bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Climatic variation influences annual survival of an island‐breeding tropical shorebird
Authors: Engel Noémie , Sandercock Brett K. , Kosztolányi András , Adrião Andreia , Tavares Alex , Rice Romy , Székely Tamás
Published: January 2024

Global biodiversity loss is a major environmental concern. The wildlife on islands are particularly vulnerable to threats posed by alien predators, habitat loss and overexploitation. Effective conservation management of vulnerable species requires reliable information on vital population rates for all life stages and an understanding of key environmental drivers. However, demographic data are often not available for island populations before they decline or are extirpated. Here, we use Cormack–Jolly–Seber (CJS) models and 15 years of data for 1370 juveniles and 687 adults to estimate apparent survival for a genetically distinct resident population of Kentish plovers Charadrius alexandrinus on the island of Maio, Cabo Verde. We report two main findings. First, environmental conditions have a large effect on demographic performance since chicks that hatch during dry years experience a tenfold reduction in first‐year survival compared to chicks that hatch during wet years. Second, female and male plovers in Maio are expected to live for 7.41 ± 0.69 (mean ± SE) years and 6.75 ± 0.64 years, respectively, due to relatively high annual survival among comparable‐sized shorebirds. High adult survival thus could buffer the population against low reproductive success that this population has experienced over the last decade. Cabo Verde is typical of tropical islands with increased development that can impact native breeders and/or will accelerate habitat loss. Thus, more frequent droughts associated with climate change may exacerbate the prospects of native wildlife on many islands.
High‐density mapping of Koch's triangle during sinus rhythm and typical atrioventricular nodal re‐entrant tachycardia, integrated with direct recording of atrio‐ventricular node structure potential
Authors: Pandozi Claudio , Botto Giovanni Luca , Loricchio Maria Luisa , D'Ammando Matteo , Lavalle Carlo , Del Giorno Giuseppe , Matteucci Andrea , Mariani Marco Valerio , Nicolis Daniele , Segreti Luca , Papa Andrea Antonio , Casale Maria Carla , Galeazzi Marco , Russo Maurizio , Di Belardino Natale , Pelargonio Gemma , Centurion Aznaran Carlos , Malacrida Maurizio , Maddaluno Francesco , Treglia Simona , Piccolo Francesco , Colivicchi Furio
Published: January 2024

Background

The mechanism of typical slow‐fast atrioventricular nodal re‐entrant tachycardia (AVNRT) and its anatomical and electrophysiological circuit inside the right atrium (RA) and Koch's Triangle (KT) are not well known.

Objective

To identify the potentials of the compact AV node and inferior extensions and to perform accurate mapping of the RA and KT in sinus rhythm (SR) and during AVNRT, to define the tachycardia circuit.

Methods

Consecutive patients with typical AVNRT were enrolled in 12 Italian centers and underwent mapping and ablation by means of a basket catheter with small electrode spacing for ultrahigh‐density mapping and a modified signal‐filtering toolset to record the potentials of the AV nodal structures.

Results

Forty‐five consecutive cases of successful ablation of typical slow‐fast AVNRT were included. The mean SR cycle length (CL) was 784.1 ± 6 ms and the mean tachycardia CL was 361.2 ± 54 ms. The AV node potential had a significantly shorter duration and higher amplitude in sinus rhythm than during tachycardia (60 ± 40 ms vs. 160 ± 40 ms, p < .001 and 0.3 ± 0.2 mV vs. 0.09 ± 0.12 mV, p < .001, respectively). The nodal potential duration extension was 169.4 ± 31 ms, resulting in a time‐window coverage of 47.6 ± 9%. The recording of AV nodal structure potentials enabled us to obtain 100% coverage of the tachycardia CL during slow‐fast AVNRT.

Conclusion

Detailed recording of the potentials of nodal structures is possible by means of multipolar catheters for ultrahigh‐density mapping, allowing 100% of the AVNRT CL to be covered. These results also have clinical implications for the ablation of right‐septal and para‐septal arrhythmias.
Polymorphism of IL‐12/IL‐23 axis is associated with coronary heart disease
Authors: Dong Jiangtao , Chen Qianwen , Xie Tian , Wang Mengru , Wang Mengqi , Zha Lingfeng
Published: January 2024

IL12B encodes the shared p40 subunit (IL‐12p40) of IL‐12 and IL‐23, which have diverse immune functions and are closely related to the occurrence and development of atherosclerosis (AS). However, the exact role of IL12B in coronary heart disease (CHD) was still unknown. A case–control association analysis was performed between five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of IL12B (rs1003199, rs3212219, rs2569254, rs2853694 and rs3212227) and CHD in Chinese Han population (1824 patients with CHD vs. 2784 controls). Logistic regression analyses were used to study the relationships between SNPs and CHD, while multiple linear regression analyses were used to test the association between the SNP and the severity of CHD. In addition, the plasma IL12B concentration of CHD patients were detected by ELISA. We detected a significant association between one of the SNPs, rs2853694−G and CHD (padj = 2.075 × 10−5, OR, 0.773 [95% CI, 0.686–0.870]). Stratified analysis showed that rs2853694 was associated with CHD in both male and female populations and was significantly associated with both early‐ and late‐onset CHD. In addition, rs2853694 is also related to the different types of CHD including clinical‐CHD and anatomical‐CHD. Moreover, there are significant differences in serum IL12B concentrations between rs2853694−TT carriers and rs2853694−GT carriers in CHD patients (p = 0.010). A common variant of IL12B was found significantly associated with CHD and its subgroups. As a shared subunit of IL‐12 and IL‐23, IL‐12p40 may play a key role in IL‐12/IL‐23 axis mediated AS, which is expected to be an effective therapeutic target for CHD.
Resistant starch and type 2 diabetes mellitus: Clinical perspective
Authors: Kim Min Kyung , Park Juri , Kim Doo‐Man
Published: January 2024

The immediate and well‐documented benefits of carbohydrate restriction include improved glycemic control in individuals with diabetes mellitus. Starch, a significant source of carbohydrates, is categorized as rapidly digestible, slowly digestible, or resistant starch (RS). RS, which is a non‐viscous fermentable fiber, has shown promise in animal studies for antidiabetic effects by improving glucose metabolism. Although the exact mechanism by which RS affects glucose metabolism remains unclear, it is expected to positively impact glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity. The fermentation of RS by colonic microbiota in the large bowel produces short‐chain fatty acids, which exert multiple metabolic effects on glucose regulation and homeostasis. Moreover, RS may influence glucose metabolism via bile acid modulation, independent of its fermentation. Diets rich in RS could aid in blood glucose homeostasis. However, it is uncertain whether they can alter the metabolic pathology associated with glucose regulation. In essence, RS has the potential to lower postprandial glucose levels similarly to a low‐glycemic index diet. Yet, its efficacy as a medical nutrition therapy for type 2 diabetes needs further investigation. To confirm the role of RS in glycemic control and to possibly recommend it as an additional dietary approach for people with type 2 diabetes mellitus, a well‐designed, large‐scale intervention is required.
Topical glutathione amino acid precursors protect skin against environmental and oxidative stress
Authors: Cui Xiao , Mi Tingyan , Xiao Xue , Zhang Hong , Dong Yiying , Huang Nan , Gao Ping , Lee Jianming , Guelakis Marian , Gu Xuelan
Published: January 2024

Background

Although glutathione (GSH) has long been considered a master antioxidant, poor stability and bioavailability limit its application in skin protection. To overcome the challenges, Unilever R&D formulated a Glutathione Amino acid Precursors blend (named GAP) to boost GSH de novo synthesis.

Objective

Determine whether GAP can boost GSH levels and provide skin protection against stressors.

Methods

Normal human epidermal keratinocytes were treated with GAP, with or without stressors, namely, menadione, blue light or pollutants. Ascorbic acid was used as a benchmark. The levels of GSH, glutathione disulfide (GSSG), adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were quantified. A placebo‐controlled clinical study was conducted on 21 female subjects who received product applications and subsequent UV radiation. Tape strip samples were collected from the subjects for GSH and GSSG quantification using ultra‐performance liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (UPLC‐MS/MS). The UV‐protective effect of GAP was investigated using ex vivo skin. Biomarkers related to DNA damage and the skin barrier were analysed using immunohistochemistry.

Results

Glutathione amino acid precursors significantly increased the GSH levels and GSH/GSSG ratio in normal human epidermal keratinocytes. Menadione treatment resulted in excessive ROS production and a decline in ATP levels, which were effectively abrogated by GAP. The protective effects of GAP against menadione‐induced oxidative stress were superior to those of ascorbic acid. In addition, GAP effectively protected the cells against blue light‐induced ROS production and pollutant‐induced ATP depletion. Topical application of the GAP formulation significantly elevated the skin GSH/GSSG ratio in a clinical study. Ex vivo skin treated with the GAP formulation displayed a reduction in DNA damage and high levels of barrier proteins after UV exposure.

Conclusions

Glutathione amino acid precursors effectively increases cellular GSH levels to protect the skin from oxidative and environmental stresses.
Mixed Eimeria and Cryptosporidium infection and its effects on pathology and clinical outcomes in juvenile Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer) cultured in Thailand
Authors: Suyapoh Watcharapol , Keawchana Narissara , Sornying Peerapon , Tangkawattana Sirikachorn , Khirilak Pokphon , Jantrakajorn Sasibha
Published: January 2024

Coccidiosis is an important disease in juvenile fish because of severe intestinal injury during infection. We first reported the mixed infection of intestinal coccidia and its association with health status and pathological findings in juvenile Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer) cultured in Thailand. Two groups of Asian seabass, 60‐day fish and 90‐day fish, were sampled to investigate prevalence and coccidian infection intensity using morphological characterization and PCR. Phylogenetic analysis of 18S rRNA gene amplified from the intestines revealed Eimeria sp. and Cryptosporidium sp. infection. The prevalence of Eimeria sp. and Cryptosporidium sp. in sampled fish was 100%. Clinical outcomes assessed, using health assessment index (HAI) scoring and semi‐quantitative grading of intestinal lesions and inflammation, demonstrated that all fish developed variety of pathology and clinical illness; however, infection intensity in 60‐day fish was significantly higher (p < .05) than 90‐day fish. The HAI score of 60‐day fish was poorer than 90‐day fish, which correlated to a high infection intensity (r = .397), analysed by Pearson correlation coefficient. Overproduction of intestinal oxidants contributing to mucosal injury was examined by nitrotyrosine expression. The high production of reactive nitrogen species indicated severe inflammatory response, and intestinal injuries occurred mainly in the 60‐day fish.
Divergent progression pathways in male androgenetic alopecia and female pattern hair loss: Trichoscopic perspectives
Authors: Kamishima Tomoko , Hirabe Chie , Myint Khin Zay Yar , Taguchi Junichi
Published: January 2024

Background

Despite similarities in progressive miniaturization of hair follicles and transition of terminal hairs to vellus hairs, insufficient trichoscopic comparisons between male androgenetic alopecia (MAGA) and female pattern hair loss (FPHL) hinder our ability to select effective treatments.

Aim

Our study aimed to explore gender‐specific trichoscopic characteristics of MAGA and FPHL, while formulating hypotheses regarding the progression of these conditions across clinical stages.

Methods

We classified 126 male MAGA subjects using Hamilton‐Norwood Classification and 57 FPHL subjects using adopted Sinclair Scale. Subsequently, we analyzed nine trichoscopic factors divided into three categories: hair‐diameter related, hair‐number per follicular unit related, and hair density related factors.

Results

Of the nine quantitative trichoscopic factors, hair‐diameter and hair‐number per follicular unit showed strong correlations with clinical stages in both genders. Hair density, a common trichoscopic factor for hair loss evaluation, weakly correlated with clinical stages in FPHL, but not at all in MAGA. In addition, MAGA was characterized by a progressive reduction in hair‐diameter, followed by a reduction in hair‐number per follicular unit. FPHL, on the contrary, showed the opposite progression.

Conclusions

Trichoscopic factors vary with disease severity in a gender‐specific manner. Our research highlights that MAGA and FPHL involve two distinct streams: hair‐diameter decreasing by hair follicle miniaturization (Stream 1), and hair‐number per follicular unit decreasing by hair follicle tri‐lineage niche dysfunction (Stream 2). MAGA typically starts from Stream 1 to Stream 2, while FPHL starts from Stream 2. These diverse progression pathways underscore the importance of personalized treatment approaches.
The subjective well‐being in Peruvian adolescence: Identifying domains and evaluations in a non‐WEIRD context
Authors: Guillén Zambrano Henry Raúl , de la Puente Ronceros Rafaella Andrea , Pease Dreibelbis María Angélica
Published: January 2024

The present qualitative study examined how a group of Peruvian adolescents (N = 32) from different cultural contexts conceive their well‐being. The goal was to identify the domains that structure their conception of well‐being and how they evaluate it based on their elaboration. For this objective, 32 in‐depth interviews were carried out with adolescents from different cultural contexts in Perú. Elements such as region, academic performance, and gender were considered to identify specificities during the analysis. Interviews were analyzed using a thematic analysis strategy. As a result, six domains of adolescent well‐being emerged where well‐being is associated with socioeconomic factors, family and peer relationships, future aspirations, social skills and self‐esteem, academic performance, and health care. Participants' evaluations of well‐being were mainly grounded in the socioeconomic, family, and educational domains. Findings highlight the need to further develop psychology research on adolescence in non‐WEIRD societies.
Potential diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets for periodontitis and Alzheimer's disease based on bioinformatics analysis
Authors: Yang Kai , Zhang Zhaoqi , Zhang Qingyuan , Zhang Hongyu , Liu Xiaoju , Jia Zhicheng , Ying Zhenhao , Liu Wei
Published: January 2024

Background and Objective

As a chronic inflammatory disease, periodontitis threatens oral health and is a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD). There is growing evidence that these two diseases are closely related. However, current research is still incomplete in understanding the common genes and common mechanisms between periodontitis and AD. In this study, we aimed to identify common genes in periodontitis and AD and analyze the relationship between crucial genes and immune cells to provide new therapeutic targets for clinical treatment.

Materials and Methods

We evaluated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) specific to periodontitis and AD. Co‐expressed genes were identified by obtaining gene expression profile data from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Using the STRING database, protein–protein interaction (PPI) networks were constructed, and essential genes were identified. We also used four algorithms to identify critical genes and constructed regulatory networks. The association of crucial genes with immune cells and potential therapeutic effects was also assessed.

Results

PDGFRB, VCAN, TIMP1, CHL1, EFEMP2, and IGFBP5 were obtained as crucial common genes. Immune infiltration analysis showed that Natural killer cells and Myeloid‐derived suppressor cells were significantly differentially expressed in patients with PD and AD compared with the normal group. FOXC1 and GATA2 are important TFs for PD and AD. MiR‐23a, miR‐23b, miR‐23a, and miR‐23b were associated with AD and PD. Finally, the hub genes retrieved from the DSigDB database indicate multiple drug molecule and drug–target interactions.

Conclusion

This study reveals commonalities in common hub genes and immune infiltration between periodontitis and AD, and the analysis of six hub genes and immune cells may provide new insights into potential therapeutic directions for the pathogenesis of periodontitis complicated by AD.
Alpha‐lactalbumin and sleep: A systematic review
Authors: Barnard Jackson , Roberts Spencer , Kelly Monica , Lastella Michele , Aisbett Brad , Condo Dominique
Published: January 2024

Insufficient sleep is a growing global problem, with poor sleep associated with many negative health and performance outcomes. Previous reviews investigating the effect of diet on sleep have highlighted the amino acid tryptophan as a promising sleep‐promoting nutrient, with the richest food source of tryptophan, ⍺‐lactalbumin, requiring further investigation. Therefore, this systematic review aimed to review the existing evidence of association between ⍺‐lactalbumin and sleep. Four electronic databases (CINAHL Complete, Embase, MEDLINE Complete, and SPORTDiscus with Full Text) were searched from database inception to March 2023, with primary research articles included if they contained α‐lactalbumin as an independent variable, an outcome measure of sleep or sleepiness, and participants were ≥ 18 years old. Eight studies were reviewed, with four studies recruiting athletic populations (50%) and four recruiting healthy participants (50%). Sleep or sleepiness was measured objectively in six studies (75%), with two studies employing polysomnography and four utilizing actigraphy to assess sleep. Across the studies, 20–60 g of ⍺‐lactalbumin was supplemented, with five studies (63%) observing a positive association between α‐lactalbumin and sleep. Sleep‐onset latency was the primary sleep metric improved following evening supplementation of α‐lactalbumin (≤ 3.5 hr pre‐sleep), with no studies observing any negative associations with sleep. Data from this review suggest that individuals that have difficulty initiating sleep may benefit most from pre‐sleep α‐lactalbumin supplementation. Further research is required to establish the effect that α‐lactalbumin has on sleep architecture, through the use of more comprehensive sleep analysis tools such as portable electroencephalography or polysomnography, in combination with stringent dietary controls.
Leaf phosphorus fractions vary with leaf economic traits among 35 Australian woody species
Authors: Tsujii Yuki , Atwell Brian J. , Lambers Hans , Wright Ian J.
Published: January 2024

Adaptations of plants to phosphorus (P) deficiency include reduced investment of leaf P in storage (orthophosphates in vacuoles), nucleic acids and membrane lipids. Yet, it is unclear how these adaptations are associated with plant ecological strategies.

Five leaf P fractions (orthophosphate P, Pi; metabolite P, PM; nucleic acid P, PN; lipid P, PL; and residual P, PR) were analysed alongside leaf economic traits among 35 Australian woody species from three habitats: one a high‐P basalt‐derived soil and two low‐P sandstone‐derived soils, one undisturbed and one disturbed by human activities with artificial P inputs.

Species at the undisturbed low‐P site generally exhibited lower concentrations of total leaf P ([Ptotal]), primarily associated with lower concentrations of Pi, and PN. The relative allocation of P to each fraction varied little among sites, except that higher PL per [Ptotal] (rPL) was recorded at the undisturbed low‐P site than at the high‐P site. This higher rPL, reflecting relative allocation to membranes, was primarily associated with lower concentrations of leaf nitrogen at the undisturbed low‐P site than at the high‐P site.

Associations between leaf P fractions and leaf nitrogen may provide a basis for understanding the variation in plant ecological strategies dependent on soil P availability.
Meta‐analysis provides insights into the origin and evolution of East Asian evergreen broad‐leaved forests
Authors: Zhang Qian , Yang Yuchang , Liu Bing , Lu Limin , Sauquet Hervé , Li Dezhu , Chen Zhiduan
Published: January 2024

Evergreen broad‐leaved forests (EBLFs) are dominated by a monsoon climate and form a distinct biome in East Asia with notably high biodiversity. However, the origin and evolution of East Asian EBLFs (EAEBLFs) remain elusive despite the estimation of divergence times for various representative lineages.

Using 72 selected generic‐level characteristic lineages, we constructed an integrated lineage accumulation rate (LAR) curve based on their crown ages.

According to the crown‐based LAR, the EAEBLF origin was identified at least as the early Oligocene (c. 31.8 million years ago (Ma)). The accumulation rate of the characteristic genera peaked at 25.2 and 6.4 Ma, coinciding with the two intensification periods of the Asian monsoon at the Oligocene – Miocene and the Miocene – Pliocene boundaries, respectively. Moreover, the LAR was highly correlated with precipitation in the EAEBLF region and negatively to global temperature, as revealed through time‐lag cross‐correlation analyses.

An early Oligocene origin is suggested for EAEBLFs, bridging the gap between paleobotanical and molecular dating studies and solving conflicts among previous estimates based on individual representative lineages. The strong correlation between the crown‐based LAR and the precipitation brought about by the Asian monsoon emphasizes its irreplaceable role in the origin and development of EAEBLFs.
The effectiveness of interventions on changing caregivers' feeding practices with preschool children: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Wang Jian , Chang Yan‐Shing , Wei Xiaoxue , Cao Yang , Winkley Kirsty
Published: January 2024

Caregivers' feeding practices are critical in shaping preschool children's eating habits and preventing childhood obesity. We conducted a systematic review and meta‐analysis to evaluate the effectiveness of existing interventions targeting caregivers of preschool children, which aimed to promote child healthy eating and/or manage child weight and/or prevent child nutrition‐related problems and included feeding practices as one of the outcomes. Eighteen studies with 18 intervention programs and 3887 respondents that completed baseline evaluations were eligible for data synthesis. Behavior change techniques (BCTs) frequently used included the following: instruction on how to perform the behavior and demonstration of the behavior. The pooled effects of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on pressure to eat (pooled standardized mean difference [SMD] = 0.61; 95%CI: −1.16, −0.06), use of food as a reward (pooled SMD = −0.31; 95%CI: −0.61, −0.01), and emotional feeding (pooled SMD = −0.36; 95%CI: −0.66, −0.06) were found statistically significant compared with control groups at post‐intervention. However, there were no pooled effects on restrictive feeding and pressure to eat at other follow‐ups or on other feeding practices at post‐intervention. Interventions may have short‐term effects on decreasing the adoption of coercive control. Future interventions should directly and adequately optimize feeding practices, include components of individual support, and contribute to the maintenance of the effects over the long term.
Drought mitigates the adverse effects of O3 on plant photosynthesis rather than growth: A global meta‐analysis considering plant functional types
Authors: Shang Bo , Agathokleous Evgenios , Calatayud Vicent , Peng Jinlong , Xu Yansen , Li Shuangjiang , Liu Shuo , Feng Zhaozhong
Published: January 2024

Tropospheric ozone (O3) is a phytotoxic air pollutant adversely affecting plant growth. High O3 exposures are often concurrent with summer drought. The effects of both stresses on plants are complex, and their interactions are not yet well understood. Here, we investigate whether drought can mitigate the negative effects of O3 on plant physiology and growth based on a meta‐analysis. We found that drought mitigated the negative effects of O3 on plant photosynthesis, but the modification of the O3 effect on the whole‐plant biomass by drought was not significant. This is explained by a compensatory response of water‐deficient plants that leads to increased metabolic costs. Relative to water control condition, reduced water treatment decreased the effects of O3 on photosynthetic traits, and leaf and root biomass in deciduous broadleaf species, while all traits in evergreen coniferous species showed no significant response. This suggested that the mitigating effects of drought on the negative impacts of O3 on the deciduous broadleaf species were more extensive than on the evergreen coniferous ones. Therefore, to avoid over‐ or underestimations when assessing the impact of O3 on vegetation growth, soil moisture should be considered. These results contribute to a better understanding of terrestrial ecosystem responses under global change.
Tomato plants expressing a stilbene synthase gene display genotype‐depending alterations in metabolome profile and antioxidant system
Authors: Barba‐Espín Gregorio , Díaz‐Vivancos Pedro , Pérez‐Caselles Cristian , Faize Lydia , Hernández José A. , Pedreño Mª Angeles , Alburquerque Nuria
Published: January 2024

In the present work, we report a study on tomato Micro‐Tom lines expressing the Vitis vinifera StSy1 cDNA encoding stilbene synthase under the control of a CaMV 35S promoter. Transgenic lines (T1 plants) were evaluated in terms of vegetative and reproductive development, fruit production, the activity of the main antioxidant enzymes, and the metabolome profile in both leaves and fruit juices. Trans‐resveratrol and glycosylated derivates accumulated in some of the transgenic lines generated, the concentration of both compounds being higher in the leaves than in the fruit juices. Vegetative development was enhanced by transformation, whereas fruit production decreased, and fruit soluble solids content (°Bx) increased. Remarkably, trans‐resveratrol content in leaves and fruit juices showed no correlation with the expression levels of StSy1. An alteration of the metabolome profile and antioxidant enzyme activities was recorded in most of the transgenic lines. In tomato fruit juices, the variation between the wild type and transgenic lines was attributed to a major number of differentially expressed metabolites as compared to that observed in the leaves. In this sense, the major changes corresponded to an induction of phenylpropanoid pathway‐related compounds in the lines accumulating trans‐resveratrol. Transgenic lines producing resveratrol showed, overall, an imbalanced antioxidant metabolism characterized by higher superoxide dismutase (H2O2‐producing enzyme) activity and lower H2O2‐scavenging enzyme activities. This work contributes to deciphering the biochemical consequences of StSy1 introduction in tomato and opens up prospects for further characterization of the transformants.
Manifesting symbolic representation through collaborative policymaking
Authors: Mewhirter Jack , McLaughlin Danielle , Calfano Brian
Published: January 2024

Collaboration is a widely employed strategy for addressing “wicked” policy problems. While scholars have long recognized that the organizational composition of collaborative forums can have a dramatic impact on the efficacy and equity of associated forum outputs, little is known about whether such composition impacts the manner in which everyday citizens perceive forum processes and/or participating organizations. In this article, we bridge and extend concepts from the collaborative governance and representative bureaucracy literatures, arguing that when forums attract sufficient membership from organizations that citizens perceive as reflective of their own or their community's interests—what we refer to as “forum representation”—those citizens will have more positive perceptions toward all participating organizations. Conversely, failing to achieve sufficient representation can result in degraded perceptions. While there are theoretically multiple ways to increase forum representation, we focus on one potential pathway: the inclusion of civil society organizations in policy‐making processes. Empirically, we assess whether heightened representation of civil society groups within a specific collaborative policing forum impacts citizens' perceptions of the main participating agency—the police department—finding that greater knowledge of this highly representative forum results in positive spillover effects.
The enhanced emotional negativity bias in parents of atypically developing children: Evidence from an event‐related potentials study
Authors: Huang Jun , Wu Haidong , Jiang Jun , Yang Linhui , Li Kuiliang , Wang Tao
Published: January 2024

Parents of atypically developing children such as parents of children with ASD, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and intellectual disability experience higher levels of parenting stress than parents of typically developing children. However, whether they possess enhanced emotional negativity bias was unclear. In the present study, 28 parents of typically developing children and 29 parents of atypically developing children were recruited. The emotional Stroop task and event‐related potentials were adopted to measure their emotional negativity bias, in which participants were required to respond to the borders' color of face pictures. Behaviorally, the impact of parenting stress on emotional negativity bias was not found. At the electrophysiological level, the P2 differential amplitude (negative minus positive) was greater in parents of atypically developing children than in parents of typically developing children, reflecting an enhanced early attentional bias toward negative faces. N2 amplitude for the emotionally negative face was smaller than the positive face in parents of atypically developing children, indicating a too weak attentional control to inhibit distractors. Furthermore, sustained attention to negative faces was observed in parents of atypically developing children, that is, the emotionally negative face elicited greater frontal P3 (300 ~ 500 ms) than the positive faces. These findings revealed that compared to parents of typically developing children, parents of atypically developing children owned an enhanced emotional negativity bias at the early and late stages of information processing.
Evaluating the potential for reintroducing the endangered wild water buffalo (Bubalus arnee) in Kanha National Park, central India
Authors: Bora Jayanta K. , Vardhan Vishnu , Vijh Ramesh K. , Deshmukh Ajinkya V. , Srinivas Yellapu , Mungi Ninad Avinash , Goswami Shravana , Jhala Harshini , Chauhan Jasbir S. , Kumar Ujjwal , Jhala Yadvendradev
Published: January 2024

Reintroducing megafauna to their historic range is an effective strategy to halt their extinctions and restore ecosystems. Wild water buffalo (Bubalus arnee) is an endangered megaherbivore that is lost from 95% of its range. About 90% of its global population (less than 4000) resides within India, in two isolated populations: northeast and central India. The central Indian population is on the verge of extinction and warrants urgent conservation interventions. We assess the potential and provide a strategy for reintroducing buffaloes in Kanha National Park, India. Habitat suitability using the global occurrence of buffalo revealed low‐lying grasslands with least human pressure found in Kanha (390 km2) to be suitable. Within this suitable range, we evaluated vegetation composition, forage biomass, and potential carrying capacity. Multidimensional ordination classified these suitable sites into moist and dry grassland clusters. Moist grasslands were found to better suit reintroduction due to lower grazing pressure, higher productivity, and availability of perennial water sources. Distinct matriarchal clades of swamp and river buffalo were observed. Within the river buffalo clade, Indian wild buffaloes formed a distinct cluster with close proximity between northeast and central Indian samples, suggesting northeast buffaloes could be sourced for a founding population in Kanha. Following IUCN guidelines, we discuss the reintroduction strategy that could sustain approximately 200 buffaloes in the area and subsequently expand to other suitable habitats in central India. If implemented as proposed, recovery of this lost ecosystem engineer will help to restore grasslands, and swamp habitats, as well as contribute to its global conservation efforts.
Frontline nurses' experiences of managing visitor restrictions during the COVID‐19 pandemic in a Danish university hospital – Lessons learned
Authors: Ågård Anne Sophie , Rasmussen Gitte Susanne , Mainz Hanne , Gregersen Merete , Vedelø Tina Wang
Published: January 2024

Background

Worldwide visitor restrictions forced nurses to separate patients from their relatives. However, the experience of implementing shifting restrictions from the frontline nurses' perspectives in a Danish context has yet to be assessed.

Aim

The aim of this descriptive qualitative study was to explore frontline nurses' experiences of managing shifting visitor restrictions in a Danish somatic university hospital during the COVID‐19 pandemic.

Methods

An online questionnaire, including open‐ended questions, was developed. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and content analysis.

Findings

116 nurses from 29 departments participated; they were informed about restrictions primarily by their charge nurses and hospital intranet. Shifting visitor restrictions compelled the nurses to constantly adjust and negotiate their practices. When deciding to suggest deviating from the restrictions, they shared their decision‐making with colleagues. Visitor restrictions left the hospital environment quieter, but they also created a lack of overview and predictability, an emotional burden, and a negative impact on the quality of care.

Conclusion

Restricting relatives' access challenged the nurses' professional values, and it seems to have affirmed their appreciation of relatives' role as important partners in contemporary hospital‐based health care.
Studying personality and social structure
Authors: Antonoplis Stephen
Published: January 2024

People's personalities are expressed and develop amidst a range of social structures, such as laws, social networks, cultural practices, and institutions, which produce and maintain hierarchies in society. In turn, the purpose and form of social structures are impacted by people's personalities. Yet, research on how personality and social structure interact is still rare. Here, I introduce theoretical framework that can help guide research on this topic. I first define personality and social structure and then use concepts from theoretical work on person–environment transactions to describe how personality and social structure interact. I highlight selection, manipulation, evocation, and socialization as transactions between personality and social structure through which hierarchies are enhanced or attenuated. Supported by this conceptual work, I describe two examples of dynamics in which personality and social structure reinforce each other in the U.S.: Conscientiousness and voting, and Openness and protest. Finally, to motivate future research, I propose novel questions that psychologists can ask about how personality and social structure interact, and I address possible limitations of the framework.
It's a wonderful NHS? A counterfactual perspective on the creation of the British National Health Service
Authors: Powell Martin , Greener Ian
Published: January 2024

While there have been some studies of counterfactual analysis in history and other academic disciplines, there are very few studies in social policy and health policy. This paper explores a major critical juncture and counterfactual in the creation of the NHS. In particular, it explores the critical juncture of the discussion in the Labour Cabinet involving Bevan's proposal for nationalising the hospitals and Morrison's alternative proposal based on local government, and the counterfactual of Prime Minister Attlee summing up in favour of Morrison. It reviews the literature on the criteria for counterfactuals, and justifies the focus on the Cabinet Discussion, as this was a considered option which, with minimum change, might have led to significantly different outcomes. We consider how such an event could have come about, how credible that alternative was, and what its implications might have been.
Young Chinese female body skin pigmentation map: A pilot study
Authors: Han Yuqing , Zhang Yexiang , Li Benyue , Yang Jie , Qi Yunji , Liu Qi , Chang Sisi , Zhao Hua , Pan Yao
Published: January 2024

Background

Most studies have discussed variations in facial skin colour based on age, gender, and anatomical site within a specific ethnic group. However, skin pigmentation on the body is also a concern for many people.

Aim

The aim of this study is to gather baseline data for Chinese young females, conduct a comprehensive assessment of body skin pigmentation, and create a body skin pigmentation map.

Method

Individual type angle (ITA°) was registered by CL 400 and melanin index (MI) was registered by MX 18 in 100 body points of 20 Chinese females. A total of 12,000 measurements were recorded.

Result

Our results showed significant differences among the symmetrical points on both sides of the body, including the clavicle, inner wrists, groin, inner ankle, elbow, armpit, waist side, the space between the thumb and index finger, instep, back shoulder, and popliteal space. Of all the points tested on the body, the points with the most severe skin pigmentation were the back of the neck, the heel, the elbow, and the popliteal space.

Conclusion

This is the first comprehensive study of skin pigmentation conducted on the human body. In young Chinese women, the points with the most severe skin pigmentation were the back of the neck, heels, elbows, and the popliteal space.
Mapping cognitive place associations within the United Kingdom through online discussion on Reddit
Authors: Berragan Cillian , Singleton Alex , Calafiore Alessia , Morley Jeremy
Published: January 2024

This paper explores cognitive place associations; conceptualised as a place‐based mental model that derives subconscious links between geographic locations. Utilising a large corpus of online discussion data from the social media website Reddit, we experiment on the extraction of such geographic knowledge from unstructured text. First we construct a system to identify place names found in Reddit comments, disambiguating each to a set of coordinates where possible. Following this, we build a collective picture of cognitive place associations in the United Kingdom, linking locations that co‐occur in user comments and evaluating the effect of distance on the strength of these associations. Exploring these geographies nationally, associations were shown to be typically weaker over greater distances. This distance decay is also highly regional, rural areas typically have greater levels of distance decay, particularly in Wales and Scotland. When comparing major cities across the UK, we observe distinct distance decay patterns, influenced primarily by proximity to other cities.
Geometry of the logarithmic Hodge moduli space
Authors: de Cataldo Mark Andrea , Herrero Andres Fernandez , Zhang Siqing
Published: January 2024

We show the smoothness over the affine line of the Hodge moduli space of logarithmic ‐connections of coprime rank and degree on a smooth projective curve with geometrically integral fibers over an arbitrary Noetherian base. When the base is a field, we also prove that the Hodge moduli space is geometrically integral. Along the way, we prove the same results for the corresponding moduli spaces of logarithmic Higgs bundles and of logarithmic connections. We use smoothness to derive specialization isomorphisms on the étale cohomology rings of these moduli spaces; this includes the special case when the base is of mixed characteristic. In the special case where the base is a separably closed field of positive characteristic, we show that these isomorphisms are filtered isomorphisms for the perverse filtrations associated with the corresponding Hitchin‐type morphisms.
Neural coordination of bilateral hand movements: evidence for an involvement of brainstem motor centres
Authors: Dietz Volker , Holliger Nicole Sarah , Christen Andrin , Geissmann Marina , Filli Linard
Published: January 2024

Bilateral hand movements are assumed to be coordinated by a neural coupling mechanism. Neural coupling is experimentally reflected in complex electromyographic (EMG) responses in the forearm muscles of both sides to unilateral electrical arm nerve stimulation (ES). The aim of this study was to examine a potential involvement of the reticulospinal system in neural coupling by the application of loud acoustic stimuli (LAS) known to activate neurons of this system. LAS, ES and combined LAS/ES were applied to healthy subjects during visually guided bilateral hand flexion–extension movements. Muscle responses to the different stimuli were evaluated by electrophysiological recordings. Unilateral electrical ulnar nerve stimulation resulted in neural coupling responses in the forearm extensors (FE) of both sides. Interestingly, LAS evoked bilateral EMG responses that were similar in their configuration to those induced by ES. The presence of startles was associated with a shift of the onset and enhanced amplitude of LAS‐induced coupling‐like responses. Upon combined LAS/ES application, ES facilitated ipsilateral startles and coupling‐like responses. Modulation of coupling‐like responses by startles, the similarity of the responses to ES and LAS, and their interaction following combined stimulation suggests that both responses are mediated by the reticulospinal system. Our findings provide novel indirect evidence that the reticulospinal system is involved in the neural coupling of hand movements. This becomes clinically relevant in subjects with a damaged corticospinal system where a dominant reticulospinal system leads to involuntary limb coupling, referred to as associated movements.

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Key points

Automatic coordination of hand movements is assumed to be mediated by a neural coupling mechanism reflected by bilateral reflex responses in forearm muscles to unilateral electrical arm nerve stimulation (ES).

Loud acoustic stimuli (LAS) were applied to assess a potential involvement of the reticulospinal system in the neural coupling mechanism.

LAS evoked a bilateral reflex response in the forearm extensors that was similar to the neural coupling response to ES, and which could be separated from the acoustic startle response.

Combined application of LAS and ES resulted in a facilitation of startle and coupling‐like responses ipsilateral to ES, thus indicating an interaction of afferences from both stimuli.

These novel findings provide indirect evidence that the reticulospinal system is a key motor structure for the coupling of bilateral hand movements.
Comparative Analysis of Convolutional Neural Network Architectures for Automated Knee Segmentation in Medical Imaging: A Performance Evaluation
Authors: Ghidotti Anna , Vitali Andrea , Regazzoni Daniele , Cohen Miri Weiss , Rizzi Caterina
Published: January 2024

Segmentation of anatomical components is a major step in creating accurate and realistic 3D models of the human body, which are used in many clinical applications, including orthopedics. Recently, many deep learning approaches have been proposed to solve the problem of manual segmentation, which is time-consuming and operator-dependent. In the present study, SegResNet has been adapted from other domains, such as brain tumors, for knee joints, in particular, to segment the femoral bone from magnetic resonance images. This algorithm has been compared to the well-known U-Net in terms of evaluation metrics, such as the Dice similarity coefficient and Hausdorff distance. In the training phase, various combinations of hyperparameters, such as epochs and learning rates, have been tested to determine which combination produced the most accurate results. Based on their comparable results, both U-Net and SegResNet performed well in accurately segmenting the femur. Dice similarity coefficients of 0.94 and Hausdorff distances less than or equal to 1 mm indicate that both models are effective at capturing anatomical boundaries in the femur. According to the results of this study, SegResNet is a viable option for automating the creation of 3D femur models. In the future, the performance and applicability of SegResNet in real-world settings will be further validated and tested using a variety of datasets and clinical scenarios.
Adaptive advantages of restorative RNA editing in fungi for resolving survival-reproduction trade-offs
Authors: Qi Zhaomei , Lu Ping , Long Xinyuan , Cao Xinyu , Wu Mengchun , Xin Kaiyun , Xue Tuan , Gao Xinlong , Huang Yi , Wang Qinhu , Jiang Cong , Xu Jin-Rong , Liu Huiquan
Published: January 2024

RNA editing in various organisms commonly restores RNA sequences to their ancestral state, but its adaptive advantages are debated. In fungi, restorative editing corrects premature stop codons in pseudogenes specifically during sexual reproduction. We characterized 71 pseudogenes and their restorative editing in
Fusarium graminearum
, demonstrating that restorative editing of 16 pseudogenes is crucial for germ tissue development in fruiting bodies. Our results also revealed that the emergence of premature stop codons is facilitated by restorative editing and that premature stop codons corrected by restorative editing are selectively favored over ancestral amino acid codons. Furthermore, we found that ancestral versions of pseudogenes have antagonistic effects on reproduction and survival. Restorative editing eliminates the survival costs of reproduction caused by antagonistic pleiotropy and provides a selective advantage in fungi. Our findings highlight the importance of restorative editing in the evolution of fungal complex multicellularity and provide empirical evidence that restorative editing serves as an adaptive mechanism enabling the resolution of genetic trade-offs.