bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
‘Why Did They Migrate Here’?: A Qualitative Descriptive Study Exploring Nurses' Motivations for Migration and Regional Relocation
Authors: Villamin Princess , Lopez Violeta , Thapa Deependra Kaji , Cleary Michelle
Published: January 2025

Aim

To explore migrant nurses' intrinsic and extrinsic motivations for migration and regional relocation.

Design

A qualitative descriptive study.

Methods

Semi‐structured interviews were conducted among 17 migrant nurses working in a hospital in regional Australia. Inclusion criteria were current employment as a nurse at the study site, obtaining an initial nursing qualification in a different country, and migrating to regional Australia within the last 7 years. Data were analysed using a thematic approach, informed by the self‐determination theory.

Results

One overarching theme, seeking meaningful endeavours, was identified, with subthemes: pride in nursing, duty to family and personal satisfaction. Extrinsic motivations included financial responsibilities, visa security, professional nursing recognition and fulfilment, filial piety, family unification and overall safety and lifestyle, whereas intrinsic motivations included being a nurse and travelling.

Conclusion

Nurses' motivations for migration are complex and driven by intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Extrinsic motivations may lead to self‐endorsed behaviour (autonomous motivation) if they align with personal goals or values, such as family importance or regard for one's profession. All intrinsic motivations also lead to autonomous motivation, linked to well‐being and workplace retention.

Implications for the Profession

This study's findings may inform organisations in source and host countries to design work conditions that foster retention. Source countries can use these insights to address the professional limitations experienced by their nurses. Host countries may design targeted strategies that promote autonomous motivation among migrant nurses, thereby enhancing job satisfaction, well‐being and retention.

Impact

This study provides insight into experiences contributing to migrant nurses' relocation decisions. Practising within the scope of their professional training, performing their duties in a fulfilling way, and meeting their family obligations through reasonable pay or benefits may support nurses in remaining autonomously motivated.

Reporting Method

COREQ reporting was adhered to.

Patient or Public Contribution

No patient or public contribution.
Conditioning a collective avoidance response in rummy‐nose tetra
Authors: Lecheval Valentin , Theraulaz Guy
Published: January 2025

Escape waves in animal groups, such as bird flocks and fish schools, have attracted a lot of attention, as they provide the opportunity to better understand how information can efficiently propagate in moving groups, and how individuals can coordinate their actions under the threat of predators. There is a lack of appropriate experimental protocols to study escape waves in highly social fish, in which the number of individuals initiating the escape and the identity of the initiators are controlled. Indeed, highly social fish or obligate schoolers have a tendency to not respond well or to freeze when tested in experimental setups designed for single individuals. In this manuscript, we report the results of a pilot experiment with limited sample size using an aversive conditioning protocol to trigger a collective escape response to a green light in a group of rummy‐nose tetra (Hemigrammus rhodostomus). Our experimental results suggest that aversive conditioning can (i) be successfully used in this schooling species, (ii) trigger collective escape responses, and (iii) be transferred from the training setup to a new environment. We also introduce metrics to characterize learning and forgetting at group level. These results nurture promising future empirical research on the cognitive and behavioral mechanisms of escape responses in schools of fish, both at the individual and collective scales.
Probabilistic Flood Hazard Assessment for Multiple Flood and Levee Breaching Scenarios: A Case Study of Etobicoke Creek, Canada
Authors: Mainguenaud Florence , Khan Usman T. , Peyras Laurent , Carvajal Claudio , Beullac Bruno , Sharma Jitendra
Published: January 2025

Flood hazard assessment is crucial to mitigate the risks associated with flooding. Integrating levee failure scenarios into these assessments should improve the evaluation of flood risks and enhance the resilience of communities and infrastructure. This research presents a probabilistic flood hazard approach to assess levee failure and its impact on flood hazard. Our method includes a comprehensive assessment of backward erosion and overflowing failure mechanisms, integrated within a 1D/2D hydraulic model that simulates flood propagation and levee breaching. We calculate the cumulative probability of flood depth and velocity considering various scenarios, taking into account levee failure breaching for various failure mechanisms and several flood intensities. We apply the method to a residential area along Etobicoke Creek in Ontario, Canada. The results highlight which levee segment has the most impact on flood hazard, emphasizing the importance of incorporating levee failure scenarios in flood hazard assessments. The cumulative probability curve provides a more holistic result in locating the most hazardous areas rather than considering one return period or one failure mechanism. It can be expended to every location of the protected area, allowing for the creation of a probabilistic map for a desired probability.
Thyromimetics and MASLD: Unveiling the Novel Molecules Beyond Resmetirom
Authors: Ezhilarasan Devaraj
Published: January 2025

Background

Resmetirom, the first FDA‐approved drug for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) with fibrosis in obese patients, when combined with lifestyle modifications, improves NASH resolution and reduces fibrosis by at least one stage. Low thyroid hormone (T3) levels are linked to a higher risk of developing metabolic dysfunction‐associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Epidemiological studies have confirmed the positive correlation between hypothyroidism and MASLD. Unraveling the molecular mechanisms of T3 signaling pathways in MASLD will enhance the prospects of identifying effective and specific targets. Therefore, this review discusses the significant role of thyroid hormones in the homeostasis of fat metabolism and describes the possible molecular mechanisms of thyromimetics in the treatment of MASLD.

Methods

A comprehensive search in PubMed and EMBASE was conducted using the keywords “thyromimetics and liver diseases,” “thyroid hormone and liver diseases,” “hypothyroidism and liver diseases,” “T3, T4 and liver disease,” and “resmetirom and liver disease.” Relevant papers published before October 2024 were included.

Results

T3 treatment enhances mitochondrial respiration, biogenesis, β‐oxidation, and mitophagy, reducing liver lipid accumulation. However, T3 treatment causes cardiotoxicity through thyroid hormone receptor (THR)α agonistic activity. To address this, molecules with high THRβ agonistic but lower THRα activity have been developed. Besides resmetirom, other THRβ agonists like TG68, CS27109, MB07811, and KB‐141 show promising results in experimental studies. These molecules upregulate THRβ target genes, activate genes for fatty acid β‐oxidation in mitochondria and fatty acid breakdown in peroxisomes, downregulate the genes involved in de novo lipogenesis, reduce inflammation by downregulating NF‐κB/JNK/STAT3 signaling pathways, and accelerate fibrosis resolution by downregulating the expressions of fibrosis marker genes in NASH liver tissue.

Conclusion

Future clinical studies should thoroughly investigate THRβ agonists, including TG68, CS27109, MB07811, and KB‐141.
Cost Effectiveness of Colorectal Cancer Screening Strategies in Middle‐ and High‐Income Countries: A Systematic Review
Authors: Li Yuxuan , Xia Ruyi , Si Wenwen , Zhang Wendi , Zhang Yunbo , Zhuang Guihua
Published: January 2025

Background and Aim

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a significant global health burden, and screening can greatly reduce CRC incidence and mortality. Previous studies investigated the economic effects of CRC screening. We performed a systematic review to provide the cost‐effectiveness of CRC screening strategies across countries with different income levels.

Methods

We searched relevant scientific databases (PubMed, Embase, Ovid, Web of Science, Scopus) from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2023. We selected English‐language studies related to model‐based economic evaluations of CRC screening strategies. Information such as the characters of screening tests, model characteristics, and key cost‐effectiveness findings were collected. The net monetary benefit approach was used to compare the outcomes of various strategies.

Results

A total of 56 studies were identified, including 46 from high‐income countries (HICs), 6 from upper‐middle‐income countries (UMICs), and 4 from lower‐middle‐income countries (LMICs). Most annual fecal occult blood tests and fecal immunochemical tests were cost‐saving, and colonoscopy every 10 years was cost‐saving. Other strategies involving multitarget fecal FIT‐DNA detection, computed tomography colonography, and flexible sigmoidoscopy were cost‐effective compared with no screening. Newer strategies such as magnetic resonance colonography every 5 years, annual urine metabolomic tests, and fecal bacterial biomarkers were cost‐effective compared with no screening.

Conclusion

In our updated review, we found that common CRC screening strategies and magnetic resonance colonography continued to be cost‐effective compared with no screening. Areas for further development include accurately modeling the natural history of colorectal cancer and obtaining more evidence from UMICs and LMICs.
Unveiling the role of microRNAs in nonhost resistance to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum: Rice‐specific microRNAs attack the pathogen via cross‐kingdom RNAi
Authors: Mei Jiaqin , Yang Shuxian , Linghu Yanxia , Gao Yang , Hu Yuxin , Nie Wenjing , Zhang Yujie , Peng Lixuan , Wu Yongzhi , Ding Yijuan , Luo Ruirui , Liao Jingyan , Qian Wei
Published: January 2025

The development of rapeseed with high resistance against the pathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is impeded by the lack of effective resistance resources within host species. Unraveling the molecular basis of nonhost resistance (NHR) holds substantial value for resistance improvement in crops. In the present study, small RNA sequencing and transcriptome sequencing were carried out between rice (a nonhost species of S. sclerotiorum) and rapeseed during infection, revealing the involvement of rice miRNAs on translation‐related processes in both rice and the pathogen. Specifically, rice‐specific miRNAs with potential capability for cross‐kingdom RNAi against S. sclerotiorum were explored, of which Os‐miR169y was selected as a representative case to elucidate its role in resistance to S. sclerotiorum. The silence of Os‐miR169y decreased the resistance level of rice to S. sclerotiorum, and heterologous expression of Os‐miR169y in Arabidopsis and rapeseed significantly enhanced the host resistance. The dual‐luciferase reporter assay indicates that Os‐miR169y targets S. sclerotiorum 60S ribosomal protein L19 (SsRPL19). Overexpressing Os‐miR169y (OEss‐miR169y) and RNAi of SsRPL19 (RNAiss‐RPL19) in S. sclerotiorum significantly impaired the growth and pathogenicity of the pathogen, while overexpressing SsRPL19 exhibited a contrast effect. Yeast‐two‐hybridization revealed an interlinking role of SsRPL19 with multiple large and small ribosomal subunits, indicating its important role in translation. Proteome sequencing detected a decreased amount of proteins in transformants OEss‐miR169y and RNAiss‐RPL19 and significant suppression on key metabolic pathways such as carbon and nitrogen metabolisms. Collectively, this study suggests that rice can secrete specific miRNAs to suppress genes essential for S. sclerotiorum, such as Os‐miR169y, which targets and suppresses SsRPL19 and thus impairs protein synthesis in the pathogen. This study sheds light on the intrinsic mechanisms of rice NHR against S. sclerotiorum, and further demonstrates the potential of using nonhost‐specific “pathogen‐attacking” miRNAs in improving resistance in host species.
A Case Series With Cysteamine–Isobionicamide Complex: Clues for Skin‐Rejuvenating Activity
Authors: Clark‐Loeser Lesley , Sfriso Riccardo , Dirlewanger Laure , Kasraee Behrooz
Published: January 2025

Background

Skin aging is inevitable. Wrinkles, skin texture abnormalities, senile hyperpigmentation, loss of skin tone, dryness, atrophy, and telangiectasias represent some of the hallmarks of aged skin. Skin rejuvenation can be addressed by topical therapies, such as topical retinoids and antioxidants or physical modalities with energy‐based devices, all providing acceptable outcomes. In this case series, we aimed to test the rejuvenating potential of the combination of cysteamine (a naturally occurring antioxidant) and isobionicamide (a derivative of the anti‐aging molecule niacinamide) applied topically.

Methods

Healthy male and female patients (N = 7) aged between 25 and 70 years and having Fitzpatrick skin types I–VI were recruited. Topical application of a cysteamine‐isobionicamide formula was done once daily. Treatment lasted for 16 weeks. Clinical high‐resolution photos were acquired using LifeViz 3D at recruitment and after 16 weeks. Blinded dermatological examinations and scoring were performed. Self‐assessment and quality of life (QoL) questionnaires were collected.

Results

Clinical photos showed improvement in skin luminosity, increased evenness of skin tone, and reduction of fine wrinkles as well as hyperpigmentation. Patients as well as clinical investigators blinded to the chronology of photos observed the improvements in skin texture, luminosity, and radiance, the brightening of the dark spots, as well as the reduction of both number and volume of wrinkles after 16 weeks of daily application. Furthermore, a significant improvement in patients' quality of life was recorded.

Conclusion

This case series represents the first evidence that topical application of cysteamine isobionic‐amide complex could be considered as a safe and effective option in the reversal of skin photoaging.
Efficacy of Rose Stem Cell‐Derived Exosomes (RSCEs) in Skin Treatment: From Healing to Hyperpigmentation Management: Case Series and Review
Authors: Majewska Lidia , Dorosz Karolina , Kijowski Jacek
Published: January 2025

Objective

To present and analyze eight clinical cases illustrating the use of rose stem cell‐derived exosomes (RSCEs) in treating various dermatological conditions and to review current literature on plant‐derived exosomes in medicine and dermatology.

Background

RSCEs possess low cytotoxicity, high biocompatibility, and effective cellular uptake, making them promising agents for dermatological therapies. A literature review included in the introduction and discussion covers the broader role of plant‐derived exosomes, highlighting their therapeutic potential in skin treatment.

Methods

A case‐by‐case analysis was conducted on eight patients with conditions including atopic dermatitis (AD), hyperpigmentation, scarring, wounds, melasma, and antiaging concerns. Each case provided insights into RSCEs' efficacy, with a focus on their antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory properties, as well as specific learning points derived from clinical observations.

Results

The cases demonstrated RSCEs' multifaceted therapeutic effects across different skin conditions, supporting their role in enhancing skin regeneration, wound healing, and reducing hyperpigmentation and scarring. The literature review underscored RSCEs' unique bioactivity, suggesting mechanisms for their observed effects, including anti‐inflammatory and rejuvenating properties, which contributed to favorable clinical outcomes.

Conclusion

RSCEs show potential as a valuable treatment in dermatology, as evidenced by the positive results across multiple skin conditions and their alignment with existing literature on plant‐derived exosomes. This case series emphasizes the need for further randomized and controlled clinical trials to confirm these preliminary findings and expand RSCEs' clinical application in dermatology.
Development and Validation of a Novel Model to Discriminate Idiosyncratic Drug‐Induced Liver Injury and Autoimmune Hepatitis
Authors: Wang Yu , Lin Xuhui , Sun Ying , Liu Jimin , Li Jia , Tian Qiuju , Guo Feng , Hu Xiaoli , Wang Liang , Li Pingying , Chen Jingshou , Wang Yan , Ma Zikun , Jia Jidong , Zhang Jing , Zou Zhengsheng , Zhao Xinyan
Published: January 2025

Background and Aim

Discriminating between idiosyncratic drug‐induced liver injury (DILI) and autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is critical yet challenging. We aim to develop and validate a machine learning (ML)‐based model to aid in this differentiation.

Methods

This multicenter cohort study utilised a development set from Beijing Friendship Hospital, with retrospective and prospective validation sets from 10 tertiary hospitals across various regions of China spanning January 2009 to May 2023. Different ML algorithms were tested using 24 routine laboratory parameters. The Shapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) analysis was used to evaluate the contribution of each parameter in the ML model.

Results

A total of 2554 patients (1750 for DILI and 804 for AIH) were included. Using Gradient Boost Decision Tree algorithm, five key parameters—aspartate transaminase, globulin, prealbumin, creatinine and platelet count—were selected to construct the ML model. Consequently, a web‐based tool named Beijing‐AID (BJ‐AID) was developed (http://43.143.153.225:5000/). The BJ‐AID model demonstrated excellent discrimination performance, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of 0.94 (95% CI, 0.902–0.975) in the development set, 0.91 (95% CI, 0.900–0.928) in all external validation sets and 0.93 (95% CI, 0.889–0.974) in a prospective validation set. Notably, the BJ‐AID model also effectively discriminated atypical cases, including drug‐induced autoimmune‐like hepatitis and AIH with the history of drug consumption, achieving an AUROC = 0.85 (95% CI, 0.742–0.949).

Conclusions

We successfully developed and validated a machine learning‐based model, BJ‐AID, which exhibits a strong discrimination performance. BJ‐AID can assist practitioners and hepatologists in diagnosing both typical and atypical cases of DILI and AIH.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT05532345
A Homozygous ATP2A2 Variant Alters Sarcoendoplasmic Reticulum Ca2+‐ATPase 2 Function in Skeletal Muscle and Causes a Novel Vacuolar Myopathy
Authors: Llansó Laura , Ravenscroft Gianina , Aceituno Cristina , Gutiérrez Antonio , Parmar Jevin , Gallano Pia , Caballero‐Ávila Marta , Carbayo Álvaro , Vesperinas Ana , Collet Roger , Blanco Rosa , Laing Nigel , Hove‐Madsen Leif , Gallardo Eduard , Olivé Montse
Published: January 2025

Aims

Sarcoendoplasmic reticulum Ca2+‐ATPase 2 (SERCA2), encoded by ATP2A2, is a key protein involved in intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis. The SERCA2a isoform is predominantly expressed in cardiomyocytes and type I myofibres. Variants in this gene are related to Darier disease, an autosomal dominant dermatologic disorder, but have never been linked to myopathy. We describe four patients suffering from a novel myopathy caused by a homozygous missense variant in ATP2A2.

Methods

We studied a family with four individuals suffering from an adult‐onset skeletal myopathy. We evaluated the clinicopathological phenotype, muscle imaging, and genetic workup including whole genome sequencing and segregation analysis. SERCA2 expression in skeletal muscle was assessed. Functional studies to evaluate Ca2+ handling in patient myotubes in response to electrical stimulation or caffeine exposure were performed.

Results

Four sisters developed slowly progressive proximal weakness in adulthood. Biopsy findings showed small vacuoles restricted to type I myofibres. Ultrastructural analysis showed sarcotubular dilation and autophagic vacuoles. Genome sequencing revealed a homozygous variant in ATP2A2 (c.1117G > A, p.(Glu373Lys)) which segregated with the disease. Immunohistochemistry suggested that there was SERCA2 mislocalisation in patient myofibres. Western blotting did not show changes in the amount of protein. In vitro functional studies revealed delayed sarcoendoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ reuptake in patient myotubes, consistent with an altered pumping capacity of SERCA2 after cell stimulation.

Conclusions

We report a novel adult‐onset vacuolar myopathy caused by a homozygous variant in ATP2A2. Biopsy findings and functional studies demonstrating an impaired function of SERCA2 and consequent Ca2+ dysregulation in slow‐twitch skeletal myofibres highly support the pathogenicity of the variant.
Educational Challenges for Post‐Graduate Nursing Students Throughout the COVID‐19 Pandemic: A Scoping Review
Authors: Wu Chiung‐Jung (Jo) , Chen Shu‐Ming , Ramis Mary‐Anne
Published: January 2025

The COVID‐19 pandemic had immediate impact on nursing students enrolled in postgraduate and post‐registration nursing courses. Some students were required to undertake additional clinical hours and place their studies on hold, while others had clinical experiences and face‐to‐face classes suspended, with online learning modes quickly mobilized. While there have been many reports on the impact and experience of these changes on undergraduate students, limited reports have focused on challenges for nursing students who were registered for practice following completion of their undergraduate studies, and were enrolled in higher degree, postgraduate education programs. A scoping review was conducted to examine the literature reporting on education changes and challenges that occurred during the COVID‐19 pandemic, with specific focus on the postgraduate student learning experience. The review followed reporting guidance by PRISMA‐ScR and was underpinned by JBI methods. Seven databases were searched for relevant citations, published in any language, between 2019 and 2022. A protocol was registered on Open Science Framework. From 4207 citations retrieved, 14 studies were included focusing specifically on postgraduate student experiences and/or impact following curriculum changes from the pandemic. These studies included 2476 graduate students across various courses. Findings included mixed responses to e‐learning and changes in clinical environments, and with additional concerns such as financial stress, mental health needs and basic food needs reported. Inequity in resources and training was also highlighted. The few studies found to focus specifically on this cohort is a notable finding and highlights a need for further research specific to post‐graduate nursing students' educational needs.
Integrating Formal and Relational Contracting: The Link Between Network Structure and Contract Design in Interlocal Collaboration Agreements
Authors: Gutiérrez‐Meave Raúl , Zhang Shuwen , Carr Jered B. , Siciliano Michael D.
Published: January 2025

Local governments increasingly rely on contractual relationships with third parties for public service delivery, blending formal agreements with relational mechanisms to reduce risks and uncertainties. While most research on these contracts has focused on relationships between two parties, this work adopts a network perspective to analyze how the structure of these networks—especially close‐knit connections—influences contract design. We analyzed 6576 agreements between local governments in Iowa related to public safety from 2007 to 2017 and selected 300 to qualitatively code for contractual provisions. Our findings show that when there are strong shared connections between third parties, contracts tend to be less formal. These results expand the typical focus on two‐party relationships, showing how larger networks can shape the balance between formal and relational contracts in public service management.
Traces of Earthquake: Traumatic Life Experiences and Their Effects on Volunteer Nurses in the Earthquake Zone–An Interpretative Phenomenological Study
Authors: Celebi Cakiroglu Oya , Tuncer Unver Gamze , Cakiroglu Suleyman
Published: January 2025

Introduction

It is crucial to understand the effects that traumatic events related to natural disasters have on individuals in as much detail as possible. However, the literature investigating the traumatic life experiences of nurses, who play a key role in disaster management, is still limited.

Objective

The aim of this study was to explore in depth the traumatic life experiences of volunteer nurses who participated in relief efforts after two major earthquakes in the southeastern region of Türkiye.

Methods

This qualitative study was conducted using a phenomenological design. The study sample consisted of 16 nurses selected by the purposive and snowball sampling methods. The data were evaluated using interpretative phenomenological analysis in the Maxqda 2020 program.

Results

Four themes were generated: (1) shocking facts, (2) coping methods, (3) traumatic stress reactions, and (4) traumatic growth.

Conclusion

While traumatic life experiences in the earthquake area led to acute stress reactions in the volunteer nurses, these experiences also contributed to their traumatic growth and development. Healthcare managers and policymakers should develop comprehensive strategies and intervention programs to safeguard the mental health of nurses in the context of natural disasters. It may also be useful to improve clinical education programs and support systems by reviewing international policies and procedures.
Unveiling the Immune Landscape of Delirium through Single‐Cell RNA Sequencing and Machine Learning: Towards Precision Diagnosis and Therapy
Authors: Shi Yingna , Xu Peipei
Published: January 2025

Background

Postoperative delirium (POD) poses significant clinical challenges regarding its diagnosis and treatment. Identifying biomarkers that can predict and diagnose POD is crucial for improving patient outcomes.

Methods

To explore potential biomarkers for POD, we conducted bulk RNA sequencing (bulk‐seq) on peripheral blood samples from POD patients and healthy controls. The expression levels of genes downstream of the phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K‐Akt) signalling pathway were analysed. We then validated the expression of these genes using quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (RT‐qPCR) in an independent cohort of 30 healthy controls and 30 POD patients. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis and six machine learning models were used to evaluate the predictive and diagnostic value of these genes. Additionally, single‐cell RNA sequencing (scRNA‐seq) was performed to validate gene expression in specific subsets of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), including T‐cells, B‐cells, natural killer (NK) cells, dendritic cells (DCs), and monocytes.

Results

Bulk‐seq revealed increased expression of genes downstream of the PI3K‐Akt signalling pathway, specifically CHRM2, IL6, NOS3, NGF, and IL6R, in the peripheral blood of POD patients compared to healthy controls. Conversely, the expression of IGF1 was significantly decreased. RT‐qPCR validation confirmed these findings. ROC analysis and machine learning models indicated that these genes are useful for predicting and diagnosing POD. scRNA‐seq further validated the expression of these genes in specific PBMC subsets, including T‐cells, B‐cells, NK cells, DCs, and monocytes, with results consistent with the bulk‐seq and RT‐qPCR data.

Conclusions

The abnormal activation of the PI3K‐Akt signalling pathway in T‐cells, B‐cells, NK cells, DCs, and monocytes may serve as potential biomarkers for predicting and diagnosing POD. These findings could inform the development of novel therapeutic strategies for managing POD.
Machine learning‐enabled risk prediction of self‐neglect among community‐dwelling older adults in China
Authors: Li Teng‐fei , Xu Yuan , Li Jian‐wei , He Ye‐ke , Liang Yu‐ting , Jiang Guo‐qing , Huang Fen , Sun Ye‐huan , Qin Qi‐rong , Li Jie
Published: January 2025

Background

Elder self‐neglect (ESN) is usually ignored as a private problem and impairs the health outcomes of older adults. It is essential to construct a robust and efficient tool for risk prediction which can better detect and prevent self‐neglect among older adults.

Methods

This study included 2494 study participants from the Ma'anshan Healthy Ageing Cohort (MHAC). First, the group‐based trajectory model (GBTM) was used to estimate ESN development trajectory groups. Then, feature selection methods were used to select variables; after that, we compared six machine learning models (Decision Tree Classifier (DT), K‐Nearest Neighbour (KNN), Logistic Regression (LR), Random Forest (RF), Support Vector Machine (SVM) and XGBoost (XGB)). In addition, Synthetic Minority Oversampling Technique (SMOTE) is used to address the data imbalance problem.

Results

The results show that the ESN can be defined as two trajectory groups (rising and stable). After feature selection, the final model contains eight predictors. The area under the curve (AUC) of the raw dataset was 0.637–0.769. In the dataset with SMOTE, the AUC was 0.635–0.765 and RF was the optimal model. The top five most important characteristics were quality of life, psychological resilience, social support, education, and income.

Conclusions

The RF developed in this study may be considered a simple and scientific aid in the risk prediction of self‐neglect among community‐dwelling old adults.
Advocacy coalitions and the co‐production of anti‐corruption policy in Botswana: A discourse network analysis
Authors: Omotoye Abiodun Marumo Tito , Holtzhausen Natasja
Published: January 2025

The advocacy coalition framework (ACF) has provided a sound theoretical lens to better understand dynamic and complex policy issues for over three decades. Yet, its application in non‐Western contexts remains scant. This article focuses on two critical variables of the ACF—advocacy coalitions and policy core beliefs—to analyze the patterns of interaction that occurred between anti‐corruption policy actors in the passage leading to the development of one of Botswana's most recent anti‐corruption laws—the Declaration of Assets and Liabilities Act (DALA). The study relied on secondary data (policy statements and positions [n = 368]) retrieved from various sources such as parliamentary transcripts (Hansard) and mainstream media (n = 149). The results of the discourse network analysis revealed several types of coalitions that emerged in the DALA policy sub‐system. In addition to highlighting the significance of collaborative efforts and the exchange of ideas between different policy actors, the study contributes to the ACF literature by unpacking the role of advocacy coalitions in an understudied and underrepresented context.
Phylogeny of euophryine jumping spiders from ultra‐conserved elements, with evidence on the intersexual coevolution of genitalia (Araneae: Salticidae: Euophryini)
Authors: Li Zhaoyi , Zhang Feng , Zhang Wenqiang , Marathe Kiran , Maddison Wayne P. , Zhang Junxia
Published: January 2025

Knowledge of phylogeny is required to understand the evolution of highly diverse groups such as the euophryine jumping spiders, a lineage showing high species and morphological diversity. In this study, we applied a phylogenomic approach using ultra‐conserved elements (UCE) obtained from 145 taxa to infer the phylogeny of euophryine jumping spiders. The results provide a well‐supported phylogenetic framework for Euophryini, especially for the deeper relationships, in which the monophyly of Euophryini, as well as most clades corresponding to a genus or a group of closely related genera, are strongly supported. Additionally, the evolutionary patterns of male embolus length and female copulatory duct length of 117 euophryine species were investigated through ancestral character state reconstruction and phylogenetically independent contrast analyses using the UCE phylogenetic framework. The results suggest strongly that the evolution of the lengths of male embolus and female copulatory duct in Euophryini is positively correlated. The common ancestor of Euophryini likely had relatively short embolus and copulatory duct, followed by repeated lengthening or shortening of both structures in different lineages. Possible mechanisms that may have caused this intersexual coevolution pattern in Euophryini are discussed. This study advances our understandings of the phylogeny, systematics and genitalic evolution of euophryines, providing a solid foundation for future studies on the diversification and evolution of this jumping spider group.
Nocturnal pulse oxygen saturation dynamics at simulated high altitude: Predictive value for acute mountain sickness in healthy men born pre‐term
Authors: Narang Benjamin J. , Manferdelli Giorgio , Millet Grégoire P. , Debevec Tadej
Published: January 2025

The physiological sequelae of pre‐term birth might influence the responses of this population to hypoxia. Moreover, identifying variables associated with development of acute mountain sickness (AMS) remains a key practically significant area of altitude research. We investigated the effects of pre‐term birth on nocturnal oxygen saturation () dynamics and assessed the predictive potential of nocturnal ‐related metrics for morning AMS in 12 healthy adults with gestational age < 32 weeks (pre‐term) and 12 term‐born control participants. Participants spent one night at a simulated altitude of ∼4200 m (normobaric hypoxia; fraction of inspired O2 = 0.141), with nocturnal and heart rate recorded continuously at the fingertip using pulse oximetry and with morning AMS assessed using the Lake Louise scale. Pre‐term and term‐born participants had similar nocturnal mean (mean ± SD; 77% ± 3% vs. 77% ± 4%; P = 0.661), minimum (median[IQR]; 67[4]% vs. 69[5]%; P = 0.223), relative time spent with  < 80% (72% ± 29% vs. 70% ± 27%; P = 0.879) and mean heart rate (79 ± 12 vs. 71 ± 7 beats/min; P = 0.053). However, the increase in between the two halves of the night was blunted with prematurity (−0.12% ± 1.51% vs. 1.11% ± 0.78%; P = 0.021). Moreover, the cumulative relative desaturation‐based hypoxic ‘load’ was higher with prematurity (32[26]%min/h vs. 7[25]%min/h; P = 0.039), underpinned by increased desaturation frequency (69[49] vs. 21[35] counts/h; P = 0.009). Mean , minimum , morning and relative time spent with  < 80% predicted AMS incidence better than a random classifier exclusively in the pre‐term group, with no other variables predictive of AMS in the two groups separately or combined. Overall, pre‐term birth might alter nocturnal dynamics and influence AMS prediction in severe hypoxia.
Distinct myeloid-derived suppressor cell populations in human glioblastoma
Authors: Jackson Christina , Cherry Christopher , Bom Sadhana , Dykema Arbor G. , Wang Rulin , Thompson Elizabeth , Zhang Ming , Li Runzhe , Ji Zhicheng , Hou Wenpin , Zhan Wentao , Zhang Hao , Choi John , Vaghasia Ajay , Hansen Landon , Wang William , Bergsneider Brandon , Jones Kate M. , Rodriguez Fausto , Weingart Jon , Lucas Calixto-Hope , Powell Jonathan , Elisseeff Jennifer , Yegnasubramanian Srinivasan , Lim Michael , Bettegowda Chetan , Ji Hongkai , Pardoll Drew
Published: January 2025

The role of glioma-associated myeloid cells in tumor growth and immune evasion remains poorly understood. We performed single-cell RNA sequencing of immune and tumor cells from 33 gliomas, identifying two distinct myeloid-derived suppressor cell (MDSC) populations in isocitrate dehydrogenase–wild-type (IDT-WT) glioblastoma: an early progenitor MDSC (E-MDSC) population with up-regulation of metabolic and hypoxia pathways and a monocytic MDSC (M-MDSC) population. Spatial transcriptomics demonstrated that E-MDSCs geographically colocalize with metabolic stem-like tumor cells in the pseudopalisading region. Ligand-receptor analysis revealed cross-talk between these cells, where glioma stem-like cells produce chemokines attracting E-MDSCs, which in turn produce growth factors for the tumor cells. This interaction is absent in IDH-mutant gliomas, associated with hypermethylation and repressed gene expression of MDSC-attracting chemokines. Our study elucidates specific MDSCs that may facilitate glioblastoma progression and mediate tumor immunosuppression.
Neuronal-ILC2 interactions regulate pancreatic glucagon and glucose homeostasis
Authors: Šestan Marko , Raposo Bruno , Rendas Miguel , Brea David , Pirzgalska Roksana , Rasteiro Ana , Aliseychik Maria , Godinho Inês , Ribeiro Hélder , Carvalho Tania , Wueest Stephan , Konrad Daniel , Veiga-Fernandes Henrique
Published: January 2025

The immune system shapes body metabolism, while interactions between peripheral neurons and immune cells control tissue homeostasis and immunity. However, whether peripheral neuroimmune interactions orchestrate endocrine system functions remains unexplored. After fasting, mice lacking type 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) displayed disrupted glucose homeostasis, impaired pancreatic glucagon secretion, and inefficient hepatic gluconeogenesis. Additionally, intestinal ILC2s were found in the pancreas, which was dependent on their expression of the adrenergic beta 2 receptor. Targeted activation of catecholaminergic intestinal neurons promoted the accumulation of ILC2s in the pancreas. Our work provides evidence that immune cells can be regulated by neuronal signals in response to fasting, activating an inter-organ communication route that promotes pancreatic endocrine function and regulation of blood glucose levels.
Muscle-derived myostatin is a major endocrine driver of follicle-stimulating hormone synthesis
Authors: Ongaro Luisina , Zhou Xiang , Wang Ying , Schultz Hailey , Zhou Ziyue , Buddle Evan R. S. , Brûlé Emilie , Lin Yeu-Farn , Schang Gauthier , Hagg Adam , Castonguay Roselyne , Liu Yewei , Su Gloria H. , Seidah Nabil G. , Ray Kevin C. , Karp Seth J. , Boehm Ulrich , Ruf-Zamojski Frederique , Sealfon Stuart C. , Walton Kelly L. , Lee Se-Jin , Bernard Daniel J.
Published: January 2025

Myostatin is a paracrine myokine that regulates muscle mass in a variety of species, including humans. In this work, we report a functional role for myostatin as an endocrine hormone that directly promotes pituitary follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) synthesis and thereby ovarian function in mice. Previously, this FSH-stimulating role was attributed to other members of the transforming growth factor–β family, the activins. Our results both challenge activin’s eponymous role in FSH synthesis and establish an unexpected endocrine axis between skeletal muscle and the pituitary gland. Our data also suggest that efforts to antagonize myostatin to increase muscle mass may have unintended consequences on fertility.
Global increase in the occurrence and impact of multiyear droughts
Authors: Chen Liangzhi , Brun Philipp , Buri Pascal , Fatichi Simone , Gessler Arthur , McCarthy Michael James , Pellicciotti Francesca , Stocker Benjamin , Karger Dirk Nikolaus
Published: January 2025

Persistent multiyear drought (MYD) events pose a growing threat to nature and humans in a changing climate. We identified and inventoried global MYDs by detecting spatiotemporally contiguous climatic anomalies, showing that MYDs have become drier, hotter, and led to increasingly diminished vegetation greenness. The global terrestrial land affected by MYDs has increased at a rate of 49,279 ± 14,771 square kilometers per year from 1980 to 2018. Temperate grasslands have exhibited the greatest declines in vegetation greenness during MYDs, whereas boreal and tropical forests have had comparably minor responses. With MYDs becoming more common, this global quantitative inventory of the occurrence, severity, trend, and impact of MYDs provides an important benchmark for facilitating more effective and collaborative preparedness toward mitigation of and adaptation to such extreme events.
Australopithecus
at Sterkfontein did not consume substantial mammalian meat
Authors: Lüdecke Tina , Leichliter Jennifer N. , Stratford Dominic , Sigman Daniel M. , Vonhof Hubert , Haug Gerald H. , Bamford Marion K. , Martínez-García Alfredo
Published: January 2025

Incorporation of animal-based foods into early hominin diets has been hypothesized to be a major catalyst of many important evolutionary events, including brain expansion. However, direct evidence of the onset and evolution of animal resource consumption in hominins remains elusive. The nitrogen-15 to nitrogen-14 ratio of collagen provides trophic information about individuals in modern and geologically recent ecosystems (<200,000 years ago), but diagenetic loss of this organic matter precludes studies of greater age. By contrast, nitrogen in tooth enamel is preserved for millions of years. We report enamel-bound organic nitrogen and carbonate carbon isotope measurements of Sterkfontein Member 4 mammalian fauna, including seven
Australopithecus
specimens. Our results suggest a variable but plant-based diet (largely C
3
) for these hominins. Therefore, we argue that
Australopithecus
at Sterkfontein did not engage in regular mammalian meat consumption.
Stereomicrostructure-regulated biodegradable adhesives
Authors: Zhang Zhen , Quinn Ethan C. , Kenny Jacob K. , Grigoropoulos Alexandra , DesVeaux Jason S. , Chen Tiffany , Zhou Li , Xu Ting , Beckham Gregg T. , Chen Eugene Y.-X.
Published: January 2025

Commercial adhesives are petroleum-based thermoset networks or nonbiodegradable thermoplastic hot melts, making them ideal targets for replacement by biodegradable alternatives. Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (P3HB) is a biorenewable and biodegradable alternative to conventional plastics, but microbial P3HB, which has a stereoperfect stereomicrostructure, exhibits no adhesion. In this study, by elucidating the fundamental relationship between chemocatalytically engineered P3HB stereomicrostructures and adhesion properties, we found that biodegradable syndio-rich P3HB exhibits high adhesion strength and outperforms common commercial adhesives, whereas syndiotactic, isotactic, or iso-rich P3HB shows no measurable adhesion. The syndio-rich stereomicrostructure brings about desired thermomechanical and viscoelastic properties of P3HB that enable strong adhesion to a range of substrates tested, including aluminum, steel, glass, and wood, and its performance is insensitive to molar mass and reprocessing or reuse.
Mechanically interlocked two-dimensional polymers
Authors: Bardot Madison I. , Weyhrich Cody W. , Shi Zixiao , Traxler Michael , Stern Charlotte L. , Cui Jinlei , Muller David A. , Becker Matthew L. , Dichtel William R.
Published: January 2025

Mechanical bonds arise between molecules that contain interlocked subunits, such as one macrocycle threaded through another. Within polymers, these linkages will confer distinctive mechanical properties and other emergent behaviors, but polymerizations that form mechanical bonds efficiently and use simple monomeric building blocks are rare. In this work, we introduce a solid-state polymerization in which one monomer infiltrates crystals of another to form a macrocycle and mechanical bond at each repeat unit of a two-dimensional (2D) polymer. This mechanically interlocked 2D polymer is formed as a layered solid that is readily exfoliated in common organic solvents, enabling spectroscopic characterization and atomic-resolution imaging using advanced electron microscopy techniques. The 2D mechanically interlocked polymer is easily prepared on multigram scales, which, along with its solution processibility, enables the facile fabrication of composite fibers with Ultem that exhibit enhanced stiffness and strength.
Nonalloyed α-phase formamidinium lead triiodide solar cells through iodine intercalation
Authors: Zhang Yu , Chen Yanrun , Liu Guilin , Wu Yuetong , Guo Zhenyu , Fan Rundong , Li Kailin , Liu Huifen , Zhao Yepin , Kodalle Tim , Chen Yihua , Zhu Cheng , Bai Yang , Chen Qi , Zhou Huanping
Published: January 2025

Formamidinium lead triiodide (FAPbI
3
) is considered the most promising composition for high-performing single-junction solar cells. However, nonalloyed α-FAPbI
3
is metastable with respect to the photoinactive δ-phase. We have developed a kinetic modulation strategy to fabricate high-quality and stable nonalloyed α-FAPbI
3
films, assisted by cogenetic volatile iodine intercalation and decalation. The intercalation of iodine facilitated the formation of corner-sharing Pb-I framework building blocks and reduced the kinetic barrier for α-FAPbI
3
formation, whereas the iodine decalation improved the final perovskite film quality in terms of composition purity and overall homogeneity. Solar cells based on this nonalloyed α-FAPbI
3
(free of other extrinsic composition ions) achieved a power conversion efficiency of >24%. The devices also exhibited excellent durability, retaining 99% of their original power conversion efficiency after operating for more than 1100 hours at 85° ± 5°C under illumination.
Rooting out racial prejudices
The Science of Racism: Everything You Need to Know but Probably Don’t—Yet
Keon West
Picador, 2025. 352 pp.
Authors: Goodman Alan
Published: January 2025

A data-driven portrait of racism exposes the persistent reality of racial biases
Myostatin’s flex on the reproductive hormone axis
Authors: Steenwinkel Tessa E. , Pangas Stephanie A.
Published: January 2025

A muscle hormone controls the mammalian reproductive system
“Identity politics” is economic policy
Authors: Pande Rohini
Published: January 2025

In the wake of the November 2024 US election,
several
commentators
have suggested that the US Democratic Party abandon its commitment to so-called “identity politics,” which they identify as elitist, condescending, and divisive. They argue that rather than focusing on these “cultural” issues, progressives should prioritize economic concerns. Yet identity politics, at a fundamental level, is driven, and dominated, by economic concerns. Growing bodies of social science evidence make increasingly clear how identity politics—in terms of ensuring equal rights for minorities and women in the workplace and in the world and in terms of affirmative action to ensure equity of opportunity—is good economic policy. Opposition to identity politics is often built not by the culturally and ethnically diverse working class who benefit but by lower-ability economic elites who feel that their advantage is under threat. By making it harder for such entrenched elites to retain power, affirmative action may actually improve both the quality of individuals promoted in an ostensibly meritocratic system and overall economic outcomes.
In Other Journals
Authors: Smith Keith T. , Uzogara Ekeoma , Kelly Priscilla N. , McCartney Melissa , Hurtley Stella M. , Szuromi Phil , Seale Madeleine
Published: January 2025

Editors’ selections from the current scientific literature
‘Safe harbor’ gene therapy approach may have first success
Authors: Kaiser Jocelyn
Published: January 2025

An obscure gene editor was used to restore a missing liver enzyme in an infant with a devastating metabolic condition
Complete genome sequence of bacteriophage Godfather isolated from
Microbacterium foliorum
Authors: Hutchings Joshua , Bower Lauren , Collum Ethan , Hester Timothy , Hunter Melody , Kelly Chaney , Reynolds Luke , Moore Cole , Edwards Dustin
Published: January 2025

Microbacteriophage Godfather was collected from a soil sample in Stephenville, Texas. The 17,452-bp double-stranded genome contains 24 protein-coding genes. The genome shares >99% nucleotide sequence identity with cluster EE microbacteriophages Scamander, Danno, Kojax4, and Burgy.
$$c_1$$-Cohomological Rigidity for Smooth Toric Fano Varieties of Picard Number Two
Authors: Cho Yunhyung , Lee Eunjeong , Masuda Mikiya , Park Seonjeong
Published: January 2025

The
$$c_1$$
-cohomological rigidity conjecture states that two smooth toric Fano varieties are isomorphic as varieties if there is a
$$c_1$$
-preserving isomorphism between their integral cohomology rings. In this paper, we confirm the conjecture for smooth toric Fano varieties of Picard number
$$2$$
.