which the SAM becomes committed to forming flowers is termed floral evocation. Photoperiodism and vernalization are two of the most important mechanisms underlying seasonal responses. Photoperiodism is a response to the length of day or night, while vernalization is the promotion of flowering by prolonged cold temperature. Other signals, such as light quality, ambient temperature, and abiotic stress, are also important external cues for plant development. The chapter also considers pollen development, pollination, and double fertilization in flowering plants.
Animal Behavior
Authors: Nordell Shawn E. , Valone Thomas J.
Published: August 2024

Animal Behavior uses broad organizing concepts to provide a framework for understanding the science of animal behavior. Featured studies illustrate each concept and emphasize the experimental designs and the hypothesis testing methods scientists use to address research questions. Concepts are related to real life to help with the understanding of the broader significance of animal behavior research, including applications to human behavior and conservation. Topics covered include behavioral genetics, sensory systems, communication, learning, and cognition. There are also chapters on antipredator behavior, dispersal and migration, habitat, mating, parental care, and sociality.
Sensory Systems and Behavior
Authors: Nordell Shawn E. , Valone Thomas J.
Published: August 2024

This chapter explores sensory systems and behaviors animals use to perceive their environment. Most animals rely on chemosensory systems to look into the environment as they allow them to detect chemical stimuli via gustation and olfaction. On the other hand, photoreceptions allow species to detect light and perceive objects as images, while mechanoreceptors detect vibrations travelling through the air, water, or substrates. Additionally, only animals like sharks use electroreception. This allows them to detect electric or magnetic fields. However, species vary in their sensor capabilities and their ways in perceiving their respective environments. The chapter also notes how co-evolution is triggered between predator-preys and male-female.
Antipredator Behavior
Authors: Nordell Shawn E. , Valone Thomas J.
Published: August 2024

This chapter looks into antipredator behavior and how animals reduce their predation risk. Altering habitat use levels and increasing vigilance are two common antipredator adaptations which involve changing behavior. Since group size affects the predation scanning rates, animals also lessen predation risk by living in groups. Recent studies have found that environmental factors impact the formation and geometry of compact groups. Additionally, cryptic coloration is a common morphological adaptation wherein an animal can blend and match the color of the environment. Some species interact directly with predators by harassing them as this encourages the predator to leave for another victim.
Parental Care
Authors: Nordell Shawn E. , Valone Thomas J.
Published: August 2024

This chapter discusses parental care, which includes the range of an adult animal's activities that improve the survivorship of offspring. Parental care ranges from nourishing, incubating eggs, to defending them from predators. According to life history theory, species differ in their levels of giving care to their young. The chapter also explains how sexual conflict is the foundation for sex-based parental care. It also notes that the level of paternity certainty influences male parental care. Parent-offspring conflict theory shows that the investment of the parents and young differ in terms of selection pressures. On the other hand, brood parasitism lessens the cost of parental care, which eventually results in a co-evolutionary arms race.
Sociality
Authors: Nordell Shawn E. , Valone Thomas J.
Published: August 2024

This chapter looks at the sociality of animals. It highlights the benefits of group living like foraging success, reduced movement costs, safety from predators, and potential for individual specialization. However, the costs of sociality are increased competition for resources, aggressive interactions, and higher transmissibility of diseases. The chapter also tackles how sociality can evolve through ecology, phylogeny, and the fitness advantages of close associations exceeding the costs such as resources and foods. Dominance hierarchies, moreover, could lessen the social costs of aggression in line with living in groups. Numerous social groups with dominant hierarchies could also reduce their cost of living with others. Additionally, hormones could regulate social behavior.
Cooperative Behavior
Authors: Nordell Shawn E. , Valone Thomas J.
Published: August 2024

This chapter tackles the cooperative behavior of animals. Cooperation occurs when an individual's behavior benefits the fitness of another individual and evolves in part because of the benefit. Many cooperative behaviors reduce the fitness of the individual performing the behavior. Thus, the inclusive fitness theory expounds on the evolution of cooperation among related individuals. According to Hamilton's rule, the degree of relatedness is the probability that two individuals have inherited the same allele at a particular locus from a common ancestor. The chapter discusses kin discrimination in terms of Hamilton's rule, direct familiarization, and indirect familiarization. Moreover, kinship and ecological limitations favor cooperative reproduction.
Setting the Scene
Authors: Sturman Andrew , Quénol Hervé
Published: August 2024

This chapter looks into the downscaling of climate change to regional and local levels. Climate change is a natural phenomenon, but significant concern rises about the atmosphere warming at an unprecedented rate. This, as it is well documented, is due to the effect of human activity. The global average air temperature rose by at least 0.8°C over the last ten decades, but this rate of change has varied regionally. According to historical records, there are many natural causes of climate change that influence temperature variations, but most of the causes are interlinked with humans. The chapter then provides an overview on the impacts of climate change, such as increased temperature and changing frequency of storms, flooding, and drought.
Energy and Infrastructure
Authors: Sturman Andrew , Quénol Hervé
Published: August 2024

This chapter examines energy and infrastructure in the context of climate change. It notes that infrastructure is closely associated with energy production and use. The practical application of alternative energy sources relies on investigations undertaken at the local and regional scales. The chapter considers how transferring from the use of fossil fuels to renewable forms of energy can contribute to reduction of the enhanced greenhouse effect by reducing carbon dioxide emissions. It introduces hydropower, wind power, and solar power as renewable energy sources. Finally, the chapter shows that climate change is altering both supply capacity and energy demand and infrastructure use.
Climate Change and Agriculture
Authors: Sturman Andrew , Quénol Hervé
Published: August 2024

This chapter discusses how climate change affects agriculture, which plays a major role in providing food for a growing global population. Climate has an impact on agriculture through the effects of such variables as solar radiation, temperature, and rainfall. Moreover, extreme events such as heatwaves, frosts, wind storms, floods, and droughts can have catastrophic effects on agriculture. The chapter also looks into the process of achieving optimal climatic conditions for crops and livestock. It provides an overview of the impacts of climate change in line with the development of climate change adaptation strategies dedicated to agriculture, particularly the wine sector.
Developing Appropriate Adaptation Strategies
Authors: Sturman Andrew , Quénol Hervé
Published: August 2024

This chapter looks into the development of comprehensive adaptation strategies applied at the regional and local levels across a range of environments and sectors of human activity. The current global warming trend appears to be associated with a range of environmental impacts. The chapter then details the general practical steps that can serve as a guide to developing a climate change adaptation strategy at a regional and local scale. It also offers case studies implementing several principles according to the development of sound climate change adaptation strategies. The effectiveness of climate change adaptation plans for specific regions depends on the different sectors' climate risk vulnerability and the quality of governance.
Maths Skills for Pharmacy
Authors: Langley Chris , Perrie Yvonne
Published: August 2024

Maths Skills for Pharmacy covers all aspects relating to the calculations encountered in pharmaceutical practice. Ensuring competency in maths skills is a fundamental part of pharmacy education as accurate pharmaceutical calculations are crucial to the safe and effective use of drugs. This book combines both the scientific calculations underpinning dosage forms with calculations relating to pharmacy practice. Frequent case studies highlight the importance of maths to pharmacy, which help with the making of the crucial connection between theory and practice. This new edition contains a new chapter on the calculations relating to pharmacokinetics.
Intravenous and associated medication routes
Authors: Langley Chris , Perrie Yvonne
Published: August 2024

This chapter discusses calculations involved in the preparation of medication intended for administration intravenously or via associated routes. It looks at calculations designed to derive the appropriate administration rate for intravenous infusions, solution calculations based on medication administration rates, and the calculations involved in the conversion between oral and intravenous and associated dosages. It also details the calculations involved in the administration of medication via basic infusion rates. The chapter looks at calculations where the administration rate changes at one or more points during the administration period. It includes calculations required to establish the amount of drug needed to produce an infusion to deliver the intended dosage.
Application of Synthetic Biology to Biotechnology
Authors: Yeoman Kay , Fahnert Beatrix , Lea-Smith David , Clarke Tom
Published: August 2024

This chapter focuses on the application of synthetic biology to biotechnology. Despite being a poorly defined field, synthetic biology is a technology with the potential to transform microbial biotechnology as it allows for the development of organisms that can produce a wide variety of useful compounds. The chapter focuses on bacteria, fungi and microalgae alongside the issues with technology in the field of synthetic biology. It also looks at how flux balance analysis can be used to model the effect of modifying the organism, environment, or nutrient inputs. Moreover, gene synthesis can be used to construct novel sequences of DNA.
An introduction to the biology of disease
Authors: Blann Andrew
Published: August 2024

This chapter provides an overview of health, the biology of disease and the major causes of morbidity and mortality. It defines pathology as the study of disease and pathophysiology as the study of how disease influences the performance of the body. Successful treatment of morbid and mortal conditions follows a consideration of its epidemiology, pathophysiology, and aetiology. The chapter also introduces the International Classification of Diseases (ICD), which places common diseases together according to anatomy and pathophysiology, and the Office of National Statistics (ONS), which publishes data on deaths resulting from particular diseases for England and Wales. Finally, the chapter presents the aetiology, presentation, diagnosis, and management of diseases.
Basic concepts of disease
Authors: Blann Andrew
Published: August 2024

This chapter discusses the basic concepts of disease. The body has a remarkable ability to repair itself when traumatized, but repair may be impossible so that death may follow if the damage is too great. Diseases can be classified in several ways, such as by aetiology. Another way to classify disease is to look at the circumstances of how the patient themselves approaches the healthcare professional with a problem they have. The chapter then looks at key concepts of the causation of diseases and introduces basic statistical concepts. The chapter also explains that epidemiology is a vital tool in understanding the interplay of health and illness, citing how data can help in further investigations and decision-making on the distribution of health and medical services.
Chromosomal, genetic, and metabolic disease
Authors: Blann Andrew
Published: August 2024

This chapter covers diseases concerned with chromosomes, genetics, and metabolism. It focuses on non-neoplastic, non-immunological diseases and syndromes that arise from the pathology of the chromosomes and the genes within them. Chromosomal abnormalities are common, and the most common chromosomal diseases include Turner syndrome, Down's syndrome, Klinefelter syndrome, and Jacobs syndrome. The chapter discusses several ways in which genetics influences metabolism while including the metabolic diseases caused by gene defects. It also explains the pathophysiology of haemoglobinopathy as a genetic disease, citing that it is the most common global genetic disease and is a likely product of selection pressure by malaria.
The secret lives of stem cells
Authors: Paxson Julia
Published: August 2024

Associate Professor
The good, the bad, and the old: developmental principles in regeneration and ageing
Authors: Paxson Julia
Published: August 2024

Associate Professor
Cancer diagnosis and screening
Authors: Divan Aysha , Royds Janice
Published: August 2024

This chapter focuses on cancer diagnosis and screening. It explains that cancer is usually treatable if found early enough, so warning signs and symptoms should not be ignored. Population screening for common cancers is an important and alternative way of detecting cancer. Diagnosis depends heavily on molecular characteristics of a tumour as these allow medical professionals to determine the optimum type of therapy needed. They also give information on predicting the development of the disease (prognosis). The chapter highlights that accurate diagnosis is necessary for optimal patient management. In cancer, it is not easy to get the perfect screening test since under-diagnosis can cost lives, while over-diagnosis causes unnecessary anxiety and intrusive treatment.
Developing Sustainable Solutions
Authors: Niesenbaum Richard
Published: August 2024

This chapter examines the development and the working definition of sustainable solutions. It explains the modern concept of sustainability originating from the 19th-century transcendentalist movement in the eastern United States. In 1972, the UN Conference on the Human Environment discussed the integration of environmental protection development and social well-being. This conference gave birth to the notion of sustainability. The chapter then provides an overview of the UN Millennium Project and looks at the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in correlation with the emergence of sustainable businesses. It looks into the competencies in sustainable problem solving that include systems thinking, normative, anticipatory, strategic, and interpersonal competencies.
The Air We Breathe
Authors: Niesenbaum Richard
Published: August 2024

This chapter focuses on air. It looks at how air pollution introduces harmful pollutants into the Earth's atmosphere. It examines several air pollutants, namely, air toxics, acid deposition, and greenhouse gases (GHG). The relative contribution of each GHG to global warming is determined by both the amount emitted and the global warming potential (GWP) of each GHG. The chapter explains that transboundary pollutants refer to the air pollutants generated in one country which are then transported by wind across borders, where their environmental and health impacts are experienced in other countries. The chapter details the environmental justice against air pollution and the sustainable solutions for air pollution.
Molecular cell biology
Authors: Evans Andrew
Published: August 2024

This chapter focuses on molecular cell biology. It looks into the cellular processes that are often altered by therapeutic agents and the different evolutionary classes of cells that form the basis of all life. The genetic code contains all the information that is required to make, sustain, and proliferate life, which is stored in DNA molecules packaged into chromosomes. Mutations occur when unrepaired DNA damage is passed on to the daughter cell. The chapter also explains how gene therapy has the potential to actually cure a genetic disease whereas current therapies can only treat the symptoms.
An introduction to drug action
Authors: Airley Rachel
Published: August 2024

This chapter explains that pharmacology is all about what drugs do inside the body. While an adverse drug reaction (side effect) is a harmful or unintended response to a drug, a drug interaction refers to the effect we might see when two drugs are administered concurrently. Meanwhile, drug tolerance, or tachyphylaxis, is a phenomenon that takes place when a drug response is decreased. The chapter also considers the notion of drug misuse and addiction, citing that understanding both can help us to understand drug addiction development and treatment. It looks into neuromodulation and shows how this enables us to consider the effect of drugs which are agonists or antagonists of neurotransmitters.
Haematology
Authors: Allison Gillian L.
Published: August 2024

This chapter examines the significance of haematology. It defines haematology as a branch of medicine that is involved with the study of blood, blood-forming organs, and blood diseases. Haematology is also about their prevention and treatment. The process of haemostasis prevents excessive loss of blood and is essential for maintaining life. Blood disorders can arise from defects in blood vessels or from abnormalities in the blood itself and include bleeding disorders, platelet disorders, haemophilia, and anaemia. The chapter explores the ABO and rhesus (Rh) systems and shows that they are the most important blood groups used for blood typing for transfusion since not all blood groups are compatible and eventually lead to agglutination.
Solids
Authors: Conway Barbara
Published: August 2024

This chapter discusses the property of solids as they relate to drugs and the physicochemical characteristics of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API). At normal temperatures, most drugs are solids and maintain their original shape unless they are compressed, as happens during tablet formation. The chapter then looks at the process of polymorphism and the differences between crystalline and amorphous solids. It explores the factors affecting solubility. Solid dosage forms are mostly administered through oral administration, but other routes such as inhalation and suppositories work just as well. To achieve and maintain effective drug levels in the body, it is often necessary to administer immediate release formulations several times daily.
Surface phenomena
Authors: Saleem Imran , Al-Khattawi Ali
Published: August 2024

This chapter looks at surface phenomena, particularly the behaviour of molecules at interfaces. All physical entities possess a boundary with their surroundings, so the phenomena occurs at the boundaries and this quality can be utilized in the development of drug delivery systems. Surface free energy is the term used to describe how the molecules at the boundary layer have a higher Gibbs free energy than molecules in the bulk liquid. The chapter considers several techniques dedicated to the measurement of surface and interfacial tension. It also notes the role of surfactants in the formulation of different dosage forms and the development of drug delivery applications.
Colligative properties
Authors: Denton Philip
Published: August 2024

This chapter details the colligative properties of a solution. It explains that some properties are found to be independent of the nature of the solute, being dependent only on the number of solute particles present and the nature of the solvent. Several colligative properties include osmotic pressure, vapour pressure, and tonicity. The chapter also cites that colligative properties are measurable in systems where there is a solution phase in equilibrium with a second phase that is made up of the same solvent as the solution. All colligative properties arise due to the reduction in the chemical potential of solvent molecules following the addition of solute.
Resolving Resident Colonic Muscularis Macrophage Diversity and Plasticity During Colitis
Authors: Ohishi Kensuke , Dora David , Han Christopher Y , Guyer Richard A , Ohkura Takahiro , Kazimierczyk Simon , Picard Nicole , Leavitt Abigail R , Ott Leah C , Rahman Ahmed A , Mueller Jessica L , Shpigel Nahum Y , Jain Nitya , Nagy Nandor , Hotta Ryo , Goldstein Allan M , Stavely Rhian
Published: August 2024

Background

Immune cell populations in the intestinal muscularis propria during colitis are poorly resolved. Maintaining homeostasis in this niche is critical, highlighted by the poorer prognosis of inflammatory bowel disease associated with muscularis propria inflammation.

Methods

This study utilizes single-cell RNA sequencing to survey the immune cell populations within the muscularis propria of normal colon and dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis. Findings are validated by immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry and cell-lineage tracing in vivo, and in vitro assays with muscularis macrophages (MMφ).

Results

In naïve conditions, transcriptional duality is observed in MMφs with 2 major subpopulations: conventional resident Cx3cr1+ MMφs and Lyve1+ MMφs. The Lyve1+ population is phagocytic and expresses several known MMφ markers in mouse and human, confirming their identity as a bona fide MMφ subset. Single-cell transcriptomics indicate that resident MMφs are retained during colitis and exhibit plasticity toward an inflammatory profile. Lyve1+ MMφs, which express anti-inflammatory marker CD163, are absent during colitis, as confirmed by flow cytometry. In contrast, lineage tracing finds that resident Cx3cr1+ MMφs remain during colitis and are not completely replaced by the inflammatory infiltrating monocytes. In vitro studies provide biological evidence of the plasticity of resident Cx3cr1+ MMφs in response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS), mirroring transcriptional observations in vivo of their inflammatory plasticity. Potential markers for colitic MMφs, validated in animal models and in individuals with ulcerative colitis, are identified.

Conclusions

Our findings contribute to the understanding of the immune system in the muscularis propria niche during colitis by resolving the heterogeneity and origins of colitic MMφs.