bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Understanding antipredator strategies of insects: Human presence and escape behaviour in Odonata
Authors: Mikula Peter , Czechowski Paweł , Dubicka‐Czechowska Alicja , Jerzak Leszek , Menzel Annette , Tryjanowski Piotr
Published: February 2025

Insects, like many organisms, face widespread human‐driven habitat transformations which are major threats to biodiversity. However, at the same time, transformed areas including cities are increasingly being colonised by wildlife, sometimes serving as important refuges for vulnerable species. Most studies on traits that enable insects to thrive in urban environments have focused on morphology, physiology, and feeding or reproductive strategies, often overlooking behavioural traits, despite evidence from vertebrates showing that tolerance towards humans is key for wildlife to successfully colonise cities.

In this study, we tested the effects of urbanisation, along with a range of life‐history, environmental and contextual traits, on tolerance towards humans—measured by flight initiation distance—in 14 Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) species in western Poland. We found that escape distances were moderately repeatable within species. Urbanisation had a generally weak effect on Odonata escape behaviour; however, odonates delayed their escape at sites with high human presence.

We also found that escape distances tended to increase with the observer’ starting distance and species‐specific body size and decrease with perch height. Additionally, male odonates were more likely to escape earlier than females.

These results suggest that odonates can sense levels of anthropogenic disturbance and adjust their escape behaviour accordingly. Furthermore, our findings indicate that some basic patterns and principles commonly reported in vertebrates, such as the ability to tolerate human presence and the effect of starting distance and body mass, may also apply to invertebrates. This may have important implications for understanding the ecology and evolution of antipredator strategies in insects and their conservation.
Clinical Management of Persistent Hypereosinophilia
Authors: Helbig Grzegorz , Czachor Kacper
Published: February 2025

Blood eosinophilia remains a common finding in the general population, whereas hypereosinophilia (HE) is extremely rare. Different non‐hematologic and hematologic disorders may be accompanied by blood eosinophilia. Clinical manifestations of eosinophilia‐related disorders range from mild to life‐threatening. Given the various symptoms, a comprehensive approach and close multidisciplinary cooperation are strongly recommended. Hypereosinophilic syndromes (HES) encompass a complex group of disorders defined as persistent peripheral blood HE ≥ 1500/mm3 and end‐organ damage. An initial step in a diagnostic algorithm of HE includes the evaluation of secondary, potentially easy‐to‐treat causes. This HES variant is called reactive and often remains beyond the interest of hematologists. The further evaluation for primary causes of HE relies on a combination of different specialized tests, which are mostly available in hematologic centers and include most of all morphologic assessments of peripheral blood and bone marrow, cytogenetics, and molecular studies. Using these sophisticated methods, one can diagnose the specific HES subtypes based on genetic findings and categorize them according to currently applicable classifications. The choice of therapy differs between HES variants, ranging from corticosteroids and anti‐interleukin‐5 monoclonal antibodies for not‐molecularly defined variants to oral molecules directed against molecular targets. This review presents eosinophilia‐related disorders from a hematologic perspective.
Post‐Larval Processes Reduce the Diversity of Coral Reef Fish Communities
Authors: Lazarus Mai , Kimmerling Naama , Gurevich Tamara , Kiflawi Moshe , Connolly Sean R. , Holzman Roi , Belmaker Jonathan
Published: February 2025

The difficulties in obtaining species‐level abundance estimates of marine larvae have hindered comparisons of diversity across life stages, severely limiting our knowledge of how adult diversity is maintained. To explore factors shaping diversity across life stages, we surveyed adult coral reef fishes, compiled data on their ecological and life history traits and paired these with a unique dataset of species‐level larval abundances. Relative larval abundance was more even compared to adults and matched random expectations, whereas the adult community was markedly uneven and less functionally diverse, suggesting species filtering effects. While adult abundance was positively linked to larval abundance, species size and diet altered this association, with larger and non‐planktivorous adults being less abundant than expected from their larval supply. Our results illustrate that while larval supply is important in determining adult taxonomic and functional diversity, post‐larval processes increase the numerical dominance of particular species, thus reducing overall diversity.
Local Adaptation Is Highest in Populations With Stable Long‐Term Growth
Authors: Carley Lauren N. , Geber Monica A. , Morris William F. , Eckhart Vincent M. , Moeller David A.
Published: February 2025

Theory suggests that the drivers of demographic variation and local adaptation are shared and may feedback on one other. Despite some evidence for these links in controlled settings, the relationship between local adaptation and demography remains largely unexplored in natural conditions. Using 10 years of demographic data and two reciprocal transplant experiments, we tested predictions about the relationship between the magnitude of local adaptation and demographic variation (population growth rates and their elasticities to vital rates) across 10 populations of a well‐studied annual plant. In both years, we found a strong unimodal relationship between mean home‐away local adaptation and stochastic population growth rates. Other predicted links were either weakly or not supported by our data. Our results suggest that declining and rapidly growing populations exhibit reduced local adaptation, potentially due to maladaptation and relaxed selection, respectively.
Defensive Symbiont Genotype Distributions Are Linked to Parasitoid Attack Networks
Authors: Wu Taoping , Rodrigues Anoushka A. , Fayle Tom M. , Henry Lee M.
Published: February 2025

Facultative symbionts are widespread in arthropods and can provide important services such as protection from natural enemies. Yet what shapes associations with defensive symbionts in nature remains unclear. Two hypotheses suggest that interactions with either antagonists or host plants explain the prevalence of symbionts through shared selective pressures or vectors of symbiont transmission. Here we investigate the factors determining similarities in the Hamiltonella defensa symbiosis shared amongst field‐collected aphid species. After accounting for host species relatedness, we find that Hamiltonella's genotype distribution aligns with sharing the same parasitoids, rather than host plants, highlighting parasitoids and hosts as key selective agents shaping the symbiosis across aphid species. Our data indicates parasitoid host specificity drives the prevalence of specific aphid‐Hamiltonella associations, suggesting defensive symbioses are maintained by the selective pressure imposed by dominant parasitoids and their aphid hosts. These findings underscore the importance of interactions with natural enemies in explaining patterns of defensive symbiosis in nature.
Cognitive and brain health in juvenile myoclonic epilepsy: Role of social determinants of health
Authors: Struck Aaron F. , Garcia‐Ramos Camille , Prabhakaran Vivek , Nair Veena , Adluru Nagesh , Adluru Anusha , Almane Dace , Jones Jana E. , Hermann Bruce P.
Published: February 2025

Objective

Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) is a prevalent genetic generalized epilepsy with linked abnormalities in cognition, behavior, and brain structure. Well recognized is the potential for advancing understanding of the epigenetic contributions to the neurobehavioral complications of JME, but to date there has been no examination of the role of socioeconomic disadvantage in regard to the cognitive and brain health of JME, which is the focus of this investigation.

Methods

Seventy‐seven patients with JME and 44 unrelated controls underwent neuropsychological assessment, structural neuroimaging, and clinical interview to delineate epilepsy history and aspects of family status. The Area Deprivation Index characterized the presence and degree of neighborhood disadvantage, which was examined in relation to cognitive factor scores underlying a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery, academic metrics, integrity of brain structure, and family characteristics.

Results

JME participants resided in neighborhoods associated with significantly more socioeconomic disadvantage, which was associated with significantly poorer performance across all three cognitive factor scores and reading fluency. JME was associated with significant reduction of total subcortical gray matter (GM) but not total cortical gray or white matter volumes. Among controls, participants residing in more advantaged areas exhibited increased volumes of total subcortical GM and diverse subcortical structures as well as areas of increased cortical thickness and volume in frontal/prefrontal regions, findings that were compromised or not evident in JME, raising the possibility of disease‐related attenuation of socioeconomic advantage.

Significance

Socioeconomic disadvantage in JME is associated with adverse effects on cognitive and academic status, whereas socioeconomic advantage in controls is associated with increased brain volumes and thickness, markers of brain health that were largely attenuated or absent in JME. The associations detected here argue for the need to better integrate the social determinants of health with genetic and epigenetic factors in advancing understanding of cognitive and brain health in JME.
Differential functional connectivity of amygdala in drug‐resistant temporal lobe epilepsy
Authors: Aung Thandar , Tang Lilly W. , Ho Jonathan , Henry Luke C. , Ikegaya Naoki , Modo Michel , Gonzalez Martinez Jorge
Published: February 2025

Objective

Recent studies highlight the amygdala's crucial role in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), particularly in magnetic resonance imaging‐negative cases and new TLE subtypes with structural amygdala changes. This study aims to investigate the electrophysiological properties and connectivity patterns of the amygdaloid complex in TLE patients using stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG).

Methods

From March 2020 to December 2023, we collected data from nine patients with drug‐resistant TLE who underwent SEEG with dual amygdala trajectories: dorsal amygdala (DA) targeting medial and central nuclei, and ventral amygdala (VA) targeting basal and lateral nuclei. We analyzed interictal and ictal activities, focusing on power spectral density, interictal epileptiform discharges (IEDs), and coherence between DA and VA regions and ipsilateral regions of the temporal–limbic network, including the hippocampus, superior temporal gyrus, entorhinal cortex, fusiform gyrus, orbitofrontal cortex, temporal pole, and ventral insula.

Results

IEDs were significantly higher in the DA, particularly in patients with epileptogenic zones involving the amygdala. We identified frequency‐dependent connectivity patterns between DA and VA with ipsilateral cortical areas of interest during ictal activity. The VA exhibited higher connectivity with the limbic network in a greater number of seizures, particularly with the hippocampal head, entorhinal cortex, fusiform gyrus, and temporal pole in delta and theta frequencies. In contrast, DA connectivity was mainly confined to the hippocampus in theta and high‐gamma frequency ranges.

Significance

Our findings reveal distinct functional connectivity patterns and potentially divergent roles of DA and VA in TLE. These insights could refine intracranial sampling protocols of the amygdaloid complex, guiding more precise strategies for resection and neuromodulation in TLE patients.
Tuning in to Kids Together: Piloting an Emotion‐Focused Coparenting Program
Authors: Ambrosi Christina C. , Kavanagh Phillip S. , Evans Subhadra , Havighurst Sophie S.
Published: February 2025

Group parenting programs, including emotion‐focused programs, are effective at improving children's emotional and behavioral adjustment; however, the impact of these programs may be limited due to parents, typically mothers, attending sessions alone. It is expected that actively involving both caregivers in parenting programs will lead to superior outcomes given family systems are interconnected and when parents feel more supported by one another, they are more likely to have greater emotional availability for their children. Tuning in to Kids Together (TIK‐Together) was developed to involve both caregivers and address the coparenting relationship. The current study examined the feasibility and pilot testing of TIK‐Together when delivered in a real‐world context, specifically assessing program adherence, reliability of measures, and program outcomes. TIK‐Together was delivered to 57 participants (27 mother–father dyads, 1 triad) by community services in Australia in an intervention‐only design. Facilitators completed attendance sheets and fidelity checklists after each session, and parents completed online questionnaires at pre‐intervention, post‐intervention, and 6‐month follow‐up. Adherence across services varied; however, parent attendance and the proportion of content delivered was high. The measures used to assess coparent outcomes demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency in the current sample. After attending the program, parents reported increased supportive/cooperative coparenting of children's emotions, greater dyadic coping, improved emotion coaching beliefs and practices, reduced undermining coparenting of children's emotions, lower emotion dismissing beliefs and practices, and less parent emotion dysregulation. Mothers and fathers reported improved child emotion regulation and decreased behavioral difficulties. The findings are consistent with prior TIK research and pave the way for future research exploring the benefits of integrating coparenting content into this parenting intervention.
Macrophyte Restoration Promotes Lake Microbial Carbon Pump to Enhance Aquatic Carbon Sequestration
Authors: Chen He , Xing Peng , Kao Shuhji , An Shilin , Mao Zhendu , Fan Shiming , Li Biao , Yan Qingyun , Wu Qinglong L.
Published: February 2025

Macrophyte‐based lake restoration has successfully transitioned lakes from turbid conditions dominated by phytoplankton to a more natural, clear state; however, its impact on microbial carbon pump‐mediated dissolved organic carbon (DOM) storage and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the aquatic ecosystem remains largely unexplored. Through a year‐long field study, we conducted a comparative analysis of two alternative habitats within the same lake—restored and unrestored areas. Results demonstrated that restoration not only substantially decreases nutrient levels and algal blooms—evidenced by over 50% reductions in nitrogen, phosphorus, and chlorophyll a—but also significantly increases the accumulation of recalcitrant DOM. This is characterized by rises of 9.52% in highly unsaturated compounds, 8.68% in carboxyl‐rich alicyclic molecules, 37.54% polycyclic condensed aromatics and polyphenols, and 20.21% in SUVA254. Additionallly, key microbial taxa with potent carbon pump functions—primarily Gammaproteobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria, and Actinobacteria—are enriched in restored areas. Structural equation modeling (SEM) further elucidated the complex interrelationships within more pristine lake ecosystems: macrophytes and elevated dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations enhance carbon sequestration via microbial carbon pump pathways, while the restoration significantly mitigates methane emissions caused by eutrophication. These findings highlight an extra function of aquatic macrophyte restoration, offering valuable insights into microbial processes for future restoration efforts aimed at promoting sustainable aquatic ecosystems and mitigating global warming.
Challenging Paradigms Around the Role of Colony Size, Taxa, and Environment on Bleaching Susceptibility
Authors: Mariana Álvarez‐Noriega , Eoghan Aston , Madison Becker , Katharina E Fabricius , Will F Figueira , Sophie Gordon , Ryan Krensel , Marine AA Lechene , Tiny Remmers , Maren Toor , Renata Ferrari
Published: February 2025

Understanding how bleaching severity varies across space and among and within taxa helps predict changes in community composition due to climate change and informs conservation efforts. Photogrammetry offers a non‐invasive and time effective method for quantifying attributes of thousands of coral colonies across large, environmentally diverse reef areas. This approach circumvents the limitations of traditional survey methods, where detailed tracking of individual colonies comes at the expense of large sampling areas and sample sizes. Using photogrammetry, we measured colony size and scored bleaching severity of > 5000 colonies of 13 taxa across 26 sites (> 7400 m2 of reef) during a mild bleaching event in the central Great Barrier Reef (GBR) in 2022. We quantified the relationship between bleaching severity and key biological and environmental factors: colony size, taxonomic identity, degree‐heating weeks (DHWs), water velocity, various measures of reef structural complexity, depth, and distance to coast. Our results show that bleaching probability decreased with increasing colony size for most taxa, contradicting the current understanding of size‐dependent bleaching. Counter to conventional thinking, tabular Acropora spp. presented very low levels of bleaching in 2022 despite being among the most severely bleached taxa during the bleaching event in 1998, suggesting possible adaptation in the last two decades. Our results show a high level of idiosyncrasy in environmental gradients of bleaching severity. For instance, the effect of depth on was taxon‐dependent and the effect of wave velocity differed between inshore and offshore reefs. Our results challenge prevailing paradigms around the role of colony size and environment in regulating bleaching susceptibility, suggesting that refugia are not universal but instead depend on specific environment‐taxonomic combinations and taxon‐specific colony sizes.
A Conceptual Framework for Measuring Ecological Novelty
Authors: Staples Timothy L. , Blois Jessica , Cramer Katie L. , Cunningham Emer T. , Dornelas Maria , Haberle Simon G. , Heger Tina , Kiessling Wolfgang , Magurran Anne E. , O'Dea Aaron , Penny Amelia M. , Radeloff Volker C. , Smith Jansen A. , Thuiller Wilfried , Williams John W. , Pandolfi John M.
Published: February 2025

Background

Human pressures are driving the emergence of unprecedented, ‘novel’, ecological and environmental systems. The concept of novel (eco)systems is well accepted by the scientific community, but the use and measurement of novelty has outgrown initial definitions and critiques. There are still unresolved methodological and conceptual differences in quantifying novelty that prevent a unified research approach.

Framework

Here we present a conceptual framework and guidelines to unify past and future measurement of ecological novelty. Under this framework, novelty is a property of an ecological or environmental entity of interest. Novelty is quantified as the comparison between the target entity and a reference set, measured as the summary of degrees of difference across one or more dimensions. Choices in these components, particularly the reference set, can change resulting novelty measurements and inferences.

Showcase

We provide a case‐study to showcase our framework, measuring pre‐ and post‐European novelty in 99 pollen assemblages in Midwest USA forests. We paired this quantitative exploration with a five‐step process designed to improve the utility and outcomes of novelty analyses.

Conclusions

Quantitative novelty has immense value in studies of abrupt ecological change, linking climatic and ecological change, biotic interactions and invasions, species range shifts and fundamental theories. Our framework offers a unified overview and is also primed for integration into management and restoration workflows, providing consistent and robust measurements of novelty to support decision making, priority setting and resource allocation.
Balancing Competing Grassland Ecosystem Services Requires Intensive Stakeholder Involvement and Actions on Different Spatial Scales
Authors: Klaus Valentin H. , Bloor Juliette M. G. , Cozzi Giulio , Le Clec’h Solen , Peter Sophie , Huguenin‐Elie Olivier
Published: February 2025

Grasslands provide a wide range of different ecosystem services (ES) that are crucial for human well‐being. This increases the interest in understanding the drivers of grassland ES to maintain and enhance ES supply for future generations. However, many ES do currently not have a market value and show trade‐offs, that is, antagonistic relationships, that are strengthened by management intensification. For example, high forage production is key for farm income, but conflicts with many cultural ES and grassland biodiversity conservation. Balancing these competing services is thus required to ensure ES supply meeting societal demand. This poses the question of how to achieve an economically viable balance in the future. We discuss how involving stakeholders and implementing ES‐enhancing actions at landscape, farm and field scales can contribute to tackling this urgent question. First, multi‐stakeholder approaches are required to assess prioritisation of ES to understand societal ES demand, design multifunctional landscapes, and motivate and empower farmers to increase insufficiently‐supplied ES. Second, information on how management practices change ES and their trade‐offs must be available and realistically implementable. Third, different actions to enhance undersupplied ES need to be implemented across spatial scales. These actions must be taken at farm and field but also landscape‐scale, which is needed for spatial targeting of different grassland types. We argue that jointly targeting all three spatial scales and intensifying efforts for stakeholder involvement and motivation is crucial for improved ES supply. Our synthesis provides a framework for balancing multiple ES and gives applied examples of how to achieve this.
Determination of Thallium Isotope Ratios in Ten Geological Reference Materials, and of Thallium Isotopic Fractionation Effects Related to Sample Digestion by Dry Ashing
Authors: Dong Feiyu , Wang Zhaoyang , Yin Lu , Li Jie
Published: February 2025

We report for the first time Tl isotope ratios for ten geological reference materials (RMs), namely SGR‐1b (from the USGS), and GBW07302, GBW07303a, GBW07401a, GBW03104, GBW07103, GBW07109, GBW07110, GBW07111 and GBW07113 (from China). The principal matrix characteristics of these materials range from sediments to igneous rocks, including stream sediment, soil, shale, granite, nepheline syenite, trachyte, granodiorite and rhyolite. Analytically, the procedure we developed includes a sample digestion step, a simplified single‐stage anion exchange matrix separation step and measurements by MC‐ICP‐MS. For sample digestion we compared a dry ashing‐based process with an acid digestion method under high‐pressure conditions. We observed that the RMs with high organic content (e.g., SGR‐1b = ~ 25%) showed very high values of loss on ignition (LOI) (~ 40%) during dry ashing. Moreover, Tl isotopic measurement results were heavier after dry ashing than after application of the high‐pressure bomb method. We infer that the combustion conditions in case of large amounts of organic matter are probably the cause of Tl isotopic fractionation effects (preferential evaporation of 203Tl). We thus recommend the high‐pressure bomb method for the sample digestion step. We validated our entire measurement procedure by applying it to well‐documented RMs, including GSP‐2 (granodiorite), Nod‐A‐1 (Marine sediment), Nod‐P‐1 (Marine sediment) and SCo‐1 (shale). Our measurement results were in agreement with literature values.
In Situ Boron Isotope Determination in Amphibole by LA‐MC‐ICP‐MS: Matrix Effects and New Potential Reference Materials
Authors: Cannaò Enrico , Sessa Gianluca , Agostini Samuele , Tiepolo Massimo
Published: February 2025

The B isotope systematics (δ11B) in amphibole offer insights into fluid‐ and melt‐dominated processes in the crust‐mantle system. We developed an analytical strategy for in situ B isotope determination in amphibole using LA‐ MC‐ICP‐MS on material with a B fraction of a few μg g−1 using 1013 Ω resistors. Sources of error deriving from matrix effects were evaluated. Two Ca‐amphiboles, one from Pargas, Finland (PRG), and another from the Finero Complex (S. Alps, FIN), were characterised as potential reference materials. PRG has a B mass fraction of 6.75 ± 1.10 μg g−1 and a δ11B value of ‐16.58 ± 0.06‰, while FIN has 3.27 ± 0.68 μg g−1 of B and a δ11B value of ‐5.90 ± 0.09‰. A standard‐sample‐standard bracketing method, using USGS BHVO‐2G basaltic glass as the bracketing ‘standard’ (calibrator), provided accurate and reproducible in situ δ11B measurements with 2s of ± 2.86‰ (n = 87) for PRG and ± 3.96‰ for FIN (n = 70). These Ca‐amphiboles are suitable reference materials to assess accuracy during in situ B isotope determination with LA‐MC‐ICP‐MS. The potential of in situ B isotope determination in Ca‐amphibole as a geochemical tool to investigate petrogenetic processes of a well‐characterised amphibole‐bearing gabbro from the Adamello batholith (C. Alps) has been tested successfully.
Low Molecular Weight Heparin‐Induced Thrombocytopenia: A Case Series Study of Newly Admitted Hemodialysis Patients
Authors: Ren Hui , Liang Wei , Wang Aihong , Xiong Zibo , Yang Guang
Published: February 2025

Low molecular weight heparin (LMWH), a common anticoagulant in hemodialysis, can cause the dangerous condition of heparin‐induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) in rare cases. The present study reviews five cases of HIT diagnosed in our center, which treats more than 400 maintenance hemodialysis patients annually over a 30‐year period. All five cases occurred in incident patients who were being exposed to LMWH for the first time. Treatment involved stopping LMWH and using alternative anticoagulants. Both the 4Ts score and antibody tests were used to confirm the diagnosis of HIT. Following diagnosis, close monitoring was performed for 10–15 days in typical cases or 30 days in severe cases until blood platelet levels recovered to near normal values. Our results suggest that while uncommon, HIT associated with use of LMWH can occur in hemodialysis patients, especially when patients are being exposed to this anticoagulant for the first time.
Behind the Screen: An Exploratory Study of Factors Influencing Breast Screening Uptake in Lancashire (UK)
Authors: Lee Yik Nok Bryan , Montasem Alexander , Haworth Lauren , Sinclair Jonathan , McGuire Kim , Chohan Ambreen
Published: February 2025

Background

Breast screening uptake has improved nationally to 62% in the United Kingdom, though regionally, engagement challenges remain in northern regions such as Lancashire (54%–59%). It is important, therefore, to understand the barriers women face to enable appropriate person‐ and community‐centred engagement in health screening behaviours.

Objectives

This study aimed to be the first mixed‐method questionnaire exploration of women in Lancashire (the United Kingdom) to explore attitudes, behaviour, awareness, barriers and facilitators to breast screening.

Design

Cross‐sectional cohort study.

Method

The Breast Cancer Fear Scale, modified Mammography Self‐Efficacy Scale and the General Practice Physical Activity Questionnaire were included in the questionnaire alongside open‐ended elements on breast screening behaviour and awareness. Registered female participants (n = 50) were provided with digital assistance or language interpretation where requested.

Results

Ethnicity, faith and location all affected perceived levels of breast screening awareness, yet only age and faith influenced understanding of the process. Irrespective of protected characteristics, fear of breast cancer did not significantly vary between women. Racially minoritised women were less comfortable in removing clothing during screening. Participants reported barriers related to health awareness, patient experience, screening age and access to healthcare. Facilitators to address barriers were identified using a socioecological framework to identify key areas of development needed at an individual, interpersonal, organisational, community and public policy level.

Conclusion

Protected characteristics and geographical location significantly influence breast screening behaviour. Targeted person‐centred health awareness, cultural competency and inclusive practice are needed to promote awareness, remove taboos and open up dialogue and acceptance of breast cancer screening in communities. The use of the socioecological model highlighted that the responsibility to reduce barriers to breast screening in Lancashire is collective from an individual to public policy level. Further patient–public involvement would ensure adequate demographic representation and effectively investigate differences between ethnic subgroups.

Patient or Public Contribution

This article captures the viewpoints of individuals with and without experience of the breast screening process in the United Kingdom. A small group of individuals from white and racially minoritised backgrounds were involved in the design of the study to ensure the suitability and acceptability of the tool.
Challenges of a tailored immunohistochemistry algorithm for uterine leiomyosarcoma: an integrated analysis of leiomyomas with bizarre nuclei and fumarate hydratase (FH) deficiency
Authors: Alves‐Vale Catarina , Truffaux Nathalène , Velasco Valérie , Azmani Rihab , Alamé Melissa , Rebier Flora , Mayeur Laetitia , Leger Yanick , Hostein Isabelle , Soubeyran Isabelle , Blanchard Larry , Marion Estelle , Fontanges Quitterie , Le Loarer François , Averous Gerlinde , Genestie Catherine , Arnould Laurent , Devouassoux‐Shisheboran Mojgan , Croce Sabrina
Published: February 2025

Aims

Leiomyomas (LM) are the most common uterine mesenchymal neoplasms and encompass a variety of histological subtypes. Bizarre nuclei are described in both leiomyomas with bizarre nuclei (LM‐BN) and fumarate hydratase‐deficient leiomyomas (FH‐LM), which raise diagnostic concerns regarding leiomyosarcoma (LMS). Recently, an immunohistochemical algorithm to support the diagnosis of LMS based on the genomic landscape of these neoplasms was proposed. This study aimed to evaluate the algorithm's accuracy in distinguishing LM‐BN and FH‐LM from LMS.

Methods and Results

We collected 68 LM (29 LM‐BN, 30 FH‐LM, and 9 LM) and 9 LMS, along with clinicopathological and molecular data. An immunohistochemical panel comprising p53, Rb, PTEN, ATRX, DAXX, and MDM2 was applied. Nine cases were non‐interpretable due to fixation issues. The algorithm demonstrated 100% accuracy for LM without bizarre nuclei (9/9) and for nonmyxoid LMS (5/5). Notably, 28.6% (14/49) of LM‐BN and FH‐LM exhibited at least two abnormalities, leading to potential misclassification as LMS. However, their clinical course, morphology, and genomic profile supported a benign diagnosis. Frequent alterations included Rb (20/49; 40.8%) and p53 (19/49; 38.8%), particularly in bizarre cells, while no abnormal staining was observed for ATRX, DAXX, or MDM2.

Conclusion

The proposed algorithm has limitations in differentiating LMS from LM‐BN and FH‐LM, misclassifying 28.6% of the latter. Accurate interpretation requires proper internal controls, particularly for markers whose loss of expression favours malignancy. Morphology remains central for diagnosis, although integration of molecular data may provide additional insights for a definitive classification in challenging cases.
Diagnostic and prognostic significance of Crohn's disease‐like pathology in surgically diverted recta of patients with ulcerative colitis
Authors: Ni Pu , Harpaz Noam , Altahrawi Abeer , Liu Qingqing
Published: February 2025

Aims

Diversion colitis (DC), commonly seen in surgically diverted bowel, can exhibit features resembling Crohn's disease (CD) even in patients with an established ulcerative colitis (UC). The superposition of DC on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) complicates pathological assessment and potentially alters the diagnosis from UC to CD. We investigated the diagnostic and prognostic significance of CD‐like histological features in DC.

Methods and results

We examined diverted recta from 202 patients (84 females, 118 males; median age = 37, range = 7–79) who underwent post‐diversion proctectomy from 2018 to 2023. Pre‐operative diagnoses included UC (n = 162), CD (n = 20), indeterminate IBD (IIBD, n = 11) and non‐IBD (n = 9). We evaluated granulomas and deep mucosal ulcers and scored transmural chronic inflammation (TCI) on a four‐tier scale. Patients were followed for 8–73 months for development of CD‐like complications, e.g. small bowel enteritis, strictures or fistulas.

Conclusions

TCI was present in all groups but was less frequent in non‐IBD (P = 0.015), with median scores similar for UC and CD (median = 1), higher in the IIBD (median = 2) and lower in the non‐IBD (median = 0, P = 0.084). TCI scores did not correlate with the development of CD‐like complications (CDLC) and therefore did not have prognostic significance. Conversely, granulomas and fissuring ulcers were significantly more common in CD than UC and IIBD and absent in non‐IBD (P < 0.0001 and P = 0.0009, respectively). These features correlated with higher TCI scores (P = 0.023 and P = 0.009, respectively). In summary, granulomas and fissuring mucosal ulcers in diverted recta favours a diagnosis of CD, while TCI alone does not justify altering a diagnosis of UC.
‘Hammering on the pressure’: Prison governor well‐being and the need for a more humanised approach
Authors: Smith Lauren , Harrison Karen , Mason Rachael , Nichols Helen , Hall Lauren , Saunders Gary
Published: February 2025

The challenges of prison work and the impact on the well‐being of prison officers is widely publicised. However, less is known about the well‐being of prison governors, and what may impact this: the focus of this research. Semi‐structured interviews (n = 63) with prison governors across England, Scotland and Wales, analysed using thematic analysis, indicated core themes around poor well‐being, limited work‐life balance and feelings of disenchantment. The well‐being climate was underpinned by challenges within the occupational culture including the relentless workloads, a so‐called ‘macho culture’, competing expectations, a dissonance between responsibility and autonomy, and a lack of role understanding between staff within prisons and those working from HM Prison and Probation Service headquarters. The challenges were exacerbated, but not caused, by Covid‐19 and a lack of perceived value among staff, but mitigated to a degree by individual coping and some access to governor‐specific support. Implications and future directions are discussed.
Self‐assembly of short biopeptides onto skin tissue components studied using QCM‐D
Authors: Murthy N. Sanjeeva , Tavasoli Elham , Mammone Tom , Karaman‐Jurukovska Nevena
Published: February 2025

Objective

To enable the discovery of more effective formulations for cosmetic and dermatological applications by understanding the interactions of widely used bioactive ingredients with skin biomolecular components.

Methods

Affinities of six common oligopeptide utilized in biomedical application to five primary skin biomolecules (collagen, elastin, laminin, fibronectin and hyaluronic acid) were measured by monitoring their adsorption and subsequent self‐assembly using quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM‐D).

Results

Chemical compositions of both the adsorbates (oligo peptides) and the substrates (skin constituents) influence the adsorption behaviour. Notably, the acetylated elastin‐like peptide exhibits minimal adsorption, but the same peptide with a palmitoyl tail shows an order of magnitude higher adsorption, possibly due to the formation of self‐assembled aggregates. However, the palmitoyl tail does not have the same effect on a collagen‐like sequence. Collagen is the most adhesive skin component for the peptides; fibronectin, elastin and laminin are similar with reduced affinity, and hyaluronic acid has the least affinity. A collagen‐binding peptide derived from the collagen‐ binding domain of the von Willebrand factor shows the fastest kinetics. These observed adsorption behaviours can be understood in terms of noncovalent electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions between the adsorbates and substrates.

Conclusions

Adsorption studies of cosmetic product ingredients onto endogenous extracellular matrix components in the skin reported here are expected to provide valuable insights for evaluating their potential efficacy.
The potential use of the standardized Euterpe oleracea (açaí) seed extract in cosmetic products
Authors: Zimmer Camila Guimarães Moreira , Heller Melina , Santos Evelyn Cristina da Silva , Freitas Cristina Setim , Benedet Patricia Oliveira , Siqueira Jarbas Mota , Marcon Rodrigo , Calixto João Batista
Published: February 2025

Objective

The açaí (Euterpe oleracea), a palm tree fruit native to the Amazon region, holds significant potential for various applications in food, therapeutics and cosmetics. However, the seeds of the açaí fruit, known to contain numerous antioxidants, are discarded and frequently cause environmental pollution. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the potential application of açaí seeds standardized extract (TI‐35) as a cosmetic product.

Methods

Açai seeds were obtained from a commercial source. Following the extract preparations and phytochemical identification and quantification of the main constituents present in the extract (TI‐35), several in vitro studies were performed using human cell line cultures. TI‐35 was evaluated on cell viability (human keratinocytes, fibroblasts and melanocytes), proliferation (keratinocytes), antioxidant activity (keratinocytes and fibroblasts), melanin content (melanocytes), metalloproteinase‐1 (MMP‐1) activity and tyrosinase inhibition assays. Skin irritation was assessed using a reconstructed human epidermis and mutagenic potential was evaluated, according to the OECD 439 and OECD 471, respectively.

Results

A total of 14 phytochemical constituents, mainly phenolic compounds, were identified and quantified in the standardized extract TI‐35. It demonstrated excellent long‐lasting stability and exhibited intrinsic antioxidant activity surpassing that of ascorbic acid. At low concentrations (up to 10 μg/mL), TI‐35 did not change cell viability or proliferation. However, the TI‐35 decreased basal reactive oxygen species production and produced pronounced scavenging and antioxidant effects. Notably, TI‐35 caused inhibition of MMP‐1 and its effect was more pronounced when compared with either ascorbic acid or ferulic acid, highlighting its pro‐aging property. In addition, TI‐35 did not interfere with melanin levels or have skin irritation effect and has no mutagenic activity, providing a solid assurance of the safety of the standardized extract from the seeds of E. oleracea for cosmetic use.

Conclusion

The standardized extract TI‐35, sourced from E. oleracea seeds, a by‐product of the Amazon food industry, demonstrated noteworthy pharmacological properties when assessed in vitro, including antioxidant, photoprotective, soothing and sagging effects. Thus, TI‐35 emerges as a potential and safe option for the development of innovative cosmetic products.
L2 Lexical Alignment and Lexical Learning in Collaborative Continuation Writing
Authors: Niu Ruiying , Luo Wenjie , You Xiaoye
Published: February 2025

Recent studies have evidenced numerous benefits of continuation writing in supporting second language (L2) learning. However, research specifically addressing the impact of collaborative continuation writing on lexical learning is limited and has produced conflicting results, with no exploration of the relationship between lexical alignment and lexical learning. This study compares dyadic and individual continuation writing performed by L2 learners, examining lexical alignment, lexical learning, and the relation between lexical alignment and learning. Data analyses revealed that dyadic learners demonstrated superior lexical alignment and lexical learning over individual learners, that neither group's lexical alignment was significantly correlated with their word form or meaning retention on posttests, but that individual learners’ lexical alignment was correlated with their word use in posttests. These findings are discussed with reference to the collaborative dynamics in dyadic interactions, the lexical processing involved in collaborative writing, the different sources and nature of lexical alignment and learning, and transfer‐appropriate processing. The study highlights the discrepancy between lexical processing and lexical alignment and their respective roles in lexical learning. The study concludes by suggesting that prioritizing lexical processing quality over lexical alignment enhances lexical learning in continuation writing.
Comparative Analysis of HMC3 and C20 Microglial Cell Lines Reveals Differential Myeloid Characteristics and Responses to Immune Stimuli
Authors: Gunasegaran Bavani , Krishnamurthy Shivani , Chow Sharron S. , Villanueva Millijoy D. , Guller Anna , Ahn Seong Beom , Heng Benjamin
Published: February 2025

Microglia are the primary resident immune cells of the central nervous system (CNS) that respond to injury and infections. Being critical to CNS homeostasis, microglia also have been shown to contribute to neurodegenerative diseases and brain cancer. Hence, microglia are regarded as a potential therapeutic target in CNS diseases, resulting in an increased demand for reliable in vitro models. Two human microglia cell lines (HMC3 and C20) are being used in multiple in vitro studies, however, the knowledge of their biological and immunological characteristics remains limited. Our aim was to identify and compare the biological changes in these immortalised immune cells under normal physiological and immunologically challenged conditions. Using high‐resolution quantitative mass spectrometry, we have examined in‐depth proteomic profiles of non‐stimulated and LPS or IFN‐γ challenged HMC3 and C20 cells. Our findings reveal that HMC3 cells responded to both treatments through upregulation of immune, metabolic, and antiviral pathways, while C20 cells showed a response associated with mitochondrial and immune activities. Additionally, the secretome analysis demonstrated that both cell lines release IL‐6 in response to LPS, while IFN‐γ treatment resulted in altered kynurenine pathway activity, highlighting distinct immune and metabolic adaptations.
Are You a Team Player? Public Goods Game and Cooperation in the Context of Project‐Based Learning
Authors: Czap Hans , Czap Natalia V , Miteza Ilir
Published: February 2025

Cooperation is essential for better institutions, governance, public health and economic growth. Experimental studies have shown both time decay of cooperation in repeated games and stable cooperation over longer time frames based on personality traits. As the long‐term effect of interventions on cooperative behaviour has received less attention, we investigate whether a relatively low‐intensity intervention can change cooperative behaviour over the course of 15 weeks. Specifically, we test experimentally if instruction with collaborative project‐based learning (PBL) can boost cooperative behaviour during a semester as compared to a more traditional instructional approach with individual assignments. Using contributions in a one‐shot public goods game (PGG) and cooperative attitudes from a self‐report scale, we find no evidence that our intervention on average increases cooperation for PBL students compared to non‐PBL students. However, we demonstrate that in this PBL intervention, subjects with lower initial cooperation levels became more cooperative, underscoring the potential of these findings for social and public policies targeted at heterogeneous societies. Interestingly, cooperative attitudes remain consistent over time and have limited correlation with cooperative behaviour.
Accounting for Asset Pricing Factors
Authors: Penman Stephen , Zhang Xiao‐Jun
Published: February 2025

Many accounting numbers appear in standard factor models but without a clear explanation. The numbers are generated under accounting principles that deal with risk, providing an explanation but also a critique of how extant models identify accounting‐based factors. That leads to a revised factor construction. Accounting numbers are codetermined in a double‐entry system, a feature that is exploited in packaging the factors into a model. Rather than entering as the separate, additive factors, adding to the “factor zoo,” they are combined parsimoniously to capture the information they jointly convey about risk and return in the double‐entry system. Empirical tests confirm.
Sugar‐Rich Resources Mediate Geographic Morphological Variation in a Dominant, Neotropical Savanna Ant
Authors: Azevedo‐Silva Marianne , Sendoya Sebastian F. , Côrtes Marina C. , Longo Pedro A. S. , Nogueira Anselmo , Mori Gustavo M. , Hirota Shun K. , Suyama Yoshihisa , Souza Anete P. , Oliveira Paulo S.
Published: February 2025

Aim

Trait variation across geographic gradients can reveal how species respond to different environmental settings, which is crucial under the growing threat of climate change. Although on the basis of evolutionary theory, the patterns and drivers of intraspecific functional variation remain largely underexplored. In ants, pilosity and body size are morphological traits associated to thermoregulation and heat tolerance, which are critical concerns in the context of global warming. Here, we focused on the dominant ant Camponotus crassus to investigate trait variation and its potential drivers across a latitudinal gradient in the Brazilian Cerrado savanna.

Location

Brazilian Cerrado savanna.

Taxon

Camponotus crassus Mayr, 1862 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae).

Methods

We measured mesosoma pilosity and body size of C. crassus across multiple sites, and evaluated their relationship with temperature, rainfall, solar radiation, vegetation and sugar‐rich resource variables. We also assessed morphological and genetic covariation to search for possible phenotypic plasticity or adaptation in C. crassus.

Results

Only sugar‐rich resources were found to significantly influence C. crassus pilosity. Specifically, a negative relationship between ant pilosity and sugar‐rich resources (i.e., proportion of plants with extrafloral nectaries and hemipteran trophobionts) was found. No covariation between pilosity and genetic dissimilarities was observed, suggesting phenotypic plasticity. None of the variables were significant to predict body size, while this trait positively covaried with genetics.

Main Conclusions

Our findings suggest resource availability as a critical factor for species thermoregulation under environmental change, a hypothesis previously reported in the literature. We emphasise the importance of examining intraspecific variation and phenotypic plasticity across large geographic scales, particularly under the scenario of rapid global change and the current threat to Cerrado savanna. Our work covers a still poorly investigated aspect of intraspecific variation of tropical eusocial insects, and sheds new light on trait variation associated with large geographical gradients and resource availability in a major ecosystem.