bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Deciphering the Gut Microbiome’s Influence on Depression: A Community-Level Constraint-Based Metabolic modelling Approach
Authors: Yuchen Zhang , Lai Wenkai , Meiling Wang , Shirong Lai , Qing Liu , Qi Luo , Fenglong Yang
Published: October 2024

Background

Depression is a common mental disorder worldwide, and its pathogenesis remains incompletely understood. However, increasing evidence suggests that gut microbiota play a significant role in the development of depression through the gut-brain-microbiota axis.

Results

This study utilized data from the Gmrepo database to match the gut microbiota profiles of 271 pairs of individuals with depression and healthy controls. Through systematic analysis and constrained metabolic modeling, we revealed the impact of the gut microbiome on depression. The main findings include:1.The gut microbial diversity in individuals with depression is significantly reduced compared to healthy individuals, particularly in terms of species richness and evenness.2.LEfSe analysis indicated that several species from the family Micrococcaceae are significantly enriched in patients with depression, whereas bacteria from the phylum Firmicutes are more abundant in healthy individuals.3.Metabolic pathway analysis revealed significant differences between the two groups in pathways related to fatty acid synthesis, the interconversion of pentoses and glucuronic acid, and thiamine metabolism.4.We also identified 21 differential metabolites, among which L-Dopa and copper ion metabolism showed significant differences, potentially playing an important role in the onset of depression.

Conclusions

Through systematic analysis and constrained metabolic modeling, this study revealed the potential association between gut microbiota and depression, highlighting the significant impact of microbial metabolic functions on host mental health. The findings provide potential biomarkers and metabolic targets for the future diagnosis and treatment of depression. In particular, the modulation of microbial metabolites may offer new avenues for clinical treatment of depression.
Axon-specific microtubule regulation drives asymmetric regeneration of sensory neuron axons
Authors: Costa Ana C. , Murillo Blanca R. , Bessa Rita , Ribeiro Ricardo , Ferreira da Silva Tiago , Porfírio-Rodrigues Patrícia , Martins Gabriel G. , Brites Pedro , Kneussel Matthias , Misgeld Thomas , Brill Monika S. , Sousa Monica M.
Published: October 2024

Sensory dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons have a unique pseudo-unipolar morphology in which a stem axon bifurcates into a peripheral and a central axon, with different regenerative abilities. Whereas peripheral DRG axons regenerate, central axons are unable to regrow. Central axon regeneration can however be elicited by a prior conditioning lesion to the peripheral axon. How DRG axon asymmetry is established, remains unknown. Here we developed a rodentin vitrosystem replicating DRG pseudo-unipolarization and asymmetric axon regeneration. Using this model, we observed that from early development, central DRG axons have a higher density of growing microtubules. This asymmetry was also presentin vivoand was abolished by a conditioning lesion that decreased microtubule polymerization of central DRG axons. An axon-specific microtubule-associated protein (MAP) signature, including the severases spastin and katanin and the microtubule regulators CRMP5 and tau, was found and shown to adapt upon conditioning lesion. Supporting its significance, interfering with the DRG MAP signature eitherin vitroorin vivo, readily abolished central-peripheral asymmetries in microtubule dynamics and regenerative ability. In summary, our data unveil that axon-specific microtubule regulation drives asymmetric regeneration of sensory neuron axons.

Impact statement

Sensory neurons have a stem axon that bifurcates originating two axons with different properties. This work shows that DRG axons have a specific protein signature underlying microtubule and regeneration asymmetries. It also provides anin vitrosystem replicating DRG biology.
Direct and indirect RANK ligand and CD40 ligand signaling regulate the maintenance of thymic epithelial cell frequency and properties in the adult thymus
Authors: Hayama Mio , Ishii Hiroto , Miyauchi Maki , Yoshida Masaki , Hagiwara Naho , Muramtatu Wataru , Namiki Kano , Endo Rin , Miyao Takahisa , Akiyama Nobuko , Akiyama Taishin
Published: October 2024

Medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs) play a crucial role in suppressing the onset of autoimmunity by eliminating autoreactive T cells and promoting the development of regulatory T cells in the thymus. Although mTECs undergo turnover in adults, the molecular mechanisms behind this process remain unclear. This study describes the direct and indirect roles of receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL) and CD40 ligand (CD40L) signaling in TECs in the adult thymus. Flow cytometric and single-cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq) analyses suggest that the depletion of both RANKL and CD40L signaling inhibits mTEC differentiation from CCL21+mTEC progenitors to transit-amplifying TECs in the adult thymus. Unexpectedly, this depletion also indirectly affects the gene expression of TEC progenitors and cortical TECs. Notably, AP-1 gene expression, which allows further subdivision of TEC progenitors, is upregulated following the depletion of RANKL and CD40L signaling. Overall, our data propose that RANKL and CD40L signaling cooperatively maintain mature mTEC frequency in the adult thymus and sustain the characteristics of TEC progenitors through an indirect mechanism.
Characterization of [3H]AZ12464237 as a high affinity, non-nucleotide antagonist radioligand for the P2Y12 receptor
Authors: Stéen E. Johanna L. , Tousiaki Efthalia-Natalia , Kingston Lee , van der Wildt Berend , Lénárt Nikolett , Beaino Wissam , Verlaan Mariska , Zarzycka Barbara , Zinnhardt Bastian , Dénes Ádám , Gobbi Luca , de Esch Iwan J.P. , Elmore Charles S. , Windhorst Albert D. , Honer Michael , Leurs Rob
Published: October 2024

The purinergic receptor P2Y12(P2Y12R) is a well-recognized target for anti-thrombotic agents. This receptor is also expressed in microglia, where it plays a key role in neuroinflammation and microglia activation. To investigate P2Y12R-mediated actions in the central nervous system (CNS), the development of novel brain-penetrant ligands is essential, along with furtherin vitrostudies. A radiolabeled, easily accessible tool compound would significantly advance such drug discovery efforts. Herein, we describe the3H-labeling of a non-nucleotide P2Y12R antagonist AZ12464237, and itsin vitrobinding properties to the receptor in membrane preparations form transfected cells, as well as on mouse brain tissues. The radioligand shows high affinity toward both the human and rat P2Y12R in transfected cells, withKdvalues of 3.12 ± 0.70 nM (human) and 16.6 ± 3.4 nM (rat), as determined by saturation binding studies. The binding kinetics of [3H]AZ12464237 are rapid with a short target residence time (∼1 min). We further confirmed the selectivity of the radioligand by performing competitive displacement studies, in which reported P2Y12R ligands and other P2Y receptors ligands were tested for binding against [3H]AZ12464237. Additionally, the radioligand proved useful forin vitroautoradiography studies on mouse brain tissues, although a small amount of off-target binding was observed in P2Y12R knock-out mice. This could be traced to glycogen synthase kinase 3 α. Considering the growing interest in P2Y12R as a biomarker for microglia activation, [3H]AZ12464237 represents a promising tool forin vitrostudies, including screening assays aimed at identifying novel P2Y12R ligands for CNS applications.
Exploring the Explainability of a Machine Learning Model for Prostate Cancer: Do Lesions Localize with the Most Important Feature Maps?
Authors: Provenzano Destie , Haji-Momenian Shawn , Batheja Vivek , Loew Murray
Published: October 2024

As the use of AI grows in clinical medicine, so does the need for better explainable AI (XAI) methods. Model based XAI methods like GradCAM evaluate the feature maps generated by CNNs to create visual interpretations (like heatmaps) that can be evaluated qualitatively. We propose a simple method utilizing the most important (highest weighted) of these feature maps and evaluating it with the most important clinical feature present on the image to create a quantitative method of evaluating model performance. We created four Residual Neural Networks (ResNets) to identify clinically significant prostate cancer on two datasets (1. segmented prostate image and 2. full cross sectional pelvis image (CSI)) and two model training types (1. transfer learning and 2. from-scratch) and evaluated the models on each. Accuracy and AUC was tested on one final full CSI dataset with the prostate tissue removed as a final test set to confirm results. Accuracy, AUC, and co-localization of prostate lesion centroids with the most important feature map generated for each model was tabulated and compared to co-localization of prostate lesion centroids with a GradCAM heatmap. Prostate lesion centroids co-localized with any model generated through transfer learning ≥97% of the time. Prostate lesion centroids co-localized with the segmented dataset 86 > 96% of the time, but dropped to 10% when segmented model was tested on the full CSI dataset and 21% when model was trained and tested on the full CSI dataset. Lesion centroids co-localized with GradCAM heatmap 98% > 100% on all datasets except for that trained on the segmented dataset and tested on full CSI (73%). Models trained on the full CSI dataset performed well (79% > 89%) when tested on the dataset with prostate tissue removed, but models trained on the segmented dataset did not (50 > 51%). These results suggest that the model trained on the full CSI dataset uses features outside of the prostate to make a conclusion about the model, and that the most important feature map better reflected this result than the GradCAM heatmap. The co-localization of medical region of abnormality with the most important feature map could be a useful quantitative metric for future model explainability.
Dual specificity phosphate 1 (DUSP1) as a non-invasive circulating biomarker candidate in preeclampsia
Authors: Andrieu Jonatane , Donet Agathe , Cocallemen Jean Francois , Charbonnier Guillaume , Résseguier Noémie , Paganini Julien , Mege Jean-Louis , Mezouar Soraya , Bretelle Florence
Published: October 2024

Background. Preeclampsia (PE) is a multisystem pregnancy complication constituting a major cause of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. Factors pointing to a placental origin are the development of the pathology only during pregnancy, and its disappearance in the post-partum period. Methods. Here, we aim to identify new early predictive biomarkers based on a transcriptional signature of PE using RNAseq. Whole blood and serum samples were collected at the time of the first event of PE (V1) and same samples after remote delivery (30-60 postpartum days, V2). These two samples enabled investigation of PE markers found in V1 but absent in V2. To confirm that these candidates are associated with PE, an investigation of associated placental biopsy was also realized (J0). Results. Our study identified a specific signature of PE including five Gene Ontology clusters including angiogenesis and differentiation, cell cycle, cell adhesion, inflammatory response and cellular metabolism. Interestingly, DUSP1 gene was found specifically modulated in PE. Pregnant women with PE have a higher concentration of DUSP1 in serum compared to healthy donors. Interesting, at a distance from childbirth (V2), DUSP1 finds a rate like the control group showing the predictive interest of DUSP1 as a promising predictive biomarker of PE. Conclusions. The investigation of DUSP1 in a prospective study with a larger cohort, including the severity aspect of the disease, is necessary to confirm its value as a predictive biomarker in PE.
An Investigation of Cellulase and Epigallocatechin-3-gallate as Enhancers of Antibiotic Efficacy in Polymicrobial Biofilm Treatments
Authors: Murray Oliver
Published: October 2024

I.

The treatment of bacterial infections is becoming increasingly difficult with the alarming rise of antibiotic resistance. Research has illustrated that the majority of these infections are composed of polymicrobial biofilms that can withstand antibiotic treatment to a higher degree than single-species microbial communities. Nonetheless, monospecies biofilms are still utilised for the investigation of novel combinatorial treatments, risking failure to transfer results toin vivoinfections. This study aims to provide evidence that novel combinatorial therapies can enhance the efficacy of antibiotics in treating multispecies biofilm infections. Expanding on work within the field concerning the antibiofilm compounds epigallocatechin-3-gallate and cellulase, we sought to analyse the effects of cellulase and epigallocatechin-3-gallate, in combination with ampicillin, on polymicrobial biofilms. We pursued this by performing crystal violet assays and measuring colony-forming unit counts on environmental samples following combinatorial treatments. Statistical analysis demonstrated that cellulase significantly reduced both biofilm biomass and viable bacteria while epigallocatechin-3-gallate did not affect either quantifier. Whilst these results were not completely in line with expectations, the pronounced effect of cellulase and the epigallocatechin-3-gallate ethanol solvent were considered significant contributions to polymicrobial combinatorial treatment research. With further work in this space identifying additional therapies and examining compoundsin vivo, there is the potential for millions of lives to be saved and the threat of a pandemic of antimicrobial resistance to be countered.
From GI products consumers to destination visitors: an examination of the push side mechanism
Authors: Li Xinwei , Li Xi , Kuang Tingyue , Cheng Lulu , Wu Qi
Published: October 2024

Purpose

Geographical Indication (GI) products represent a distinct association between a product and its specific geographic origin. While scholars have acknowledged the impact of GI products on destination marketing, there exists a dearth of research concerning the underlying mechanism through which the perceived value of GI products influences consumers' intention to visit the region of origin.

Design/methodology/approach

This study utilizes the cognitive appraisal theory as a basis for constructing a conceptual framework to investigate the association between the perceived value of GI products, emotional reactions and destination brand awareness.

Findings

By placing particular emphasis on the diverse impacts of perceived value on tourists' affective responses and travel intentions, the results of this research offer significant contributions to the field of destination marketing.

Originality/value

A deeper understanding of the perceived value of GI products can enable destination marketers to effectively attract prospective tourists and foster a stronger connection between tourists and the regions of origin.
Too much work frustrates me! A mediation model of career-related outcomes of work overload
Authors: Tariq Ali , Fatima Tehreem , Waqas Muhammad , Mehmood Yassir , Khalid Raana
Published: October 2024

Purpose

Work overload implies that there are excessive work demands that cannot be adequately fulfilled within the given deadlines. This research examines the effect of work overload on career outcomes, i.e. career satisfaction and occupational commitment through the mediating role of work frustration.

Design/methodology/approach

The data were collected from employees working in the schools of Punjab, Pakistan in three waves. Out of the total, 248 valid responses were analyzed by PROCESS model 4 using SPSS 24.

Findings

Based on affective event theory (AET) the results demonstrated that negative workplace events such as work overload create negative emotions like frustration at work and cause poor job outcomes (i.e. low satisfaction and commitment).

Research limitations/implications

However, the outcomes should be interpreted in the light of single sector and time-lagged data tested on the mediation-only model.

Practical implications

The current study has implications for workload management in school staff to retain their career satisfaction and commitment.

Social implications

This study has implications for society by offering to enhance the career outcomes of school staff that are prime institutions for socio-economic development.

Originality/value

This is one of the initial research studies that have examined the career-related outcomes of work overload based on AET via the mediating role of work frustration.
Job insecurity, life satisfaction and the moderating role of job satisfaction in South Korea
Authors: Lee Yunsoo
Published: October 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the influences of job insecurity on life satisfaction and to assess the moderating effects of several facets of job satisfaction between job insecurity and life satisfaction.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on the survey conducted in Seoul, this paper runs the hierarchical regression models.

Findings

The results of this study suggest that job insecurity is detrimental to life satisfaction. Satisfaction with pay and co-workers enhances life satisfaction. Only satisfaction with co-workers exerts a moderating influence.

Research limitations/implications

The results obtained from Seoul may reflect sample-specific dynamics that may be different from other areas, which may limit the generalizability of the findings of this paper.

Practical implications

Organizations would be dysfunctional if workers are not satisfied with their life. Therefore, human resource professions must be vigilant about fostering conditions supportive human relations.

Originality/value

Previous studies revealed that job insecurity has the undermining impact on employees’ life satisfaction. However, there has been little research done to examine the moderating factors of job satisfaction. In this study, it is argued that satisfaction with co-workers is a critical condition in moderating the effect of job insecurity on life satisfaction.
Interlinkages between public expenditures, non-tax government revenues and corruption in the transition economies
Authors: Ozun Alper , Ertuğrul Hasan Murat , Haliscelik Ergul
Published: October 2024

Purpose

This article examines potential impacts of increase in non-tax government revenues and public expenses on corruption for 11 transition economies in the Central and Eastern Europe.

Design/methodology/approach

The empirical analysis uses yearly panel datasets and employs second-generation panel data models which take cross-sectional dependency and slope heterogeneity into account.

Findings

The empirical results reveal the fact that there is a strong linkage between public expenses and corruption and a weak linkage between non-tax revenue collection and corruption in the transition economies. We perform the same analysis by using data sets from G-7 countries but do not notice any linkages between those variables.

Research limitations/implications

The research topic requires further discussion on constitutional political economy to digest the empirical findings. Thus, an extended version combined with political economic approach might be useful.

Practical implications

Through economic transitions, there might be a linkage between public expenditures and corruption index. Thus, public spending might be controlled by using constitutional economics policies.

Originality/value

This paper is the first empirical work in the literature, which examines if there is a linkage between corruption and public expenditures and government tax income structure by using panel data sets. Moreover, it compares the results from transition countries with those of G-7 countries and provides certain policy suggestions in the context of constitutional economics.
Intersectional employee voice inequalities and culture care theory: the case of migrant palliative care nurses in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Davies Julie , Anjuman Thamina , Al Ghamdi Zeyad , Altamimi Saud , Ellahi Sheikh Mateen , Al Thani Moza , Huang Frank , Alsoqair Yara , Alshehri Rawan
Published: October 2024

Purpose

This narrative literature review examines intersectional employee voice inequalities in a non-Western, high power distance context to develop a multilevel conceptual framework.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use Leininger's (1997, 2002) culture care model to explore multilevel influences on intersectional voice inequalities. The article applies insights from a review of 31 studies to the specific challenges of migrant palliative care (PC) nurses in Saudi Arabia.

Findings

The themes identified in the review indicate how better transcultural communications might mitigate voice inequalities that influence migrant employee wellbeing and intentions to quit which result from cultural incongruities.

Originality/value

The impact of national culture differences and intersectional inequalities on employee voice has largely been ignored in academic research. This paper offers unique insights drawing on culture care theory into intersectional voice challenges from a non-Western perspective in the underresearched setting of Saudi Arabia which is mid-way through a national transformation program. It starkly contrasts policy ambitions for advancing healthcare with discriminatory practices based on conservative attitudes which stifle migrant worker voices.
Barriers to teaching in culturally and linguistically diverse classrooms in mainstream secondary schools
Authors: Masunungure Appolonia , Maguvhe Mbulaheni O.
Published: October 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this qualitative study is to explore barriers to cultural and linguistic diversity teaching in mainstream secondary schools in South Africa.

Design/methodology/approach

The study was underpinned by the culturally responsive pedagogy theory as a framework. Face-to-face interviews were conducted to explore the barriers to teaching in culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) classrooms.

Findings

The authors found that teachers experience a plethora of challenges in teaching CLD learners. The findings show that culturally responsive practices, collaboration with relevant stakeholders and seeking professional development opportunities may advance the productive engagement of CLD learners in secondary schools.

Practical implications

Pre-service and in-service teachers should be conscientious about CLD teaching and learning through professional development. Teachers should be trained and retrained to accommodate CLD learners.

Originality/value

This study highlights significant aspects that hinder the inclusion of CLD learners and encourages the Department of Higher Education (tertiary institutions) and the Department of Basic Education Curriculum Developers to reconsider aspects of CLD in curriculum planning.
Approximating technology innovation performance with fuzzy approach
Authors: Singh Davinder
Published: October 2024

Purpose

This study aims to construct a framework to evaluate technology innovation performance (TIP) of manufacturing organizations by adopting a fuzzy-based approach. In very short time, the world’s economic order has been reformed by economic globalization, thereby bringing new challenges as well as opportunities for the manufacturing industries. Policy makers encounter different decisions that require the use of various types of data in their decision-making process. These challenges raised the necessity of measuring innovation capability, which is critical issue for decision makers in today’s competitive world. The research results reveal the complexity of the path to technology innovation evaluation, constituting a novel contribution to the literature.

Design/methodology/approach

It is difficult for decision makers to make appropriate and effective decisions without knowing the innovation capability of companies in a particular sector or a region. As a result, not only on a macro but also on a micro level, an integrated and complete technique of measuring, estimating and even projecting innovation performance is necessary. In light of above mentioned facts, the present study proposes a technology innovation performance evaluation system of manufacturing organizations using fuzzy logic.

Findings

A model has been developed to be beneficial for any kind of organization where TIP evaluation is important consideration for enhancing manufacturing performance. Fuzzy control is used to determine the overall performance index by combining results of the TIP in selected criteria, which will certainly ensure suitability of the concerned organizations during performance rating calculations.

Originality/value

This study elaborates a fuzzy model to predict TIP with fuzzy rules. This is the first time a TIP evaluation model is developed using fuzzy approach that will be applicable for any kind of manufacturing industry where TIP evaluation is considered to be significantly important for cooperation’s to sustain competitiveness in the dynamic landscape.
The effect of knowledge acquisition from social media on competitive intelligence process: the mediating role of absorptive capacity
Authors: Gunes Harun Mirac , Ozer Leyla
Published: October 2024

Purpose

While existing literature offers valuable insights into social media knowledge, absorptive capacity, and competitive intelligence, it does not fully address the integrated activities involved in generating valuable knowledge. This study aims to address this gap by investigating how high-tech companies leverage knowledge acquired from social media, mediated through absorptive capacity, to generate valuable competitive intelligence.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 270 valid responses were collected from high-tech company managers through an online survey. PROCESS Model 4, employing 5,000 bootstrap samples and 95% confidence intervals, was used to assess the constructs of interest. Using the Knowledge-Based View, this approach tested the mediating role of companies' absorptive capacity in the association between knowledge acquisition from social media and competitive intelligence processes.

Findings

The results indicate that knowledge acquisition from social media, both directly and indirectly (through absorptive capacity), positively influences competitive intelligence processes, including collection and analysis.

Practical implications

Acquiring knowledge from social media does not necessarily lead to superior intelligence in companies. This study helps managers focus on enhancing companies' absorptive capacity for more effective competitive intelligence processes.

Originality/value

This study investigates the role of absorptive capacity in terms of the connection between acquiring knowledge from social media and competitive intelligence. The findings have significant theoretical and managerial implications, providing valuable insights that could help high-tech company managers improve intelligence generation in their companies.
Correlates of public compliance with COVID-19 regulations in Taiwan
Authors: Lo Tzu-Ying , Sun Ivan , Wu Yuning , Chang Kuang-Ming , Hong Jyun-Wei
Published: October 2024

Purpose

This study explores the determinants of public willingness to comply with COVID-19 regulations to address the research gap at the intersection of public health and law enforcement within the unique sociocultural context of Taiwan.

Design/methodology/approach

Utilizing survey data from New Taipei City in 2021, the analysis involved multiple linear regression models to assess the influences of psychological conditions (i.e. distress and self-efficacy), community compliance and perceptions of government (i.e. general trust in government and specific perceptions of police procedural justice) on compliance tendencies while controlling for individual demographics.

Findings

The results indicated that self-efficacy, perceived community compliance, trust in government, and police procedural justice are positively associated with public compliance with COVID-19 regulations. Among these variables, trust in government and police procedural justice were identified as the most prominent factors, followed by self-efficacy and perceived community compliance. As demographic factors such as age, gender and education did not significantly affect willingness to comply, psychological, social and governmental influences are more powerful determinants of compliance than static demographic characteristics.

Originality/value

This study provides empirical evidence from Taiwan on the factors shaping public compliance during an unprecedented global pandemic. It highlights the importance of fostering governmental trust and enhancing police procedural justice during periods of stability to secure compliance with public health directives in times of crisis.
Unravelling incipient accidents: a machine learning prediction of incident risks in highway operations
Authors: Bortey Loretta , Edwards David J. , Roberts Chris , Rillie Iain
Published: October 2024

Purpose

Safety research has focused on drivers, pedestrians and vehicles, with scarce attention given to highway traffic officers (HTOs). This paper develops a robust prediction model which enables highway safety authorities to predict exclusive incidents occurring on the highway such as incursions and environmental hazards, respond effectively to diverse safety risk incident scenarios and aid in timely safety precautions to minimise HTO incidents.

Design/methodology/approach

Using data from a highway incident database, a supervised machine learning method that employs three algorithms [namely Support Vector Machine (SVM), Random Forests (RF) and Naïve Bayes (NB)] was applied, and their performances were comparatively analysed. Three data balancing algorithms were also applied to handle the class imbalance challenge. A five-phase sequential method, which includes (1) data collection, (2) data pre-processing, (3) model selection, (4) data balancing and (5) model evaluation, was implemented.

Findings

The findings indicate that SVM with a polynomial kernel combined with the Synthetic Minority Over-sampling Technique (SMOTE) algorithm is the best model to predict the various incidents, and the Random Under-sampling (RU) algorithm was the most inefficient in improving model accuracy. Weather/visibility, age range and location were the most significant factors in predicting highway incidents.

Originality/value

This is the first study to develop a prediction model for HTOs and utilise an incident database solely dedicated to HTOs to forecast various incident outcomes in highway operations. The prediction model will provide evidence-based information to safety officers to train HTOs on impending risks predicted by the model thereby equipping workers with resilient shocks such as awareness, anticipation and flexibility.
An ecological vulnerability index to assess impacts of offshore wind facilities on migratory songbirds
Authors: Green‐Tkacenko Leon A. , Allen Michael C. , Lockwood Julie L.
Published: October 2024

As offshore wind (OSW) energy expands globally, migratory songbirds are at risk of mortality from collisions with turbine blades, though the magnitude of this threat and which species are most vulnerable, remains poorly understood. Ecological vulnerability indices are commonly used to assess species' susceptibility to harmful factors, with results used to direct scarce research and monitoring resources to species showing relatively high vulnerability. These indices are based on the traits that elevate a species risk to adverse impacts (sensitivity), the overlap in occurrence between a species and the potentially harmful agent (exposure) and the influence of this exposure on the species' local or global persistence (resilience).

We modified ecological vulnerability indices for seabirds to assess vulnerability of migratory songbirds to OSW related mortality. As a pertinent case study, we considered songbirds that fly across the Northwest Atlantic during their autumn migration. We utilized readily available information on each species' migratory behaviour, life history, and conservation status to calculate an index score that could range from 1 (lowest vulnerability) to 125 (highest vulnerability).

We found scores of 3 to 55.2 for the 101 songbird species evaluated, with New World warblers (Parulidae) over‐represented among the highest scoring species. We found the scores to be sensitive to uncertainty in index components, highlighting the importance of considering scoring uncertainty when evaluating ecological vulnerability indices. Finally, we found that for seven of the top 10 highest scoring species, modest improvements in population trends had the potential to lower the scores substantially.

Synthesis and applications. Our methodology is readily applicable to other regions where offshore wind (OSW) development is planned and songbird migration is common, allowing research and monitoring activities to be targeted to species most likely to be negatively affected by OSW facility encounters.
A Tale of Too Many Doctrines: Supervening Impossibility and the Sale of Goods
Authors: Jayathilaka Chathuni
Published: October 2024

Contracts for the sale of goods contain three default rules addressing the problem of supervening impossibility: sections 7 and 20 of the Sale of Goods Act 1979 and the doctrine of frustration. This article uses a legal historical method to examine why this is the case and what the relationship between these rules is. It contends that the current approach is the accidental result of a series of historical contingencies and argues that it is unsatisfactory for several reasons. It then offers suggestions as to how the law might be rationalised. On a broader level, the inquiry provides a lens through which the wider history of supervening impossibility in English contract law can be explored. The article argues that our current conceptualisation of the law prior to 1863 is fundamentally flawed, and that this inhibits our understanding of how the earlier law both shaped and confused the development of a more general doctrine of supervening impossibility.
Escherichia coli on colorectal cancer: A two‐edged sword
Authors: Jian Chu , Yinhang Wu , Jing Zhuang , Zhanbo Qu , Zefeng Wang , Shuwen Han
Published: October 2024

Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a ubiquitous symbiotic bacterium in the gut, and the diversity of E. coli genes determines the diversity of its functions. In this review, the two‐edged sword theory was innovatively proposed. For the question ‘how can we harness the ambivalent nature of E. coli to screen and treat CRC?’, in terms of CRC screening, the variations in the abundance and subtypes of E. coli across different populations present an opportunity to utilise it as a biomarker, while in terms of CRC treatment, the natural beneficial effect of E. coli on CRC may be limited, and engineered E. coli, particularly certain subtypes with probiotic potential, can indeed play a significant role in CRC treatment. It seems that the favourable role of E. coli as a genetic tool lies not in its direct impact on CRC but its potential as a research platform that can be integrated with various technologies such as nanoparticles, imaging methods, and synthetic biology modification. The relationship between gut microflora and CRC remains unclear due to the complex diversity and interaction of gut microflora. Therefore, the application of E. coli should be based on the ‘One Health’ view and take the interactions between E. coli and other microorganisms, host, and environmental factors, as well as its own changes into account. In this paper, the two‐edged sword role of E. coli in CRC is emphasised to realise the great potential of E. coli in CRC screening and treatment.
Risk factors for lung parenchyma hemorrhage and hemoptysis during computed tomography‐guided microwave ablation in patients with stage I non‐small cell lung cancer: A bicentric retrospective study
Authors: Li Jingshuo , Zhang Ziqi , Chen Yuxian , Li Chunhai , Wei Zhigang , Jia Haipeng
Published: October 2024

Objectives

This study aimed to identify the risk factors for lung parenchyma hemorrhage and hemoptysis during computed tomography‐guided microwave ablation (MWA) in patients with stage I non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods

A total of 417 patients from two medical centers were included, of whom 353 were from center 1 and 64 were from center 2. The risk factors for lung parenchyma hemorrhage and hemoptysis were selected by univariable and multivariable logistic analyses in the center 1 dataset. The selected risk factors were validated in the center 2 dataset.

Results

The risk factors for lung parenchyma hemorrhage during MWA were focal blood supplies (odds ratio [OR], 2.602; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.609–4.210; p < 0.001), near vessels larger than 2 mm (OR, 4.145; 95% CI, 1.963–8.755; p < 0.001), and traversing vessels in the track of ablation (OR, 2.961; 95% CI, 1.492–5.874; p = 0.002). The risk factors for hemoptysis were lung parenchyma hemorrhage (OR, 34.165; 95% CI, 12.255–95.247; p < 0.001), needle track traversing the lung parenchyma by >25 mm (OR, 4.494; 95% CI, 1.833–11.018; p = 0.001), and traversing vessels in the track of ablation (OR, 5.402; 95% CI, 2.269–12.865; p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Focal blood supplies, near vessels larger than 2 mm, and traversing vessels in the track of ablation were independent risk factors for lung parenchyma hemorrhage during MWA. Lung parenchyma hemorrhage, needle track traversing the lung parenchyma by >25 mm, and traversing vessels in the track of ablation were independent risk factors for hemoptysis during MWA.
Missing the biodiversity for the bee: Natural land management strategies impact functional invertebrate diversity in commercial cranberry production
Authors: Jaffe Benjamin D. , Smith David S. , Amon Nolan D. , Kamiyama Matthew T. , Rink Stephanie , van Zoeren Janet , Guédot Christelle
Published: October 2024

Simplification of agricultural environments is linked to declines in biodiversity. Improving the floral diversity within and around these areas may result in more robust and diverse ecosystems.

We investigated how floral resource abundance, diversity, and species composition in a cranberry agricultural system correlated to the abundance and overall invertebrate diversity and to the abundance and diversity of specific invertebrate groups of agricultural importance (e.g. parasitoids, phytophagous taxa, pollinators and predators). This study focused on habitats immediately surrounding cranberry production and included grassy dikes under a managed system (‘dike’), and semi‐natural areas growing on the surrounding support land (‘semi‐natural’).

Floral resource availability and diversity tended to be similar between habitats, while invertebrate richness, diversity and composition differed. As the availability of floral resources increased, invertebrate abundance increased but diversity decreased. Overall invertebrate community composition differed with the specific species and availability of floral resources. The habitat type and floral resource composition impacted some agriculturally important groups, as pollinator abundance was higher in the semi‐natural habitat, and parasitoid abundance varied with floral resource composition across both habitats.

These results suggest that managing the structural and floral resource diversity associated with agroecosystems can help support local biodiversity. However, these systems may disproportionately benefit more common taxonomic groups. The difference in responses of individual taxonomic groups also highlights the potential tradeoffs of focusing on only a subset of biodiversity aspects.
Cover crops dismantle keystone ant/aphid mutualisms to enhance insect pest suppression and weed biocontrol
Authors: Blubaugh Carmen K. , Huss Christiana P. , Lindell Hannah C. , Spann Georgia L. , Basinger Nicholas T.
Published: October 2024

Cover crops are multifunctional tools that mitigate environmental impacts of agriculture, enhance resilience to weather extremes and suppress weeds and arthropod pests. Cover crops provide non‐crop food and habitat resources that attract natural enemies of pests, but their outcomes for pest management are less clear in regions where keystone mutualisms between red imported fire ants and aphids dominate.

Here, we manipulate ant exclusion treatments and cover crop treatments (living mulches and terminated cover crops) that vary in food/habitat resources and examine responses of ants, aphids, other herbivores and predators in a cotton agroecosystem.

Living mulches reduced both ants and aphids in the crop canopy by 97% and 93%, respectively, relative to bare soil treatments, and terminated cover crops reduced them as well by a lesser degree (~50%).

Non‐aphid herbivores occurred in low densities system‐wide and increased in living mulches, whilst native predators had variable responses to cover crops and ant exclusion.

Cover crops had no effect on prey removal in the crop canopy, but living mulches tripled rates of weed seed biocontrol, relative to bare soils.

Cover crops elicited a shift in fire ant foraging from cotton foliage downward to the soil‐surface, preventing competitive exclusion by keystone ant/aphid mutualists that dominate crop monocultures.

Cover crops altered the system‐wide impacts of fire ants: reducing ecosystem disservices (i.e. aphid tending) and enhancing ecosystem services (i.e. weed seed biocontrol). These results provide incentives for cover crop adoption as a regenerative practice in large‐scale commercial agriculture.
Farm‐dust mediated protection of childhood asthma: Mass cytometry reveals novel cellular regulation
Authors: Beerweiler Claudia Carina , Salvermoser Michael , Theodorou Johanna , Böck Andreas , Sattler Franziska , Kulig Paulina , Tosevski Vinko , Schaub Bianca
Published: October 2024

Background

Farm‐dust mediated asthma protection in childhood was replicated in numerous epidemiological studies. Central immune mechanisms are not fully understood. This exploratory study aimed to disentangle underlying immunological regulation of farm‐dust mediated protection in peripheral blood on a single‐cell level.

Methods

Single‐cell protein expression of in vitro farm‐dust stimulated and unstimulated cells from allergic asthmatics and healthy controls were measured using mass cytometry. Analysis of innate and adaptive cellular proportions (linear regression) and T‐cell proliferation was performed. Functional marker intensity was investigated using Earth Mover's Distance and the Monte Carlo permutation test.

Results

Farm‐dust stimulation induced cell type‐specific regulation: Key‐features of farm‐dust stimulation comprised opposing regulation of immune‐cell frequencies (downregulated innate cell populations (monocytes/DCs (p < .001), NK‐cells (p < .05)) and upregulated adaptive populations (B‐cells, CD4+ T‐cells (both p < .05)), reduced CD4+ CD25− T‐cell proliferation, and differential cell type‐specific functional marker expression. Following stimulation, functional marker analysis revealed induced activation (CD25) in T‐cells and NK‐T‐cells in both phenotypes even after correction for multiple testing. Cytotoxicity (GZMB) and inflammation (pERK1/2, pp38) related markers were reduced in T‐cells exclusively in asthmatic children. Asthma‐associated markers (Gata3, RORγ, and HLA‐DR) were reduced in T‐ and innate‐ cell populations of asthmatics following stimulation. B‐cells displayed a phenotypically independent increase of diverse functional markers upon farm‐dust stimulation.

Conclusions

This study mimicking in vivo environmental exposure identified a novel profile of immune‐regulatory markers using mass cytometry demonstrating decreased asthma‐associated markers following farm‐dust stimulation. These findings may be key for further studies on asthma prevention in childhood.
A Systematic Review of Dental Antibiotic Stewardship Interventions
Authors: Teoh Leanne , Löffler Christin , Mun Michelle , Agnihotry Anirudha , Kaur Harpinder , Born Karen , Thompson Wendy
Published: October 2024

Background

Antimicrobial resistance is a significant threat to global health. Antimicrobial stewardship is reducing inappropriate antimicrobial prescribing to counter it. Dentists prescribe ~10% of all antibiotics worldwide, yet up to 90% of antibiotic prescriptions by dentists are inappropriate. The aim of this systematic review was to update a 2017 review evaluating the effects of antibiotic stewardship interventions in dental settings, using the international consensus on core outcomes for dental antibiotic stewardship.

Methods

Systematic database searches were undertaken in April 2023, of the: Cochrane Oral Health Group Trials Register, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE via OVID, EMBASE via OVID, Dentistry and Oral Sciences Source, the US National Institutes of Health Trials Register, the World Health Organisation International Clinical Trials Registry Platform and the ISRCTN registry databases. Randomised controlled trials (or non‐randomised studies with clearly reported mechanism of group formation and inclusion criteria) of interventions to optimise and/or reduce dental antibiotic prescribing were eligible for inclusion. Two authors independently screened for eligible studies. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 tool, certainty of evidence assessed using GRADE. Meta‐analysis was planned whether the results of studies reported similar outcomes, otherwise narrative synthesis was undertaken.

Results

Three eligible studies randomising 2148 participants were included. The interventions were combinations of education, audit and feedback and written behaviour change messages, guideline summary, practice visits and patient leaflets. None of the control groups received an intervention. All three included studies measured the quantity of antibiotics prescribed and two measured the appropriateness of prescribing. None measured patient‐reported or adverse outcomes. Two included studies were assessed as ‘high risk’ and one with ‘low risk’ of bias. There was high‐certainty evidence that audit and personalised feedback with individualised behaviour change messages can be effective. Evidence for in‐person education was low‐certainty. Guideline dissemination alone was ineffective at improving antibiotic prescribing. Due to different outcomes reported, meta‐analysis was inappropriate.

Conclusion

Although various dental antibiotic stewardship interventions have been reported in the literature, only three have been evaluated using a randomised design, of which only one provided high certainty evidence. To strengthen the body of evidence, well‐powered, robust, randomised controlled trials are required, with adequate follow‐up, reporting the internationally‐agreed core outcomes and including a parallel process evaluation is recommended.

Trial Registration: PROSPERO (CRD42023411476)