bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Boundaries for career success? How work–home integration and perceived supervisor expectation affect careers
Authors: Unger Dana , Kornblum Angelika , Grote Gudela , Hirschi Andreas
Published: December 2022

The necessity to actively manage the work–home boundaries has drastically increased. We postulate that work–home integration may affect individuals' subjective career success via its positive effects on work goal attainment and exhaustion. Furthermore, we study perceived supervisor expectation for employee work–home integration as a boundary condition. Our three‐wave online survey with 371 employees showed support for the two hypothesized moderated mediation effects. Work–home integration preference is indirectly related to subjective career success: (1) positively via home‐to‐work transitions and work goal attainment and (2) negatively via home‐to‐work transitions and exhaustion. Perceived supervisor expectation constrained work–home integration preference's direct effect on home‐to‐work transitions and indirect effects on subjective career success. Exploratory analysis revealed that exhaustion negatively affected all career success dimensions, whereas work goal attainment was only related to some. Our results indicate that supervisor expectation can override the effect of employee's work–home integration preference on home‐to‐work transitions which have a double‐edged sword effect on subjective career success. Our study contributes to integrating the careers and work–life interface literature and incorporating contextual factors. Furthermore, with the exploration of differential effects on subjective career success, we advance our understanding of this outcome's nomological network.
Development of a competency framework for the Assistant Wellbeing Practitioner (Renal) role
Authors: Farrand Paul , Hamilton Alexander , Strickland Sam
Published: December 2022

Background

Many people with kidney disease experience comorbid mental health difficulties that result in worse physical health outcomes alongside greater personal, treatment and societal costs.

Problem

Workforce expansion to treat comorbid mental health difficulties has focussed on psychological practitioners. This fails to capitalise on benefits arising from embedding roles to address biopsychosocial outcomes directly within the renal specialty. A competency framework to inform development and training for such a role has not been developed.

Methods

Five‐phase process to develop a competency framework for an Assistant Wellbeing Practitioner (Renal) role. Following identification of competency frameworks for roles in psychological practice, health and social care, relevant competencies were synthesised to create a draft competency framework. This framework was revised through consultation events with professionals associated with the renal specialty and Kidney Patient Involvement Network with the framework informing a competency map.

Results

The competency map comprised three categories—Knowledge, Values and Principles, Core Skills and Meta‐Competencies with specific competencies for an assistant practitioner role to work within the renal specialty identified. Core knowledge and skills included awareness of kidney treatments and common psychosocial difficulties, collaborative care and supporting evidence‐based prevention approaches.

Conclusions

Competencies associated with the Assistant Wellbeing Practitioner (Renal) role have the potential to promote mental wellbeing, better physical health and generate social and economic benefits. The competency map can inform training and role evaluation, although addressing implementation issues associated with commissioning physical and mental healthcare is required.
Temporal drivers of textural complexity: A pilot study and analysis of simultaneous temporal dominance of sensations and temporal textural complexity data
Authors: Patterson Niamh M. , James Bryony J. , Gant Nicholas , Hautus Michael J.
Published: December 2022

The aim of this study was to assess the applicability of simultaneous methodologies to describe dynamic textural complexity. In a simultaneous task, temporal dominance of sensations (TDS) and temporal textural complexity (TTC) were performed in one session (n = 17). A further 18 participants performed TDS and TTC on separate occasions; data from the simultaneous and separate session were then compared. A further aim was to investigate the temporal nature of textural complexity—temporal drivers of textural complexity were examined, as well as ratings of textural complexity across time. Regression modeling and multivariate analyses indicated little difference in how the participants in the simultaneous and separate tasks performed; only minor differences in the use of TDS attributes were noted. Positive drivers included texture contrast and crumbly/particles, while smooth was a negative driver. Significant differences in TTC data separated into three time intervals were found; a trend of increasing textural complexity during mastication until a midway point followed by a decline emerged. Further research with larger samples is needed to support these findings. However, for the first time this work supports the use of simultaneous tasks in sensory evaluation and indicates the importance of temporality in direct ratings of complexity.

Practical applications

Simultaneous tasks are not commonly used in sensory evaluation, this research suggests their applicability and value; ultimately they may save time and money in research and product development. Direct ratings of sensory complexity are often reported prior to or after descriptive temporal evaluation; this may underestimate true perceived complexity, indicating the importance of considering temporal measures. Sensory complexity is considered an important sensory construct given its arousal potential; thus, identification of drivers of complexity may inform product development.
The snow alga Chloromonas kaweckae sp. nov. (Volvocales, Chlorophyta) causes green surface blooms in the high tatras (Slovakia) and tolerates high irradiance
Authors: Procházková Lenka , Matsuzaki Ryo , Řezanka Tomáš , Nedbalová Linda , Remias Daniel
Published: December 2022

Seasonally slowly melting mountain snowfields are populated by extremophilic microalgae. In alpine habitats, high‐light sensitive, green phytoflagellates are usually observed in subsurface layers deeper in the snowpack under dim conditions, while robust orange to reddish cyst stages can be seen exposed on the surface. In this study, uncommon surface green snow was investigated in the High Tatra Mountains (Slovakia). The monospecific community found in the green surface bloom consisted of vegetative Chloromonas cells (Volvocales, Chlorophyta). Molecular data demonstrated that the field sample and the strain isolated and established from the bloom were conspecific, and they represent a new species, Chloromonas kaweckae sp. nov., which is described based on the morphology of the vegetative cells and asexual reproduction and on molecular analyses of the strain. Cells of C. kaweckae accumulated approximately 50% polyunsaturated fatty acids, which is advantageous at low temperatures. In addition, this new species performed active photosynthesis at temperatures close to the freezing point showed a light compensation point of 126 ± 22 μmol photons · m−2 · s−1 and some signs of photoinhibition at irradiances greater than 600 μmol photons · m−2 · s−1. These data indicate that the photosynthetic apparatus of C. kaweckae could be regarded as adapted to relatively high light intensities, otherwise unusual for most flagellate stages of snow algae.
First fossil evidence of samaras ofVentilagoGaertn. (Rhamnaceae) from India and its implications
Authors: Hazra Taposhi , Kundu Sampa , Bera Subir , Chakraborty Tapan , Khan Mahasin Ali
Published: December 2022

TheVentilagoGaertn. (Rhamnaceae) is widely distributed in pantropical areas of Africa, Asia, and Australia. However, fossil records of this taxon are sparse, which limits understanding of the evolution and biogeographic history of the genus. In the present study, we report and describe two new fossil species ofVentilago,V. siwalikasp. nov. from the Miocene sediments of Himachal Pradesh, western Himalaya, andV.pliocenicasp. nov. from the Pliocene sediments of Jharkhand, eastern India based on single‐winged samaras.Ventilago pliocenicais characterized by a prominent midvein, obtuse to sub‐round apex with mucronate tip, longitudinal secondary veins extending the full length of the fruit, and reticulate nature of higher‐order veins, the presence of equatorial rim, the hypanthium, and short pedicel. On the other hand,V. siwalikais characterized by a prominent midvein, obtuse to sub‐round apex with mucronate tip, longitudinal secondary veins extending the full length of the fruit, and reticulate nature of higher‐order veins. Our discovery represents the first unambiguous fossil record of single‐winged samara ofVentilagofrom India and provides valuable insights into the evolution of this genus. In this paper, we also review its biogeographic history and add new information to understand its hypothetical migration route. Present and earlier records ofVentilagoalso suggest that this genus was a common forest element during Neogene (Miocene time) in Asia.
Hepatocellular carcinoma and hepatitis C virus treatments: The bold and the beautiful
Authors: Abdelhamed Walaa , El‐Kassas Mohamed
Published: December 2022

The occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most serious complications of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Recently, effective antiviral medications have made sustained viral response (SVR) or cure a realistic therapeutic goal for most chronic HCV patients. Given HCV's tumorigenic propensity, it is not surprising that achieving SVR is helpful in preventing HCC. This review briefly summarizes and discusses the existing evidence on the relationship between hepatic carcinogenesis and viral eradication by antivirals, which is mainly divided into interferon‐based and direct‐acting antivirals (DAAs) based therapy. DAAs have changed the treatment landscape of chronic HCV, reaching high rates of SVR even in patients with advanced cirrhosis, with few contraindications and little side effects. Although some early reports suggested that DAA treatment increased the chance of HCC occurrence, more subsequent observational studies have refuted this theory. The probability of HCC recurrence after HCV eradication appears to be decreasing over time following SVR. Despite virological suppression/cure, individuals with liver cirrhosis are still at risk of HCC and should be monitored. There is a considerable need for markers/scores to predict the long‐term risk of HCC in patients with HCV‐related liver disease who attain SVR with direct‐acting antivirals.
Evaluation of serummiR‐216a andmiR‐375 as biomarkers in dogs with acute pancreatitis
Authors: Lee Dohee , Yun Taesik , Koo Yoonhoi , Chae Yeon , Choi Minseok , Kang Byeong‐Teck , Yang Mhan‐Pyo , Kim Hakhyun
Published: December 2022

Background

Serum microRNAs have emerged as biomarkers of various diseases. Overexpression of serum miR‐216a and miR‐375 occurs in dogs with experimentally induced acute pancreatitis (AP).

Objectives

To identify the possibility of using serum miR‐216a and miR‐375 as biomarkers for the diagnosis and evaluation of treatment response in dogs with naturally occurring AP.

Animals

Twenty‐one dogs with AP and 20 healthy dogs.

Methods

Cross‐sectional study. The relative expression of serum hsa‐miR‐216a‐5p, cfa‐miR‐216a, and cfa‐miR‐375 were analyzed using reverse transcription and real‐time PCR.

Results

A significant difference in the serum expression of cfa‐miR‐375 was found between dogs with AP (median [interquartile range] 3.59 [1.55‐24.52]‐fold) and healthy dogs (0.81 [0.54‐2.21]‐fold,P < .001), and no significant differences were observed in hsa‐miR‐216a‐5p and cfa‐miR‐216a (P > .05). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of serum cfa‐miR‐375 for differentiating between AP dogs and healthy dogs was 0.84 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.71‐0.96). The expressions of hsa‐miR‐216a‐5p and cfa‐miR‐375 were positively correlated with the concentrations of serum C‐reactive protein (rs = .46,rs = .48,respectively), but not with the serum specific canine pancreatic lipase. The expression of cfa‐miR‐375 was significantly less after treatment in dogs with AP (P = .02).

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Serum cfa‐miR‐375 could be a potential biomarker for the diagnosis and evaluation of treatment response of AP in dogs. In addition, miR‐216a and miR‐375 could be associated with inflammatory processes in dogs with AP.
Ethnic conflicts and the power of collective identity in Guy Gunaratne's In Our Mad and Furious City (2018)
Authors: Savitskaya Anna
Published: December 2022

Longlisted for the Booker Prize 2018 and winner of the International Dylan Thomas Prize 2019, Guy Gunaratne's debut novel, In Our Mad and Furious City (2018), depicts a cultural conflict unfolding in contemporary London. Set off as the result of a killing of a white soldier by a black Muslim boy, violent riots force Yusuf, a son of immigrants from Pakistan, to recognise his migrant background and question his sense of self and belonging in the city. At the same time, for Nelson and Caroline, immigrants of a different time, the events evoke the memories of the past that haunts them and prove that the cultural divide they witnessed decades ago still prevails. By following the narratives of these characters and depicting violent ethnic clashes, the novel captures the driving forces of blind ethnic brutality on the one hand and the loss of a meaningful sense of self on the other. Drawing on Vamik Volkan's studies on large‐group psychology and collective trauma, this article analyses the power of the collective identity—be it a nation, an ethnicity, or a religious movement—in times of crisis and examines its influence on a personal sense of self. In Our Mad and Furious City illustrates the many ways in which the impact of the shared cultural identity not only generates cultural conflicts but can also lead to displacement and identity crises. This article explores the intricate ways in which Gunaratne's transcultural narrative depicts these age‐old yet contemporary issues.
Female re‐writings of the Jewish diaspora: Metamemory novels and contemporary British‐Jewish women writers
Authors: Pellicer‐Ortín Silvia
Published: December 2022

In keeping with the interdisciplinary dialogue featuring the fields of Diaspora and Memory Studies, some current fictions seem to have absorbed, reproduced and deconstructed those contemporary discourses that reflect on the complex relation between the individual and collective construction of memory in the diaspora. It is in this context that British‐Jewish women authors deserve special attention since they have struggled with numerous memory tensions together with the multifarious identity factors of being Jews, immigrants (or their descendants) and women, adding their multifaceted perspectives on affiliation and belonging to the complexity that defines Jewish identity and culture. This article starts from the neurobiological notion of ʻmetamemoryʼ and the idea that its study leads to understand better both memory and diasporic phenomena. Some contemporary fictional creations by British‐Jewish women writers exemplify what could be defined as ʻthe metamemory novelʼ. In particular, I focus on the fictional works of some pertinent second‐ and third‐generation British‐Jewish female authors—Lisa Appignanesi'sThe Memory Man(2004), Linda Grant'sThe Clothes on their Backs(2008), and Zina Rohan'sThe Small Book(2010). Following Birgit Neumann's notion of ‘fictions of metamemory’ (2008a, b), I detail the key narrative features that configure these novels, such as polyphony, metafictionality and the blurring of time dimensions. Moreover, I study the generational bonds that are (de)constructed in these stories, thanks to Hirsch's notion of ‘postmemory’ (2008), which acquire healing properties for the protagonists. Finally, I conclude that the formal experimentation identified in these writings may confirm that today's Jewish female writers are resorting to literature as a platform to make their diasporic identities more dynamic.
Disorienting empathy: Reimagining the global border regime through Mohsin Hamid's Exit West
Authors: Bellin Stefano
Published: December 2022

This article explores how literature can sensitise us to our potential implication in the injustice and violence of the global border regime. The violence of borders today sustains a large economic and political system that “produces precarity and disposability, exposes migrants and refugees to harm and exploitation, and reinforces global inequalities”. While it manifests itself in direct events, policies, and actions, the violence produced by the global border regime is structural, widespread, and racially charged. Citizens of the global North are not precisely perpetrators of border violence, yet they bear a certain kind of political responsibility for the experiences of trauma, death, impoverishment, and discrimination that borders generate and institutionalise. Reading Mohsin Hamid's Exit West (2017), I investigate how we can recognise ourselves in the position of the ‘implicated subject’ (Michael Rothberg) through a process of what I call ‘disorienting empathy’. This form of expanded and self‐aware perspective‐taking elicits our concern for others, but simultaneously de‐centres our self, leading us to reflect critically on our subject position and on our potential indirect involvement in systemic violence. By examining Exit West's literary strategies, I argue that empathy, non‐appropriative identification, and disorientation can generate a self‐reflexivity about our responsibility in relation to the global border regime. Drawing on affect theory, literary theory, migration studies, and critical race theory, the article highlights contemporary fiction's capacity to represent diasporic experiences and reimagine the freedom of movement in the twenty‐first century.
Extracellular vesicles in fatty liver disease and steatohepatitis: Role as biomarkers and therapeutic targets
Authors: Eguchi Akiko , Iwasa Motoh , Nakagawa Hayato
Published: December 2022

Non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and alcohol‐associated liver disease (ALD) are characterized by lipid deposition in hepatocytes in the absence or presence of excessive alcohol consumption, respectively, ranging from simple steatosis to non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) or alcoholic hepatitis (AH) and from mild fibrosis to cirrhosis. Fatty liver disease and steatohepatitis similarly occur in individuals who have both metabolic syndrome and excessive alcohol intake; therefore, the single overarching term metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) has been proposed to better reflect these risk factors and the continuity of disease progression. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membrane‐bound endogenous nanoparticles released into the extracellular space by a majority of cell types. Liver disease‐related EVs contain a variety of cellular cargo and are internalized into target cells resulting in the transfer of bioinformation reflecting the state of the donor cell to the recipient. Furthermore, EV composition can be used to identify the degree and type of liver disease, suggesting that EV composition may be a useful biomarker. With regard to MAFLD, the presence of metabolic risk factors, such as insulin resistance, will be indicated by adipose tissue‐derived EVs and with that comes the potential to use as a clinical monitor of overall metabolic status. However, the inhibition of specific EV composition may be difficult to implement as a real‐world therapeutic approach. Current global evidence shows that mesenchymal stem cell (MSCs)‐derived EVs (MSC‐EVs) play an important role in regulating the immune response, which has spawned a clinical trial to treat liver disease.
Out of Asia? Expansion of Eurasian Lyme borreliosis causing genospecies display unique evolutionary trajectories
Authors: Rollins Robert E. , Sato Kozue , Nakao Minoru , Tawfeeq Mohammed T. , Herrera‐Mesías Fernanda , Pereira Ricardo J. , Kovalev Sergey , Margos Gabriele , Fingerle Volker , Kawabata Hiroki , Becker Noémie S.
Published: December 2022

Vector‐borne pathogens exist in obligate transmission cycles between vector and reservoir host species. Host and vector shifts can lead to geographic expansion of infectious agents and the emergence of new diseases in susceptible individuals. Three bacterial genospecies (Borrelia afzelii, Borrelia bavariensis, and Borrelia garinii) predominantly utilize two distinct tick species as vectors in Asia (Ixodes persulcatus) and Europe (Ixodes ricinus). Through these vectors, the bacteria can infect various vertebrate groups (e.g., rodents, birds) including humans where they cause Lyme borreliosis, the most common vector‐borne disease in the Northern hemisphere. Yet, how and in which order the three Borrelia genospecies colonized each continent remains unclear including the evolutionary consequences of this geographic expansion. Here, by reconstructing the evolutionary history of 142 Eurasian isolates, we found evidence that the ancestors of each of the three genospecies probably have an Asian origin. Even so, each genospecies studied displayed a unique substructuring and evolutionary response to the colonization of Europe. The pattern of allele sharing between continents is consistent with the dispersal rate of the respective vertebrate hosts, supporting the concept that adaptation of Borrelia genospecies to the host is important for pathogen dispersal. Our results highlight that Eurasian Lyme borreliosis agents are all capable of geographic expansion with host association influencing their dispersal; further displaying the importance of host and vector association to the geographic expansion of vector‐borne pathogens and potentially conditioning their capacity as emergent pathogens.
Riverscape community genomics: A comparative analytical approach to identify common drivers of spatial structure
Authors: Zbinden Zachery D. , Douglas Marlis R. , Chafin Tyler K. , Douglas Michael E.
Published: December 2022

Genetic differentiation among local groups of individuals, that is, genetic β‐diversity, is a key component of population persistence related to connectivity and isolation. However, most genetic investigations of natural populations focus on a single species, overlooking opportunities for multispecies conservation plans to benefit entire communities in an ecosystem. We present an approach to evaluate genetic β‐diversity within and among many species and demonstrate how this riverscape community genomics approach can be applied to identify common drivers of genetic structure. Our study evaluated genetic β‐diversity in 31 co‐distributed native stream fishes sampled from 75 sites across the White River Basin (Ozarks, USA) using SNP genotyping (ddRAD). Despite variance among species in the degree of genetic divergence, general spatial patterns were identified corresponding to river network architecture. Most species (N = 24) were partitioned into discrete subpopulations (K = 2–7). We used partial redundancy analysis to compare species‐specific genetic β‐diversity across four models of genetic structure: Isolation by distance (IBD), isolation by barrier (IBB), isolation by stream hierarchy (IBH), and isolation by environment (IBE). A significant proportion of intraspecific genetic variation was explained by IBH (x̄ = 62%), with the remaining models generally redundant. We found evidence for consistent spatial modularity in that gene flow is higher within rather than between hierarchical units (i.e., catchments, watersheds, basins), supporting the generalization of the stream hierarchy model. We discuss our conclusions regarding conservation and management and identify the 8‐digit hydrologic unit (HUC) as the most relevant spatial scale for managing genetic diversity across riverine networks.
Habitat fragmentation matters more than habitat loss: The case of host–parasite interactions
Authors: Perrin Antoine , Khimoun Aurélie , Ollivier Anthony , Richard Yves , Pérez‐Rodríguez Antón , Faivre Bruno , Garnier Stéphane
Published: December 2022

While ecologists agree that habitat loss has a substantial negative effect on biodiversity it is still very much a matter of debate whether habitat fragmentation has a lesser effect and whether this effect is positive or negative for biodiversity. Here, we assess the relative influence of tropical forest loss and fragmentation on the prevalence of vector‐borne blood parasites of the generaPlasmodiumandHaemoproteusin six forest bird species. We also determine whether habitat loss and fragmentation are associated with a rise or fall in prevalence. We sample more than 4000 individual birds from 58 forest sites in Guadeloupe and Martinique. Considering 34 host–parasite combinations independently and a fine characterization of the amount and spatial configuration of habitat, we use partial least square regressions to disentangle the relative effects of forest loss, forest fragmentation, landscape heterogeneity, and local weather conditions on spatial variability of parasite prevalence. Then we test for the magnitude and the sign of the effect of each environmental descriptor. Strikingly, we show that forest fragmentation explains twice as much of the variance in prevalence as habitat loss or landscape heterogeneity. In addition, habitat fragmentation leads to an overall rise in prevalence in Guadeloupe, but its effect is variable in Martinique. Both habitat loss and landscape heterogeneity exhibit taxon‐specific effects. Our results suggest that habitat loss and fragmentation may have contrasting effects between tropical and temperate regions and that inter‐specific interactions may not respond in the same way as more commonly used biodiversity metrics such as abundance and diversity.
Functional characterization reveals a diverse array of metazoan fatty acid biosynthesis genes
Authors: Boyen Jens , Ribes‐Navarro Alberto , Kabeya Naoki , Monroig Óscar , Rigaux Annelien , Fink Patrick , Hablützel Pascal I. , Navarro Juan Carlos , De Troch Marleen
Published: December 2022

Long‐chain (≥C20) polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC‐PUFAs) are physiologically important fatty acids for most animals, including humans. Although most LC‐PUFA production occurs in aquatic primary producers such as microalgae, recent research indicates the ability of certain groups of (mainly marine) invertebrates for endogenous LC‐PUFA biosynthesis and/or bioconversion from dietary precursors. The genetic pathways for and mechanisms behind LC‐PUFA biosynthesis remain unknown in many invertebrates to date, especially in non‐model species. However, the numerous genomic and transcriptomic resources currently available can contribute to our knowledge of the LC‐PUFA biosynthetic capabilities of metazoans. Within our previously generated transcriptome of the benthic harpacticoid copepod Platychelipus littoralis, we detected expression of one methyl‐end desaturase, one front‐end desaturase, and seven elongases, key enzymes responsible for LC‐PUFA biosynthesis. To demonstrate their functionality, we characterized eight of them using heterologous expression in yeast. The P. littoralis methyl‐end desaturase has Δ15/17/19 desaturation activity, enabling biosynthesis of α‐linolenic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) from 18:2 n−6, 20:4 n−6 and 22:5 n−6, respectively. Its front‐end desaturase has Δ4 desaturation activity from 22:5 n−3 to DHA, implying that P. littoralis has multiple pathways to produce this physiologically important fatty acid. All studied P. littoralis elongases possess varying degrees of elongation activity for saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, producing aliphatic hydrocarbon chains with lengths of up to 30 carbons. Our investigation revealed a functionally diverse range of fatty acid biosynthesis genes in copepods, which highlights the need to scrutinize the role that primary consumers could perform in providing essential nutrients to upper trophic levels.
Geographical distance, host evolutionary history and diet drive gut microbiome diversity of fish across the Yellow River
Authors: Pan Baozhu , Han Xu , Yu Ke , Sun He , Mu Rong , Lian Chun‐Ang
Published: December 2022

Fish represent a large part of the taxonomic diversity of vertebrates and are of high commercial value. However, the factors influencing the gut microbiota composition of freshwater fish over large spatial scales remain unclear. Therefore, this study explored gut microbiome diversity in 24 fish species from the Yellow River, which spans over 1500 km across China. The results showed that geographical distance, host phylogeny and diet significantly influenced gut microbial community diversity, whereas sex, body length and body weight had minimal influence. Geographical distance was the primary factor shaping gut microbiota, and dissimilarity in microbial community structure increased with an increase in geographical distance, which was mainly driven by dispersal limitation. The microbial communities were more homogeneous at higher host taxonomic resolutions due to the dominant role of homogeneous selection in community convergence. Phylosymbiosis was observed across all host species, with a stronger pattern in Cypriniformes, which harbour host‐specific microbial taxa. Host diet explained little variation in gut microbiome diversity, although it was significant for all diversity metrics tested. These findings collectively suggest that the geographical and host‐based patterns of fish gut microbiota tend to be shaped by different ecological forces across the Yellow River. The present work provides a robust assessment of multiple factors driving fish gut microbial community assembly and offers insight into the mechanisms underlying shifts in fish gut microbiota in rivers across large spatial scales.
Longitudinal exploration of students' identity formation during the transition from pre‐clinical to clinical training using research poetry
Authors: Atherley Anique , Teunissen Pim , Hegazi Iman , Hu Wendy , Dolmans Diana
Published: December 2022

Background

Transitions are critical periods that can lead to growth and, or, distress. Transitions are a sociocultural process, yet most approaches to transitions in practice and research do not explore the social or developmental aspects of entering a new training phase. Wenger reminds us that identity development is crucial when newcomers navigate change. In this paper, we use Wenger's modes of identification: engagement, imagination and alignment to explore students' identity development (as a student and professional) during the transition from pre‐clinical to clinical training.

Methods

We enrolled nine 2nd‐year medical students who generated 61 entries comprising audio diary (or typed) reflections over 9 months (starting 3 months before clinical clerkships began) and interviewed them twice. We usedresearch poems(transcripts reframed as poetry) to help construct a meaningful, emotive elicitation of our longitudinal data and analysed data using sensitising concepts from Wenger's modes of identification.

Results

Students described their transition as a journey filled with positive and negative emotions and uncertainty about their current and future careers. Students navigated the transition using three mechanisms: (1) becoming more engaged through taking charge, (2) shaping their image of self through engagement and finding role models and (3) learning to flexibly adapt to clerkship norms by managing expectations and adopting a journey mindset.

Conclusions

We successfully narrated students’ identity formation during their transition to clinical training. We learned that students became more engaged over time by learning to take charge. They shaped their image of self by engaging in team activities and reflecting on role models. They learnt to adapt flexibly to clerkship norms by managing expectations and adopting a journey mindset. We suggest that institutions provide a safe opportunity for medical students to reflect, allowing students’ transition periods to be lived, reflected on and supported.
Demodex murilegi and Demodex obliquus, two new specific skin mites from domestic cat Felis catus, with notes on parasitism
Authors: Izdebska Joanna N. , Rolbiecki Leszek , Fryderyk Sławomira
Published: December 2022

The Demodecidae are skin and tissue parasites of mammals with high host, topical, and topographic specificity. They may cause a demodecosis, typically observed in pets and humans. Numerous mammal species have been found to have several, specific demodecids, which inhabit different microhabitats. Thus far, two species have been known from the domestic cat, namely Demodex cati Megnin, 1877 (Acariformes: Demodecidae) and D. gatoi Desch and Stewart, 1999; however, there have been indications for the presence of other demodecid mites in this host. Presently, two other species are described, D. murilegi sp. nov. associated primarily with the skin from the area of lips and nose, and D. obliquus sp. nov. associated with the skin of the lower part of the limb. They exhibit morphological discreteness in terms of qualitative traits significant for Demodecidae taxonomy. Demodex murilegi sp. nov. is larger than both known species, and D. obliquus sp. nov. is intermediate in length between them. It is likely that infection with different Demodex species may result in variable symptoms and courses of demodecosis; however, a correct identification of the species causing the parasitosis is needed to confirm this. Thus, the present study compares the taxonomic traits of four cat demodecid mites.
Trends in the incidence of renal replacement therapy by type of primary kidney disease in Japan, 2006–2020
Authors: Wakasugi Minako , Narita Ichiei
Published: December 2022

Aim

Age‐standardized incidence of end stage kidney disease requiring renal replacement therapy (RRT) has stabilized in men and declined in women in Japan since 1996. However, recent trends by primary kidney disease are unknown. The present study aimed to examine recent trends in incidence rates of RRT by primary kidney disease in Japan.

Methods

Numbers of incident RRT patients aged ≥20 years by sex and primary kidney disease from 2006 to 2020 were extracted from the Japanese Society of Dialysis Therapy registry. Using the census population as the denominator, annual incidence rates of RRT were calculated and standardized to the WHO World Standard Population (2000–2025). Average annual percentage change (AAPC) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for trends using Joinpoint regression analysis.

Results

From 2006 to 2020, the crude number of incident RRT patients due to nephrosclerosis increased by 132% for men and 62% for women. Age‐standardized incidence rates of RRT due to nephrosclerosis increased significantly, by 3.3% (95% CI: 2.9–3.7) and 1.4% (95% CI: 0.8–1.9) per year for men and women, respectively. The AAPC of chronic glomerulonephritis (−4.4% [95% CI: −5.3 to −3.8] for men and −5.1% [95% CI: −5.5 to −4.6] for women) and diabetic nephropathy (−0.6% [95% CI: −0.9 to −0.3] for men and −2.8% [95% CI: −3.1 to −2.6] for women) significantly decreased from 2006 to 2020.

Conclusion

Incident RRT due to chronic glomerulonephritis and diabetic nephropathy decreased, while the number and incident rates of RRT due to nephrosclerosis increased, from 2006 to 2020 in Japan.
Optimal coordination and reorganization of photosynthetic properties in C4 grasses
Authors: Zhou Haoran , Akçay Erol , Helliker Brent
Published: December 2022

Each of >20 independent evolutions of C4 photosynthesis in grasses required reorganization of the Calvin–Benson‐cycle (CB‐cycle) within the leaf, along with coordination of C4‐cycle enzymes with the CB‐cycle to maximize CO2 assimilation. Considering the vast amount of time over which C4 evolved, we hypothesized (i) trait divergences exist within and across lineages with both C4 and closely related C3 grasses, (ii) trends in traits after C4 evolution yield the optimization of C4 through time, and (iii) the presence/absence of trends in coordination between the CB‐cycle and C4‐cycle provides information on the strength of selection. To address these hypotheses, we used a combination of optimality modelling, physiological measurements and phylogenetic‐comparative‐analysis. Photosynthesis was optimized after the evolution of C4 causing diversification in maximal assimilation, electron transport, Rubisco carboxylation, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase and chlorophyll within C4 lineages. Both theory and measurements indicated a higher light‐reaction to CB‐cycle ratio (Jatpmax/Vcmax) in C4 than C3. There were no evolutionary trends with photosynthetic coordination between the CB‐cycle, light reactions and the C4‐cycle, suggesting strong initial selection for coordination. The coordination of CB‐C4‐cycles (Vpmax/Vcmax) was optimal for CO2 of 200 ppm, not to current conditions. Our model indicated that a higher than optimal Vpmax/Vcmax affects assimilation minimally, thus lessening recent selection to decrease Vpmax/Vcmax.
Advancements in melanoma cancer metastasis models
Authors: Nascentes Melo Luiza Martins , Kumar Suresh , Riess Valeria , Szylo Krystina J. , Eisenburger Robin , Schadendorf Dirk , Ubellacker Jessalyn M. , Tasdogan Alpaslan
Published: December 2022

Metastatic melanoma is a complex and deadly disease. Due to its complexity, the development of novel therapeutic strategies to inhibit metastatic melanoma remains an outstanding challenge. Our ability to study metastasis is advanced with the development of in vitro and in vivo models that better mimic the different steps of the metastatic cascade beginning from primary tumor initiation to final metastatic seeding. In this review, we provide a comprehensive summary of in vitro models, in vivo models, and in silico platforms to study the individual steps of melanoma metastasis. Furthermore, we highlight the advantages and limitations of each model and discuss the challenges of how to improve current models to enhance translation for melanoma cancer patients and future therapies.
Pediatric pulse dose corticosteroid therapy dosing and administration in the treatment of alopecia areata: A review of literature
Authors: Gallaga Natalya M. , Carrillo Brenda , Good Allison , Munoz‐Gonzalez Ayezel , Ross Lindy
Published: December 2022

Background

The use of pulse dose corticosteroid therapy (PDCT) in children for treatment of alopecia areata (AA) has been reported, but dosing regimens are not well‐established. We aim to evaluate the available literature regarding the utilization and various dosing regimens of PDCT, as well as associated side effects, in the treatment of AA in children.

Methods

We performed a systematic review of studies describing the use of PDCT for the treatment of AA in children.

Results

Eight relevant studies were identified, five of which administered the treatment intravenously (IV) and three of which administered the treatment orally. Protocols with IV administration included two studies which used IV dexamethasone at 1.5 mg/kg/day for 1–3 days monthly for a maximum of 12 cycles and three studies used IV methylprednisolone 8–30 mg/kg/day for 1–3 days monthly for a maximum of 3–10 cycles. The three protocols with oral administration included variable doses of prednisolone at variable intervals and cycle lengths, betamethasone and dexamethasone at a prednisolone equivalent of 5 mg/kg, and methylprednisolone 15 mg/kg for 3 days bimonthly for 12 cycles. In these studies, PDCT was generally well‐tolerated and resulted in improvement of the AA.

Conclusion

PDCT was found to be well‐tolerated with few serious side effects reported. It appears to be beneficial early in disease course, especially for those with multifocal AA.
Co‐existence of atypical tuberculid with lupus vulgaris
Authors: Nanda Arti , Cholasseri Selma , AlAbdulkareem Ahmad , Karam Tarek M. , Al‐Sabah Hamoud
Published: December 2022

Cutaneous tuberculosis (CTB) is an uncommon form of extra‐pulmonary tuberculosis accounting for ≤2% of mycobacterium tuberculosis cases and is more often reported from developing countries. Tuberculid, a cutaneous hypersensitivity reaction to mycobacteria or its fragments, is a another rare cutaneous manifestation seen in association with tuberculosis of other organ systems including tuberculous lymphadenitis, pulmonary tuberculosis, etc. Co‐occurrence of a tuberculid with CTB is extremely rare. Herein we report a childhood case of lupus vulgaris, a type of CTB, associated with an atypical presentation of tuberculid.
Caffeine consumption as a risk factor for childhood and adolescence migraine
Authors: Hikita Toshiyuki , Goda Hitomi , Ogawa Yasuko , Kudo Toshiyuki , Ito Kiyomi
Published: December 2022

Background

Caffeine consumption is a risk factor for chronic daily headache but few studies have addressed relationships between pediatric patient caffeine levels and headache severity. We examined associations between serum and urine caffeine levels and headache severity in childhood and adolescent migraine cases.

Methods

Levels of caffeine and caffeine metabolites in serum and urine samples were determined by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). The Wilcoxon rank‐sum test was used for comparisons of age, sleep time, headache severity, caffeine consumption, and caffeine detection. Spearman's rank correlation coefficient (ρ) was calculated for associations. Correlations where ρ ≥ 0.3 and differences where p < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Results

Of the 40 patients studied, 34 declared caffeine consumption and six declared no caffeine consumption. These two groups did not differ significantly in any of the above clinical parameters. Liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry analysis of both serum and urine samples revealed nine caffeine‐negative (level <0.0625 μM) and 31 caffeine‐positive cases. The Headache Impact Test‐6 (HIT‐6) score was higher (p = 0.033) for the caffeine‐positive group versus the caffeine‐negative group. Caffeine was detected by LC–MS/MS in the serum and/or urine of three of the six patients who declared no caffeine consumption. No significant correlations were observed among age, sleep times, headache severity score, or levels of caffeine and caffeine metabolites.

Conclusion

Thirty one of 40 (77.5%) cases of childhood/ adolescence migraine showed serum and urine caffeine positivity based on LC–MS/MS. The HIT‐6 score, a measure of headache severity, was significantly higher for caffeine‐positive versus caffeine‐negative cases. Symptoms of childhood/adolescence migraine were exacerbated by caffeine consumption.
Target‐based resource pooling problem
Authors: Cui Zheng , Ding Jianpeng , Long Daniel Zhuoyu , Zhang Lianmin
Published: December 2022

We study a two‐stage resource pooling problem with multiple resources and customers. The central decision‐maker decides the capacity level of the resources within a total budget before the realization of uncertain demand. Then, the fulfillment policy is determined by individual service‐level requirements. We use a robust satisficing framework to formulate the problem and allow ambiguity in the distribution of demand. Moreover, we introduce a new utility‐based probability distance allowing the model to be solved exactly using a column and constraint generation algorithm. We also provide a more efficient solution method for some special cases. Finally, we conduct experiments for a process flexibility problem, which is an example of the resource pooling problem. We show the advantage of our model over some benchmark approaches, and show the impact of the flexibility structure and correlation between demands.
Co‐op advertising in randomly fluctuating markets
Authors: Han Jinhui , Sethi Suresh P. , Siu Chi Chung , Yam Sheung Chi Phillip
Published: December 2022

We consider a dynamic Stackelberg game between a manufacturer and a retailer facing a randomly changing market environment (boom–bust cycle) modeled as a Markov process over time. The manufacturer announces the national advertising effort and a cooperative (co‐op) advertising subsidy, and the retailer sets the local advertising effort. We derive the optimal feedback equilibrium advertising strategies and show that the channel members are forward‐looking in their advertising decisions. In the single‐crisis case, both the necessary and sufficient conditions for a positive subsidy reveal that the subsidy decision hinges on the relative profit margins before and after the crisis. Our comparative statics analysis indicates that the presence of national advertising enriches the members' advertising behaviors significantly. Furthermore, the pre‐crisis (post‐crisis) aggregate advertising contribution of the supply chain generally decreases (increases) in the damage rate and the crisis likelihood, as in the single‐firm case. But the individual advertising behaviors of the members may exhibit richer structures, depending on the comparative advantages of the members in each state. In addition, our numerical studies demonstrate that channel members can suffer sizable losses when they adopt myopic advertising strategies over their regime‐switching counterparts. Finally, we extend our analysis to incorporate retail and brand competition and show that the channel members' advertising behaviors are reasonably consistent with those without competition.
Effects of consumers' context‐dependent preferences on product bundling
Authors: Yin Qianbo , Jiang Baojun , Zhou Sean Xiang
Published: December 2022

Bundling can change consumers' choice set and affect their purchase decision. It is well documented that consumers' preferences depend on the bundling context. In this paper, we investigate the effects of consumers' context‐dependent preferences (CDPs) on the firm's optimal bundling strategy in various competitive situations. We consider a market where a monopolist firm in product category A also sells a product in product category B. We analyze three scenarios in category B: (1) an independent firm selling a higher quality product, (2) two independent firms selling the higher quality product, and (3) the monopolist in category A is also a monopolist in category B. We find that CDPs can indeed change the firm's optimal bundling strategy. When the firm has a competitive disadvantage in category B, CDPs encourage the firm to offer the bundle (by either pure bundling or mixed bundling). Furthermore, if category B market is so competitive that the firm possesses negligible market power, mixed bundling can be strictly more effective at increasing the firm's profit than pure bundling because mixed bundling can better take advantage of CDPs. In contrast, if the firm has monopoly power in both categories, CDPs discourage the introduction of the bundle, and pure‐component selling is optimal.
Patterns in firms’ inventories and flexibility levels after a low‐probability, high‐impact disruption event: Empirical evidence from the Great East Japan Earthquake
Authors: Durach Christian F. , Repasky Tomas , Wiengarten Frank
Published: December 2022

How do firms respond after being exposed to a low‐probability, high‐consequence (lp‐hc) disruption event? This study examines inventory and flexibility patterns in manufacturing firms in the years following an lp‐hc event, the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011. We find patterns suggesting that most firms exposed to the event began to increase their raw material inventories (RAW) over the longer term and increased their volume flexibility for a shorter period. Furthermore, we found that firms increased their RAW mainly when inventories were already at high levels, while the opposite is true for volume flexibility. Firms that were classified as risk‐averse before the event show stronger swings after the event. Preliminary explorations suggest that the performance of firms that have engaged in these inventory shifts is significantly impeded. This study provides insight into a previously unexplored phenomenon, namely, the longer‐term responses of firms to exposure to lp‐hc events. It opens the possibilities of new research regarding causality, economic consequences, and mechanisms of the identified patterns. Increased efforts in this direction should enable our discipline to provide improved normative guidance both socially and operationally.