bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
What makesCandida aurispan-drug resistant? Integrative insights from genomic, transcriptomic, and phenomic analysis of clinical strains resistant to all four major classes of antifungal drugs
Authors: Rhodes Johanna , Jacobs Jonathan , Dennis Emily K. , Manjari Swati R. , Banavali Nilesh , Marlow Robert , Rokebul Mohammed Anower , Chaturvedi Sudha , Chaturvedi Vishnu
Published: June 2024

The global epidemic of drug-resistantCandida auriscontinues unabated. We do not know what caused the unprecedented appearance of pan-drug resistant (PDR)Candida aurisstrains in a hospitalized patient in New York; the initial report highlighted both known and unique mutations in the prominent gene targets of azoles, amphotericin B, echinocandins, and flucytosine antifungal drugs. However, the factors that allowC. auristo acquire multi-drug resistance and pan-drug resistance are not known. Therefore, we conducted a comprehensive genomic, transcriptomic, and phenomic analysis to better understand PDRC. auris. Among 1,570 genetic variants in drug-resistantC. auris, 299 were unique to PDR strains. The whole genome sequencing results suggested perturbations in genes associated with nucleotide biosynthesis, mRNA processing, and nuclear export of mRNA. Whole transcriptome sequencing of PDRC. aurisrevealed two genes to be significantly differentially expressed - a DNA repair protein and DNA replication-dependent chromatin assembly factor 1. Of 59 novel transcripts, 12 candidate transcripts had no known homology among expressed transcripts found in other organisms. We observed no fitness defects among multi-drug resistant (MDR) and PDRC. aurisstrains grown in nutrient-deficient or - enriched media at different temperatures. Phenotypic profiling revealed wider adaptability to nitrogenous nutrients with an uptick in the utilization of substrates critical in upper glycolysis and tricarboxylic acid cycle. Structural modelling of 33-amino acid deletion in the gene for uracil phosphoribosyl transferase suggested an alternate route inC. auristo generate uracil monophosphate that does not accommodate 5-fluorouracil as a substrate. Overall, we find evidence of metabolic adaptations in MDR and PDRC. aurisin response to antifungal drug lethality without deleterious fitness costs.
Endosomolytic Peptides Enable the Cellular Delivery of Peptide Nucleic Acids
Authors: Giancola JoLynn B. , Raines Ronald T.
Published: June 2024

Precision genetic medicine enlists antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) to bind to nucleic acid targets important for human disease. Peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) have many desirable attributes as ASOs but lack cellular permeability. Here, we use an assay based on the corrective splicing of an mRNA to assess the ability of synthetic peptides to deliver a functional PNA into a human cell. We find that the endosomolytic peptides L17E and L17ER4are highly efficacious delivery vehicles. Co-treatment of a PNA with low micromolar L17E or L17ER4enables robust corrective splicing in nearly all treated cells. Peptide–PNA conjugates are even more effective. These results enhance the utility of PNAs as research tools and potential therapeutic agents.
Nanopore Decoding with Speed and Versatility for Data Storage
Authors: Volkel Kevin D. , Hook Paul W. , Keung Albert , Timp Winston , Tuck James M.
Published: June 2024

Motivation

As nanopore technology reaches ever higher throughput and accuracy, it becomes an increasingly viable candidate for reading out DNA data storage. Nanopore sequencing offers considerable flexibility by allowing long reads, real-time signal analysis, and the ability to read both DNA and RNA. We need flexible and efficient designs that match nanopore’s capabilities, but relatively few designs have been explored and many have significant inefficiency in read density, error rate, or compute time. To address these problems, we designed a new single-read per-strand decoder that achieves low byte error rates, offers high throughput, scales to long reads, and works well for both DNA and RNA molecules. We achieve these results through a novel soft decoding algorithm that can be effectively parallelized on a GPU. Our faster decoder allows us to study a wider range of system designs.

Results

We demonstrate our approach on HEDGES, a state-of-the-art DNA-constrained convolutional code. We implement one hard decoder that runs serially and two soft decoders that run on GPUs. Our evaluation for each decoder is applied to the same population of nanopore reads collected from a synthesized library of strands. These same strands are synthesized with a T7 promoter to enable RNA transcription and decoding. Our results show that the hard decoder has a byte error rate over 25%, while the prior state of the art soft decoder can achieve error rates of 2.25%. However, that design also suffers a low throughput of 183 seconds/read. Our new Alignment Matrix Trellis soft decoder improves throughput by 257x with the trade off of a higher byte error rate of 3.52% compared to the state-of-the-art. Furthermore, we use the faster speed of our algorithm to explore more design options. We show that read densities of 0.33 bits/base can be achieved, which is 4x larger than prior MSA-based decoders. We also compare RNA to DNA, and find that RNA has 85% as many error free reads as compared to DNA.

Availability and implementation

Source code for our soft decoder and data used to generate figures is available publicly in the Github repositoryhttps://github.com/dna-storage/hedges-soft-decoder(10.5281/zenodo.11454877). All raw FAST5/FASTQ data is available at 10.5281/zenodo.11985454 and 10.5281/zenodo.12014515.

Contac

kvolkel@ncsu.eduorjtuck@ncsu.edu
Digital libraries for minor languages in India: frameworks for addressing absences in policy and governance
Authors: Wadhwa Soni
Published: June 2024

Purpose

Given that Indian languages in general are under-represented on the internet and that languages of minority linguistic groups find very little space on digital platforms, it is imperative for institutions such as libraries to cater to smaller communities and their educational needs while also reaching out to them in their own languages. This study aims to deliberate on strategies for enlisting community support for gathering diverse learning resources in different languages and for enlisting participation in activities such as crowdsourcing in initiatives such as annotations and transliteration.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper calls for interventions that imagine and create infrastructure for the flourishing of smaller libraries that can draw from and feed into large-scale national and international libraries. Offering a conceptual framework to rethink the country’s approach toward minor languages, it first offers an overview of policies and initiatives relevant to the concerns of minor languages in digital libraries in India. Based on the policy analysis, it then goes on to suggest starting points for policy designers and custodians of libraries to help them work toward better representation of languages in their resources.

Findings

The existing frameworks analyzed here for the greater or representation of minor Indian languages reveal a culture of silence toward the issue of language. With some advocacy, these frameworks can be mined to craft different ways that are critical not just for enriching libraries but also for preservation of cultural heritage of the communities concerned, thus adding a larger social dimension to the question of access.

Originality/value

While a lot of socio-political discourse on minority languages in India exists, this study pushes for their bearing on digital libraries, educational frameworks and cultural heritage.
Exploring job satisfaction’s impact on turnover tendency among employees in Kosova’s microfinance institutions
Authors: Aliu Flokart , Kutllovci Enver
Published: June 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to delve into the intricate link between job satisfaction and employees’ turnover intentions. To accomplish this, a detailed structural model was constructed, incorporating five essential constructs: job satisfaction, turnover intention, satisfaction with financial factors, satisfaction with non-financial factors and external factors.

Design/methodology/approach

The research used a questionnaire with 28 items based on established tools, focusing on five different constructs. The model’s validation involved applying structural equation modelling to 147 non-managerial employees in microfinance institutions.

Findings

The findings reveal a significant negative correlation between job satisfaction and turnover intention. Satisfaction with financial factors significantly outweighs satisfaction with non-financial factors in shaping job satisfaction. In addition, the impact of external factors on turnover intention was observed to be minimal and inconsequential.

Research limitations/implications

This review highlights the importance of investigating the moderating factors in the job satisfaction–turnover relationship, distinguishing between types of satisfaction and conducting longitudinal studies across diverse contexts. It notably presents a diverse range of recent findings in this field, emphasising the breadth of the results that have emerged in this area of research.

Practical implications

Understanding job satisfaction and turnover intention is crucial for microfinance institutions. By prioritising efforts to enhance job satisfaction through improved financial offerings and non-financial factors like a supportive work environment and opportunities for growth, organisations can effectively mitigate turnover rates and foster success.

Social implications

The study underscores the societal value of supportive work environments beyond just benefits and career opportunities. By understanding the external influences on employee satisfaction, organisations can contribute to building more decent workplaces and promote social well-being, while advocating for social considerations in organisational practices.

Originality/value

This paper uses a novel integrated model comprising five distinct constructs not previously used together. It stands among the pioneering works that not only elucidate the correlation between job satisfaction and turnover intention but also delineate the constituents of job satisfaction itself.
IPO conditional conservatism, underpricing and post-issue stock market survival
Authors: Kim Sujin , Kent Pamela Fae , Richardson Grant , Yawson Alfred
Published: June 2024

Purpose

We examine the association between conditional conservatism in initial public offering (IPO) underpricing and post-issue stock market survival in the U.S.

Design/methodology/approach

We adopt an archival approach by collecting data for 1,761 U.S. IPO issuers for the period 1990–2017. Regression analyses are conducted to evaluate the association between conditional conservatism in initial public offerings with underpricing and post-issue stock market survival. We identify firms that went public in the period 1990–2012. These firms are then followed for five years after the IPO to assess their stock market survival.

Findings

We find that pre-issue conditional conservatism is significantly associated with less IPO underpricing. We also detect that IPO firms with higher levels of conditional conservative reporting are more likely to survive in the post-IPO stock market in the three-, four-, and five-year periods after the IPO. Our main findings are robust after controlling for other factors in our models, such as IPO cycles, venture capitalists, research and development investment, and pre-IPO accounting performance.

Originality/value

We extend research by demonstrating that conditional conservative reporting practices help firms reduce their indirect costs of raising their initial public capital. Additionally, our research introduces new evidence on the association between pre-IPO conditional conservatism and after-issue stock market survival. Our findings empirically support the International Accounting Standards Board’s (IASB) decision to reintroduce the concept of prudence into the conceptual framework, by showing how conservative reporting can reduce information asymmetry in IPO firms.
Impact of COVID-19 on market efficiency
Authors: Bhattacharya Rajeev R.
Published: June 2024

Purpose

COVID-19 and its accompanying lockdowns were arguably the most traumatic events of our times. This paper investigates the impact of COVID-19 on market efficiency.

Design/methodology/approach

I analyze all publicly traded U.S. equities for 2014–September 2021, using intraday data from TAQ, TRACE, I/B/E/S and Capital IQ and daily data from CRSP, Thomson Reuters, Compustat, CRSP-Compustat Merged Database and FRED, using a controlled contrast between absolute abnormal returns for relevant halfhours versus absolute abnormal returns in control halfhours, measured by the negative of the coefficient of the fixed effect of the interaction between the indicator variable, and as the case may be, ticker and/or time period of interest, in the regression of halfhour-level absolute abnormal returns on tickers, months and interactions.

Findings

Using two separate objective, systematic, independent and ordinal per se measures of market efficiency based upon market reactions separately to key developments and earnings announcements, I find that U.S. equities markets were statistically and economically significantly less efficient during the first two-three months of the COVID-19 lockdowns.

Practical implications

Efficient capital markets provide substantial social benefits and are a sine qua non for the democratization of markets and the protection of investors, and constitute a critical mission of regulatory bodies such as the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the U.S. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).

Social implications

The impact on market efficiency provides one critical input into the social cost-benefit analysis of public health policy and that of government interventions in general.

Originality/value

There has been no previous work done on the systematic and objective characterization of the impact of COVID-19 and associated lockdowns on market efficiency.
Examining AI competence, chatbot use and perceived autonomy as drivers of students' engagement in informal digital learning
Authors: Hidayat-ur-Rehman Imdadullah
Published: June 2024

Purpose

Digital technology's integration into education has transformed learning frameworks, necessitating the exploration of factors influencing students’ engagement in digital informal settings. This study, grounded in self-determination theory (SDT), proposes a model comprising artificial intelligence (AI) competence, chatbot usage, perceived autonomy (PA), digital informal learning (DIL) and students’ engagement.

Design/methodology/approach

The study collected survey data from 409 participants at Saudi Arabian universities, ultimately using 387 valid responses for analysis. This dataset was subjected to a thorough examination to confirm the validity of our proposed model. To decipher the complex interactions within our model, we utilized partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The study adopted a disjoint two-stage method to formulate a reflective-formative higher-order construct (HOC).

Findings

The study's findings showed that cognitive learning (CL), metacognitive learning (MCL) and social and motivational learning (SML) are the essential components of DIL. Significantly, the study determined that AI competence, chatbot usage, PA and DIL markedly affect students’ engagement. Moreover, the R2 value of 0.592 for student engagement indicates the model's robustness in explaining 59.2% of the variance, highlighting its effectiveness in identifying key drivers of student engagement in DIL contexts.

Originality/value

This research enhances understanding by detailing the intricate relationships among AI competence, chatbot usage, and students’ engagement in informal digital learning. It extends SDT to emphasize intrinsic motivations and AI capabilities, introducing reflective-formative HOCs for comprehending educational intricacies. It provides practical strategies for enhancing AI abilities and chatbot use in education, promoting personalized, engaging and autonomous digital learning spaces, thereby advancing educational theory and practice.
The cycle of acceptance: mental health professionals’ experience of workplace violence in a UK community mental health team
Authors: Parr Helen , Cetrano Gaia
Published: June 2024

Purpose

Violence and aggression against mental health professionals is a global concern with well-documented consequences. In the UK, mental health care is increasingly delivered in the community, yet little research has explored practitioner experiences of workplace violence (WPV) outside of inpatient settings. This study aimed to explore how mental health professionals in a UK community mental health team (CMHT) perceive, experience and cope with WPV.

Design/methodology/approach

Face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten multidisciplinary professionals based in a CMHT in a UK city. Data was analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis.

Findings

Three interconnected themes emerged. WPV was accepted as inevitable: participants carried on working despite its impact, and feeling unheard by management they gave up on change, perpetuating the perceived inevitability of WPV. Peer support and organisational resources like debriefing, counselling and occupational health improved coping. Stigma and ideas of professional responsibility were barriers to access.

Originality/value

To mitigate against the negative consequences of WPV, CMHTs could offer peer support initiatives, improve communication and availability of organisational resources and involve staff in post-incident decision-making. Recommendations are made to shift the attitude of acceptance of WPV and encourage help-seeking.
New players? New managers? New stadiums? Which investments drive football club performance?
Authors: Nowland John , Sankara Jomo
Published: June 2024

Purpose

Professional football clubs, like other businesses, need to make investments in both human capital and fixed capital. We examine how investments in players, managers and stadiums drive football club performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Using data from the English Premier League (EPL) from 2012 to 2021, we use a lag model to relate investments in the past two years to the current financial and sporting performance of clubs.

Findings

We find that investments in new players are associated with better subsequent sporting performance. A £100 million increase in transfer expenditure is associated with 12 more points and 4 better table positions over the following two seasons. Investments in stadiums are associated with better subsequent financial performance. An increase in stadium capacity by 10,000 seats is associated with an extra £26 million in profits over the next two seasons. Manager changes are associated with better sporting performance in non-Big Six clubs, but worse sporting and financial performance in Big Six clubs.

Originality/value

These results have implications for optimal investment strategies at professional football clubs. For example, we find that new managers in Big Six clubs need to be complemented by additional transfer expenditure of at least £135 million to maintain the same level of sporting performance.
Skin colonization by Staphylococcus aureus in hemodialysis patients with pruritus and the effect of Staphylococcus aureus‐secreted α‐toxin on filaggrin expression
Authors: Tsai Yen‐Yu , Chen Ying‐Jung , Chang Long‐Sen , Wu Cheng‐Ching
Published: June 2024

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) commonly reside on human skin in residents in long‐term care facilities, yet its colonization and impact on the skin of hemodialysis (HD) patients have yet to be studied. The aim of the present study was to investigate the colonization of S. aureus on the skin of pruritic and non‐pruritic HD patients, and the influence of S. aureus and S. aureus‐secreted α‐toxin on skin barrier function‐related protein expression. In this study, a higher relative S. aureus count in pruritic HD patients compared to non‐pruritic HD patients and healthy subjects were revealed by real‐time polymerase chain reaction. S. aureus and α‐toxin decreased mRNA and protein expression levels of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), ovo‐like transcriptional repressor 1 (OVOL1), and filaggrin (FLG) in keratinocytes. In addition, anti‐alpha‐hemolysin (anti‐hla) was used as an α‐toxin neutralizer, and it successfully abrogated S. aureus‐induced AHR, OVOL1, and FLG mRNA and protein expression downregulation. Mechanistically, α‐toxin could decrease FLG activity by preventing the recruitment of AHR to the FLG promoter region. In conclusion, pruritic HD patients had higher S. aureus colonization, with S. aureus‐secreted α‐toxin suppressing FLG expression through the AHR‐FLG axis.
Supportive effect of uncut refuge strips on grassland arthropods may depends on the amount and width of strips
Authors: Révész Kitti , Torma Attila , Szabó Márton , Korsoveczky Lili , Gallé‐Szpisjak Nikolett , Batáry Péter , Gallé Róbert
Published: June 2024

Vast grassland areas disappear due to abandonment, conversion to arable fields or urban areas. Consequently, grassland species have declined dramatically during and since the last century. The majority of remaining European grasslands are managed, many of them by mowing, which, in general, decreases arthropods' abundance and species richness.

Here, we aimed to study the effects of width and proportion of refuge areas on local abundance and richness of arthropods in hay meadows. Within a ca. 4000 ha semi‐natural grassland area of the Great Hungarian Plain, we established refuge strips of different widths (3 and 9 m) and proportion of total field area (10 and 25%) following a randomised block design with six replicates per treatment. We studied five arthropod groups (grasshoppers, true bugs, carabids and ground‐dwelling and vegetation‐dwelling spiders), which we sampled 2 weeks after mowing by sweep netting and pitfall traps.

Uncut strips were warmer and moister than the mown areas. The effects of refuge strips and their arrangement were stronger on the vegetation‐dwelling than on ground‐dwelling arthropods, although all taxa were affected in some way. We found more true bugs in mown areas between narrow strips than between wide strips. The interaction effect of width and proportion of refuge strips on the abundance of grasshoppers, ground‐dwelling spiders and species richness of carabids showed that wider strips are more beneficial if their proportion is low and narrow strips are more beneficial with high proportion.

Synthesis and applications: Our findings provide evidence that uncut refuge strips can harbour diverse and abundant arthropod assemblages in hay meadows and mitigate the adverse effects of uniformly executed mowing on arthropods. Modifying attributes and considering farming practices, wide strips with a low (10%) proportion of total field area seem optimal for both conservation and practitioners.
Exploring urban water‐energy nexus: A case study of thermal power plants in Raichur and Ballari districts in Karnataka
Authors: Das Sherin S. , Majumdar Rudrodip , Krishnan A. V. , Srikanth R.
Published: June 2024

The paper provides a coupled framework of the water‐energy nexus for the water‐stressed Indian cities, weaving together multiple interlinked facets, such as the demand for drinking water, water withdrawal patterns, water‐related challenges in Thermal Power Stations (TPSs), and the benefits of using treated wastewater in TPSs. An integrated approach is suggested for maximizing the benefits of wastewater reclamation, while reducing the environmental impacts of inefficient water usage, specifically in TPSs, the largest water users in the industrial sector. This is particularly important for a developing country like India that faces declining water availability due to a growing population without commensurate increases in water‐use efficiency. Currently, India is the third largest electricity generator in the world, with coal‐fired TPSs accounting for more than 78% of the total generation (1715 TWh in 2021). This presents a case for an integrated approach to reduce freshwater consumption in TPSs located in the proximity of cities by using treated wastewater from sewage treatment plants (STPs). The integrated approach for utilizing wastewater in TPSs is a promising tail‐pipe initiative that can address multiple targets under the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 in conjunction with other interlinked Goals and their targets. The findings highlight that the suggested sustainable water management practices would lead to enhanced availability of potable water for the city dwellers, thereby addressing multiple targets under SDG 6 along with a few other consequential dimensions including affordable electricity.
Health consumers' ethical concerns towards artificial intelligence in Australian emergency departments
Authors: Freeman Sam , Stewart Jonathon , Kaard Rebecca , Ouliel Eden , Goudie Adrian , Dwivedi Girish , Akhlaghi Hamed
Published: June 2024

Objectives

To investigate health consumers' ethical concerns towards the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in EDs.

Methods

Qualitative semi‐structured interviews with health consumers, recruited via health consumer networks and community groups, interviews conducted between January and August 2022.

Results

We interviewed 28 health consumers about their perceptions towards the ethical use of AI in EDs. The results discussed in this paper highlight the challenges and barriers for the effective and ethical implementation of AI from the perspective of Australian health consumers. Most health consumers are more likely to support AI health tools in EDs if they continue to be involved in the decision‐making process. There is considerably more approval of AI tools that support clinical decision‐making, as opposed to replacing it. There is mixed sentiment about the acceptability of AI tools influencing clinical decision‐making and judgement. Health consumers are mostly supportive of the use of their data to train and develop AI tools but are concerned with who has access. Addressing bias and discrimination in AI is an important consideration for some health consumers. Robust regulation and governance are critical for health consumers to trust and accept the use of AI.

Conclusion

Health consumers view AI as an emerging technology that they want to see comprehensively regulated to ensure it functions safely and securely with EDs. Without considerations made for the ethical design, implementation and use of AI technologies, health consumer trust and acceptance in the use of these tools will be limited.
Colombia – US relations in an era of great power competition
Authors: Marchant Aaron , Stroud Joshua
Published: June 2024

Latin America and the Caribbean is becoming the next region of strategic importance in an era of great power competition, and no other country is more pivotal to the balance of power there than Colombia. Chinese influence in Latin America and the Caribbean has increased tremendously in the last decade through the expansion of the Belt and Road Initiative, trade volumes, and diplomatic pressures on Latin American and Caribbean countries, both for them to recognize Beijing's government and to remain quiet in international fora about Beijing's human rights violations. Field work conducted in Colombia complemented by consultation of qualitative and quantitative secondary sources revealed that Colombia has been an exception, receiving less Chinese attention and investment compared to other countries in the region. Colombia's special relationship with the United States, its own reluctance to turn towards China, and China's decision to prioritize other nations in the region emerge as reasons for why Colombia is an exceptional case. And yet, looking ahead, this reality is likely to change. The United States must act deliberately and decisively now to strengthen its special relationship with Colombia and thus maintain its strategic standing in Latin America for the coming decades.
Gender perspective in the making: The case of the Colombian peacebuilding process
Authors: García Camila
Published: June 2024

The peace negotiation process between the Colombian Government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC‐EP) is considered one of the most comprehensive peace agreements and is internationally acclaimed for being the first in history to have a gender perspective as a guiding principle. However, several institutions mandated to monitor the gender perspective have identified signs of stagnation in this perspective. As the peace agreement enters the second half of its 15‐year implementation period, this article uses a conflict resolution framework to understand what might be preventing a successful and timely implementation of a gender perspective in Colombia. Findings emerging from recent research suggest that conceptual, technical, political, financial and security hurdles sustain a violent and discriminatory system for women, ultimately impacting the effectiveness of the peace agreement.
Age‐dependent heat shock hormesis to HSF‐1 deficiency suggests a compensatory mechanism mediated by the unfolded protein response and innate immunity in young Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Kovács Dániel , Biró János Barnabás , Ahmed Saqib , Kovács Márton , Sigmond Tímea , Hotzi Bernadette , Varga Máté , Vincze Viktor Vázsony , Mohammad Umar , Vellai Tibor , Barna János
Published: June 2024

The transcription factor HSF‐1 (heat shock factor 1) acts as a master regulator of heat shock response in eukaryotic cells to maintain cellular proteostasis. The protein has a protective role in preventing cells from undergoing ageing, and neurodegeneration, and also mediates tumorigenesis. Thus, modulating HSF‐1 activity in humans has a promising therapeutic potential for treating these pathologies. Loss of HSF‐1 function is usually associated with impaired stress tolerance. Contrary to this conventional knowledge, we show here that inactivation of HSF‐1 in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans results in increased thermotolerance at young adult stages, whereas HSF‐1 deficiency in animals passing early adult stages indeed leads to decreased thermotolerance, as compared to wild‐type. Furthermore, a gene expression analysis supports that in young adults, distinct cellular stress response and immunity‐related signaling pathways become induced upon HSF‐1 deficiency. We also demonstrate that increased tolerance to proteotoxic stress in HSF‐1‐depleted young worms requires the activity of the unfolded protein response of the endoplasmic reticulum and the SKN‐1/Nrf2‐mediated oxidative stress response pathway, as well as an innate immunity‐related pathway, suggesting a mutual compensatory interaction between HSF‐1 and these conserved stress response systems. A similar compensatory molecular network is likely to also operate in higher animal taxa, raising the possibility of an unexpected outcome when HSF‐1 activity is manipulated in humans.
Transformative tales: The role of story videos on children's reasoning about transgender identities
Authors: Fine Rachel D. , Troncoso Solangel C. , Gelman Susan A.
Published: June 2024

The current study explored whether positive contact through stories could influence how young children think about transgender identities and gender in general. A total of 174 children ages 5–6 and 9–10 were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: Jazz (participants watched a video regarding a transgender child named Jazz), Blue (participants watched a video regarding a marker that looked red on the outside but inside was really blue) and control (no video). Both videos described the main character as feeling different inside than outside, and their social transition to their preferred identity; researcher scaffolding supported the video messages. Children who viewed the Jazz video had: (a) greater understanding of transgender identities and (b) no overall differences in gender essentialism, but (c) lower gender essentialism on three specific measures (gender immutability, innate toy behaviours and innate preferences). Also, gender essentialism was lower in older versus younger children. In this study, a direct, realistic story was the only effective means of teaching children about transgender identities and reducing belief in gender immutability. Thus, stories can be a way to teach children about the social world and change essentialist beliefs, but the impact may be limited and greatly affected by features of the story.
Is inclusive education for children with special educational needs and disabilities an impossible dream?
Authors: Woolfson Lisa Marks
Published: June 2024

Background

Countries have been implementing inclusive educational practices for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) for at least 30 years.

Aims

Some issues continue to present as unresolved and will be examined in this paper with possible ways forward suggested. 1. There is still a lack of clarity around the definition of inclusion, its theoretical underpinnings, its implementation in practice and evaluation of success. 2. Teachers often still report the same problems of insufficient resources and express the same concerns about lack of skills and knowledge as reported in the early days. 3. A key question is, do children with SEND achieve better outcomes in inclusive educational settings?

Discussion and Conclusions

The paper argues that an overarching executive framework applied to the education of children with SEND is needed to provide a common frame of reference that can be shared by educators, policymakers and researchers. New ways of resourcing inclusion are discussed including supporting collaboration between mainstream and special schools to better utilize the expertise located in special schools. The paper examines the evidence for improved academic and social outcomes for learners with SEND in inclusive schools and proposes that psychological outcomes now need to be measured too. It further suggests that future research needs to drill down to the level of teacher classroom instruction rather than rely on the broader mainstream school–special school comparison.
Analytic/Jungian Psychotherapy and Same‐Sex/Queer Desire: Research Findings and Implications for Theory, Practice and Training
Authors: Full Wayne
Published: June 2024

Historically, analytic/Jungian psychotherapy has pathologised same‐sex/queer desire and excluded lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) and queer individuals from training as therapists. A mixed‐method study, conducted between 2014 and 2021, aimed to clarify how UK analytic/Jungian therapists working today thought about theory, clinical practice and training in relation to same‐sex/queer desire. A total of 287 registrants of the British Psychoanalytic Council (BPC) completed a clinical attitudes questionnaire, a 20% response rate. The quantitative and qualitative data were descriptively and thematically analysed. Using a purposive sampling technique, 36 analytic/Jungian therapists were interviewed. A Framework Analysis identified 10 overarching themes. Analytic/Jungian therapists are now better informed about some LGB/queer‐specific issues, such as internalised homophobia/biphobia and the challenges of living in a heterosexually structured society, but many continue to hold predominantly heteronormative and monosexual perspectives on love, relationships and sex. Some thinking and clinical practice with LGB/queer clients remains biased, out‐dated and potentially harmful. Despite some innovation and progress, not all trainings adequately cover LGB/queer‐specific issues, and anti‐LGB/queer discrimination persists at some training organisations. UK analytic/Jungian training organisations must continue their efforts to create non‐discriminatory learning and professional environments for LGB/queer individuals. This may involve further revision of the analytic/Jungian curriculum on same‐sex/queer desire and institutional reform consistent with BPC equality and non‐discrimination policies.
Lost in Amazon: Evidencing the southern extension of the geographic distribution of Linné's two‐toed sloth (Choloepus didactylus)
Authors: Castro Arlison Bezerra , Melo‐Dias Mateus , Santos Tatiane Pires , Custódio Rogério José , de Jesus Rodrigues Domingos , Rosa Clarissa Alves
Published: June 2024

We documented new records of Choloepus didactylus extending up to 820 km south of its current geographic distribution. These records, and others found in literature for the central‐southern Amazon, evidence a southern expansion of about 30% of the known species' area of occurrence and help shedding light on decades of uncertainties about its real distribution.

Abstract in Portuguese is available with online material.
The Otolaryngology Consultant Workforce in England: A Survey Update and Future Repercussions
Authors: Nieto H. , Lee J. , Hall C. , McDermott A. L.
Published: June 2024

Introduction

Effective medical staffing is pivotal for a successful healthcare system, demanding strategic planning to ensure a high‐quality service. Although the UK’s doctor to population ratio has improved over time, it remains below global averages. The COVID‐19 pandemic has exacerbated existing challenges, resulting in an unprecedented NHS waiting list with Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) surgeries ranking third highest in waiting times amongst all specialties.

Methods

This study utilized a national jotform survey to gather data from ENTUK members, primarily focusing on consultant staffing within ENT departments across the UK. Additional information collected encompassed registration status, part‐time roles, gender, vacancies, locum roles, associate specialists, registrars and other junior doctors, and advanced nurse practitioners. When survey responses were inadequate, direct communication was established with departmental consultants or secretaries, followed by Freedom of Information requests as necessary. All data were compiled using Microsoft Excel.

Results

Among the 65 responses to the ENTUK survey, 53 individual trusts were identified. These included 41 English acute trusts, with supplementary participation from Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Data from 749 consultants across 115 English acute trusts were collected in combination with a Freedom of Information request.

Conclusion

Despite an increased number of ENT consultants, the persistence of unfilled posts coincides with mounting waiting lists. The pandemic’s effects, including early retirements and part‐time roles, emphasise the urgency of expanding training positions to counterbalance these shifts. Local and national interventions are essential to fortify and diversify the ENT workforce through a variety of strategies.
An operational methodology to identify Critical Ecosystem Areas to help nations achieve the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework
Authors: Venegas‐Li Ruben , Grantham Hedley S. , Rainey Hugo , Diment Alex , Tizard Robert , Watson James E. M.
Published: June 2024

The Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) will become the most important multilateral agreement to guide biodiversity conservation actions globally over the coming decades. An ecosystem goal and various targets for maintaining integrity, restoring degraded ecosystems, and achieving representation in conservation areas feature throughout the GBF. Here, we provide an operational framework that combines disparate information on ecosystem type, extent, integrity, protection levels, and risk of collapse to support identifying irreplaceable “Critical Ecosystem Areas” (CEAs), to help implement these ecosystem targets. The framework classifies each component ecosystem based on its integrity, importance in ensuring no ecosystem collapse, and relative value in achieving ecosystem‐specific representation targets. These CEAs are immediate conservation opportunities given that they achieve multiple ecosystem GBF goals and targets, and we showcase its application using Myanmar's forested ecosystems as a case study.
Computer‐assisted urine cytology: Faster, cheaper, better?
Authors: Ciaparrone Chiara , Maffei Elisabetta , L'Imperio Vincenzo , Pisapia Pasquale , Eloy Catarina , Fraggetta Filippo , Zeppa Pio , Caputo Alessandro
Published: June 2024

Recent advancements in computer‐assisted diagnosis (CAD) have catalysed significant progress in pathology, particularly in the realm of urine cytopathology. This review synthesizes the latest developments and challenges in CAD for diagnosing urothelial carcinomas, addressing the limitations of traditional urinary cytology. Through a literature review, we identify and analyse CAD models and algorithms developed for urine cytopathology, highlighting their methodologies and performance metrics. We discuss the potential of CAD to improve diagnostic accuracy, efficiency and patient outcomes, emphasizing its role in streamlining workflow and reducing errors. Furthermore, CAD tools have shown potential in exploring pathological conditions, uncovering novel biomarkers and prognostic/predictive features previously unknown or unseen. Finally, we examine the practical issues surrounding the integration of CAD into clinical practice, including regulatory approval, validation and training for pathologists. Despite the promising results, challenges remain, necessitating further research and validation efforts. Overall, CAD presents a transformative opportunity to revolutionize diagnostic practices in urine cytopathology, paving the way for enhanced patient care and outcomes.
Variable species establishment in response to microhabitat indicates different likelihoods of climate‐driven range shifts
Authors: Chardon Nathalie Isabelle , McBurnie Lauren , Goodwin Katie J. A. , Pradhan Kavya , Hille Ris Lambers Janneke , Angert Amy L.
Published: June 2024

Climate change is causing geographic range shifts globally, and understanding the factors that influence species' range expansions is crucial for predicting future biodiversity changes. A common, yet untested, assumption in forecasting approaches is that species will shift beyond current range edges into new habitats as they become macroclimatically suitable, even though microhabitat variability could have overriding effects on local population dynamics. We aim to better understand the role of microhabitat in range shifts in plants through its impacts on establishment by 1) examining microhabitat variability along large macroclimatic (i.e. elevational) gradients, 2) testing which of these microhabitat variables explain plant recruitment and seedling survival, and 3) predicting microhabitat suitability beyond species range limits. We transplanted seeds of 25 common tree, shrub, forb and graminoid species across and beyond their current elevational ranges in the Washington Cascade Range, USA, along a large elevational gradient spanning a broad range of macroclimates. Over five years, we recorded recruitment, survival, and microhabitat (i.e. high resolution soil, air and light) characteristics rarely measured in biogeographic studies. We asked whether microhabitat variables correlate with elevation, which variables drive species establishment, and whether microhabitat variables important for establishment are already suitable beyond leading range limits. We found that only 30% of microhabitat parameters covaried with elevation. We further observed extremely low recruitment and moderate seedling survival, and these were generally only weakly explained by microhabitat. Moreover, species and life stages responded in contrasting ways to soil biota, soil moisture, temperature, and snow duration. Microhabitat suitability predictions suggest that distribution shifts are likely to be species‐specific, as different species have different suitability and availability of microhabitat beyond their present ranges, thus calling into question low‐resolution macroclimatic projections that will miss such complexities. We encourage further research on species responses to microhabitat and including microhabitat in range shift forecasts.
Intensive salvage chemotherapy with VDTPACE or mCBAD followed by hematopoietic stem‐cell support for refractory/relapsed multiple myeloma
Authors: Marques Carolina Perrone , Ovigli Danielle , Kerbauy Mariana Nassif , Silveira Ana Carolina de Almeida , Helman Ricardo , da Silva Cinthya Correa , Ribeiro Andreza Alice Feitosa , Hamerschlak Nelson , Arcuri Leonardo Javier
Published: June 2024

Introduction

Triple‐ and quad‐refractory multiple myeloma patients usually have an aggressive course and a poor prognosis. Available therapeutic options are scarce.

Methods

The objective of the current study was to evaluate responses and toxicities of VDTPACE or mCBAD with hematopoietic stem‐cell support as a bridge to subsequent therapies in patients with refractory/relapsed multiple myeloma.

Results

Thirteen patients were included (11 mCBAD, 2 VDTPACE), and 21 cycles of chemotherapy with hematopoietic stem‐cell support were delivered. Mean number of previous therapies was 4.8. Stem cells were infused on a median day 9.9 after chemotherapy. Mean time to neutrophil recovery was 18.2 days in patients receiving the first cycle and 15.9 following subsequent cycles. Before therapy, most patients were in PD (77%), PR (15%), or VGPR (8%). Following treatment, the best responses achieved were PR (46%), VGPR (46%), and CR (8%). Median overall and progression‐free survivals were 17 and 9 months. There has been no case of non‐relapse mortality. In the 21 cycles, the main complications were infectious.

Conclusion

Intensive chemotherapy can decrease disease burden in patients with relapsed/refractory MM, and stem‐cell support can successfully decrease toxicities and treatment‐related mortality associated with these regimens and may be a good bridging option.
Climate mitigation potential of cover crops in the United States is regionally concentrated and lower than previous estimates
Authors: Eash Lisa , Ogle Stephen , McClelland Shelby C. , Fonte Steven J. , Schipanski Meagan E.
Published: June 2024

Widespread adoption of regenerative agriculture practices is an integral part of the US plan to achieve net‐zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. National incentives have particularly increased for the adoption of cover crops (CCs), which have presumably large carbon (C) sequestration potential. However, assessments of national CC climate benefits have not fully considered regional variability, changing C sequestration rates over time, and potential N2O trade‐offs. Using the DayCent soil biogeochemical model and current national survey data, we estimate CC climate change mitigation potential to be 39.0 ± 24.1 Mt CO2e year−1, which is 45%–65% lower than previous estimates, with large uncertainty attributed to N2O impacts. Three‐fourths of this climate change mitigation potential is concentrated in the North Central, Southern Great Plains and Lower Mississippi regions. Public investment should be focused in these regions to maximize CC climate benefits, but the national contribution of CC to emissions targets may be lower than previously anticipated.