bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Neuropsychiatric symptoms in a patient under cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator modulators treatment: a case report
Authors: Andreu Helena , Olivier Luis , Giménez-Palomo Anna , Roson-Fernandez Carmen , Bueno Laura , de Juan Óscar , Bartolomé Inés , Ilzarbe Lidia , Tardón-Senabre Laia , Fernández-Plaza Tabatha , Arbelo Néstor , Valentí Marc , Gil-Badenes Joaquín , Macau Elisabet , Pujol-Fontrodona Gabriel , Colomer Lluc , Vieta Eduard , Pacchiarotti Isabella
Published: September 2023

In recent times, some research has focused on the study of potential treatments for cystic fibrosis (CF), such as cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) modulators. These treatments have been reported to produce neuropsychiatric symptoms in a few patients, even though there is still no clear correlation nor underlying mechanism proposed. We present the case of a 23-year-old woman with CF and no previous psychiatric history who was admitted to our inpatient psychiatric unit presenting a wide range of neuropsychiatric symptoms, such as disorganized speech, bizarre poses or persecutory delusional ideation, after going under CFTR modulators treatment. After several diagnostic tests, other possible organic causes were ruled out. Multiple antipsychotic treatments were tested during her admission, with poor tolerance and scarce response. Finally, symptomatic remission was only observed after electroconvulsive therapy was initiated. The final diagnostic hypothesis was unspecified psychosis. This case highlights the relevance of considering the possibility of neuropsychiatric symptoms appearing in patients under CFTR modulators treatment.
Axon morphology and intrinsic cellular properties determine repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation threshold for plasticity
Authors: Galanis Christos , Neuhaus Lena , Hananeia Nicholas , Turi Zsolt , Jedlicka Peter , Vlachos Andreas
Published: September 2023

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a widely used therapeutic tool in neurology and psychiatry, but its cellular and molecular mechanisms are not fully understood. Standardizing stimulus parameters, specifically electric field strength and direction, is crucial in experimental and clinical settings. It enables meaningful comparisons across studies and facilitating the translation of findings into clinical practice. However, the impact of biophysical properties inherent to the stimulated neurons and networks on the outcome of rTMS protocols remains not well understood. Consequently, achieving standardization of biological effects across different brain regions and subjects poses a significant challenge. This study compared the effects of 10 Hz repetitive magnetic stimulation (rMS) in entorhino-hippocampal tissue cultures from mice and rats, providing insights into the impact of the same stimulation protocol on similar neuronal networks under standardized conditions. We observed the previously described plastic changes in excitatory and inhibitory synaptic strength of CA1 pyramidal neurons in both mouse and rat tissue cultures, but a higher stimulation intensity was required for the induction of rMS-induced synaptic plasticity in rat tissue cultures. Through systematic comparison of neuronal structural and functional properties and computational modeling, we found that morphological parameters of CA1 pyramidal neurons alone are insufficient to explain the observed differences between the groups. However, axon morphologies of individual cells played a significant role in determining activation thresholds. Notably, differences in intrinsic cellular properties were sufficient to account for the 10 % higher intensity required for the induction of synaptic plasticity in the rat tissue cultures. These findings demonstrate the critical importance of axon morphology and intrinsic cellular properties in predicting the plasticity effects of rTMS, carrying valuable implications for the development of computer models aimed at predicting and standardizing the biological effects of rTMS.
Neural bases of reading fluency: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Lee Marissa M. , Stoodley Catherine J.
Published: September 2023

Reading fluency, the ability to read quickly and accurately, is a critical marker of successful reading and is notoriously difficult to improve in reading disabled populations. Despite its importance to functional literacy, fluency is a relatively under-studied aspect of reading, and the neural correlates of reading fluency are not well understood. Here, we review the literature of the neural correlates of reading fluency and rapid automatized naming (RAN), a task that is robustly related to reading speed. In a qualitative review of the neuroimaging literature, we evaluated structural and functional MRI studies of reading fluency in readers ranging in skill levels. This was followed by a quantitative activation likelihood estimate (ALE) meta-analysis of fMRI studies of reading fluency and RAN measures. We anticipated that reading speed, relative to untimed reading and reading-related tasks, would harness ventral reading pathways that are thought to enable the fast, visual recognition of words. The qualitative review showed that speeded reading taps the entire canonical reading network. The meta-analysis, which focused on in-scanner reading fluency measures, indicated a stronger role of the ventral reading pathway in fluent reading. Both reviews identified regions outside the canonical reading network that contribute to reading fluency, such as the bilateral insula and superior parietal lobule. We suggest that fluent reading engages both domain-specific reading pathways as well as domain-general regions that support overall task performance and discuss future avenues of research to expand our understanding of the neural bases of fluent reading.
GeneCompass: Deciphering Universal Gene Regulatory Mechanisms with Knowledge-Informed Cross-Species Foundation Model
Authors: Yang Xiaodong , Liu Guole , Feng Guihai , Bu Dechao , Wang Pengfei , Jiang Jie , Chen Shubai , Yang Qinmeng , Zhang Yiyang , Man Zhenpeng , Liang Zhongming , Wang Zichen , Li Yaning , Li Zheng , Liu Yana , Tian Yao , Li Ao , Dong Jingxi , Hu Zhilong , Fang Chen , Miao Hefan , Cui Lina , Deng Zixu , Jiang Haiping , Cui Wentao , Zhang Jiahao , Yang Zhaohui , Li Handong , He Xingjian , Zhong Liqun , Zhou Jiaheng , Wang Zijian , Long Qingqing , Xu Ping ,   The X-Compass Consortium, Wang Hongmei , Meng Zhen , Wang Xuezhi , Wang Yangang , Wang Yong , Zhang Shihua , Guo Jingtao , Zhao Yi , Zhou Yuanchun , Li Fei , Liu Jing , Chen Yiqiang , Yang Ge , Li Xin
Published: September 2023

Deciphering the universal gene regulatory mechanisms in diverse organisms holds great potential to advance our knowledge of fundamental life process and facilitate research on clinical applications. However, the traditional research paradigm primarily focuses on individual model organisms, resulting in limited collection and integration of complex features on various cell types across species. Recent breakthroughs in single-cell sequencing and advancements in deep learning techniques present an unprecedented opportunity to tackle this challenge. In this study, we developed GeneCompass, the first knowledge-informed, cross-species foundation model pre-trained on an extensive dataset of over 120 million single-cell transcriptomes from human and mouse. During pre-training, GeneCompass effectively integrates four types of biological prior knowledge to enhance the understanding of gene regulatory mechanisms in a self-supervised manner. Fine-tuning towards multiple downstream tasks, GeneCompass outperforms competing state-of-the-art models in multiple tasks on single species and unlocks new realms of cross-species biological investigation. Overall, GeneCompass marks a milestone in advancing knowledge of universal gene regulatory mechanisms and accelerating the discovery of key cell fate regulators and candidate targets for drug development.
Maturation and detoxification of synphilin-1 inclusion bodies regulated by sphingolipids
Authors: Cao Xiuling , Wu Xiang , Zhao Lei , Zheng Ju , Jin Xuejiao , Hao Xinxin , Winderickx Joris , Liu Shenkui , Chen Lihua , Liu Beidong
Published: September 2023

Due to proteostasis stress induced by aging or disease, misfolded proteins can form toxic intermediate species of aggregates and eventually mature into less toxic inclusion bodies (IBs). Here, using a yeast imaging-based screen, we identified 84 potential synphilin-1 (SY1) IB regulators and isolated the conserved sphingolipid metabolic components in the most enriched groups. Furthermore, we show that, in both yeast cells and mammalian cells, SY1 IBs are associated with mitochondria. Pharmacological inhibition of the sphingolipid metabolism pathway or knockout of its key genes results in a delayed IB maturation and increased SY1 cytotoxicity. We postulate that SY1 IB matures by association with the mitochondrion membrane, and that sphingolipids stimulate the maturation via their membrane-modulating function and thereby protecting cells from SY1 cytotoxicity. Our findings identify a conserved cellular component essential for IB maturation and suggest a mechanism by which cells may detoxify the pathogenic protein aggregates through forming mitochondrion-associated IBs.
Developing a framework for effective institutional management of Ghana's urban water supply
Authors: Aigbavboa Clinton , Addo Lawrence Yao , Ebekozien Andrew , Thwala Wellington Didibhuku , Arthur-Aidoo Bernard Martins
Published: September 2023

Purpose

A viable framework has been proven to reduce operational and institutional inefficiencies in the urban water supply sector. The absence of drivers necessary to develop a framework may have hindered institutional development and effective Ghanaian urban water supply management. Thus, the research aims to identify the drivers and develop a framework for effectively managing the urban water supply in Ghana.

Design/methodology/approach

The study utilised a qualitative research design approach and analysed collected data to proffer answers to the research questions. The research sampled 19 participants, and saturation was achieved.

Findings

Findings identified drivers for developing Ghana's urban water supply framework. They categorised them into the availability of water supply resources, the level of professionalism of the personnel, the provision of accessible quality water, the efficient management system of water supply, prudent financial management, ethics for managing water supply and the culture of managing water supply. These pertinent constructs form components of Ghana's urban water sector framework.

Originality/value

Besides supporting transformation and sustainability to develop a framework for managing Ghana's urban water supply sector, policymakers may utilise the developed model to evaluate public urban water supply compliance with Ghana's water sector performance.
CPG-MPC controller for wheel-fin-flipper integrated amphibious robot
Authors: Qiao Yue , Wei Wang , Li Yunxiang , Xu Shengzui , Wei Lang , Hao Xu , Xia Re
Published: September 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to introduce a motion control method for WFF-AmphiRobot, which can effectively realize the flexible motion of the robot on land, underwater and in the transition zone between land and water.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the dynamics model, the authors selected the appropriate state variables to construct the state space model of the robot and estimated the feedback state of the robot through the maximum a posteriori probability estimation. The nonlinear predictive model controller of the robot is constructed by local linearization of the model to perform closed-loop control on the overall motion of the robot. For the control problem of the terminal trajectory, using the neural rhythmic movement theory in bionics to construct a robot central pattern generator (CPG) for real-time generation of terminal trajectory.

Findings

In this paper, the motion state of WFF-AmphiRobot is estimated, and a model-based overall motion controller for the robot and an end-effector controller based on neural rhythm control are constructed. The effectiveness of the controller and motion control algorithm is verified by simulation and physical prototype motion experiments on land and underwater, and the robot can ideally complete the desired behavior.

Originality/value

The paper designed a controller for WFF-AmphiRobot. First, when constructing the robot state estimator in this paper, the robot dynamics model is introduced as the a priori estimation model, and the error compensation of the a priori model is performed by the method of maximum a posteriori probability estimation, which improves the accuracy of the state estimator. Second, for the underwater oscillation motion characteristics of the flipper, the Hopf oscillator is used as the basis, and the flipper fluctuation equation is modified and improved by the CPG signal is adapted to the flipper oscillation demand. The controller effectively controls the position error and heading angle error within the desired range during the movement of the WFF-AmphiRobot.
Religiosity, financial distress and R&D accounting treatment in US context
Authors: Gharbi Ines , Hamed-Sidhom Mounira , Hussainey Khaled
Published: September 2023

Purpose

Prior research shows that religiosity affects the degree of managers' risk aversion. As a result, religious firms are less likely to invest in R&D activities. Moreover, US GAAP treats these investments as expenses. For this reason, religious firms have fewer expenses in their earnings and are less likely to be in financial distress.

Design/methodology/approach

Data are collected from Worldscope and the Churches and Church Membership files of the American Religion Data Archive website from 1985 to 2018. With 18,199 observations in US context, the authors used the marginal effect to test the mediating effect of R&D accounting treatment.

Findings

The authors find that the marginal effect of religiosity on financial distress with US GAAP is higher than the marginal effect of religiosity on financial distress with capitalization of R&D costs, which means that accounting treatment can explain the relation between religiosity and financial distress in the US context.

Research limitations/implications

The authors used linear interpolation and linear extrapolation data to be able to conduct this research over a period of 1985–2018. For future researches, the authors propose to test other factors which can explain the relationship between religiosity and financial distress based on the ethics element.

Practical implications

These results should be of interest to regulators because treating R&D activities as expenses can destroy the accounting performance of firms that prefer investing in risky projects. This favoritism prevents the comparison between two firms in the same industry with different risk-taking behaviors. This problem is more prevalent if the authors have two firms with different ratios of religiosity. This paper suffers from a major limitation related to data availability.

Originality/value

This may be the first study that investigates why religious firms are less likely to be in financial distress. This paper notes that religious firms are less likely to be in financial distress because their conservative behavior towards R&D activities coincides with the conservative R&D accounting treatment. In fact, the mismatch between expenses and revenues from R&D activities can cause financial distress.
Cruise shipping network of ports in and around the emission control areas: a network structure perspective
Authors: Kanrak Maneerat , Lau Yui-yip , Ling Xavier , Traiyarach Saksuriya
Published: September 2023

Purpose

The rapid growth in cruise shipping coupled with increasing public awareness of climate change has led to increasing concerns about the impact cruise shipping poses on the environment, especially regarding air emissions. This study analyses the cruise shipping network of ports in and around the emission control areas (ECAs) to understand the structural properties of the network and ports.

Design/methodology/approach

A complex network approach was used to analyse the network data of 239 voyages serviced by 14 international cruise lines, visiting 127 ports across 44 countries in the Caribbean Sea.

Findings

It is found that the network has a small-world property with a short average path length and a high clustering coefficient. The regulations affect connections among ports, in which most ports in ECAs have lower connections than ports outside ECAs. A few ports in ECAs play important key roles, but many ports outside ECAs play a more important role in the network because the regulations are barriers for cruise ships entering the ports.

Originality/value

The findings of this study have drawn useful guidelines for cruise lines and port authorities to improve their operations. Constrictive recommendations are suggested to policymakers for designing reasonable regulations to attract more cruise shipping to travel in ECAs.
Open innovation and firm performance in emerging economies: a bibliometric and TCCM analysis review
Authors: Majumdarr Shubh , Dasgupta Shilpee A. , Farooq Rayees
Published: September 2023

Purpose

Compared to their counterparts in developed economies, businesses established in emerging economies continuously struggle due to resource and time constraints. Open innovation (OI) allows these firms to bridge the gap and advance towards technological advancements; however, the scholarly knowledge on the subject is not systematized. Thus, this study synthesizes the extant literature, proposes a framework and highlights future research avenues for domain advancements.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the Scientific Procedures and Rationales for Systematic Literature Reviews (SPAR-4-SLR) framework, the study evaluates 79 journal publications from Scopus and Web of Science (WoS). The bibliometric analysis highlights annual publication trends and research clusters, whereas TCCM analysis provides deep analysis into applied theories, context and characteristics, i.e. OI–performance linkage, barriers, mediators and moderators, followed by employed methodologies in the domain.

Findings

The bibliometric results showcase a rising publication trend, significant research clusters and trends, whereas the content analysis via TCCM framework identifies theories, contexts and methodologies employed in the domain. In terms of characteristics, the OI–performance relation and barriers at diverse levels, followed by the moderating and mediating mechanism, are further explained in detail.

Originality/value

This is the first study to examine OI and firm performance in the context of emerging economies and employ rigorous frame-based bibliometric and content analysis measures, establishing the foundations for a comprehensive understanding.
Unveiling the dark side of influencer marketing: how social media influencers (human vs virtual) diminish followers’ well-being
Authors: Barari Mojtaba
Published: September 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to investigate the negative impact of social media influencers (SMIs) (human vs virtual) on customer well-being. Additionally, it aims to explore how the fear of missing out (FOMO) mediates and regulatory focus moderates this relationship from the social comparison theory lens.

Design/methodology/approach

In the first study, text mining and machine learning were employed to measure the level of followers' well-being in response to 40 SMIs (human vs virtual) posts on Instagram. In the second study, a randomized between-subjects experiment was conducted with three groups (human vs virtual vs control) and a sample size of 412 participants to confirm the results of the first study and investigate how FOMO mediates and regulatory focus moderates the relationship between SMI beauty product endorsement and consumer well-being.

Findings

The findings from text mining indicate that SMIs have a greater impact on consumers well-being, which is higher for virtual than human influencer. Additionally, the result of the experimental study shows the mediating role of FOMO in their relationship between SMIs and well-being. The moderator analysis reveals that there is a moderating effect of regulatory focus in the model.

Practical implications

The findings inform marketing managers about the differences between virtual than human influencer in their impact on customer well-being in endorsing beauty product, especially among the younger generation.

Originality/value

This paper is among the first research studies that examine the dark side of SMIs, which diminishes their follower's well-being through social comparison theory lenses.
Exploring the role of robotics in Alzheimer’s disease care: innovative methods and applications
Authors: Moshayedi Ata Jahangir , Uddin Nafiz Md Imtiaz , Zhang Xiaohong , Emadi Andani Mehran
Published: September 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to explore and review the potential of robotic rehabilitation as a treatment approach for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and its impact on the health and quality of life of AD patients.

Design/methodology/approach

The present discourse endeavors to provide a comprehensive overview of extant scholarly inquiries that have examined the salience of inhibitory mechanisms vis-à-vis robotic interventions and their impact on patients with AD. Specifically, this review aims to explicate the contemporary state of affairs in this realm by furnishing a detailed explication of ongoing research endeavors. With the objective of elucidating the significance of inhibitory processes in robotic therapies for individuals with AD, this analysis offers a critical appraisal of extant literature that probes the intersection of cognitive mechanisms and assistive technologies. Through a meticulous analysis of diverse scholarly contributions, this review advances a nuanced understanding of the intricate interplay between inhibitory processes and robotic interventions in the context of AD.

Findings

According to the review papers, it appears that implementing robot-assisted rehabilitation can serve as a pragmatic and effective solution for enhancing the well-being and overall quality of life of patients and families engaged with AD. Besides, this new feature in the robotic area is anticipated to have a critical role in the success of this innovative approach.

Research limitations/implications

Due to the nascent nature of this cutting-edge technology and the constrained configuration of the mechanized entity in question, further protracted analysis is imperative to ascertain the advantages and drawbacks of robotic rehabilitation vis-à-vis individuals afflicted with Alzheimer’s ailment.

Social implications

The potential for robots to serve as indispensable assets in the provision of care for individuals afflicted with AD is significant; however, their efficacy and appropriateness for utilization by caregivers of AD patients must be subjected to further rigorous scrutiny.

Originality/value

This paper reviews the current robotic method and compares the current state of the art for the AD patient.
Water loss, not overheating, limits the activity period of an endothermic Sonoran Desert bee
Authors: Johnson Meredith G. , Alvarez Kaitlyn , Harrison Jon F.
Published: September 2023

Desert animals must manage the physiological stress caused by heat and desiccation; evaporative heat loss mitigates overheating but exacerbates water stress. Small endothermic flying insects may be particularly vulnerable to overheating and water stress as a result of high surface area to volume ratios, but we lack quantitative understanding of the relative magnitude of these abiotic stressors in flying desert invertebrates, despite their ecological importance.

During the hottest and driest weeks of year, many thousands of males of the Sonoran Desert digger bee (Centris caesalpiniae) flew near‐continuously at elevated thorax temperatures for hours at mating aggregation sites, while fighting other males and digging for females.

To determine whether incapacitating high temperatures or water loss limited the activity period of male C. caesalpiniae, we assessed wet and dry body mass and water content through the activity period, flight durations using mark–recapture methods, crop volume and sugar content, microclimate selection, water balance during flight, critical water content and maximum critical temperature.

Body masses and sizes of males declined through the morning. Body water content scaled isometrically with total body wet mass. Crop volume and sugar content did not vary throughout the day or with bee size.

Maximum critical temperature during flight was 51°C for large‐morph C. caesalpiniae males, similar to those measured for other bees, and well above body temperatures reached in the field, suggesting that avoidance of overheating does not limit activity in this desert bee.

The critical water content of Centris bees averaged 50%, at the low end of those measured for other bees. Measures of net water loss rate indicated that males approached lethal water loss limits within 4 h, a duration in the range of measured daily flight activity, suggesting that desiccation tolerance limits activity. Remarkably, male C. caesalpiniae were not observed to forage at floral or water sources during the activity period, yet they returned over multiple days, suggesting that these males have a mechanism to rehydrate when not at the mating aggregation.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
Does earmarked funding affect the performance of international organisations?
Authors: Reinsberg Bernhard , Siauwijaya Christian
Published: September 2023

What determines the performance of international organisations (IOs)? We argue that funding structures remain an overlooked driver of IO performance. Over the past decades, donor governments have provided an increasing share of their contributions to IOs in the form of earmarked resources, which provide them with the opportunity to restrict the use of funding to specific themes, sectors, regions, countries or projects. This development has raised concerns about the ability of IOs to perform their duties, given that earmarked funds distort programme priorities away from recipient need and increase transaction costs for IO staff. Beyond qualitative evidence from case studies, concerns about the performance‐related effects of earmarking remain untested in large‐N analysis. Drawing on 64 performance assessments of 32 IOs from 2009 to 2021, undertaken by the Multilateral Organisation Performance Assessment Network, we employ latent factor analysis to extract measures of process performance—the extent to which IOs have rules, procedures and routines in place to plan strategically, manage operations efficiently, liaise with partners effectively, monitor results and promote institutional learning—and outcome performance—the extent to which IOs achieve results that are relevant, efficient and sustainable. Using multivariate regressions, we find that earmarked funding is negatively related to process performance. Our result is robust to alternative model specifications and an instrumental variable design that helps mitigate concerns about endogeneity. These results have important implications for our understanding of IO performance and policy implications for donors of IOs.
Letter: Transperineal ultrasonography for ulcerative proctitis— Applicability in the pregnant population?
Authors: Greeve Tessa , Prentice Ralley E. , Shelton Edward , Boyapati Ray , Lever Frauke , Bell Sally J.
Published: September 2023

LINKED CONTENT

This article is linked to Sagami et al papers. To view these articles, visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.16817 and https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.17705
Editorial: Negative impact of diabetes mellitus and obesity on the prognosis of patients with chronic liver disease
Authors: Llop E. , Calleja J. L.
Published: September 2023

LINKED CONTENT

This article is linked to Paternostro et al papers. To view these articles, visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.17653 and https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.17686
Letter: Transperineal ultrasonography for ulcerative proctitis—Applicability in the pregnant population? Authors' reply
Authors: Sagami Shintaro , Hojo Aya , Asonuma Kunio , Kobayashi Taku
Published: September 2023

LINKED CONTENT

This article is linked to Sagami et al papers. To view these articles, visithttps://doi.org/10.1111/apt.16817andhttps://doi.org/10.1111/apt.17669
Effects of wind turbine noise on songbird behavior during nonbreeding season
Authors: Lehnardt Yael , Barber Jesse R. , Berger‐Tal Oded
Published: September 2023

Anthropogenic noise is one of the fastest growing, globally widespread pollutants, affecting countless species worldwide. Despite accumulating evidence of the negative impacts of wind turbines on wildlife, little is known about how the noise they generate affects ecological systems. Songbirds may be susceptible to noise pollution due to their reliance on vocal communication and thus, in this field study, we examined how songbirds are affected by wind turbine noise. We broadcasted noise produced by one wind turbine in a migratory stopover site during the nonbreeding season. Throughout the study, we repeatedly monitored the acoustic environment and songbird community before, during, and after the noise treatments with passive acoustic monitoring and mist netting. We employed generalized linear mixed effects models to assess the impact of experimental noise treatment on birds behavior and likelihood ratio tests to compare models with variables of interest with null models. The daily number of birds in the presence of wind turbine noise decreased by approximately 30% compared with the before and after phases. This reduction had a significant spatial pattern; the largest decrease was closer to the speaker and on its downwind side, fitting measured sound propagation. Although we found no impact on species diversity, two out of three most common species showed clear avoidance behavior: 45% and 36% decrease in abundance for the lesser whitethroat (Sylvia curruca) and Sardinian warbler (Sylvia melanocephala momus), respectively. In the after phase, there were lingering effects on the lesser whitethroat. The age structure of the lesser whitethroat population was affected because only juvenile birds showed avoidance behavior. No difference in avoidance extent was found between migratory and nonmigratory species, but the impacts of displacement on migrants during stopover are especially troubling from a conservation perspective. Our results stress the need to address the impacts of noise pollution on wildlife when planning noise‐generating infrastructures, such as wind turbines, to allow for sustainable development without threatening already declining songbird populations.
The “Trojan horse” strategy: Seed fungal endophyte symbiosis helps to explain the invasion success of the grass, Poa annua, in Maritime Antarctica
Authors: Molina‐Montenegro Marco A. , Ballesteros Gabriel I. , Acuña‐Rodríguez Ian S. , Pertierra Luis R. , Greve Michelle , Richardson David M. , Convey Peter , Biersma Elisabeth M. , Goodall‐Copestake William P. , Newsham Kevin K.
Published: September 2023

Aim

Poa annua L. (annual bluegrass) is presently the sole invasive vascular plant species to have successfully established in Maritime Antarctica, where it poses a significant conservation threat to native plant species. However, the reasons for its success in the region have yet to be established. Here, we determined whether the invasiveness of P. annua, and its competitiveness with the native Antarctic hairgrass Deschampsia antarctica, is influenced by symbioses formed with seed fungal endophytes, and whether plants derived from seeds from four global regions differ in their performance.

Locations

Four regions (Maritime Antarctica, sub‐Antarctica, South America and Europe).

Methods

Endophyte frequency was measured in P. annua seeds collected from the four regions. The germination, survival, biomass accumulation, flowering and competitiveness with D. antarctica of P. annua plants grown from endophyte‐uncolonised and uncolonised seeds was determined in the laboratory. The effects of endophytes on P. annua seed germination and survival and seedling osmoprotection were also assessed in the Maritime Antarctic natural environment using locally‐sourced seeds.

Results

Endophytes were at least twice as frequent in seeds from Maritime Antarctica than in those from other regions. A higher proportion of endophyte‐colonized seeds germinated and survived than did uncolonised seeds, but only when they originated from Maritime Antarctica. Seed endophytes increased the competitiveness of P. annua with D. antarctica, but only for plants grown from Maritime Antarctic seeds. In the field, endophyte‐colonized seeds from Maritime Antarctica germinated and survived more frequently than uncolonised seeds, and osmoprotection was higher in seedlings grown from colonized seed.

Main Conclusions

The findings indicate beneficial effects of seed endophytes on invasion‐related traits of P. annua, such as survival, germination success and flowering. Together with vegetative and reproductive traits facilitating the colonization process, the seed‐fungal endophyte symbiosis can be invoked as an important factor explaining the invasiveness of P. annua in Maritime Antarctica.
Global flows of insect transport and establishment: The role of biogeography, trade and regulations
Authors: Fenn‐Moltu Gyda , Ollier Sébastien , Bates Olivia K. , Liebhold Andrew M. , Nahrung Helen F. , Pureswaran Deepa S. , Yamanaka Takehiko , Bertelsmeier Cleo
Published: September 2023

Aim

Non‐native species are part of almost every biological community worldwide, yet numbers of species establishments have an uneven global distribution. Asymmetrical exchanges of species between regions are likely influenced by a range of mechanisms, including propagule pressure, native species pools, environmental conditions and biosecurity. While the importance of different mechanisms is likely to vary among invasion stages, those occurring prior to establishment (transport and introduction) are difficult to account for. We used records of unintentional insect introductions to test (1) whether insects from some biogeographic regions are more likely to be successful invaders, (2) whether the intensity of trade flows between regions determines how many species are intercepted and how many successfully establish, and (3) whether the variables driving successful transport and successful establishment differ.

Location

Canada, mainland USA, Hawaii, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain, South Korea, South Africa.

Methods

To disentangle processes occurring during the transport and establishment stages, we analysed border interceptions of 8199 insect species as a proxy for transported species flows, and lists of 2076 established non‐native insect species in eight areas. We investigated the influence of biogeographic variables, socio‐economic variables and biosecurity regulations on the size of species flows between regions.

Results

During transport, the largest species flows generally originated from the Nearctic, Panamanian and Neotropical regions. Insects native to 8 of 12 biogeographic regions were able to establish, with the largest flows of established species on average coming from the Western Palearctic, Neotropical and Australasian/Oceanian regions. Both the biogeographic region of origin and trade intensity significantly influenced the size of species flows between regions during transport and establishment. The transported species richness increased with Gross National Income in the source country, and decreased with geographic distance. More species were able to establish when introduced within their native biogeographic region.

Main Conclusions

Our results suggest that accounting for processes occurring prior to establishment is crucial for understanding invasion asymmetry in insects, and for quantifying regional biosecurity risks.
Long‐term survivorship care after CAR‐T cell therapy
Authors: Puckrin Robert , Jamani Kareem , Jimenez‐Zepeda Victor H.
Published: September 2023

While cytokine release syndrome and immune effector cell‐associated neurotoxicity syndrome are well‐recognized acute toxicities of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy, these complications have become increasingly manageable by protocolized treatment algorithms incorporating the early administration of tocilizumab and corticosteroids. As CAR‐T cell therapy expands to new disease indications and the number of long‐term survivors steadily increases, there is growing recognition of the need to appropriately evaluate and manage the late effects of CAR‐T cell therapy, including late‐onset or persistent neurotoxicity, prolonged cytopenias, delayed immune reconstitution and infections, subsequent malignancies, organ dysfunction, psychological distress, and fertility implications. In this review, we provide a practical approach to the long‐term survivorship care of the CAR‐T cell recipient, with a focus on the optimal strategies to address the common and challenging late complications affecting this unique population.
Archbishop Wulfstan’s criticism of King Edgar in the Anglo‐Saxon Chronicle
Authors: Schwartz Nicholas Peter
Published: September 2023

Archbishop Wulfstan of York’s interpolation in the DE version of the Anglo‐Saxon Chronicle entry for the year 959 is out of character for both the churchman himself and for the pre‐Conquest period as a whole, as it is the only text from early England critical of King Edgar. This article shows that Wulfstan’s complaints about Edgar, which focus on the king’s policies related to Scandinavians in England, are rooted in the monarch’s probable official employment of Scandinavians and in the law code IV Edgar. Ultimately, this article argues that Wulfstan’s criticisms of Edgar are best understood in relation to the archbishop’s notion that royal policy could have significant long‐term negative consequences, especially if such policy contravened Wulfstan’s understanding of the will of God.
Applying molecular genetic data at different scales to support conservation assessment of European Habitats Directive listed species: A case study of Eurasian otter in Austria
Authors: Schenekar Tamara , Weiss Andreas , Weiss Steven J.
Published: September 2023

Evaluating intraspecific genetic structure and diversity is fundamental to assessing a species’ conservation status, but direct incorporation of such information into legal frameworks such as the EU's Habitats Directive is surprisingly rare. How genetic structure aligns with EU member state boundaries or biogeographic regions may be very important in designing management plans or achieving legislative goals. The Eurasian fish otter experienced a sharp population decline during the 20th century but is currently re‐expanding in several countries. The species is listed under Annex II and IV of the European Habitats Directive, and member states are obliged to assess the species separately across different biogeographic regions. We genotyped 2492 otter spraints across four provinces in Austria, collected between 2017 and 2021. A total of 384 different genotypes were identified, supporting densities along river habitats from 0.1 to 0.47 otters per river km (mean: 0.306), with a resampling‐based simulation supporting limited density overestimation at survey lengths of 20 km or more. Three distinct genetic clusters were revealed, two of them presumably reflecting two relict populations whereas the source of the third cluster is unknown. The geographic extent of the three clusters does not coincide with provincial or biogeographic boundaries, both relevant for assessment and management within existing national or European legislative frameworks. We advocate more consideration of genetic structure in the assessment and conservation management planning of species listed in the European Habitats Directive.
Claiming veganism and vegan geographies
Authors: Oliver Catherine , Turnbull Jonathon , Richardson Michael
Published: September 2023

A decade ago, veganism was a fringe radical movement. It was also largely absent from the geographical discipline, despite a rich history of vegan scholarship being present in disciplines such as Sociology and Psychology. However, veganism has recently seen a surge in popularity, with more people than ever before becoming vegan for a mixture of animal welfare, environmental, and health‐based reasons. With this mainstreaming, veganism has become contentious and fiercely defended. As veganism has become a growing social and political force, geographers have started to take notice of this previously fringe movement, which is gaining economic, ecological, and cultural power as investment flows into ‘plant‐based’ products and new markets are emerging. In this commentary, we look at how veganism has recently been taken up in Geography via several distinct trends that all stake a claim in defining an emerging geographical sub‐discipline, vegan geographies. We note the importance of scholarly pluralism and attention to establishing geographical sub‐disciplines more broadly.
Targeting higher factor VIII levels for prophylaxis in haemophilia A: a narrative review
Authors: Malec Lynn , Matino Davide
Published: September 2023

Introduction

The standard of care in severe haemophilia A is prophylaxis, which has historically aimed for a factor VIII (FVIII) trough level of ≥1%. However, despite prophylactic treatment, people with haemophilia remain at risk of bleeds that have physical and quality of life implications, and that impact everyday life.

Aim

The aim of this review was to evaluate evidence supporting the relationship between targeting higher FVIII activity levels with prophylaxis and improved outcomes in people with haemophilia A.

Methods

We conducted a narrative review that defined the unmet needs and treatment goals in people with haemophilia A, evaluated evidence to support targeting higher FVIII activity levels, and highlighted therapies that may support higher and sustained FVIII activity levels and improved outcomes for people with haemophilia A.

Results

Despite recent advances in treatment, unmet needs remain, and people with haemophilia continue to experience joint and functional impairment, acute and chronic pain, and poor mental health. All these negatively impact their health‐related quality of life. Evidence suggests that FVIII activity levels of up to 50% may be needed to achieve a near‐zero joint bleed rate. However, achieving high FVIII activity levels with current standard and extended half‐life (EHL) FVIII replacement therapies is associated with a high treatment burden. Innovative treatment options may provide high sustained FVIII activity levels and improved patient outcomes.

Conclusion

Evidence suggests that FVIII activity levels in people with haemophilia A should be sustained at higher levels to improve joint and patient outcomes and enable progression towards health equity.
What Changes and Opportunities Does Big Data Analytics Capability Bring to Strategic Alliance Research? A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Xia Senmao , Song Jianmin , Ameen Nisreen , Vrontis Demetris , Yan Ji , Chen Fengwen
Published: September 2023

Strategic alliance theories have been studied widely over the past few decades. However, their key arguments may face new limitations and challenges brought by emerging technologies such as big data analytics capability (BDAC). This paper aims to identify the challenges BDAC brings to strategic alliance theories and the associated changes to strategic alliance research. Specifically, this paper systematically reviews and identifies how BDAC challenges the key arguments in the strategic alliances’ theories through the lens of three stages of strategic alliances: formation, governance and achieving alliance performance. Meanwhile, this study also finds some changes in strategic alliance research brought by BDAC. Finally, this study proposes promising directions for future research on strategic alliances under the influences of BDAC.
Stigma‐related barriers to medical cannabis as harm reduction for substance use disorder: Obstacles and opportunities for improvement
Authors: Fehr Florriann , Lo Lindsay A. , Nelson Chris , Nanson Kate , Diehl Lauren , Nielson Karl , Reddon Hudson , Walsh Zach
Published: September 2023

Emerging evidence on substituting cannabis for more harmful drugs has led to cannabis becoming a novel harm‐reduction strategy for combating the current drug poisoning crisis. However, the authorization of medical cannabis as part of a harm‐reduction approach and recovery strategy has significant implementation barriers rooted in longstanding stigma towards cannabis. Through a multi‐discipline collaboration of Canadian clinicians and academic researchers, we highlighted stigma barriers and opportunities to address these barriers to elicit improved delivery of medical cannabis as a harm‐reduction therapy within existing therapeutic frameworks. Evidence from existing literature and real‐world experiences converged on three key themes related to stigma barriers: (1) Lack of medical cannabis education within the healthcare community, (2) lack of consensus and coordination among harm‐reduction services and (3) access to medical cannabis. We highlight potential solutions to these issues, including improved healthcare education, better coordination between care teams and suggestions for improving access. Through this discussion, we hope to contribute to reducing the stigma around using medical cannabis as a harm‐reduction strategy for individuals with a substance use disorder and consider new perspectives in policy development surrounding recovery services.
Experiences of Midwives Attending Home Births in Massachusetts During the COVID‐19 Pandemic
Authors: George Erin K. , Kimball Joyce , Edmonds Joyce K.
Published: September 2023

Introduction

Public interest in home birth in the United States increased during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Midwives attend the vast majority of home births and are experts in providing home birth care. However, limited data are available about the experiences of midwives attending home births during the pandemic in the United States.

Methods

We developed a cross‐sectional survey comprising 34 questions, which included 5 open‐ended questions. The survey was distributed online in June 2021 to midwives attending home birth in Massachusetts. We calculated descriptive statistics for the quantitative survey responses and identified qualitative free‐text responses illustrating the results.

Results

Eighteen midwives and 2 midwife apprentices responded to the survey, approximately 50% of Massachusetts’ total number of midwives known to attend homebirths. The majority of the 20 respondents reported an increase in public interest in home birth (n = 17) and higher caseloads (n = 14) since the start of the pandemic. Respondents reported an increase in the number of clients transferring to their practices at a later gestational age (n = 13) and who identified as people of color (n = 8). They described both better and worse transfer of care to hospital experiences. Work‐life balance and unpredictable income were the top 2 reported obstacles to home birth practice.

Discussion

The results of our study indicate that midwives providing home birth care in Massachusetts witnessed a surge in demand for their services during the pandemic. Implementing policies and practices that provide support for certified professional midwives could strengthen the home birth workforce, enhance access to home birth options, and optimize transfers to hospital settings when necessary.