bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sustained Increase in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease Incidence Across the South West United Kingdom Over the Last 10 Years
Authors: Green Zachary , Ashton James J , Rodrigues Astor , Spray Christine , Howarth Lucy , Mallikarjuna Akshatha , Chanchlani Neil , Hart James , Bakewell Christopher , Lee Kwang Yang , Wahid Amar , Beattie R Mark
Published: February 2024

Background

Pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (pIBD) incidence has increased over the last 25 years. We aim to report contemporaneous trends across the South West United Kingdom.

Methods

Data were provided from centers covering the South West United Kingdom (Bristol, Oxford, Cardiff, Exeter, and Southampton), with a total area at-risk population (<18 years of age) of 2 947 534. Cases were retrieved from 2013 to 2022. Incident rates were reported per 100 000 at-risk population, with temporal trends analyzed through correlation. Subgroup analysis was undertaken for age groups (0-6, 6-11, and 12-17 years of age), sex, and disease subtype. Choropleth maps were created for local districts.

Results

In total, 2497 pIBD cases were diagnosed between 2013 and 2022, with a mean age of 12.6 years (38.7% female). Diagnosis numbers increased from 187 to 376, with corresponding incidence rates of 6.0 per 100 000 population per year (2013) to 12.4 per 100 000 population per year (2022) (b = 0.918, P < .01). Female rates increased from 5.1 per 100 000 population per year in 2013 to 11.0 per 100 000 population per year in 2022 (b = 0.865, P = .01). Male rates increased from 5.7 per 100 000 population per year to 14.4 per 100 000 population per year (b = 0.832, P = .03). Crohn’s disease incidence increased from 3.1 per 100 000 population per year to 6.3 per 100 000 population per year (b = 0.897, P < .01). Ulcerative colitis increased from 2.3 per 100 000 population per year to 4.3 per 100 000 population per year (b = 0.813, P = .04). Inflammatory bowel disease unclassified also increased, from 0.6 per 100 000 population per year to 1.8 per 100 000 population per year (b = 0.851, P = .02). Statistically significant increases were seen in those ≥12 to 17 years of age, from 11.2 per 100 000 population per year to 24.6 per 100 000 population per year (b = 0.912, P < .01), and the 7- to 11-year-old age group, with incidence rising from 4.4 per 100 000 population per year to 7.6 per 100 000 population per year (b = 0.878, P = .01). There was no statistically significant increase in very early onset inflammatory bowel disease (≤6 years of age) (b = 0.417, P = .231).

Conclusions

We demonstrate significant increases in pIBD incidence across a large geographical area including multiple referral centers. Increasing incidence has implications for service provision for services managing pIBD.
Mid-life employment trajectories and subsequent memory function and rate of decline in rural South Africa, 2000–22
Authors: Yu Xuexin , Kabudula Chodziwadziwa W , Wagner Ryan G , Bassil Darina T , Farrell Meagan T , Tollman Stephen M , Kahn Kathleen , Berkman Lisa F , Rosenberg Molly S , Kobayashi Lindsay C
Published: February 2024

Aim

To investigate mid-life employment trajectories in relation to later-life memory function and rate of decline in rural South Africa.

Methods

Data from the Agincourt Health and Socio-Demographic Surveillance System were linked to the ‘Health and Ageing in Africa: A Longitudinal Study of an INDEPTH Community in South Africa’ (HAALSI) in rural Agincourt, South Africa (N = 3133). Employment was assessed every 4 years over 2000–12 as being employed (0, 1, 2 and ≥3 time points), being employed in a higher-skill occupation (0, 1, 2 and ≥3 time points) and dynamic employment trajectories identified using sequence analysis. Latent memory z-scores were assessed over 2014–22. Mixed-effects linear regression models were fitted to examine the associations of interest.

Results

Sustained mid-life employment from 2000–12 (β = 0.052, 95% CI: -0.028 to 0.132, 1 vs 0 time points; β = 0.163, 95% CI: 0.077 to 0.250, 2 vs 0 time points; β = 0.212, 95% CI: 0.128 to 0.296, ≥3 vs 0 time points) and greater time spent in a higher-skill occupation (β = 0.077, 95% CI: -0.020 to 0.175, 1 vs 0 time points; β = 0.241, 95% CI: 0.070 to 0.412, 2 vs 0 time points; β = 0.361, 95% CI: 0.201 to 0.520, ≥3 vs 0 time points) were associated with higher memory scores in 2014/15, but not subsequent rate of memory decline. Moving from a lower-skill to higher-skill occupation was associated with higher memory function, but a faster rate of decline over 2014–22.

Conclusions

Sustained mid-life employment, particularly in higher-skill occupations, may contribute to later-life memory function in this post-Apartheid South African setting.
Biological carbon storage potential of Guiera senegalensis J.F.Gmel. stands in Central Africa: a case study from Cameroon
Authors: Awé Djongmo Victor , Noiha Noumi Valery , Vroh Bi Tra Aimé , Zapfack Louis
Published: February 2024

The present study aimed to evaluate the biological carbon storage potential of Guiera senegalensis stands in Cameroon. Sampling was done in 180 plots of 2500 m2 (50 m × 50 m) (40 ha) in the G. senegalensis stands. The destructive and non-destructive method was used to estimate the amount of carbon in different biomasses. A laboratory analysis was done to assess soil carbon by the Walkley and Black method. The experimental device installed is a split plot with 180 repetitions. The result reveals that the aboveground carbon is ≥5.20 ± 0.65 Mg C/ha in the two regions. The belowground carbon is ≥1.48 ± 0.23 Mg C/ha in the two regions. The herbaceous carbon is ≥2.03 ± 0.00 Mg C/ha in the two regions. The litter carbon is ≥0.36 ± 0.04 Mg C/ha in the two regions. The dead wood carbon is ≥0.47 ± 0.00 Mg C/ha in the two regions. The fine roots carbon is ≥0.10 ± 0.00 Mg C/ha in the two regions. The soil carbon stock is ≥5.45 ± 0.02 Mg C/ha in the two regions. The total carbon stocks ranged from 16.83 ± 1.03–64.76 ± 2.71 to 19.95 ± 1.33–80.65 ± 4.55 Mg C/ha in the Far North and North regions, respectively. CO2 emissions are ≥61.76 ± 3.78 Mg CO2/ha in the two regions. These results therefore confirm the contributing role of G. senegalensis stands studied in the fight against the mitigation of climate change in Cameroon.
The Role of Consent Form Design Under GDPR: A Survey Experiment
Authors: van Erkel Patrick Folkert Anton , Hopmann David Nicolas , Skovsgaard Morten , Terren Ludovic
Published: February 2024

The present research note examines how design features of consent forms impact response rates, privacy concerns, and respondents’ knowledge of their rights. The 2018 implementation of the General Data Protection Regulation, also known as General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), has triggered widespread concern in the scientific community across the European Union. The concern is that the GDPR requirements for the processing of personal data may introduce severe limitations on certain types of research. A key requirement of the GDPR is that researchers must obtain informed consent from individuals whose personal data will be processed as part of the research. Consent must be freely given, specific, informed, unambiguous, and given actively via a clear affirmative action. However, in practice, there is a wide variation in the interpretation and implementation of the GDPR. Therefore, this study aims to investigate how to ensure informed consent without compromising the needs of academic research. To do so, we fielded a survey experiment with a 2 × 2 × 2 between-subjects design, varying key dimensions of the survey consent form. The results of this study document the advantages of using condensed information and in-text legal references (as opposed to a hyperlink).
DOCK2 Deficiency Causes Defects in Antiviral T-Cell Responses and Impaired Control of Herpes Simplex Virus Infection
Authors: Randall Katrina L , Flesch Inge E A , Mei Yan , Miosge Lisa A , Aye Racheal , Yu Zhijia , Domaschenz Heather , Hollett Natasha A , Russell Tiffany A , Stefanovic Tijana , Wong Yik Chun , Seneviratne Sandali , Ballard Fiona , Hernandez Gallardo Raquel , Croft Sarah N , Goodnow Christopher C , Bertram Edward M , Enders Anselm , Tscharke David C
Published: February 2024

The expanding number of rare immunodeficiency syndromes offers an opportunity to understand key genes that support immune defense against infectious diseases. However, analysis of these in patients is complicated by their treatments and comorbid infections, requiring the use of mouse models for detailed investigations. We developed a mouse model of DOCK2 immunodeficiency and herein demonstrate that these mice have delayed clearance of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infections. We also uncovered a critical, cell-intrinsic role of DOCK2 in the priming of antiviral CD8+ T cells and in particular their initial expansion, despite apparently normal early activation of these cells. When this defect was overcome by priming in vitro, DOCK2-deficient CD8+ T cells were surprisingly protective against HSV-1 disease, albeit not as effectively as wild-type cells. These results shed light on a cellular deficiency that is likely to impact antiviral immunity in DOCK2-deficient patients.
Large Clusters of Invasive emm49 Group A Streptococcus Identified Within Arizona Health Care Facilities Through Statewide Genomic Surveillance System, 2019–2021
Authors: Yaglom Hayley D , Bhattarai Rachana , Lemmer Darrin , Rust Laura , Ridenour Chase , Chorbi Kaitlyn , Kim Elizabeth , Centner Heather , Sheridan Krystal , Jasso-Selles Daniel , Erickson Daryn E , French Chris , Bowers Jolene R , Valentine Michael , Francis Drew , Hepp Crystal M , Brady Shane , Komatsu Kenneth K , Engelthaler David M
Published: February 2024

A statewide genomic surveillance system for invasive Group A Streptococcus was implemented in Arizona in June 2019, resulting in 1046 isolates being submitted for genomic analysis to characterize emm types and identify transmission clusters. Eleven of the 32 identified distinct emm types comprised >80% of samples, with 29.7% of all isolates being typed as emm49 (and its genetic derivative emm151). Phylogenetic analysis initially identified an emm49 genomic cluster of 4 isolates that rapidly expanded over subsequent months (June 2019 to February 2020). Public health investigations identified epidemiologic links with 3 different long-term care facilities, resulting in specific interventions. Unbiased genomic surveillance allowed for identification and response to clusters that would have otherwise remained undetected.
The Aesthetic Mediation of Cultural Memory: Two Case Studies from Papua New Guinea and Kimberley, Australia
Authors: Mortu Ancuta
Published: February 2024

I offer an analysis of the role of aesthetic value in the formation of cultural memory. More specifically, I examine how cultural memory is formed through cultural artifacts that embody a connection to the past via aesthetic means. My approach is motivated by artifacts from small-scale preindustrial societies, which make it apparent that aesthetic values, rather than being pursued for their own sake alone, enhance other functions, such as maintaining cultural identity and bringing the past into the present. I focus on rock art painting from the Kimberley, Australia, and effigies animated during rituals in New Ireland, Papua New Guinea to argue that, to play a significant role in the formation of cultural memory, aesthetic value must be aligned with implicit conceptions of time which inform the production of artifacts mediating cultural memory. This argument has implications for understanding differences in apprehending memory values and aesthetic values across cultural domains.
The pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics of ceftazidime/avibactam for central nervous system infections caused by carbapenem-resistant Gram-negatives: a prospective study
Authors: Xu Ying , Luo Xuemei , Yuan Binbin , Liang Pei , Liu Ning , Dong Danjiang , Ge Weihong , Gu Qin
Published: February 2024

Objectives

To describe the pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics (PK/PD) of ceftazidime/avibactam in critically ill patients with CNS infections.

Methods

A prospective study of critically ill patients with CNS infections who were treated with ceftazidime/avibactam and the steady-state concentration (Css) of ceftazidime/avibactam in serum and/or CSF was conducted between August 2020 and May 2023. The relationship between PK/PD goal achievement, microbial eradication and the clinical efficacy of ceftazidime/avibactam was evaluated.

Results

Seven patients were finally included. The ceftazidime/avibactam target attainment in plasma was optimal for three, quasi-optimal for one and suboptimal for three. In three patients with CSF drug concentrations measured, ceftazidime/avibactam target attainment in CSF was 100% (3/3), which was optimal. The AUCCSF/serum values were 0.59, 0.44 and 0.35 for ceftazidime and 0.57, 0.53 and 0.51 for avibactam. Of the seven patients, 100% (7/7) were treated effectively, 71.4% (5/7) achieved microbiological eradication, 85.7% (6/7) survived and 14.3% (1/7) did not survive.

Conclusions

The limited clinical data suggest that ceftazidime/avibactam is effective in the treatment of CNS infections caused by MDR Gram-negative bacilli (MDR-GNB), can achieve the ideal drug concentration of CSF, and has good blood–brain barrier penetration.
Moral Hazard Incentives under Formal Insurance and Informal Insurance: Evidence from a Framed Field Experiment
Authors: Nanyiti Aisha , Pamuk Haki
Published: February 2024

This paper explores moral hazard incentives associated with formal and informal insurance. We develop a theoretical model of risky effort that incorporates formal insurance and informal risk sharing, and test model predictions through a real-effort experiment with smallholder farmers in rural Uganda. Consistent with the theory, we find evidence of moral hazard under informal insurance. We, however, do not find evidence of moral hazard under formal insurance in our experiment. Experiencing a bad outcome, however, makes the risk in production more salient to farmers, and they increase their insurance coverage. These results suggest there may be some space for expanding indemnity-based insurance to smallholder farmers through awareness programmes.
Therapeutic strategies targeting cellular senescence for cancer and other diseases
Authors: Wang Xuebing , Fukumoto Takeshi , Noma Ken-ichi
Published: February 2024

Cellular senescence occurs in response to endogenous or exogenous stresses and is characterized by stable cell cycle arrest, alterations in nuclear morphology and secretion of proinflammatory factors, referred to as the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). An increase of senescent cells is associated with the development of several types of cancer and aging-related diseases. Therefore, senolytic agents that selectively remove senescent cells may offer opportunities for developing new therapeutic strategies against such cancers and aging-related diseases. This review outlines senescence inducers and the general characteristics of senescent cells. We also discuss the involvement of senescent cells in certain cancers and diseases. Finally, we describe a series of senolytic agents and their utilization in therapeutic strategies.
Meta-analytic and MaxEnt model prediction, the distribution of the Bactrocera minax (Diptera: Tephritidae), in China under changing climate
Authors: Yang Hongjun , Huang Xu , Yang Yuchuan , Wang Rulin , Xu Danping
Published: February 2024

The Tephritidae family causes damage to fruits in tropical and subtropical regions around the world, with Bactrocera minax Enderlein (Diptera: Tephritidae) widely distributed in China, causing severe economic damage to Chinese citrus. Currently, preventing the rapid spread of B. minax remains an effective strategy to control it as the climate continues to warm in the future. In this context, it is crucial to understand the potential geographic range of B. minax under climate change. We used meta-analysis to assess the survival of Tephritidae insects under temperature stress. We also used the maximum entropy (MaxEnt) model to predict the suitable regions and migration trajectories of B. minax in China under current and future climatic conditions. Through comprehensive analysis of the experimental data, we found that the survival rate of Tephritidae insects in the suitable temperature range showed an increasing trend with the increase in warming extent. Using the MaxEnt model, we observed that the highly suitable area, as well as the moderately suitable area of B. minax, were expanding in all 3 future climate scenarios, with the distribution moving toward the high latitude region and the coastal region of China. Our results also indicate that temperature and precipitation contribute more to the model in the current year. Combining multiexperiment data, our study demonstrates that the potential distribution of B. minax in China will expand under future climate warming scenarios, and these predictions will provide important information for monitoring B. minax and informing managers in developing control strategies.
Exploring the geological structure of a large-scale landslide using semi-airborne TEM in the Karst area of southwest China
Authors: Wu Junjie , Zhi Qingquan , Wang Xingchun , Deng Xiaohong , Chen Xiaodong , Zhao Yi , Huang Yue , Liu Yuge , Xiao Du
Published: February 2024

The karst strata in the southwestern mountainous areas of China are extensively developed, creating a fragile geological environment. Landslide geological disasters occur frequently in these areas due to high annual rainfall, concentrated time periods, and frequent human engineering activities. Conventional ground geophysical methods face challenges in complex terrains, making it difficult to quickly and reliably obtain underground structures in landslide-prone areas. The semi-airborne transient electromagnetic method (SATEM) combines ground-based transmission and airborne reception of electromagnetic responses. This method, characterized by large emission magnetic moment and rapid data collection in the air, offers advantages in detecting deep geological structures in complex terrain areas. This article presents the application of a newly developed loop source SATEM system, integrated with multi-rotor unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), to conduct deep geological structure detection experiments on a large-scale landslide. The inversion results clearly depict the spatial distribution of the Feixianguan Formation and Longtan Formation, as well as vertical fractures developed in the strata due to underground coal mining. The detection test demonstrates the applicability of the SATEM method in detecting underground structures in Karst Plateau special landform areas, providing a new detection approach for similar regions.
United by conflict: Convergent signatures of parental conflict in angiosperms and placental mammals
Authors: Soliman Hagar K , Coughlan Jenn M
Published: February 2024

Endosperm in angiosperms and placenta in eutherians are convergent innovations for efficient embryonic nutrient transfer. Despite advantages, this reproductive strategy incurs metabolic costs that maternal parents disproportionately shoulder, leading to potential inter-parental conflict over optimal offspring investment. Genomic imprinting—parent-of-origin-biased gene expression—is fundamental for endosperm and placenta development and has convergently evolved in angiosperms and mammals, in part, to resolve parental conflict. Here, we review the mechanisms of genomic imprinting in these taxa. Despite differences in the timing and spatial extent of imprinting, these taxa exhibit remarkable convergence in the molecular machinery and genes governing imprinting. We then assess the role of parental conflict in shaping evolution within angiosperms and eutherians using four criteria: 1) Do differences in the extent of sibling relatedness cause differences in the inferred strength of parental conflict? 2) Do reciprocal crosses between taxa with different inferred histories of parental conflict exhibit parent-of-origin growth effects? 3) Are these parent-of-origin growth effects caused by dosage-sensitive mechanisms and do these loci exhibit signals of positive selection? 4) Can normal development be restored by genomic perturbations that restore stoichiometric balance in the endosperm/placenta? Although we find evidence for all criteria in angiosperms and eutherians, suggesting that parental conflict may help shape their evolution, many questions remain. Additionally, myriad differences between the two taxa suggest that their respective biologies may shape how/when/where/to what extent parental conflict manifests. Lastly, we discuss outstanding questions, highlighting the power of comparative work in quantifying the role of parental conflict in evolution.
Cancer risks among first-degree relatives of women with a genetic predisposition to breast cancer
Authors: Xiao Qingyang , Mao Xinhe , Ploner Alexander , Grassmann Felix , Rodriguez Juan , Eriksson Mikael , Hall Per , Czene Kamila
Published: February 2024

Background

Associations between germline alterations in women and cancer risks among their relatives are largely unknown.

Methods

We identified women from 2 Swedish cohorts Karolinska Mammography Project for Risk Prediction of Breast Cancer (KARMA) and prevalent KARMA (pKARMA), including 28 362 women with genotyping data and 13 226 with sequencing data. Using Swedish Multi-Generation Register, we linked these women to 133 389 first-degree relatives. Associations between protein-truncating variants in 8 risk genes and breast cancer polygenic risk score in index women and cancer risks among their relatives were modeled via Cox regression.

Results

Female relatives of index women who were protein-truncating variant carriers in any of the 8 risk genes had an increased breast cancer risk compared with those of noncarriers (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.85, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.52 to 2.27), with the strongest association found for protein-truncating variants in BRCA1 and 2. These relatives had a statistically higher risk of early onset than late-onset breast cancer (P = .001). Elevated breast cancer risk was also observed in female relatives of index women with higher polygenic risk score (HR per SD = 1.28, 95% CI = 1.23 to 1.32). The estimated lifetime risk was 22.3% for female relatives of protein-truncating variant carriers and 14.4% for those related to women in the top polygenic risk score quartile. Moreover, relatives of index women with protein-truncating variant presence (HR = 1.30, 95% CI = 1.06 to 1.59) or higher polygenic risk score (HR per SD = 1.04, 95% CI = 1.01 to 1.07) were also at higher risk of nonbreast hereditary breast and ovary cancer syndrome-related cancers.

Conclusions

Protein-truncating variants of risk genes and higher polygenic risk score in index women are associated with an increased risk of breast and other hereditary breast and ovary syndrome–related cancers among relatives.
Use of cancer-directed therapy at the end of life among adolescents and young adults
Authors: Mack Jennifer W , Cernik Colin , Xu Lanfang , Laurent Cecile A , Fisher Lauren , Cannizzaro Nancy , Munneke Julie , Cooper Robert M , Lakin Joshua R , Schwartz Corey M , Casperson Mallory , Altschuler Andrea , Wiener Lori , Kushi Lawrence H , Chao Chun R , Uno Hajime
Published: February 2024

Background

Adolescents and young adults frequently receive chemotherapy near death. We know less about the use of targeted agents and immunotherapy or trends over time.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 1836 adolescents and young adults with cancer who died between 2009 and 2019 after receiving care at 1 of 3 sites (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, and Kaiser Permanente Southern California). We reviewed electronic health data and medical records to examine use of cancer-directed therapy in the last 90 days of life, including chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and investigational drugs.

Results

Over the study period, 35% of adolescents and young adults received chemotherapy in the last 90 days of life; 24% received targeted therapy, 7% immunotherapy, and 5% investigational drugs. Additionally, 56% received at least 1 form of systemic cancer-directed therapy in the last 90 days of life. After adjustment for patient sex, race, ethnicity, age, site of care, diagnosis, and years from diagnosis to death, the proportion of adolescents and young adults receiving targeted therapy (odds ratio [OR] = 1.05 per year of death, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.02 to 1.10; P = .006), immunotherapy (OR = 1.27, 95% CI = 1.18 to 1.38; P < .0001), and any cancer-directed therapy (OR = 1.04, 95% CI = 1.01 to 1.08; P = .01) in the last 90 days of life increased over time.

Conclusions

More than half of adolescents and young adults receive cancer therapy in the last 90 days of life, and use of novel agents such as targeted therapy and immunotherapy is increasing over time. Although some adolescents and young adults may wish to continue cancer therapy while living with advanced disease, efforts are needed to ensure that use of cancer-directed therapy meets preferences of adolescents and young adults approaching death.
Using clinical and genetic risk factors for risk prediction of 8 cancers in the UK Biobank
Authors: Hu Jiaqi , Ye Yixuan , Zhou Geyu , Zhao Hongyu
Published: February 2024

Background

Models with polygenic risk scores and clinical factors to predict risk of different cancers have been developed, but these models have been limited by the polygenic risk score–derivation methods and the incomplete selection of clinical variables.

Methods

We used UK Biobank to train the best polygenic risk scores for 8 cancers (bladder, breast, colorectal, kidney, lung, ovarian, pancreatic, and prostate cancers) and select relevant clinical variables from 733 baseline traits through extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost). Combining polygenic risk scores and clinical variables, we developed Cox proportional hazards models for risk prediction in these cancers.

Results

Our models achieved high prediction accuracy for 8 cancers, with areas under the curve ranging from 0.618 (95% confidence interval = 0.581 to 0.655) for ovarian cancer to 0.831 (95% confidence interval = 0.817 to 0.845) for lung cancer. Additionally, our models could identify individuals at a high risk for developing cancer. For example, the risk of breast cancer for individuals in the top 5% score quantile was nearly 13 times greater than for individuals in the lowest 10%. Furthermore, we observed a higher proportion of individuals with high polygenic risk scores in the early-onset group but a higher proportion of individuals at high clinical risk in the late-onset group.

Conclusion

Our models demonstrated the potential to predict cancer risk and identify high-risk individuals with great generalizability to different cancers. Our findings suggested that the polygenic risk score model is more predictive for the cancer risk of early-onset patients than for late-onset patients, while the clinical risk model is more predictive for late-onset patients. Meanwhile, combining polygenic risk scores and clinical risk factors has overall better predictive performance than using polygenic risk scores or clinical risk factors alone.
A dynamic model of professional legitimacy: Linking professional logics and jurisdictional threats in the corporate credit rating industry
Authors: Apkarian Jacob
Published: February 2024

Research on the professions argues that inference and routinization are key components of professional practice associated with professional legitimacy. However, the literature fails to provide a mechanism linking these practices to legitimacy. The logic of professionalism literature successfully links professional practices to legitimacy via guiding logics, but ignores the importance of routinized practices in the legitimation process. Furthermore, in explaining the prevalence of routinization versus inference in professional occupations, the organizational literature ignores their contributions to legitimacy and exclusively focuses on their contributions to efficiency and effectiveness in the production process. In this article, I propose to resolve all three issues first by interpreting the professional processes of inference and routinization as deriving from distinct professional logics. As such, they provide professionals with unique ideological rationales for legitimacy buffering them from two specific jurisdictional threats. With data from the corporate credit rating industry, I demonstrate that professional firms shift the degree to which they emphasize inference versus routinization in their production process in response to these jurisdictional threats. Finally, I present a model explaining how professional industries rely on a dynamic combination of inference and routinization to maintain a delicate balance over their claimed jurisdictions. This model links the practices of inference and routinization to professional legitimacy via institutional logics, brings greater attention to the importance that routinization plays in the logic of professionalism, and provides a more comprehensive explanation as to why the relative salience of inference and routinization varies within and between professional industries over time.
A 20-year misdiagnosis: a rare presentation of a basal cell carcinoma
Authors: Liyanage Dinithi , Clough Richard , Pandit Deepa , McKirdy Stuart
Published: February 2024

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common form of skin cancer. BCCs are seldom reported on the sole of the foot due to a lack of exposure to UV radiation which is the main risk factor. We present a brief literature review and case report of a 42-year-old female with a non-resolving lesion on the mid-arch of her left foot over a 20-year period. Tissue diagnosis identified the lesion as a BCC. Disease-free control was achieved but the patient experienced significant morbidity resulting in three separate procedures to diagnose, excise and reconstruct the defect. When evaluating lesions on the sole clinicians should consider BCC as a differential, particularly in those which do not respond to initial treatment.
A case of delayed dyspnea after corrective posterior fusion of the middle and lower cervical spine for dropped head syndrome
Authors: Sato Shinsuke , Nakao Yusuke , Kumaki Shingo , Sano Shigeo
Published: February 2024

Dyspnea has been reported to occur following posterior occipitocervical fusion. However, there are no documented cases of dyspnea following posterior fixation of the middle and lower cervical spine without posterior occipitocervical fusion. An 80-year-old woman underwent corrective fusion from T4 to the ilium for kyphoscoliosis. Sixteen months later, the patient developed cervical kyphosis (dropped head syndrome) with proximal junctional kyphosis, leading to a pedicle subtraction osteotomy at T4 and an extended fixation to C2. On the sixth postoperative day, the patient experienced respiratory arrest, prompting a reoperation to reduce cervical lordosis, ultimately resolving the respiratory dysfunction. Excessive correction of cervical kyphosis should be avoided to prevent the occurrence of postoperative dyspnea, even in cases where posterior occipitocervical fusion has not been performed.
Surgical correction of multiple renoduodenal fistulas due to chronic pyelonephritis: a case report and literature review
Authors: Jones Amber L , Braden Lindsey A , Hillyer Shahab P
Published: February 2024

Renoduodenal fistulas are a rare and uncommon phenomenon that account for ˂1% of those found between the urinary and intestinal tracts. Precipitation of this pathologic tract can be caused by chronic inflammation, necrosis, or ischemia. This case illustrates a 72-year-old man presenting with flank pain discovered to have multiple renoduodenal fistulas and our approach that led to the resolution of his symptoms. We review the pathophysiology, management, and effects of these fistulous tracts on renal function. Patients with staghorn calculi should undergo immediate evaluation for removal of the stone. In cases complicated by fistula formation, need for radical nephrectomy should be investigated and surgical repair should be pursued.
Retroperitoneal paraduodenal unicentric Castleman disease: case report and review of the literature
Authors: Intagliata Eva , Vecchio Rosario , Vizzini Clarissa , Villari Loredana , Cacciola Rossella Rosaria , Cacciola Emma , Vecchio Veronica
Published: February 2024

Castleman disease is a rare and benign disorder, characterized by enlarged lymph nodes and angiofollicular lymphoid hyperplasia. We report a case of a 57-year-old male, who was admitted to our surgical department because of a retroperitoneal nodular mass measuring about 4 cm in maximum diameter, incidentally discovered on a radiologic exam performed for the onset of vague abdominal pain with posterior irradiation. The patient was subdue to laparoscopic removal of the mass and no intra- and post-operative complications were recorded. Histologic diagnosis of hyaline-vascular variant of the Castleman disease was confirmed. Only two cases have been found in the literature reporting the paraduodenal unicentric Castleman disease localization like our case. Although rare, the Castleman disease must be considered in the differential diagnosis among all the lymph nodes diseases, for avoiding improper therapies.
Epigenetics and plant hormone dynamics: a functional and methodological perspective
Authors: Rudolf Jiri , Tomovicova Lucia , Panzarova Klara , Fajkus Jiri , Hejatko Jan , Skalak Jan
Published: February 2024

Plant hormones, pivotal regulators of plant growth, development, and response to environmental cues, have recently emerged as central modulators of epigenetic processes governing gene expression and phenotypic plasticity. This review addresses the complex interplay between plant hormones and epigenetic mechanisms, highlighting the diverse methodologies that have been harnessed to decipher these intricate relationships. We present a comprehensive overview to understand how phytohormones orchestrate epigenetic modifications, shaping plant adaptation and survival strategies. Conversely, we explore how epigenetic regulators ensure hormonal balance and regulate the signalling pathways of key plant hormones. Furthermore, our investigation includes a search for novel genes that are regulated by plant hormones under the control of epigenetic processes. Our review offers a contemporary overview of the epigenetic–plant hormone crosstalk, emphasizing its significance in plant growth, development, and potential agronomical applications.
Revisiting the role of ascorbate oxidase in plant systems
Authors: Mellidou Ifigeneia , Kanellis Angelos K
Published: February 2024

Ascorbic acid (AsA) plays an indispensable role in plants, serving as both an antioxidant and a master regulator of the cellular redox balance. Ascorbate oxidase (AO) is a blue copper oxidase that is responsible for the oxidation of AsA with the concomitant production of water. For many decades, AO was erroneously postulated as an enzyme without any obvious advantage, as it decreases the AsA pool size and thus is expected to weaken plant stress resistance. It was only a decade ago that this perspective shifted towards the fundamental role of AO in orchestrating both AsA and oxygen levels by influencing the overall redox balance in the extracellular matrix. Consistent with its localization in the apoplast, AO is involved in cell expansion, division, resource allocation, and overall plant yield. An increasing number of transgenic studies has demonstrated that AO can also facilitate communication between the surrounding environment and the cell, as its gene expression is highly responsive to factors such as hormonal signaling, oxidative stress, and mechanical injury. This review aims to describe the multiple functions of AO in plant growth, development, and stress resilience, and explore any additional roles the enzyme might have in fruits during the course of ripening.
High mono-rhamnolipids production by a novel isolate Pseudomonas aeruginosa LP20 from oily sludge: characterization, optimization, and potential application
Authors: Li Chunyan , Wang Yujing , Zhou Liguo , Cui Qingfeng , Sun Wenzhe , Yang Junyuan , Su Han , Zhao Feng
Published: February 2024

This study aims to isolate microbial strains for producing mono-rhamnolipids with high proportion. Oily sludge is rich in petroleum and contains diverse biosurfactant-producing strains. A biosurfactant-producing strain LP20 was isolated from oily sludge, identified as Pseudomonas aeruginosa based on phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA. High-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry results indicated that biosurfactants produced from LP20 were rhamnolipids, mainly containing Rha-C8-C10, Rha-C10-C10, Rha-Rha-C8-C10, Rha-Rha-C10-C10, Rha-C10-C12:1, and Rha-C10-C12. Interestingly, more mono-rhamnolipids were produced by strain LP20 with a relative abundance of 64.5%. Pseudomonas aeruginosa LP20 optimally produced rhamnolipids at a pH of 7.0 and a salinity of 0.1% using glycerol and nitrate. The culture medium for rhamnolipids by strain LP20 was optimized by response surface methodology. LP20 produced rhamnolipids up to 6.9 g L−1, increased by 116%. Rhamnolipids produced from LP20 decreased the water surface tension to 28.1 mN m−1 with a critical micelle concentration of 60 mg L−1. The produced rhamnolipids emulsified many hydrocarbons with EI24 values higher than 56% and showed antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Cladosporium sp. with inhibition rates 48.5% and 17.9%, respectively. Pseudomonas aeruginosa LP20 produced more proportion of mono-rhamnolipids, and the LP20 rhamnolipids exhibited favorable activities and promising potential in microbial-enhanced oil recovery, bioremediation, and agricultural biocontrol.
Long-term follow-up observations of extreme coronal line emitting galaxies
Authors: Clark Peter , Graur Or , Callow Joseph , Aguilar Jessica , Ahlen Steven , Anderson Joseph P , Berger Edo , Müller-Bravo Tomás E , Brink Thomas G , Brooks David , Chen Ting-Wan , Claybaugh Todd , de la Macorra Axel , Doel Peter , Filippenko Alexei V , Forero-Romero Jamie E , Gomez Sebastian , Gromadzki Mariusz , Honscheid Klaus , Inserra Cosimo , Kisner Theodore , Landriau Martin , Makrygianni Lydia , Manera Marc , Meisner Aaron , Miquel Ramon , Moustakas John , Nicholl Matt , Nie Jundan , Onori Francesca , Palmese Antonella , Poppett Claire , Reynolds Thomas , Rezaie Mehdi , Rossi Graziano , Sanchez Eusebio , Schubnell Michael , Tarlé Gregory , Weaver Benjamin A , Wevers Thomas , Young David R , Zheng WeiKang , Zhou Zhimin
Published: February 2024

We present new spectroscopic and photometric follow-up observations of the known sample of extreme coronal line-emitting galaxies (ECLEs) identified in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). With these new data, observations of the ECLE sample now span a period of two decades following their initial SDSS detections. We confirm the non-recurrence of the iron coronal line signatures in five of the seven objects, further supporting their identification as the transient light echoes of tidal disruption events (TDEs). Photometric observations of these objects in optical bands show little overall evolution. In contrast, mid-infrared (MIR) observations show ongoing long-term declines consistent with power-law decay. The remaining two objects had been classified as active galactic nuclei (AGNs) with unusually strong coronal lines rather than being TDE related, given the persistence of the coronal lines in earlier follow-up spectra. We confirm this classification, with our spectra continuing to show the presence of strong, unchanged coronal line features and AGN-like MIR colours and behaviour. We have constructed spectral templates of both subtypes of ECLE to aid in distinguishing the likely origin of newly discovered ECLEs. We highlight the need for higher cadence, and more rapid, follow-up observations of such objects to better constrain their properties and evolution. We also discuss the relationships between ECLEs, TDEs, and other identified transients having significant MIR variability.
The S-PLUS Transient Extension Program: imaging pipeline, transient identification, and survey optimization for multimessenger astronomy
Authors: Santos A , Kilpatrick C D , Bom C R , Darc P , Herpich F R , Lacerda E A D , Sartori M J , Alvarez-Candal A , Mendes de Oliveira C , Kanaan A , Ribeiro T , Schoenell W
Published: February 2024

We present the S-PLUS Transient Extension Program (STEP): a supernova and fast transient survey conducted in the southern hemisphere using data from the Southern Photometric Local Universe Survey (S-PLUS) Main Survey and the T80-South telescope. Transient astrophysical phenomena have a range of interest that goes through different fields of astrophysics and cosmology. With the detection of an electromagnetic counterpart to the gravitational wave (GW) event GW170817 from a binary neutron stars merger, new techniques and resources to study fast astrophysical transients in the multimessenger context have increased. In this paper, we present the STEP overview, the SN follow-up data obtained, data reduction, analysis of new transients and deep learning algorithms to optimize transient candidate selection. Additionally, we present prospects and optimized strategy for the search of gravitational wave counterparts in the current LIGO/Virgo/Kagra observational run (O4) in the context of T80-South telescope.
Structure and composition of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune under different constraints and distortion due to rotation
Authors: Yıldız M , Çelik Orhan Z , Örtel S , Çakır T
Published: February 2024

The radii of planets serve as significant constraints for their internal structure. Despite the complexity of planetary internal structure compared to stars, substantial advancements have been made in this field. The most critical uncertainties stem from the chemical composition and equation of state of planetary material. Using the MESA code, we construct rotating and non-rotating interior models for Jupiter and Saturn and sought to align these models to the observed radii. Rotation exerts a significant influence on their structures, distorting planetary, and stellar structures in distinct ways. Regarding gas planets’ structure, two pivotal uncertain parameters depend on a possible separation between hydrogen and helium in the protosolar disc gas due to unequal evaporation between these two gases. In an extreme scenario where only hydrogen is lost and no heavy elements or helium are lost, Jupiter and Saturn would have a core mass of zero. However, this approach fails to yield a solution for Uranus and Neptune. Instead, our models indicate that hydrogen and helium were likely lost together during the protosolar disc phase, resulting in core masses of approximately 40, 25, 14, and 12 M⊕ for Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune, and Uranus, respectively. These findings are highly compatible with the observed mass–radius relationship of exoplanets, as well as the seismic and Juno data for Jupiter’s near-surface temperature.
Predicting the ages of galaxies with an artificial neural network
Authors: Hunt Laura J , Pimbblet Kevin A , Benoit David M
Published: February 2024

We present a new method of predicting the ages of galaxies using a machine learning (ML) algorithm with the goal of providing an alternative to traditional methods. We aim to match the ability of traditional models to predict the ages of galaxies by training an artificial neural network (ANN) to recognize the relationships between the equivalent widths of spectral indices and the mass-weighted ages of galaxies estimated by the magphys model in data release 3 (DR3) of the Galaxy and Mass Assembly (GAMA) survey. We discuss the optimization of our hyperparameters extensively and investigate the application of a custom loss function to reduce the influence of errors in our input data. To quantify the quality of our predictions we calculate the mean squared error (MSE), mean absolute error (MAE) and R2 score for which we find MSE = 0.020, MAE = 0.108 and R2 = 0.530. We find our predicted ages have a similar distribution with standard deviation σp = 0.182 compared with the GAMA true ages σt = 0.207. This is achieved in approximately 23 s to train our ANN on an 11th Gen Intel Core i9-11900H running at 2.50 GHz using 32 GB of RAM. We report our results for when light-weighted ages are used to train the ANN, which improves the accuracy of the predictions. Finally, we detail an evaluation of our method relating to physical properties and compare with other ML techniques to encourage future applications of ML techniques in astronomy.
The dynamical evolution of star-forming regions measured with INDICATE
Authors: Blaylock-Squibbs George A , Parker Richard J
Published: February 2024

Observations of star-forming regions provide snapshots in time of the star formation process, and can be compared with simulation data to constrain the initial conditions of star formation. In order to make robust inferences, different metrics must be used to quantify the spatial and kinematic distributions of stars. In this paper, we assess the suitability of the INdex to Define Inherent Clustering And TEndencies (INDICATE) method as a diagnostic to infer the initial conditions of star-forming regions that subsequently undergo dynamical evolution. We use INDICATE to measure the degree of clustering in N-body simulations of the evolution of star-forming regions with different initial conditions. We find that the clustering of individual stars, as measured by INDICATE, becomes significantly higher in simulations with higher initial stellar densities, and is higher in subvirial star-forming regions where significant amounts of dynamical mixing have occurred. We then combine INDICATE with other methods that measure the mass segregation (ΛMSR), relative stellar surface density ratio (ΣLDR), and the morphology (Q-parameter) of star-forming regions, and show that the diagnostic capability of INDICATE increases when combined with these other metrics.
Hybrid bias and displacement emulators for field-level modelling of galaxy clustering in real and redshift space
Authors: Pellejero Ibañez Marcos , Angulo Raul E , Jamieson Drew , Li Yin
Published: February 2024

Recently, hybrid bias expansions have emerged as a powerful approach to modelling the way in which galaxies are distributed in the Universe. Similarly, field-level emulators have recently become possible, thanks to advances in machine learning and N-body simulations. In this paper, we explore whether both techniques can be combined to provide a field-level model for the clustering of galaxies in real and redshift space. Specifically, here we will demonstrate that field-level emulators are able to accurately predict all the operators of a second-order hybrid bias expansion. The precision achieved in real and redshift space is similar to that obtained for the non-linear matter power spectrum. This translates to roughly 1–2 per cent precision for the power spectrum of a BOSS (Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey) and a Euclid-like galaxy sample up to $k\sim 0.6\ h\, {\rm Mpc}^{-1}$. Remarkably, this combined approach also delivers precise predictions for field-level galaxy statistics. Despite all these promising results, we detect several areas where further improvements are required. Therefore, this work serves as a road map for the developments required for a more complete exploitation of upcoming large-scale structure surveys.