bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Towards processual understanding of knowledge boundaries: an ethnographic examination of how professionals (mis-)align, compete, and collaborate
Authors: Kravčenko Dmitrijs
Published: March 2023

Purpose

Extant literature tends to consider knowledge boundaries as a necessary property of interdisciplinary work. Knowledge boundaries are, thus, reified and treated as something to be traversed, transcended or otherwise negotiated. There is, however, very little work that closely examines the process of emergence of boundaries. The purpose of this paper is to critically consider the emergence, stabilization and dissolution of knowledge boundaries among experts during the design stage of a building project to understand whether knowledge boundaries are as delineated and predictable as the literature makes them out to be.

Design/methodology/approach

A process-based, ethnographic study of a construction project is used. Building on a large data set collected over 13 months of research, this paper closely examines collaborative work around one specific issue during design development work that tripped up collaboration of the multidisciplinary and inter-organizational design team.

Findings

Knowledge boundaries do not exist based on differences of substance among groups (e.g. being an engineer vs being an architect) but rather that they are a function of divergent constellations of interests, work tools and practical concerns. While holding binding powers, they evolve in the face of alignments and misalignments, agreements and conflicts. As interests shift, concerns unfold and tools are dropped or used; boundaries emerge or dissolve.

Originality/value

A processual view of knowledge boundaries is advanced by demonstrating how they evolve in face of convergent (or divergent) work tools, practical concerns and interests. Existing research tends to equate knowledge boundaries with occupational/professional differences directly, but this paper demonstrates that work across expertise domains does not generate boundaries by itself. Resulting theoretical contributions are twofold: first, the current understanding of knowledge boundaries is refined by explaining how and why they emerge and dissolve across and within specialist knowledge domains, and second, the role of power and politics in this process is empirically foregrounded, highlighting how constellations of interests can lead to dynamic alliances or divisions.
Cooperative distributed model predictive control for robot in-hand manipulation
Authors: Chen Yang , Luo Yu , Sun Fuchun
Published: March 2023

Purpose

This study aims to process multi-agent system with kinds of limitations and constraints, and consider the robot in-hand manipulation as a problem of coordination and cooperation of multi-fingered hand.

Design/methodology/approach

A cooperative distributed model predictive control (MPC) algorithm is proposed to perform robot in-hand manipulation.

Findings

A cooperative distributed MPC approach is formulated for robot in-hand manipulation problem, which enables address complex limitation and constraint conditions in object motion planning, and realizes tracking trajectory of the object more than tracking position of the object.

Originality/value

This method to implement the moving object task uses the kinematic parameters without the knowledge of dynamic properties of the object. The cooperative distributed MPC scheme is designed to guarantee the movement of the object to a desired position and trajectory at algorithmic level.
Implementing the Humanitarian‐development‐peace nexus in a post‐pandemic world: Multilateral cooperation and the challenge of inter‐organisational dialogue
Authors: Baroncelli Eugenia
Published: March 2023

Engaging with the UN Secretary General's call for a more effective, networked and inclusive approach to multilateralism (Our Common Agenda, 2021), this paper discusses the main challenges to the implementation of the Humanitarian‐Development‐Peace Nexus concept. Institutionalised by the UN in 2016, such cross‐policy effort at global governance has been neglected by the IR and IPE literatures. To start filling this gap, the paper identifies strengths and weaknesses of multilateral inter‐agency cooperation on the Nexus approach. Based on previous research on inter‐organisational performance and regime complexity, it investigates select evidence from three organisations (UN, EU, World Bank), in pre‐ and post‐COVID‐19 contexts. Identifying tangible elements of experimentalist governance in the HDP global endeavour, the paper concludes with a synthetic overview of the comparative advantages that each organisation offers to implement the Nexus.
Continuous monitoring is superior to manual measurements in detecting vital sign deviations in patients with COVID‐19
Authors: Grønbæk Katja Kjær , Rasmussen Søren Møller , Langer Natasha Hemicke , Vincentz Mette , Oxbøll Anne‐Britt , Søgaard Marlene , Awada Hussein Nasser , Jensen Tomas O. , Jensen Magnus Thorsten , Sørensen Helge B. D. , Aasvang Eske Kvanner , Meyhoff Christian Sylvest
Published: March 2023

Background

Patients admitted to the emergency care setting with COVID‐19‐infection can suffer from sudden clinical deterioration, but the extent of deviating vital signs in this group is still unclear. Wireless technology monitors patient vital signs continuously and might detect deviations earlier than intermittent measurements. The aim of this study was to determine frequency and duration of vital sign deviations using continuous monitoring compared to manual measurements. A secondary analysis was to compare deviations in patients admitted to ICU or having fatal outcome vs. those that were not.

Methods

Two wireless sensors continuously monitored (CM) respiratory rate (RR), heart rate (HR), and peripheral arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2). Frequency and duration of vital sign deviations were compared with point measurements performed by clinical staff according to regional guidelines, the National Early Warning Score (NEWS).

Results

SpO2 < 92% for more than 60 min was detected in 92% of the patients with CM vs. 40% with NEWS (p < .00001). RR > 24 breaths per minute for more than 5 min were detected in 70% with CM vs. 33% using NEWS (p = .0001). HR ≥ 111 for more than 60 min was seen in 51% with CM and 22% with NEWS (p = .0002). Patients admitted to ICU or having fatal outcome had longer durations of RR > 24 brpm (p = .01), RR > 21 brpm (p = .01), SpO2 < 80% (p = .01), and SpO2 < 85% (p = .02) compared to patients that were not.

Conclusion

Episodes of desaturation and tachypnea in hospitalized patients with COVID‐19 infection are common and often not detected by routine measurements.
Evaluation of the significance of keratinized mucosa on peri‐implant tissue health: a prospective clinical trial
Authors: Gurbuz E , Ceylan E , Yurttas M
Published: March 2023

Background

The effect of keratinized mucosa on peri‐implant tissue health is still inconclusive. This study aimed to evaluate the importance of keratinized mucosa and investigate the impact of the free gingival graft procedure on peri‐implant health.

Methods

At prosthesis delivery, the implants were allocated into three groups, based on the width of keratinized mucosa (KM) and patients' agreement on the free gingival graft procedure: KMS (KM ≥2 mm), KMD (KM <2 mm), and FGG (KM <2 mm initially and having surgically increased keratinized mucosa). Modified plaque index (mPI), probing depth (PD), modified bleeding index (mBI), KM, and marginal bone loss (MBL) were assessed at the baseline, 6‐, 12‐, and 24‐month follow‐up periods.

Results

Of the 47 patients, 17 belonged to the KMS group, 17 belonged to the KMD, and the remaining 13 patients belonged to the FGG. KMD demonstrated significantly fewer mPI and higher mBI than KMS and FGG at 6 and 12 months. At 24 months, MBL did not differ between the groups; however, PD was significantly greater in the KMD group.

Conclusions

Implants with inadequate keratinized mucosa had higher bleeding and pocket depth values despite less plaque accumulation. According to the results, soft tissue grafting should be performed as early as possible. © 2023 Australian Dental Association.
Does short food supply chain participation improve farm economic performance? A meta‐analysis
Authors: Chiaverina Pierre , Drogué Sophie , Jacquet Florence , Lev Larry , King Robert
Published: March 2023

Many researchers, policy makers, and food activists view Short Food Supply Chains (SFSC) as attractive levers for improving farm income and the sustainability of farming systems. However, the empirical evidence documenting the association between SFSC participation and farm economic performance has been mixed. In this study, through a meta‐analysis using a logistic regression, we identify key factors to explain differences between studies that find better economic performance in SFSC and those that do not. Our meta‐analysis consists of 48 studies published in English and French from 2000 to 2022 that examine the economic performance of farms engaged in SFSC. Based on far more empirical evidence than previous reviews, we find that the relationship between SFSC participation and farmer income remains ambiguous. More specifically the findings indicate that the reported effect of SFSC on a farm economic performance varies depending on location and the indicator used to capture the economic performance of farms. Studies conducted in Europe are more likely to report higher farmer income as are studies that use profit satisfaction metrics rather than measures of gross or net income. We also emphasize the need to interpret the reported results cautiously because few are based on causal inference methods. Furthermore, the very few studies that account for selection bias often do so with inadequate corrections.
The effectiveness of mindfulness‐based stress reduction (MBSR) on the mental health, HbA1C, and mindfulness of diabetes patients: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomised controlled trials
Authors: Fisher Virginia , Li Wendy Wen , Malabu Usman
Published: March 2023

The clinically standardised mindfulness‐based stress reduction (MBSR) has been utilised as an intervention for improving mental health among diabetes patients The present study aimed to assess the effectiveness of mindfulness‐based stress reduction (MBSR) on the mental health, haemoglobin A1c (HbA1C), and mindfulness of diabetes patients. A systematic review and meta‐analysis approach was employed to review randomised controlled trials published in the English language between the inception of eight databases to July 2022. Eleven articles from 10 studies, with a combined sample size of 718 participants, were included in the systematic review, and nine studies were included in the meta‐analysis. In the meta‐analysis, outcomes at post‐intervention and follow‐up were compared between the MBSR intervention and control groups with an adjustment of the baseline values. The results showed that MBSR demonstrated effects at post‐intervention and follow‐up (in a period between one to 12 months with a mean length of 4.3 months) in reducing anxiety and depressive symptoms, and enhancing mindfulness, with large effect sizes. However, the effect of MBSR on reducing stress was observed at follow‐up, but not at post‐intervention. Effects of MBSR on HbA1C were not detected at post‐intervention and follow‐up. The findings suggest that MBSR appears to be an effective treatment for improving mental health conditions and mindfulness in people with diabetes. The measurement of cortisol is recommended to be used as a biological measure to evaluate the effectiveness of MBSR in diabetes patients in future research.
Primary skin abscess microbiota a systematic review
Authors: Kursawe Larsen Christoffer , Kjærsgaard Andersen Rune , Saunte Ditte Marie Lindhardt , Jemec Gregor Borut Ernst
Published: March 2023

An abscess is a collection of pus forming a cavity in the tissue,for example,the skin. They are generally perceived as the result of infection but infection is not mandatory for the diagnosis. Skin abscesses may occur independently (primary) or be part of other diseases such as the recurrent inflammatory skin disease hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). HS is noninfectious but nevertheless abscesses are a common differential diagnosis. The purpose of this study is to review the microbiome of bacteria positive primary skin abscesses in order to explore the reported microbiota. EMBASE, MEDLINER, and COCHRANE LIBRABRY were searched on 9th of October 2021 for microbiome, skin, and abscesses. Studies with more than 10 patients reporting the microbiome in human skin‐abscesses were included and studies with abscess microbiota sampled from HS patients, microbiota not sampled from skin‐abscesses, missing information on microbiome data, sampling bias, studies in other language than English or Danish, reviews and meta‐analyses were excluded. In total 11 studies were included for further analysis.S. aureusis likely to dominate the microbiome of bacteria positive primary skin abscesses in contrast to the polymicrobial microbiome of HS.
Muslim geographies, positionality, and ways of knowing migration
Authors: Allouache Yannis‐Adam
Published: March 2023

Amid the proportion of work on ‘Muslim geographies’, the majority has focused on Muslims as a minority discussed within societies of the West. Additionally, this work rarely discusses the positionality of the researcher despite significant overlap with work in feminist, social, and cultural geographies. This paper takes ‘Muslim geographies’ as a starting point to further problematise accounts of knowledge, subjectivity, and power with regard to the treatment of Islam in geography. I argue that geographical analysis from different standpoints is needed to yield other ways of knowing about Muslims and how they orient themselves across space and time. This theoretical intervention is informed by my fieldwork experience as a Muslim male conducting ethnographic research on migration and labour precarity with other Muslim migrants across Taiwan. As I transited through various Muslim spaces, being Muslim provided privileged access and shaped the direction in which the research progressed.
Comparisons of creativity performance and learning effects through digital game‐based creativity learning between elementary school children in rural and urban areas
Authors: Yeh Yu‐chu , Ting Yu‐Shan
Published: March 2023

Background

Creativity is an important ability for problem‐solving in both personal life and academic learning. Few creativity studies have investigated the development of children's creativity in disadvantaged rural areas or compared the rural–urban differences through digital game‐based creativity learning. Understanding such differences can help provide resources for promoting learning equality in creativity.

Aims

This study aimed to compare the rural–urban difference in elementary school children's creativity performance and their learning effect through digital game‐based creativity learning.

Sample

Participants were 261 3rd and 4th graders and 194 5th and 6th graders from 6 elementary schools.

Method

Two digital game‐based creativity learning systems were employed to conduct a five‐class experimental instruction. A creativity test and a questionnaire were also used.

Results and Conclusions

The results indicate that the urban middle graders, but not the upper graders, outperformed their rural counterparts in the creativity test before game‐based learning. Nevertheless, all children got a higher score on the creativity test after the game‐based learning, suggesting the employed creativity learning systems could be vehicles for improving elementary school children's creativity. However, the rural children gained less from the learning than the urban children, which may be due to weaker competencies in self‐regulated learning. Further studies can employ an inventory to verify this and also consider providing more scaffolding of self‐regulated learning to more disadvantaged students during digital game‐based creativity learning. Additionally, the results of this study reflect the importance of self‐determination and rewards in learning motivation. Appropriate rewards may encourage persistence in taking on challenges.
Formulation, optimization and characterization of raloxifene hydrochloride loaded PLGA nanoparticles by using Taguchi design for breast cancer application
Authors: Maddiboyina Balaji , Roy Harekrishna , Nakkala Ramya Krishna , Gandhi Sivaraman , Kavisri M. , Moovendhan Meivelu
Published: March 2023

Multidrug resistance in breast cancer and the associated side‐effects of anticancer therapies are significant hurdles in chemotherapy‐based treatment. Biodegradable polymeric nano‐based targeted drug delivery technologies showed tremendous advantages in targeted local delivery with limited off‐targeted side effects. Therefore, there is a persistent need to develop targeted nanomedicine systems for treatment of breast cancer. The current research attempted to develop poly (lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) nanoparticles loaded with raloxifene by modified emulsification solvent diffusion evaporation method to improve oral bioavailability by using Taguchi design. It was observed that the optimized formulation (1:4 drug to polymer ratio) poly (lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) showed a mean particle size and Polydispersity index of 218 ± 23.7 nm and 0.231 ± 0.04, respectively. The entrapment efficiency was found to be 82.30% ± 1.02%. In vitro drug delivery was found to be 92.5% ± 1.48% in 40 h. The nanoparticles were to remain stable at 2°C–8°C even after 30 days. Differential scanning calorimetry and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy characterization techniques showed that there was no interaction between the drug and excipient. Stability studies indicate that polymeric nanoparticles were stable at 2°C–8°C after 6 months. Raloxifene nanoparticles may be the most potent targeting moieties to treat highly invasive and metastatic MCF‐7 breast cancer cells.
Line Drawing Vectorization via Coarse‐to‐Fine Curve Network Optimization
Authors: Bao Bin , Fu Hongbo
Published: March 2023

Vectorizing line drawings is a fundamental component of the workflow in various applications such as graphic design and computer animation. A practical vectorization tool is desired to produce high‐quality curves that are faithful to the original inputs and close to the connectivity of human drawings. The existing line vectorization approaches either suffer from low geometry accuracy or incorrect connectivity for noisy inputs or detailed complex drawings. We propose a novel line drawing vectorization framework based on coarse‐to‐fine curve network optimization. Our technique starts with an initial curve network generated by an existing tracing method. It then performs a global optimization which fits the curve network to image centrelines. Finally, our method performs a finer optimization in local junction regions to achieve better connectivity and curve geometry around junctions. We qualitatively and quantitatively evaluate our system on line drawings with varying image quality and shape complexity, and show that our technique outperforms existing works in terms of curve quality and computational time.
Art‐based research to explore children's lived experiences of dysgraphia
Authors: Kalenjuk Elvira , Wilson Sue , Subban Pearl , Laletas Stella
Published: March 2023

Children have the right to voice views on matters that impact their lives, including writing disability. In this study, five children diagnosed with dysgraphia used art‐based research to depict their experiences of dysgraphia. The children described the impossibility of transferring ideas from head to paper and the difficult emotions associated with writing. The results highlighted a symbiosis between writing and identity, with dysgraphia adversely impacting the children's identity development. The study highlights the value of using art to communicate children's perceptions, aligned with inclusive practices. The insights shared offers caregivers, educators, and others scope to develop affirmative writing practices.
‘Off the shelf’ immunotherapies: Generation and application of pluripotent stem cell‐derived immune cells
Authors: Wang Chenxin , Liu Jingjing , Li Wei
Published: March 2023

In recent years, great strides have been made toward the development of immune cell‐based therapies in the treatment of refractory malignancies. Primary T cells and NK cells armed with chimeric antigen receptors have achieved tremendous clinical success especially in patients with leukaemia and lymphoma. However, the autologous origin of these effector cells means that a single batch of laboriously engineered cells treats only a certain patient, leading to high cost, ununiform product quality, and risk of delay in treatment, and therefore results in restricted accessibility of these therapies to the overwhelming majority of the patients. Addressing these tricky obstacles calls for the development of universal immune cell products that can be provided ‘off the shelf’ in a large amount. Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs), owing to their unique capacity of self‐renewal and the potential of multi‐lineage differentiation, offer an unlimited cell source to generate uniform and scalable engineered immune cells. This review discusses the major advances in the development of PSC‐derived immune cell differentiation approaches and their therapeutic potential in treating both hematologic malignancies and solid tumours. We also consider the potency of PSC‐derived immune cells as an alternative therapeutic strategy for other diseases, such as autoimmune diseases, fibrosis, infections, et al.
Clinical characteristics, treatment patterns, and persistence in individuals with type 2 diabetes initiating a glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonist: A retrospective analysis of the Diabetes Prospective Follow‐Up Registry
Authors: Jung Heike , Tittel Sascha R. , Schloot Nanette C. , Heitmann Elke , Otto Thorsten , Lebrec Jeremie , Pavel Marianne , Lanzinger Stefanie
Published: March 2023

Aims

To describe clinical characteristics, treatment patterns and glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonist (GLP‐1 RA) persistence in individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D) initiating their first GLP‐1 RA.

Materials and Methods

A real‐world analysis of adults with T2D initiating GLP‐1 RA therapy between 2007 and June 2020 from the multicentre Diabetes Prospective Follow‐Up (DPV) Registry, stratified by antidiabetes therapy at the time of GLP‐1 RA initiation: oral antidiabetic drugs (OAD), insulin ± OAD or lifestyle modification (LM). GLP‐1 RA treatment persistence in individuals with ≥12 months follow‐up was determined by Kaplan‐Meier analysis.

Results

Overall, 15 111 individuals with T2D initiating GLP‐1 RA therapy (55% men) were identified; median [interquartile range (IQR)] age [58.7 (50.6‐66.7) years], diabetes duration [8.5 (3.6‐14.7) years], glycated haemoglobin [HbA1c; 8.2 (7.1‐9.8)%]. Median (95% confidence interval) GLP‐1 RA persistence in eligible individuals (n = 5189) was 11 (10‐12) months; OAD 12 (11‐14) months (n = 2453); insulin ± OAD 11 (9‐12) months (n = 2204); and LM 7 (5‐9) months (n = 532). Median treatment persistence tended to increase from 2007‐2012 to 2017‐2020. Median (IQR) HbA1c decreased from baseline [8.2 (7.1‐9.8)%] to discontinuation [7.5 (6.6‐8.7)%], with a greater decrease observed in individuals with persistence >12 months versus ≤12 months. Individuals who discontinued GLP‐1 RA therapy predominantly switched to insulin (if not already using) or dipeptidyl peptidase‐4 inhibitors.

Conclusion

Real‐world registry data revealed improved outcomes with longer median GLP‐1 RA persistence; ~50% of patients overall achieved HbA1c <7% at 12 months. Persistence was highest with baseline OAD and/or insulin, and tended to increase over the period 2007‐2020.
Long‐term psychological outcome of patients with moderate‐to‐severe atopic dermatitis continuously treated with Dupilumab: Data up to 3 years
Authors: Miniotti Marco , Ribero Simone , Mastorino Luca , Ortoncelli Michela , Gelato Federica , Bailon Mariagiulia , Trioni Jacopo , Stefan Beatrice , Quaglino Pietro , Leombruni Paolo
Published: March 2023

Dupilumab effectiveness and safety in treating moderate‐to‐severe atopic dermatitis (AD) have been demonstrated in open‐label studies up to 4 years. Evidence about long‐term psychological outcome is lacking. This study evaluates the long‐term psychological outcome of moderate‐to‐severe AD patients continuously treated with Dupilumab up to 3 years. A prospective observational real‐life study was conducted at an Italian tertiary centre from January 2019 to September 2022. Measures of disease severity and psychological outcomes were assessed at baseline, after 4, 8, 12, 24 and 36 months. A total of 382 moderate‐to‐severe AD patients were included. After 36 months, EASI‐75 and EASI‐90 were achieved by 91.8% and 77.2% of participants. Significant improvement (p < 0.001; ω2 = 0.18–0.84) in objective and patient‐reported measures of disease severity and in the psychological condition were observed after 4 months of treatment and maintained up to 36 months. Longitudinal analysis of interactions of demographic and clinical features found subgroups of patients who did not reported psychological improvement over the study period notwithstanding the positive clinical response. Long‐term improvement in the psychological outcome of moderate‐to‐severe AD patients continuously treated with Dupilumab is confirmed up to 3 years, supporting its wide use in this population. Between‐subject differences in the psychological outcome irrespective of clinical response observed in this study foster the biopsychosocial approach in the clinical management of these patients.
Doing family online: (In)formal knowledge circulation, information‐seeking practices, and support communities
Authors: Odasso Laura , Geoffrion Karine
Published: March 2023

Objective

Drawing on the theory of polymedia and on the role of information and communications technology (ICT) in (re)defining the articulation between the private and the public, this introduction reflects on what ICT does to and for families around the world.

Background

Through the development of networking platforms, video call applications, personal sites, and collaborative information platforms, ICT has changed the way people live, love, and interact. It has also afforded new ways to “do family.”

Method

By featuring studies from a variety of national and regional contexts (Canada, Chile, Ghana, Greece, Moldova, South Korea, Ukraine, the Netherlands, United States, and Turkey), it establishes a dialogue between disciplines and a fruitful cross‐fertilization of research topics, methodologies, analyses, and theoretical perspectives.

Results

This special issue explores (a) the nexus among family life, relationships, and ICT and (b) the relation between the everyday lived experiences of family members and the broader social structures that circumscribe the width and breadth of those experiences.

Conclusion

The contributions show the porosity of the boundary between public and private spaces. Alternative forms of expertise and parenting norms are emerging online. ICTs are integrated into parents' information‐seeking and sharing practices, and emotional support. They sustain relationships between family members across distance. However, inequalities regarding access to the Internet and computer literacy still jeopardize digital citizenship and democratization.

Implication

The contributions in this special issue highlight the need for better structuring of interventions and policies to support families by using up‐to‐date ICT systems and creating mentorship programs and digital mediation for family professionals and beneficiaries.
Embracing fine‐root system complexity in terrestrial ecosystem modeling
Authors: Wang Bin , McCormack Michael Luke , Ricciuto Daniel M. , Yang Xiaojuan , Iversen Colleen M.
Published: March 2023

Projecting the dynamics and functioning of the biosphere requires a holistic consideration of whole‐ecosystem processes. However, biases toward leaf, canopy, and soil modeling since the 1970s have constantly left fine‐root systems being rudimentarily treated. As accelerated empirical advances in the last two decades establish clearly functional differentiation conferred by the hierarchical structure of fine‐root orders and associations with mycorrhizal fungi, a need emerges to embrace this complexity to bridge the data‐model gap in still extremely uncertain models. Here, we propose a three‐pool structure comprising transport and absorptive fine roots with mycorrhizal fungi (TAM) to model vertically resolved fine‐root systems across organizational and spatial–temporal scales. Emerging from a conceptual shift away from arbitrary homogenization, TAM builds upon theoretical and empirical foundations as an effective and efficient approximation that balances realism and simplicity. A proof‐of‐concept demonstration of TAM in a big‐leaf model both conservatively and radically shows robust impacts of differentiation within fine‐root systems on simulating carbon cycling in temperate forests. Theoretical and quantitative support warrants exploiting its rich potentials across ecosystems and models to confront uncertainties and challenges for a predictive understanding of the biosphere. Echoing a broad trend of embracing ecological complexity in integrative ecosystem modeling, TAM may offer a consistent framework where modelers and empiricists can work together toward this grand goal.
Myeloid‐specific deletion of activating transcription factor 6 alpha increases CD11b+ macrophage subpopulations and aggravates lung fibrosis
Authors: Mekhael Olivia , Revill Spencer D , Hayat Aaron I , Cass Steven P , MacDonald Kyle , Vierhout Megan , Ayoub Anmar , Reihani Amir , Padwal Manreet , Imani Jewel , Ayaub Ehab , Yousof Tamana , Dvorkin‐Gheva Anna , Rullo Anthony , Hirota Jeremy A , Richards Carl D , Bridgewater Darren , Stämpfli Martin R , Hambly Nathan , Naqvi Asghar , Kolb Martin RJ , Ask Kjetil
Published: March 2023

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, progressive, fibrotic interstitial lung disease of unknown etiology. The accumulation of macrophages is associated with disease pathogenesis. The unfolded protein response (UPR) has been linked to macrophage activation in pulmonary fibrosis. To date, the impact of activating transcription factor 6 alpha (ATF6α), one of the UPR mediators, on the composition and function of pulmonary macrophage subpopulations during lung injury and fibrogenesis is not fully understood. We began by examining the expression of Atf6α in IPF patients’ lung single‐cell RNA sequencing dataset, archived surgical lung specimens, and CD14+ circulating monocytes. To assess the impact of ATF6α on pulmonary macrophage composition and pro‐fibrotic function during tissue remodeling, we conducted an in vivo myeloid‐specific deletion of Atf6α. Flow cytometric assessments of pulmonary macrophages were carried out in C57BL/6 and myeloid specific ATF6α‐deficient mice in the context of bleomycin‐induced lung injury. Our results demonstrated that Atf6α mRNA was expressed in pro‐fibrotic macrophages found in the lung of a patient with IPF and in CD14+ circulating monocytes obtained from blood of a patient with IPF. After bleomycin administration, the myeloid‐specific deletion of Atf6α altered the pulmonary macrophage composition, expanding CD11b+ subpopulations with dual polarized CD38+CD206+ expressing macrophages. Compositional changes were associated with an aggravation of fibrogenesis including increased myofibroblast and collagen deposition. A further mechanistic ex vivo investigation revealed that ATF6α was required for CHOP induction and the death of bone marrow‐derived macrophages. Overall, our findings suggest a detrimental role for the ATF6α‐deficient CD11b+ macrophages which had altered function during lung injury and fibrosis.
Challenging stigma and attitudes towards ECT via an educational video
Authors: Sarma Shanthi , Hussain Besalat , Gigante Titta , Davies Angela , Watson Rebecca , Branjerdporn Grace
Published: March 2023

While electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is an effective therapeutic modality for the treatment of mental illness, negative attitudes and stigma exist about ECT in the general community and even within health services. Investigating interventions that improve the attitudes of health professionals towards ECT is beneficial as this reduces stigma and increases the acceptability of ECT for consumers. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the change in attitude of nursing graduates and medical students towards ECT by watching an educational video. The secondary aim was to compare health professional attitudes to those of the general community. An educational video was co‐designed with consumers and members of the mental health Lived Experience (Peer) Workforce Team about ECT outlining the procedure, side effects, treatment considerations and lived experiences. Nursing graduates and medical students completed the ECT Attitude Questionnaire (EAQ) prior to and after watching the video. Descriptive statistics, paired samples t‐tests and one sample t‐tests were completed. One hundred and twenty‐four participants completed pre‐ and post‐ questionnaires. Attitudes towards ECT significantly improved after watching the video. Positive responses towards ECT increased from 67.09% to 75.72%. Participants in this study reported higher positive attitudes towards ECT than members of the general public before and after watching the intervention. Results indicated that the video educational intervention was effective in improving attitudes towards ECT for nursing graduates and medical students. While the video is promising as an educational tool, further research is required to explore the use of the video in reducing stigma for consumers and carers.
Robust irreversible investment strategy with ambiguity to jump and diffusion risk
Authors: Li Shuang , Wang Haijun
Published: March 2023

This paper constructs a robust and irreversible investment rule applicable to a series of adjacent models. The project value follows a jump‐diffusion process and the investor exhibits complete ambiguity aversion or partial ambiguity aversion to the diffusion, jump amplitude, and jump frequency components. The impact of ambiguity aversion with respect to different components on the optimal investment strategy is examined. The investment decision is mainly driven by ambiguity aversion to the jump amplitude rather than frequency, and an increase in jump intensity leads to the greater importance of ambiguity aversion to jumps. We further show that ambiguity aversion regarding jumps plays a dominant role in determining the investment boundary for low volatility values, and the influence of ambiguity aversion to the diffusion part gradually outweighs that of ambiguity aversion to jumps as volatility grows.
Respiratory virus circulation during the first year of the COVID‐19 pandemic in the Household Influenza Vaccine Evaluation (HIVE) cohort
Authors: Fine Sydney R. , Bazzi Latifa A. , Callear Amy P. , Petrie Joshua G. , Malosh Ryan E. , Foster‐Tucker Joshua E. , Smith Matthew , Ibiebele Jessica , McDermott Adrian , Rolfes Melissa A. , Monto Arnold S. , Martin Emily T.
Published: March 2023

Background

The annual reappearance of respiratory viruses has been recognized for decades. COVID‐19 mitigation measures taken during the pandemic were targeted at respiratory transmission and broadly impacted the burden of acute respiratory illnesses (ARIs).

Methods

We used the longitudinal Household Influenza Vaccine Evaluation (HIVE) cohort in southeast Michigan to characterize the circulation of respiratory viruses from March 1, 2020, to June 30, 2021, using RT‐PCR of respiratory specimens collected at illness onset. Participants were surveyed twice during the study period, and SARS‐CoV‐2 antibodies were measured in serum by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. Incidence rates of ARI reports and virus detections were compared between the study period and a preceding pre‐pandemic period of similar duration.

Results

Overall, 437 participants reported a total of 772 ARIs; 42.6% had respiratory viruses detected. Rhinoviruses were the most frequent virus, but seasonal coronaviruses, excluding SARS‐CoV‐2, were also common. Illness reports and percent positivity were lowest from May to August 2020, when mitigation measures were most stringent. Seropositivity for SARS‐CoV‐2 was 5.3% in summer 2020 and increased to 11.3% in spring 2021. The incidence rate of total reported ARIs for the study period was 50% lower (95% CI: 0.5, 0.6; p < 0.001) than the incidence rate from a pre‐pandemic comparison period (March 1, 2016, to June 30, 2017).

Conclusions

The burden of ARI in the HIVE cohort during the COVID‐19 pandemic fluctuated, with declines occurring concurrently with the widespread use of public health measures. Rhinovirus and seasonal coronaviruses continued to circulate even when influenza and SARS‐CoV‐2 circulation was low.
Transcription factor GLK1 promotes anthocyanin biosynthesis via an MBW complex‐dependent pathway in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Li Yan , Lei Wei , Zhou Zuxu , Li Yanlin , Zhang Dawei , Lin Honghui
Published: March 2023

Anthocyanins are important natural plant pigments and play diverse roles in plant growth and adaptation. Anthocyanins function as screens to protect photosynthetic tissues from photoinhibition. However, the regulatory mechanisms underlying the biosynthesis and spatial accumulation pattern of anthocyanins remain some unresolved issues. Here, we demonstrate that the GARP‐type transcription factor GOLDEN2‐LIKE 1 (GLK1) functions as a positive factor in anthocyanin accumulation. GLK1 enhances the transcriptional activation activities of MYB75, MYB90, and MYB113 via direct protein‐protein interactions to increase the expression of anthocyanin‐specific biosynthetic genes. Anthocyanins accumulate in an acropetal manner in Arabidopsis. We also found that the expression pattern of GLK1 overall mimicked the accumulation pattern of anthocyanin from the base of the main stem to the shoot apex. Based on these findings, we established a working model for the role of GLK1 in anthocyanin accumulation and propose that GLK1 mediates the spatial distribution pattern of anthocyanins by affecting the transcriptional activation activities of MYB75, MYB90, and MYB113.
CPR5 positively regulates pattern‐triggered immunity via a mediator protein
Authors: Ma Miaomiao , Li Meng , Zhou Rongfang , Yu Jian‐Bin , Wu Ying , Zhang Xiaojuan , Wang Jinlong , Zhou Jian‐Min , Liang Xiangxiu
Published: March 2023

Plant cells possess a two‐layered immune system consisting of pattern‐triggered immunity (PTI) and effector‐triggered immunity (ETI), mediated by cell surface pattern‐recognition receptors and intracellular nucleotide‐binding leucine‐rich repeat receptors (NLRs), respectively. The CONSTITUTIVE EXPRESSION OF PR GENES 5 (CPR5) nuclear pore complex protein negatively regulates ETI, including ETI‐associated hypersensitive response. Here, we show that CPR5 is essential for the activation of various PTI responses in Arabidopsis, such as resistance to the non‐adapted bacterium Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000 hrcC‐. In a forward‐genetic screen for suppressors of cpr5, we identified the mediator protein MED4. Mutation of MED4 in cpr5 greatly restored the defective PTI of cpr5. Our findings reveal that CPR5 plays opposite roles in regulating PTI and ETI, and genetically regulates PTI via MED4.
Neuroendocrine control of brown adipocyte function by prolactin and growth hormone
Authors: de Winne Catalina , Pascual Florencia L. , Lopez‐Vicchi Felicitas , Etcheverry‐Boneo Luz , Mendez‐Garcia Luis F. , Ornstein Ana Maria , Lacau‐Mengido Isabel Maria , Sorianello Eleonora , Becu‐Villalobos Damasia
Published: March 2023

Growth hormone (GH) is fundamental for growth and glucose homeostasis, and prolactin for optimal pregnancy and lactation outcome, but additionally, both hormones have multiple functions that include a strong impact on energetic metabolism. In this respect, prolactin and GH receptors have been found in brown, and white adipocytes, as well as in hypothalamic centers regulating thermogenesis. This review describes the neuroendocrine control of the function and plasticity of brown and beige adipocytes, with a special focus on prolactin and GH actions. Most evidence points to a negative association between high prolactin levels and the thermogenic capacity of BAT, except in early development. During lactation and pregnancy, prolactin may be a contributing factor that limits unneeded thermogenesis, downregulating BAT UCP1. Furthermore, animal models of high serum prolactin have low BAT UCP1 levels and whitening of the tissue, while lack of Prlr induces beiging in WAT depots. These actions may involve hypothalamic nuclei, particularly the DMN, POA and ARN, brain centers that participate in thermogenesis. Studies on GH regulation of BAT function present some controversies. Most mouse models with GH excess or deficiency point to an inhibitory role of GH on BAT function. Even so, a stimulatory role of GH on WAT beiging has also been described, in accordance with whole‐genome microarrays that demonstrate divergent response signatures of BAT and WAT genes to the loss of GH signaling. Understanding the physiology of BAT and WAT beiging may contribute to the ongoing efforts to curtail obesity.
Transnationalism: The fifth element of the Pacific Alliance's deep integration process
Authors: Prado Lallande Juan Pablo , Rouvinski Vladimir
Published: March 2023

Since the governments of Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru inaugurated a new Latin American integration mechanism, the Pacific Alliance, in 2011, the bloc has recorded both encouraging and disappointing results, depending on the evolution of the Alliance's main five aspects—political, economic, institutional, cooperative, and societal linkages. Although economic integration did not advance at the expected pace, owing to the abolition of a Mexican visa for Peru and Colombia, between 2011 and 2019, there has been a significant increase in social exchanges of nationals of the four countries, which included activities such as tourism, education, business trips, and others of similar nature (the Pacific Alliance's fifth element). Yet, despite these developments, scholars did not attempt to examine the societal linkage within the bloc, referred to in this article as the “fifth element” of the Pacific Alliance. To narrow the gap, this article examines the path of the Alliance toward deep integration by identifying the effect of strengthening social interactions, using a transnationalist framework and paying particular attention to the changing patterns of individual trips over more than 10 years of the Alliance's existence.
When I say … chalk talk
Authors: Nelson Ryan E. , Ricotta Daniel N.
Published: March 2023

Analyzing the term 'chalk talk,' the latest "When I Say…" article in @MedEd_Journal generates reflection on multimedia learning and the importance of emphasising learner engagement.
Climate lags and genetics determine phenology in quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides)
Authors: Blonder Benjamin W. , Brodrick Philip G. , Chadwick K. Dana , Carroll Erin , Cruz‐de Hoyos Roxanne M. , Expósito‐Alonso Moisés , Hateley Shannon , Moon Minkyu , Ray Courtenay A. , Tran Hoang , Walton James A.
Published: March 2023

Spatiotemporal patterns of phenology may be affected by mosaics of environmental and genetic variation. Environmental drivers may have temporally lagged impacts, but patterns and mechanisms remain poorly known.

We combine multiple genomic, remotely sensed, and physically modeled datasets to determine the spatiotemporal patterns and drivers of canopy phenology in quaking aspen, a widespread clonal dioecious tree species with diploid and triploid cytotypes.

We show that over 391 km2 of southwestern Colorado: greenup date, greendown date, and growing season length vary by weeks and differ across sexes, cytotypes, and genotypes; phenology has high phenotypic plasticity and heritabilities of 31–61% (interquartile range); and snowmelt date, soil moisture, and air temperature predict phenology, at temporal lags of up to 3 yr.

Our study shows that lagged environmental effects are needed to explain phenological variation and that the effect of cytotype on phenology is obscured by its correlation with topography. Phenological patterns are consistent with responses to multiyear accumulation of carbon deficit or hydraulic damage.
Minority stress and intimate partner aggression among male same‐sex couples
Authors: Sarno Elissa L. , Smith Madison S. , Newcomb Michael E.
Published: March 2023

Intimate partner aggression (IPA) is high among gay, bisexual, queer, and other sexual minority men (SMM), and is strongly linked to minority stress. These links might be further magnified or buffered by communication between partners (i.e., negative and positive communication, respectively). The present study investigated associations of minority stress and IPA, and the moderating role of positive/negative communication, among male couples (N = 932 individuals, 466 couples). Partners completed measures of communication skills, minority stress, and IPA, which were analyzed using moderated actor‐partner interdependence models. Results suggested that microaggressions increase one's own (i.e., an actor effect) and one's partner's (i.e., a partner effect) verbal IPA victimization, verbal IPA perpetration, and physical IPA victimization. Positive communication moderated the association between microaggressions and verbal IPA victimization, suggesting that high levels of positive communication may buffer the microaggression‐verbal IPA link. Thus, minority stress' detrimental impacts on relationship functioning among male same‐sex couples may be reduced by the presence of positive communication (e.g., effective conflict resolution). We discuss structural and clinical innovations to prevent IPA among male couples, with particular emphasis on the absence of positive communication as an aggravating factor.
Metabolic profiles in the xylem sap of Brassica juncea exposed to cadmium
Authors: Yang Zhen , Tan Piaopiao , Huang Zhihao , Sun Zhenzhen , Liu Zhixiang , Liu Lili , Zeng Chaozhen , Tong Jianhua , Yan Mingli
Published: March 2023

Metabolic profiles in xylem sap are considered a fundamental mechanism for Cadmium (Cd) detoxification in plants. However, the metabolic mechanism of Brassica juncea xylem sap in response to Cd is still unclear. Here, we investigated the effects on the metabolomics of B. juncea xylem sap treated with Cd at different times by utilizing a nontargeted liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry (LC‐MS)‐based metabolomics method for further elucidating the response mechanism of Cd exposure. The findings indicated that 48 h and 7 days Cd exposure caused significant differences in metabolic profiles of the B. juncea xylem sap. Those differential metabolites are primarily involved in amino acids, organic acids, lipids, and carbohydrates, and most of them were downregulated, which played essential roles in response to Cd stress. Furthermore, B. juncea xylem sap resisted 48‐h Cd exposure via regulation of glycerophospholipid metabolism, carbon metabolism, aminoacyl‐tRNA biosynthesis, glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism, linoleic acid metabolism, C5‐branched dibasic acid metabolism, alpha‐linolenic acid metabolism, cyanoamino acid metabolism, ABC transporters, biosynthesis of amino acids, and pyrimidine metabolism; whereas alpha‐linolenic acid metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism, photosynthesis, and oxidative phosphorylation were regulated for resisting 7‐day Cd exposure.