bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Highlighting the complexity of pathogenesis: the host microbiota impacts disease development on apple fruit and is a cornerstone for its biocontrol
Authors: Sare Abdoul Razack , Jijakli M. Haissam , Massart Sébastien
Published: August 2024

Apple fruit is the most produced temperate fruit with a trade value estimated at 7.5 billion $ and is usually stored up to one year after harvest. Postharvest pathogens often compromise storage, responsible for up to 55% of fruit losses, depending on the country and fruit. They are also a source of mycotoxin contamination. A sustainable way to control that pathogen is using beneficial microorganisms called biocontrol agents (BCA). Despite promising efficacy in laboratory conditions, BCA’s efficacy is variable and often reduced once applied at a large scale through either orchard or postharvest treatment. We hypothesized that the epiphytic microbiota plays a role in the variability of BCA efficiency (Pichia anomala, strain K) and postharvest disease development due toBotrytis cinereaon apples.

A diverse set of 18 epiphytic microbial communities were harvested from apple carposphere and bio-banked. The analysis of their bacterial and fungal taxonomic composition and carbon metabolic footprint confirmed that contrasted microbiotas were harvested. Their impact onB. cinereadisease development was evaluated through a standardizedin vivobioassay. The reduction ofB. cinerearot development ranged from 20% to 80% when the microbiotas were applied alone. In addition, three microbiotas enhanced the biological control efficiency of strain K (up to +100%, whatever the tested microbiota concentrations) while others limited its action (down to -27%). A co-clustering analysis of biocontrol efficacy with carbon profiles or taxonomic composition was carried out. It identified promising molecules whose high metabolization was associated with high biocontrol by the microbiota and taxa with higher abundance in microbiota limitingB. cinerearot development. Putative beneficial taxa were isolated from the most efficient microbiota.In vivobioassays confirmed the efficacy of two molecules and two strains belonging to species never mentioned for their biocontrol properties against plant disease.

This study demonstrated that natural epiphytic microbiota significantly influences postharvest disease development in apples and cause a variability in biocontrol efficacy. By mining the generated data, our approach identified promising molecules and taxa that enhance biocontrol, offering new insights for sustainable postharvest pathogen management.
DeepPWM-BindingNet: Unleashing Binding Prediction with Combined Sequence and PWM Features
Authors: Ali Sarwan , Chourasia Prakash , Patterson Murray
Published: August 2024

A crucial challenge in molecular biology is the prediction of DNA-protein binding interactions, which has applications in the study of gene regulation and genome functionality. In this paper, we present a novel deep-learning framework to predict DNA-protein binding interactions with increased precision and interoperability. Our proposed framework DeepPWM-BindingNet leverages the rich information encoded in Position Weight Matrices (PWMs), which capture the sequence-specific binding preferences of proteins. These PWM-derived features are seamlessly integrated into a hybrid model of convolutional recurrent neural networks (CRNNs) that extracts hierarchical features from DNA sequences and protein structures. The sequential dependencies within the sequences are captured by recurrent layers. By incorporating PWM-derived features, the model’s interpretability is improved, enabling researchers to learn more about the underlying binding mechanisms. The model’s capacity to locate crucial binding sites is improved by the incorporation of an attention mechanism that highlights crucial regions. Experiments on diverse DNA-protein interaction datasets demonstrate the proposed approach improves the predictive performance. The proposed model holds significant potential in deciphering intricate DNA-protein interactions, ultimately advancing our comprehension of gene regulation mechanisms.
Anisotropic weak antilocalization in thin films of the Weyl semimetal TaAs
Authors: Leahy Ian A. , Rice Anthony D. , Jiang Chun-Sheng , Paul Goutam , Alberi Kirstin , Nelson Jocienne N.
Published: August 2024

Device applications of topological semimetals await the development of epitaxial films in the ultrathin limit. Weak antilocalization (WAL) has been extensively utilized in the understanding of surface states in topological insulators and shows promise for use in elucidating the properties of thin film topological semimetals. Here, we report insights from WAL in the surface state and interface transport properties of our recently synthesized single-crystal-like thin films of the Weyl semimetal TaAs(001) grown on GaAs(001). We observe robust, anisotropic WAL in the magnetoconductance from 2 to 20 K in films from 10 to 200 nm thick. We link the anisotropic WAL magnetoconductance to anisotropic mobility stemming from film topography. We conclude that WAL in the films likely originates from the antilocalization of topological surface states. The WAL magnetoconductance is impacted by the film thickness and topography, solidifying the useful role of WAL in the study of topological semimetal/semiconductor heterointerfaces.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Predicting exciton binding energies from ground-state properties
Authors: Grunert Malte , Großmann Max , Runge Erich
Published: August 2024

We systematically investigate the correlations between exciton binding energies and various easily calculated ground-state properties (“predictors”) that have been proposed to correlate with them. We do so for 51 bulk compounds, ranging from simple binary semiconductors to more exotic materials such as noble gas solids, perovskites, and layered systems and show that using only a few easily calculable parameters, a broadly applicable clustering of materials according to their exciton binding energies is possible. While no single one of the proposed parameters satisfactorily predicts the exciton binding energy, a combination of several parameters that enter the Wannier-Mott model or characterize the nature of the valence band and the ionicity of the compound allows a reliable automated clustering of exciton binding energies. The results allow an efficient estimation of the importance of excitonic effects without the need for expensive many-body perturbation theory calculations or other advanced numerically demanding approaches.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
a0(1710)−f0(1710)
mixing effect in the
Ds+→KS0KS0π+
decay
Authors: Peng Yu-Wen , Liang Wei , Xiong Xiaonu , Xiao Chu-Wen
Published: August 2024

With the measurements of the decay Ds+→KS0KS0π+ by the BESIII collaboration, we investigate this three-body weak decay via the chiral unitary approach for the final state interaction, where the resonances S(980) and S(1710) are dynamically reproduced with the interaction of eleven coupled channels, and the W-external and W-internal emission mechanisms are considered at the quark level. Besides, we also take into account the contribution from the

P

-wave resonance K*(892)+ and make a combined fit of the KS0KS0 and KS0π+ invariant mass spectra measured by the BESIII collaboration. The fitted results show that the enhancement around 1.7 GeV in KS0KS0 mass spectrum is overlapped with two visible peaks, indicating the mixing signal originated from the resonances a0(1710) and f0(1710) due to their different poles (masses). Thus, the decay Ds+→KS0KS0π+ is helpful to reveal their molecular nature with the mixing signal, which can be more precisely measured in the future.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Development of a flat jet delivery system for soft X-ray spectroscopy at MAX IV
Authors: Gallo Tamires , Adriano Luigi , Heymann Michael , Wrona Agnieszka , Walsh Noelle , Öhrwall Gunnar , Callefo Flavia , Skruszewicz Slawomir , Namboodiri Mahesh , Marinho Ricardo , Schulz Joachim , Valerio Joana
Published: August 2024

One of the most challenging aspects of X-ray research is the delivery of liquid sample flows into the soft X-ray beam. Currently, cylindrical microjets are the most commonly used sample injection systems for soft X-ray liquid spectroscopy. However, they suffer from several drawbacks, such as complicated geometry due to their curved surface. In this study, we propose a novel 3D-printed nozzle design by introducing microscopic flat sheet jets that provide micrometre-thick liquid sheets with high stability, intending to make this technology more widely available to users. Our research is a collaboration between the EuXFEL and MAX IV research facilities. This collaboration aims to develop and refine a 3D-printed flat sheet nozzle design and a versatile jetting platform that is compatible with multiple endstations and measurement techniques. Our flat sheet jet platform improves the stability of the jet and increases its surface area, enabling more precise scanning and differential measurements in X-ray absorption, scattering, and imaging applications. Here, we demonstrate the performance of this new arrangement for a flat sheet jet setup with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, photoelectron angular distribution, and soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy experiments performed at the photoemission endstation of the FlexPES beamline at MAX IV Laboratory in Lund, Sweden.
The soft X-ray spectromicroscopy beamline BL08U1A upgrade at SSRF
Authors: Zhen Xiangjun , Guo Zhi , Zhang Zengyan , Wang Yong , Tai Renzhong
Published: August 2024

Beamline BL08U1A is a soft X-ray spectromicroscopy beamline at Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility (SSRF) that exhibits the capabilities of high spatial resolution (30 nm) and high energy resolving power (over 104). As a first-generation beamline of SSRF, owing to its continuous operation over the last ten years, an urgent upgrade of the equipment including the monochromator was deemed necessary. The upgrade work included the overall construction of the monochromator and replacement of the mirrors upstream and downstream of the monochromator. Based on its original skeleton, two elliptically cylinder mirrors were designed to focus the beam horizontally, which can increase the flux density by about three times on the exit slits. Meanwhile, the application of variable-line-space gratings in the monochromator demonstrates the dual functions of dispersing and focusing on the exit slits which can decrease abberations dramatically. After the upgrade of the main components of the beamline, the energy range is 180–2000 eV, the energy resolving power reaches 16333 @ 244 eV and 12730 @ 401 eV, and the photon flux measured in the experimental station is over 2.45 × 109 photons s−1(E/ΔE = 6440 @ 244 eV).
Revealing intelligent packaging for food products from consumers’ point of view in Georgia
Authors: Gigauri Iza , Palazzo Maria , Apostu Simona Andreea , Siano Alfonso
Published: August 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore the awareness, perception and attitude of consumers from Georgia toward smart, active and intelligent packaging of food products.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is based on a quantitative research method using a survey questionnaire tool to gather data from consumers in Georgia.

Findings

The scope of the sample is restricted to only one developing country. Yet, the research results are still significant in creating knowledge about innovative food packaging from different country contexts and to understanding the acceptance of intelligent active packaging by consumers.

Research limitations/implications

Intelligent packaging facilitates companies with their sustainability efforts by reducing waste and environmental impact. It increases the desirability of products as responds to customer demands and leads to consumer satisfaction. Intelligent packaging can increase trust in bioproducts; for example, it is possible to track and check or monitor the origin of a product and prove that the product producer has really manufactured a bioproduct.

Originality/value

The study contributes to the discussion of the applicability and use of packaging with enhanced features in the food industry. In this respect, the performed pilot study fills the gap in the packaging literature by investigating consumers’ perspectives on intelligent packaging in Georgia – a non-EU, post-soviet, developing country.
Mediating and moderating role of socioeconomic and technological factors in assessing farmer`s attitude towards adoption of Industry 4.0 technology
Authors: Jain Mohit , Soni Gunjan , Mangla Sachin Kumar , Verma Deepak , Toshniwal Ved Prabha , Ramtiyal Bharti
Published: August 2024

Purpose

Agriculture is a vital sector for every country, especially for a country like India, where the majority of the population is dependent on agriculture as their earning source. Technological improvements in agriculture will increase output with proper forecasting of input resources. In this study, the author tries to investigate the attitude of end users (farmers) about the use of Industry 4.0 (I4.0) technologies.

Design/methodology/approach

The unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) model is used to assess the behavioral aspects. The significance of socioeconomic and technological factors is highlighted, providing the study with a thorough understanding of farmers' decision-making processes. A research questionnaire was developed for data collection, and descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the results using AMOS and SPSS software.

Findings

A total of 371 survey responses were collected. The results demonstrate that the hypothesis regarding UTAUT model components is validated, while several mediating hypotheses are not supported, indicating that they are not significant in farmers' decision-making.

Originality/value

In this study, socioeconomic and technological factors are considered to be mediating and moderating elements between the constructs of the UTAUT model. Increasing the accuracy and reliability of our study by integrating mediating and moderating variables. This study assists industry specialists in understanding the elements that farmers consider while switching toward new technologies.
A career-lifespan perspective on strengths utilization at work
Authors: van Woerkom Marianne
Published: August 2024

Purpose

While the career literature does acknowledge that personal strengths may function as protective factors that increase the likelihood of positive career outcomes, the topic of strengths has predominantly been studied in the context of career guidance for adolescents and young adults. However, the evolution of strengths persists throughout the entire career and individuals’ awareness and inclination to leverage their strengths change when aging. This paper aims to examine strengths over the (career) lifespan.

Design/methodology/approach

For this purpose, a conceptual analysis was made of the interplay between age and strengths application within the work environment, based on a narrative review of both empirical and conceptual literature on strengths and lifespan (career) development.

Findings

Based on lifespan development theory and results from studies that investigate the relationship between age and strengths, it can be expected that the prominence, awareness and use of strengths, as well as the active engagement in strengths development increase with age. Also, based on the corresponsive principle it is proposed that strengths prominence is reciprocally related to the awareness, use and development of strengths. Implications for future research and practice are discussed.

Originality/value

Whereas positive psychology has contributed to research on career development by its focus on healthy functioning, human potential and well-being the implications from theorizing and research on strengths for the career-lifespan are still relatively unclear. This paper develops testable propositions regarding the relationship between age and strengths and discusses implications for the types of organizational support for strengths that workers of different ages might need.
MLFV: a novel machine learning feature vector method to predict characteristics of turbulent heat and fluid flow
Authors: Bashtani Iman , Abolfazli Esfahani Javad
Published: August 2024

Purpose

This study aims to introduce a novel machine learning feature vector (MLFV) method to bring machine learning to overcome the time-consuming computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations for rapidly predicting turbulent flow characteristics with acceptable accuracy.

Design/methodology/approach

In this method, CFD snapshots are encoded in a tensor as the input training data. Then, the MLFV learns the relationship between data with a rod filter, which is named feature vector, to learn features by defining functions on it. To demonstrate the accuracy of the MLFV, this method is used to predict the velocity, temperature and turbulent kinetic energy fields of turbulent flow passing over an innovative nature-inspired Dolphin turbulator based on only ten CFD data.

Findings

The results indicate that MLFV and CFD contours alongside scatter plots have a good agreement between predicted and solved data with R2 ≃ 1. Also, the error percentage contours and histograms reveal the high precisions of predictions with MAPE = 7.90E-02, 1.45E-02, 7.32E-02 and NRMSE = 1.30E-04, 1.61E-03, 4.54E-05 for prediction velocity, temperature, turbulent kinetic energy fields at Re = 20,000, respectively.

Practical implications

The method can have state-of-the-art applications in a wide range of CFD simulations with the ability to train based on small data, which is practical and logical regarding the number of required tests.

Originality/value

The paper introduces a novel, innovative and super-fast method named MLFV to address the time-consuming challenges associated with the traditional CFD approach to predict the physics of turbulent heat and fluid flow in real time with the superiority of training based on small data with acceptable accuracy.
Instagram public and private images as an element for the spatial monitoring of tourist behaviour in cities
Authors: Paül i Agustí Daniel
Published: August 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyse whether publicly shared images on Instagram are representative of tourist behaviour in a destination. This aspect is crucial for destination image management, as it can influence the way tourists perceive the destination.

Design/methodology/approach

The research compares three different factors: the route followed by a group of tourists, the whole set of photographs taken by them and the images that they made publicly available on Instagram. It relies on a field work done by a group of 122 tourists in Turin (Italy). At a qualitative level, the answers given by tourists to the motivations that led them to share some of the image are analysed.

Findings

The results showed how the spatial distribution of the images shared publicly on Instagram only partially coincides with the whole set of images taken by tourists.

Practical implications

It is important to avoid basing marketing and management policies on just the places featured in publicly shared images. If not, there is a risk of taking decisions based on the behaviour of some, rather than all, tourists.

Originality/value

Many papers claim to be based on the Instagram image as elements to study tourism. However, most of these papers only analyse public images. This fact can affect the results as there may be, for example, areas visited by tourists where photos are not taken. This paper therefore contributes to a better understanding of Instagram as a tool for the study of urban tourism.
Conversations between child and family professionals and children: what shapes the adult’s ability to hear children’s perspectives?
Authors: Casley Marilyn
Published: August 2024

Purpose

Many professionals who work with children champion the concept of child participation. However, professionals’ attempts at listening to children to understand their perspectives and include them in decision-making are often difficult or missing. This paper aims to report on a study that examined the lived experiences of child and family professionals and children, aged five to nine years, to understand what happens in their everyday conversations and interactions and what is needed to prepare pre-service professionals to uphold children’s right to have their views heard and considered in decision-making.

Design/methodology/approach

Narrative Inquiry was used as the methodology for this study as it is a useful research methodology for developing interventions for practice. Narrative Inquiry methodology allows the researcher to learn from their participants, and to validate them as knowledgeable in their own lives and as contributors to change.

Findings

The findings indicated that everyday conversations and interactions that take place between professionals and children influence an adult’s ability to hear a child’s perspective. The key findings indicate that for adults to hear a child’s perspective and include them in decision-making, there is a need to build trust and acknowledge how power plays a role in having meaningful conversations with children.

Originality/value

To better prepare the child and family practice workforce, they will need theoretical knowledge and practice skills in developing self-awareness about how children are viewed, building reciprocal relationships with children and creating safe spaces for conversations to take place.
Medical consultants’ experience of collective leadership in complexity: a qualitative interview study
Authors: Carroll Áine , McKenzie Jane , Collins Claire
Published: August 2024

Purpose

The aim of this study was to explore and understand the leadership experiences of medical consultants prior to a major hospital move. Health and care is becoming increasingly complex and there is no greater challenge than the move to a new hospital. Effective leadership has been identified as being essential for successful transition. However, there is very little evidence of how medical consultants experience effective leadership.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative methodology was utilized with one-to-one semi-structured interviews conducted with ten medical consultants. These were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. The research complied with the consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ).

Findings

Four themes were found to influence medical consultants’ experience of leadership: collaboration, patient centredness, governance and knowledge mobilization. Various factors were identified that negatively influenced their leadership effectiveness. The findings suggest that there are a number of factors that influence complexity leadership effectiveness. Addressing these areas may enhance leadership effectiveness and the experience of leadership in medical consultants.

Research limitations/implications

This study provides a rich exploration of medical consultants’ experience of collective leadership prior to a transition to a new hospital and provides new understandings of the way collective leadership is experienced in the lead up to a major transition and makes recommendations for future leadership research and practice.

Practical implications

The findings suggest that there are a number of factors that influence complexity leadership effectiveness. Addressing these areas may enhance leadership effectiveness and the experience of leadership in medical consultants.

Social implications

Clinical leadership is associated with better outcomes for patients therefore any interventions that enhance leadership capability will improve outcomes for patients and therefore benefit society.

Originality/value

This is the first research to explore medical consultants’ experience of collective leadership prior to a transition to a new hospital.
Industry 4.0 technologies and sustainable performance: do green supply chain collaboration, circular economy practices, technological readiness and environmental dynamism matter?
Authors: Farrukh Shahzad Muhammad , Liu Huizheng , Zahid Hira
Published: August 2024

Purpose

The present research investigates the effects of adopting Industry 4.0 technologies (ADT) on the Pakistani food sector’s sustainable performance (SP). Specifically, it focuses on the roles of green supply chain collaboration (GSCC), circular economy practices (CEP) and technological readiness (TR) as mediators and environmental dynamism (EDY) as a moderator.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is based on the natural resource-based view (NRBV) theory to determine the 14.0 adoption toward sustainable performance with mediators and moderators. The authors conducted an online questionnaire from 318 employees of the food manufacturing industries in Lahore, Pakistan, and applied the PLS-SEM approach to test the relationships of variables.

Findings

The findings of this study reveal that adopting Industry 4.0 technologies significantly influences sustainable performance through GSCC, CEP and TR in the Pakistani food sector. Moreover, the relation between industry 4.0 technologies, GSCC, CEP and TR is positively moderated by environmental dynamism.

Research limitations/implications

The findings have marked implications for the literature on adopting I4.0 on sustainable performance in the Pakistani food sector. This research is based on data collected from a single country, and industry is the limitation of this study.

Originality/value

The present study provides conclusive evidence of the influence of the adoption of Industry 4.0 on sustainable performance through GSCC, CEP and TR in the Pakistani food sector. This study is the first to investigate the moderating role of environmental dynamism among industry 4.0 technologies, GSCC, CEP and TR.
Network centrality, learning capacity and firm performance in equity alliance portfolios
Authors: Belgraver Herman , Verwaal Ernst , Verdú‐Jover Antonio J.
Published: August 2024

Purpose

Prior research from transaction costs economics argued that central firms perform better because they have superior access to information to discipline their alliance partners. Central firms may also, however, face higher costs and risks of unintentional learning and weaken their competence through structural inertia. We propose that these costs and risks are influenced by the learning capacities of the firms in the network and can explain different outcomes for focal firm performance.

Design/methodology/approach

To test our predictions, we use instrumental variable–generalized method of moments estimation techniques on 15,517 firm-year observations from equity alliance portfolios in the global food industry across a 21-year window.

Findings

We find support for our predictions and show that the relationship between network degree centrality and firm performance is negatively influenced by partners’ learning capacity and positively influenced by focal firms’ learning capacity, while firms with low network degree centrality benefit less from their learning capacity.

Research limitations/implications

Future developments in transaction cost economics may consider partner and focal firms’ learning capacity as moderators of the network degree centrality – firm performance relationship.

Practical implications

In alliance decisions, managers must consider that the combination of high network degree centrality and partners’ learning capacity can lead to high costs, risks of unintentional learning, and structural inertia, all of which have negative consequences for performance. In concentrated industries where network positions are controlled by a few large firms, policymakers must acknowledge that firms may face substantial barriers to collaboration with learning-intensive firms.

Originality/value

This study is the first to develop and test a comprehensive transaction cost analysis of the central firm’s unintended knowledge flows and structural inertia in alliance networks. It is also the first to incorporate theoretically and empirically the hazards of complex and unintended information flows on the relationship of network degree centrality to performance in equity alliance portfolios.
The interplay between pre-departure and post-departure factors affecting cultural and academic adjustment of international students
Authors: Khedr Wessam
Published: August 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the effect of push and pull factors motivating international students to study abroad as two pre-departure factors to their mobility decision; and the effect of two post-departure factors – cultural distance and academic/university environment – on international students’ adjustment.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 339 international students studying in Egypt. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to assess the effect of the independent variables on two facets of adjustment, the cultural adjustment and the academic adjustment.

Findings

The descriptive studies showed differences in level of adjustments, where the academic adjustment was higher than the cultural adjustment. Moreover, the SEM results have confirmed the significant role of all studied variables on general cultural adjustment; and all variables except for the push factors, on interaction cultural adjustment; and the effect of only push and academic environment on academic adjustment.

Originality/value

This paper is an attempt to extend the work on international students’ mobility via identifying the main pre-departure and the post-departure factors affecting their decision to study in Egypt and the interplay of those factors in shaping their level of adjustment. This study is among a relatively limited attempts in the field that would link push and pull motivational factors to level of adjustment and via detecting the effects on two different adjustments dimensions: the cultural and the academic dimensions; and within an under researched context as Egypt.
Design and implementation of the high-integrated smart gloves for virtual reality interaction
Authors: Hu Yong , Wang Sui , Feng Lihang , Liu Baochang , Xiang Yifang , Li Chunmiao , Wang Dong
Published: August 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to design a highly integrated smart glove to enable gesture acquisition and force sensory interactions, and to enhance the realism and immersion of virtual reality interaction experiences.

Design/methodology/approach

The smart glove is highly integrated with gesture sensing, force-haptic acquisition and virtual force feedback modules. Gesture sensing realizes the interactive display of hand posture. The force-haptic acquisition and virtual force feedback provide immersive force feedback to enhance the sense of presence and immersion of the virtual reality interaction.

Findings

The experimental results show that the average error of the finger bending sensor is only 0.176°, the error of the arm sensor is close to 0 and the maximum error of the force sensing is 2.08 g, which is able to accurately sense the hand posture and force-touch information. In the virtual reality interaction experiments, the force feedback has obvious level distinction, which can enhance the sense of presence and immersion during the interaction.

Originality/value

This paper innovatively proposes a highly integrated smart glove that cleverly integrates gesture acquisition, force-haptic acquisition and virtual force feedback. The glove enhances the sense of presence and immersion of virtual reality interaction through precise force feedback, which has great potential for application in virtual environment interaction in various fields.
Organic farming and annual flower strips reduce parasite prevalence in honeybees and boost colony growth in agricultural landscapes
Authors: Pluta Patrycja , Czechofsky Kathrin , Hass Annika , Frank Lena , Westerhoff Ansgar , Klingenberg Heiner , Theodorou Panagiotis , Westphal Catrin , Paxton Robert J.
Published: August 2024

Despite the major role that insect pollinators play in crop production, agricultural intensification drives them into decline. Various conservation measures have been developed to mitigate the negative effects of agriculture on insect pollinators.

In a novel comparison of the efficacy of three conservation measures on honeybee colony growth, we monitored experimental honeybee colonies in 16 landscapes that comprised orthogonal gradients of organic agriculture, annual flower strips and perennial semi‐natural habitats. Using structural equation modelling, we assessed the effects of conservation measures on the prevalence of 11 parasites, Varroa destructor loads and their collective impact on colony growth.

Increasing area coverage of perennial semi‐natural habitat related to higher V. destructor load and indirectly to lower colony growth.

Increasing area of annual flower strips was associated with lower V. destructor load and indirectly with higher colony growth.

Increasing area of organic farming related to lower parasite richness and also directly to improved colony growth.

Synthesis and applications: Landscape features can affect pollinators directly through the provision of food resources and indirectly through modulation of parasite prevalence. To promote honeybee colony health in agro‐ecosystems, our results suggest that organic agriculture and annual flower strips should be prioritized conservation measures. Landscape management should consider the merits and demerits of different measures to sustain healthy populations of pollinators in agro‐ecosystems.
Everywhere we look around: Aerial eDNA to capture fungal diversity
Authors: Policelli Nahuel
Published: August 2024

Research Highlight discussing: Runnel, K., Lõhmus, P., Küngas, K., Marmor‐Ohtla, L., Palo, A., Pütsepp, G., Tamm, H., Tammekänd, I., & Lõhmus, A. (2024). Aerial eDNA contributes vital information for fungal biodiversity assessment. Journal of Applied Ecology, https://doi.org/10.1111/1365‐2664.14691. Fungi play key roles in ecosystems, yet it is not clear how best to capture their diversity or monitor their presence, especially for those species of particular conservation concern. In this issue of the Journal of Applied Ecology Runnel et al. address this problem by comparing different methodologies to estimate the diversity of lichen‐forming fungi and wood‐inhabiting basidiomycetes at a forest stand scale. Pairing aerial eDNA sampling with visual observation‐based surveys better captured the full spectrum of fungal diversity, including cryptic species and those of particular conservation interest. Certain fungal groups that are underrepresented in air samples might be better captured by sampling eDNA directly from wood or soil, but visual surveys should be considered as a more cost‐effective complementary method at least at a local scale. Their results highlight the importance of using multiple methods simultaneously in biodiversity assessments and the need for standardized methods to study and monitor fungal diversity.
What do other men think? Understanding (mis)perceptions of peer gender role ideology among young Tanzanian men
Authors: Ishungisa Alexander M. , Kilgallen Joseph A. , Mabula Elisha , Brand Charlotte O. , Urassa Mark , Lawson David W.
Published: August 2024

Peer influence in adolescence and early adulthood is critical to the formation of beliefs about appropriate behaviour for each gender. Complicating matters, recent studies suggest that men overestimate peer support for inequitable gender norms. Combined with social conformity, this susceptibility to ‘norm misperception’ may represent a barrier to women's empowerment. However, why men misperceive peer beliefs remains unclear. Working in an urbanizing Tanzanian community where previous research has documented overestimation of peer support for inequitable gender norms, we used focus groups and participant observation to investigate how young men (aged 18‐30) forge perceptions about their peers. Men characterized their community as undergoing a transition to more equitable gender norms owing to urbanization, globalization, and interactions with external agencies and different ethnicities. This change introduces novel diversity and reinforces uncertainty about prevailing beliefs. Confidence in the discernibility of peer beliefs hinged on whether associated behaviours were visible in the public domain or expressed within the private affairs of women and men. Furthermore, men acknowledged intentionally obscuring behaviour deemed supportive of women to portray ideals of masculine strength. These results suggest that misperception of peer gender role ideology is pronounced during periods of rapid cultural transition and illuminates the mechanisms at play.
Primary care mental health integration to improve early treatment engagement for veterans who screen positive for depression
Authors: Leung Lucinda B. , Chu Karen , Rose Danielle E. , Stockdale Susan E. , Post Edward P. , Funderburk Jennifer S. , Rubenstein Lisa V.
Published: August 2024

Objective

To examine the relationship between the penetration (or reach) of a national program aiming to integrate mental health clinicians into all primary care clinics (PC‐MHI) and rates of guideline‐concordant follow‐up and treatment among clinic patients newly identified with depression in the Veterans Health Administration (VA).

Data Sources/Study Setting

15,155 screen‐positive patients 607,730 patients with 2‐item Patient Health Questionnaire scores in 82 primary care clinics, 2015–2019.

Study Design

In this retrospective cohort study, we used established depression care quality measures to assess primary care patients who (a) newly screened positive (score ≥3) and (b) were identified with depression by clinicians via diagnosis and/or medication (n = 15,155; 15,650 patient‐years). Timely follow‐up included ≥3 mental health, ≥3 psychotherapy, or ≥3 primary care visits for depression. Minimally appropriate treatment included ≥4 mental health visits, ≥3 psychotherapy, or ≥60 days of medication. In multivariate regressions, we examined whether higher rates of PC‐MHI penetration in clinic (proportion of total primary care patients in a clinic who saw any PC‐MHI clinician) were associated with greater depression care quality among cohort patients, adjusting for year, healthcare system, and patient and clinic characteristics.

Data Collection/Extraction Methods

Electronic health record data from 82 VA clinics across three states.

Principal Findings

A median of 9% of all primary care patients were seen by any PC‐MHI clinician annually. In fully adjusted models, greater PC‐MHI penetration was associated with timely depression follow‐up within 84 days (∆P = 0.5; SE = 0.1; p < 0.001) and 180 days (∆P = 0.3; SE = 0.1; p = 0.01) of a positive depression screen. Completion of at least minimal treatment within 12 months was high (77%), on average, and not associated with PC‐MHI penetration.

Conclusions

Greater PC‐MHI program penetration was associated with early depression treatment engagement at 84−/180‐days among clinic patients newly identified with depression, with no effect on already high rates of completion of minimally sufficient treatment within the year.
Growth of Listeria monocytogenes in fresh vegetables and vegetable salad products: An update on influencing intrinsic and extrinsic factors
Authors: Alegbeleye Oluwadara , Rhee Min Suk
Published: August 2024

The ability of foodborne pathogens to grow in food products increases the associated food safety risks. Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) is a highly adaptable pathogen that can survive and grow under a wide range of environmental circumstances, including otherwise inhibitory conditions, such as restrictive cold temperatures. It can also survive long periods under adverse environmental conditions. This review examines the experimental evidence available for the survival and growth of Lm on fresh vegetables and ready‐to‐eat vegetable salads. Published data indicate that, depending on certain intrinsic (e.g., nutrient composition) and extrinsic factors (e.g., storage temperature, packaging atmosphere), Lm can survive on and in a wide variety of vegetables and fresh‐cut minimally processed vegetable salads. Studies have shown that temperature, modified atmosphere packaging, relative humidity, pH, water activity, background microbiota of vegetables, microbial strain peculiarities, and nutrient type and availability can significantly impact the fate of Lm in vegetables and vegetable salads. The influence of these factors can either promote its growth or decline. For example, some studies have shown that background microbiota inhibit the growth of Lm in vegetables and minimally processed vegetable salads, but others have reported a promoting, neutral, or insignificant effect on the growth of Lm. A review of relevant literature also indicated that the impact of most influencing factors is related to or interacts with other intrinsic or extrinsic factors. This literature synthesis contributes to the body of knowledge on possible strategies for improving food safety measures to minimize the risk of Lm‐associated foodborne outbreaks involving vegetables and vegetable salads.
Deciphering contaminants and toxins in fermented food for enhanced human health safeguarding
Authors: Pop Oana Lelia , Ciont (Nagy) Călina , Gabbianelli Rosita , Coldea Teodora Emilia , Pop Carmen Rodica , Mudura Elena , Min Thae , Rangnoi Kuntalee , Yamabhai Montarop , Vlaic Romina , Mureșan Crina , Suharoschi Ramona
Published: August 2024

Fermented foods have been a component of the human diet since ancient times, including live bacteria employed to restore gut health, contributing to the frontline of functional food progression. Human concern about the harmful consequences of possible contaminants has increased significantly as their toxicity, carcinogenicity, and teratogenicity have become more publicized. In order to take preventive measures, it is essential to correctly identify and define the implications of contaminants and toxins in human health and intestinal microbiota balance for preventing or diagnosing epidemics before they cause damage. The longer food chain that results from urbanization and underreporting of diseases makes it harder to correlate contaminated food to disease, which in turn presents challenges to improving food safety. This research aims to present the potential physical, chemical, and microbiological pollutants and toxins found in fermented products and their effects on human health. The scope tackles various categories of fermented foods, such as dairy products, alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages, fermented meat products, traditional bakery products, and fermented cereals and vegetables. Furthermore, it examines specific control processes such as rigorous sanitation protocols, advanced packaging technologies, regulatory harmonization, and decontamination methodologies used to prevent the release of contaminants from fermented foods. Future viewpoints and opportunities are briefly mentioned in the conclusion.
Gut microbiota: A key role for human milk oligosaccharides in regulating host health early in life
Authors: Chen Qingxue , Ma Xinming , Guo Zhengtao , Zhang Peng , Li Bailiang , Wang Zhongjiang
Published: August 2024

Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) are an evolutionarily significant advantage bestowed by mothers for facilitating the development of the infant's gut microbiota. They can avoid absorption in the stomach and small intestine, reaching the colon successfully, where they engage in close interactions with gut microbes. This process also enables HMOs to exert additional prebiotic effects, including regulating the mucus layer, promoting physical growth and brain development, as well as preventing and mitigating conditions such as NEC, allergies, and diarrhea. Here, we comprehensively review the primary ways by which gut microbiota, including Bifidobacteria and other genera, utilize HMOs, and we classify them into five central pathways. Furthermore, we emphasize the metabolic benefits of bacteria consuming HMOs, particularly the recently identified intrinsic link between HMOs and the metabolic conversion of tryptophan to indole and its derivatives. We also examine the extensive probiotic roles of HMOs and their recent research advancements, specifically concentrating on the unsummarized role of HMOs in regulating the mucus layer, where their interaction with the gut microbiota becomes crucial. Additionally, we delve into the principal tools used for functional mining of new HMOs. In conclusion, our study presents a thorough analysis of the interaction mechanism between HMOs and gut microbiota, emphasizing the cooperative utilization of HMOs by gut microbiota, and provides an overview of the subsequent probiotic effects of this interaction. This review provides new insights into the interaction of HMOs with the gut microbiota, which will inform the mechanisms by which HMOs function.
Single‐cell transcriptomic atlas of taste papilla aging
Authors: Ren Wenwen , Li Weihao , Cha Xudong , Wang Shenglei , Cai Boyu , Wang Tianyu , Li Fengzhen , Li Tengfei , Xie Yingqi , Xu Zengyi , Wang Zhe , Liu Huanhai , Yu Yiqun
Published: August 2024

Taste perception is one of the important senses in mammals. Taste dysfunction causes significant inconvenience in daily life, leading to subhealth and even life‐threatening condition. Aging is a major cause to taste dysfunction, while the underlying feature related to gustatory aging is still not known. Using single‐cell RNA Sequencing, differentially expressed genes between aged and young taste papillae are identified, including upregulated mt‐Nd4l and Xist, as well as downregulated Hsp90ab1 and Tmem59. In the Tmem59−/− circumvallate papillae (CVP), taste mature cell generation is impaired by reduction in the numbers of PLCβ2+ and Car4+ cells, as well as decreases in expression levels of taste transduction genes. Tmem59−/− mice showed deficits in sensitivities to tastants. Through screening by GenAge and DisGeNET databases, aging‐dependent genes and oral disease‐associated genes are identified in taste papillae. In the CVP, aging promotes intercellular communication reciprocally between (cycling) basal cell and mature taste cell by upregulated Crlf1/Lifr and Adam15/Itga5 signaling. By transcriptional network analysis, ribosome proteins, Anxa1, Prdx5, and Hmgb1/2 are identified as transcriptional hubs in the aged taste papillae. Chronological aging‐associated transcriptional changes throughout taste cell maturation are revealed. Aged taste papillae contain more Muc5b+ cells that are not localized in gustatory gland. Collectively, this study shows molecular and cellular features associated with taste papilla aging.