bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
OP2113, a new drug for chronic hypoxia‐induced pulmonary hypertension treatment in rat
Authors: Roubenne Lukas , Laisné Margaux , Benoist David , Campagnac Marilyne , Prunet Bénédicte , Pasdois Philippe , Cardouat Guillaume , Ducret Thomas , Quignard Jean‐François , Vacher Pierre , Baudrimont Isabelle , Marthan Roger , Berger Patrick , Le Grand Bruno , Freund‐Michel Véronique , Guibert Christelle
Published: June 2023

Background and Purpose

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a cardiovascular disease characterised by an increase in pulmonary arterial (PA) resistance leading to right ventricular (RV) failure. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a major role in PH. OP2113 is a drug with beneficial effects on cardiac injuries that targets mitochondrial ROS. The aim of the study was to address the in vivo therapeutic effect of OP2113 in PH.

Experimental Approach

PH was induced by 3 weeks of chronic hypoxia (CH‐PH) in rats treated with OP2113 or its vehicle via subcutaneous osmotic mini‐pumps. Haemodynamic parameters and both PA and heart remodelling were assessed. Reactivity was quantified in PA rings and in RV or left ventricular (LV) cardiomyocytes. Oxidative stress was detected by electron paramagnetic resonance and western blotting. Mitochondrial mass and respiration were measured by western blotting and oxygraphy, respectively.

Key Results

In CH‐PH rats, OP2113 reduced the mean PA pressure, PA remodelling, PA hyperreactivity in response to 5-HT, the contraction slowdown in RV and LV and increased the mitochondrial mass in RV. Interestingly, OP2113 had no effect on haemodynamic parameters, both PA and RV wall thickness and PA reactivity, in control rats. Whereas oxidative stress was evidenced by an increase in protein carbonylation in CH‐PH, this was not affected by OP2113.

Conclusion and Implications

Our study provides evidence for a selective protective effect of OP2113 in vivo on alterations in both PA and RV from CH‐PH rats without side effects in control rats.
2‐Aroyl quinazolinone: Synthesis and in vitro anti‐parasitic activity
Authors: Setshedi Koketso J. , Beteck Richard M. , Jesumoroti Omobolanle J. , Ilbeigi Kayhan , Mabille Dorien , Caljon Guy , Van der Kooy Frank , Legoabe Lesetja J.
Published: June 2023

Trypanosomes and Leishmania are parasitic protozoans that affect millions of people globally. Herein we report the synthesis of 2‐aroyl quinazolinones and their antiprotozoal efficacy against Trypanosoma brucei, Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, Trypanosoma cruzi, and Leishmania infantum. These compounds were counter‐screened against a human cell line for cytotoxicity. Thirteen of the twenty target compounds in this study inhibited the growth of these parasites, with compounds KJ1, and KJ10 exhibiting IC50 values of 4.7 μM (T. b. brucei) and 1.1 μM (T. b. rhodesiense), respectively.
Validation of the German classification system for quality assessment of right‐sided colon cancer specimens
Authors: Bertelsen Claus Anders , Olsen Anna Sofie Friis , Gundestrup Anders Kierkegaard , Karlsen Andreas Aarenstrup , Neuenschwander Anders Ulrich , Buchbjerg Thomas , Iversen Else Refsgaard , Bols Birgitte , Ingeholm Peter , Kleif Jakob
Published: June 2023

Aim

The German classification system of the completeness of mesocolic excision aims to assess the quality of right‐sided colonic cancer surgery by review of photographs. We aimed to validate the reliability of the classification in a clinical context.

Method

The study was based on a cohort of patients undergoing resection for right‐sided colon cancer in two university hospitals served by the same group of pathologists. Prospectively collected photographs of the specimens were assessed twice by six colorectal surgeons to determine the intra‐rater and inter‐rater accuracy of the German classification and a modification assessing extended right‐sided resections.

Results

Specimens from 613 resections for right‐sided colon cancer were reviewed. Twenty‐one specimens were found to be non‐assessable, leaving 436 right hemicolectomies, 139 extended right hemicolectomies and 17 right‐sided subtotal colectomies. Intra‐rater reliability was 0.57–0.74 and weighted kappa coefficients 0.58–0.74, without differences between subgroups. The percentage of agreement between all six participants was 20.3% for all specimens, 21.1% for right hemicolectomy specimens and 18.1% for extended hemicolectomy and right‐sided subtotal colectomy specimens. For the right hemicolectomy specimens, the model‐based kappa coefficient for agreement was 0.27 (95% CI 0.24–0.30) and for association 0.45 (95% CI 0.41–0.49).

Conclusion

The German classification of right hemicolectomy specimens showed low intra‐rater reliability and inter‐rater agreement and association. The use of this classification for scientific purposes appeared not to be reliable.
People's Preferences for Inequality Respond Instantly to Changes in Status: A Simulated Society Experiment of Conflict Between the Rich and the Poor
Authors: Vuletich Heidi A. , Gray Kurt , Payne B. Keith
Published: June 2023

Most people in the United States agree they want some income inequality but debate exactly how much is fair. High‐status people generally prefer more inequality than low‐status individuals. Here we examine how much preferences for inequality are (or are not) driven by self‐interest. Past work has generally investigated this idea in two ways: The first is by stratifying preferences by income, and the second is by randomly assigning financial status within lab‐constructed scenarios. In this paper, we develop a method that combines both experimental control and the social experience of inequality—a simulated society experiment. Across two experiments (N = 138, observations = 690), participants voted on the distribution of rewards—first behind a veil of ignorance, and then when they were randomly assigned a status within a game of chance. Status varied repeatedly across five rounds, allowing us to measure dynamic preferences. Under the veil of ignorance, people preferred inequality favoring the top status. When the veil of ignorance disappeared, self‐interest immediately influenced inequality preferences. Those who randomly landed in top positions were satisfied with the status quo established under the veil of ignorance, whereas those who randomly landed in bottom positions wanted more equality. Yet these preferences were not stable; decisions about the optimal level of inequality changed according to changes in social status. Our results also showed that, when inequality grows in a society, preferences regarding inequality become polarized by social status. Individuals in low‐status positions, particularly, tend to demand more equality.
Safety and utility of indwelling pleural catheters in lung transplant recipients
Authors: Trindade Anil J. , Lentz Robert J. , Gannon Whitney D. , Rickman Otis B. , Shojaee Samira , Vandervest Katherine , Schwartz Gary , Li Gloria W. , Kumar Anupam , Garcha Puneet S. , Seeley Eric J. , Gesthalter Yaron B. , Mueller Stephanie , Egan John P. , DeMaio Andrew J. , Yarmus Lonny B. , Josan Enambir S. , Pannu Jasleen K. , Wayne Max T. , DeCardenas Jose L. , Bacchetta Matthew D. , Maldonado Fabien ,   the Interventional Pulmonary Outcomes Group
Published: June 2023

Introduction

The safety and efficacy of indwelling pleural catheters (IPCs) in lung allograft recipients is under‐reported.

Methods

We performed a multicenter, retrospective analysis between 1/1/2010 and 6/1/2022 of consecutive IPCs placed in lung transplant recipients. Outcomes included incidence of infectious and non‐infectious complications and rate of auto‐pleurodesis.

Results

Seventy‐one IPCs placed in 61 lung transplant patients at eight centers were included. The most common indication for IPC placement was recurrent post‐operative effusion. IPCs were placed at a median of 59 days (IQR 40–203) post‐transplant and remained for 43 days (IQR 25‐88). There was a total of eight (11%) complications. Infection occurred in five patients (7%); four had empyema and one had a catheter tract infection. IPCs did not cause death or critical illness in our cohort. Auto‐pleurodesis leading to the removal of the IPC occurred in 63 (89%) instances. None of the patients in this cohort required subsequent surgical decortication.

Conclusions

The use of IPCs in lung transplant patients was associated with an infectious complication rate comparable to other populations previously studied. A high rate of auto‐pleurodesis was observed. This work suggests that IPCs may be considered for the management of recurrent pleural effusions in lung allograft recipients.
Lactate concentration at the end of liver transplant: Early predictor of graft function or just one piece of the puzzle?
Authors: Galli Alessandro M. , Kothari Rishi , Adelmann Dieter , Holm Zacharias , Bokoch Michael P. , De Gasperi Andrea , Niemann Claus U. , Kolodzie Kerstin
Published: June 2023

Background

The post‐operative course after Liver Transplantation (LT) can be complicated by early allograft dysfunction (EAD), primary nonfunction (PNF) and death. A lactate concentration at the end of transplant of ≥5 mmol/L was recently proposed as a predictive marker of PNF, EAD, and mortality; this study aimed to validate these previous reports in a large single center cohort.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study included adult liver transplant recipients who received grafts from deceased donors at our center between June 2012 and May 2021. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves for the lactate concentration at the end of transplantation were computed to determine the AUC for PNF, EAD and mortality at 90 days.

Results

In our cohort of 1137 cases, the AUCs for lactate to predict EAD, PNF and mortality were respectively .56 (95% confidence interval [CI]: .53–.60), .69 (95% CI: .52–.85), and .74 (95% CI: .63–.84).

Conclusion

The clinical value of lactate concentration at the end of transplantation to predict PNF, EAD and mortality at 90 days was, at best, modest, as shown by the relatively low AUCs. Our findings cannot validate previous reports that the lactate level alone is a good predictor of poor outcomes after liver transplantation.
Therapy of pathological scars
Authors: Riedemann Helena Isabell , Schmidt Morna F. , Baron Jens Malte
Published: June 2023

A scar develops following the appearance of a deep tissue defect as part of the physiological wound healing process. The initial inflammatory response is followed by proliferation of connective tissue cells, which form fibrosis as a final tissue substitute. Disorders can occur at all stages of the process and are most commonly manifested as impaired wound healing or the formation of atrophic and hypertrophic scars or keloids. The focus of this article is on the treatment of pathologic scars, which are an indication for therapy due to functional limitations, complaints, and stigmatization, among other reasons. Conservative medical, physical, surgical and laser therapeutic approaches are pursued. The basis for this is an understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms and factors influencing the choice of therapy, as well as an interdisciplinary and interprofessional therapeutic approach.
Retinodural haemorrhage of infancy, abusive head trauma, shaken baby syndrome: The continuing quest for evidence
Authors: Squier Waney
Published: June 2023

The shaken baby syndrome was originally proposed in the 1970s without any formal scientific basis. Once data generated by scientific research was available, the hypothesis became controversial. There developed essentially two sides in the debate. One side claimed that the clinical triad of subdural haemorrhage, retinal haemorrhage, and encephalopathy, or its components, is evidence that an infant has been shaken. The other side stated this is not a scientifically valid proposal and that alternative causes, such as low falls and natural diseases, should be considered. The controversy continues, but the contours have shifted. During the last 15 years, research has shown that the triad is not sufficient to infer shaking or abuse and the shaking hypothesis does not meet the standards of evidence‐based medicine. This raises the issue of whether it is fit for either clinical practice or for the courtroom; evidence presented to the courts must be unassailable.

What this paper adds

There is insufficient scientific evidence to assume that an infant with the triad of subdural haemorrhage (SDH), retinal haemorrhage, and encephalopathy must have been shaken.

Biomechanical and animal studies have failed to support the hypothesis that shaking can cause SDH and retinal haemorrhage.

Patterns of retinal haemorrhage cannot distinguish abuse.

Retinal haemorrhages are commonly associated with extracerebral fluid collections (including SDH) but not with shaking.

Infants can develop SDH, retinal haemorrhage, and encephalopathy from natural diseases and falls as low as 1 foot.

The shaking hypothesis and the literature on which it depends do not meet the standards of evidence‐based medicine.
Non‐paretic leg movements can facilitate cortical drive to the paretic leg in individuals post stroke with severe motor impairment: Implications for motor priming
Authors: Lim Hyosok , Madhavan Sangeetha
Published: June 2023

Cross‐education, a phenomenon where unilateral strength (or skill) training enhances strength (or skill) in the contralateral untrained limb, has been well studied in able‐bodied individuals. Cross‐education effect accompanies bilateral changes of corticomotor activity in the motor cortex (M1). Recent reports demonstrated greater cross‐education effect in stroke survivors compared to healthy individuals, however, corticomotor responses to cross‐education in stroke remains unclear. This study aimed to determine the effects of non‐paretic leg movements on corticomotor excitability (CME) and reaction time of the paretic leg in severely impaired stroke survivors. Seventeen post stroke individuals with severe leg motor impairment (Fugl‐Meyer lower extremity score less than 21 and absence of motor evoked potential in the paretic leg) performed three 20‐min motor trainings using their non‐paretic ankle: skill (targeted dynamic movements), strength (isometric resistance) and sham (sub‐threshold electrical nerve stimulation). During training, verbal instructions were given to the participants to limit their movement to the non‐paretic leg and this was confirmed with visual observation of the paretic leg. Transcranial magnetic stimulation measured CME of the contralateral pathways from the non‐lesioned M1 to the non‐paretic tibialis anterior (TA) muscle, ipsilateral pathways to the paretic TA and transcallosal inhibition (TCI) from the non‐lesioned to lesioned M1. Paretic ankle reaction time was measured using a reaction time paradigm. All outcomes were measured before, immediately post, 30‐min post and 60‐min post priming. CME of the non‐paretic TA increased after skill (.08 ± .10 mV) and strength (.06 ± .05 mV) training (p < .01). Ipsilateral CME of the paretic TA (.02 ± .01 mV) and TCI (.01 ± .01 s, ipsilateral silent period; more inhibition to the lesioned M1) increased after skill (p < .05) but not strength training. Reaction time of the paretic ankle improved after skill and strength training (−.11 ± .2 and −.13 ± .20 s, respectively; p < .05) and was sustained at 60 min. No changes were observed during the sham condition. Our findings may inform future studies for using non‐paretic leg movements as a priming modality, especially for those who are contraindicated to other priming paradigms (e.g., brain stimulation) or unable to perform paretic leg movements. Conclusion: Non‐paretic leg movements can be used as a priming modality, especially for those who are contraindicated to other priming paradigms (e.g., brain stimulation) or unable to perform paretic leg movements.
Optimised use of data fusion and memory‐based learning with an Austrian soil library for predictions with infrared data
Authors: Ludwig Bernard , Greenberg Isabel , Vohland Michael , Michel Kerstin
Published: June 2023

Infrared spectroscopy in the visible to near‐infrared (vis–NIR) and mid‐infrared (MIR) regions is a well‐established approach for the prediction of soil properties. Different data fusion and training approaches exist, and the optimal procedures are yet undefined and may depend on the heterogeneity present in the set and on the considered scale. The objectives were to test the usefulness of partial least squares regressions (PLSRs) for soil organic carbon (SOC), total carbon (Ct), total nitrogen (Nt) and pH using vis–NIR and MIR spectroscopy for an independent validation after standard calibration (use of a general PLSR model) or using memory‐based learning (MBL) with and without spiking for a national spectral database. Data fusion approaches were simple concatenation of spectra, outer product analysis (OPA) and model averaging. In total, 481 soils from an Austrian forest soil archive were measured in the vis–NIR and MIR regions, and regressions were calculated. Fivefold calibration‐validation approaches were carried out with a region‐related split of spectra to implement independent validations with n ranging from 47 to 99 soils in different folds. MIR predictions were generally superior over vis–NIR predictions. For all properties, optimal predictions were obtained with data fusion, with OPA and spectra concatenation outperforming model averaging. The greatest robustness of performance was found for OPA and MBL with spiking with R2 ≥ 0.77 (N), 0.85 (SOC), 0.86 (pH) and 0.88 (Ct) in the validations of all folds. Overall, the results indicate that the combination of OPA for vis–NIR and MIR spectra with MBL and spiking has a high potential to accurately estimate properties when using large‐scale soil spectral libraries as reference data. However, the reduction of cost‐effectiveness using two spectrometers needs to be weighed against the potential increase in accuracy compared to a single MIR spectroscopy approach.
Models of underlying autotrophic biomass dynamics fit to daily river ecosystem productivity estimates improve understanding of ecosystem disturbance and resilience
Authors: Blaszczak Joanna R. , Yackulic Charles B. , Shriver Robert K. , Hall Robert O.
Published: June 2023

Directly observing autotrophic biomass at ecologically relevant frequencies is difficult in many ecosystems, hampering our ability to predict productivity through time. Since disturbances can impart distinct reductions in river productivity through time by modifying underlying standing stocks of biomass, mechanistic models fit to productivity time series can infer underlying biomass dynamics. We incorporated biomass dynamics into a river ecosystem productivity model for six rivers to identify disturbance flow thresholds and understand the resilience of primary producers. The magnitude of flood necessary to disturb biomass and thereby reduce ecosystem productivity was consistently lower than the more commonly used disturbance flow threshold of the flood magnitude necessary to mobilize river bed sediment. The estimated daily maximum percent increase in biomass (a proxy for resilience) ranged from 5% to 42% across rivers. Our latent biomass model improves understanding of disturbance thresholds and recovery patterns of autotrophic biomass within river ecosystems.
Diagnostic accuracy of nerve excitability and compound muscle action potential scan derived biomarkers in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Authors: Stikvoort García D. J. L. , Sleutjes B.T.H.M. , van Schelven L. J. , Goedee H. S. , van den Berg L. H.
Published: June 2023

Background and purpose

The lack of reliable early biomarkers still causes substantial diagnostic delays in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The aim was to assess the diagnostic accuracy of a novel electrophysiological protocol in patients with suspected motor neuron disease (MND).

Methods

Consecutive patients with suspected MND were prospectively recruited at our tertiary referral centre for MND in Utrecht, The Netherlands. Procedures were performed in accordance with the Standards for Reporting of Diagnostic Accuracy. In addition to the standard diagnostic workup, an electrophysiological protocol of compound muscle action potential (CMAP) scans and nerve excitability tests was performed on patients' thenar muscles. The combined diagnostic yield of nerve excitability and CMAP scan based motor unit number estimation was compared to the Awaji and Gold Coast criteria and their added value was determined.

Results

In all, 153 ALS or progressive muscular atrophy patients, 63 disease controls and 43 healthy controls were included. Our electrophysiological protocol had high diagnostic accuracy (area under the curve [AUC] 0.85, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.80–0.90), even in muscles with undetectable axon loss (AUC 0.78, 95% CI 0.70–0.85) and in bulbar‐onset patients (AUC 0.85, 95% CI 0.73–0.95). Twenty‐four of 33 (73%) ALS patients who could not be diagnosed during the same visit were correctly identified, as well as 8/13 (62%) ALS patients not meeting the Gold Coast criteria and 49/59 (83%) ALS patients not meeting the Awaji criteria during this first visit.

Conclusions

Our practical and non‐invasive electrophysiological protocol may improve early diagnosis in clinically challenging patients with suspected ALS. Routine incorporation may boost early diagnosis, enhance patient selection and generate baseline measures for clinical trials.
Facial emotion recognition using convolutional neural network based krill head optimisation
Authors: Devi Bhagyashri , Preetha M. Mary Synthuja Jain
Published: June 2023

Emotion recognition from facial image expression is always a problem for computer vision algorithms in classifying the human facial emotions. On other hand, over fitting is considered as a fundamental problem that prevents the deep learning model to fit the observed data on training data and unseen data on the test data. In this paper, we develop a convolutional neural network (CNN) based emotion recognition from facial images. Initially the study uses proper background removal tool to remove the image background and secondly, we use CNN to classify the facial features based mainly on the extraction of facial feature vector. The CNN is trained with huge number of facial features from the input images causes over fitting. This is mainly due to noise presence, limited training data size and classifier complexity and to avoid this, the study uses krill herd optimisation (KHO) that enables the fitting of the classifier. The simulation is conducted to test the efficacy of the model with expressional vector that recognizes the five types of facial features. The database consists of 20,000 images collected from 300 persons and the study obtains an accuracy of 98.6% during training and 98.45% during testing. The comparative analysis between various other deep learning models show that the proposed CNN‐KHO has higher rate of accuracy than other methods.
The impact of digital influencers on product/service purchase decision making—An exploratory case study of Portuguese people
Authors: Caiado Fábio , Fonseca Joana , Silva Joana , Neves Soraia , Moreira Ana , Gonçalves Ramiro , Martins José , Branco Frederico , Au‐Yong‐Oliveira Manuel
Published: June 2023

The growing use of technology and social media has resulted in the emergence of digital influencers, a new profession capable of changing the mentalities and behaviours of those who follow them. This study arises to better understand the potential impact digital influencers might have on the Portuguese population's purchase behaviour and patterns, and for this purpose, seven hypotheses were formulated. An online questionnaire was conducted to respond to these theoretical assumptions and collected data from 175 respondents. A total of 129 valid answers were considered. It was possible to conclude that purchase intention does not necessarily translate into a purchase action. It was also concluded that the relationship between social network use and the purchase of products/services recommended by influencers is only statistically significant for Instagram. Furthermore, the individuals' generation is not statistically significant / linked with purchasing a product/service recommended by influencers. Yet further, a small percentage of respondents have also identified themselves as impulsive shoppers and perceived Instagram as their favourite social network. With the results of this study, it is also possible to state that the influencer's opinion was classified as the last factor considered in the purchase decision process. Additionally, there is a weak negative association between purchasing a product/service recommended by influencers with sponsorship disclosure and remunerated partnership, which decreases credibility and discourages purchasing, in Portugal, a feminine culture which dislikes materialism.
Tylophora indica (Burm. f.) Merr alleviates tracheal smooth muscle hyperresponsiveness in ovalbumin‐induced allergic‐asthma model in guinea‐pigs: Evidences from ex vivo, in silico and in vivo studies
Authors: Gururani Ritika , Patel Saraswati , Bisht Akansha , Jain Smita , Paliwal Sarvesh , Dwivedi Jaya , Sharma Swapnil
Published: June 2023

Background

Tylophora indica (Burm. f.) Merr is a climbing perennial plant reported in Indian traditional system of medicine for its use in allergy and asthma. However, only few scientific studies have been performed in the past to validate its antiasthmatic potential.

Objectives

The present study deals with investigation of airway smooth muscle relaxant and antiasthmatic potential of extract and subsequent fractions prepared from T. indica.

Methods

The most active fraction of T. indica leaves selected through bio‐guided activity was subjected to liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry (LC–MS) analysis for chemical profiling. The binding affinity of identified compounds in fraction towards M3 and H1 receptors was determined by molecular docking study. F‐2 (chloroform fraction prepared from methanolic extract of T. indica leaves) was examined for its smooth muscle relaxant properties using isolated trachea of guinea‐pig. Further, F‐2 was evaluated through in vivo studies employing ovalbumin‐induced asthma model in guinea‐pigs.

Results

F‐2 was found most effective in bioassay‐guided fractionation. Characterization by LC–MS analysis revealed presence of five major bioactive compounds in F‐2 that showed good docking interactions with M3 and H1 receptors. The ex vivo study demonstrated that F‐2 could significantly relax tracheal rings via targeting multiple signalling pathways videlicet, namely, noncompetitive antagonism of the histamine and muscarinic receptors, β2‐adrenergic stimulation and activation of soluble guanylyl cyclase. In in vivo studies, F‐2 ameliorated airway hyperresponsiveness and decreased broncho alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) levels of inflammatory cytokines and immunoglobulin E (IgE).

Conclusion

These results confirm the traditional use of T. indica as an antiasthmatic agent which are evidenced through ex vivo, in silico and in vivo studies.
Fatigue design of Additive Manufacturing components through Topology Optimization: Comparison of methodologies based on the defect distribution and on the stress gradient
Authors: Boursier Niutta Carlo , Tridello Andrea , Paolino Davide S.
Published: June 2023

In this paper, the fatigue design of AM components is addressed through Topology Optimization. Two defect‐driven methodologies, which model the fatigue response in the finite life range and account for the experimental scatter, are compared. The first approach is based on the defect distribution and the marginal P‐S‐N curves. The second method models the size‐effect by accounting for the stress distribution within the loaded material. The two approaches are used to assess the maximum allowable first principal stress, which causes crack propagation. As the fatigue strength depends on the component volume or the stress distribution, an iterative procedure is necessary to determine the optimal design. The optimal topologies of a cantilever beam and of an engine rod are determined and compared, showing that the defect‐distribution method is the most conservative and the stress‐gradient method can also be reliably applied in the case of uniform stress distribution, as in the engine rod. Furthermore, the choice of the volume to retain for the calculation of the fatigue strength in the defect‐distribution method is critical.
The role of small‐scale environmental gradients on trematode infection
Authors: Resetarits Emlyn J. , Byers James E.
Published: June 2023

Parasitism rates can vary dramatically across large and small spatial scales. Such heterogeneity in infection is driven by variation in environmental factors that influence the probability of host and parasite encountering each other (encounter filters) and of genetic and physiological factors that alter whether that encounter results in a successful infection (compatibility filters). Here, we investigated how infection in first‐intermediate hosts (snails) by trematode parasites is influenced by small‐scale variation in environmental variables (final host relative abundance, nutrients, and temperature) and population origin across multiple ponds within an artificial flow‐through wetland system in Atlanta, GA, U.S.A.

We placed individually marked, lab‐reared F1 generation snails of the same age from three different populations into field enclosures at nine ponds along a 1‐km stretch of connected, flow‐through ponds for 86 days and allowed them to accrue infections naturally. This highly controlled field experiment allowed us to disentangle the underlying factors influencing small‐scale variation in infection risk, which can be masked when looking only at natural patterns of infection prevalence across space.

We found high heterogeneity in infection risk. The probability of infection was highest in ponds downstream and with high levels of bird activity; population origin was not important.

This work provides experimental evidence that infection risk varies across small spatial scales (tens of metres), driven by steep gradients in influential environmental drivers, emphasising the importance of controlled field manipulations to understand infection risk. Identifying small‐scale drivers of infection risk can help mitigate infection in hosts of interest (e.g., humans, fish), and should be acknowledged in organismal field studies, where infection and infection risk may influence the ecology, physiology, or behaviour of animals.
Urbanization shifts long‐term phenology and severity of phytoplankton blooms in an urban lake through different pathways
Authors: Li Yuanrui , Tao Juan , Zhang Yunlin , Shi Kun , Chang Junjun , Pan Min , Song Lirong , Jeppesen Erik , Zhou Qichao
Published: June 2023

Climate change can induce phytoplankton blooms (PBs) in eutrophic lakes worldwide, and these blooms severely threaten lake ecosystems and human health. However, it is unclear how urbanization and its interaction with climate impact PBs, which has implications for the management of lakes. Here, we used multi‐source remote sensing data and integrated the Virtual‐Baseline Floating macroAlgae Height (VB‐FAH) index and OTSU threshold automatic segmentation algorithm to extract the area of PBs in Lake Dianchi, China, which has been subjected to frequent PBs and rapid urbanization in its vicinity. We further explored long‐term (2000–2021) trends in the phenological and severity metrics of PBs and quantified the contributions from urbanization, climate change, and also nutrient levels to these trends. When comparing data from 2011–2021 to 2000–2010, we found significantly advanced initiation of PBs (28.6 days) and noticeably longer duration (51.9 days) but an insignificant trend in time of disappearance. The enhancement of algal nutrient use efficiency, likely induced by increased water temperature and reduced nutrient concentrations, presumably contributed to an earlier initiation and longer duration of PBs, while there was a negative correlation between spring wind speed and the initiation of PBs. Fortunately, we found that both the area of the PBs and the frequency of severe blooms (covering more than 19.8 km2) demonstrated downward trends, which could be attributed to increased wind speed and/or reduced nutrient levels. Moreover, the enhanced land surface temperature caused by urbanization altered the thermodynamic characteristics between the land and the lake, which, in turn, possibly caused an increase in local wind speed and water temperature, suggesting that urbanization can differently regulate the phenology and severity of PBs. Our findings have significant implications for the understanding of the impacts of urbanization on PB dynamics and for improving lake management practices to promote sustainable urban development under global change.
An appraisal of the utility of biochar in a rotation involving tobacco–rice in southern China
Authors: He Fan , Hu Wei , He Fei , Wang Pengze , Pi Benyang , Zhao Mingqin
Published: June 2023

The employment of biochar in crop production can not only improve soil quality, but also helps the field ecosystem to fix carbon and reduce emissions. Although the benefits of their application in crop production have been more and more confirmed, it is not clear when it comes to the acidic soil of tobacco and rice rotation. A tobacco–rice rotation experiment was conducted in southern China to probe the application value of biochar under these conditions. Three biochar application rates were employed in this experiment. BC0 (without biochar), BC25 (25 t ha−1), and BC50 (50 t ha−1). The findings show that biochar significantly boosted soil fertility and crop yields. Meanwhile, the soil organic carbon of tobacco rice rotation field with biochar increased by 31.76%. After a whole growth period of tobacco and rice, the cumulative emission reduction of CO2 and N2O from the soil by biochar were 15,944 kg ha−1 and 1810 g ha−1, respectively. The use of biochar not only significantly improved the bacterial diversity of tobacco and rice rotation soil, but also altered the original microbial community structure. The profusion of Proteobacteria and Acidobacteria was reduced and the abundance of Actinobacteria and Bacteroidetes was enhanced in the treatments with biochar. Among them, Sphingomonadales, Planctomycotes, and Ktedonobacteria, which are beneficial to plant growth and soil health, have become key phylotypes. The carbon balance analysis data show that the net carbon sequestration of the two treatments with biochar is positive, while that of the treatment without biochar is negative. In terms of economic benefit, the application of biochar increased the average of 2.055 CNY kg−1 consumed energy (CE) in the whole tobacco–rice rotation system. The ecological benefit was 0.51 kg C kg−1 CE. In conclusion, biochar can be effectively used in the practice of tobacco–rice rotation and acidic soil improvement in southern China.
Temporal Network Kernel Density Estimation
Authors: Gelb Jérémy , Apparicio Philippe
Published: June 2023

Kernel density estimation (KDE) is a widely used method in geography to study concentration of point pattern data. Geographical networks are 1.5 dimensional spaces with specific characteristics, analyzing events occurring on networks (accidents on roads, leakages of pipes, species along rivers, etc.). In the last decade, they required the extension of spatial KDE. Several versions of Network KDE (NKDE) have been proposed, each with their particular advantages and disadvantages, and are now used on a regular basis. However, scant attention has been given to the temporal extension of NKDE (TNKDE). In practice, when the studied events happen at specific time points and are constrained on a network, the methodologies used by geographers tend to overlook either the network or the temporal dimension. Here we propose a TNKDE based on the recent development of NKDE and the product of kernels. We also adapt classical methods of KDE (Diggle's correction, Abramson's adaptive bandwidth and bandwidth selection by leave‐one‐out maximum likelihood). We also illustrate the method with Montreal road crashes involving a pedestrian between 2016 and 2019.
Russian Arctic Vegetation Archive—A new database of plant community composition and environmental conditions
Authors: Zemlianskii Vitalii , Ermokhina Ksenia , Schaepman‐Strub Gabriela , Matveyeva Nadezhda , Troeva Elena , Lavrinenko Igor , Telyatnikov Mikhail , Pospelov Igor , Koroleva Natalia , Leonova Nadezhda , Khitun Olga , Walker Donald , Breen Amy , Kadetov Nikita , Lavrinenko Olga , Ivleva Tatiana , Kholod Sergey , Petrzhik Nataliia , Gunin Yakov , Kurysheva Maria , Lapina Anna , Korolev Denis , Kudr Ekaterina , Plekhanova Elena
Published: June 2023

Motivation

The goal of the Russian Arctic Vegetation Archive (AVA‐RU) is to unite and harmonize data of plot‐based plant species and their abundance, vegetation structure and environmental variables from the Russian Arctic. This database can be used to assess the status of the Russian Arctic vegetation and as a baseline to document biodiversity changes in the future. The archive can be used for scientific studies as well as to inform nature protection and restoration efforts.

Main types of variables contained

The archive contains 2873 open‐access geobotanical plots. The data include the full species. Most plots include information on the horizontal (cover per species and morphological group) and vertical (average height per morphological group) structure of vegetation, site and soil descriptions and data quality estimations. In addition to the open‐access data, the AVA‐RU website contains 1912 restricted‐access plots.

Spatial location and grain

The plots of 1–100 m2 size were sampled in Arctic Russia and Scandinavia. Plots in Russia covered areas from the West to the East, including the European Russian Arctic (Kola Peninsula, Nenets Autonomous district), Western Siberia (Northern Urals, Yamal, Taza and Gydan peninsulas), Central Siberia (Taymyr peninsula, Bolshevik island), Eastern Siberia (Indigirka basin) and the Far East (Wrangel island). About 72% of the samples are georeferenced.

Time period and grain

The data were collected once at each location between 1927 and 2022.

Major taxa and level of measurement

Plots include observations of >1770 vascular plant and cryptogam species and subspecies.

Software format

CSV files (1 file with species list and abundance, 1 file with environmental variables and vegetation structure) are stored at the AVA‐RU website (https://avarus.space/), and are continuously updated with new datasets. The open‐access data are available on Dryad and all the datasets have a backup on the server of the University of Zurich. The data processing R script is available on Dryad.
Joy and the mop: The role of film in doing and undoing gender in entrepreneurship
Authors: Branicki Layla J. , King Elizabeth , Norbury Kate
Published: June 2023

Entrepreneurship remains principally constructed as a masculine activity performed by men, suggesting that women entrepreneurs continue to experience contradictory gendered expectations whereby they are both evaluated against male norms and expected to display culturally acceptable forms of femininity. While there is a growing body of critical literature on gender and entrepreneurship, limited work explores the audio‐visual modalities of how gender performances reinforce and/or subvert gendered expectations in women's entrepreneurial activities. Considering this gap, we follow the feminist tradition of elaborating gender theory through film as an important medium of cultural production and transmission. By drawing on Butler's theory of gender performativity, we explore how a successful woman entrepreneur is represented in the semi‐fictionalized film, Joy. Using a critical social semiotic approach, we analyze how the audio‐visual aspects of the gender performances in Joy unfold across time and space to construct expectations of women's entrepreneurship. From our analysis, we make two principal contributions. First, we examine how the medium of film simultaneously reinforces and subverts the gendering of entrepreneurial activity. Second, we propose three sub‐genres of gender performance—exaggerated femininities, instrumental masculinities, and situational gender (in)congruity—that can serve to subvert stereotypical expectations about women's entrepreneurship.
Correlation between hepatic venous pressure gradient and portal pressure gradient in patients with autoimmune cirrhotic portal hypertension and collateral branches of the hepatic vein
Authors: Liu Bowen , Zhang Dan , Dong Chengbin , Yue Zhendong , Wang Lei , Fan Zhenhua , Wu Yifan , Zhang Ke , Jiang Li , Ding Huiguo , Zhang Yuening , Wang Jian , Liu Fuquan
Published: June 2023

Aim

To assess the correlation and agreement between hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) and portal pressure gradient (PPG) in patients with autoimmune liver diseases (ALD) and portal hypertension, and to investigate the extent to which hepatic vein collateralization affects the accuracy of this assessment.

Methods

Ninety‐eight patients with ALD between 2017 and 2021 who underwent transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt with conventional and innovative 15 mL pressurized contrast were selected to measure wedged hepatic venous pressure (WHVP) and portal venous pressure and to calculate the HVPG and PPG. Pearson's correlation was used for correlation analysis between the two groups. Bland–Altman plots were plotted to estimate the agreement between paired pressures.

Results

The r values of PPG and HVPG in the early, middle, late, and portal venous visualization were 0.404, 0.789, 0.807, and 0.830, respectively, and the R2 values were 0.163, 0.622, 0.651, and 0.690, respectively. The p value for the r and R2 values in the early group was 0.015, and the p values in the remaining groups were less than 0.001. Bland–Altman plots showed that patients in the portal venous visualization group had the narrowest 95% limits of agreement. The mean value of the difference was close to the zero‐scale line.

Conclusions

In patients with ALD, the correlation between the HVPG and PPG was good, and the later the collateral development, the better the correlation. Hepatic vein collateral was an essential factor in underestimating WHVP and HVPG, and the earlier the collateral appeared, the more obvious the underestimation.
Unsubstantiated use of force in the killing of Atatiana Jefferson: A critical policy analysis
Authors: Keyes Latocia , Keyes Vance D. , Adams Raymond , Turner‐Marks Jennifer , Hernandez Pedro M.
Published: June 2023

A sustained history of white supremacy is in the system of policing. Police engage in state‐sanctioned murders of African American women. Too many times, police state‐sanctioned violence is disregarded. A critical analysis and applicable theoretical frameworks were used to examine the Fort Worth Police Department's (FWPD's) Use of Force Policy in the case of Atatiana Jefferson's murder. The findings show cultural situatedness impacted this case. In other words, the normed cultural, social and environmental factors versus policy components influenced the case. The employed theoretical perspectives provide policymakers and researchers with critical viewpoints to deconstruct hierarchical systems of power that perpetuate injustices.
Do carabids struggle to recolonize restored grasslands in the fragmented landscapes of Northern Belgium?
Authors: DeCock Eva , Moeneclaey Iris , Schelfhout Stephanie , Dekoninck Wouter , De Schrijver An , Baeten Lander , De Smedt Pallieter
Published: June 2023

Semi‐natural grasslands in Western Europe are degrading and declining. Their plant species diversity and associated fauna, such as arthropods, are decreasing fast making restoration crucial.

Carabid beetles are an essential link in ecosystem functioning (e.g., through herbivory and predation) and provide important ecosystem services (e.g., pest control). As a diverse group from different trophic levels, they occupy a variety of ecological niches, making them good indicators of restoration success and habitat quality.

To study how different aspects of carabid diversity change along a restoration gradient from degraded grasslands to restored semi‐naturalNardusgrasslands, we sampled carabid beetles in grasslands in Northern Belgium. We analysed differences in abundance, diversity and community composition and investigated carabid traits potentially influencing carabids' response to grassland restoration.

Species richness did not change along the restoration gradient, but number of individuals decreased as grassland restoration time and effort increased and species composition changed, mostly caused by species turnover. As grassland restoration time and effort increased, carabid body size decreased and the proportion of day‐active carabids increased. Predators and habitat generalists were dominant along the entire gradient.

Even though the target vegetation was restored, the carabid communities were not, or at least, did not possess yet traits to be expected from a restored community. The landscape in Northern Belgium might be too fragmented for larger species with low dispersal ability to recolonize restored grasslands. However, restored species‐rich grasslands are beneficial for conservation of meadow birds as day‐active beetles thriving in restored grasslands are an important food source.
Model‐based feedback for L2 writing revision: The role of vocabulary size and language aptitude
Authors: Kang Eun Young
Published: June 2023

Although the utility of model‐based feedback is well documented, little is known about which factors modulate its effectiveness. The current study investigated the extent to which learner differences in receptive and productive vocabulary sizes, as well as differences in their language aptitude (measured by the LLAMA test), mediated the effects of using models as a written corrective feedback (WCF) tool. Sixty Korean learners of English (ages 18–21) were divided into an experimental and a control group. They all completed an argumentative writing task. Before revising their texts, the experimental group received model texts to compare their first draft, while the control group self‐corrected their errors without a model. Subsequently, all 60 participants took the LLAMA and vocabulary size tests. The model group's revisions showed significant improvements in vocabulary, content, and organization compared to the control group. The results also showed that learners’ receptive and productive vocabulary sizes significantly predicted the effectiveness of model‐based feedback.
Fatty acid distillation residues from rice oil bran refining as a source of phytochemicals
Authors: Pestana‐Bauer V. Ribeiro , Mendonça C. Rosane , Bruscatto M. Hoffmann , Krumreich F. Doring , Otero D. Murowaniecki , Costa I. Henrique , Zambiazi R. Carlos
Published: June 2023

The aim of this work was to develop an extraction method to recover γ‐oryzanol and tocopherols from the distillation residue of the fatty acids generated during the neutralisation step of the rice bran oil refining process. The phytochemicals extraction was performed with different solvents (chloroform, methanol, methyl ethyl ketone and acetone) at a ratio of 10:1 v/w (solvent: sample), by agitating the mixture for 10 min at room temperature (20 °C ± 2 °C), then stored at −18 °C for 15 h. The γ‐oryzanol and tocopherol content in the extracted fractions were concentrated and quantified using reverse phase high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with UV–vis and fluorescence detector, respectively. It was observed that only one step of extraction with methanol resulted in an increased concentration of tocopherols for about six times, with a recovery of 51.50%. However, using two stages of extraction, the mixture of methanol and methyl ethyl ketone (1:1, v/v) allowed the recovery of 92.15% of tocopherols and 84.12% of γ‐oryzanol, increasing the initial concentration of these phytochemicals in about three times. These results show that there is a great possibility of these phytochemicals recovery from the distillation residue from fatty acid recovery.