bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparative study of socially responsible consumption measurement in three Latin American countries
Authors: Villa‐Castaño Lida Esperanza , Perdomo‐Ortiz Jesús , Dueñas‐Ocampo Sebastián , Durán León William Fernando
Published: February 2024

Socially responsible consumption reflects a consumer's political and ethical act. Its measurement is dependent on the socio‐economic and cultural context. Consequently, measurement instruments reflecting various behaviour profiles of global consumers have been developed. This study employs a Latin‐American‐specific measurement instrument to compare socially responsible consumption behaviours in Colombia, Mexico and Peru, countries with the same cultural cluster, that is they reflect a set of values shaped by religion, family, a sense of authority and a nationalist bias in their cultural pattern. The empirical test included confirmatory factorial analysis exercise, factorial invariance analysis and a contrast analysis of variance. The results for the three Latin American countries show the following. (i) The Mexican consumer, compared to the Peruvian and Colombian one, exhibits a stronger tendency to evaluate external practices of corporate social responsibility as a criterion of consumption. (ii) The rationality of the Mexican consumer is better in terms of consumption volume of products, resources and services. Finally, (iii) Peruvian and Mexican consumers (vs. Colombian consumers) exhibit a tendency to assess the responsible practices of companies in labour matters more as a consumption criterion. This study provides empirical evidence of the context‐dependent nature of measuring socially responsible consumption. For practitioners, identifying consumer profiles based on the market context enables them to customise goods and services. Moreover, policymakers should implement a sustainable consumption agenda with public policy guidelines tailored to the specific context.
Impact of elranatamab on quality of life: Patient‐reported outcomes from MagnetisMM‐3
Authors: Mohty Mohamad , Bahlis Nizar J. , Nooka Ajay K. , DiBonaventura Marco , Ren Jinma , Conte Umberto
Published: February 2024

The physical and emotional burden of relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) has been strongly correlated with declining health‐related quality of life (QOL) in the patients it affects. This analysis evaluated patient‐reported outcomes (PROs) from B‐cell maturation antigen (BCMA)‐naive (n = 123) and ‐exposed (n = 64) patients with RRMM enrolled in the MagnetisMM‐3 study (NCT04649359) and treated with the humanized, bispecific BCMA‐CD3 antibody elranatamab. Patients received two step‐up doses of elranatamab (12 mg on day 1, 32 mg on day 4) before starting the full dose of 76 mg on day 8 (each cycle = 28 days). Global health status, functioning and symptom data were collected electronically using validated and myeloma‐specific questionnaires. Improvements in PROs occurred early, with marked reductions in pain and disease symptoms and notable improvements in patients’ outlook for their future health. Additionally, 40.2% of BCMA‐naive and 52.6% of BCMA‐exposed patients perceived their disease as ‘a little better’ or ‘much better’ by Cycle 1, Day 15. The results from this analysis demonstrated that elranatamab maintained or improved symptomology and general health status, regardless of prior BCMA‐directed therapy. Thus, in addition to its clinical benefits, elranatamab therapy may sustain or improve QOL in heavily pretreated patients with RRMM.
Functional analysis and transcriptome profile of meninges and skin fibroblasts from human‐aged donors
Authors: Fantini Valentina , Ferrari Riccardo Rocco , Bordoni Matteo , Spampinato Eleonora , Pandini Cecilia , Davin Annalisa , Medici Valentina , Gagliardi Stella , Guaita Antonio , Pansarasa Orietta , Cereda Cristina , Poloni Tino Emanuele
Published: February 2024

The central nervous system (CNS) is surrounded by three membranes called meninges. Specialised fibroblasts, originating from the mesoderm and neural crest, primarily populate the meninges and serve as a binding agent. Our goal was to compare fibroblasts from meninges and skin obtained from the same human‐aged donors, exploring their molecular and cellular characteristics related to CNS functions. We isolated meningeal fibroblasts (MFs) from brain donors and skin fibroblasts (SFs) from the same subjects. A functional analysis was performed measuring cell appearance, metabolic activity, and cellular orientation. We examined fibronectin, serpin H1, β‐III‐tubulin, and nestin through qPCR and immunofluorescence. A whole transcriptome analysis was also performed to characterise the gene expression of MFs and SFs. MFs appeared more rapidly in the post‐tissue processing, while SFs showed an elevated cellular metabolism and a well‐defined cellular orientation. The four markers were mostly similar between the MFs and SFs, except for nestin, more expressed in MFs. Transcriptome analysis reveals significant differences, particularly in cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) metabolism and response to forskolin, both of which are upregulated in MFs. This study highlights MFs' unique characteristics, including the timing of appearance, metabolic activity, and gene expression patterns, particularly in cAMP metabolism and response to forskolin. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of non‐neuronal cells' involvement in CNS activities and potentially open avenues for therapeutic exploration.
Stenotrophomonas maltophilia skin infection in an immunocompetent patient: Primary cutaneous CD30+ T‐cell lymphoproliferative disorder or pseudolymphoma?
Authors: Prete Monia Di , Scarabello Alessandra , Lora Viviana , Cota Carlo
Published: February 2024

Cutaneous pseudolymphomas are a wide group of diseases mimicking cutaneous lymphoma. They comprise several skin conditions with different etiopathogenesis, clinical–pathological features, and prognosis, which may occur in the absence of an identifiable trigger factor or after administration of medications or vaccinations, tattoos, infections, or arthropod bites. They present with different manifestations: from solitary to regionally clustered lesions, up to generalized distribution and, in rare cases, erythroderma. They persist variably, from weeks to years, and resolve spontaneously or after antibiotics, but may recur in some cases. CD30+ T‐cell pseudolymphomas are characterized by the presence of large, activated lymphoid cells, generally in response to viral infections, arthropod assault reactions, and drug eruptions. Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is a ubiquitous Gram‐negative bacillus responsible for opportunistic infections in immunocompromised patients. Infection of intact skin in immunocompetent patients is particularly rare. Here, we report a case of a man presenting an isolated nodule histopathologically mimicking a primary cutaneous CD30+ T‐cell lymphoproliferative disorder.
Do wages underestimate the inequality in workers' rewards? The joint distribution of job quality and wages across occupations
Authors: Clark Andrew E. , Cotofan Maria , Layard Richard
Published: February 2024

Information on both wages and job quality is needed in order to understand the occupational dispersion of wellbeing. We analyse subjective wellbeing in a large UK sample to construct a measure of ‘overall reward’, the sum of wages and the value of job quality, in 90 different occupations. If only wages are included, then labour market inequality is underestimated: the dispersion of overall rewards is one‐third larger than the dispersion of wages. Our findings are similar, and stronger, in data on US workers. We find a positive correlation between job quality and wages in all specifications, both between individuals in the cross‐section and within individuals in panel data. The gender and ethnic gaps in the labour market are larger than those in wages alone, and the overall rewards to education on the labour market are underestimated by earnings differentials alone.
Creation and evaluation of an educational escape room for preclinical training on 3D printing in dentistry
Authors: Caussin Élisa , Qatramiz Ahmad , Guillemot Caroline , Brukarz Yohann , Loré Vinciane , Jungo Sébastien , Gouze Hélène , Le‐goff Stéphane , Dursun Elisabeth , Attal Jean‐Pierre , François Philippe
Published: February 2024

Introduction

The benefit of pedagogical escape rooms for dental students' stimulation, interest and knowledge strengthening has been suggested by several studies. However, in previous studies, only a few students were evaluated. This study aims to confirm the purpose of this innovative pedagogical tool in terms of learning consolidation and team building from students' perceptions. We directly incorporated an educational escape game into the fundamental academic formation as a practical‐work course for fifth‐year dental students.

Materials and Methods

The present escape game focused on 3D printing, whose implementation fit the different steps of an escape game well. This study was conducted in March 2022. All fifth‐year dental students (n = 212) were divided into 5–6 student groups to match the conditions of an escape game. Before entering the room, each student had to complete a cross‐sectional knowledge true/false test of 8 questions to assess their general level. Additionally, an 18‐question appreciation survey was completed when leaving the room.

Results

The students perceived the 3D‐printing escape game to be relevant and especially expressed the benefit of being part of a team to exchange and build knowledge. These results suggest knowledge strengthening. The instructional benefit of this process seemed to exceed its mere fun and appealing aspect.

Conclusion

Our results with a large number of students showed that, from the students' perception, the educational escape game significantly improved knowledge and team‐building. It created a supportive learning environment and increased students' motivation. It can provide a fun and effective way to diversify instruction.
Geographical and cognitive proximity effects on innovation performance: Which types of proximity for which types of innovation?
Authors: Garcia Martinez Marian , Zouaghi Ferdaous , Sánchez García Mercedes
Published: February 2024

The purpose of the paper is to explore the multi‐dimensional and intersecting nature of proximity to drive innovation performance. Applying a multi‐dimensional proximity framework, the study provides a deeper understanding of the importance of substitution and overlap mechanisms in the relation between geographical and cognitive proximity dimensions in innovation performance. The paper further analyses the moderation effect of organisational innovation in this relationship. Multivariate analysis proves the interaction effects between geographical and cognitive proximity, where cognitive proximity both substitutes and complements geographical proximity. However, external knowledge search for innovation along proximity dimensions differs depending on the type of innovation. Our findings corroborate the proximity paradox caused by lock‐in effects with the optimal level of proximity influenced by the interdependencies between proximity dimensions. This inverse U‐shaped relationship is flatter for firms that have adopted organisational innovation. External knowledge linkages should be tailored to the favourable characteristic of proximity to enhance firm innovation performance.
Testing models of increasing complexity to develop ecosystem‐informed fisheries advice
Authors: Robertson Matthew D. , Cadigan Noel G. , Regular Paul M. , Koen‐Alonso Mariano , Cyr Frédéric , Zhang Fan , Eddy Tyler D.
Published: February 2024

Despite continued calls for the application of ecosystem‐based fisheries management, tactical fisheries management continues to be heavily reliant on single‐species stock assessments. These stock assessments rarely quantitatively integrate the effects of ecosystem processes on fish stock productivity. This lack of integration is ultimately driven by the complexity of interactions between populations, ecosystems and fisheries, which produces uncertainty when defining which processes to include and how to include them. Models developed using a structured hypothesis testing framework would allow formalizing uncertainties while underscoring the importance of incorporating different population and ecosystem processes to explain non‐stationary stock productivity. Here, we develop a conceptual framework for extending and comparing population dynamics models of increasing complexity. We illustrate the utility of the framework by investigating the population and ecosystem processes that most likely affected the differential recovery of two flatfish populations (American plaice and yellowtail flounder) on the Newfoundland Grand Banks over the past three decades. We found that yellowtail flounder population dynamics were primarily driven by recruitment variability, which was negatively affected by warmer climatological conditions, as indicated by an integrated regional climate index. Meanwhile, American plaice population dynamics were affected by a combination of temporal variability in recruitment and natural mortality, where natural mortality increased during colder than average conditions. By exploring hypotheses about the effects of population and ecosystem processes on population dynamics, this modelling framework will improve understanding about the drivers of shifts in population productivity while serving as a transparent and robust approach to support ecosystem‐based fisheries management.
Beyond the burn: An observational study of cardiovascular risk in burn survivors in the north of Iran
Authors: Samadi Soroosh , Salari Arsalan , Mobayen Mohammadreza , Shakiba Maryam , Bazi Ali , Hojjati Hamid , Hekmati Pour Nafiseh , Farhadi Bahar , Alizadeh Otaghvar Hamidreza , Shirzadi Alireza , Farzin Mohaya
Published: February 2024

Burn survivors experience profound physiological changes following injury, which may have lasting implications for cardiovascular health. This study aims to investigate the cardiovascular risk profile among burn survivors treated at a burn center in northern Iran. This observational study was conducted from 2022 to 2023 at the burn centre affiliated with Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran. This study assessed a cohort study of 210 burn survivors, focusing on individuals with ≥20% TBSA burn injuries who had recovered and returned to their daily lives. This study assessed patients' lipid profiles, Framingham General Cardiovascular Risk Score (FGCRS) and risk factors, including demographics, clinical variables and physical activity. Statistical analysis employed descriptive and inferential statistics. The mean age was 49.23 years, and the mean TBSA burned was 37.06%. The risk of cardiovascular disease in 66% of the study population was less than 10%, and in 13%, it was more than 20%. Significant associations were identified between CVD risk and sex, diabetes, hypertension, BMI, TBSA burned, years after burn, physical activity level and LDL. Of the lipid profile measures, LDL, triglycerides and TC/HDL exceeded the desirable levels. This research highlights the heightened cardiovascular risk in burn survivors, emphasizing the necessity for targeted interventions and regular monitoring. Identifying modifiable risk factors enables healthcare practitioners to develop tailored strategies, enhancing cardiovascular health in this vulnerable population and improving overall outcomes and quality of life.
First report of Metschnikowia bicuspidata infection in the oriental river prawn (Macrobrachium nipponense, de Haan) in China
Authors: Yu Yingyue , You Songyue , Feng Chengcheng , Li Xiaodong , Xing Yuenan , Hu Qingbiao , Bao Jie , Jiang Hongbo
Published: February 2024

During breeding, some oriental river prawns (Macrobrachium nipponense, de Haan), an important aquaculture species in China, exhibit yellowish‐brown body colouration, reduced appetite, and vitality. Diseased prawns revealed characteristic emulsifying disease signs, including whitened musculature, hepatopancreatic tissues, milky haemolymph, and non‐coagulation. The present study investigated the causative agent of M. nipponense infection through isolation, histopathology, molecular sequencing, and infection experiments. The pathogenic strain exhibited distinctive white colonies on Bengal red medium, with microscopic examination confirming the presence of yeast cells. Histopathological analysis revealed prominent pathological alterations and yeast cell infiltration in muscles, hepatopancreas and gills. Additionally, 26S rDNA sequencing of the isolated yeast strain LNMN2022 revealed Metschnikowia bicuspidata (GenBank: OR518659) as the causative agent. This strain exhibited a 98.28% sequence homology with M. bicuspidata LNMB2021 (GenBank: OK094821) and 96.62% with M. bicuspidata LNES0119 (GenBank: OK073903). The pathogenicity test confirmed that M. bicuspidata elicited clinical signs in M. nipponense consistent with those observed in natural populations, and the median lethal concentration was determined to be 3.3 × 105 cfu/mL. This study establishes a foundation for further investigations into the host range and epidemiological characteristics of the pathogen M. bicuspidata in aquatic animals and provides an empirical basis for disease management in M. nipponense.
Association of metabolic dysfunction‐associated steatotic liver disease with erosive esophagitis development: a longitudinal observational study
Authors: Sogabe Masahiro , Okahisa Toshiya , Kagawa Miwako , Sei Motoko , Ueda Hiroyuki , Yokoyama Reiko , Kagemoto Kaizo , Tanaka Hironori , Kida Yoshifumi , Nakamura Fumika , Tomonari Tetsu , Okamoto Koichi , Kawano Yutaka , Miyamoto Hiroshi , Sato Yasushi , Nakasono Masahiko , Takayama Tetsuji
Published: February 2024

Background and Aim

Although erosive esophagitis (EE) is associated with fatty liver and metabolic dysregulation, the association between EE and metabolic dysfunction‐associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) remains unclear. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the longitudinal association between MASLD and EE.

Methods

We included 1578 patients without EE at baseline who underwent more than two health checkups over 2 years. Generalized estimation equations were used to analyze associations between MASLD and EE according to repeated measures at baseline and most recent stages.

Results

EE development rates in men and women were 14.5% and 7.2%, respectively. After adjusting for lifestyle habits, the odds ratios of MASLD for EE development in men and women were 1.907 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.289–2.832, P < 0.005) and 1.483 (95% CI: 0.783–2.811, P = 0.227), respectively. In the subgroup analysis, after adjusting for lifestyle habits, among men and women aged ≥50 years with more than three MASLD components, the odds ratios for EE development were 2.408 (95% CI: 1.505–3.855, P < 0.001) and 2.148 (95% CI: 1.093–4.221, P < 0.05), respectively. After adjusting for various factors, the significant risk factors for EE development were different between men and women.

Conclusion

The influence of MASLD and other factors on EE development differed by sex and age. Particularly, patients aged ≥50 years with MASLD and with an increased number of MASLD components should be considered at increased risk for EE.
Brain volume in infants with metopic synostosis: Less white matter volume with an accelerated growth pattern in early life
Authors: Gaillard L. , Tjaberinga M. C. , Dremmen M. H. G. , Mathijssen I. M. J. , Vrooman H. A.
Published: February 2024

Metopic synostosis patients are at risk for neurodevelopmental disorders despite a negligible risk of intracranial hypertension. To gain insight into the underlying pathophysiology of metopic synostosis and associated neurodevelopmental disorders, we aimed to investigate brain volumes of non‐syndromic metopic synostosis patients using preoperative MRI brain scans. MRI brain scans were processed with HyperDenseNet to calculate total intracranial volume (TIV), total brain volume (TBV), total grey matter volume (TGMV), total white matter volume (TWMV) and total cerebrospinal fluid volume (TCBFV). We compared global brain volumes of patients with controls corrected for age and sex using linear regression. Lobe‐specific grey matter volumes were assessed in secondary analyses. We included 45 metopic synostosis patients and 14 controls (median age at MRI 0.56 years [IQR 0.36] and 1.1 years [IQR 0.47], respectively). We found no significant differences in TIV, TBV, TGMV or TCBFV in patients compared to controls. TWMV was significantly smaller in patients (−62,233 mm3 [95% CI = −96,968; −27,498], Holm‐corrected p = 0.004), and raw data show an accelerated growth pattern of white matter in metopic synostosis patients. Grey matter volume analyses per lobe indicated increased cingulate (1378 mm3 [95% CI = 402; 2355]) and temporal grey matter (4747 [95% CI = 178; 9317]) volumes in patients compared to controls. To conclude, we found smaller TWMV with an accelerated white matter growth pattern in metopic synostosis patients, similar to white matter growth patterns seen in autism. TIV, TBV, TGMV and TCBFV were comparable in patients and controls. Secondary analyses suggest larger cingulate and temporal lobe volumes. These findings suggest a generalized intrinsic brain anomaly in the pathophysiology of neurodevelopmental disorders associated with metopic synostosis.
Effects of mixed extract from two tropical plants on gut microbiome and metabolome in piglets
Authors: Zhou Luli , Hou Guanyu , Liu Shengmin , Zhou Hanlin , Ye Yuxiu , Lv Renlong , Abouelezz Khaled , Wang Dingfa
Published: February 2024

In this study, we performed a quantitative analysis of 12 compounds derived from Piper sarmentosum extract (PSE) and guava leaf extract (GE). In addition, we investigated the effects of mixed extract (ME) of PSE and GE (1:1) on piglets' gut microbiome and metabolome. A total of 200 piglets (Duroc × Landrace × Large Yorkshire, 21‐day‐old) were randomly assigned into two groups with five replicates of 20 piglets/pen having the same initial body weight. Piglets were fed a basal diet supplemented with ME at 0 (T0) or 200 mg/kg (T1) for 3 weeks. The quantitation results by ultraperformance liquid chromatography linked to triple‐quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry showed that vitexin 2‐O‐rhamnoside and pellitorine were the greatest abundant among six compounds detected in the PSE. In addition, quercetin, isoquercitrin and avicularin were found to be the richest of all detected compounds in the GE. Findings on experimental animals indicated that three differential metabolites, comprising L‐alanine, sarcosine and dihydrofolic acid, in T1 compared with T0 groups, have exactly opposite levels trends in serum and faeces. Moreover, two metabolic pathways (i.e., urea cycle and glutamate metabolism) differed significantly in the serum and faeces of piglets between T0 and T1 (p < 0.05). At the same time, T1 had significantly higher relative abundances of Agathobacter and Alloprevotella than T0 at genus level (p < 0.05). Correlation analysis revealed that the genus Agathobacter correlated positively with carbamoyl phosphate (p < 0.01) and oxoglutaric acid (p < 0.05), and negatively with succinic acid (p < 0.01) and ornithine (p < 0.05). These four differential metabolites were also involved in the urea cycle and/or glutamate metabolism pathways. The results here indicated that the tested plant extract mixture represents a worthy feed additive with obvious antioxidative properties.
The effect of single‐component sleep restriction therapy on depressive symptoms: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Tse Katrina Yan Kei , Maurer Leonie Franziska , Espie Colin Alexander , Kyle Simon David
Published: February 2024

Sleep restriction therapy is a behavioural component within cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia and is an effective standalone treatment for insomnia, but its effect on depressive symptoms remains unclear. This review aimed to synthesise and evaluate the impact of single‐component sleep restriction therapy on depressive symptoms relative to a control intervention. We searched electronic databases and sleep‐related journals for randomised controlled trials and uncontrolled clinical trials, published from 1 January 1986 until 19 August 2023, that delivered sleep restriction therapy to adults with insomnia. Random‐effects meta‐analysis of standardised mean differences and Cochrane risk of bias assessment were performed on randomised controlled trials, while uncontrolled clinical trials were discussed narratively. The meta‐analysis was pre‐registered on PROSPERO (ID: CRD42020191803). We identified seven randomised controlled trials (N = 1102) and two uncontrolled clinical trials (N = 22). Findings suggest that sleep restriction therapy is associated with a medium effect for improvement in depressive symptoms at post‐treatment (Nc = 6, g = −0.45 [95% confidence interval = −0.70 to −0.21], p < 0.001) and a small effect at follow‐up (Nc = 4, g = −0.31 [95% confidence interval = −0.45 to −0.16], p < 0.001). Five of the seven included randomised controlled trials were judged to have a high risk of bias. Standalone sleep restriction therapy appears to be efficacious for improving depressive symptoms at post‐treatment and follow‐up. However, conclusions are tentative due to the small number of trials and because none of the trials was performed in a population with clinically defined depression. Large‐scale trials are needed to test the effect of sleep restriction therapy in patients experiencing depression and insomnia. Findings also highlight the need to improve the standardisation and reporting of sleep restriction therapy procedures, and to design studies with more rigorous control arms to reduce potential bias.
Chondrule formation during low‐speed collisions of planetesimals: A hybrid splash–flyby framework
Authors: Herbst William , Greenwood James P.
Published: February 2024

Chondrules probably formed during a small window of time ~1–4 Ma after CAIs, when most solid matter in the asteroid belt was already in the form of km‐sized planetesimals. They are unlikely, therefore, to be “building blocks” of planets or abundant on asteroids, but more likely to be a product of energetic events common in the asteroid belt at that epoch. Laboratory experiments indicate that they could have formed when solids of primitive composition were heated to temperatures of ~1600 K and then cooled for minutes to hours. A plausible heat source for this is magma, which is likely to have been abundant in the asteroid belt at that time, and only that time, due to the trapping of 26Al decay energy in planetesimal interiors. Here, we propose that chondrules formed during low‐speed () collisions between large planetesimals when heat from their interiors was released into a stream of primitive debris from their surfaces. Heating would have been essentially instantaneous and cooling would have been on the dynamical time scale, ~30 min, where is the mean density of a planetesimal. Many of the heated fragments would have remained gravitationally bound to the merged object and could have suffered additional heating events as they orbited and ultimately accreted to its surface. This is a hybrid of the splash and flyby models: We propose that it was the energy released from a body's molten interior, not its mass, that was responsible for chondrule formation by heating primitive debris that emerged from the collision.
Population genomics of harbour seal Phoca vitulina from northern British Columbia through California and comparison to the Atlantic subspecies
Authors: Sutherland Ben J. G. , Rycroft Claire , Duguid Ashtin , Beacham Terry D. , Tucker Strahan
Published: February 2024

The harbour seal Phoca vitulina is a ubiquitous pinniped species found throughout coastal waters of the Northern Hemisphere. Harbour seal impacts on ecosystem dynamics may be significant due to their high abundance and food web position. Two subspecies exist in North America, P. v. richardii in the Pacific Ocean and P. v. vitulina in the Atlantic. Strong natal philopatry of harbour seals can result in fine‐scale genetic structure and isolation by distance. Management of harbour seals is expected to benefit from improved resolution of seal population structure and dynamics. Here, we use genotyping‐by‐sequencing to genotype 146 harbour seals from the eastern Pacific Ocean (i.e. British Columbia (BC), Oregon and California) and the western Atlantic Ocean (i.e. Québec, Newfoundland and Labrador). Using 12,742 identified variants, we confirm the recently identified elevated genetic diversity in the eastern Pacific relative to the western Atlantic and greatest differentiation between the subspecies. Further, we demonstrate that this is independent of reference genome bias or other potential technical artefacts. Coast‐specific analyses with 8933 and 3828 variants in Pacific and Atlantic subspecies, respectively, identify divergence between BC and Oregon–California, and between Québec and Newfoundland–Labrador. Unexpected PCA outlier clusters were observed in two populations due to cryptic relatedness of individuals; subsequently, closely related samples were removed. Admixture analysis indicates an isolation‐by‐distance signature where Oregon seals contained some of the BC signature, whereas California did not. Additional sampling is needed in the central and north coast of BC to determine whether a discrete separation of populations exists within the region.
Reimagining Victors' peace in Sri Lanka: Exploring an alternative approach
Authors: Senanayake Danendri Laleema
Published: February 2024

The three‐decade‐long Sri Lankan civil war between the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (the LTTE, also known as the Tamil Tigers) came to an end following a major GoSL offensive in May 2009, which resulted in GoSL claiming a “victor's peace.” The war caused the death of around 80,000 to 100,000 people and internally and externally displaced hundreds of thousands. During the three decades, five attempts at formal peace processes were initiated, all of which ended unsuccessfully. This paper identifies the root causes of the Sri Lankan civil war using the social cubism analysis by Byrne and Carter (Peace and Conflict Studies, 1996, 3, 5). It then examines two of the five formal negotiations, namely the Indo‐Lanka Agreement of 1987 and the Wickramasinghe‐LTTE agreement in 2002. Finally, it explores an alternative approach to building peace in Sri Lanka using the multimodal approach by Byrne and Keashly (International Peacekeeping, 2000, 3, 97) utilizing the nested paradigm, and the time dimension of peacebuilding by Building Peace: Sustainable Reconciliation in Divided Societies (1997).
WRKY6 transcription factor modulates root potassium acquisition through promoting expression of AKT1 in Arabidopsis
Authors: Niu Fangfang , Cui Xing , Yang Bo , Wang Rui , Zhao Peiyu , Zhao Xinjie , Zhang Hanfeng , Fan Xiaojiang , Li Ye , Deyholos Michael K. , Jiang Yuan‐Qing
Published: February 2024

Potassium (K+), being an essential macronutrient in plants, plays a central role in many aspects. Root growth is highly plastic and is affected by many different abiotic stresses including nutrient deficiency. The Shaker‐type K+ channel Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) K+ Transporter 1 (AKT1) is responsible for K+ uptake under both low and high external K+ conditions. However, the upstream transcription factor of AKT1 is not clear. Here, we demonstrated that the WRKY6 transcription factor modulates root growth to low potassium (LK) stress in Arabidopsis. WRKY6 showed a quick response to LK stress and also to many other abiotic stress treatments. The two wrky6 T‐DNA insertion mutants were highly sensitive to LK treatment, whose primary root lengths were much shorter, less biomass and lower K+ content in roots than those of wild‐type plants, while WRKY6‐overexpression lines showed opposite phenotypes. A further investigation showed that WRKY6 regulated the expression of the AKT1 gene via directly binding to the W‐box elements in its promoter through EMSA and ChIP‐qPCR assays. A dual luciferase reporter analysis further demonstrated that WRKY6 enhanced the transcription of AKT1. Genetic analysis further revealed that the overexpression of AKT1 greatly rescued the short root phenotype of the wrky6 mutant under LK stress, suggesting AKT1 is epistatic to WRKY6 in the control of LK response. Further transcriptome profiling suggested that WRKY6 modulates LK response through a complex regulatory network. Thus, this study unveils a transcription factor that modulates root growth under potassium deficiency conditions by affecting the potassium channel gene AKT1 expression.
Red cell concentrates from teen male donors contain poor‐quality biologically older cells
Authors: Mykhailova Olga , Brandon‐Coatham Mackenzie , Phan Celina , Yazdanbakhsh Mahsa , Olafson Carly , Yi Qi‐Long , Kanias Tamir , Acker Jason P.
Published: February 2024

Background and Objectives

Donor factors influence the quality characteristics of red cell concentrates (RCCs) and the lesions that develop in these heterogeneous blood products during hypothermic storage. Teen male donors' RCCs contain elevated levels of biologically old red blood cells (RBCs). The aim of this study was to interrogate the quality of units of different donor ages and sexes to unravel the complex interplay between donor characteristics, long‐term cold storage and, for the first time, RBC biological age.

Materials and Methods

RCCs from teen males, teen females, senior males and senior females were density‐separated into less‐dense/young (Y‐RBCs) and dense/old RBCs (O‐RBCs) throughout hypothermic storage for testing. The unseparated and density‐separated cells were tested for haematological parameters, stress (oxidative and osmotic) haemolysis and oxygen affinity (p50).

Results

The O‐RBCs obtained from teen donor samples, particularly males, had smaller mean corpuscular volumes and higher mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentrations. While biological age did not significantly affect oxygen affinity, biologically aged O‐RBCs from stored RCCs exhibited increased oxidative haemolysis and decreased osmotic fragility, with teenage male RCCs exhibiting the highest propensity to haemolyse.

Conclusion

Previously, donor age and sex were shown to have an impact on the biological age distribution of RBCs within RCCs. Herein, we demonstrated that RBC biological age, particularly O‐RBCs, which are found more prevalently in male teens, to be a driving factor of several aspects of poor blood product quality. This study emphasizes that donor factors should continue to be considered for their potential impacts on transfusion outcomes.
Examination and experimental comparison of dc/dc buck converter topologies used in wireless electric vehicle charging applications
Authors: Akca Hakan , Aktas Ahmet
Published: February 2024

The studies on Wireless Power Transfer (WPT) technology and peripherals in Electric Vehicle (EV) applications are intensifying. While the energy received from the WPT system is transferred to the EV battery, the direct current (dc)/dc converter circuits are used. The dc/dc buck converter topologies are one of them. The converter circuits must be highly efficient, lightweight, and compact to have a high range in EV vehicles. There are asynchronous buck, synchronous buck, and interleaved synchronous buck converter circuit topologies from the literature. In this study, the efficiency results of these circuit topologies were analyzed using MATLAB/Simulink and experimental studies. This study contributes to the literature by conducting circuit-level efficiency analysis and component-level power loss analysis. It has been observed that the interleaved synchronous buck converter circuit operates at 99% efficiency at 1066 W. In addition, it has been shared with the oscilloscope results that the current ripples of this circuit topology are lower than other circuit converters. Specifically, there has been a significant reduction of 56% in power losses, particularly in the interleaved synchronous buck converter (ISBC). This study analyzes the dynamic behavior of the dc/dc buck converter topologies, and results about their performance are given.
The Effect of Financial Development, Tariff, and RTA on Exports: A Structural Gravity Analysis
Authors: Islam Syed Nazrul , Islam Md. Shariful , Islam Md. Rayhanul , Alam Md. Ashraful
Published: February 2024

This paper examines the effect of financial development (FD), tariffs, and RTA on bilateral exports in a structural gravity framework. Applying high-dimensional fixed effects in OLS and PPML estimation technique in a panel framework covering 169 countries over 2001-2017, this paper finds that FD of both exporters and importers are an important determinant for boosting exports. The EIA has the most trade creation effect than any other form of RTA. Importers' FD has a larger effect on bilateral exports for developed to developed and developed and developing country trade than that of the exporters. The trade between developing to developing countries is positively affected by both exporters' and importers' FD; and negatively to a larger extent by tariff measures. However, in the case of developing and developed country estimation, FD of the exporter country is significantly affecting bilateral trade. Tariffs significantly distort trade, largely between developing and developed countries.
Large-scale self-organization in dry turbulent atmospheres
Authors: Alexakis Alexandros , Marino Raffaele , Mininni Pablo D. , van Kan Adrian , Foldes Raffaello , Feraco Fabio
Published: February 2024

How turbulent convective fluctuations organize to form larger-scale structures in planetary atmospheres remains a question that eludes quantitative answers. The assumption that this process is the result of an inverse cascade was suggested half a century ago in two-dimensional fluids, but its applicability to atmospheric and oceanic flows remains heavily debated, hampering our understanding of the energy balance in planetary systems. We show using direct numerical simulations with spatial resolutions of 12288
2
× 384 points that rotating and stratified flows can support a bidirectional cascade of energy, in three dimensions, with a ratio of Rossby to Froude numbers comparable to that of Earth’s atmosphere. Our results establish that, in dry atmospheres, spontaneous order can arise through an inverse cascade to the largest spatial scales.
Experiencing science
The Blind Spot: Why Science Cannot Ignore Human Experience
Adam Frank, Marcelo Gleiser, and Evan Thompson
MIT Press, 2024. 328 pp.
Authors: Gomez-Marin Alex
Published: February 2024

Embracing our role as active participants in the Universe should be a vital part of science, contend a trio of authors
Therapeutic response to four artemisinin-based combination therapies in Angola, 2021
Authors: Dimbu Pedro Rafael , Labuda Sarah , Ferreira Carolina Miguel , Caquece Felismina , André Kialanda , Pembele Garcia , Pode Dilunvuidi , João Maria Florinda , Pelenda Venceslau Mambi , Nieto Andrade Benjamin , Horton Breanna , Kennedy Culzean , Svigel Samaly S. , Zhou Zhiyong , Morais Joana F. M. , Rosário Joana do , Fortes Filomeno , Martins José Franco , Plucinski Mateusz M.
Published: February 2024

Monitoring antimalarial efficacy is important to detect the emergence of parasite drug resistance. Angola conducts
in vivo
therapeutic efficacy studies (TESs) every 2 years in its fixed sentinel sites in Benguela, Lunda Sul, and Zaire provinces. Children with uncomplicated
Plasmodium falciparum
malaria were treated with artemether-lumefantrine (AL), artesunate-amodiaquine (ASAQ), dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DP), or artesunate-pyronaridine (ASPY) and followed for 28 (AL and ASAQ) or 42 days (DP and ASPY) to assess clinical and parasitological response to treatment. Two drugs were sequentially assessed in each site in February–July 2021. The primary indicator was the Kaplan-Meier estimate of the PCR-corrected efficacy at the end of the follow-up period. A total of 622 patients were enrolled in the study and 590 (95%) participants reached a study endpoint. By day 3, ≥98% of participants were slide-negative in all study sites and arms. After PCR correction, day 28 AL efficacy was 88.0% (95% CI: 82%–95%) in Zaire and 94.7% (95% CI: 90%–99%) in Lunda Sul. For ASAQ, day 28 efficacy was 92.0% (95% CI: 87%–98%) in Zaire and 100% in Lunda Sul. Corrected day 42 efficacy was 99.6% (95% CI: 99%–100%) for ASPY and 98.3% (95% CI: 96%–100%) for DP in Benguela. High day 3 clearance rates suggest no clinical evidence of artemisinin resistance. This was the fourth of five rounds of TES in Angola showing a corrected AL efficacy <90% in a site. For Zaire, AL has had an efficacy <90% in 2013, 2015, and 2021. ASAQ, DP, and ASPY are appropriate choices as artemisinin-based combination therapies in Angola.
PB2 residue 473 contributes to the mammalian virulence of H7N9 avian influenza virus by modulating viral polymerase activity via ANP32A
Authors: Zhang Miaomiao , Liu Mingbin , Chen Hongjun , Qiu Tianyi , Jin Xuanxuan , Fu Weihui , Teng Qiaoyang , Zhao Chen , Xu Jianqing , Li Zejun , Zhang Xiaoyan
Published: February 2024

Since the first human infection reported in 2013, H7N9 avian influenza virus (AIV) has been regarded as a serious threat to human health. In this study, we sought to identify the virulence determinant of the H7N9 virus in mammalian hosts. By comparing the virulence of the SH/4664 H7N9 virus, a non-virulent H9N2 virus, and various H7N9-H9N2 hybrid viruses in infected mice, we first pinpointed PB2 as the primary viral factor accounting for the difference between H7N9 and H9N2 in mammalian virulence. We further analyzed the
in vivo
effects of individually mutating H7N9 PB2 residues different from the closely related H9N2 virus and consequently found residue 473, alongside the well-known residue 627, to be critical for the virulence of the H7N9 virus in mice and the activity of its reconstituted viral polymerase in mammalian cells. The importance of PB2-473 was further strengthened by studying reverse H7N9 substitutions in the H9N2 background. Finally, we surprisingly found that species-specific usage of ANP32A, a family member of host factors connecting with the PB2-627 polymorphism, mediates the contribution of PB2 473 residue to the mammalian adaption of AIV polymerase, as the attenuating effect of PB2 M473T on the viral polymerase activity and viral growth of the H7N9 virus could be efficiently complemented by co-expression of chicken ANP32A but not mouse ANP32A and ANP32B. Together, our studies uncovered the PB2 473 residue as a novel viral host range determinant of AIVs via species-specific co-opting of the ANP32 host factor to support viral polymerase activity.

IMPORTANCE

The H7N9 avian influenza virus has been considered to have the potential to cause the next pandemic since the first case of human infection reported in 2013. In this study, we identified PB2 residue 473 as a new determinant of mouse virulence and mammalian adaptation of the viral polymerase of the H7N9 virus and its non-pathogenic H9N2 counterparts. We further demonstrated that the variation in PB2-473 is functionally linked to differential co-opting of the host ANP32A protein in supporting viral polymerase activity, which is analogous to the well-known PB2-627 polymorphism, albeit the two PB2 positions are spatially distant. By providing new mechanistic insight into the PB2-mediated host range determination of influenza A viruses, our study implicated the potential existence of multiple PB2-ANP32 interfaces that could be targets for developing new antivirals against the H7N9 virus as well as other mammalian-adapted influenza viruses.
mSphere of Influence: Celebrating exceptions to the rule of lipid A essentiality
Authors: Hummels Katherine R.
Published: February 2024

Kate Hummels works in the field of bacterial cell envelope biosynthesis and studies the regulation of the metabolic pathways needed to build the Gram-negative cell envelope. In this mSphere of Influence article, she reflects on how the papers “A penicillin-binding protein inhibits selection of colistin-resistant, lipopoligosaccharide-deficient
Acinetobacter baumannii
” by Boll et al. and “
Caulobacter
lipid A is conditionally dispensable in the absence of
fur
and in the presence of anionic sphingolipids” by Zik et al. made an impact on her by studying organisms that deviate from accepted norms to highlight the plethora of unanswered questions in cell envelope biology.
What can patient-reported experience measures tell us about the variation in patients’ experience of prostate cancer care? A cross-sectional study using survey data from the National Prostate Cancer Audit in England
Authors: Morris Melanie , Cook Adrian , Dodkins Joanna , Price Derek , Waller Steve , Hassan Syreen , Nathan Arjun , Aggarwal Ajay , Payne Heather Ann , Clarke Noel , van der Meulen Jan , Nossiter Julie
Published: February 2024

Objectives

A national survey aimed to measure how men with prostate cancer perceived their involvement in and decisions around their care immediately after diagnosis. This study aimed to describe any differences found by socio-demographic groups.

Design

Cross-sectional study of men who were diagnosed with and treated for prostate cancer.

Setting

The National Prostate Cancer Audit patient-reported experience measures (PREMs) survey in England.

Participants

Men diagnosed in 2014–2016, with non-metastatic prostate cancer, were surveyed. Responses from 32 796 men were individually linked to records from a national clinical audit and to administrative hospital data. Age, ethnicity, deprivation and disease risk classification were used to explore variation in responses to selected questions.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Responses to five questions from the PREMs survey: the proportion responding to the highest positive category was compared across the socio-demographic characteristics above.

Results

When adjusted for other factors, older men were less likely than men under the age of 60 to feel side effects had been explained in a way they could understand (men 80+: relative risk (RR)=0.92, 95% CI 0.84 to 1.00), that their views were considered (RR=0.79, 95% CI 0.73 to 0.87) or that they were involved in decisions (RR=0.92, 95% CI 0.85 to 1.00). The latter was also apparent for men who were not white (black men: RR=0.89, 95% CI 0.82 to 0.98; Asian men: RR=0.85, 95% CI 0.75 to 0.96) and, to a lesser extent, for more deprived men.

Conclusions

The observed discrepancies highlight the need for more focus on initiatives to improve the experience of ethnic minority patients and those older than 60 years. The findings also argue for further validation of discriminatory instruments to help cancer care providers fully understand the variation in the experience of their patients.