bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Unravelling Biosynthesis and Biodegradation Potentials of Microbial Dark Matters in Hypersaline Lakes
Authors: Qiu Zhiguang , Zhu Yuanyuan , Zhang Qing , Qiao Xuejiao , Mu Rong , Xu Zheng , Yan Yan , Wang Fan , Zhang Tong , Zhuang Wei-Qin , Yu Ke
Published: June 2023

Biosynthesis and biodegradation of microorganisms critically underpin the development of biotechnology, new drugs and therapies, and environmental remediation. However, the vast majority of uncultured microbial species along with their metabolic capacities in extreme environments remain obscured. To unravel the metabolic potentials of these microbial dark matters (MDMs), we investigated four deep-inland hypersaline lakes with largely diversified environmental parameters in Xinjiang Uygur Zizhiqu, China. Metagenomic binning obtained 3,030 metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) spanning 82 phyla, of which 2,363 MAGs could not be assigned to a known genus. These unknown MAGs were abundantly observed with distinct taxa among lakes, possibly linked to the diversification of physiochemical conditions. Analysis of biosynthetic potentials identified 9,635 biosynthesis gene clusters (BGCs), of which 9,403 BGCs were considered novel. We found that some MAGs from putatively novel phyla consistently comprised enriched BGCs, which may have substantial potentials in biotechnological applications. In addition, biodegradation potentials such as dehalogenation, anaerobic ammonium oxidation (Anammox), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), and plastic degradation were found in new microbial clades from hypersaline lakes. These findings substantially expanded the genetic repository of biosynthesis and biodegradation potentials, which can further assist the development of new and innovative applications in biotechnology.
Memory-specific encoding activities of the ventral tegmental area dopamine and GABA neurons
Authors: Glykos Vasileios , Fujisawa Shigeyoshi
Published: June 2023

Although the midbrain dopamine (DA) system plays a crucial role in higher cognitive functions, including updating and maintaining short-term memory, the encoding properties of the somatic spiking activity of ventral tegmental area (VTA) DA neurons for short-term memory computations have not yet been identified. Here, we probed and analyzed the activity of optogenetically identified DA and GABA neurons while mice engaged in short-term memory-dependent behavior in a T-maze task. Single-neuron analysis revealed that significant subpopulations of DA and GABA neurons responded differently between left and right trials in the memory delay. With a series of control behavioral tasks and regression analysis tools, we show that firing rate differences are linked to short-term memory-dependent decisions and cannot be explained by reward-related processes, motivated behavior, or motor-related activities. This evidence provides novel insights into the mnemonic encoding activities of midbrain DA and GABA neurons.
Th17 cells target the metabolic miR-142-5p-SDHC/SDHD axis promoting invasiveness and progression of cervical cancers
Authors: Pohlers Maike , Gies Selina , Tänzer Tanja , Stroeder Russalina , Theobald Laura , Ludwig Nicole , Kim Yoo-Jin , Bohle Rainer , Solomayer Erich-Franz , Meese Eckart , Hart Martin , Walch-Rückheim Barbara
Published: June 2023

During cervical carcinogenesis, T-helper (Th)-17 cells accumulate in the peripheral blood and tumor tissues of cancer patients. We previously demonstrated that Th17 cells are associated with therapy resistance as well as cervical cancer metastases and relapse, however, the underlying Th17-driven mechanisms supporting cervical cancer progression are not fully understood as yet. In this study, we found that Th17 cells promote migration and invasion of cervical cancer cells in 2D cultures and 3D spheroids. We demonstrated that Th17 cells induced the expression of miR-142-5p in cervical cancer cells supporting their migration and invasiveness. As the responsible mechanism, we identified the subunits C and D of the succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) complex as new targets of miR-142-5p and provided evidence that Th17 cells reduced the expression of SDHC and SDHD that was dependent on miR-142-5p. Functional downstream analysis with inhibitors of miR-142-5p and siRNA knock down of SDHC and SDHD revealed that Th17-induced miR-142-5p-mediated reduced expression of SDHC and SDHD was responsible for enhanced migration and invasion of cervical cancer cells. Consistently, cervical cancer patients exhibited high levels of succinate in their serum associated with lymph node metastases and diminished expression of SDHD in patients′ biopsies significantly correlated with increased numbers of Th17 cells, advanced tumor stage and lymph node metastases. Correspondingly, a combination of weak or negative SDHD expression and a ratio of Th17/CD4+T cells > 43.90 %in situwas associated with reduced recurrence free survival. In summary, we unraveled a novel molecular mechanism by which Th17 cells promote cervical cancer progression and suggest evaluation of Th17 cells as a potential target for immunotherapy in cervical cancer.
Zona incerta dopamine neurons encode motivational vigor in food seeking
Authors: Ye Qiying , Nunez Jeremiah , Zhang Xiaobing
Published: June 2023

Energy deprivation triggers food seeking to ensure homeostatic consumption, but the neural coding of motivational vigor in food seeking during physical hunger remains unknown. Here, we report that ablation of dopamine (DA) neurons in zona incerta (ZI) but not ventral tegmental area potently impaired food seeking after fasting. ZI DA neurons were quickly activated for food approach but inhibited during food consumption. Chemogenetic manipulation of ZI DA neurons bidirectionally regulated feeding motivation to control meal frequency but not meal size for food intake. In addition, activation of ZI DA neurons and their projections to paraventricular thalamus transited positive-valence signals to promote acquisition and expression of contextual food memory. Together, these findings reveal that ZI DA neurons encode motivational vigor in food seeking for homeostatic eating.

One Sentence Summary

Activation of ZI DA neurons vigorously drives and maintains food-seeking behaviors to ensure food consumption triggered by energy deprivation through inhibitory DAZI-PVTtransmissions that transit positive-valence signals associated with contextual food memory.
A prelude to statistics arising from optimal transport theory
Authors: Nguyen Hung T.
Published: June 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to offer a tutorial/introduction to new statistics arising from the theory of optimal transport to empirical researchers in econometrics and machine learning.

Design/methodology/approach

Presenting in a tutorial/survey lecture style to help practitioners with the theoretical material.

Findings

The tutorial survey of some main statistical tools (arising from optimal transport theory) should help practitioners to understand the theoretical background in order to conduct empirical research meaningfully.

Originality/value

This study is an original presentation useful for new comers to the field.
A bibliometric study on the role of micro-finance services in micro, small and medium enterprises
Authors: Gora Kapil , Dhingra Barkha , Yadav Mahender
Published: June 2023

Purpose

Micro-finance has a significant role in the better performance of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). This study aims to provide a comprehensive picture of the existing literature on the role of micro-finance and its approaches in MSMEs.

Design/methodology/approach

This work performs a bibliometric analysis using a data set of 631 articles collected from the Scopus database. The Bibliometrix R package and Vosviewer are used to conduct performance analysis and scientific mapping. Performance analysis shows the publication trend, key authors, journals and top influential articles. Science mapping through a bibliographic coupling network of documents is prepared to discover the intellectual structure of the field.

Findings

This review has identified the four major themes: access to finance and schemes, women empowerment and poverty alleviation, the performance of micro-finance institutions and recent development in micro-financial institutions. With the help of these research themes, the paper also highlights future research agendas.

Originality/value

This paper enriches the understanding of the role of micro-finance services in performance of entrepreneurship with the bibliometric review of top contributors.
The usefulness of mathematical modelling for economic and environmental sustainability in the scope of university teacher education
Authors: Lucas Catarina , Paulo Joana
Published: June 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to present a general review that provides an overview of the concept of sustainability and the effectiveness of mathematics curricula in courses where deeper work on economic and environmental sustainability has become central.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative methodology consisting of a review based on a pre-defined systematic method was used to exhaustively search and identify the most relevant answers to the research question: What is the role of mathematics to sustainability? To facilitate answering such a broad question, several concrete questions were formulated. Answers from published and unpublished documents were analysed. The quality of the extracted data was assessed, and the results were synthesized.

Findings

It was concluded that, on the one hand, the discipline of mathematics has much to contribute to solving the problems of sustainability; on the other hand, new mathematics is appearing stimulated by new challenges.

Social implications

This work presents social implications in an innovative way. It allows for an increase in educational sustainability by bringing the academic community closer to the business world and the challenges of society and, furthermore, by having a major impact on the motivation of teachers and students to develop cooperative work within university institutions.

Originality/value

The originality is based on an a priori analysis for the construction and implementation of didactic tools for university teacher training in the area of mathematics within the framework of sustainable development, both economically and environmentally.
The impact of highly skilled emigrants on the origin country's innovation performance: the case of Greece
Authors: Labrianidis Lois , Sykas Theodosis , Sachini Evi , Karampekios Nikolaos
Published: June 2023

Purpose

The study aims to investigate the impact of highly skilled emigration from Greece on the innovation performance of the Greek economy.

Design/methodology/approach

The study draws on a new, census-scale, database that includes all the Greek Ph.D. holders and on statistical information pooled from various secondary sources.

Findings

The mass emigration of highly educated Greek scientists that was exacerbated during the ten-year recession has had detrimental effects on Greece's innovation performance. Specifically, an increase in the number of highly skilled emigrants has a negative impact on scientific citations and on patent applications during the following year. An instrumental variable approach based on gravity model literature is employed to test the authors’ findings. The potential effects of these findings and policy suggestions are also discussed.

Originality/value

The study enriches the academic and policy discussion on the science and technology–related consequences of brain drain on the origin country. This is the first study that focuses on Greece – the country which experienced the highest emigration rates within the EU during the severe ten-year economic crisis – and sheds light on the impact of skilled emigration on its innovation performance.
Evaluation of the impact of leadership development on nurses and midwives underpinned by transformational learning theory: a corpus-informed analysis
Authors: Bond Carmel , Stacey Gemma , Westwood Greta , Long Louisa
Published: June 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the impact of leadership development programmes, underpinned by Transformational Learning Theory (TLT).

Design/methodology/approach

A corpus-informed analysis was conducted using survey data from 690 participants. Data were collected from participants’ responses to the question “please tell us about the impact of your overall experience”, which culminated in a combined corpus of 75,053 words.

Findings

Findings identified patterns of language clustered around the following frequently used word types, namely, confidence; influence; self-awareness; insight; and impact.

Research limitations/implications

This in-depth qualitative evaluation of participants’ feedback has provided insight into how TLT can be applied to develop future health-care leaders. The extent to which learning has had a transformational impact at the individual level, in relation to their perceived ability to influence, holds promise for the wider impact of this group in relation to policy, practice and the promotion of clinical excellence in the future. However, the latter can only be ascertained by undertaking further realist evaluation and longitudinal study to understand the mechanisms by which transformational learning occurs and is successfully translated to influence in practice.

Originality/value

Previous research has expounded traditional leadership theories to guide the practice of health-care leadership development. The paper goes some way to demonstrate the impact of using the principles of TLT within health-care leadership development programmes. The approach taken by The Florence Nightingale Foundation has the potential to generate confident leaders who may be instrumental in creating positive changes across various clinical environments.
Does Black Lives Matter support moderate the effect of procedural justice on legitimacy? Testing the procedural justice invariance thesis
Authors: Solomon Starr J. , Ehlinger Brandon
Published: June 2023

Purpose

Procedurally just policing positively affects legitimacy regardless of differences in some demographic and neighborhood characteristics. Yet, less is known about how critical citizen views of police influence the effect of procedural justice on legitimacy. Citizen Black Lives Matter (BLM) support is an indicator of views toward police and provides a useful measure to test the procedural justice invariance thesis. The purpose of this study is to examine if BLM support moderates the effect of procedural justice on legitimacy.

Design/methodology/approach

Data from a survey experiment of Americans (n = 363) are used to explore whether BLM support moderates the effect of procedural justice on legitimacy.

Findings

Results suggest BLM support is negatively associated with encounter-specific perceptions of police legitimacy and provides tentative evidence suggesting BLM support moderates the effect of the decision-making element of procedural justice on legitimacy. Specifically, the interaction suggests that at higher levels of BLM support, procedurally unjust decision-making reduces legitimacy. However, there was little erosion of legitimacy among BLM supporters during procedurally just encounters.

Originality/value

This study tests the procedural justice invariance thesis in a BLM context. Results support an association between BLM support and encounter-specific perceptions of police legitimacy and provide preliminary evidence that the effect of procedural justice on legitimacy may vary by levels of BLM support.
Sharing time and goals in dyads: how shared tenure and goal interdependence influence perceived shared mental models
Authors: van Rensburg Jandre J. , Santos Catarina M. , de Jong Simon B.
Published: June 2023

Purpose

An underlying assumption in the shared mental model (SMM) literature is that SMMs improve whilst team members work together for longer. However, whether dyad members indeed have higher perceived SMMs with higher shared tenure has not been explored. This study aims to, therefore, firstly, investigate this idea, and we do so by focusing on perceived SMMs at the dyadic level. Secondly, because in today’s fast-paced world perceived SMMs often need to be built quickly for dyads to perform, we assess if goal interdependence can reduce the dyadic tenure required for higher perceived SMM similarity. Thirdly, we analyse if these processes are related to dyadic performance.

Design/methodology/approach

We collected a dual-source sample of 88 leader–member dyads across various industries. We conducted PROCESS analyses to test their first-stage moderated mediation model.

Findings

Results showed that dyadic tenure was positively related to perceived SMM similarity, and that goal interdependence moderated this relationship. Additionally, perceived SMM similarity mediated the relationship between dyadic tenure and dyadic performance. Lastly, the overall moderated mediation model was supported.

Originality/value

We contribute to the perceived SMM literature by: investigating perceived SMMs in dyads, testing a key idea regarding the influence of dyadic tenure on perceived SMMs and investigating how goal interdependence may prompt perceived SMM similarity earlier in dyadic tenure and, ultimately, improve dyadic performance.
Gastronomic tourism and smart solutions used for its development: the case of a region of Latvia
Authors: Zvirbule Andra , Auzina Anita , Grinberga-Zalite Gunta
Published: June 2023

Purpose

The purpose of the study is to examine opportunities for gastronomic tourism development and smart solutions in the regions of Latvia.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology is based on a qualitative approach applied to examine the theoretical and legal frameworks for gastronomic tourism, as well as on a case study based on mapping and a typology of gastronomic tourism.

Findings

An analysis of priorities for the Kurzeme planning region (including Talsi municipality) in tourism development revealed that digitalization, the introduction of smart solutions important for travellers and the integration of the digital environment and innovative solutions into tourism services are specified in policy documents. An examination of a mapping of tourist services supplied in the Talsi municipality and the role of gastronomic tourism therein showed that such a mapping can serve as a basis for developing targeted smart and digital tourism products for Talsi municipality, which involves both the target audience and the typology of food tourist behaviour.

Research limitations/implications

The examination of smart solutions for the regions of Latvia represented an in-depth case study of one municipality – Talsi. Talsi municipality was selected as a typical gastronomic destination, which offers a wide range of gastronomic tourism opportunities, and this kind of tourism is also referred to in the tourism development strategy of the municipality (region).

Originality/value

This study's contribution is determined by the constantly changing dynamic environment that fosters the differentiation of supply of tourism products, as well as the integration of smart solutions into tourism products. Gastronomic tourism in Latvia and the Baltic states plays a steady role in contributing to the recognition of the cultural environment and regional traditions; therefore, the supply of smart solutions is essential and significant from the regional perspective. The originality of the research is also determined by an examination of smart solutions for gastronomic tourism in the tourism products supplied in the region.
Frequency‐domain wavefield reconstruction inversion of ground‐penetrating radar based on sensitivity analysis
Authors: Zhong Shichao , Wang Yibo , Zheng Yikang
Published: June 2023

Ground‐penetrating radar full‐waveform inversion is a high‐resolution method for inverting permittivity and conductivity; however, the issue of multi‐parameter crosstalk during the inversion process, in which perturbations of permittivity and conductivity can produce nearly identical observed data, poses a challenge. Additionally, full‐waveform inversion is highly nonlinear and computationally expensive. In this study, we conducted a sensitivity analysis based on permittivity and conductivity perturbations, which demonstrates that their sensitivities vary with frequency. Specifically, conductivity perturbation has a larger impact on low‐frequency data, whereas permittivity perturbation increasingly affects high‐frequency data. Based on the sensitivity analysis, we propose a modified stepped inversion strategy to mitigate multi‐parameter crosstalk. We also employed wavefield reconstruction inversion, which relaxes the wave‐equation constraint as a penalty term and, thus, can help us avoid local minima of the objective function. In contrast, full‐waveform inversion is more prone to get stuck owing to mismatches between modelled and measured data during the inversion process. Finally, we tested the proposed approach on crosshole synthetic data, which achieved significant computational savings and higher inversion efficiency for fewer forward simulations. Our results demonstrate that the proposed approach is a promising method for inverting subsurface structures and has the potential for practical applications in the future.
Restoration temporarily supports the resilience of sagebrush‐steppe ecosystems subjected to repeated fires
Authors: Power Simon C. , Davies G. Matt , Wainwright Claire E. , Marsh Michael , Bakker Jonathan D.
Published: June 2023

Many ecosystems are experiencing increased fire frequencies and species invasions that can erode their resilience and cause a shift to alternative states. In the sagebrush‐steppe, a semi‐arid shrubland ecosystem in North America, restoration treatments are often implemented following wildfire to enhance their resilience to invasion. However, little is known about the long‐term effectiveness of these treatments. We investigated whether repeated restoration efforts provide greater resilience in sagebrush‐steppe communities initially dominated by species with different post‐fire regeneration traits and subjected to compounding wildfires and invasion byBromus tectorumover 25 years.

We studied 37 permanent transects (Columbia Basin, Washington, USA) in which species abundance was recorded multiple times from 1992 to 2017. We quantified community change and its relationship with fire, restoration, and moisture availability. Resilience was evaluated by quantifying community resistance and stability indices.

The greatest change occurred in communities where the obligate seeding shrubArtemisia tridentatawas initially common. Repeated fires led to the extirpation of this shrub and eventual dominance ofB. tectorum. Herbicide applications temporarily suppressedB. tectorumpost‐fire. Seeding treatments and above average precipitation initially increased native cover. Although communities where resprouting species were common showed the least change, repeated fires did lead to a gradual but substantial decline (86%) in resprouting shrubs.

Synthesis and applications. Our findings show that repeated restoration efforts, together with elevated precipitation, can support native species re‐establishment in systems experiencing altered disturbance regimes and species invasions. Our unique long‐term dataset demonstrates, however, that many such interventions have short‐lived effects due to the strong ‘unhelpful resilience’ of highly invaded systems. This implicitly suggests that many such systems have experienced fundamental shifts in ecosystem state. The likelihood of this occurring is strongly associated with the dominant species post‐fire regeneration traits. We predict that community composition and resilience will continue to degrade in the sagebrush‐steppe unless management prioritizes fire suppression and an adaptive restoration approach that considers resource availability.
A re‐analysis of 150 women's health trials to investigate how the Bayesian approach may offer a solution to the misinterpretation of statistical findings
Authors: Hemming Karla , Melo Pedro , Luo Rong , Taljaard Monica , Coomarasamy Arri
Published: June 2023

Objective

To investigate whether a Bayesian interpretation might help prevent misinterpretation of statistical findings and support authors to differentiate evidence of no effect from statistical uncertainty.

Design

A Bayesian re‐analysis to determine posterior probabilities of clinically important effects (e.g., a large effect is set at a 4 percentage point difference and a trivial effect to be within a 0.5 percentage point difference). Posterior probabilities greater than 95% are considered as strong statistical evidence, and less than 95% as inconclusive.

Sample

150 major women's health trials with binary outcomes.

Main Outcome Measures

Posterior probabilities of large, moderate, small and trivial effects.

Results

Under frequentist methods, 48 (32%) were statistically significant (p‐value ≤ 0.05) and 102 (68%) statistically non‐significant. The frequentist and Bayesian point estimates and confidence intervals showed strong concordance. Of the statistically non‐significant trials (n = 102), the Bayesian approach classified the majority (94, 92%) as inconclusive, neither able to confirm or refute effectiveness. A small number of statistically non‐significant findings (8, 8%) were classified as having strong statistical evidence of an effect.

Conclusions

Whilst almost all trials report confidence intervals, in practice most statistical findings are interpreted on the basis of statistical significance, mostly concluding evidence of no effect. Findings here suggest the majority are likely uncertain. A Bayesian approach could help differentiate evidence of no effect from statistical uncertainty.
The passenger
Authors: Hiller Joseph
Published: June 2023

This piece forms part of a special section of “hundreds” inspired by Kathleen Stewart's ethnographic writing. It is based on a conversation with a formerly incarcerated trans woman in Colombia about the perils of commuting through the urban periphery and the overlapping stakes of documenting gender identity and histories of involvement with the carceral system.
Review article: Translating STRIDE‐II into clinical reality – Opportunities and challenges
Authors: Dignass Axel , Rath Stefan , Kleindienst Thomas , Stallmach Andreas
Published: June 2023

Background

With the introduction of novel therapies for inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), ‘treat‐to‐target’ strategies are increasingly discussed to improve short‐ and long‐term outcomes in patients with IBD.

Aim

To discuss opportunities and challenges of a treat‐to‐target approach in light of the current ‘Selecting Therapeutic Targets in Inflammatory Bowel Disease’ (STRIDE‐II) consensus

Methods

The 2021 update of STRIDE‐II encompasses 13 evidence‐ and consensus‐based recommendations for treat‐to‐target strategies in adults and children with IBD. We highlight the potential implications and limitations of these recommendations for clinical practice.

Results

STRIDE‐II provides valuable guidance for personalised IBD management. It reflects scientific progress as well as increased evidence of improved outcomes when more ambitious treatment goals such as mucosal healing are achieved.

Conclusions

Prospective studies, objective criteria for risk stratification, and better predictors of therapeutic response are needed to potentially render ‘treating to target’ more effective in the future.
Preferences for labor and childbirth, expressed orally or as a written birth plan: Prevalence and determinants from a nationwide population‐based study
Authors: Chantry Anne Alice , Merrer Jade , Blondel Béatrice , Le Ray Camille
Published: June 2023

Background

Shared decision‐making is an important component of a patient‐centered healthcare system. We assessed the prevalence of parturients with preferences for their labor and childbirth, expressed verbally in the birthing room or as a written birth plan, and studied maternal, obstetric, and organizational factors associated with their expression.

Methods

Data came from the 2016 National Perinatal Survey, a cross‐sectional nationwide population‐based survey conducted in France. Preferences for labor and childbirth were studied in three categories: expressed verbally, in writing (birth plan), or unexpressed or nonexistent. Analyses used multinomial multilevel logistic regression.

Results

The analysis included 11,633 parturients: 3.7% had written a birth plan, 17.3% expressed their preferences verbally, and 79.0% either did not have or did not express any preferences. Compared with the latter group, written or verbal preferences were both significantly associated with prenatal care by independent midwives (respectively, adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 2.19; 95% confidence interval (CI), [1.59–3.03], and aOR 1.43; 95% CI [1.19–1.71]) and with attendance at childbirth education classes (respectively, aOR 4.99; 95% CI [3.49–7.15], and aOR 2.27; 95% CI [1.98–2.62]). As years in traditional schooling increased, so did its association with preferences. Conversely, parturients from African countries were significantly less likely than French mothers to express preferences. A written birth plan was also associated with characteristics of maternity unit organization.

Conclusion

Only one in five parturients reported having expressed preferences for labor and childbirth to healthcare professionals in the birthing room. This expression of preferences was associated with maternal characteristics and the organization of care.
Metabolomics of cerebrospinal fluid reveals prognostic biomarkers in pediatric status epilepticus
Authors: Wang Tianqi , Li Chunpei , Ma Yu , Zhou Hao , Du Xiaonan , Li Yingfeng , Long Shasha , Ding Yifeng , Lu Guoping , Chen Weiming , Zhou Yuanfeng , Yu Lifei , Wang Ji , Wang Yi
Published: June 2023

Aims

Status epilepticus (SE) is the most common neurological emergency in pediatric patients. This study aimed to screen for prognostic biomarkers of SE in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) using metabolomics.

Methods

Ultra‐performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time‐of‐flight tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC‐QTOF‐MS) was conducted to identify prognostic biomarkers in CSF metabolomics by comparing the poor outcome group (N = 13) with the good outcome group (N = 15) of children with SE. Differentially expressed metabolites were identified using Mann–Whitney U test corrected by Benjamini‐Hochberg and partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS‐DA).

Results

The PLS‐DA model identified and validated significant metabolic differences between the poor and good outcome groups of children with SE (PLS‐DA with R2Y = 0.992 and Q2 = 0.798). A total of 49 prognosis‐related metabolites were identified. Of these metabolites, 20 including glutamyl‐glutamine, 3‐iodothyronamine, and L‐fucose had an area under the curve (AUC) ≥ 80% in prognostic prediction of SE. The logistic regression model combining glutamyl‐glutamine and 3‐iodothyronamine produced an AUC value of 0.976, with a sensitivity of 0.863 and specificity of 0.956. Pathway analysis revealed that dysregulation of the citrate cycle (TCA) and arginine biosynthesis may contribute to poor SE prognosis.

Conclusions

This study highlighted the prognosis‐related metabolomic disturbances in the CSF of children with SE and identified potential prognostic biomarkers. A prognostic prediction model combining glutamyl‐glutamine and 3‐iodothyronamine with high predictive value was established.
Expression patterns of serum miR‐27a‐3p and activating transcription factor 3 in children with bronchial asthma and their correlations with airway inflammation
Authors: Wang Jingcai , Yang Lixin , Sun Peng , Guo Chunyan , Jin Yuzi , Jing Xiaoqing
Published: June 2023

Introduction

Bronchial asthma (BA) is a heterogeneous disease characterized by chronic airway inflammation. This study investigated the serum miR‐27a‐3p/activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3) expression in children with BA and their correlations with airway inflammation.

Methods

Children with BA (N = 120) and healthy children (N = 108) were enrolled. Serum levels of interleukin (IL)‐17, IL‐6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α, immunoglobulin E (IgE), miR‐27a‐3p, ATF3, and the number of eosinophils (EOS) were measured using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT‐qPCR), and an automatic hematology analyzer. The correlations between miR‐27a‐3p and ATF3 and between miR‐27a‐3p/ATF3 and inflammation‐related factors were analyzed by the Pearson method. The diagnostic values of miR‐27a‐3p and ATF3 in BA were evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. The influencing factors of BA were assessed using multivariate logistic regression. Finally, the targeting relation between miR‐27a‐3p and ATF3 was predicted and analyzed by TargetScan and Starbase databases, and dual‐luciferase assay.

Results

There were significant differences in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1)% predicted and FEV1/forced vital capacity (FVC)%, serum levels of IgE, IL‐17, IL‐6, and TNF‐α, and EOS numbers between healthy children and BA children. Serum miR‐27a‐3p was negatively correlated with ATF3 and positively correlated with inflammation‐related factors in BA children. Serum ATF3 mRNA levels were negatively correlated with inflammatory factors in BA children. miR‐27a‐3p and ATF3 had good diagnostic values in BA children. FEV% predicted, IL‐6, TNF‐α, miR‐27a‐3p, and ATF3 were independent risk factors for BA. miR‐27a‐3p targeted ATF3.

Conclusion

Serum miR‐27a‐3p was highly expressed, whereas ATF3 was poorly expressed in BA children, and they were significantly correlated with airway inflammation, had good diagnostic values in BA children, and were independent risk factors for asthma.
Frequency‐dependent connectivity in large‐scale resting‐state brain networks during sleep
Authors: Titone Simon , Samogin Jessica , Peigneux Philippe , Swinnen Stephan P. , Mantini Dante , Albouy Genevieve
Published: June 2023

Functional connectivity (FC) during sleep has been shown to break down as non‐rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep deepens before returning to a state closer to wakefulness during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. However, the specific spatial and temporal signatures of these fluctuations in connectivity patterns remain poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate how frequency‐dependent network‐level FC fluctuates during nocturnal sleep in healthy young adults using high‐density electroencephalography (hdEEG). Specifically, we examined source‐localized FC in resting‐state networks during NREM2, NREM3 and REM sleep (sleep stages scored using a semi‐automatic procedure) in the first three sleep cycles of 29 participants. Our results showed that FC within and between all resting‐state networks decreased from NREM2 to NREM3 sleep in multiple frequency bands and all sleep cycles. The data also highlighted a complex modulation of connectivity patterns during the transition to REM sleep whereby delta and sigma bands hosted a persistence of the connectivity breakdown in all networks. In contrast, a reconnection occurred in the default mode and the attentional networks in frequency bands characterizing their organization during wake (i.e., alpha and beta bands, respectively). Finally, all network pairs (except the visual network) showed higher gamma‐band FC during REM sleep in cycle three compared to earlier sleep cycles. Altogether, our results unravel the spatial and temporal characteristics of the well‐known breakdown in connectivity observed as NREM sleep deepens. They also illustrate a complex pattern of connectivity during REM sleep that is consistent with network‐ and frequency‐specific breakdown and reconnection processes.
Differences in substratum preferences and behaviour within the invasive Corbicula species complex
Authors: Szarmach Daniel , Wiśniewski Kamil , Kobak Jarosław , Kakareko Tomasz , Labecka Anna Maria , Sousa Ronaldo , Poznańska‐Kakareko Małgorzata
Published: June 2023

Clams from the Corbicula species complex of Asian origin are invasive all over the world, currently extending their distribution to waters of the natural thermal regime in Central European areas. Features linking the clams to their habitats in newly invaded areas have not been fully examined. These include substratum preferences and mobility, which may be key to determining potential niche overlap with native bivalves and gaining a better knowledge of their potential active dispersal and impact. Therefore, our aim was to determine the substratum preferences, horizontal locomotion and burrowing behaviour of three Corbicula morphospecies from Poland, Central Europe: two populations of undetermined Corbicula sp. from an artificially heated habitat and water of the natural thermal regime (cold water), as well as Corbicula leana, and Corbicula fluminea (from artificially heated and cold water, respectively).

To determine the preferred substratum range, we used pairwise choice tests with a range of muddy, sandy, and gravelly substrata, as well as zebra mussel shells. Then, we conducted behavioural observations (locomotion and burrowing) by CCTV cameras on substrata found as preferred and non‐preferred by clams.

All morphospecies preferred fine‐grained over coarser substrata. C. fluminea from cold water had the widest range of substratum preferences. By contrast, C. leana from artificially heated water and Corbicula sp. from cold water showed the narrowest substratum preferences and spent the longest time deeply burrowed. The longest duration of burrowing activity was noted on non‐preferred coarser substrata, which may indicate difficulties in burrowing. On non‐preferred coarse substrata, C. fluminea (cold water) crawled more than the other morphospecies.

Our results show that sediment preferences and behaviour (burrowing and locomotion) differ among various Corbicula morphospecies in Europe, probably also varying their invasive potential.

This knowledge is important for determining the overlap of habitat preferences of non‐native Corbicula clams with native bivalves, which is critical for determining potential competition strength, impact, and/or displacement. Our results also indicate that habitats with fine sediments could be more threatened by Corbicula invasions.
Hormone therapy in prostate cancer: Understanding patients' and caregivers' supportive care needs
Authors: Uslu Tanış Esra , Uğur Özlem
Published: June 2023

Research Question

Q1: What are the supportive care needs of individuals with prostate cancer in hormone therapy?

Q2: What are the supportive care needs of individuals who care for prostate cancer patients?

Research Problem

Our study aims to identify the supportive care needs of not only prostate cancer patients receiving hormone therapy, but also their caregivers.

Literature Review

The literature review of this study was made by scanning the related field studies from the Google database, BNI, and so forth.

Methodology

This is a cross‐sectional definitive study conducted between February and June 2022 in the Shock Wave Lithography Unit (ESWL—where patients are given hormone therapy treatment needles) at Dokuz Eylul University Hospital in Turkey. The study involved 66 prostate cancer patients and 64 caregivers. The sample size was found by power analysis. The data obtained in the study were analysed on the SPSS 25 software package.

Results

79.9% of the caregivers were female and 43.8% were patients' spouses. 36% of the patients had 80%–90% performance rates on the Karnofsky scale. Due to drug side effects, ±45.1 of patients required support for sexual issues before and after diagnosis, and ±46.27 needed supportive care for water retention. Due to the difficulties experienced in the care process the caregivers; ±40.88 needed family support, and ±21.25 needed social services support (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

It was found that prostate cancer patients receiving hormone therapy and their caregivers had a range of supportive care needs due to the difficulties they faced.
Interaction between ferric carboxymaltose and denosumab causing severe hypocalcaemia and hypophosphataemia in a patient without chronic kidney disease
Authors: Muhandiramge Jaidyn , Lee Vivian , Tran Monica , Ho Lannie
Published: June 2023

Coadministration of ferric carboxymaltose and denosumab may cause hypocalcaemia and hypophosphataemia; however, this interaction is not well‐described in the literature and has typically been described in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). We present a case of this interaction in a patient without preexisting CKD. We suggest the use of alternative iron preparations and an interval of at least 4 weeks between administrations.
Dysregulated neutrophil extracellular traps formation in sepsis
Authors: Mulet Maria , Osuna‐Gómez Ruben , Zamora Carlos , Artesero Iris , Arús Marc , Vera‐Artazcoz Paula , Cordón Alejandra , Vilalta Noelia , San‐José Paula , Abril Andrés , Moliné Antoni , Morán Indalecio , López‐Contreras Joaquín , Vidal Silvia
Published: June 2023

The migration and antimicrobial functions of neutrophils seem to be impaired during sepsis and contribute to the dysregulation of immune responses and disease pathogenesis. However, the role of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) remains to be clarified. The study aimed to analyse sequential phenotypic and functional changes of neutrophils during the time following the diagnosis of sepsis. We prospectively enrolled 49 septic and 18 non‐septic patients from the intensive care unit (ICU) and emergency room (ER) and 20 healthy volunteers (HV). Baseline blood samples from septic and non‐septic patients were collected within 12 h of admission to the hospital. Additional septic samples were drawn at 24, 48 and 72 h after baseline. Neutrophil phenotype and degranulation capacity were assessed by flow cytometry and NET formation was quantified by fluorescence. Neutrophils from septic patients exhibited increased CD66b, CD11b and CD177 expression but displayed reduced NET formation at baseline compared with non‐septic patients and HV controls. Neutrophils expressing CD177 interacted less with platelets, were related to reduced NETosis and tended to indicate a worse sepsis outcome. In vitro experiments revealed that neutrophil function is compromised by the origin of sepsis, including the pathogen type and the affected organ. Assessing a decision tree model, our study showed that CD11b expression and NETosis values are useful variables to discriminate septic from non‐septic patients. We conclude that sepsis induces changes in neutrophil phenotype and function that may compromise the effective capacity of the host to eliminate pathogens.
Visualising COVID‐19: Implications for Design Education
Authors: Chatteur Fiona , Leppens Mieke
Published: June 2023

This paper reports on the findings of a visual text analysis of selected infographics and data visualisations used in  news websites during the COVID‐19 pandemic in Sydney, Australia. Infographics and data visualisations used in news website articles disseminated and communicated local and national information to the public about the COVID‐19 pandemic and related social implications. For the first time live data, animation and interaction were used in reporting health and societal information to a general news readership, contributing to the knowledge base and visual literacy of the public. The information presented was not only clear but also aesthetically appealing. This paper examines the styles of news digital infographics and data visualisation of three longitudinal studies using lessons learned from Grainger et al. (2016), Dick (2020) and Tufte (2001) and contextualises the context, narrative, aesthetics, communication, data, functionality and examines the collaboration between communication designers, journalists and the development team. The implications for communication design education are explored in the context of skills, tools and teamwork needed for future communication design students.
GPD1L inhibits renal cell carcinoma progression by regulating PINK1/Parkin‐mediated mitophagy
Authors: Liu Ting , Zhu Hengcheng , Ge Minghuan , Pan Zhou , Zeng Yan , Leng Yan , Yang Kang , Cheng Fan
Published: June 2023

Few approaches have been conducted in the treatment of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) after nephrectomy, resulting in a high mortality rate in urological tumours. Mitophagy is a mechanism of mitochondrial quality control that enables selective degradation of damaged and unnecessary mitochondria. Previous studies have found that glycerol‐3‐phosphate dehydrogenase 1‐like (GPD1L) is associated with the progression of tumours such as lung cancer, colorectal cancer and oropharyngeal cancer, but the potential mechanism in RCC is still unclear. In this study, microarrays from tumour databases were analysed. The expression of GPD1L was confirmed by RT–qPCR and western blotting. The effect and mechanism of GPD1L were explored using cell counting kit 8, wound healing, invasion, flow cytometry and mitophagy‐related experiments. The role of GPD1L was further confirmed in vivo. The results showed that GPD1L expression was downregulated and positively correlated with prognosis in RCC. Functional experiments revealed that GPD1L prevented proliferation, migration and invasion while promoting apoptosis and mitochondrial injury in vitro. The mechanistic results indicated that GPD1L interacted with PINK1, promoting PINK1/Parkin‐mediated mitophagy. However, inhibition of PINK1 reversed GPD1L‐mediated mitochondrial injury and mitophagy. Moreover, GPD1L prevented tumour growth and promoted mitophagy by activating the PINK1/Parkin pathway in vivo. Our study shows that GPD1L has a positive correlation with the prognosis of RCC. The potential mechanism involves interacting with PINK1 and regulating the PINK1/Parkin pathway. In conclusion, these results reveal that GPD1L can act as a biomarker and target for RCC diagnosis and therapy.
The effect of an attachment‐based intervention program on attachment, expectation, and stress in pregnant women: A randomized controlled study
Authors: Sabancı Baransel Esra , Uçar Tuba
Published: June 2023

Aim

This study aimed to determine the effect of an attachment‐based intervention program (ABIP) on attachment, prenatal expectation and stress levels in pregnant women.

Methods

This randomized controlled study was conducted in the pregnant outpatient clinics of a public hospital in Turkey. The study sample consisted of a total of 154 pregnant women (77 experimental, 77 control) at 28–38 weeks of gestation. The ABIP was applied to the pregnant women in the experimental group for 5–7 days. The ABIP included five interventions: (1) perceiving/counting fetal movements; (2) music therapy; (3) preparation for the baby; (4) writing notes/letters to the baby; and (5) watching images of the fetus/pregnancy.

Results

After the ABIP, pregnant women in the experimental group had higher prenatal maternal attachment and prenatal positive expectation mean scores than those in the control group, and the difference between them was statistically significant in favor of those in the experimental group (P < .001). In addition, pregnant women in the experimental group had lower prenatal negative expectation and prenatal distress mean scores than those in the control group, and the difference between them was statistically significant in favor of those in the experimental group (P < .001).

Conclusions

The results of this study suggest that ABIP is a unique and pioneering program to increase maternal‐antenatal attachment and prenatal positive expectations and reducing prenatal negative expectations and distress through diverse interventions. However, further research is required to assess the effectiveness of ABIP on maternal‐fetal attachment, prenatal maternal expectations, and prenatal distress.