bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tunable artificial plasmonic nanolaser with wide spectrum emission operating at room temperature
Authors: Zhou 周 Peng 鹏 , Guo 郭 Jia-Qi 佳琦 , Liang 梁 Kun 琨 , Jin 金 Lei 磊 , Liang 梁 Xiong-Yu 熊玉 , Li 李 Jun-Qiang 俊强 , Deng 邓 Xu-Yan 绪彦 , Qin 秦 Jian-Yu 建宇 , Zhang 张 Jia-Sen 家森 , Yu 于 Li 丽
Published: February 2024

With the rapid development of information and communication technology, a key objective in the field of optoelectronic integrated devices is to reduce the nano-laser size and energy consumption. Photonics nanolasers are unable to exceed the diffraction limit and typically exhibit low modulation rates of several GHz. In contrast, plasmonic nanolaser utilizes highly confined surface plasmon polariton (SPP) mode that can exceed diffraction limit and their strong Purcell effect can accelerate the modulation rates to several THz. Herein, we propose a parametrically tunable artificial plasmonic nanolasers based on metal–insulator–semiconductor–insulator–metal (MISIM) structure, which demonstrates its ability to compress the mode field volume to λ/14. As the pump power increases, the proposed artificial plasmonic nanolaser exhibits 20-nm-wide output spectrum. Additionally, we investigate the effects of various cavity parameters on the nanolaser’s output threshold, offering potentials for realizing low-threshold artificial plasmonic nanolasers. Moreover, we observe a blue shift in the center wavelength of the nanolaser output with thinner gain layer thickness, predominantly attributed to the increased exciton–photon coupling strength. Our work brings inspiration to several areas, including spaser-based interconnects, nano-LEDs, spontaneous emission control, miniaturization of photon condensates, eigenmode engineering of plasmonic nanolasers, and optimal design driven by artificial intelligence (AI).
Dynamic response of a thermal transistor to time-varying signals
Authors: Ruan 阮 Qinli 琴丽 , Liu 刘 Wenjun 文君 , Wang 王 Lei 雷
Published: February 2024

Thermal transistor, the thermal analog of an electronic transistor, is one of the most important thermal devices for microscopic-scale heat manipulating. It is a three-terminal device, and the heat current flowing through two terminals can be largely controlled by the temperature of the third one. Dynamic response plays an important role in the application of electric devices and also thermal devices, which represents the devices’ ability to treat fast varying inputs. In this paper, we systematically study two typical dynamic responses of a thermal transistor, i.e., the response to a step-function input (a switching process) and the response to a square-wave input. The role of the length L of the control segment is carefully studied. It is revealed that when L is increased, the performance of the thermal transistor worsens badly. Both the relaxation time for the former process and the cutoff frequency for the latter one follow the power-law dependence on L quite well, which agrees with our analytical expectation. However, the detailed power exponents deviate from the expected values noticeably. This implies the violation of the conventional assumptions that we adopt.
Experimental realization of fractal fretwork metasurface for sound anomalous modulation
Authors: He 何 Jiajie 佳杰 , Yu 于 Shumeng 书萌 , Jiang 江 Xue 雪 , Ta 他 Dean 得安
Published: February 2024

Natural creatures and ancient cultures are full of potential sources to provide inspiration for applied sciences. Inspired by the fractal geometry in nature and the fretwork frame in ancient culture, here we design the acoustic metasurface to realize sound anomalous modulation, which manifests itself as an incident-dependent propagation behavior: sound wave propagating in the forward direction is allowed to transmit with high efficiency while in the backward direction is obviously suppressed. We quantitatively investigate the dependences of asymmetric transmission on the propagation direction, incident angle and operating frequency by calculating sound transmittance and energy contrast. This compact fractal fretwork metasurface for acoustic anomalous modulation would promote the development of integrated acoustic devices and expand versatile applications in acoustic communication and information encryption.
Oxidized alginate-gelatin (ADA-GEL)/silk fibroin/Cu-Ag doped mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticle-based hydrogels for potential wound care treatments
Authors: Akhtar Memoona , Nazneen Arooba , Awais Muhammad , Hussain Rabia , Khan Ahmad , Irfan Muhammad , Avcu Egemen , Ur Rehman Muhammad Atiq , Boccaccini Aldo R
Published: February 2024

The present work focuses on developing 5% w/v oxidized alginate (alginate di aldehyde, ADA)-7.5% w/v gelatin (GEL) hydrogels incorporating 0.25% w/v silk fibroin (SF) and loaded with 0.3% w/v Cu-Ag doped mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticles (Cu-Ag MBGNs). The microstructural, mechanical, and biological properties of the composite hydrogels were characterized in detail. The porous microstructure of the developed ADA-GEL based hydrogels was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy, while the presence of Cu-Ag MBGNs in the synthesized hydrogels was determined using energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy. The incorporation of 0.3% w/v Cu-Ag MBGNs reduced the mechanical properties of the synthesized hydrogels, as investigated using micro-tensile testing. The synthesized ADA-GEL loaded with 0.25% w/v SF and 0.3% w/v Cu-Ag MBGNs showed a potent antibacterial effect against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Cellular studies using the NIH3T3-E1 fibroblast cell line confirmed that ADA-GEL films incorporated with 0.3% w/v Cu-Ag MBGNs exhibited promising cellular viability as compared to pure ADA-GEL (determined by WST-8 assay). The addition of SF improved the biocompatibility, degradation rate, moisturizing effects, and stretchability of the developed hydrogels, as determined in vitro. Such multimaterial hydrogels can stimulate angiogenesis and exhibit desirable antibacterial properties. Therefore further (in vivo) tests are justified to assess the hydrogels’ potential for wound dressing and skin tissue healing applications.
Association of exposure to extreme rainfall events with cause-specific mortality in North Carolina, US
Authors: Chan Kevin , Ban Jie , Ma Yiqun , Chen Kai
Published: February 2024

Extreme rainfall events could influence human health. However, the associations between extreme rainfall events and mortality remain rarely explored. Here, we conducted a time-series study using county-level mortality data in North Carolina during 2015–2018 to estimate the associations between extreme rainfall events and cause-specific mortality. We defined an extreme rainfall event as a day when a county’s daily total precipitation exceeded the 95th percentile of daily rainfall measurements from all of North Carolina’s counties during the study period. We employed a two-stage analysis where we first estimated the associations for each county and then used the estimates to obtain the state-wide associations by meta-analysis. Exposure to an extreme rainfall event was significantly associated with an increase in total, non-accidental, cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, and external mortality by 2.24% (95% CI: 0.67%, 3.83%), 2.38% (95% CI: 0.76%, 4.03%), 3.60% (95% CI: 0.69%, 6.60%), 6.58% (95% CI: 1.59%, 11.82%), and 6.92% (95% CI: 1.28%, 12.86%), respectively. We did not find significant differences in the mortality risks within age, sex, or race groups or by seasonality. Our findings suggest that extreme rainfall events may trigger the risk of mortality, especially from non-accidental diseases such as respiratory mortality.
Archetypes of community-based pond aquaculture in Indonesia: applying the social-ecological systems framework to examine sustainability tradeoffs
Authors: Nagel Ben , Buhari Nurliah , Partelow Stefan
Published: February 2024

We analyze archetypes of farmer groups conducting pond aquaculture across the province of Nusa Tenggara Barat, Indonesia using Ostrom’s social-ecological systems framework. Pond aquaculture farmers share coastal irrigation infrastructure as common property, among other resources, and are encouraged by the government to organize into groups with varying sets of evolved rules, norms, social practices and environmental conditions shaping what they produce, how and how much. Yet little is known about the diversity of these pond aquaculture communities, or what factors—both social and ecological—shape production trends and sustainability outcomes. We designed a standardized survey to collect data on 26 indicators from 85 diverse community-based fish farmer groups across the province. Data included indicators on ownership, rules, history, production trends, demographics, government involvement, livelihood dependence, environmental characteristics and risks. Clustering analysis was applied to identify five unique archetypes of pond aquaculture communities, each distinguished by a different set of development challenges and opportunities. Our findings highlight the need to move beyond a ‘one-size-fits-all’ policy approach. We suggest moving towards a locally adapted capacity building strategy that can recognize contextual needs so that policy programs can better target and differentiate between farmer groups that face similar challenges. We further discuss how empowering collective action among the farmers can reduce risks associated with producing blue food for local consumption and regional markets.
Enhanced solar and wind potential during widespread temperature extremes across the U.S. interconnected energy grids
Authors: Singh Deepti , Bekris Yianna S , Rogers Cassandra D W , Doss-Gollin James , Coffel Ethan D , Kalashnikov Dmitri A
Published: February 2024

Several recent widespread temperature extremes across the United States (U.S.) have been associated with power outages, disrupting access to electricity at times that are critical for the health and well-being of communities. Building resilience to such extremes in our energy infrastructure needs a comprehensive understanding of their spatial and temporal characteristics. In this study, we systematically quantify the frequency, extent, duration, and intensity of widespread temperature extremes and their associated energy demand in the six North American Electric Reliability Corporation regions using ERA5 reanalysis data. We show that every region has experienced hot or cold extremes that affected nearly their entire extent and such events were associated with substantially higher energy demand, resulting in simultaneous stress across the entire electric gird. The western U.S. experienced significant increases in the frequency (123%), extent (32%), duration (55%) and intensity (29%) of hot extremes and Texas experienced significant increases in the frequency (132%) of hot extremes. The frequency of cold extremes has decreased across most regions without substantial changes in other characteristics. Using power outage data, we show that recent widespread extremes in nearly every region have coincided with power outages, and such outages account for between 12%–52% of all weather-related outages in the past decade depending on the region. Importantly, we find that solar potential is significantly higher during widespread hot extremes in all six regions and during widespread cold extremes in five of the six regions. Further, wind potential is significantly higher during widespread hot or cold extremes in at least three regions. Our findings indicate that increased solar and wind capacity could be leveraged to meet the higher demand for energy during such widespread extremes, improving the resilience and reliability of our energy systems in addition to limiting carbon emissions.
On a problem due to Glasser on analytically tractable moments
Authors: Campbell John M
Published: February 2024

Glasser, in 2011, introduced a remarkable integral identity of physical interest and suggested that the evaluation

∫

0

1

/

2

k

K

2

(
k
)

d

k
=

π
G

4

provides the unique analytically tractable moment of K
2 on a sub-unit interval, where K denotes the complete elliptic integral of the first kind, and where

G
=

1

1
2

−

1

3
2

+

1

5
2

−
⋯

denotes Catalan’s constant. We show how a case of Clausen’s product identity related to Ramanujan’s series for

1
π

may be applied, via an integration argument derived from our past work in fractional analysis and Fourier–Legendre theory, to show how higher moments of K
2 on the same sub-unit interval may be evaluated analytically in terms of the Γ-function. This and Glasser’s moment formula are motivated by how closely related moment formulas for powers of K arise in the study of Feynman diagrams.
High transmission of circularly polarized light and circular dichroism with all-dielectric metamaterial
Authors: Du Jian , Chen Wenhao , Zhang Hanbin , Wang Hancheng , Gao Zhujun , Xu Kaicheng , Tong Jiaming , Wang Jin , Xue Junjun , Zhi Ting , Tao Tao
Published: February 2024

The optical chirality of metamaterials gives birth to distinct responses of left circularly polarized (LCP) and right circularly polarized (RCP) light, leading to asymmetric transmission and circular dichroism (CD) of circularly polarized light. In this work, meta-atom structure composed of square and semicircular combinations were designed, which exhibits extreme high ratio of transmission, reflection and CD values in blue light range. In compare to other reported structures, the structure composed of semicircular and square combinations can achieve better asymmetric transmission. At the wavelength of 460 nm, the incident LCP light can be mostly converted to RCP light, and the incident RCP light can be almost completely reflected. Furthermore, the geometric phase can be controlled by designing the orientation angle of the meta-atom, and the metamaterial can function under any linear or circular polarization and achieving the regulation of the light field. The designed metamaterial provides promising insights into the high CD and possible applications in optical integrated devices, such as anomalously refracted, focusing, and holograms, etc.
Carbon nanotube integrated circuit technology: purification, assembly and integration
Authors: Cui Jianlei , Wei Fengqi , Mei Xuesong
Published: February 2024

As the manufacturing process of silicon-based integrated circuits (ICs) approaches its physical limit, the quantum effect of silicon-based field-effect transistors (FETs) has become increasingly evident. And the burgeoning carbon-based semiconductor technology has become one of the most disruptive technologies in the post-Moore era. As one-dimensional nanomaterials, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are far superior to silicon at the same technology nodes of FETs because of their excellent electrical transport and scaling properties, rendering them the most competitive material in the next-generation ICs technology. However, certain challenges impede the industrialization of CNTs, particularly in terms of material preparation, which significantly hinders the development of CNT-based ICs. Focusing on CNT-based ICs technology, this review summarizes its main technical status, development trends, existing challenges, and future development directions.
Vibration-assisted vat photopolymerization for pixelated-aliasing-free surface fabrication
Authors: Xu Han , Hu Renzhi , Chen Shuai , Zhu Junhong , Zhou Chi , Chen Yong
Published: February 2024

Highlights

Vibration of the light source enhances both the surface and contour smoothness in vat photopolymerization processes.

Low-frequency mask screen vibration ensures a uniform light intensity distribution.

Subpixel amplitude vibration mitigates the pixelated, zig-zag contours.

Dimensional and geometrical errors are maintained within a single pixel’s size.

Vibration-assisted mask image projection shows promise for 3D printing in optics.
Adjustment for Renal Function Improves the Prognostic Performance of Urinary Thromboxane Metabolites
Authors: Barton Bruce A , Kronsberg Shari S , Hariri Essa , Vasan Ramachandran S , Rade Grace A , Xanthakis Vanessa , Kickler Thomas S , Rade Jeffrey J
Published: February 2024

Background

Systemic thromboxane A2 generation, assessed by quantifying the concentration of stable thromboxane B2 metabolites (TXB2-M) in the urine adjusted for urinary creatinine, is strongly associated with mortality risk. We sought to define optimal TXB2-M cutpoints for aspirin users and nonusers and determine if adjusting TXB2-M for estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in addition to urinary creatinine improved mortality risk assessment.

Methods

Urinary TXB2-M were measured by competitive ELISA in 1363 aspirin users and 1681 nonusers participating in the Framingham Heart Study. Cutpoints were determined for TXB2-M and TXB2-M/eGFR using log-rank statistics and used to assess mortality risk by Cox proportional hazard modeling and restricted mean survival time. Multivariable models were compared using the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC). A cohort of 105 aspirin users with heart failure was used for external validation.

Results

Optimized cutpoints of TXB2-M were 1291 and 5609 pg/mg creatinine and of TXB2-M/eGFR were 16.6 and 62.1 filtered prostanoid units (defined as pg·min/creatinine·mL·1.73 m2), for aspirin users and nonusers, respectively. TXB2-M/eGFR cutpoints provided more robust all-cause mortality risk discrimination than TXB2-M cutpoints, with a larger unadjusted hazard ratio (2.88 vs 2.16, AIC P < 0.0001) and greater differences in restricted mean survival time between exposure groups (1.46 vs 1.10 years), findings that were confirmed in the external validation cohort of aspirin users. TXB2-M/eGFR cutpoints also provided better cardiovascular/stroke mortality risk discrimination than TXB2-M cutpoints (unadjusted hazard ratio 3.31 vs 2.13, AIC P < 0.0001).

Conclusion

Adjustment for eGFR strengthens the association of urinary TXB2-M with long-term mortality risk irrespective of aspirin use.
Autophagy markers are decreased in bone of osteoporotic patients: a monocentric comparative study
Authors: Trojani Marie-Charlotte , Clavé Arnaud , Bereder Isabelle , Camuzard Olivier , Bernard De Dompsure Régis , Gonzalez Jean-François , Trojani Christophe , Santucci-Darmanin Sabine , Carle Georges F , Breuil Véronique , Pierrefite-Carle Valérie
Published: February 2024

Background

Osteoporosis (OP) is a pathology characterized by bone fragility affecting 30% of postmenopausal women, mainly due to estrogen deprivation and increased oxidative stress. An autophagy involvement is suspected in OP pathogenesis but a definitive proof in humans remains to be obtained.

Methods

Postmenopausal women hospitalized for femoral neck fracture (OP group) or total hip replacement (Control group) were enrolled using very strict exclusion criteria. Western blot was used to analyze autophagy level.

Results

The protein expression level of the autophagosome marker LC3-II was significantly decreased in bone of OP patients relative to the control group. In addition, the protein expression of the hormonally upregulated neu-associated kinase (HUNK), which is upregulated by female hormones and promotes autophagy, was also significantly reduced in bone of the OP group.

Conclusions

These results demonstrate for the first time that postmenopausal OP patients have a deficit in bone autophagy level and suggest that HUNK could be the factor linking estrogen loss and autophagy decline.

Clinical trial registration number

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03175874, 2/6/2017.
The evolution of seminal fluid gene expression and postmating reproductive isolation in Drosophila
Authors: Flacchi Carolina , Capri Nicole , Civetta Alberto
Published: February 2024

Seminal fluid protein (Sfp) genes show, in general, a higher rate of sequence divergence than genes from other categories, which is often attributed to forms of postcopulatory sexual selection or sexual conflict. Recently, the relaxation of selective constraints has been proposed as an alternative explanation for the rapid sequence evolution of Sfps and other genes with sex-limited expression. The expression of Sfp genes is a likely target of selection, but the evolution of differences in their expression levels is less understood. Here, we explore both polymorphism and divergence in Sfp gene expression between Drosophila melanogaster and Drosophila simulans, how selection might have influenced their expression, and whether changes in expression might trigger the evolution of reproductive isolating barriers. In our analysis, Sfp genes showed higher divergence, but not higher polymorphism, in expression than the average male reproductive glands gene. Sfp genes with reproductive-tissue-specific expression were enriched for both directional and stabilizing selection, while relaxed selection was the predominant mode of evolution among Sfp genes with any other nonreproductive tissue-specific or nontissue-specific expression. The knockdown of single genes known to affect intraspecific sperm competition, and with patterns of expression divergence and polymorphism suggestive of directional selection, was not enough to break down postmating reproductive isolation barriers between species. Our results identify the expression of male-specific Sfp genes as an enriched target of selection and suggest a complex molecular relationship between postcopulatory sexual selection on a single gene’s expression and its effect on the onset of speciation.
Genetic variation in parasite avoidance, yet no evidence for constitutive fitness costs
Authors: Amoroso Caroline R , Shepard Leila L , Gibson Amanda K
Published: February 2024

Behavioral avoidance of parasites is a widespread strategy among animal hosts and in human public health. Avoidance has repercussions for both individual and population-level infection risk. Although most cases of parasite avoidance are viewed as adaptive, there is little evidence that the basic assumptions of evolution by natural selection are met. This study addresses this gap by testing whether there is a heritable variation in parasite avoidance behavior. We quantified behavioral avoidance of the bacterial parasite Serratia marcescens for 12 strains of the nematode host Caenorhabditis elegans. We found that these strains varied in their magnitude of avoidance, and we estimated the broad-sense heritability of this behavior to be in the range of 11%–26%. We then asked whether avoidance carries a constitutive fitness cost. We did not find evidence of one. Rather, strains with higher avoidance had higher fitness, measured as population growth rate. Together, these results direct future theoretical and empirical work to identify the forces maintaining genetic variation in parasite avoidance.
Life at the borderlands: microbiomes of interfaces critical to One Health
Authors: Law Simon R , Mathes Falko , Paten Amy M , Alexandre Pamela A , Regmi Roshan , Reid Cameron , Safarchi Azadeh , Shaktivesh Shaktivesh , Wang Yanan , Wilson Annaleise , Rice Scott A , Gupta Vadakattu V S R
Published: February 2024

Microbiomes are foundational components of the environment that provide essential services relating to food security, carbon sequestration, human health, and the overall well-being of ecosystems. Microbiota exert their effects primarily through complex interactions at interfaces with their plant, animal, and human hosts, as well as within the soil environment. This review aims to explore the ecological, evolutionary, and molecular processes governing the establishment and function of microbiome–host relationships, specifically at interfaces critical to One Health—a transdisciplinary framework that recognizes that the health outcomes of people, animals, plants, and the environment are tightly interconnected. Within the context of One Health, the core principles underpinning microbiome assembly will be discussed in detail, including biofilm formation, microbial recruitment strategies, mechanisms of microbial attachment, community succession, and the effect these processes have on host function and health. Finally, this review will catalogue recent advances in microbiology and microbial ecology methods that can be used to profile microbial interfaces, with particular attention to multi-omic, advanced imaging, and modelling approaches. These technologies are essential for delineating the general and specific principles governing microbiome assembly and functions, mapping microbial interconnectivity across varying spatial and temporal scales, and for the establishment of predictive frameworks that will guide the development of targeted microbiome-interventions to deliver One Health outcomes.
Our Life Is a Rollercoaster! A Qualitative Phenomenological Study Exploring the Impact of IBD on Family Members
Authors: Thapwong Parichat , Norton Christine , Rowland Emma , Czuber-Dochan Wladyslawa
Published: February 2024

Background

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) significantly impacts patients and their families. To provide support, understanding the effects on the wider family is crucial. However, limited research exists on the impact of IBD on family members of adults diagnosed with IBD. This study addresses this knowledge gap.

Methods

Underpinned by interpretive phenomenology, this study used in-depth, semi-structured online interviews to explore relatives’ experiences. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis.

Results

Forty-three purposively selected interviewees comprising 17 people with IBD and 26 family members (parents, children, siblings, and partners) revealed 3 main themes: (1) “life is a rollercoaster,” (2) “there have been a lot of bridges to cross along the way,” and (3) “my life would be better if…” Participants highlighted that IBD has both positive and negative impacts on family members in terms of emotional well-being, relationship, roles and responsibilities, day-to-day burden, and sibling suffering. Some employed adaptive coping strategies such as creating social networks and open communication, while others relied on maladaptive coping strategies, such as avoidance and alcohol abuse. Family members expressed the need for proactive communication, information, and support from healthcare professionals.

Conclusions

IBD affects the emotional and psychosocial well-being of family members, eliciting both adaptive and maladaptive coping strategies. Healthcare professionals need to adopt a holistic approach to managing IBD that considers the psychosocial and emotional challenges faced by individuals and their families.
Comparison of Fecal Calprotectin and Myeloperoxidase in Predicting Outcomes in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Authors: Swaminathan A , Borichevsky G M , Frampton C M , Day A S , Hampton M B , Kettle A J , Gearry R B
Published: February 2024

Background

Biomarkers have been proposed as surrogate treatment targets for the management of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD); however, their relationship with IBD-related complications remains unclear. This study investigated the utility of neutrophil biomarkers fecal calprotectin (fCal) and fecal myeloperoxidase (fMPO) in predicting a complicated IBD course.

Methods

Participants with IBD were followed for 24 months to assess for a complicated IBD course (incident corticosteroid use, medication escalation for clinical disease relapse, IBD-related hospitalizations/surgeries). Clinically active IBD was defined as Harvey-Bradshaw index >4 for Crohn’s disease (CD) and simple clinical colitis activity index >5 for ulcerative colitis (UC). Area under the receiver-operating-characteristics curves (AUROC) and multivariable logistic regression assessed the performance of baseline symptom indices, fCal, and fMPO in predicting a complicated disease IBD course at 24 months.

Results

One hundred and seventy-one participants were included (CD, n = 99; female, n = 90; median disease duration 13 years [interquartile range, 5-22]). Baseline fCal (250 μg/g; AUROC = 0.77; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.69-0.84) and fMPO (12 μg/g; AUROC = 0.77; 95% CI, 0.70-0.84) predicted a complicated IBD course. Fecal calprotectin (adjusted OR = 7.85; 95% CI, 3.38-18.26) and fMPO (adjusted OR = 4.43; 95% CI, 2.03-9.64) were associated with this end point after adjustment for other baseline variables including clinical disease activity. C-reactive protein (CRP) was inferior to fecal biomarkers and clinical symptoms (pdifference < .05) at predicting a complicated IBD course. A combination of baseline CRP, fCal/fMPO, and clinical symptoms provided the greatest precision at identifying a complicated IBD course.

Conclusions

Fecal biomarkers are independent predictors of IBD-related outcomes and are useful adjuncts to routine clinical care.
Screening H3 Histone Acetylation in a Wild Bird, the House Sparrow (Passer Domesticus)
Authors: Ray D , Sheldon E L , Zimmer C , Martin L B , Schrey A W
Published: February 2024

Synopsis

Epigenetic mechanisms are increasingly understood to have major impacts across ecology. However, one molecular epigenetic mechanism, DNA methylation, currently dominates the literature. A second mechanism, histone modification, is likely important to ecologically relevant phenotypes and thus warrants investigation, especially because molecular interplay between methylation and histone acetylation can strongly affect gene expression. There are a limited number of histone acetylation studies on non-model organisms, yet those that exist show that it can impact gene expression and phenotypic plasticity. Wild birds provide an excellent system to investigate histone acetylation, as free-living individuals must rapidly adjust to environmental change. Here, we screen histone acetylation in the house sparrow (Passer domesticus); we studied this species because DNA methylation was important in the spread of this bird globally. This species has one of the broadest geographic distributions in the world, and part of this success is related to the way that it uses methylation to regulate its gene expression. Here, we verify that a commercially available assay that was developed for mammals can be used in house sparrows. We detected high variance in histone acetylation among individuals in both liver and spleen tissue. Further, house sparrows with higher epigenetic potential in the Toll Like Receptor-4 (TLR-4) promoter (i.e., CpG content) had higher histone acetylation in liver. Also, there was a negative correlation between histone acetylation in spleen and TLR-4 expression. In addition to validating a method for measuring histone acetylation in wild songbirds, this study also shows that histone acetylation is related to epigenetic potential and gene expression, adding a new study option for ecological epigenetics.
“Just Theater!”—How Self-Legitimation Practices Can Backfire in International Organizations
Authors: Christian Ben
Published: February 2024

Working in international organizations (IOs) is not always a pleasure. Contradictory external demands make it difficult to do the right thing, constant failures in the field lead to frustration, and hierarchical structures require “emotional labor” on the part of IO staff. While we know that IO leadership therefore engages in self-legitimation practices to strengthen employee motivation and maintain organizational cohesion, we know little about the actual results of these activities. To address this gap, I focus on the perceptions of “ordinary” IO employees. Based on seventy-five in-depth interviews with IO staff in two different IOs, the United Nations (UN) Secretariat and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), I develop a typology of five different staff responses to internal legitimation. I show that leadership’s legitimation efforts can not only result in (i) acceptance and adoption of the given narratives but also lead to (ii) criticism, (iii) toleration, (iv) cynicism, or even (v) exit of IO employees. Thus, ironically, the very leadership activities that are supposed to foster internal stability can also backfire and contribute to the destabilization of the IO. Building on these findings, I discuss two factors that influence IO employees’ perception of self-legitimation practices and are crucial for their success: the credibility of IO leaders and the right balance between glossing over and self-criticism in their legitimation narratives. I conclude by arguing that, contrary to common belief, legitimation and critique are not irreconcilable opposites. Rather, self-criticism can be an integral part of successful legitimation.
The Supply and Demand of Rebel Governance
Authors: Florea Adrian , Malejacq Romain
Published: February 2024

A recent wave of civil conflict scholarship examines rebel governance, the process through which insurgent groups organize local affairs in areas under their control. While current research predominantly focuses on the supply side of rebel governance, the attention given to the demand side has been relatively limited. In this study, we take stock of recent scholarship on the dynamic relationship between rebels and civilians to theoretically explore the supply side of rebel governance and develop a new demand-side typology that captures the key factors influencing civilian preferences regarding the nature of rebel rule. Specifically, we argue that demand for rebel governance is mainly shaped by the interaction between civilians’ perceptions of the state and civilian–rebel compatibility, which we define as civilians’ perceptions of the compatibility of the rebel group with their own values, ideology, identity, and preferred modes of socio-political organization. To illustrate our main theoretical points, we draw upon insights gleaned from multiple insurgencies. Our study significantly enhances our understanding of how rebel–civilian interactions mold the fabric of political order in civil war environments.
Inferior, Yet Transformative: the User Experience with Robotic Vacuum Cleaners
Authors: Hertzum Morten
Published: February 2024

Robotic vacuum cleaners are a prime example of home automation and a rich source of information about how people experience it. On the basis of a 3-week diary study, this article compares householders’ user experience (UX) of robotic vacuum cleaners with their UX of three types of manual vacuum cleaner. The main finding is that robotic vacuum cleaners are inferior in use, yet transform vacuuming. While their inferiority is about their pragmatic qualities, their transformative power relates to their autonomy, agency and hedonic qualities. This contradictory UX involves that robotic vacuum cleaners perform worse or not at all on seven out of nine surfaces and, at the same time, appear to escalate cleanliness standards. The transformation of household chores such as vacuuming is ongoing and calls for further research on engineering and merging the pragmatic and hedonic aspects of UX.
Functional properties of Ganoderma lucidum supplementation in canine nutrition
Authors: Kayser Emanuela , Castaneda Paola L , Soto-Diaz Katiria , Steelman Andrew J , Murphy Alayna , Spindola Maria , He Fei , de Godoy Maria R C
Published: February 2024

Ganoderma lucidum (GL) is a mushroom that has been widely used in Asia for its immunostimulatory and anti-inflammatory capacity, which has been hypothesized to be attributed mainly to the recognition of its cell-surface patterns by cells of the immune system present in the gastrointestinal tract, resulting in a cascade of modulatory events. However, the nutraceutical properties of GL have not been tested in dogs. Forty adult beagles were used in a completely randomized design. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effects of dietary inclusion of GL on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC; T cells, B cells, monocytes, and natural killers), vaccine response, nutrient digestibility, fecal fermentative end-products, and skin and coat quality of adult dogs. Dogs were fed a commercial dry extruded complete and balanced diet plus GL top-dressed daily upon feeding time. Four experimental treatments were used: 0% GL supplementation (control), 5 mg/kg BW of GL, 10 mg/kg BW of GL, or 15 mg/kg BW of GL. Following a 7 d adaptation to the control diet, dogs were fed their respective treatment diets for 28 d. They were challenged with vaccination of a modified live virus Canine Distemper, Adenovirus Type 1 (Hepatitis), Adenovirus Type 2, Parainfluenza, and Parvovirus and killed Rabies Virus on day 7 with blood collections on days 0, 14, and 28. The inclusion of GL in all dosages was well-accepted by all dogs, with no detrimental effect on macronutrient apparent total tract digestibility. There was a trend that the percentage of major histocompatibility II (MHC-II) from B cells was greater in dogs fed 15 mg/kg of GL (41.91%) compared to the control group (34.63%). The phagocytosis response tended to have treatment-by-time interaction among treatments; dogs fed 15 mg/kg of GL tended to have greater phagocytosis activity on day 28 than dogs from the control group and dogs fed 5 mg/kg of GL. The vaccine-specific serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentrations were higher in the group supplemented with 15 mg/kg of GL compared to treatment control 7 d after the vaccination for rabies. These data suggest that the inclusion of GL had no detrimental effects on any analyzed PBMC. Due to changes in immune parameters among treatments, GL may also exert beneficial immunostimulatory effects in healthy adult dogs when provided at a daily dose of 15 mg/ kg BW.
Loss of maternal calcitriol reversibly alters early offspring growth and skeletal development in mice
Authors: Hartery Sarah A , Kirby Beth J , Walker Emma C , Kaufmann Martin , Jones Glenville , St-Arnaud René , Sims Natalie A , Kovacs Christopher S
Published: February 2024

Ablation of Cyp27b1 eliminates calcitriol but does not disturb fetal mineral homeostasis or skeletal development. However, independent of fetal genotypes, maternal loss of Cyp27b1 altered fetal mineral and hormonal levels compared to offspring of WT dams. We hypothesized that these maternal influences would alter postnatal skeletal development. Cyp27b1 null and WT females were mated to bear only Cyp27b1+/− offspring. Forty-eight hours after birth, pups were cross-fostered to dams of the same or opposite genotype that bore them. Maternal and offspring samples were collected on days 21 (weaning) and 42. Offspring measurements included minerals and hormones, BMC by DXA, ash weight and mineral content, gene expression, 3-point bending tests, and microCT. Maternal lactational behavior was evaluated. Milk was analyzed for nutritional content. At day 21, offspring fostered by nulls, independent of birth dam, had ~20% lower weight, BMC, ash weight, and ash calcium than pups fostered by WT dams. Adjustment for body weight accounted for the lower BMC but not the lower ash weight and ash calcium. Hormones and serum/urine minerals did not differ across offspring groups. Offspring fostered by nulls had shorter femurs and lower cortical thickness, mean polar moment of inertia, cortical area, trabecular bone volume, and trabecular number. Dam lactational behaviors and milk nutritional content did not differ between groups. At day 42, body weight, ash weight, lengths, BMC, and tibial bone strength were no longer different between pups fostered by null vs WT dams. In summary, pups fostered by Cyp27b1 nulls, regardless of birth dam, have proportionately smaller skeletons at 21 d, impaired microstructure, but normal mineral homeostasis. The skeletal effects are largely recovered by day 42 (3 wk after weaning). In conclusion, maternal loss of calcitriol impairs early postnatal cortical bone growth and trabecular bone mass, but affected offspring catch up after weaning.
Imagining sustainable worlds: the potential of mythical stories in environmental education
Authors: Ikonen Essi , Keränen-Pantsu Raili , Welz Claudia
Published: February 2024

Pedagogically speaking, how can we best transform a student’s understanding of the environment? To move students to action, and to inspire sustainable lifestyles, environmental educators would do well to consider personal pedagogical approaches, as opposed to merely present scientific facts about climate change and species extinction. In this article, we present the power of myth as a compelling option. We expand on prevailing pedagogies of myth, such as Matthew Farrelly’s approach, and argue that mythical stories taken from Nordic folk traditions, the Hebrew Bible, the New Testament, and the Quran can enhance environmental education by introducing multiple alternative ways of relating to nature, facilitating mutual teacher–student reflections, and by building more responsive relationships with fauna and flora. Building upon Paul Ricoeur’s hermeneutical theory, we contend that the process of imagining sustainable worlds is facilitated by engagement with mythical stories and that the counter-productive imposition of world-views on students is minimized through critical discussions of relevant learning materials.
Emergent plant presence and richness alter competitive interactions between two floating plants
Authors: Liu Jun-Nan , Wu Fang-Ru , Roiloa Sergio R , Xue Wei , Lei Ning-Fei , Yu Fei-Hai
Published: February 2024

Interactions between two plant species can be influenced by the presence of other plant species and such an effect may change as the diversity of the other species increases. To test these hypotheses, we first constructed aquatic communities consisting of 1, 2 and 4 emergent plant species and then grew ramets of Lemna minor only, ramets of Spirodela polyrhiza only or ramets of both L. minor and S. polyrhiza within these aquatic communities. We also included controls with ramets of L. minor, S. polyrhiza or both but without any emergent plants. Biomass and number of ramets of L. minor and S. polyrhiza were significantly smaller with than without the emergent plants, but they did not differ among the three richness levels. The presence of S. polyrhiza did not significantly affect the growth of L. minor, and such an effect was not dependent on the richness of the emergent plant species. Without the emergent plant species, the presence of L. minor markedly reduced biomass (−92%) and number of ramets (−88%) of S. polyrhiza. However, such a competitive effect of L. minor on S. polyrhiza became much weaker in the presence of one emergent plant species (−46% biomass and −39% number of ramets) and completely disappeared in the presence of two or four emergent plant species. Therefore, both the presence and richness of emergent plant species can alter competitive interactions between the two duckweed species. These findings highlight the importance of species diversity in regulating plant–plant interactions.
Albumin–bilirubin score is a useful predictor of worsening liver reserve after stereotactic body radiation therapy in elderly Japanese patients with hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Yoshino Yuki , Suzuki Gen , Shiomi Hiroya , Kimoto Takuya , Seri Sho , Yamazaki Hideya , Yamada Kei
Published: February 2024

The prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is closely related to their liver reserves. The Child-Pugh (CP) score has traditionally been used to evaluate this reserve, with CP Grade B (CP score ≥ 7) associated with a higher risk of radiation-induced liver disease after stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). However, the CP score has limitations, as it does not accurately assess liver reserve capacity. The albumin–bilirubin (ALBI) score has been introduced as a meticulous indicator of liver reserve for the treatment of HCC. We retrospectively evaluated the role of the ALBI score in estimating the worsening liver reserve in 42 patients with HCC treated with SBRT using CyberKnife between 2015 and 2023. The median biologically effective dose (α/β = 10 Gy) was 100 Gy. For a median follow-up duration of 17.4 months, the 1-year overall survival (OS), local control (LC) and progression-free survival (PFS) rates were 100, 98 and 62%, respectively. Worsening liver reserve was defined as an increase in the modified ALBI grade or CP score within 1 year after SBRT. Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that the baseline ALBI score (≥−2.7 vs <−2.7) was the only significantly different predictor of worsening liver reserve. The OS and LC rates after SBRT for HCC were satisfactory. However, the PFS was poor, and recurrent HCC will require additional treatment. It is clinically important to predict the liver reserve capacity after SBRT, and the baseline ALBI score is a useful predictor.
Waking up Sleeping Beauty: DNA damage activates dormant stem cell division by enhancing brassinosteroid signaling
Authors: Heyman Jefri , De Veylder Lieven
Published: February 2024

This article comments on:

Takahashi N, Suita K, Koike T, Ogita N, Zhang Y, Umeda M. 2024. DNA double-strand breaks enhance brassinosteroid signaling to activate quiescent center cell division in Arabidopsis. Journal of Experimental Botany 75, 1364–1375.
Functional and Evolutionary Integration of a Fungal Gene With a Bacterial Operon
Authors: Sun Liang , David Kyle T , Wolters John F , Karlen Steven D , Gonçalves Carla , Opulente Dana A , LaBella Abigail Leavitt , Groenewald Marizeth , Zhou Xiaofan , Shen Xing-Xing , Rokas Antonis , Hittinger Chris Todd
Published: February 2024

Siderophores are crucial for iron-scavenging in microorganisms. While many yeasts can uptake siderophores produced by other organisms, they are typically unable to synthesize siderophores themselves. In contrast, Wickerhamiella/Starmerella (W/S) clade yeasts gained the capacity to make the siderophore enterobactin following the remarkable horizontal acquisition of a bacterial operon enabling enterobactin synthesis. Yet, how these yeasts absorb the iron bound by enterobactin remains unresolved. Here, we demonstrate that Enb1 is the key enterobactin importer in the W/S-clade species Starmerella bombicola. Through phylogenomic analyses, we show that ENB1 is present in all W/S clade yeast species that retained the enterobactin biosynthetic genes. Conversely, it is absent in species that lost the ent genes, except for Starmerella stellata, making this species the only cheater in the W/S clade that can utilize enterobactin without producing it. Through phylogenetic analyses, we infer that ENB1 is a fungal gene that likely existed in the W/S clade prior to the acquisition of the ent genes and subsequently experienced multiple gene losses and duplications. Through phylogenetic topology tests, we show that ENB1 likely underwent horizontal gene transfer from an ancient W/S clade yeast to the order Saccharomycetales, which includes the model yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, followed by extensive secondary losses. Taken together, these results suggest that the fungal ENB1 and bacterial ent genes were cooperatively integrated into a functional unit within the W/S clade that enabled adaptation to iron-limited environments. This integrated fungal-bacterial circuit and its dynamic evolution determine the extant distribution of yeast enterobactin producers and cheaters.