bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multiple dimensions of phyllostomid bat biodiversity across ecosystems of the Orinoco Llanos
Authors: Farneda F. Z. , Otálora‐Ardila A. , Meyer C. F. J. , López‐Arévalo H. F. , Gómez‐Posada C. , Polanía J.
Published: April 2024

Understanding the impacts of habitat conversion on species assemblages across multiple biodiversity dimensions (taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic) and spatial scales is pivotal for implementing effective conservation strategies. Here, we surveyed phyllostomid bats using mist nets in riparian and unflooded forests, flooded savannahs, and conventional rice fields to investigate how changes in habitat quality affect multifaceted diversity from two Colombian farming systems in the Orinoco Llanos: traditional farmlands with high‐intensity agriculture (mainly rice production) and Civil Society Nature Reserves with greater ecosystem protection. We used a unified framework based on Hill numbers for quantifying bat taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity and modeled the relationship of these diversity facets with landscape variables (habitat cover and patch density) across three spatial scales (0.5, 1.5, 3 km) using Bayesian generalized linear mixed‐effect models. Our results indicate that increasing human activity toward rice monocultures representative of traditional farmlands negatively affected all diversity facets. In contrast, forested habitats associated mainly with riparian forests within private reserves contained higher taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity than savannahs and rice fields. However, the differences between riparian forests and rice crops were significant only for phylogenetic diversity, indicating loss of evolutionary history after habitat conversion. At the landscape scale, forest cover was a significant predictor for functional (0.5‐ and 3‐km scale) and phylogenetic diversity (0.5 km), and bats responded negatively at the 3‐km scale to rice patch density from a functional diversity perspective. Increasing habitat quality through preserving forest cover and patches should minimize the harmful effects of habitat conversion on multidimensional bat biodiversity. Furthermore, the conservation of riparian forests and the creation of more wildlife‐friendly farming, as practiced in the reserves, should be prioritized to ensure high levels of bat taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity across Orinoco countryside landscapes.
The enigmatic interplay of immune cells and abnormal spermatozoa through Mendelian randomization
Authors: Zheng Fuchun , Li Sheng , Wang Zhipeng , Xiong Situ , Liu Jiahao , Yang Lin , Yuan Yuyang , Zeng Jin , Liu Xiaoqiang , Xu Songhui , Chen Ru , Fu Bin
Published: April 2024

Purpose

Abnormal spermatozoa significantly impact reproductive health, affecting fertility rates, potentially prolonging conception time, and increasing the risk of miscarriages. This study employs Mendelian randomization to explore their potential link with immune cells, aiming to reveal their potential causal association and wider implications for reproductive health.

Methods

We conducted forward and reverse Mendelian randomization analyses to explore the potential causal connection between 731 immune cell signatures and abnormal spermatozoa. Using publicly available genetic data, we investigated various immune signatures such as median fluorescence intensities (MFI), relative cell (RC), absolute cell (AC), and morphological parameters (MP). Robustness was ensured through comprehensive sensitivity analyses assessing consistency, heterogeneity, and potential horizontal pleiotropy. The MR study produced a statistically significant p‐value of .0000684, Bonferroni‐corrected for the 731 exposures.

Results

The Mendelian randomization analysis revealed strong indications of a reciprocal relationship between immune cell pathways and sperm integrity. When examining immune cell exposure, a potential causal link with abnormal sperm was observed in 35 different types of immune cells. Conversely, the reverse Mendelian randomization results indicated that abnormal sperm might causally affect 39 types of immune cells. These outcomes suggest a potential mutual influence between alterations in immune cell functionality and the quality of spermatozoa.

Conclusion

This study highlights the close link between immune responses and sperm development, suggesting implications for reproductive health and immune therapies. Further research may offer crucial insights into male fertility and immune disorders.
Editorial: Sequencing rescue therapy for acute severe ulcerative colitis—Ready for revision?
Authors: Derikx L. A. A. P. , Hoentjen F.
Published: April 2024

LINKED CONTENT

This article is linked to García et al papers. To view these articles, visithttps://doi.org/10.1111/apt.17938andhttps://doi.org/10.1111/apt.17993
Editorial: Is it time to include oral vancomycin in therapeutic guidelines for primary sclerosing cholangitis‐associated inflammatory bowel disease?
Authors: Shah Ayesha , Holtmann Gerald
Published: April 2024

LINKED CONTENT

This article is linked to Ricciuto et al paper. To view this article, visithttps://doi.org/10.1111/apt.17936
Real‐Time Neural Materials using Block‐Compressed Features
Authors: Weinreich C. , De Oliveira L. , Houdard A. , Nader G.
Published: April 2024

Neural materials typically consist of a collection of neural features along with a decoder network. The main challenge in integrating such models in real‐time rendering pipelines lies in the large size required to store their features in GPU memory and the complexity of evaluating the network efficiently. We present a neural material model whose features and decoder are specifically designed to be used in real‐time rendering pipelines. Our framework leverages hardware‐based block compression (BC) texture formats to store the learned features and trains the model to output the material information continuously in space and scale. To achieve this, we organize the features in a block‐based manner and emulate BC6 decompression during training, making it possible to export them as regular BC6 textures. This structure allows us to use high resolution features while maintaining a low memory footprint. Consequently, this enhances our model's overall capability, enabling the use of a lightweight and simple decoder architecture that can be evaluated directly in a shader. Furthermore, since the learned features can be decoded continuously, it allows for random uv sampling and smooth transition between scales without needing any subsequent filtering. As a result, our neural material has a small memory footprint, can be decoded extremely fast adding a minimal computational overhead to the rendering pipeline.
Surface‐aware Mesh Texture Synthesis with Pre‐trained 2D CNNs
Authors: Kovács Áron Samuel , Hermosilla Pedro , Raidou Renata G.
Published: April 2024

Mesh texture synthesis is a key component in the automatic generation of 3D content. Existing learning‐based methods have drawbacks—either by disregarding the shape manifold during texture generation or by requiring a large number of different views to mitigate occlusion‐related inconsistencies. In this paper, we present a novel surface‐aware approach for mesh texture synthesis that overcomes these drawbacks by leveraging the pre‐trained weights of 2D Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) with the same architecture, but with convolutions designed for 3D meshes. Our proposed network keeps track of the oriented patches surrounding each texel, enabling seamless texture synthesis and retaining local similarity to classical 2D convolutions with square kernels. Our approach allows us to synthesize textures that account for the geometric content of mesh surfaces, eliminating discontinuities and achieving comparable quality to 2D image synthesis algorithms. We compare our approach with state‐of‐the‐art methods where, through qualitative and quantitative evaluations, we demonstrate that our approach is more effective for a variety of meshes and styles, while also producing visually appealing and consistent textures on meshes.
Detection of multi‐class lung diseases based on customized neural network
Authors: Ali Azmat , Wang Yulin , Shi Xiaochuan
Published: April 2024

In the medical image processing domain, deep learning methodologies have outstanding performance for disease classification using digital images such as X‐rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and computerized tomography (CT). However, accurate diagnosis of disease by medical personnel can be challenging in certain cases, such as the complexity of interpretation and non‐availability of expert personnel, difficulty at pixel‐level analysis, etc. Computer‐aided diagnostic (CAD) systems with proper training have shown the potential to enhance diagnostic accuracy and efficiency. With the exponential growth of medical data, CAD systems can analyze and extract valuable information by assisting medical personnel during the disease diagnostic process. To overcome these challenges, this research introduces CX‐RaysNet, a novel deep‐learning framework designed for the automatic identification of various lung disease classes in digital chest X‐ray images. The core novelty of the CX‐RaysNet framework lies in the integration of both convolutional and group convolutional layers, along with the usage of small filter sizes and the incorporation of dropout regularization. This phenomenon helps us optimize the model's ability to distinguish minute features that reveal different lung diseases. Additionally, data augmentation techniques are implemented to augment the training and testing datasets, which enhances the model's robustness and generalizability. The performance evaluation of CX‐RaysNet reveals promising results, with the proposed model achieving a multi‐class classification accuracy of 97.25%. Particularly, this study represents the first attempt to optimize a model specifically for low‐power embedded devices, aiming to improve the accuracy of disease detection while minimizing computational resources.
Postmarket safety communications on drugs approved in Japan: A 25‐year analysis
Authors: Tanaka Yusuke , Tanaka Mototsugu , Miyazawa Haruna , Terashima Ryohei , Miyazawa Makoto , Ikuma Mutsuhiro , Tomita Yoshihiko
Published: April 2024

Drug safety communications (DSCs) are essential tools for communicating important postmarket serious drug safety information to healthcare professionals and patients. Previous studies characterized DSCs issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA); however, knowledge about the activities of the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA)/the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) is limited. This study characterized DSCs by the PMDA/MHLW in comparison with previously reported DSCs by the FDA and the EMA. We retrospectively analyzed 37 DSCs of 41 adverse drug reactions (ADRs) for 33 drugs in Japan from 1997 to 2022. Most DSCs were related to non‐oncology drugs (30/37, 81.1%), and the median (interquartile range) time from approval to DSC issuance was 19 (10–51) months. Notably, the regulatory review reports and the latest labels before DSC issuance did not describe 16/28 (57.1%) and 12/37 (32.4%) of the ADRs related to DSCs, respectively. Most DSCs resulted in label revisions (36/37, 97.3%) and seven drugs were eventually withdrawn. Some DSC characteristics are similar among the PMDA/MHLW, the FDA, and the EMA; however, the number, contents, and range of new safety issues addressed by DSCs differ among the three jurisdictions. Our study emphasized the importance of continuous efforts to gather postmarket drug safety information because substantial ADRs that led to DSCs were recognized after approval and were associated with critical label revisions and withdrawals. Future studies are required to address global challenges for regulatory harmonization of safety‐related regulatory actions.
The relationship between attachment representations and minimal intergroup bias in preschool‐aged children
Authors: Misch Antonia , Kramer Andrea , Paulus Markus
Published: April 2024

Attachment theory proposes that young children's experiences with their caregivers has a tremendous influence on how children navigate their social relationships. By the end of early childhood, intergroup contexts play an important role in their social life and children build strong ties to their ingroups. Although both domains relate to the same psychological processes—children's affective ties to others—surprisingly very little research has addressed how children's attachment relates to their intergroup attitudes and behavior. In this study, we investigate the link. For that purpose, 5‐year‐old children (n = 100) first underwent the German Attachment Story Completion Task (GEV‐B). Then we allocated children into minimal groups based on T‐Shirt color and assessed their intergroup attitudes and intergroup behavior. Results showed that while most children showed a strong and robust ingroup bias in their attitudes and behavior, children with an insecure‐ambivalent attachment representation treated in‐ and outgroup similarly. Overall, this study provides novel perspectives on the relationship between children's attachment representation and their interactions in the social world.

Research Highlights

This study provides novel insights into the relationship between children's attachment security and the development of intergroup bias in a minimal group context

Children with secure, insecure‐avoidant and disorganized attachment representation showed a strong intergroup bias in explicit attitudes and behavior

Children with insecure‐ambivalent attachment representation displayed no intergroup bias

Insecure‐ambivalent attachment representations might be detrimental to the formation of ingroup attachment
Cross‐sectional, case‐control and longitudinal associations between exposure to glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonists and the dispensing of antidepressants
Authors: Almeida Osvaldo P. , Fong Zheng , Hill Almeida Lydia M. , Sanfilippo Frank M. , Page Amy , Etherton‐Beer Christopher
Published: April 2024

Aim

To determine if the dispensing of glucagon‐like peptide (GLP)‐1 receptor agonists is associated with increased dispensing of antidepressants.

Materials and Methods

We used cross‐sectional, case‐control and retrospective cohort study designs to examine the association between dispensed GLP‐1 receptor agonists and antidepressants between 2012 and 2022 in the 10% random sample of the Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) data. PBS‐listed GLP‐1 receptor agonists, exenatide, dulaglutide and semaglutide were the exposures. Outcomes were the odds ratio [ORs; 99% confidence interval (CI)] and hazard ratio (99% CI) of being dispensed any antidepressant. Analyses were adjusted for demographic measures and the dispensing of medicines to manage cardiovascular diseases or anxiety/insomnia. Statistical tests were two‐sided at the 1% level of significance.

Results

In total, 358 075 of 1 746 391 individuals were dispensed antidepressants, and 8495 of the 24 783 dispensed a GLP‐1 receptor agonist were also dispensed an antidepressant in 2022 (OR 1.44; 99% CI 1.38‐1.50); 24 103 of the 1 746 391 participants had been dispensed a GLP‐1 receptor agonist between 2012 and 2021, and of these 8083 were dispensed antidepressants in 2022 (OR 1.52; 99% CI 1.46‐1.59). The 2012 cohort included 1 213 316 individuals who had not been dispensed antidepressants that year. The hazard ratio of being dispensed an antidepressant between 2013 and 2022 following the dispensing of a GLP‐1 receptor agonist was 1.19 (99% CI 1.12‐1.27). Additional analyses restricting the time of exposure confirmed these associations for all PBS‐listed GLP‐1 receptor agonists.

Conclusions

Individuals exposed to GLP‐1 receptor agonists are at greater risk of being dispensed antidepressants. The possible impact of GLP‐1 receptor agonists on the mood of consumers requires ongoing vigilance and further research.
A supported education programme implemented in youth mental health services: Outcomes and lessons from the first year of COVID‐disrupted delivery
Authors: Nicholas Jennifer , Ardill‐Young Oliver , Levy Philippa , Pearce Katie , Chinnery Gina , Sim Esther , Scully Alana , Ottavio Antonia , Curtis Jackie , Killackey Eóin
Published: April 2024

Aim

Educational attainment is consistently highly valued by young people with mental ill health, yet maintenance and completion of education is a challenge. This paper reports on the implementation of a supported education programme for youth mental health.

Methods

Between 10 October 2019 and 10 October 2020, a supported education programme was delivered within primary and tertiary youth mental health services. A description of the programme, context, and adjustments required due to COVID‐19 is presented, and the educational outcomes of young people referred to the programme were explored. Two case studies are also presented.

Results

The programme received 71 referrals over this period, of which 70.4% had not yet completed secondary school and 68% were experiencing multiple mental health conditions. Overall outcomes were positive, with 47.5% of the 40 young people who chose to engage with the programme maintaining or re‐engaging with education. However, the remainder of those who engaged withdrew from the programme, often reporting challenges due to COVID‐19 such as social isolation or increased uncertainty. Additionally, a number of young people declined or disengaged from the programme to focus on employment.

Conclusion

This report of the experience of integrating a supported employment programme in Australian youth mental health services reinforces the need for such support, and provides preliminary evidence for its successful implementation as part of routine care. The disengagement in response to COVID‐19 highlights the real‐world challenges of the pandemic, while young people's voicing of employment goals indicates the need for combined educational and vocational support—to assist transition and progression between these goals.
Relationship between brain white matter damage and grey matter atrophy in hereditary spastic paraplegia types 4 and 5
Authors: Tu Yuqing , Liu Ying , Fan Shuping , Weng Jiaqi , Li Mengcheng , Zhang Fan , Fu Ying , Hu Jianping
Published: April 2024

Background and purpose

White matter (WM) damage is the main target of hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP), but mounting evidence indicates that genotype‐specific grey matter (GM) damage is not uncommon. Our aim was to identify and compare brain GM and WM damage patterns in HSP subtypes and investigate how gene expression contributes to these patterns, and explore the relationship between GM and WM damage.

Methods

In this prospective single‐centre cohort study from 2019 to 2022, HSP patients and controls underwent magnetic resonance imaging evaluations. The alterations of GM and WM patterns were compared between groups by applying a source‐based morphometry approach. Spearman rank correlation was used to explore the associations between gene expression and GM atrophy patterns in HSP subtypes. Mediation analysis was conducted to investigate the interplay between GM and WM damage.

Results

Twenty‐one spastic paraplegia type 4 (SPG4) patients (mean age 50.7 years ± 12.0 SD, 15 men), 21 spastic paraplegia type 5 (SPG5) patients (mean age 29.1 years ± 12.8 SD, 14 men) and 42 controls (sex‐ and age‐matched) were evaluated. Compared to controls, SPG4 and SPG5 showed similar WM damage but different GM atrophy patterns. GM atrophy patterns in SPG4 and SPG5 were correlated with corresponding gene expression (ρ = 0.30, p = 0.008, ρ = 0.40, p < 0.001, respectively). Mediation analysis indicated that GM atrophy patterns were mediated by WM damage in HSP.

Conclusions

Grey matter atrophy patterns were distinct between SPG4 and SPG5 and were not only secondary to WM damage but also associated with disease‐related gene expression.

Clinical trial registration no. NCT04006418.
Soil recalcitrant but not labile organic nitrogen mineralization contributes to microbial nitrogen immobilization and plant nitrogen uptake
Authors: Chen Shending , Elrys Ahmed S. , Yang Wenyan , Du Siwen , He Mengqiu , Cai Zucong , Zhang Jinbo , Müller Christoph
Published: April 2024

Soil organic nitrogen (N) mineralization not only supports ecosystem productivity but also weakens carbon and N accumulation in soils. Recalcitrant (mainly mineral‐associated organic matter) and labile (mainly particulate organic matter) organic materials differ dramatically in nature. Yet, the patterns and drivers of recalcitrant (MNrec) and labile (MNlab) organic N mineralization rates and their consequences on ecosystem N retention are still unclear. By collecting MNrec (299 observations) and MNlab (299 observations) from 57 15N tracing studies, we found that soil pH and total N were the master factors controlling MNrec and MNlab, respectively. This was consistent with the significantly higher rates of MNrec in alkaline soils and of MNlab in natural ecosystems. Interestingly, our analysis revealed that MNrec directly stimulated microbial N immobilization and plant N uptake, while MNlab stimulated the soil gross autotrophic nitrification which discouraged ammonium immobilization and accelerated nitrate production. We also noted that MNrec was more efficient at lower precipitation and higher temperatures due to increased soil pH. In contrast, MNlab was more efficient at higher precipitation and lower temperatures due to increased soil total N. Overall, we suggest that increasing MNrec may lead to a conservative N cycle, improving the ecosystem services and functions, while increasing MNlab may stimulate the potential risk of soil N loss.
The effect of institutional characteristics and social norms on corruption in healthcare
Authors: Parvanova Iva
Published: April 2024

Corruption in healthcare is widespread and consequential. Informal payments (IPs) are a common form of petty corruption, especially in low‐ and middle‐income countries. Using data from the Life in Transition Survey encompassing 33 countries across Europe and Central Asia, I analyze the prevalence and reasons behind IPs made to public health providers. In addition to individual‐ and system‐level factors often used in literature, I also introduce a latent measure of social norms related to high levels of corruption. These are associated with a significantly higher prevalence of paying informally. This paper also bridges a gap between the corruption literature and health‐related research by introducing a typology of IPs based on why they were made. I find that the association between health system characteristics and IPs prevalence differs based on the reason for payment. This difference is further exacerbated by the existence of corruption‐related social norms. The results of this analysis highlight the need to revisit existing anti‐corruption policies and align them to the underlying social norms.
Rethinking academic citizenship for collective agency in times of crisis
Authors: Oleksiyenko Anatoly V.
Published: April 2024

A crisis constitutes a catalyst for rethinking academic responsibilities in societies facing a major threat. When a crisis escalates, such rethinking moves to the centre of both academic and social discourses, resulting in scrutiny, as well as synergy of scholarship and citizenship. Delving into the existential threats faced by Ukrainian scholars during the genocidal campaign unleashed against their country by Russia in 2022, this paper re‐examines academic citizenship in times of war. The interviews analysed in this paper contribute to identifying synergies between scholarship and citizenship, and unpacking a collective agency shaped by crisis. Once peripheralized by neoliberal universities, academic citizenship is acquiring new meanings, while it reframes communal obligations and repositions professional duties in view of the life‐and‐death choices brought on by the war.
Recurrent USP6 rearrangement in a subset of atypical myofibroblastic tumours of the soft tissues: low‐grade myofibroblastic sarcoma or atypical/malignant nodular fasciitis?
Authors: Arcovito Giorgia , Crucitta Stefania , Del Re Marzia , Caporalini Chiara , Palomba Annarita , Nozzoli Filippo , Franchi Alessandro
Published: April 2024

Aims

Low‐grade myofibroblastic sarcoma (LGMS) is a rarely metastasizing myofibroblastic tumour mostly affecting extremities and the head and neck of adults. Histologically, it shows long infiltrative fascicles of spindle cells with moderate nuclear atypia. By immunohistochemistry, it stains positive for smooth muscle actin (SMA) and sometimes for desmin. To date, no recurrent genetic abnormalities have been described. Ubiquitin‐specific peptidase 6 (USP6) gene rearrangement is typically found in some benign bone and soft‐tissue tumours including nodular fasciitis (NF), among others. Nevertheless, rare cases of USP6‐rearranged tumours resembling NF with atypical features have been reported.

Methods and Results

One index case of LGMS of the deltoid in a 56‐year‐old man presented the THBS2::USP6 translocation by RNA sequencing (Archer FusionPlex Sarcoma v2 panel). Further screening of 11 cases of LGMS using fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis with a USP6 break‐apart probe identified two additional cases. These cases were investigated with RNA‐sequencing, and a RRBP1::USP6 translocation was detected in one. The other case was not assessable because of low‐quality RNA. Noteworthy, rearranged LGMSs presented distinctive features including variable multinodular/plexiform architecture, prominent vasculature with occasional wall thickening, scattered osteoclast‐like multinucleated giant cells, and peripheral lymphoid aggregates.

Conclusion

Our findings support the notion that among soft‐tissue neoplasms with fibroblastic/myofibroblastic phenotype, USP6 rearrangement is not limited to benign tumours, and warrants further investigation of genetic changes in myofibroblastic sarcomas.
Biologic therapy increases Demodex density in psoriasis patients
Authors: Aksoy Hasan , Altıntaş Kakşi Sümeyye , Gönüllü Öykü , Aslan Kayıran Melek , Erdemir Vefa A.
Published: April 2024

Background

Demodex density is known to increase in various immunosuppressive conditions. The relationship between biologic therapy and Demodex density remains unknown. We aimed to investigate whether the density of Demodex mites is higher in psoriasis patients treated with biologic agents compared to treatment‐naive or topically treated patients.

Methods

A cross‐sectional study was conducted, comparing psoriasis patients receiving biologic therapy (n = 34) with controls (n = 33). Demodex density was assessed using the standardized skin surface biopsy technique (SSSB). Statistical analysis was performed to compare the densities and prevalence of demodicosis between the two groups.

Results

Demodex density was significantly higher in the biologic therapy group compared to the control group on the right cheek (7.29 vs. 0.12/cm2; P = 0.001), left cheek (8.15 vs. 0.24/cm2; P = 0.002), and whole face (average of all four regions: 5.50 vs. 0.80/cm2; P = 0.001). The prevalence of demodicosis was significantly higher in the biologic therapy group on the forehead (35.3% vs. 12.1%; P = 0.043), right cheek (41.2% vs. 0%; P < 0.001), and left cheek (44.1% vs. 0%; P < 0.001). The frequency of cases with demodicosis in at least one localization was higher in the biological therapy group compared to the control group (61.8% vs. 15.2%; P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Psoriasis patients receiving biologic therapy had a higher Demodex density and prevalence of demodicosis compared to controls. Biologics may lead to an increase in Demodex density by blocking specific cytokines, such as interleukin‐17 and tumor necrosis factor‐α, which play a role in immunity against Demodex. Further research is needed to explore the impact of different biological agents on Demodex density.
The impact of intersecting crises on recent intra‐EU mobilities: The case of Spaniards in the UK and Germany
Authors: Bermudez Anastasia , Roca Beltrán
Published: April 2024

This article contributes to two interconnected fields of study: recent literature on intra‐EU migration, specifically South–North flows; and scholarship into the impact of intersecting crises on (im)mobilities. Interest in intra‐EU mobilities has increased with the expansion of the EU and especially since the 2008 Great Recession, with a focus mostly on young people and East–West flows. However, based on a mixed‐methods research approach, this article looks at the recent migration of individuals and families from Spain to the UK and Germany, two of the main destinations in Europe. It explores the impacts on (im)mobility strategies of three intersecting “crises”: starting with emigration since 2008, including the erosion of EU mobile citizens' rights culminating in “Brexit,” and ending with the effects of COVID‐19. Our analysis situates these migrant experiences in the interplay between core‐periphery theories and the concept of liquid migration, highlighting how crises accentuate vulnerabilities but can also generate opportunities.
Rapid discrimination of four Salmonella enterica serovars: A performance comparison between benchtop and handheld Raman spectrometers
Authors: Yuan Quan , Gu Bin , Liu Wei , Wen Xin‐Ru , Wang Ji‐Liang , Tang Jia‐Wei , Usman Muhammad , Liu Su‐Ling , Tang Yu‐Rong , Wang Liang
Published: April 2024

Foodborne illnesses, particularly those caused by Salmonella enterica with its extensive array of over 2600 serovars, present a significant public health challenge. Therefore, prompt and precise identification of S. enterica serovars is essential for clinical relevance, which facilitates the understanding of S. enterica transmission routes and the determination of outbreak sources. Classical serotyping methods via molecular subtyping and genomic markers currently suffer from various limitations, such as labour intensiveness, time consumption, etc. Therefore, there is a pressing need to develop new diagnostic techniques. Surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is a non‐invasive diagnostic technique that can generate Raman spectra, based on which rapid and accurate discrimination of bacterial pathogens could be achieved. To generate SERS spectra, a Raman spectrometer is needed to detect and collect signals, which are divided into two types: the expensive benchtop spectrometer and the inexpensive handheld spectrometer. In this study, we compared the performance of two Raman spectrometers to discriminate four closely associated S. enterica serovars, that is, S. enterica subsp. enterica serovar dublin, enteritidis, typhi and typhimurium. Six machine learning algorithms were applied to analyse these SERS spectra. The support vector machine (SVM) model showed the highest accuracy for both handheld (99.97%) and benchtop (99.38%) Raman spectrometers. This study demonstrated that handheld Raman spectrometers achieved similar prediction accuracy as benchtop spectrometers when combined with machine learning models, providing an effective solution for rapid, accurate and cost‐effective identification of closely associated S. enterica serovars.
Research hotspot and frontiers in post‐stroke dysphagia: A bibliometric study and visualisation analysis
Authors: Hou Qinzhi , Yao Liqing , Ou Jibing
Published: April 2024

Background

Dysphagia, a common complication after stroke, significantly hampers the recovery process of patients, both due to dysphagia itself and the additional complications it causes. Although a large number of articles have been published on post‐stroke dysphagia (PSD), bibliometric analysis in this field is still lacking. This study aimed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the research hotspots and trends in PSD, thereby guiding future research efforts.

Methods

The Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) database was searched for articles related to PSD from 2003 to 2022. Data were visualised and analysed using CiteSpace and VOSviewer.

Results

A total of 3102 publications were included in the scientometric analysis, with a gradual increase in the number of papers published each year. The United States emerged as the country with the highest number of publications (625 articles), while the University of Manchester led with the most publications among institutions (67 articles). Notably, Dysphagia was both the most published (254 articles) and the most cited journal (11,141 citations). Among authors, Hamdy S emerged as the most prolific (52 articles), with Martino R being the most cited (1042 citations).

Conclusion

Based on our findings, we anticipate that research hotspots in PSD will mainly focus on complications due to PSD such as stroke‐associated pneumonia, stroke‐related sarcopenia. Additionally, exploration into the mechanisms and parameters of noninvasive brain stimulation techniques for the treatment of PSD, as well as the rehabilitation needs of patients with PSD, are expected to be key focal points in future research endeavours.
A Thomish Epistemic Cartography of the Question “Can We Know God?”
Authors: Van Wart T. Adam
Published: April 2024

The following article maps the various ways in which the expressions “knowledge” and “to know” are diversely used with reference to the Triune Lord of historic Christian orthodoxy. The reason for this epistemic cartography of Christian grammar stems from a desire to help dissolve and bring quiet to the decades of confusion that have arisen in theological conversation as a function of the failure to specify just what one means by the relevant terms (chiefly, “knowledge” and “to know”) in questions like “Can we know God?” I therefore list the various ways “to know” and “knowledge” are traditionally used to give shape both to the differing versions of the question “Can we know God?” and to their respective answers as displayed within the grammar of the Christian faith. Making use of St. Thomas Aquinas's contributions when helpful, the resulting analysis yields that, though we can truly say it is possible for us to know or have knowledge of God that is of the unitive, conventional, demonstrative, and nominative sort (i.e., the form of the question under those intentional conditions leads to an affirmative answer), we can in no way meaningfully assert the same of definitional knowledge with respect to God. Through God's self‐revelation in/as Jesus Christ, however, I argue that an infallible and superlative expansion of the possibilities for our unitive, conventional, demonstrative, and nominative knowledge of God is on offer.
Trypanosomes and gut microbiota interactions in triatomine bugs and tsetse flies: A vectorial perspective
Authors: Omondi Zeph Nelson , Caner Ayşe , Arserim Suha Kenan
Published: April 2024

Triatomines (kissing bugs) and tsetse flies (genus: Glossina) are natural vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi and Trypanosoma brucei, respectively. T. cruzi is the causative agent of Chagas disease, endemic in Latin America, while T. brucei causes African sleeping sickness disease in sub‐Saharan Africa. Both triatomines and tsetse flies are host to a diverse community of gut microbiota that co‐exist with the parasites in the gut. Evidence has shown that the gut microbiota of both vectors plays a key role in parasite development and transmission. However, knowledge on the mechanism involved in parasite–microbiota interaction remains limited and scanty. Here, we attempt to analyse Trypanosoma spp. and gut microbiota interactions in tsetse flies and triatomines, with a focus on understanding the possible mechanisms involved by reviewing published articles on the subject. We report that interactions between Trypanosoma spp. and gut microbiota can be both direct and indirect. In direct interactions, the gut microbiota directly affects the parasite via the formation of biofilms and the production of anti‐parasitic molecules, while on the other hand, Trypanosoma spp. produces antimicrobial proteins to regulate gut microbiota of the vector. In indirect interactions, the parasite and gut bacteria affect each other through host vector‐activated processes such as immunity and metabolism. Although we are beginning to understand how gut microbiota interacts with the Trypanosoma parasites, there is still a need for further studies on functional role of gut microbiota in parasite development to maximize the use of symbiotic bacteria in vector and parasite control.
Genome‐wide association study and network analysis of in vitro transformation in Populus trichocarpa support key roles of diverse phytohormone pathways and cross talk
Authors: Nagle Michael F. , Yuan Jialin , Kaur Damanpreet , Ma Cathleen , Peremyslova Ekaterina , Jiang Yuan , Goralogia Greg S. , Magnuson Anna , Li Jia Yi , Muchero Wellington , Fuxin Li , Strauss Steven H.
Published: April 2024

Wide variation in amenability to transformation and regeneration (TR) among many plant species and genotypes presents a challenge to the use of genetic engineering in research and breeding. To help understand the causes of this variation, we performed association mapping and network analysis using a population of 1204 wild trees of Populus trichocarpa (black cottonwood).

To enable precise and high‐throughput phenotyping of callus and shoot TR, we developed a computer vision system that cross‐referenced complementary red, green, and blue (RGB) and fluorescent‐hyperspectral images. We performed association mapping using single‐marker and combined variant methods, followed by statistical tests for epistasis and integration of published multi‐omic datasets to identify likely regulatory hubs.

We report 409 candidate genes implicated by associations within 5 kb of coding sequences, and epistasis tests implicated 81 of these candidate genes as regulators of one another. Gene ontology terms related to protein–protein interactions and transcriptional regulation are overrepresented, among others.

In addition to auxin and cytokinin pathways long established as critical to TR, our results highlight the importance of stress and wounding pathways. Potential regulatory hubs of signaling within and across these pathways include GROWTH REGULATORY FACTOR 1 (GRF1), PHOSPHATIDYLINOSITOL 4‐KINASE β1 (PI‐4Kβ1), and OBF‐BINDING PROTEIN 1 (OBP1).
Some fall to sleep slowly: cell biophysics and metabolism of quiescence in diatom resting cells
Authors: von Dassow Peter
Published: April 2024

This article is a Commentary on Wang et al. (2024), 243: 1347–1360.
Molecular classification and intratumoral heterogeneity of gastric adenocarcinoma
Authors: Kuwata Takeshi
Published: April 2024

Gastric cancers frequently harbor striking histological complexity and diversity between lesions as well as within single lesions, known as inter‐ and intratumoral heterogeneity, respectively. The latest World Health Organization Classification of Tumors designated more than 30 histological subtypes for gastric epithelial tumors, assigning 12 subtypes for gastric adenocarcinoma (GAD). Meanwhile, recent advances in genome‐wide analyses have provided molecular aspects to the histological classification of GAD, and consequently revealed different molecular traits underlying these histological subtypes. Moreover, accumulating knowledge of comprehensive molecular profiles has led to establishing molecular classifications of GAD, which are often associated with clinical biomarkers for therapeutics and prognosis. However, most of our knowledge of GAD molecular profiles is based on inter‐tumoral heterogeneity, and the molecular profiles underlying intratumoral heterogeneity are yet to be determined. In this review, recently established molecular classifications of GAD are introduced in the aspect of pathological diagnosis and are discussed in the context of intratumoral heterogeneity.
An examination of changes in psychological status across four phases of injury recovery and return to sport: A prospective weekly study of competitive athletes from acute care to return to sport
Authors: Ruffault Alexis , Bernier Marjorie , Podlog Leslie , Guegan Christophe
Published: April 2024

While ample research has shown that sport injuries are associated with poor psychological status, scant attention has been given to changes in injured athletes' psychological status over the full course of recovery and return to sport. The aim of the present study was to prospectively investigate potential changes in injured athletes' psychological status across four phases of recovery and return to sport. A total of 38 severely injured adult competitive athletes (58% female; mean age 24.1 ± 7.18 years) participated in this prospective weekly investigation (n = 319 observations). Athletes' were asked to indicate their current phase of recovery or return to sport (acute care, rehabilitation, adapted training, or full return to sport) after which they responded to visual analog scales assessing post‐injury psychological status, including: perceived pain (frequency and intensity), emotions (positive and negative), anxiety (cognitive and physiological), motivation, self‐efficacy, and satisfaction. During the acute care phase, participants showed higher scores of perceived pain, and physiological anxiety compared to the other phases. During the adapted training phase, amotivation was higher than in the acute care phase, and self‐efficacy was lower than in other phases. At full return to sport, athletes showed less perceived pain, cognitive anxiety, and more satisfaction than during other phases. The present study provides a deeper prospective understanding of changes in athlete's psychological status over the course of injury recovery and return to sport and highlight the importance of monitoring psychological status.
The sociological dimensions of multicultural education
Authors: Cook William S.
Published: April 2024

The United States began as a place of bondage, a European‐privileged, segregated state where profit and exploitation ruled the day. American schools developed within this racially discriminate society. Euro‐American officials excluded African descendants and other people of color from political, economic, and educational opportunities. One theory to emerge for including non‐European descendants into America's segregated schools was multicultural education, which theorists established to provide African Americans and others with equal access to mainstream educational services. The popular terms to arise from multicultural education are diversity and inclusion although educators often use the condescending term “minorities” to describe communities of color. Critics of multicultural education believe it is unnecessary because it would create disunity and negate America's core values. Critics also believe multicultural educators do not address the impact of racism on educational development. Unlike multicultural educators, critical race theorists analyze the impact of racism as multicultural theorists tend to view racism as a social anomaly motivated by individual choice. This paper is an exploration of the sociological complexities of multicultural education and its effectiveness as a response to America's unjust society, the possibility of non‐white ethnic groups working together to create an atmosphere of educational equality under the theoretical guidance of multicultural education, and the extent of how students of color may include themselves in standard American school curriculums.
Making narrative feedback meaningful
Authors: Hall Alan M. , Gray Adam , Ragsdale John W.
Published: April 2024

Background

Narrative written feedback given to students by faculty often fails to identify areas for improvement and recommended actions to lead to this improvement. When these elements are missing, it is challenging for students to improve and for medical schools to use narrative feedback in promotion decisions, to guide coaching plans and to pass on meaningful information to residency programs. Large‐group faculty development has improved narrative written feedback, but less is known about individualised faculty development to supplement large‐group sessions. To fill this gap, we built a curriculum with general and individualised faculty development to improve narrative written feedback from Internal Medicine faculty to clerkship students.

Approach

We used Kern's steps to build a curriculum with general and individualised one‐on‐one faculty development to improve the problem of inadequate narrative written feedback. We used a novel narrative feedback rubric for pre and post‐intervention faculty scores.

Results/findings/evaluation

Through general and individualised one‐on‐one faculty development with peer comparison scores, we were able to improve narrative written feedback from 3.7/6 to 4.6/6, for an increase of 23%.

Implications

We found our faculty development program effective in improving feedback and was easy to implement. Our rubric was easy to use, and faculty were receptive to feedback in one‐on‐one meetings. We plan to extend this work locally to other divisions/departments and into graduate medical education; it should also be easily extended to other medical disciplines or health professions.
Morphological and molecular characterization of cubios (Tropaeolum tuberosum Ruiz & Pavón) collected in two municipalities in Boyaca - Colombia
Authors: Márquez-Cardona Maria del Pilar , Fonseca Hernández Laura Rocío
Published: April 2024

In this study, we aimed to determine the extent of genetic variation among cubios (Tropaeolum tuberosum) in a diversity micro-center in the department of Boyacá, Colombia, with morphological and ISSR (Inter Simple Sequence Repeats) molecular markers. Twenty-five cubio morphotypes were collected across different farms within the municipalities of Belén and Ventaquemada in Boyacá and were sown for subsequent morphological and molecular characterizations. Tuber features were evaluated according to descriptors of the International Potato Center, namely predominant tuber surface color, secondary tuber surface color, secondary tuber surface color distribution, predominant tuber pulp color, secondary tuber pulp color, distribution of secondary tuber pulp color, tuber shape, and depth of tuber eyes. Molecular variation was assessed via eight ISSR primers. Morphological and molecular characterizations allowed us to identify 25 cubio morphotypes with significant genetic variation in the study area. This finding is likely attributed to mechanisms maintaining genetic variability, such as naturally occurring crosses between morphotypes modulated by environmental conditions and local agricultural practices, including seed exchange and a preference for given morphotypes.
Injury Risk Functions for the Midsized Male Wrist and Elbow as a Result of Behind Shield Blunt Trauma
Authors: de Lange J. E. , Burrows L. , Quenneville C. E.
Published: April 2024

Ballistic shields protect users from a variety of threats, including projectiles. Shield back-face deformation (BFD) is the result of the shield deflecting or absorbing a projectile and deforming toward the user. Back-face deformation can result in localized blunt loading to the upper extremity, where the shield is supported by the user. Two vulnerable locations along the upper extremity were investigated—the wrist and elbow—on eight postmortem human subjects (PMHS) using a pneumatic impacting apparatus for investigating the fracture threshold as a result of behind shield blunt trauma (BSBT). Impacting parameters were established by subjecting an augmented WorldSID anthropomorphic test device (ATD) positioned behind a ballistic shield to ballistic impacts. These data were used to form the impact parameters applied to PMHS, where the wrist most frequently fractured at the distal radius and the elbow most frequently fractured at the radial head. The fracture threshold for the wrist was 5663±1386 N (mean±standard deviation), higher than the elbow at 4765±894 N (though not significantly, p = 0.15). The failure impact velocity for wrist impacts was 17.7±2.1 m/s, while for the elbow, the failure impact velocity was 19.5±0.9 m/s. An approximate 10% risk of fracture threshold was identified on the modified WorldSID ATD (no flesh analogue included) to inform future protective standards.