bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
What role do international remittance inflows play in boosting agricultural productivity? Empirical analysis of emerging Asian economies
Authors: Chandio Abbas Ali , Bashir Uzma , Akram Waqar , Usman Muhammad , Ahmad Munir , Jiang Yuansheng
Published: August 2023

Purpose

This article investigates the long-run impact of remittance inflows on agricultural productivity (AGP) in emerging Asian economies (Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, India, Nepal, Philippines, Pakistan, and Vietnam), employing a panel dataset from 2000 to 2018.

Design/methodology/approach

This study initially applies cross-sectional dependence (CSD), second-generation unit root, Pedroni, and Westerlund panel co-integration techniques. Next, it uses the augmented mean group (AMG) and common correlated effect mean group (CCEMG) methods to investigate the long-term impact of remittance inflows on AGP while controlling for several other important determinants of agricultural growth, such as cultivated area, fertilizers, temperature change, credit, and labor force.

Findings

The empirical findings are as follows: The results first revealed the existence of CSD and long-term co-integration between AGP and its determinants. Second, remittance inflows significantly boosted AGP, indicating that remittance inflows played a crucial role in improving AGP. Third, global warming (changes in temperature) negatively impacts AGP. Finally, additional critical elements, for instance, cultivated area, fertilizers, credit, and labor force, positively affect AGP.

Research limitations/implications

This study suggests that policymakers of emerging Asian economies should develop an exclusive remittance-receiving system and introduce remittance investment products to utilize foreign funds and mitigate agricultural production risks effectively.

Originality/value

This is the first empirical examination of the long-term impact of remittance flows on agricultural output in emerging Asian economies. This study utilized robust estimation methods for panel data sets, such as the Pedroni, Westerlund, AMG, and CCEMG tests.
Food security and women empowerment of livestock farming households in the Feed the Future zone of Bangladesh
Authors: Sarma Paresh Kumar , Alam Mohammad Jahangir , Begum Ismat Ara , Sayem Sheikh Mohammad
Published: August 2023

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the determinants of the food security status of participants and non-participants of livestock extension services living under similar socioeconomic conditions as livestock farming households in the Feed the Future zone of Bangladesh.

Design/methodology/approach

Cross-sectional data of 906 farm-households extracted from a total of 2064 from the Feed the Future representative Bangladesh Integrated Households Survey 2018 were used. A triple hurdle model combined with a structural equation model were used to analyze the data. The causal relationship between food security status, livestock extension services, technology adoption and women's empowerment was investigated by estimating structural equation modeling with second-order latent factors.

Findings

The results indicate that livestock extension services have increased livestock technology adoption and have a positively significant (p < 0.01) relationship with household wealth, food security, welfare and women's empowerment.

Originality/value

The results suggest that livestock extension services have an impact on new technology adoption and enhancing women's empowerment; thus, the services should be widely made available in the region.

Peer review

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-11-2021-0647.
The influence of microtexture tools on the geometric morphology of serrated chips based on stress triaxiality
Authors: Guo ShuYu , Fan Lin , He Yan , Geng BoHan , Chen MingQi , Wang Yuhang
Published: August 2023

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the effect of microtextured tools on the geometric morphology of serrated chips, and further improve the cutting performance of polycrystalline cubic boron nitride (PCBN) tool and extend the tool life and the surface quality of the machined surface.

Design/methodology/approach

A three-dimensional finite element cutting model of hardened steel AISI D2 with microtextured PCBN tools were established using the finite element software Abaqus, and cutting tests were carried out. Furthermore, the stress distribution in the primary deformation zone was investigated based on the triaxiality of stress, and the influence of microtexture on the geometric morphology of serrated chips and crack development was researched.

Findings

The results show that compared with nontexture tools, elliptical pits and wavy grooves microtexture tools have lower serrated degree Gs, higher serrated frequency f per unit length and more miniature serrated step Pc. The serrated phenomenon is intensified because the tensile stress zone of chips generated by nontextured tools is longer than that of elliptic pits and wavy grooves microtexture tools. Simultaneously, the maximum value of triaxiality in the tensile stress zone achieved by nontexture tools is larger than that of the two microtexture tools, and chips obtained by nontextured tools are more susceptible to propagation fractures.

Originality/value

This paper mainly studies the effect of microtexture on chip microgeometry, which is relatively little studied at present. At the same time, this paper has a certain engineering significance for PCBN tool turning hardening steel.

Peer review

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-05-2023-0149/
The prepared firm: serendipity, strategy and the unexpected
Authors: Van Rensburg Deryck J.
Published: August 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to outline the role that serendipity can play in providing a complementary and previously unrepresented vector in deliberate and emergent strategies within organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is conceptual in nature and draws upon the serendipity pattern in sociological theory and serendipitous relations in developmental sciences to provide a framework for executives to consider when examining the process of strategy formation. Two case vignettes are used to illustrate the difference between luck and serendipity and the paper also traces key micro foundations of serendipity by returning to the original serendipity fable and a famed science experiment producing “floppy-eared” rabbits.

Findings

The notion of chance favoring the “prepared firm” is espoused where the prepared organizational mind is positioned as an antecedent of serendipitous strategy formation. This is based on Louis Pasteur’s famous aphorism, “chance favors the prepared mind.” Components of the prepared firm include deep domain knowledge, anticipatory mindset, noticing, abductive reasoning, elaboration and relations development.

Research limitations/implications

The paper is a conceptual articulation of a novel concept that now requires deeper empirical case development and ultimately statistical validation. The paper suggests linkages between serendipity and theories of absorptive capacity and the attention-based view of the firm.

Practical implications

Several mindsets, capabilities and relations for architecting organizational serendipity are suggested for executives using a stylized framework.

Originality/value

From a strategy process perspective, the Mintzberg and Waters seminal article “Of strategies deliberate and emergent” is complemented by considering “floppy-eared” strategy characterized by unexpected, anomalous and strategic datum.
Argumentation strategies in lobbying: toward a typology
Authors: Lock Irina , Davidson Scott
Published: August 2023

Purpose

This paper develops a typology of argumentation strategies used in lobbying. Unlike in other strategic communication functions such as crisis or risk communication, such typologies have not been proposed in the sub-field of public affairs.

Design/methodology/approach

The article synthesises the strategic communication, political communication and policy studies literature and employs exchange theory to explain the communicative-strategic exchange in public affairs. It showcases its explanatory potential with illustrative examples from Big Tech lobbying.

Findings

The paper describes that categories of argumentation strategies that a public affairs professional will choose are based on the contingency of the issue, policy objective and lobbying objective. The descriptive typology will require empirical testing to develop further.

Social implications

The paper describes how public affairs professionals influence public policy through their argumentation strategies, which sheds light on the usually opaque activities of lobbying.

Originality/value

The proposed typology is the first of its kind for the field of public affairs. Beyond, it contributes communication-scientific insights from a rhetorical tradition to strategic communication research and other social science fields where lobbying is studied, e.g. policy studies.
More than one way to get there: a configurational view on performance drivers in knowledge-intensive entrepreneurship
Authors: Moraes Gustavo Hermínio Salati Marcondes de , Fischer Bruno , Salles-Filho Sergio , Meissner Dirk , Dabic Marina
Published: August 2023

Purpose

Knowledge-intensive entrepreneurial firms (KIE) strongly rely on scientific and strategic research and development (R&D) capabilities to achieve higher performance levels. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to disentangle the effects of scientific capabilities and strategic R&D on KIE performance; and how the constituent elements of these dimensions can be configured to generate conditions for high performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors’ empirical setting involves companies that submitted projects to the Innovative Research in Small Businesses (PIPE) program in Brazil. The authors then run partial least square structural equation modeling to verify how scientific and strategic R&D capabilities influence the performance construct. Second, the authors apply fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis to identify configurations that are equifinal in terms of generating superior performance.

Findings

Findings indicate a strong association between scientific capabilities and KIE performance. The configurational approach outlines the existence of multiple paths to success, but human capital stands as a core condition throughout estimations.

Practical implications

The authors’ assessment has implications for how KIE firms are managed according to their organizational profiles and trajectories. Also, it advances the authors’ comprehension on how entrepreneurship policies can better target these distinct profiles.

Originality/value

The authors’ analysis provides new evidence on the inherent complexity behind the generation of high performance in KIE when addressing their portfolios of knowledge-related capabilities. More than that, the authors were able to identify the existence of heterogeneous profiles that can equally lead to higher levels of performance.
New takes on developing intercultural communicative competence: using AI tools in telecollaboration task design and task completion
Authors: McCallum Lee
Published: August 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to present a lesson that showcases how artificial intelligence (AI) tools may be chiefly used in L2 language classrooms to design culture-focussed telecollaboration tasks and aid their completion by students.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper begins by reviewing traditional approaches and guidance for developing telecollaboration tasks. It then models how tasks can be designed using the popular AI tool “Chat Generative Pre-training Transformer (ChatGPT)” and then simulates how tasks may be completed by learners using ChatGPT-generated information as a springboard for their own culturally appropriate outputs.

Findings

The simulated lesson illuminates the potential value of AI tools for teachers and students. However, it also highlights particular aspects of AI literacy that teachers and learners need to be aware of.

Practical implications

This paper has clear practical implications for teacher development by raising awareness of the importance of teachers upskilling in telecollaboration task design and in their understanding of how AI tools can collaborate with them in language classrooms.

Originality/value

The paper adds to the current body of literature on telecollaboration and more specifically adds weight to current discussions taking place around AI tools in language education. By the end of reading the paper, teachers will have a comprehensive grounding in how to use ChatGPT in their classrooms. In doing so, the author demystifies how teachers and students may start exploring these tools in ways that target developing intercultural communicative competence.
What works in policing money laundering?
Authors: Hock Branislav , Button Mark , Shepherd David , Gilmour Paul Michael
Published: August 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to provide a comprehensive review of literature on policing money laundering to evaluate the quality of evidence presented in academic and grey literature. In doing so, this paper reflects upon what strategies and mechanisms work in preventing, detecting and disrupting money laundering.

Design/methodology/approach

To investigate the quality of evidence presented in academic and grey literature on money laundering, the authors have conducted a structured literature review of over 1,000 sources. The authors have then evaluated the quality of evidence of these sources by using three distinct methods, namely, the Maryland scale, research excellence framework and quality of empirical evidence framework.

Findings

This paper finds a large number of studies on money laundering meeting the highest academic quality standard. However, only a very small number of those studies include empirical evidence that policing measures actually work with no study able to demonstrate a correlation between money laundering measures and risk factors at any point in time.

Originality/value

This paper provides practical and theoretical insights into what works in money laundering and the role of scientific evaluations. It is particularly relevant for the successful implementation of anti-money laundering policy measures, including, for example, the UK’s Economic Crime Plan 2023–2026, which aspires to measure the progress and impact of policing in this area.
Effects of relational embeddedness on users' intention to participate in value co-creation of social e-commerce platforms
Authors: Xiao Liang , Wang Jiawei , Wei Xinyu
Published: August 2023

Purpose

Value co-creation (VCC) helps platforms establish competitive advantages. Unlike their traditional counterparts, social attribute is a key concept of social e-commerce platforms. This study integrates VCC and social network theories, introduces relational embeddedness and divides this variable into economic and social relational embeddedness to explore its impact on VCC intention. This study also explores the mediating and moderating roles of customers' psychological ownership (CPO) and regulatory focus, respectively.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire survey was conducted among users of mainstream social e-commerce platforms in China, and the relationship among the variables was revealed through a structural equation modeling of 464 valid responses.

Findings

The dimensions of relational embeddedness positively affect CPO and VCC intention, with social relational embeddedness exerting the strongest effect. CPO positively affects VCC intention and partially mediates the relationship between relational embeddedness and VCC intention. Promotion and prevention focus positively and negatively moderate the relationship between CPO and VCC intention, respectively.

Originality/value

This study expands the VCC research perspective and links the VCC concepts to social network dynamics. From the relational embeddedness perspective, this study identifies the type and intensity of relational embeddedness that promotes users' VCC intention and contributes to theoretical research on VCC and relational embeddedness. This study also introduces CPO as an intermediary variable, thus opening the black box of this mechanism, and confirms the moderating role of regulatory focus as the key psychological factor motivating users' VCC intention.
Skin surface material for detecting human papillomavirus infection of skin warts
Authors: Kuriyama Yuko , Kosaka Mieko , Kaneko Akira , Nishioka Hirokazu , Anzawa Kazushi , Hattori Tomoyasu , Igarashi Naoya , Tamura Masaaki , Motegi Sei‐ichiro , Shimizu Akira
Published: August 2023

Warts, caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, have various clinical presentations, making them difficult to differentiate from clavus, callus, and sometimes, squamous cell carcinoma. Although skin biopsies are the gold standard, a less‐invasive method of examining these lesions is desired. Ninety patients with warts and related diseases, such as clavus and callus, were recruited to explore new differentiation methods using the surface of the warts. DNA was extracted from three types of specimens in each case: surface swab, shaved hyperkeratotic scale, and post‐shaved surface swab. Total DNA was successfully extracted from these three specimens and was sufficient for subsequent HPV DNA detection. We analyzed samples for the HPV type and HPV viral load using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Fifty‐five cases were PCR‐positive, and HPV1a, 2a, 4, 27, 57, and 65 were detected. The amount of HPV1a DNA produced was significantly greater than that of other HPV types. Regarding the correlation between the clinical diagnosis and HPV detection, the positive agreement rate was 90.9%, the negative agreement rate was 40.0%, and the overall agreement rate was 71.1%. Ten of the 21 cases clinically diagnosed as plantar warts were PCR‐negative, especially in elderly patients. This suggests that it is difficult to distinguish plantar warts from clavus and callus in clinical practice. Although the amount of HPV DNA in the removed keratinization scale was highest for all HPV types, HPV detection by swabbing before and after shaving is also useful for follow‐up as well as for differential diagnosis.
Adaptive immune response selects for postponed maturation and increased body size
Authors: Ejsmond Maciej J. , Radwan Jacek , Ejsmond Anna , Gaczorek Tomasz , Babik Wiesław
Published: August 2023

The Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) genes encode proteins that initiate the adaptive immune response by presenting pathogen‐derived antigenic peptides to T lymphocytes. Host–pathogen coevolution drives MHC polymorphism, introducing intraspecific variation in host life expectancy. This variation interacts with optimal growth strategy, as growth increases reproductive potential. While mortality rate and body size‐dependent fecundity are major factors shaping life histories, the effect of intraspecific variation in MHC‐based immunity on the evolution of growth strategies and host body size remains unknown.

Here, we model how host MHC–pathogen coevolution—and its concomitant impact on host mortality—can affect the evolution of host life histories, as represented by age at maturation and body size. Life histories were compared in scenarios with and without adaptive immune response under equal population‐level mortality rates.

We show that host–pathogen coevolutionary dynamics selects for postponed maturation and increased body size. Although MHC genes and genes that determine body size were physically unlinked, selection imposed by the Red Queen process generated linkage disequilibrium between immunocompetent MHC alleles and the maturation‐postponing alleles that prolong growth phase and increase body size. Particularly large body size was attained when pathogens mutated slowly, thus allowing the advantage of resistant MHC alleles to persist over multiple generations.

The emergence of adaptive immunity, which is pathogen‐specific and enables immunological memory, is considered a major evolutionary innovation of vertebrates. Our work suggests that the adaptive immune response, mediated by polymorphic MHC genes, may drive the evolution of host body size. This form of adaptive immunity may have thus predisposed vertebrates to evolve large body size and exhibit the macroevolutionary patterns of increasing body size over time that have been detected in comparative studies.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
Chemoautotrophic sulphur oxidizers dominate microbial necromass carbon formation in coastal blue carbon ecosystems
Authors: Yu Xiaoli , Qian Lu , Tu Qichao , Peng Yisheng , Wang Cheng , Wu Daoming , He Ziying , Shu Longfei , He Qiang , Tian Yun , Yin Kedong , Wang Shanquan , Yan Qingyun , Zhong Qiuping , He Zhili
Published: August 2023

Coastal blue carbon (C) ecosystems are recognized as efficient natural C sinks and play key roles in mitigating global climate change. Microbially driven C, nitrogen (N) and sulphur (S) cycles are crucial for ecosystem functioning, but how microorganisms drive C sink formation and C sequestration in coastal sediments remains unclear.

In this study, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of amino sugars, C, N and S cycling genes/pathways and their associated taxa in coastal sediments of native (Cyperus malaccensis and Kandelia obovata) and alien (Spartina alterniflora and Sonneratia apetala) vegetation.

Compared to the alien‐vegetated coastal sediment, the native‐vegetated coastal sediment had significantly (p < 0.05) higher microbial necromass C and higher functional potentials of chemoautotrophic C fixation, C degradation, methane cycling, N2 fixation, S oxidation and sulphate reduction. Also, our analysis of coastal sediment microbiomes showed that S oxidation could be coupled with C fixation and/or nitrate/nitrite reduction. S oxidation, C degradation and C fixation were found to be key functional pathways for predicting sediment microbial necromass C. Additionally, the sulphur‐oxidizing Burkholderiales metagenome‐assembled genomes (MAGs) were a key functional group that dominated chemoautotrophic C fixation in coastal sediments.

These results suggested that chemoautotrophic S oxidizers, in particular Burkholderiales with a novel lineage, might be the key microbial group that dominates microbial necromass C formation in coastal sediments through microbial anabolism (C fixation);the coupling of microbially driven C, N and S cycling processes; and the deposition of microbially derived C. This study provides novel insights into the importance of chemoautotrophic S oxidizers for microbial necromass formation and shed new light on the microbial mechanism of C sink formation in coastal ecosystems, which also has important implications for enhancing C sequestration in coastal wetlands.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
Pseudomonas fluorescensMFE01 delivers a putative type VI secretion amidase that confers biocontrol against the soft‐rot pathogen Pectobacterium atrosepticum
Authors: Bourigault Yvann , Dupont Charly A. , Desjardins Jonas B. , Doan Thierry , Bouteiller Mathilde , Le Guenno Hugo , Chevalier Sylvie , Barbey Corinne , Latour Xavier , Cascales Eric , Merieau Annabelle
Published: August 2023

The type VI secretion system (T6SS) is a contractile nanomachine widespread in Gram‐negative bacteria. The T6SS injects effectors into target cells including eukaryotic hosts and competitor microbial cells and thus participates in pathogenesis and intermicrobial competition. Pseudomonas fluorescens MFE01 possesses a single T6SS gene cluster that confers biocontrol properties by protecting potato tubers against the phytopathogen Pectobacterium atrosepticum (Pca). Here, we demonstrate that a functional T6SS is essential to protect potato tuber by reducing the pectobacteria population. Fluorescence microscopy experiments showed that MFE01 displays an aggressive behaviour with an offensive T6SS characterized by continuous and intense T6SS firing activity. Interestingly, we observed that T6SS firing is correlated with rounding of Pectobacterium cells, suggesting delivery of a potent cell wall targeting effector. Mutagenesis coupled with functional assays then revealed that a putative T6SS secreted amidase, Tae3Pf, is mainly responsible for MFE01 toxicity towards Pca. Further studies finally demonstrated that Tae3Pf is toxic when produced in the periplasm, and that its toxicity is counteracted by the Tai3Pf inner membrane immunity protein.
A systematic review of interventions to increase the use of smoking cessation services for women who smoke during pregnancy
Authors: Bailey Cheryl , Medeiros Poliana de Barros , Ellwood David A. , Middleton Philippa , Andrews Christine J. , Flenady Vicki J.
Published: August 2023

Background

Although many pregnant women accept referrals to stop‐smoking support, the uptake of appointments often remains low.

Aim

The aim was to review the success of interventions to increase the uptake of external stop‐smoking appointments following health professional referrals in pregnancy.

Materials and Methods

Embase, PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Scopus and CINAHL were searched in February 2023 for studies with interventions to increase the uptake rates of external stop‐smoking appointments among pregnant women who smoke. Eligible studies included randomised, controlled, cluster‐randomised, quasi‐randomised, before‐and‐after, interrupted time series, case–control and cohort studies. Cochrane tools assessing for bias and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed.

Results

Two before‐and‐after studies were included, including a combined total of 1996 women who smoked during pregnancy. Both studies had a serious risk of bias, and meta‐analysis was not possible due to heterogeneity. One study testing carbon monoxide monitors and opt‐out referrals showed increased uptake of external stop‐smoking appointments, health professional referrals and smoking cessation rates compared to self‐identified smoking status and opt‐in referrals. Results were limited in the second study, which used carbon monoxide monitors, urinary cotinine levels and self‐disclosed methods to identify the smoking status with opt‐out referrals. Only post‐intervention data were available on the uptake of appointments to external stop‐smoking services. The number of health professional referrals increased, but change in smoking cessation rates was less clear.

Conclusions

There is insufficient evidence to inform practice regarding strategies to increase the uptake of external stop‐smoking appointments by women during pregnancy.
Global proteomics reveals insulin abundance as a marker of human islet homeostasis alterations
Authors: Mathisen Andreas F. , Abadpour Shadab , Legøy Thomas Aga , Paulo Joao A. , Ghila Luiza , Scholz Hanne , Chera Simona
Published: August 2023

Aim

The variation in quality between the human islet samples represents a major problem for research, especially when used as control material. The assays assessing the quality of human islets used in research are non‐standardized and limited, with many important parameters not being consistently assessed. High‐throughput studies aimed at characterizing the diversity and segregation markers among apparently functionally healthy islet preps are thus a requirement. Here, we designed a pilot study to comprehensively identify the diversity of global proteome signatures and the deviation from normal homeostasis in randomly selected human‐isolated islet samples.

Methods

By using Tandem Mass Tag 16‐plex proteomics, we focused on the recurrently observed disparity in the detected insulin abundance between the samples, used it as a segregating parameter, and analyzed the correlated changes in the proteome signature and homeostasis by pathway analysis.

Results

In this pilot study, we showed that insulin protein abundance is a predictor of human islet homeostasis and quality. This parameter is independent of other quality predictors within their acceptable range, thus being able to further stratify islets samples of apparent good quality. Human islets with low amounts of insulin displayed changes in their metabolic and signaling profile, especially in regard to energy homeostasis and cell identity maintenance. We further showed that xenotransplantation into diabetic hosts is not expected to improve the pre‐transplantation signature, as it has a negative effect on energy balance, antioxidant activity, and islet cell identity.

Conclusions

Insulin protein abundance predicts significant changes in human islet homeostasis among random samples of apparently good quality.
Prognostic impact of FLT3‐ITD mutation on NPM1+ acute myeloid leukaemia patients and related molecular mechanisms
Authors: Pan Xin’an , Chang Yingjun , Ruan Guorui , Wei Fangfang , Jiang Hao , Jiang Qian , Huang Xiaojun , Zhao Xiaosu
Published: August 2023

The prognosis of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) patients carrying NPM1 mutations is significantly worse when accompanied by FLT3‐ITD mutations. However, accurate quantitative detection of FLT3‐ITD mutations remains challenging. To identify a novel biomarker in NPM1+FLT3‐ITD+ AML patients for more accurate stratification, we analysed the differential gene expression between the NPM1+FLT3‐ITD+ and NPM1+FLT3‐ITD− groups in five public AML datasets and identified a biomarker by taking the intersection of differentially expressed genes. We validated this biomarker in bone marrow samples from NPM1+ AML patients at the Peking University Institute of Haematology and analysed its prognostic significance. BCAT1 expression was higher in the NPM1+FLT3‐ITD+ group than in the NPM1+FLT3‐ITD− group in all seven cohorts. BCAT1 was able to predict the prognosis of NPM1+FLT3‐ITD+ AML patients, and its predictive ability was superior to that of the FLT3‐ITD allelic ratio (AR). FLT3‐targeted inhibitor quizartinib reduced BCAT1 expression. BCAT1 knockdown using lentiviral vectors led to the downregulation of MYC expression. Thus, we identified BCAT1 as a novel biomarker for NPM1+FLT3‐ITD+ AML patients. The FLT3‐ITD/BCAT1/MYC signalling pathway may play a biological role in promoting the occurrence and development of AML in FLT3‐ITD+ cell lines.
Using prostate‐specific membrane antigen positron‐emission tomography to guide prostate biopsies and stage men at high‐risk of prostate cancer
Authors: Bodar Yves J.L. , Boevé Liselotte M.S. , van Leeuwen Pim J. , Baars Phillippe C. , Nieuwenhuijzen Jakko A. , van Haarst Ernst P. , Oddens Jorg R. , Donswijk Maarten L. , van Riel Luigi A. M. J. G. , Scheltema Matthijs J. , Meijer Dennie , Hendrikse N. Harry , Oprea‐Lager Daniela E. , Vis André N.
Published: August 2023

Objective

To assess whether a diagnostic pathway in which prostate‐specific membrane antigen (PSMA) positron‐emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) is used as a single imaging modality is feasible to guide targeted biopsy and to detect clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa) in biopsy‐naïve men at high‐risk of disease.

Patients and Methods

A total of 60 men with a prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) level of 20–50 ng/mL underwent 18F‐PSMA(DCFPyL)‐PET/CT prior to prostate biopsies in this prospective, non‐randomised cohort study. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was not performed. Using a 12‐segment mapping model of the prostate, PSMA‐guided targeted biopsy was performed along with systematic biopsies. The detection rate of PCa and csPCa was assessed for combined systematic and targeted biopsy, and for targeted biopsy only. csPCa was defined as a prostate biopsy with an International Society of Uropathology (ISUP) Grade Group ≥2.

Results

Lesions suspicious for PCa in the prostate gland were observed on all PSMA‐PET/CTs. A total of 27/60 men (45%) already had metastatic disease on staging 18F‐PSMA(DCFPyL)‐PET/CT. Combined PSMA‐guided targeted and systematic biopsies detected PCa in 56/60 (93.3%) patients, with 52 of them (92.9%) having csPCa. PSMA‐guided targeted biopsy, if performed as a single biopsy modality, identified PCa in 52/60 men (86.7%) and in 27/27 men (100%) men with metastases.

Conclusions

Using the PSMA‐driven single imaging modality pathway in biopsy‐naïve men at high‐risk of PCa, a substantial number of diagnostic MRI scans could be avoided while at the same time obtaining adequate targeting, staging, and detection of csPCa.
Gut feelings in the islets: The role of the gut microbiome and the FFA2 and FFA3 receptors for short chain fatty acids on β‐cell function and metabolic regulation
Authors: Teyani Razan , Moniri Nader H.
Published: August 2023

Short‐chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are biosynthesized via fermentation of polysaccharides by gastrointestinal microbiota and have been shown to have wide‐reaching effects on almost all tissues, including the pancreatic islets. Historically, the effects of SCFAs have been attributed to their intracellular metabolism and function as energy sources, but the discovery of free fatty acid G protein‐coupled receptors (GPCRs) in the 2000s suggested that many functional outcomes of SCFAs are receptor‐mediated. The SCFA receptors FFA2/GPR43 and FFA3/GPR41 are expressed on β‐cells, where they regulate glucose‐dependent insulin secretion, making them attractive targets for treatment of diabetes and other metabolic disorders. Here, we provide an update on the current evidence regarding regulation of FFA2/FFA3 receptors by specific probiotic bacterial species within the gut microbiome that synthesize SCFAs. We also review the body of research regarding the FFA2‐ and FFA3 receptor‐specific function of SCFAs on β‐cells and discuss the somewhat controversial and opposing findings within these studies.
Joint application of fluid inclusion and clumped isotope (∆47) thermometry unravels the complexity of thermal and fluid‐flow history reconstruction in sedimentary basins—Upper Triassic Chaunoy Formation reservoirs (Paris Basin)
Authors: Vergara Sassarini Natalia A. , Gasparrini Marta , Bernasconi Stefano M. , Corrado Sveva
Published: August 2023

We investigated calcites and dolomites precipitated during burial diagenesis of the Upper Triassic (Norian) continental siliciclastics from sub‐surface reservoirs of the northern Paris Basin (Chaunoy Formation) that experienced a thermal maximum >100°C during Late Cretaceous times. Relative carbonate precipitation timing was established via petrographic analyses. The diagenetic carbonates were further investigated by fluid inclusion and clumped isotope (Δ47) thermometry. The two thermometric datasets were interpreted by evaluating the possible occurrence of inclusion thermal reequilibration and Δ47 solid‐state reordering, based on the known basin thermal history and the three existing Δ47 reordering models. By considering the fluid inclusion and Δ47 datasets obtained and the various Δ47 reordering models, different carbonate precipitation scenarios, in terms of timing and parent fluid composition (δ18Ofluid), were inferred. These results underline that in samples having experienced thermal maximum >100°C, accuracy and interpretation of fluid inclusion and Δ47 thermometry data (especially on calcite) may be biased by thermal reequilibration and solid‐state reordering. The results converge towards the need of jointly applying fluid inclusion and Δ47 thermometry on the same carbonate phases to evaluate all the possible precipitation scenarios. The most likely carbonate precipitation scenarios, based on Δ47 thermometry data, point at the precipitation of two calcite phases during Early to Late Jurassic times and of one dolomite phase during the Late Cretaceous. The parent fluids possibly were original formation waters of the Chaunoy Fm. that mixed with brines migrating from the East, where time equivalent evaporitic deposits occur. The proposed precipitation model for calcites and dolomites, involving different pulses of brine migration, and the dominance of calcite phases were not recorded by previous studies on the Upper Triassic units. These latter results may be of interest to evaluate the reservoir potential of the Chaunoy Fm. in this underexplored portion of the Paris Basin.
An integrative approach to assess the impact of disturbance on native fish in lakes
Authors: Thomson‐Laing Georgia , Schallenberg Lena , Kelly David , Howarth Jamie D. , Wood Susanna A.
Published: August 2023

Freshwater fish are in a perilous state with more than 30% of species considered critically endangered. Yet significant ecological and methodological complexities constrain our ability to determine how disturbances are impacting native fish communities. We review current methods used to assess the responses of fish communities, especially native fish, to disturbances, with a focus on lakes. These methods include contemporary population surveys, manipulative experimental approaches, paleolimnological approaches and Indigenous Knowledge and social histories. We identify knowledge gaps, such as a lack of baseline data for native fish, an inability to assess the impact of historical disturbances, stressor response dynamics in contemporary multi‐stressor environments, and natural disturbance regimes. Our assessment of the current methods highlights challenges to filling these knowledge gaps using the reviewed methods. We advocate strongly for the implementation of an integrative approach that combines emerging technologies (i.e. molecular‐based techniques in contemporary surveys and paleolimnology) and underutilised knowledge streams (i.e. Indigenous Knowledge and social histories) which should be used in concert with conventional methods. This integrative approach will allow researchers to determine the key drivers of decline and the degree of change, which will enable more informed and successful management actions.
The value of communal and intergenerational settings for studying social and emotional learning
Authors: Mesinas Melissa , Casanova Saskias
Published: August 2023

Indigenous Latinx youth living in the United States are culturally diverse individuals whose experiences are often unrecognized. These diasporic youth identify, learn, and develop cultural strengths amid their upbringing outside their Native communities by engaging in integrated communal endeavors informed by Indigenous values. In this article, we present research on how interconnected aspects of diasporic Indigenous practices contribute to the social and emotional development of youth in middle childhood and adolescence. We focus on Indigenous familial and communal experiences that contribute to developmental processes. We provide nuanced perspectives to studying social and emotional learning (SEL) outside the traditional school setting by expanding to communal contexts. We examinecomunalidad(communality) and intergenerational practices to consider how transformative SEL can be more inclusive of Indigenous ways of knowing and living. Our focus is the cultural strengths these communities bring to the SEL competencies of relationships and social awareness, which are applicable to the development of all children.
PGAM5 knockout causes depressive‐like behaviors in mice via ATP deficiency in the prefrontal cortex
Authors: Cui Weiwei , Chen Chunhui , Gong Liya , Wen Junyan , Yang Shanshan , Zheng Min , Gao Baogui , You Junxiong , Lin Xuecong , Hao Yanyu , Chen Zhimin , Wu Ziqi , Gao Liaoming , Tang Jiayu , Yuan Zhen , Sun Xuegang , Jing Linlin , Wen Ge
Published: August 2023

Introduction

Major depressive disorder (MDD) affects about 17% population in the world. Although abnormal energy metabolism plays an important role in the pathophysiology of MDD, however, how deficiency of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) products affects emotional circuit and what regulates ATP synthesis are still need to be elaborated.

Aims

Our study aimed to investigate how deficiency of PGAM5‐mediated depressive behavior.

Results

We firstly discovered that PGAM5 knockout (PGAM5−/−) mice generated depressive‐like behaviors. The phenotype was reinforced by the observation that chronic unexpected mild stress (CUMS)‐induced depressive mice exhibited lowered expression of PGAM5 in prefrontal cortex (PFC), hippocampus (HIP), and striatum. Next, we found, with the using of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), that the functional connectivity between PFC reward system and the PFC volume were reduced in PGAM5−/− mice. PGAM5 ablation resulted in the loss of dendritic spines and lowered density of PSD95 in PFC, but not in HIP. Finally, we found that PGAM5 ablation led to lowered ATP concentration in PFC, but not in HIP. Coimmunoprecipitation study showed that PGAM5 directly interacted with the ATP F1F0 synthase without influencing the interaction between ATP F1F0 synthase and Bcl‐xl. We then conducted ATP administration to PGAM5−/− mice and found that ATP could rescue the behavioral and neuronal phenotypes of PGAM5−/− mice.

Conclusions

Our findings provide convincing evidence that PGAM5 ablation generates depressive‐like behaviors via restricting neuronal ATP production so as to impair the number of neuronal spines in PFC.
Efficacy of treatment with N‐acetylcysteine inhalation for AECOPD: A propensity‐score‐matched cohort study
Authors: Chen Hengyi , Zhou Hui , Luo Chen , Zong Kaican , Fu Yingya , Li Wen , Luo Chunyan , Xue Guojuan , Jiang E. , Duan Yang , Luo Tinglan , Jiang Yangzhi
Published: August 2023

Introduction

N‐acetylcysteine (NAC) prevents acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). However, the value of NAC inhalation in the treatment of patients with AECOPD is still poorly understood. The study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of NAC inhalation in AECOPD patients requiring hospitalization.

Methods

In this single institutional, retrospective cohort study, all patients with AECOPD requiring hospitalization between January 2021 and January 2022 were included. Patients were divided into NAC group and Non‐NAC group according to whether being treated with NAC inhalation and were matched using the propensity score. The primary outcome was a composite of progression to ventilation requirement, in‐hospital mortality and readmission for AECOPD within 30 days. The effect on the mean hospitalized days, blood gas indexes and the incidence rate of adverse drug events were compared between the two groups.

Results

Ninety‐six patients in the NAC group were matched with 96 patients in the Non‐NAC group. The differences in the primary composite end point (NAC group vs Non‐NAC group, 5.2% vs 16.7%; P = 0.011) were significant. The median time to discharge was shorter in the NAC group (8.3 vs. 9.1 days, P = 0.030). The NAC group presented a larger increase in partial pressure of arterial oxygen (PaO2) and a higher ratio of self‐reported symptomatic improvement from admission to day 5. There was no definite difference between the two groups in the frequency of adverse event.

Conclusion

NAC inhalation is associated with an improved clinical outcome. A further study should be conducted to confirm the clinical usefulness of NAC inhalation in AECOPD patients.
Interrupting prolonged sitting with frequent short bouts of light‐intensity activity in people with type 1 diabetes improves glycaemic control without increasing hypoglycaemia: The SIT‐LESS randomised controlled trial
Authors: Campbell Matthew D. , Alobaid Anwar M. , Hopkins Mark , Dempsey Paddy C. , Pearson Sam M. , Kietsiriroje Noppadol , Churm Rachel , Ajjan Ramzi A.
Published: August 2023

Aim

To examine the impact of interrupting prolonged sitting with frequent short bouts of light‐intensity activity on glycaemic control in people with type 1 diabetes (T1D).

Materials and Methods

In total, 32 inactive adults with T1D [aged 27.9 ± 4.7 years, 15 men, diabetes duration 16.0 ± 6.9 years and glycated haemoglobin 8.4 ± 1.4% (68 ± 2.3 mmol/mol)] underwent two 7‐h experimental conditions in a randomised crossover fashion with >7‐day washout consisting of: uninterrupted sitting (SIT), or, interrupted sitting with 3‐min bouts of self‐paced walking at 30‐min intervals (SIT‐LESS). Standardised mixed‐macronutrient meals were administered 3.5 h apart during each condition. Blinded continuous glucose monitoring captured interstitial glucose responses during the 7‐h experimental period and for a further 48‐h under free‐living conditions.

Results

SIT‐LESS reduced total mean glucose (SIT 8.2 ± 2.6 vs. SIT‐LESS 6.9 ± 1.7 mmol/L, p = .001) and increased time in range (3.9‐10.0 mmol/L) by 13.7% (SIT 71.5 ± 9.5 vs. SIT‐LESS 85.1 ± 7.1%, p = .002). Hyperglycaemia (>10.0 mmol/L) was reduced by 15.0% under SIT‐LESS (SIT 24.2 ± 10.8 vs. SIT‐LESS 9.2 ± 6.4%, p = .002), whereas hypoglycaemia exposure (<3.9 mmol/L) (SIT 4.6 ± 3.0 vs. SIT‐LESS 6.0 ± 6.0%, p = .583) was comparable across conditions. SIT‐LESS reduced glycaemic variability (coefficient of variation %) by 7.8% across the observation window (p = .021). These findings were consistent when assessing discrete time periods, with SIT‐LESS improving experimental and free‐living postprandial, whole‐day and night‐time glycaemic outcomes (p < .05).

Conclusions

Interrupting prolonged sitting with frequent short bouts of light‐intensity activity improves acute postprandial and 48‐h glycaemia in adults with T1D. This pragmatic strategy is an efficacious approach to reducing sedentariness and increasing physical activity levels without increasing risk of hypoglycaemia in T1D.
Population differences in multimodal lizard communication are not well explained by habitat or history
Authors: Romero‐Diaz Cristina , Wetherell Bryce R. , Ury Danielle , Reuter Mikayla , Pruett Jake A. , Martins Emília P. , Ossip‐Drahos Alison G.
Published: August 2023

Animals evolve in complex selective regimes, where a suite of different factors can shape signal use. We might predict that more closely related species will exhibit more similar behavior than those more distantly related; however, sometimes signals are shaped more profoundly by the environment or other forces. Lizards in the genus Sceloporus communicate with conspecifics with multimodal signals that combine species‐typical push‐up and headbob displays and chemical signals in the form of femoral gland secretions. Here, we examine behavioral activity and signal use across three closely related populations of the Sceloporus undulatus species complex from diverse habitats across the United States, to test the relative roles of habitat and phylogeography in shaping communicative behavior. We filmed undisturbed levels of activity for free‐ranging males of S. consobrinus, syn. S. u. erythrocheilus, in Colorado, S. undulatus hyacinthinus in Indiana and S. u. undulatus in Georgia, and scored frequency and rates of behavior important for communication. We found that populations differed in their use of communicative signals in a way that deviates from expectations based solely on phylogeographic proximity or habitat, suggesting that plasticity or adaptation to conditions that vary among populations may be especially important. Specifically, canonical discriminant analyses found the largest differences in movement patterns. Sceloporus u. hyacinthinus was the most behaviorally different out of the three: males in this population had lower movement rates and particularly low levels of chemosensory behavior while male S. consobrinus and S. u. undulatus showed similar rates of chemosensory acts and headbob/push‐up displays. Phenotypic and environmental variation among closely related populations, in combination with phylogeographic knowledge can help us untangle the processes responsible for the origin and maintenance of organismal diversity in communicative behavior.