bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The ‘More Than Maps’ framework for building research capacity among young people in coastal climate change adaptation
Authors: van der Plank Sien , Appeaning Addo Kwasi , Anderson Romario , Boruff Bryan , Bruce Eleanor , Chambers Kishna , Duncan John , Davies Kevin , Escoffery Damoi , Fidai Yanna , Fletcher Darren , Hickey Sharyn , Jayson‐Quashigah Philip‐Neri , Maxam Ava , Pauli Natasha , Schlenker Marie , Sowah Winnie Naa Adjorkor , Dash Jadu
Published: January 2024

When young people engage with climate change education, they are often left feeling disempowered and daunted. But past research has shown that there are ways to design and deliver climate change education that can be empowering and enabling. The delivery of climate change education was further challenged in 2020 by the shift to online learning driven by the COVID‐19 pandemic restrictions. However, the challenges of the pandemic context also offered an opportunity to engage new audiences and establish new collaborations in climate change education. In this paper, we explore how the shift to online research, collaboration and education can also be harnessed to develop interdisciplinary coastal adaptation training for young people interested in better understanding the complexities of our coastal environments. The resulting ‘More than Maps’ framework draws on qualitative and quantitative data collected over a two‐year programme focused on the design and delivery of an international climate change research capacity building workshop series, across the United Kingdom, Ghana, Jamaica and Australia. Carried out by an interdisciplinary team of early career researchers and established academics, 15 workshops were developed on coastal adaptation research methods, targeting a range of ‘young’ audiences who are and will continue to be impacted by climate change. Building on reflections from the workshops' design and delivery, we developed a scalable framework to aid researchers in sharing open‐access, replicable methods for studying climate change mitigation and adaptation. This work demonstrates that our workshop participants had increased confidence, sought to apply learned methods to other contexts, and wanted to share this knowledge with others. We conclude that the COVID‐19 online workspace facilitated rather than hindered the international collaboration and delivery of these coastal adaptation research methods workshops, and we provide best practice tips to researchers delivering climate change education.
A phase I study to evaluate the safety, tolerance and pharmacokinetics of anti‐Shiga toxin hyperimmune equine F (ab′)2 fragments in healthy volunteers
Authors: Hiriart Yanina , Scibona Paula , Ferraris Augusto , Belloso Waldo H. , Beruto Valeria , Garcia Bournissen Facundo , Zylberman Vanesa , Muñoz Luciana , Goldbaum Fernando , Spatz Linus , Colonna Mariana , Sanguineti Santiago , Simonovich Ventura A.
Published: January 2024

Aims

Shiga toxin‐producing Escherichia coli‐haemolytic uraemic syndrome (STEC‐HUS) is considered a toxaemic disorder in which early intervention with neutralizing antibodies may have therapeutic benefits. INM004, composed of F (ab′)2 fragments from equine immunoglobulins, neutralizes Stx1/Stx2, potentially preventing the onset of HUS.

Methods

A single‐centre, randomized, phase 1, single‐blind, placebo‐controlled clinical trial to evaluate INM004 safety, tolerance and pharmacokinetics (PK) in healthy adult volunteers, was conducted; in stage I, eight subjects were divided in two cohorts (n = 4) to receive a single INM004 dose of 2 or 4 mg kg−1, or placebo (INM004:placebo ratio of 3:1). In stage II, six subjects received three INM004 doses of 4 mg kg−1 repeated every 24 h, or placebo (INM004:placebo ratio of 5:1).

Results

Eight subjects (57.1%) experienced mild treatment‐emergent adverse events (TEAEs); most frequent were rhinitis, headache and flushing, resolved within 24 h without changes in treatment or additional intervention. No serious AEs were reported. Peak concentrations of INM004 occurred within 2 h after infusion, with median Cmax values of 45.1 and 77.7 μg mL−1 for 2 and 4 mg kg−1, respectively. The serum concentration of INM004 declined in a biphasic manner (t1/2 range 30.7–52.9 h). Systemic exposures increased with each subsequent dose in a dose‐proportional manner, exhibiting accumulation. Geometric median Cmax and AUC values were 149 and 10 300 μg h mL−1, respectively, in the repeated dose regimen. Additionally, samples from subjects that received INM004 at 2 mg kg−1 showed neutralizing capacity against Stx1 and Stx2 in in vitro assays.

Conclusions

The results obtained in this first‐in‐human study support progression into the phase 2 trial in children with HUS.
Experiences of a communication‐skills course for care partners of people living with dementia, empowered conversations: A qualitative framework analysis
Authors: Morris Lydia , Innes Anthea , Williamson Tracey , Wyatt Megan , Smith Emma , McEvoy Phil
Published: January 2024

Objectives

Our aims were to examine whether an experiential course for care partners of people living with dementia, Empowered Conversations (EC), was acceptable to participants and to explore participants' perceptions of the impact of the course upon their communicative interactions. EC is based on an integrative model derived from psychological and linguistic theory and empirical evidence. EC is based on mentalisation theory, perceptual control theory and linguistic theory (The Communicative Impact Model).

Methods

Qualitative data were collected via 28 semistructured interviews. Framework analysis was used to analyse data.

Results

Three superordinate themes, ‘improved communication’, ‘improved well‐being’ and ‘support through others’ were identified. Twenty‐seven out of the 28 participants described feeling that they were able to better connect with the person living with dementia that they were supporting through attending EC.

Conclusions

The findings indicated that EC was acceptable and beneficial to care partners. Care partners developed a range of strategies and understandings that enabled them to communicate better with the person they were supporting, enhanced well‐being and relationships, as well as developing social networks. This is the first qualitative study to examine a psychosocial intervention for care partners of people living with dementia using a non‐CBT framework and indicates that perceived control could influence how care partners respond to stress and difficulties.
Popularity at first sight: Dominant behaviours mediate the link between extraversion and popularity in face‐to‐face and virtual group interactions
Authors: Buss Martje , Wagner Jenny , Bleckmann Eva , Wieczorek Larissa L.
Published: January 2024

Although there is robust evidence that being more extraverted is related to higher popularity, only few studies have examined which actual behaviours (e.g., verbal content, body language) might explain this association. The current study examined whether observer‐rated dominant behaviours (nonverbal, paraverbal, verbal, and general cues) mediate the relationship between self‐rated extraversion and its facets (assertiveness, sociability, and activity) and other‐rated popularity in zero‐acquaintance settings. In two studies, we analysed data from face‐to‐face (Study 1, N = 124) and virtual (Study 2, N = 291) group interactions where participants were videotaped while performing a task and subsequently rated each other on popularity. Across studies, extraversion and the facets assertiveness and sociability were consistently associated with higher popularity, while the role of dominant behaviours differed. In Study 1, only two nonverbal behaviours, dominant gestures and upright posture, mediated the association between extraversion and popularity. In Study 2, all four types of behavioural cues mediated the association between extraversion (facets) and popularity. We discuss how these findings provide insights into the mechanisms of attaining popularity at zero acquaintance in diverse social settings.
Monitoring the phenology of plant pathogenic fungi: why and how?
Authors: Delmas Chloé E. L. , Bancal Marie‐Odile , Leyronas Christel , Robin Marie‐Hélène , Vidal Tiphaine , Launay Marie
Published: January 2024

Phenology is a key adaptive trait of organisms, shaping biotic interactions in response to the environment. It has emerged as a critical topic with implications for societal and economic concerns due to the effects of climate change on species' phenological patterns. Fungi play essential roles in ecosystems, and plant pathogenic fungi have significant impacts on global food security. However, the phenology of plant pathogenic fungi, which form a huge and diverse clade of organisms, has received limited attention in the literature. This diversity may have limited the use of a common language for comparisons and the integration of phenological data for these taxonomic groups. Here, we delve into the concept of ‘phenology’ as applied to plant pathogenic fungi and explore the potential drivers of their phenology, including environmental factors and the host plant. We present the PhenoFun scale, a phenological scoring system suitable for use with all fungi and fungus‐like plant pathogens. It offers a standardised and common tool for scientists studying the presence, absence, or predominance of a particular phase, the speed of phenological phase succession, and the synchronism shift between pathogenic fungi and their host plants, across a wide range of environments and ecosystems. The application of the concept of ‘phenology’ to plant pathogenic fungi and the use of a phenological scoring system involves focusing on the interacting processes between the pathogenic fungi, their hosts, and their biological, physical, and chemical environment, occurring during the life cycle of the pathogen. The goal is to deconstruct the processes involved according to a pattern orchestrated by the fungus's phenology. Such an approach will improve our understanding of the ecology and evolution of such organisms, help to understand and anticipate plant disease epidemics and their future evolution, and make it possible to optimise management models, and to encourage the adoption of cropping practices designed from this phenological perspective.
Inhibition of palmitoyltransferase ZDHHC12 sensitizes ovarian cancer cells to cisplatin through ROS‐mediated mechanisms
Authors: Zhang Xining , Liao Xingming , Wang Min , Liu Jiao , Han Jiaxin , An Dong , Zheng Tiezheng , Wang Xuefei , Cheng Hailing , Liu Pixu
Published: January 2024

Platinum‐based therapies have revolutionized the treatment of high‐grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC). However, high rates of disease recurrence and progression remain a major clinical concern. Impaired mitochondrial function and dysregulated reactive oxygen species (ROS), hallmarks of cancer, hold potential as therapeutic targets for selectively sensitizing cisplatin treatment. Here, we uncover an oncogenic role of the palmitoyltransferase ZDHHC12 in regulating mitochondrial function and ROS homeostasis in HGSOC cells. Analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) ovarian cancer data revealed significantly elevated ZDHHC12 expression, demonstrating the strongest positive association with ROS pathways among all ZDHHC enzymes. Transcriptomic analysis of independent ovarian cancer datasets and the SNU119 cell model corroborated this association, highlighting a strong link between ZDHHC12 expression and signature pathways involving mitochondrial oxidative metabolism and ROS regulation. Knockdown of ZDHHC12 disrupted this association, leading to increased cellular complexity, ATP levels, mitochondrial activity, and both mitochondrial and cellular ROS. This dysregulation, achieved by the siRNA knockdown of ZDHHC12 or treatment with the general palmitoylation inhibitor 2BP or the fatty acid synthase inhibitor C75, significantly enhanced cisplatin cytotoxicity in 2D and 3D spheroid models of HGSOC through ROS‐mediated mechanisms. Markedly, ZDHHC12 inhibition significantly augmented the anti‐tumor activity of cisplatin in an ovarian cancer xenograft tumor model, as well as in an ascites‐derived organoid line of platinum‐resistant ovarian cancer. Our data suggest the potential of ZDHHC12 as a promising target to improve the outcome of HGSOCs in response to platinum‐based chemotherapy.
Translation regulatory long non‐coding RNA 1 negatively regulates cell radiosensitivity via the miR‐22‐3p/SP1 axis in non‐small cell lung cancer
Authors: Zhong Ming , Fang Zheng , Guo Weixi , Yu Xiuyi
Published: January 2024

Objective

Non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) occupies 85% of lung cancer. Long non‐coding RNAs (LncRNAs) can regulate the radiosensitivity of cancers. This study explored the mechanism of lncRNA TRERNA1 in the radiosensitivity of NSCLC cells.

Methods

LncRNA TRERNA1 level in NSCLC cell lines was determined. NSCLC cell radiation tolerance was measured. TRERNA1 expression was silenced or overexpressed in A549/HCC827 cells with the highest/lowest radiation tolerance, respectively. The contents of γ‐H2AX and SA‐β‐gal in NSCLC cells after radiation induction were detected. The targeted binding of TRERNA1 to miR‐22‐3p and miR‐22‐3p to SP1 were verified by dual‐luciferase assay. SP1 expression were detected. Functional rescue experiments were implemented to confirm the roles of miR‐22‐3p and SP1 in the regulatory mechanism of TRERNA1.

Results

TRERNA1 was upregulated in NSCLC cells. TRERNA1 silencing enhanced radiosensitivity of NSCLC cells. TRERNA1 silencing elevated the contents of γ‐H2AX and SA‐β‐gal in A549 cells after radiation induction, while TRERNA1 overexpression showed an opposite trend in HCC827 cells. There were targeting relationships between TRERNA1 and miR‐22‐3p, and miR‐22‐3p and SP1. miR‐22‐3p repression or SP1 overexpression abolished the effects of TRERNA1 silencing.

Conclusion

TRERNA1 silencing enhanced radiosensitivity of NSCLC cells via the miR‐22‐3p/SP1 axis. This study may offer new targets for NSCLC treatment.
Analysis of academic results from implementation of a flipped learning methodology in a subject in higher engineering education
Authors: Galindo‐Melero Jesús , Sanz‐Angulo Pedro , De‐Diego‐Poncela Santiago , Martín Óscar
Published: January 2024

Flipped learning (FL) has positive effects on the teaching–learning process. Nevertheless, and given that it is a relatively new methodology, it still raises some misgivings. This work aims to highlight the potential of FL by the analysis of academic results in a subject in higher engineering education and, thus, to contribute to overcome possible misgivings. Methods were based on statistical analysis, using Pearson's correlation coefficient (PCC), and comparative analysis using graphs. Data from eight academic years were analysed, three with traditional methodology and five with FL. Influence of specific factors, such as participation in FL activities, on students' performance over time has been identified. FL has a very positive impact on students' academic performance and the active participation of students' results in a significant increase in the pass rate as well as in the quality of learning. These improvements have increased over time despite challenges such as the COVID‐19 pandemic.
Evaluating the contribution of historical and contemporary temperature to the oospore production of self‐fertile Phytophthora infestans
Authors: Waheed Abdul , Shen Lin‐Lin , Nkurikiyimfura Oswald , Fang Han‐Mei , Wang Yan‐Ping , Andersson Björn , Zhan Jiasui , Yang Li‐Na
Published: January 2024

Reproductive systems play an important role in the ecological function of species, but little is known about how climate change, such as global warming, may affect the reproductive systems of microbes. In this study, 116 Phytophthora infestans isolates sampled from five different altitudes along a mountain were evaluated under five temperature regimes to determine the effects of historical and experimental temperature on the reproductive system of the pathogen. Both altitude, a proxy for historical pathogen adaptation to temperature, and temperature used in the experiment affected the sexual reproduction of the pathogen, with experimental temperature, that is, contemporary temperature, playing a role several times more important than historical temperature. Furthermore, the potential of sexual reproduction, measured by the number of oospores quantified, increased with the temperature breadth (i.e., difference between the highest and lowest temperature at which sexual reproduction takes place) of the pathogen and reached the maximum at the experimental temperature of 21°C, which is higher than the annual average temperature in many potato‐producing areas. The results suggest that rising air temperature associated with global warming may increase the potential of sexual reproduction in P. infestans. Given the importance of sexuality in pathogenicity and ecological adaptation of pathogens, these results suggest that global warming may increase the threat of P. infestans to agricultural production and other ecological services and highlight that new epidemiological strategies may need to be implemented for future food security and ecological resilience.
Independently evolved pollution resistance in four killifish populations is largely explained by few variants of large effect
Authors: Miller Jeffrey T. , Clark Bryan W. , Reid Noah M. , Karchner Sibel I. , Roach Jennifer L. , Hahn Mark E. , Nacci Diane , Whitehead Andrew
Published: January 2024

The genetic architecture of phenotypic traits can affect the mode and tempo of trait evolution. Human‐altered environments can impose strong natural selection, where successful evolutionary adaptation requires swift and large phenotypic shifts. In these scenarios, theory predicts that adaptation is due to a few adaptive variants of large effect, but empirical studies that have revealed the genetic architecture of rapidly evolved phenotypes are rare, especially for populations inhabiting polluted environments. Fundulus killifish have repeatedly evolved adaptive resistance to extreme pollution in urban estuaries. Prior studies, including genome scans for signatures of natural selection, have revealed some of the genes and pathways important for evolved pollution resistance, and provide context for the genotype–phenotype association studies reported here. We created multiple quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping families using progenitors from four different resistant populations, and using RAD‐seq genetically mapped variation in sensitivity (developmental perturbations) following embryonic exposure to a model toxicant PCB‐126. We found that one to two large‐effect QTL loci accounted for resistance to PCB‐mediated developmental toxicity. QTLs harbored candidate genes that govern the regulation of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) signaling. One QTL locus was shared across all populations and another was shared across three populations. One QTL locus showed strong signatures of recent natural selection in the corresponding wild population but another QTL locus did not. Some candidate genes for PCB resistance inferred from genome scans in wild populations were identified as QTL, but some key candidate genes were not. We conclude that rapidly evolved resistance to the developmental defects normally caused by PCB‐126 is governed by few genes of large effect. However, other aspects of resistance beyond developmental phenotypes may be governed by additional loci, such that comprehensive resistance to PCB‐126, and to the mixtures of chemicals that distinguish urban estuaries more broadly, may be more genetically complex.
STAT6 tunes maximum T cell IL‐4 production from stochastically regulated Il4 alleles
Authors: Kyle Ryan L , Prout Melanie , Le Gros Graham , Robinson Marcus J
Published: January 2024

T helper 2 (Th2) cells stochastically express from the Il4 locus but it has not been determined whether allelic expression is linked or independent. Here, we provide evidence that alleles are independently activated and inactivated. We compared Il4 locus expression in T cells from hemizygous IL‐4 reporter mice in culture and in vivo following exposure to type 2 immunogens. In culture, Il4 alleles had independent, heritable expression probabilities. Modeling showed that in co‐expressors, dual allele transcription occurs for only short periods, limiting per‐cell mRNA variation in individual cells within a population of Th2 cells. In vivo profiles suggested that early in the immune response, IL‐4 output was derived predominantly from single alleles, but co‐expression became more frequent over time and were tuned by STAT6, supporting the probabilistic regulation of Il4 alleles in vivo among committed IL‐4 producers. We suggest an imprinted probability of expression from individual alleles with a short transcriptional shutoff time controls the magnitude of T cell IL‐4 output, but the amount produced per allele is amplified by STAT6 signaling. This form of regulation may be a relevant general mechanism governing cytokine expression.
Genetic analysis of body weight and growth curve parameters in Muzaffarnagari sheep of India
Authors: Mandal Ajoy , Gayari Indrajit , Baneh Hasan , Notter David R.
Published: January 2024

The objective of this study was to estimate genetic effects on parameters of the Brody and Richards growth curves using body weight records from birth to 12 months of age on 2287 Muzaffarnagari lamb for a period of 29 years (1976–2004). Estimated growth curve parameters were analysed using six univariate animal models, and genetic correlations among and between the parameters of each function and between parameters of the functions and observed birth and yearling weights were estimated using bivariate analyses. Significant environmental factors including birth year, sex, season, birth status and dam parity were included as fixed effects in all models. Likelihood ratio tests indicated that maternal genetic effects were significant only for birth weight (BW) and degree of maturity at birth (u0) for the Brody and Richards functions. For these traits, direct heritabilities were similar (0.21, 0.19 and 0.17, respectively), but the estimated maternal heritability for BW (0.18) was twice that of u0 for both functions. Heritabilites for yearling weight and asymptotic final body weights for the Brody and Richards functions were 0.28, 0.17 and 0.21, respectively. The remaining growth curve parameters were lowly heritable, ranging from zero for the predicted degree of maturity at the age of maximum growth rate for the Richards function to 0.08 for the maturing rate parameter of the Brody function. Genetic correlations between corresponding parameters for different growth functions exceeded 0.88. Our results showed that the Brody and Richards functions had similar genetic architecture, but the Richards function had no apparent advantages over the more easily interpreted Brody function. Failure to identify maternal genetic effects on maturing rate parameters suggested that both functions failed to identify potentially important maternal genetic effects. Therefore, there is no usefulness of estimated growth curve parameters in selection compared to the simple multi‐trait genetic evaluations of individual body weights.
Nuclear phylogenomics of angiosperms and insights into their relationships and evolution
Authors: Zhang Guojin , Ma Hong
Published: January 2024

Angiosperms (flowering plants) are by far the most diverse land plant group with over 300,000 species. The sudden appearance of diverse angiosperms in the fossil record was referred to by Darwin as the “abominable mystery,” hence contributing to the heightened interest in angiosperm evolution. Angiosperms display wide ranges of morphological, physiological, and ecological characters, some of which have probably influenced their species richness. The evolutionary analyses of these characteristics help to address questions of angiosperm diversification and require well resolved phylogeny. Following the great successes of phylogenetic analyses using plastid sequences, dozens to thousands of nuclear genes from next‐generation sequencing have been used in angiosperm phylogenomic analyses, providing well resolved phylogenies and new insights into the evolution of angiosperms. In this review we focus on recent nuclear phylogenomic analyses of large angiosperm clades, orders, families, and subdivisions of some families and provide a summarized Nuclear Phylogenetic Tree of Angiosperm Families. The newly established nuclear phylogenetic relationships are highlighted and compared with previous phylogenetic results. The sequenced genomes of Amborella, Nymphaea, Chloranthus, Ceratophyllum, and species of monocots, Magnoliids, and basal eudicots, have facilitated the phylogenomics of relationships among five major angiosperms clades. All but one of the 64 angiosperm orders were included in nuclear phylogenomics with well resolved relationships except the placements of several orders. Most families have been included with robust and highly supported placements, especially for relationships within several large and important orders and families. Additionally, we examine the divergence time estimation and biogeographic analyses of angiosperm on the basis of the nuclear phylogenomic frameworks and discuss the differences compared with previous analyses. Furthermore, we discuss the implications of nuclear phylogenomic analyses on ancestral reconstruction of morphological, physiological, and ecological characters of angiosperm groups, limitations of current nuclear phylogenomic studies, and the taxa that require future attention.
A reliable and cost‐effective protocol for creating bilirubin cerebral palsy model in rhesus macaque
Authors: Zhu Yong , Xiong Yanan , Xu Xiaoyan , Zhang Jin , Tong Haiyang , Yang Hongyi , Niu Xia , Shi Xiaming , Tang Jiulai , Li Jinhua
Published: January 2024

Background

Cerebral palsy is a severe motor disability in childhood that poses challenges for children, families, and society. Rhesus macaques are the preferred animals for cerebral palsy model, but surgical excision of motor cortex has low success rate and high cost. In this work, we created cerebral palsy rhesus macaque models by intrathecal injection of bilirubin.

Methods

The puncture point for injection was identified as the intervertebral disc space two, located below the intersection of the iliac crest line and the posterior median line.

Results

The models showed abnormal posture and increased muscle tension. Diffuse deposits of bilirubin were found in the basal ganglia from the magnetic resonance imaging. Pathological slides also revealed the presence of brain lesions, such as vacuole formation, contraction of neuronal nuclei, and deep staining of nuclei in the histopathological sections of the hippocampus and basal ganglia.

Conclusion

The model's symptoms closely resemble those observed in humans with spastic cerebral palsy.
Regulating Platform Competition in Markets with Network Externalities: Will Predatory Pricing Restrictions Increase Social Welfare?*
Authors: Atad Ohad , Yehezkel Yaron
Published: January 2024

We consider an infinitely repeated platform competition in a market with network externalities. The platform that dominated the market in the previous period becomes the incumbent in the current period. We examine the effect of an antitrust policy that prohibits both platforms (symmetric regulation), or just the incumbent (asymmetric regulation) from charging predatory prices. We show that symmetric regulation decreases consumer surplus and does not affect efficiency. Asymmetric regulation increases consumer surplus and improves welfare when the size of the market remains constant over time. Yet, when market size varies over time, this policy may lead to inefficient entry.
Increasing autonomous motivation for physical activity among adolescents
Authors: Klamm Melissa M. , Stewart Mary W. , Duck Angela , Lim Crystal , Brocks Tamara , Zhang Lei , Tacy Joseph
Published: January 2024

Purpose

Adolescents need at least 60 min of physical activity (PA) every day. Yet, the number of minutes of daily PA steadily decreases from childhood through adolescence. This occurs despite evidence that high levels of PA and limited minutes of sedentary behavior (SB) decrease the incidence of heart disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity, and cancer. Motivational interviewing (MI) is a behavioral counseling technique that focuses on behavior change areas, such as diet and PA. This research aimed to evaluate a brief nurse‐led virtual MI (vMI) intervention to guide youth toward increased PA compared to an attention control group.

Design and Methods

Participants completed the Behavioral Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire (BREQ‐2) and wore an ActiGraph GT3X+ accelerometer on their dominant wrist for 8 days to operationalize SB and PA. Participants in the treatment group rec an individual vMI session, while attention‐control group participants received an individual education session. All participants received follow‐up calls from the researcher or assistant at Weeks 4 and 8. During the calls, those in the treatment group received follow‐up MI, while the control group asked follow‐up questions about information received during the education session. At 12 weeks, all participants repeated the BREQ‐2 survey and wore the accelerometer again for 7 days.

Results

The total number of participants was 19. At post‐intervention, the treatment group had a significant decline in the frequency of prolonged SB > 60 min (p = .001) and a nonsignificant increase in the average length of moderate‐to‐vigorous PA bouts >10 min (p = .058). The treatment group had significant increases in two levels of autonomous motivation—identified (p < .001) and intrinsic (p = .003). The overall autonomous motivation score for the BREQ‐2 significantly increased in the treatment group (p < .001).

Practice Implications

The study revealed promise for vMI to positively impact PA among adolescents. However, for a novice in performing MI, a nurse‐led MI session elicited change talk in participants toward individualized changes to improve health behaviors.
An Occasionalist Reading of Al‐Ashʿarī's Theory of Kasb in Kitāb al‐Lumaʿ
Authors: Taskin Zeyneb Betul
Published: January 2024

This paper offers an occasionalist reading of al‐Ashʿarī's theory of kasb in Kitāb al‐Lumaʿ against Richard Frank's reading. Frank argues that according to al‐Ashʿarī human beings have causal power that is created by God over their acts. Binyamin Abrahamov argues against Frank's reading because while al‐Lumaʿ does not support this interpretation, the text suggests al‐Ashʿarī's denial of causal efficacy from the created power. I expand Abrahamov's claims through a deeper comparison of al‐Lumaʿ and Frank's analysis. First, I argue that the only textual evidence might be al‐Ashʿarī's use of the verb waqaaʿ bi when al‐Ashʿarī says that acquisition come through a created power. A mere employment of this word does not indicate a causal relation between the created power and acquisition. Moreover, al‐Ashʿarī uses waqaaʿ bi to describe the concurrence of the so‐called natural causes while he never attributes causal efficacy to them. Another problem in Frank's reading is that the attribution of causal efficacy to the created power not only takes al‐Ashʿarī's theory out of the boundaries of occasionalism, but also approaches it to mere conservationism. Second, I agree with Abrahamov's occasionalist reading according to which the relation between the created power and acquisition can be a conditional relation.
MicroRNA‐196a‐5p facilitates the onset and progression via targeting ITM2B in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Xian Dubiao , Yang Shubo , Liu Yunzhong , Liu Qingfeng , Huang Ding , Wu Yuechang
Published: January 2024

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a prevalent malignancy affecting the digestive tract, with an increasing incidence rate worldwide. Recently, numerous studies revealed that microRNAs were associated with gene expression regulation, particularly their involvement in the regulation of tumor cells, garnering widespread attention. Here, we discovered that miR‐196a‐5p was significantly upregulated in both ESCC tissues and cells, which was correlated with an unfavorable prognosis. Series functional in vitro investigations have confirmed that silencing miR‐196a‐5p obviously restrained the ESCC cells malignant phenotypes and promoted apoptosis. Bioinformatics analysis and rescue experiments revealed that miR‐196a‐5p directly targeted ITM2B, exerting influence on the development of ESCC cells through negative regulation of ITM2B expression. Xenograft mouse models were established for conducting in vivo experiments, providing further confirmation of the regulatory mechanism and biological significance of the miR‐196a‐5p/ITM2B axis in ESCC. Our research demonstrated miR‐196a‐5p promoted ESCC malignant progression by interacting with ITM2B, thereby providing novel clues and potential targets for the new diagnosis and thereby of ESCC.
Molecular mechanisms underlying coordinated responses of plants to shade and environmental stresses
Authors: Han Run , Ma Liang , Terzaghi William , Guo Yan , Li Jigang
Published: January 2024

Shade avoidance syndrome (SAS) is triggered by a low ratio of red (R) to far‐red (FR) light (R/FR ratio), which is caused by neighbor detection and/or canopy shade. In order to compete for the limited light, plants elongate hypocotyls and petioles by deactivating phytochrome B (phyB), a major R light photoreceptor, thus releasing its inhibition of the growth‐promoting transcription factors PHYTOCHROME‐INTERACTING FACTORs. Under natural conditions, plants must cope with abiotic stresses such as drought, soil salinity, and extreme temperatures, and biotic stresses such as pathogens and pests. Plants have evolved sophisticated mechanisms to simultaneously deal with multiple environmental stresses. In this review, we will summarize recent major advances in our understanding of how plants coordinately respond to shade and environmental stresses, and will also discuss the important questions for future research. A deep understanding of how plants synergistically respond to shade together with abiotic and biotic stresses will facilitate the design and breeding of new crop varieties with enhanced tolerance to high‐density planting and environmental stresses.
Parametric Influence on the Thermofluidic Characteristics of the Branched Wavy Heat Sink
Authors: Kumar Ritesh , Tiwary Badyanath , Singh Pawan Kumar
Published: January 2024

The branched wavy heat sink (BWHS) is found as a novel design for heat sink application. The aim of this paper is first to investigate the optimum branch angle by varying the branch angle while keeping the constant parametric value such as pitch, wavelength, and secondary width; the idea was established, and we found that a 45-deg branch angle is the best among other branch angles. After that, we varied the next important parametric value, i.e., secondary width, to know the optimum secondary width. Four secondary pass angle (branch angle) configurations (25 deg, 35 deg, 45 deg, and 55 deg) were proposed and numerically investigated by keeping the constant parametric value. The RNG k–ɛ model has been employed with the full domain model approach in the computational analysis. Further, the optimum branch angle has also been investigated with the varying secondary width. The secondary flowrates were strongly affected in all the cases. The pressure loss increases as the secondary pass angle increases. However, a secondary pass maintains pressure uniformity in the spanwise direction through flow migration. It is clear that raising the secondary pass angle reduces the hot spot region. Finally, the optimum branch angle has also been investigated with varying secondary widths of 0.5 mm, 0.25 mm, and 0.20 mm. According to the thermofluidic study, the BWHS design with 45-deg angle and 0.25-mm secondary width has better heat convection performance among all. With a 2% volumetric concentration of nanofluid, the heat transfer rate improves by about 10% compared to water. As a result, the 45-deg BWHS presents a viable avenue for further study. The heat transfer rate of the microchannel heat sink (MCHS) is greatly aided by secondary flow mixing. The branched wavy heat sinks (BWHSs) under forced convection with water/Al2O3 under the Re = 100–500 have been investigated.
Lipwall Effects on a Shore-Front Oscillating Water Column Based on DBEM and Computational Fluid Dynamic Approaches
Authors: Narendran Kumar , Vijay K. G.
Published: January 2024

The oscillating water column (OWC) is an economical and feasible type of wave energy converter with minimal maintenance costs which have been widely investigated. In this study, the effect of lipwalls for a shore-front OWC is investigated using dual boundary equation method (DBEM) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) approaches. The boundary value problem is solved using the DBEM method within the framework of linear water wave theory. Whilst in the CFD approach, the volume-of-fluid (VOF) approach is used for simulating the numerical wave tank, with appropriate boundary conditions and regular wave inlet. The DBEM approach is beneficial to understand the complex phenomena inside the chamber, viz., radiation conductance and susceptance. It is inferred that case-B (vertical + shoreward-slant lipwall) is found to exhibit better performance for a wider range of non-dimensional wave frequencies due to its wave trapping configuration where the position of the lower lipwall is orthogonal. The CFD studies provide interesting insights into the optimal damping ratio concerning wave amplification factor at higher relative water depths, power output, and correlation of phase difference. Besides, the study reveals that the pressure and wave elevation inside the chamber are associated with the inhalation and exhalation process of air is attributed to the lower half of the lipwall.
Centrifuge Modeling of the Performance of Suction Anchor in Soft Clay
Authors: Fu Dongkang , Lai Ying , Xiong Gen , Zhu Bin
Published: January 2024

Suction anchors are large cylindrical anchors and well suited for both catenary and taut mooring systems. The determination of horizontal and vertical load components hinges upon factors such as the inclined loading angle and the padeye position, significantly influencing its failure mechanism. This study undertook a series of geotechnical centrifuge tests to scrutinize the behavior of suction anchor under lateral loading. Precise measurements were taken for variables including the pore pressure at the anchor tip, soil pressure along the anchor, anchor capacity, as well as the displacement and rotation around X-, Y-, and Z-axes. The anchor failure mechanisms and interaction coefficients within a dissipation function were determined from the experimental results. The failure angle β serves as an indicator of anchor rotation in the translational failure mechanism, and αr describes anchor rotation in backward and forward movements. Under the inclined loading angle (θm) of 35 deg, the anchor failed in the translational mechanism, with its ultimate bearing capacity surpassing that of the anchor failing through backward and forward mechanisms. Upon elevating the padeye location moved upward to 4L/7 to 2L/3, the anchor failed in a forward mechanism, accompanied by a significant decrease in soil pressure on the passive side. This separation of the soil plug from the anchor, driven by accumulated displacement and rotation, resulted in 25% decrease in ultimate bearing capacity. Conversely, when the inclined loading reduced from 35 deg to 20 deg at the padeye location, the anchor failed in a backward mechanism, with no observed separation of the soil plug from the anchor.
Simulation and Experimental Study on Crack Propagation in Slewing Bearing Steel
Authors: Jiang Shuxin , Du Jing , Wang Shuang , Li Chang
Published: January 2024

The study investigated the propagation characteristics of surface-initiated cracks in slewing bearing steel and analyzed the influence of initial crack length and orientation on crack propagation. A cohesive zone model incorporating continuum damage mechanics was established to simulate crack propagation under rolling contact cyclic loading. Rolling wear and contact fatigue tests were conducted using a rolling contact fatigue test machine to analyze crack propagation under different load cycle numbers. By comparing simulation results with experimental outcomes, the effectiveness of the theoretical analysis was validated.
Efficient Mapping Between Void Shapes and Stress Fields Using Deep Convolutional Neural Networks With Sparse Data
Authors: Bhaduri Anindya , Ramachandra Nesar , Krishnan Ravi Sandipp , Luan Lele , Pandita Piyush , Balaprakash Prasanna , Anitescu Mihai , Sun Changjie , Wang Liping
Published: January 2024

Establishing fast and accurate structure-to-property relationships is an important component in the design and discovery of advanced materials. Physics-based simulation models like the finite element method (FEM) are often used to predict deformation, stress, and strain fields as a function of material microstructure in material and structural systems. Such models may be computationally expensive and time intensive if the underlying physics of the system is complex. This limits their application to solve inverse design problems and identify structures that maximize performance. In such scenarios, surrogate models are employed to make the forward mapping computationally efficient to evaluate. However, the high dimensionality of the input microstructure and the output field of interest often renders such surrogate models inefficient, especially when dealing with sparse data. Deep convolutional neural network (CNN) based surrogate models have shown great promise in handling such high-dimensional problems. In this paper, a single ellipsoidal void structure under a uniaxial tensile load represented by a linear elastic, high-dimensional and expensive-to-query, FEM model. We consider two deep CNN architectures, a modified convolutional autoencoder framework with a fully connected bottleneck and a UNet CNN, and compare their accuracy in predicting the von Mises stress field for any given input void shape in the FEM model. Additionally, a sensitivity analysis study is performed using the two approaches, where the variation in the prediction accuracy on unseen test data is studied through numerical experiments by varying the number of training samples from 20 to 100.
The Handwriting Legibility Scale: A Language and Age Extension for Students With and Without Specific Learning Difficulties
Authors: Stuart Nichola , Zoia Stefania , Biancotto Marina , Barnett Anna L.
Published: January 2024

Handwriting is a useful skill through education, yet handwriting difficulties are common in students with Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLD), including Developmental Coordination Disorder. There are few practical tools to assess legibility, among these the Handwriting Legibility Scale (HLS) shows good reliability and validity for 9- to 14-year-olds in the United Kingdom. The aims of the current study were to investigate applicability of the HLS in students with and without SpLD in (a) another language and (b) older age groups. First, the HLS was translated and applied to writing scripts of 193 9- to 14-year-olds in Italy. Findings support previous work on reliability and validity. A principal component analysis confirmed a single component for the HLS at this age and there was differentiation between scripts from students with and without SpLD. Second, the HLS was applied to writing scripts of 80 15- to 16-year-olds and 120 17- to 25-year-olds in the United Kingdom. Results showed good reliability and differentiation between scripts from students with and without SpLD. A principal component analysis revealed two components for the HLS in the older age groups. Language and age differences in the use of the HLS are discussed, alongside other considerations when applying the tool to help identify handwriting difficulties in students.
Physical Activity Dependence on Relative Temperature and Humidity Characteristics in a Young, Insufficiently Active Population: A Weather Typing Analysis
Authors: Vecellio Daniel J. , Lagoa Constantino M. , Conroy David E.
Published: January 2024

Background: Physical activity (PA) is an important contributor to one’s physical and mental health both acutely and across the lifespan. Much research has done on the ambient environment’s impact on PA; however, these studies have used absolute values of atmospheric measures such as temperature and humidity, which vary spatiotemporally and make comparisons between studies which differ in location or time of year difficult to square with one another. Methods: Here, we employ the Global Weather Type Classification, Version 2, to determine the combined impact of temperature and humidity on PA in a sample of insufficiently active young adults. We conducted secondary analyses of data from a single-group behavioral intervention trial that varied the number of digital messages sent daily. Young adults (n = 81) wore Fitbit Versa smartwatches for a 6-month period sometime between April 2019 and July 2020, and location was tracked using a custom smartphone application. Results: Mixed linear models indicated that, across 8179 person-days, PA was significantly lower on days with humid conditions and significantly higher on warm dry days, though the latter relationship was no longer significant when controlling for timing in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic declaration. Demographic factors did not affect the relationship between weather and PA. Conclusions: Results are a first step in providing additional guidance for encouraging PA in insufficiently active individuals given forecasted daily weather conditions. Future work should examine seasonal variability in the weather type–PA relationship without the influence of a world-altering event influencing results.
Type I BREX system defends against antibiotic-resistant plasmids in
Escherichia coli
Authors: Jiang Xiaoying , Li Dan , Sun Zhewei , Lu Yanyan , Li Pei , Li Wanzhen , Wang Dongliang , Wei Lianhua , Xu Xiaogang , Yuan Yuan , Wang Minggui
Published: January 2024

The Bacteriophage Exclusion (BREX) system is a novel antiphage defense system identified in
Bacillus cereus
in 2015. The purpose of this study was to investigate the presence of the BREX system defenses against antibiotic-resistant plasmids such as
bla
KPC
and
bla
NDM
invasion in
Escherichia coli
. The BREX system was present in 5.4% (23/424) of
E. coli
clinical isolates and 6.5% (84/1283) of
E. coli
strains with completely sequenced genomes in the GenBank database. All 23 BREX-positive
E. coli
clinical isolates were susceptible to carbapenems, while all five isolates carrying
bla
KPC
and 11 carrying
bla
NDM
were BREX-negative. For
E. coli
strains in the GenBank database, 37 of 38 strains carrying
bla
KPC
and 109 of 111 strains carrying
bla
NDM
were BREX negative. The recognition site sequence of methyltransferase PglX in a clinical
E. coli
3756 was 5′-CANC
A
TC-3′ using PacBio single-molecular real-time sequencing. The transformation efficiency of plasmid psgRNA-ColAori-target with the PglX recognition site was reduced by 100% compared with the plasmid without the recognition site in
E. coli
DH5α-pHSG398-BREX. The BREX showed lower defense efficacy against plasmid psgRNA-15Aori-target which had the same plasmid backbone but different surrounding sequences of recognition sites with psgRNA-ColAori-target. The conjugation frequency of the KPC-2 plasmid and NDM-5 plasmid in
E. coli
3756-ΔBREX was higher than that in
E. coli
3756 clinical isolate (1.0 × 10
−6
vs 1.3 × 10
−7
and 5.5 × 10
−7
vs 1.7 × 10
−8
, respectively). This study demonstrated that the type I BREX system defends against antibiotic-resistant plasmids in
E. coli
.