bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The mediating role of green energy and environmental policies in sustainable development for BRICS economies: A tripartite impact of entrepreneurial activities, urban development and economic growth on ecological footprint
Authors: Udemba Edmund Ntom , Shah Syed Ale Raza , Philip Lucy Davou , Zhao Guangyuan
Published: February 2024

Recently, the globe has been facing several challenges, and environmental deterioration has become more prominent. Therefore, to deal with such environmental issues, the globe has tried to introduce several green initiatives via the Kyoto Protocol, the Paris Agreement, and the Sustainable Development Goals, but the problem remains intact. However, practitioners have no more choice but to exclude emerging economies from this race. For instance, to understand the response of emerging economies toward a sustainable environment, this study considers BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) economies. Similarly, the current empirical study utilizes innovative environmental determinants such as real income, urbanization, entrepreneurial activities, per capita renewable energy, financial innovation and environmental policy for selected regions from 2000 to 2021. However, the findings of the advanced estimators' series show the significant contribution of per capita green energy consumption, environmental policy and entrepreneurial activities toward environmental sustainability. In contrast, income, financial inclusion and urbanization contribute to environmental damage. Because of green energy supportive behavior, this study makes an additional step to investigate the mediating effect on financial inclusion, environmental policy and entrepreneurship. However, the mediating effect only supports environmental policy and entrepreneurship activities to reduce environmental pressure. From the policy perspective, the specified economies should allocate their financial resources to clean & green projects to attain the desired level of sustainability.
“Four‐In‐One” Multifunctional Dandelion‐Like Gold@platinum Nanoparticles‐Driven Multimodal Lateral Flow Immunoassay
Authors: Wang Zexiang , Zou Rubing , Yi Jiuhong , Wang Yidan , Hu Hong , Qi Chao , Lai Weihua , Guo Yirong , Xianyu Yunlei
Published: February 2024

The traditional lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) with a single signal output mode may encounter challenges such as low sensitivity, poor detection range, and susceptibility to external interferences. These limitations hinder its ability to meet the growing demand for advanced LFIA. To address these issues, the rational development of multifunctional labels for multimodal LFIA emerges as a promising strategy. Herein, this study reports a multimodal LFIA using “four‐in‐one” multifunctional dandelion‐like gold@platinum nanoparticles (MDGP). The inherent properties of MDGP, such as the broad absorption spectrum, porous dandelion‐like nanostructure, and bimetallic composition with gold and platinum, endow them with capacities in dual spectral‐overlapped fluorescence quenching, optical readout, catalytic activity, and photothermal effect. Benefiting from their multifunctional properties, the MDGP‐LFIA enables multimodal outputs including fluorescent, colorimetric, and photothermal signals. This multimodal MDGP‐LFIA allows for the detection of acetamiprid at a range of 0.01–50 ng mL−1, with the lowest qualitative and quantitative detection results of 0.5 and 0.008 ng mL−1, respectively, significantly better than the traditional gold nanoparticles‐based LFIA. The diversity, complementarity, and synergistic effect of integrated output signals in this multimodal MDGP‐LFIA improve the flexibility, practicability, and accuracy of detection, holding great promise as a point‐of‐care testing platform in versatile application scenarios.
Tailoring cell sheets for biomedical applications
Authors: Chen Weiwei , Nie Min , Gan Jingjing , Xia Nan , Wang Dandan , Sun Lingyun
Published: February 2024

Cell sheet technology has emerged as a novel scaffold‐free approach for cell‐based therapies in regenerative medicine. Techniques for harvesting cell sheets are essential to preserve the integrity of living cell sheets. This review provides an overview of fundamental technologies to fabricate cell sheets and recent advances in cell sheet‐based tissue engineering. In addition to the commonly used temperature‐responsive systems, we introduce alternative approaches, such as ROS‐induced, magnetic‐controlled, and light‐induced cell sheet technologies. Moreover, we discuss the modification of the cell sheet to improve its function, including stacking, genetic modification, and vascularization. With the significant advances in cell sheet technology, cell sheets have been widely applied in various tissues and organs, including but not limited to the lung, cornea, cartilage, periodontium, heart, and liver. This review further describes both the preclinical and clinical applications of cell sheets. We believe that the progress in cell sheet technology would further propel its biomedical applications.
Large‐Area GaAs‐Based Multijunction Solar Cells by “Smart Stack” Approach Using Pd Nanoparticle Array and Silicone Adhesive
Authors: Makita Kikuo , Mizuno Hidenori , Kamikawa Yukiko , Oshima Ryuji , Shoji Yasushi , Takamoto Tatsuya , Ishizuka Shogo , Sugaya Takeyoshi
Published: February 2024

Smart stacking using Pd nanoparticle arrays is a handy technique for producing two‐terminal tandem solar cells from various photovoltaic materials. However, it is difficult to fabricate a large‐area cell because of handling ultrathin epi‐wafer. Therefore, herein, a large‐area GaAs‐based multijunction (MJ) solar cell is fabricated using a modified smart stacking method. Applying epitaxial lift‐off with a slightly adhesive sheet makes transferring an epi‐wafer of more than 2 inches possible. The fabricated InGaP/GaAs//CuIn1−yGaySe2three‐junction solar cell of 2.6 cm × 2.6 cm square exhibits a total efficiency of 22.8%. The large‐area process demonstrates the potential of smart stack GaAs‐based MJ solar cells as next‐generation solar cells.
Second Near‐Infrared Activatable Nitric Oxide Releasing Nanoactuators for Photothermal Combinational Modulation of Epileptogenic Focus
Authors: Liu Jiansheng , Li Jiajia , Shi Yanhui , Zhu Anni , Ding Mengbin , Yu Ningyue , Liu Yongkang , Wang Ping , Li Jingchao , Liu Yu
Published: February 2024

Laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT), which ablates diseased brain tissues via hyperthermia, has offered novel treatment approach for epilepsy; however, the current LITT protocols still lack ablation selectivity and disease‐modifying efficacy. A second near‐infrared (NIR‐II) activatable nitric oxide (NO) releasing nanoactuator is reported here for photothermal combinational modulation of epileptogenic focus. The nanoactuator is prepared by conjugating NO donor S‐nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) onto polydopamine‐coated gold (Au) nanoparticles (NPs), which shows excellent photothermal conversion capability and controlled NO‐releasing property upon illumination in the NIR‐II window. Both in vitro and in vivo study demonstrate that the nanoactuator could exert stronger cell killing effects as compared to its counterpart. Furthermore, the NIR‐II‐activated NO release could inhibit P‐gp expression by regulating NF‐κb pathway, resulting in reprogramming of epileptogenic microenvironment. This study thus offers a novel regulating strategy for the treatment of drug‐resistant epilepsy.
Elimination of arsenic from the reject solution of the reverse osmosis process
Authors: Corroto Cynthia , Pérez Carrera Alejo L. , Fernández Cirelli Alicia , Iriel Analia
Published: February 2024

Disposal of the concentrate of the reverse osmosis process (ROC) is a challenge arising from implementing reverse osmosis‐based treatments for water supply. Environmentally friendly management options are related to technological changes tending to dismiss the environmental damage and offer reuse of the concentrate. In this work, we study the efficiency of a widely available material (laterite) for arsenic removal from raw ROC belonging to a treatment water supply plant. Assays of laterite were performed under batch conditions, by suspending it in raw ROC solutions enriched with As(V). Results indicated that arsenic adsorption was complete after 6 h of contact. Kinetic adsorption followed a law of the pseudo‐second‐order, where the rate was 96 g mg−1 h−1. The maximum adsorption capacity and equilibrium constant, which were determined by fitting equilibrium data to the Langmuir model adequately, were 154 µg g−1 and 0.9 L µg−1, respectively. The interaction between arsenic and laterite has a physical nature. From the raw ROC with an arsenic concentration near 150 µg L−1, a reduction of 62% was determined. The final concentrations of the treated solutions resulted in adequate for several reuse purposes in agricultural activities, such as crop irrigation and supplementation of animal drinking water.
Comparison of forages’ digestion levels for different in vitro digestion techniques in horses
Authors: Kara Kanber , Altınsoy Abdullah
Published: February 2024

Background

Forages are widely used in horse diets. Different in vitro techniques are being tried to determine the fermentation levels of forages in the horse digestive tract.

Objectives

This study aimed to evaluate the digestion levels of four dry forages commonly used in horse nutrition: alfalfa herbage, meadow hay, wheat straw, and Italian ryegrass. In vitro total digestion (TDT), in vitro Sunvold–large intestine digestion (SDT) and in vitro Menke–large intestine digestion (MDT) techniques were compared.

Methods

The study determined in vitro true dry matter digestion (T‐DMD), in vitro true organic matter digestion (T‐OMD) and in vitro true neutral detergent fibre digestion (T‐NDFD). Additionally, concentrations of straight short‐chain fatty acids (SCFAs; acetic acid – AA, propionic acid , butyric acid, and valeric acid ) and branched short‐chain fatty acids (BSCFA) were assessed.

Results

The highest in vitro T‐DMD, T‐OMD and T‐NDFD values were determined by the in vitro TDT for the four forages (p < 0.05). In vitro T‐DMD and T‐OMD values of alfalfa herbage were higher than those of Italian ryegrass, meadow hay and wheat straw in the in vitro TDT (p < 0.001). In addition, in vitro T‐DMD and T‐OMD values of alfalfa herbage in the in vitro SDT were higher than those of meadow hay and wheat straw (p < 0.001). In the in vitro TDT, the molarity of AA, total SCFA and BSCFA in the digestion fluid of alfalfa herbage was higher than those of other forages (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

The in vitro total enzymatic + fermentative digestion technique for horse forages revealed higher values than the in vitro fermentative digestion techniques. In general, the higher the non‐structural carbohydrate and crude protein contents in the forage, the higher the results of the in vitro TDT compared to the other techniques.
Italy
Authors: Alber Elisabeth , Valdesalici Alice , Klotz Greta
Published: February 2024

The different types of local government (metropolitan cities, provinces, municipalities), are caught between national and regional legislation in a situation in which the national legislature has the upper hand, with the exception in a few special regions in Italy’s system of asymmetrical regionalism. Although the system of local government was and still is quite symmetrical on the whole, in practice it is less than fully symmetrical with regard both to the performance of local governments and to their role in intergovernmental relations. Local governments are in search of role-clarity amidst a background of a unstable politics and several seasons of unfinished (federal) reforms. Meanwhile, intergovernmental relations are complicated by structural challenges, by a range of socio-demographic trends such as urbanisation and the hyper-fragmentation of local governments, and by the challenges arising from the financial crisis of 2008 and later from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Ethiopia
Authors: Ayele Zemelak Ayitenew
Published: February 2024

Local government is the oldest and most important political institution in Ethiopia and one that has direct relevance to the conduct of people’s everyday lives. Despite this simple fact, local government does not enjoy the institutional place and status in government that its importance warrants. It has no explicit constitutional recognition and consequently is not endowed with original functions, powers, or sources of finance. It is barely considered in any of the political and legislative reforms taking place in the country. Any democratic and social reform that does take place is, in fact, unlikely to succeed without properly empowering local government and enhancing its democratic mandate. Positive political change ‘requires enhancing the political significance and the democratic pedigree of local governments’. The institutional mechanism for achieving this is ‘the entrenchment in the national constitution of local government as democratic and politically relevant level of government, alongside the transfer of suitable competences and sufficient resources’.
India
Authors: Sahoo Niranjan
Published: February 2024

This chapter documents the growth and evolution of local self-government in India. Despite some major obstacles, the past 75 years have seen the gradual institutionalisation of local government. The historic 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment Acts of 1992 set out, for the first time, to provide local bodies within the country’s federal system with certain mandatory structures and powers, but these have not been fully effectuated. Although India has experienced increasing levels of participation from marginalised groups (including women and Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes), active resistance by state-level elites as well as feudal and bureaucratic leadership, in addition to a range of structural challenges, has significantly impeded the deepening of decentralisation and self-governance in the country.
The Power of Dialogue: The Regulator–Regulatee Relationship in the Norwegian Oil and Gas Industry
Authors: Forseth Ulla
Published: February 2024

The aim of this chapter is to investigate the regulator–regulatee relationship and dialogue as a policy instrument in the Norwegian oil and gas industry. Dialogue is used as a lens to shed light on power relations in encounters between regulator and regulatees. The empirical part draws on qualitative research and multiple data sets. Dialogue is the preferred supervisory strategy and is embedded in symmetrical and asymmetrical power relations. The dialogue is formalised, ritualised, and restricted during regulator–regulatee encounters, whereas regulatees call for more informal discussions. The use of dialogue as a policy instrument has contributed to leeway for creativity in operations, learning, feedback, shared understanding and, according to the regulator, innovation and solutions beyond minimum requirements of laws and regulation.
Global to Regional: From Twenty-First Century Skills to Life Skills in East Africa
Authors: Care Esther
Published: February 2024

Education systems worldwide are adapting to demands from civil society and the workforce to better equip young people to function effectively in the twenty-first century world. The lag from awareness to aspiration to policy and to practice requires communities to contribute to building knowledge, developing tools, and representing society’s needs to government. Three countries in sub-Saharan Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, are benefiting from the efforts of a network of civil organisations working together with academia and government, which seek to enhance education provision. This introductory chapter establishes the context in which the Assessment of Life Skills and Values in East Africa initiative has developed tools to measure adolescents’ proficiencies, and in so doing developed expertise in the assessment of life skills and values through a regional initiative.
The Contextualisation of 21st Century Skills in East Africa
Authors: Giacomazzi Mauro
Published: February 2024

The world is concerned about young people’s preparedness to face challenges in the workplace, as well as society’s ability to respond to the social and economic issues of the twenty-first century. To respond to this challenge in the past decade, the education systems in East Africa have incorporated life skills and values into their policies and curricula; however, the actual implementation and incorporation of teaching and learning practices that foster these skills in the classroom is mostly unexplored. It has also been noted that tools used to measure 21st century skills in non-Western contexts have been borrowed from Western literature. This leaves no room for different understandings and conceptualisations of the skills to be measured. The Assessment of Life Skills and Values in East Africa (ALiVE) team addressed the gap in existing literature by exploring the understanding of collaboration, problem solving, self-awareness, and respect in the East African context through rapid ethnographic interviews. Each of these constructs are represented in the education systems of Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. The researchers interviewed a total of 368 participants (80 from Kenya, 55 from Tanzania, and 95 from Uganda). Of these, 76 participants were adolescents; 78 were parents; and 76 were teachers. What emerges prominently in the East African context is that personal identity incorporates more communitarian than individualistic features compared to the Western descriptions of the self. As a consequence, when designing a data collection tool for assessing life skills in the East African context, there are several conceptual, ethnographic, and epistemological elements to be considered—not only at the initial stage of conceptualising the framework of a tool, but also in the process of tool development, data collection, and data analysis.
Opportunities and Challenges in Household-Based Assessment of Life Skills
Authors: Nakabugo Mary Goretti , Madanda Benard , Kaburu Amos
Published: February 2024

Household-based assessments (HBA) in education are novel. Conducting household-based learning assessments has long been associated with non-government organisations as evidenced in India, other parts of South Asia, East, West and Southern Africa, and the Americas. The use of HBA to measure life skills expands the use of this approach that was long characterised by assessing foundational literacy and numeracy skills. Experiences from the Assessment of Life Skills and Values (AliVE) by the Regional Educational Learning Initiative (RELI) reveal that opportunities for using HBA to measure life skills are immense. Through a collaborative initiative, ALIVE as a process delivered a tool that was used across Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda mobilising stakeholders among policymakers, education researchers, teachers, civil society organisation leaders, local partner organisations and citizen assessors from areas where a sample of adolescents aged 13–17 was identified, selected and assessed on the value of respect and life skills of self-awareness, problem solving and collaboration. This household-based assessment approach reveals that despite the immense opportunities, there are also challenges. This chapter provides the context of ALiVE, traces the process of implementing ALiVE using the household-based approach, and discusses the opportunities and challenges associated with using HBA in measuring life skills. These opportunities include the ability to capture a larger range of children than can school-based assessments, the liberalisation of assessments, the inbuilt advocacy and technology opportunities, the deepening of external accountability systems, and engagement capabilities. Among the challenges discussed in using HBA for measuring life skills is the need to identify and define the purpose, the complexity of identifying groups to assess, the logistical challenges in implementation and associated costs, difficulties in scheduling, and the reality that still not all children will be reached. Despite this set of challenges, HBA demonstrate the opportunities that exist outside school to provide data at large scale for reporting and advocacy.
Scenario-Based Assessments: Experience from East Africa
Authors: Mutweleli Samuel , Mwathe Grace , Mundi Scolastica
Published: February 2024

How to assess twenty-first century skills continues to challenge measurement experts in education. Scenario-based assessment, a strategy used in the Assessment of Lifeskills and Values in East Africa (ALiVE) project, offers some benefits for these performance-based skills. In this chapter, scenario-based assessment is defined and described together with a discussion of assumptions made in developing such assessments. The creation of tools for assessing three life skills and the value of respect is used to illustrate issues encountered in the process. The daily life activities of adolescents in home, school and community environments in East Africa provided the substance for stimulus scenarios to which adolescents responded in this large-scale assessment program of more than 45,000 adolescents. The technical processes undertaken by the test development team are described across stages of idea creation, think aloud, and dry run; culminating in a pilot in Kenya in order to generate data for reviewing scale development before the large-scale assessment. Through this process, lessons were learnt that may inform future use of scenario-based assessments in contexts similar to those in which ALiVE operated.
Funktionale Erweiterung der Typologie von Knochenartefakten auf der Basis von Gebrauchsspuren
Authors: Probst-Böhm Anja
Published: February 2024

Werkzeuge aus Knochen waren ein viel genutzter Bestandteil eines neolithischen Haushaltes. Mit Knochenwerkzeugen wurden die unterschiedlichsten Werkstoffe bearbeitet. Nur ein Bruchteil davon ist uns überhaupt bekannt und bewusst. Im Rahmen dieser Arbeit war es notwendig, Fragestellungen und Experimente ergebnisfokussiert zu planen. Aus verschiedenen Gründen konnten nicht alle zunächst gewünschten Experimente entsprechend umgesetzt werden. In anderen Untersuchungen zu Gebrauchsspuren wurde wohl aus analogen Gründen deshalb häufig nur ein Werkstoff mit einem Werkzeug bearbeitet oder es wurden Knochenwerkzeuge untersucht, bei deren Benutzung der Autor nicht dabei war.
Zusammenfassung und Ausblick
Authors: Probst-Böhm Anja
Published: February 2024

Archäologische Artefakte können viel über den damaligen Menschen erzählen. Auf dieser Grundlage getroffene Interpretationen können bisher allerdings nur sehr schwer überprüft werden. Deskriptive Typologien bieten zwar die Möglichkeit, die Artefakte einzuordnen, wodurch sich Interpretationen ableiten und teilweise auch erweitern lassen.
Radical Inclusion: The Key to Urban Transformation
Authors: Pineda Victor Santiago
Published: February 2024

Fifteen percent of the global population has a disability, which will only increase with aging demographic trends. The elderly population is expected to rise to 1.4 billion by 2030 and 2.1 billion by 2050. Half of the world’s population already live in cities and cities will play an increasingly crucial role in promoting inclusion and addressing the needs of a rapidly changing demographic. As technology advances and assistive technologies are developed, disability will become increasingly common and cities must be transformed to be inclusive of everyone. The Capability Model argues that disability is not the attribute of the individual; instead, it is created by barriers that exist in the social environment and therefore requires social change. When barriers exist, inclusive communities work to transform the way they are organized to meet the needs of all people by mobilizing social, political, and economic factors to identify and eliminate participation barriers. Radical inclusion is a framework aimed at eliminating the barriers that hinder individuals and communities from reaching their full potential. It goes beyond full participation to create inclusive systems that promote equity and resilience. Inclusive communities aim to remove barriers that perpetuate poverty, inequality, disempowerment, isolation, and exclusion.
RNA m6A modification regulates L1 retrotransposons in human spermatogonial stem cell differentiation in vitro and in vivo
Authors: Li Zili , Fang Fang , Zafar Mohammad Ishraq , Wu Xunwei , Liu Xinyu , Tan Xia , Luo Jingwen , Ye Zhen , Xiong Chengliang , Li Honggang
Published: February 2024

The maintenance of genome integrity in the germline is crucial for mammalian development. Long interspersed element type 1 (LINE-1, L1) is a mobile genetic element that makes up about 17% of the human genome and poses a threat to genome integrity. N6-methyl-adenosine (m6A) plays an essential role in regulating various biological processes. However, the function of m6A modification in L1 retrotransposons and human germline development remains largely unknown. Here we knocked out the m6A methyltransferase METTL3 or the m6A reader YTHDF2 in human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and discovered that METTL3 and YTHDF2 are crucial for inducing human spermatogonial stem cells (hSSCs) from hESCs in vitro. The removal of METTL3 or YTHDF2 resulted in increased L1 retrotransposition and reduced the efficiency of SSC differentiation in vitro. Further analysis showed that YTHDF2 recognizes the METTL3-catalyzed m6A modification of L1 retrotransposons and degrades L1 mRNA through autophagy, thereby blocking L1 retrotransposition. Moreover, the study confirmed that m6A modification in human fetal germ cells promotes the degradation of L1 retrotransposon RNA, preventing the insertion of new L1 retrotransposons into the genome. Interestingly, L1 retrotransposon RNA was highly expressed while METTL3 was significantly downregulated in the seminal plasma of azoospermic patients with meiotic arrest compared to males with normal fertility. Additionally, we identified some potentially pathogenic variants in m6A-related genes in azoospermic men with meiotic arrest. In summary, our study suggests that m6A modification serves as a guardian of genome stability during human germline development and provides novel insights into the function and regulatory mechanisms of m6A modification in restricting L1 retrotransposition.
Influence of magmatic and magmatic-hydrothermal processes on the lithium endowment of micas in the Cornubian Batholith (SW England)
Authors: Putzolu F. , Seltmann R. , Dolgopolova A. , Armstrong R. N. , Shail R. K. , Spratt J. , Buret Y. , Broderick C. , Brownscombe W.
Published: February 2024

The Cornubian Batholith (SW England) is an archetypal Variscan rare metal granite with potential for Li-mica mineralization. We present a petrographic, trace element and multivariate statistical study of micas from the Cornubian Batholith granite series and related hydrothermally altered units to assess the role of magmatic vs subsolidus processes and of fluxing elements (F and B) on the Li cycle during the evolution of the system. The mica types are as follows: (1) magmatic, which include Fe-biotite, protolithionite I and phengite-muscovite from the most primitive granites, and zinnwaldite I from more fractionated lithologies; (2) subsolidus, which encompass high-temperature autometasomatic Li-micas and low-temperature hydrothermal muscovite-phengite. Autometasomatic species include protolithionite II, zinnwaldite II and lepidolite, which were observed in the most fractionated and hydrothermally altered units, and occur as replacements of magmatic micas. Low-temperature hydrothermal Li-poor micas formed via alteration of magmatic and autometasomatic micas or as replacement of feldspars, and albeit occur in all studied lithologies they are best represented by the granite facies enriched in metasomatic tourmaline. The evolution of micas follows two major trends underlining a coupling and decoupling between the Li(F) and B fluxes. These include as follows: (1) a Li(F)-progressive trend explaining the formation of protolithionite I and zinnwaldite I, which fractionate Li along with Cs, Nb and Sn during the late-magmatic stages of crystallization, and of zinnwaldite II and lepidolite forming from the re-equilibration of primary micas with high-temperature Li-B-W-Tl-Cs-Mn-W-rich autometasomatic fluids; (2) a Li(F)-retrogressive trend explaining the low-temperature hydrothermal muscovitization, which represents the main Li depletion process. Trace element geochemistry and paragenesis of late muscovite-phengite support that muscovitization is a district-scale process that affected the upper parts of the granite cupolas through acidic and B(Fe-Sn)-saturated hydrothermal fluids associated with metasomatic tourmalinization, which were mixed with a low Eh meteoric component.
Short-term temporal variability in offshore benthic biodiversity across hydrographic regions at a sub-Antarctic archipelago
Authors: Puccinelli Eleonora , Logston Renae , Russo Cristina S. , Ansorge Isabelle J. , von der Meden Charles E. O.
Published: February 2024

Community composition is one of the main factors influencing the ecological functioning of any given ecosystem, with a more diverse community providing a larger set of services. Benthic community composition can vary at spatial and temporal scales, with the dynamics of primary production and benthic food availability being key determinants of community structure of a given system. Studies have indicated shifts in benthic community composition at sub-Antarctic Islands over a period of 30 years, linked to variability in food availability driven by climate change. Here, we aim to evaluate possible short-term variability in benthic community composition at the sub-Antarctic archipelago Prince Edward Islands (PEIs), sampling stations across three hydrographically dynamic regions over two consecutive years, 2016–2017. The results indicated significantly higher species richness and abundance in 2017 than in 2016, with some taxa also showing variation among regions around the PEIs. Such effects can be linked to different substratum type or hydrographic regime. This study further contributes to understanding variability and changes in benthic communities in the near future, an essential information to develop efficient management strategies for this vulnerable marine system.
Clinical Outcomes and Medical Burdens of Neonatal Arrhythmias in Children’s Hospitals in China: A Protocol for Multi-Center Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Na Jia , Wu Songwei , Chen Lu , Qi Yujie , Yuan Yue , Feng Guoshuang , Wang Xinyu , Hei Mingyan
Published: February 2024

Neonatal arrhythmias are significant contributors to infant mortality. Timely diagnosis and treatment are essential for neonates with non-benign arrhythmias to avoid severe complications, and ongoing treatment and follow-up are sometimes needed. The main objective of this study will be to understand the incidence and demographic characteristics of arrhythmias in hospitalized neonates in China and the related factors of outcomes. A secondary objective will be to establish the first follow-up system for neonatal arrhythmias in China. The medical burdens of neonatal arrhythmias in China will also be investigated. The data from the Futang Research Center of Pediatric Development (FRCPD) database between January 2016 and December 2021 were obtained. Newborns admitted to member hospitals with a discharge diagnosis of “neonatal arrhythmia” (ICD-10 code P29.151) or “arrhythmia” (ICD-10 code I49.904) were included. The medical record information was collected and classified into two groups: heart failure and non-heart failure. The differences between the two groups and independent risk factors for neonatal arrhythmias complicated with heart failure were analyzed. In addition, a follow-up study of patients discharged from Beijing Children’s Hospital was conducted to evaluate their outcomes at the age of 3 years old. Factors influencing hospitalization costs were analyzed using rank-sum tests and multiple linear regression. It is anticipated that the study findings will provide new and comprehensive data on the health needs of neonatal arrhythmias in China. The study will establish the first follow-up system for neonatal arrhythmias in China. This study will help reduce the burden of patients and their families as well as the society.
Streptomyces enissocaesilis L-82 has broad-spectrum antibacterial activity and promotes growth for Carassius auratus
Authors: Long Wensu , Zhao Wenjuan , He Liangliang , Khan Tahir Ali , Lai Ximiao , Sun Yunjun , Huang Weitao , Yi Ganfeng , Xia Liqiu
Published: February 2024

Aeromonas is the main pathogen causing bacterial diseases in fish. The disadvantages of chemical drugs to control fish diseases have been highlighted, and it is urgent to find an eco-friendly control method. In this study, an actinomycete strain with antibacterial activity against fish pathogenic bacteria was screened from soil samples. Combined with morphological characteristics, physiological and biochemical characteristics, and gyrB gene and whole genome comparison analysis, it was identified as a new strain of Streptomyces enissocaesilis, named Streptomyces enissocaesilis L-82. The strain has broad-spectrum antibacterial activity against fish pathogens. A substance with a mass-to-charge ratio of 227.20 [M + H] + was isolated and purified by high-performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. It was presumed to be a derivative of 5-dimethylallylindole-3-acetonitrile. The strain is safe and non-toxic to crucian carp, and can stably colonize crucian carp and inhibit the proliferation of A. hydrophila. After feeding the feed containing 1 × 108 CFU/mL strain concentration, the weight growth rate and specific growth rate of crucian carp increased, the activity of ACP and SOD in serum increased, and the survival rate of crucian carp increased after challenge. Genome-wide analysis showed that the strain had strong ability to metabolize and tolerate extreme environments. And has a strong potential for disease resistance. Therefore, the strain is expected to be developed as a feed additive for fish farming.

Key points

• The new Streptomyces enissocaesilis L-82 has a broad spectrum and stable antibacterial activity and meets the safety standards of feed additives.

• Strain L-82 can colonize crucian carp, improve the growth, antioxidant, and immune performance of the host, and improve the survival rate after being infected with A. hydrophila.

• Genome-wide analysis suggests that the strain has great disease resistance potential and is expected to be developed as a feed additive for fish culture.
Features of the microalga Raphidocelis subcapitata: physiology and applications
Authors: Machado Manuela D. , Soares Eduardo V.
Published: February 2024

The microalga Raphidocelis subcapitata was isolated from the Nitelva River (Norway) and subsequently deposited in the collection of the Norwegian Institute of Water Research as “Selenastrum capricornutum Printz”. This freshwater microalga, also known as Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata, acquired much of its notoriety due to its high sensitivity to different chemical species, which makes it recommended by different international organizations for the assessment of ecotoxicity. However, outside this scope, R. subcapitata continues to be little explored. This review aims to shed light on a microalga that, despite its popularity, continues to be an “illustrious” unknown in many ways. Therefore, R. subcapitata taxonomy, phylogeny, shape, size/biovolume, cell ultra-structure, and reproduction are reviewed. The nutritional and cultural conditions, chronological aging, and maintenance and preservation of the alga are summarized and critically discussed. Applications of R. subcapitata, such as its use in aquatic toxicology (ecotoxicity assessment and elucidation of adverse toxic outcome pathways) are presented. Furthermore, the latest advances in the use of this alga in biotechnology, namely in the bioremediation of effluents and the production of value-added biomolecules and biofuels, are highlighted. To end, a perspective regarding the future exploitation of R. subcapitata potentialities, in a modern concept of biorefinery, is outlined.

Graphical Abstract

Key points

• An overview of alga phylogeny and physiology is critically reviewed.

• Advances in alga nutrition, cultural conditions, and chronological aging are presented.

• Its use in aquatic toxicology and biotechnology is highlighted.
Dose–effect relationships in neuroendocrine tumour liver metastases treated with [166Ho]-radioembolization
Authors: Ramdhani K. , Beijer-Verduin J. , Ebbers S. C. , van Rooij R. , Smits M. L. J. , Bruijnen R. C. G. , de Jong H. W. A. M. , Lam M. G. E. H. , Braat A. J. A. T.
Published: February 2024

Purpose

Aim of this study was to investigate a dose-response relationship, dose-toxicity relationship, progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in neuroendocrine tumour liver metastases (NELM) treated with holmium-166-microspheres radioembolization ([166Ho]-radioembolization).

Materials and methods

Single center, retrospective study included patients with NELM that received [166Ho]-radioembolization with post-treatment SPECT/CT and CECT or MRI imaging for 3 months follow-up. Post-treatment SPECT/CT was used to calculate tumour (Dt) and whole liver healthy tissue (Dh) absorbed dose. Clinical and laboratory toxicity was graded by Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE), version 5 at baseline and three-months follow-up. Response was determined according to RECIST 1.1. The tumour and healthy doses was correlated to lesion-based objective response and patient-based toxicity. Kaplan Meier analyses were performed for progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS).

Results

Twenty-seven treatments in 25 patients were included, with a total of 114 tumours. Median follow-up was 14 months (3 – 82 months). Mean Dt in non-responders was 68 Gy versus 118 Gy in responders, p = 0.01. ROC analysis determined 86 Gy to have the highest sensitivity and specificity, resp. 83% and 81%. Achieving a Dt of ≥ 120 Gy provided the highest likelihood of response (90%) for obtaining response. Sixteen patients had grade 1–2 clinical toxicity and only one patient grade 3. No clear healthy liver dose-toxicity relationship was found. The median PFS was 15 months (95% CI [10.2;19.8]) and median OS was not reached.

Conclusion

This study confirms the safety and efficacy of [166Ho]-radioembolization in NELM in a real-world setting. A clear dose–response relationship was demonstrated and future studies should aim at a Dt of ≥ 120 Gy, being predictive of response. No dose-toxicity relationship could be established.
Peptoniphilus genitalis sp. nov. and Mobiluncus massiliensis sp. nov.: Novel Bacteria Isolated from the Vaginal Microbiome
Authors: Abou Chacra Linda , Bonnet Marion , Heredia Mégane , Haddad Gabriel , Armstrong Nicholas , Alibar Stéphane , Bretelle Florence , Fenollar Florence
Published: February 2024

The strains Marseille-Q7072T (= CSUR Q7072T = CECT 30604 T) and Marseille-Q7826T (= CSUR Q7826T = CECT 30727 T) were isolated from vaginal samples. As MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry failed to identify them, their genomes were directly sequenced to determine their taxogenomic identities. Both strains are anaerobic without any oxidase and catalase activity. C16:0 is the most abundant fatty acid for both strains. Strain Marseille-Q7072T is non-spore-forming, non-motile, Gram-stain-positive, and coccus-shaped, while strain Marseille-Q7826T is non-spore-forming, motile, Gram-stain-variable, and curved rod-shaped. The genomic comparison of the Marseille-Q7072T and Marseille-Q7826T strains showed that all digital DNA–DNA hybridisation (dDDH) and mean orthologous nucleotide identity (OrthoANI) values were below published species thresholds (70% and 95–96%, respectively) with other closely related species with standing in nomenclature. Thus, we conclude that both strains are new bacterial species. Strain Marseille-Q7072T is a new member of the Bacillota phylum, for which the name Peptoniphilus genitalis sp. nov. is proposed, while the Marseille-Q7826T strain is a new member of the Actinomycetota phylum, for which the name Mobiluncus massiliensis sp. nov. is proposed.
Die Modelltransferierbarkeit von KI in der digitalen Pathologie
Authors: Mayer Robin S. , Kinzler Maximilian N. , Stoll Alexandra K. , Gretser Steffen , Ziegler Paul K. , Saborowski Anna , Reis Henning , Vogel Arndt , Wild Peter J. , Flinner Nadine
Published: February 2024

Ziel der Arbeit

Künstliche Intelligenz hat das Potenzial, in der Pathologie weitreichende Fortschritte zu erzielen. Doch die tatsächliche Anwendung und Zertifizierung für die Praxis bleibt begrenzt, oft aufgrund von Herausforderungen bei der Transferierbarkeit von Modellen. In diesem Kontext untersuchen wir die Faktoren, die die Transferierbarkeit beeinflussen, und präsentieren Methoden, die dazu beitragen, die Nutzung von KI-Algorithmen in der Pathologie zu verbessern.

Material und Methoden

Mithilfe von Datensätzen aus 2 Instituten und dem öffentlich zugänglichen TCGA-MBIC-Datensatz (TCGA, The Cancer Genome Atlas) wurden Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) und Vision Transformer (ViT) für Vorhersagen an Urothelgewebe (Karzinom- vs. Normalgewebe) und an intrahepatischen Cholangiokarzinomen (iCCA, „small vs. large duct“) trainiert. Veranschaulicht wird der Einfluss von Farbnormalisierung, Bildartefakten in Training und Anwendung sowie der NoisyEnsemble-Methode.

Ergebnisse

Wir konnten demonstrieren, dass Farbnormalisierung von Gewebeschnitten einen positiven Effekt auf die Interinstitutstransferierbarkeit von CNNs und ViTs hat (respektive +13 % und +10 %) und ViTs meist eine höhere Genauigkeit im externen Test erzielen (hier +1,5 %). Ebenso konnten wir zeigen, dass Artefakte in Testdaten die Vorhersagen von CNNs negativ beeinflusst und dass das Einbeziehen dieser Artefakte während des Trainings zu einer Verbesserung führt. Schließlich erhöhen NoisyEnsembles aus CNNs (besser als aus ViTs) auf verschiedenen Geweben und Fragestellungen die Transferierbarkeit (+7 % Blase, +15 % iCCA).

Diskussion

Wichtig ist vor allem, sich dem Problem der Transferierbarkeit bewusst zu sein: Gute Performance in der Entwicklung bedeutet nicht gute Performance in der Anwendung. Der Einbezug vieler bereits existierender Methoden zur Verbesserung der Transferierbarkeit, wie z. B. Farbnormalisierung und NoisyEnsemble, und deren Weiterentwicklung sind von großer Wichtigkeit.
Old for young kidney transplantation: a responsible option for our patients to reduce waiting time?
Authors: Zeuschner Philip , Mihm Janine , Sester Urban , Stöckle Michael , Friedersdorff Frank , Budde Klemens , Yakac Abdulbaki , Thomas Christian , Huber Johannes , Putz Juliane , Flegar Luka
Published: February 2024

Purpose

The Eurotransplant Senior program allocating grafts from donors ≥ 65 years to recipients aged ≥ 65 years has proven good results within the last 20 years. However, “old” grafts are also allocated to younger recipients < 65 years, and this outcome of “old for young” kidney transplantations (KT) still lacks detailed investigations.

Methods

All “old for young” KT performed at four tertiary referral centers were retrospectively compared including a recent follow-up, stratifying for “old for young” (donor ≥ 65 years to recipient < 65 years) vs. “very old for young” KT (donor ≥ 70 years to recipient < 65 years).

Results

Overall, 99 patients were included with 56 (56.6%) “old for young” and 43 (43.4%) “very old for young” KT. The median waiting time did not differ (60.7 vs. 45.8 months, respectively) at comparable living donation rates (57.1% vs. 44.2%) as well as intra- and postoperative results. At a median follow-up of 44 months (range 1; 133), the 3-year graft survival of 91% vs. 87% did not significantly vary. In subgroup analyses assessing living donation or donation after brain death (DBD) KT only, the graft survival was significantly longer for “old for young” KT within the living donation subgroup. In multivariate Cox regression analyses, the presence of panel-reactive antibodies was the only significant impact factor on graft survival (HR 8.32, p = 0.001).

Conclusion

This analysis clearly demonstrates the effectiveness of the "old for young" approach, enabling favorable perioperative results as well as comparable data of graft- and overall survival, while reducing waiting time for eligible patients.
PP2A and GSK3 act as modifiers of FUS-ALS by modulating mitochondrial transport
Authors: Tziortzouda Paraskevi , Steyaert Jolien , Scheveneels Wendy , Sicart Adria , Stoklund Dittlau Katarina , Barbosa Correia Adriana Margarida , Burg Thibaut , Pal Arun , Hermann Andreas , Van Damme Philip , Moens Thomas G. , Van Den Bosch Ludo
Published: February 2024

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease which currently lacks effective treatments. Mutations in the RNA-binding protein FUS are a common cause of familial ALS, accounting for around 4% of the cases. Understanding the mechanisms by which mutant FUS becomes toxic to neurons can provide insight into the pathogenesis of both familial and sporadic ALS. We have previously observed that overexpression of wild-type or ALS-mutant FUS in Drosophila motor neurons is toxic, which allowed us to screen for novel genetic modifiers of the disease. Using a genome-wide screening approach, we identified Protein Phosphatase 2A (PP2A) and Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 (GSK3) as novel modifiers of FUS-ALS. Loss of function or pharmacological inhibition of either protein rescued FUS-associated lethality in Drosophila. Consistent with a conserved role in disease pathogenesis, pharmacological inhibition of both proteins rescued disease-relevant phenotypes, including mitochondrial trafficking defects and neuromuscular junction failure, in patient iPSC-derived spinal motor neurons (iPSC-sMNs). In FUS-ALS flies, mice, and human iPSC-sMNs, we observed reduced GSK3 inhibitory phosphorylation, suggesting that FUS dysfunction results in GSK3 hyperactivity. Furthermore, we found that PP2A acts upstream of GSK3, affecting its inhibitory phosphorylation. GSK3 has previously been linked to kinesin-1 hyperphosphorylation. We observed this in both flies and iPSC-sMNs, and we rescued this hyperphosphorylation by inhibiting GSK3 or PP2A. Moreover, increasing the level of kinesin-1 expression in our Drosophila model strongly rescued toxicity, confirming the relevance of kinesin-1 hyperphosphorylation. Our data provide in vivo evidence that PP2A and GSK3 are disease modifiers, and reveal an unexplored mechanistic link between PP2A, GSK3, and kinesin-1, that may be central to the pathogenesis of FUS-ALS and sporadic forms of the disease.