bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Niche and phenotypic differentiation in fern hybrid speciation, a case study of Pteris fauriei (Pteridaceae)
Authors: Chao Yi-Shan , Yang Yao-Wei , Sheue Chiou-Rong , Lai I-Ling
Published: March 2024

Background and Aims

Niche differentiation is a crucial issue in speciation. Although it has a well-known role in adaptive processes of hybrid angiosperms, it is less understood in hybrid ferns. Here, we investigate whether an intermediate ecological niche of a fern hybrid is a novel adaptation that provides insights into fern hybrid speciation.

Methods

Pteris fauriei (Pteridaceae) is a natural hybrid fern, occurring in environments between its parent species. The maternal Pteris minor is found in sunny areas, but the habitat of the paternal Pteris latipinna is shady. We combined data from morphology, leaf anatomy and photosynthetic traits to explore adaptation and differentiation, along with measuring the environmental features of their niches. We also performed experiments in a common garden to understand ecological plasticity.

Key Results

The hybrid P. fauriei was intermediate between the parent species in stomatal density, leaf anatomical features and photosynthetic characteristics in both natural habitats and a common garden. Interestingly, the maternal P. minor showed significant environmental plasticity and was more similar to the hybrid P. fauriei in the common garden, suggesting that the maternal species experiences stress in its natural habitats but thrives in environments similar to those of the hybrid.

Conclusions

Based on the similar niche preferences of the hybrid and parents, we propose hybrid superiority. Our results indicate that the hybrid P. fauriei exhibits greater fitness and can compete with and occupy the initial niches of the maternal P. minor. Consequently, we suggest that the maternal P. minor has experienced a niche shift, elucidating the pattern of niche differentiation in this hybrid group. These findings offer a potential explanation for the frequent occurrence of hybridization in ferns and provide new insights into fern hybrid speciation, enhancing our understanding of fern diversity.
A 7-Year Retrospective Analysis of Hymenoplasty: Profiles From a Specialized Gynecological Cosmetic Surgery Practice
Authors: Konaç Ayşe
Published: March 2024

Background

Hymenoplasty—surgical reconstruction of the hymen—is on the rise in Turkey, reflecting the enduring importance of virginity which is rooted in sociocultural and religious beliefs. Demographic factors shape women's decisions regarding this procedure.

Objectives

The aim of this investigation was to delve into the multifaceted perceptions around virginity and hymenoplasty in Turkey, examining the impact of sociocultural and religious beliefs on women's decisions. The study also explored demographic influences, offering insights into the societal and cultural backdrop of hymenoplasty.

Methods

A 7-year retrospective analysis of 4259 patient records (2015-2022) at a private clinic was conducted, and statistical tools were used to meticulously analyze data on demographics and shared decision-making dynamics.

Results

In the examined cohort (83.3%), the choice of permanent hymenoplasty was prevalent among individuals aged 14 to 49 years, with 58.6% being engaged and seeking the procedure a week before marriage. Notably, 91.0% were accompanied by friends during consultations, and a minority disclosed a history of childbirth or experience of forced intercourse. An increasing trend in first-time and post-assault hymenoplasty procedures was observed in 2021. Geographically, the majority of individuals resided in Istanbul, but represented all Turkish regions. Additional procedures such as vaginoplasty were common, with mostly successful postprocedural outcomes and minor complications.

Conclusions

This study highlighted the enduring social importance of virginity in Turkey, emphasizing hymenoplasty as a coping strategy for psychological and societal challenges. The study calls for comprehensive patient support and societal progress in respecting women's bodily autonomy, urging a shift away from the cultural fixation on virginity.

Level of Evidence: 4
Mapping drug biology to disease genetics to discover drug impacts on the human phenome
Authors: Habib Mamoon , Lalagkas Panagiotis Nikolaos , Melamed Rachel D
Published: March 2024

Motivation

Medications can have unexpected effects on disease, including not only harmful drug side effects, but also beneficial drug repurposing. These effects on disease may result from hidden influences of drugs on disease gene networks. Then, discovering how biological effects of drugs relate to disease biology can both provide insight into the mechanism of latent drug effects, and can help predict new effects.

Results

Here, we develop Draphnet, a model that integrates molecular data on 429 drugs and gene associations of nearly 200 common phenotypes to learn a network that explains drug effects on disease in terms of these molecular signals. We present evidence that our method can both predict drug effects, and can provide insight into the biology of unexpected drug effects on disease. Using Draphnet to map a drug’s known molecular effects to downstream effects on the disease genome, we put forward disease genes impacted by drugs, and we suggest a new grouping of drugs based on shared effects on the disease genome. Our approach has multiple applications, including predicting drug uses and learning drug biology, with implications for personalized medicine.

Availability and implementation

Code to reproduce the analysis is available at https://github.com/RDMelamed/drug-phenome
Development of a CT-based radiomics-clinical model to diagnose acute pancreatitis on nonobvious findings on CT in children with pancreaticobiliary maljunction
Authors: Cai Tian-na , Zhao Lian , Yang Yang , Mao Hui-min , Huang Shun-gen , Guo Wan-liang
Published: March 2024

Objectives

Since neither abdominal pain nor pancreatic enzyme elevation is specific for acute pancreatitis (AP), the diagnosis of AP in patients with pancreaticobiliary maljunction (PBM) may be challenging when the pancreas appears normal or nonobvious on CT. This study aimed to develop a quantitative radiomics-based nomogram of pancreatic CT for identifying AP in children with PBM who have nonobvious findings on CT.

Methods

PBM patients with a diagnosis of AP evaluated at the Children’s Hospital of Soochow University from June 2015 to October 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. The radiological features and clinical factors associated with AP were evaluated. Based on the selected variables, multivariate logistic regression was used to construct clinical, radiomics, and combined models.

Results

Two clinical parameters and 6 radiomics characteristics were chosen based on their significant association with AP, as demonstrated in the training (area under curve [AUC]: 0.767, 0.892) and validation (AUC: 0.757, 0.836) datasets. The radiomics-clinical nomogram demonstrated superior performance in both the training (AUC, 0.938) and validation (AUC, 0.864) datasets, exhibiting satisfactory calibration (P > .05).

Conclusions

Our radiomics-based nomogram is an accurate, noninvasive diagnostic technique that can identify AP in children with PBM even when CT presentation is not obvious.

Advances in knowledge

This study extracted imaging features of nonobvious pancreatitis. Then it developed and evaluated a combined model with these features.
Fused heteroaromatic donor–acceptor fluorophores: enhanced brightness and variable emission characteristics
Authors: Sumida Ayaka , Takahashi Shohei , Nagai Sayaka , Ito Suguru
Published: March 2024

Octacyclic imidazophenanthridine derivatives have been synthesized by the intramolecular C–H arylation of phenanthroimidazolylbenzothiadiazoles. A significant increase in the molar extinction coefficient (ε) compared with their non-fused counterparts has been achieved, while retaining the high fluorescence quantum yield (ΦF). Their luminescence properties vary in various solvents, as well as in crystalline and mechanically ground states.
A Validated Highly Sensitive Microsatellite Instability Assay Accurately Identifies Individuals Harboring Biallelic Germline PMS2 Pathogenic Variants in Constitutional Mismatch Repair Deficiency
Authors: Marín Fátima , Canet-Hermida Júlia , Bianchi Vanessa , Chung Jiil , Wimmer Katharina , Foulkes William , Pérez-Alonso Vanesa , Domínguez-Pinilla Nerea , Sábado Constantino , Vázquez-Gómez Felisa , Molinés Antonio , Fioravantti Victoria , Carrasco Estela , Stengs Lucie , Edwards Melissa , Negm Logine , Das Anirban , Aronson Melyssa , Pastor Ángela , Rueda Daniel , González-Granado Luis Ignacio , Tabori Uri , Capellá Gabriel , Pineda Marta
Published: March 2024

Background

Constitutional mismatch repair deficiency (CMMRD) is a rare and extraordinarily penetrant childhood-onset cancer predisposition syndrome. Genetic diagnosis is often hampered by the identification of mismatch repair (MMR) variants of unknown significance and difficulties in PMS2 analysis, the most frequently mutated gene in CMMRD. We present the validation of a robust functional tool for CMMRD diagnosis and the characterization of microsatellite instability (MSI) patterns in blood and tumors.

Methods

The highly sensitive assessment of MSI (hs-MSI) was tested on a blinded cohort of 66 blood samples and 24 CMMRD tumor samples. Hs-MSI scores were compared with low-pass genomic instability scores (LOGIC/MMRDness). The correlation of hs-MSI scores in blood with age of cancer onset and the distribution of insertion-deletion (indel) variants in microsatellites were analyzed in a series of 169 individuals (n = 68 CMMRD, n = 124 non-CMMRD).

Results

Hs-MSI achieved high accuracy in the identification of CMMRD in blood (sensitivity 98.5% and specificity 100%) and detected MSI in CMMRD-associated tumors. Hs-MSI had a strong positive correlation with whole low-pass genomic instability LOGIC scores (r = 0.89, P = 2.2e-15 in blood and r = 0.82, P = 7e-3 in tumors). Indel distribution identified PMS2 pathogenic variant (PV) carriers from other biallelic MMR gene PV carriers with an accuracy of 0.997. Higher hs-MSI scores correlated with younger age at diagnosis of the first tumor (r = −0.43, P = 0.011).

Conclusions

Our study confirms the accuracy of the hs-MSI assay as ancillary testing for CMMRD diagnosis, which can also characterize MSI patterns in CMMRD-associated cancers. Hs-MSI is a powerful tool to pinpoint PMS2 as the affected germline gene and thus potentially personalize cancer risk.
Intra-tooth stable isotope analysis reveals seasonal dietary variability and niche partitioning among bushpigs/red river hogs and warthogs
Authors: Yang Deming , Uno Kevin T , Cerling Thure E , Mwebi Ogeto , Leakey Louise N , Grine Frederick E , Souron Antoine
Published: March 2024

How animals respond to seasonal resource availability has profound implications for their dietary flexibility and realized ecological niches. We sought to understand seasonal dietary niche partitioning in extant African suids using intra-tooth stable isotope analysis of enamel. We collected enamel samples from canines of red river hogs/bushpigs (Potamochoerus spp.) and third molars of warthogs (Phacochoerus spp.) in 3 different regions of central and eastern Africa. We analyzed multiple samples from each tooth and used variations in stable carbon and oxygen isotope ratios (δ13C and δ18O) and covariances between them to infer seasonal dietary changes. We found that most Phacochoerus display C4-dominated diets, while most Potamochoerus display C3-dominated diets. Phacochoerus and Potamochoerus that co-occur in the same region display no overlap in intra-tooth δ13C, which suggests dietary niche partitioning. They also show diverging δ13C values as the dry seasons progress and converging δ13C values during the peak of the rainy seasons, which suggests a greater dietary niche separation during the dry seasons when resources are scarce than during the rainy season. We found statistically significant cross-correlations between intra-tooth δ13C and δ18O in most specimens. We also observed a temporal lag between δ13C and δ18O in some specimens. This study demonstrates that intra-tooth stable isotope analysis is a promising approach to investigate seasonal dietary niche variation. However, large inter-individual variations in δ18O at certain localities can be challenging to interpret. Future studies that expand the intra-tooth stable isotope surveys or include controlled feeding experiments will improve its application in ecological studies.
AagingBase: a comprehensive database of anti-aging peptides
Authors: R Kunjulakshmi , Kumar Ambuj , Vinod Kumar Keerthana , Sengupta Avik , Kundal Kavita , Sharma Simran , Pawar Ankita , Krishna Pithani Sai , Alfatah Mohammad , Ray Sandipan , Tiwari Bhavana , Kumar Rahul
Published: March 2024

The process of aging is an intrinsic and inevitable aspect of life that impacts every living organism. As biotechnological advancements continue to shape our understanding of medicine, peptide therapeutics have emerged as a promising strategy for anti-aging interventions. This is primarily due to their favorable attributes, such as low immunogenicity and cost-effective production. Peptide-based treatments have garnered widespread acceptance and interest in aging research, particularly in the context of age-related therapies. To effectively develop anti-aging treatments, a comprehensive understanding of the physicochemical characteristics of anti-aging peptides is essential. Factors such as amino acid composition, instability index, hydrophobic areas and other relevant properties significantly determine their efficacy as potential therapeutic agents. Consequently, the creation of ‘AagingBase’, a comprehensive database for anti-aging peptides, aims to facilitate research on aging by leveraging the potential of peptide therapies. AagingBase houses experimentally validated 282 anti-aging peptides collected from 54 research articles and 236 patents. Employing state-of-the-art computational techniques, the acquired sequences have undergone rigorous physicochemical calculations. Furthermore, AagingBase presents users with various informative analyses highlighting atomic compositions, secondary structure fractions, tertiary structure, amino acid compositions and frequencies. The database also offers advanced search and filtering options and similarity search, thereby aiding researchers in understanding their biological functions. Hence, the database enables efficient identification and prioritization of potential peptide candidates in geriatric medicine and holds immense potential for advancing geriatric medicine research and innovations. AagingBase can be accessed without any restriction.

Database URL: https://project.iith.ac.in/cgntlab/aagingbase/
Telementoring and Homeschooling During School Closures: a Randomised Experiment in Rural Bangladesh
Authors: Hassan Hashibul , Islam Asad , Siddique Abu , Wang Liang Choon
Published: March 2024

Using a randomised experiment in 200 Bangladeshi villages, we evaluate the impact of an over-the-phone learning support intervention (telementoring) among primary school children and their mothers during Covid-19 school closures. Post-intervention, treated children scored 35% higher on a standardised test, and the homeschooling involvement of treated mothers increased by 22 minutes per day (26%). We also found that the intervention forestalled treated children's learning losses. When we returned to the participants one year later, after schools briefly reopened, we found that the treatment effects had persisted. Academically weaker children benefited the most from the intervention that only cost USD20 per child.
Hypogonadism and neurocognitive outcomes among childhood cancer survivors
Authors: Yoshida Tomoko , Alexander Tyler , Xing Mengqi , Mirzaei Sedigheh , Williams AnnaLynn M , Lubas Margaret , Brinkman Tara M , Chemaitilly Wassim , Robison Leslie L , Hudson Melissa M , Krull Kevin R , Delaney Angela
Published: March 2024

Objective

Childhood cancer survivors are at risk for hypogonadism. The impact of hypogonadism on neurocognitive impairment and emotional distress in the non-cancer population has been shown; however, the relationship among the childhood cancer survivor population is unknown. We aimed to evaluate the contribution of hypogonadism to neurocognitive impairment and emotional distress among survivors.

Design

Cross-sectional study using retrospective cohort.

Methods

In total, 3628 survivors who completed standard neurocognitive tests (six domains: processing speed, memory, executive function, attention, academics, and global cognition) and self-reported emotional distress were included in our study. Participants were stratified by sex and gonadal status. Outcomes were compared between hypogonadal and eugonadal groups by multivariable analysis, adjusting for established predictors, and mediation analyses to determine the direct/indirect effects of hypogonadism on outcomes.

Results

The hypogonadal group exhibited a higher prevalence of neurocognitive impairment across domains, but no difference in emotional distress. Hypogonadal females exhibited higher relative risk (1.7, 95% CI, 1.2–2.5) for impaired visual processing speed, compared to eugonadal females after adjusting for cancer-related variables. In mediation models, hypogonadism had a significant direct (P < .01) and indirect (from P < .01) impact on impairment in visual processing speed among females. Males demonstrated direct (P = .03) and indirect (P = .04) impact of hypogonadism on motor processing speed.

Conclusion

Processing speed may be the most vulnerable neurocognitive domain associated with hypogonadism in survivors, while other domains were mainly impacted by cancer-related variables. Our findings support the need for further evaluation of the impact of sex hormone replacement therapy on neurocognitive function.
Does innovation help to explain the effect of export on productivity? Evidence from the French dairy industry
Authors: Chemo Dzukou Kevin Randy , Vancauteren Mark
Published: March 2024

While there is strong evidence that becoming an exporter increases a firm’s productivity, underlying mechanisms that explain such a relationship remain largely unexplored. This paper analyses the contribution of the complementarity between exporting and investment in technology as a potential driver of export-related productivity gains. We employ firm-level data on production and trade combined with information on new products in the French dairy industry to conduct a causal mediation analysis between exporting, innovation investment, innovation output and productivity. Our estimation result show that starting exports increase the productivity by eight percentage points. Our mediation analysis reveals that innovation (investment and output) explains 31 per cent of this productivity growth.
Thermomechanical and Morphological Properties of Loligo vulgaris Squid Sucker Ring Teeth
Authors: Helft Margot , Zhang Zenghao , Kinane Cecelia , Black Noah , Pena-Francesch Abdon
Published: March 2024

Synopsis

Climate change is accelerating the increase of temperatures across the planet and resulting in the warming of oceans. Ocean warming threatens the survival of many aquatic species, including squids, and has introduced physiological, behavioral, and developmental changes, as well as physical changes in their biological materials composition, structure, and properties. Here, we characterize and analyze how the structure, morphology, and mechanical properties of European common squid Loligo vulgaris sucker ring teeth (SRT) are affected by temperature. SRT are predatory teethed structures located inside the suction cups of squids that are used to capture prey and are composed of semicrystalline structural proteins with a high modulus (GPa-range). We observed here that this biological material reversibly softens with temperature, undergoing a glass transition at ∼35°C, to a MPa-range modulus. We analyzed the SRT protein nanostructures as a function of temperature, as well as microscale and macroscale morphological changes, to understand their impact in the material properties. The results suggested that even small deviations from their habitat temperatures can result in significant softening of the material (up to 40% in modulus loss). Temperature changes following recent global climate trends and predictions might affect environmental adaptation in squid species and pose emerging survival challenges to adapt to increasing ocean temperatures.
Niche differentiation in microbial communities with stable genomic traits over time in engineered systems
Authors: Yu Jinjin , Lee Justin Y Y , Tang Siang Nee , Lee Patrick K H
Published: March 2024

Microbial communities in full-scale engineered systems undergo dynamic compositional changes. However, mechanisms governing assembly of such microbes and succession of their functioning and genomic traits under various environmental conditions are unclear. In this study, we used the activated sludge and anaerobic treatment systems of four full-scale industrial wastewater treatment plants as models to investigate the niches of microbes in communities and the temporal succession patterns of community compositions. High-quality representative metagenome-assembled genomes revealed that taxonomic, functional, and trait-based compositions were strongly shaped by environmental selection, with replacement processes primarily driving variations in taxonomic and functional compositions. Plant-specific indicators were associated with system environmental conditions and exhibited strong determinism and trajectory directionality over time. The partitioning of microbes in a co-abundance network according to groups of plant-specific indicators, together with significant between-group differences in genomic traits, indicated the occurrence of niche differentiation. The indicators of the treatment plant with rich nutrient input and high substrate removal efficiency exhibited a faster predicted growth rate, lower guanine–cytosine content, smaller genome size, and higher codon usage bias than the indicators of the other plants. In individual plants, taxonomic composition displayed a more rapid temporal succession than functional and trait-based compositions. The succession of taxonomic, functional, and trait-based compositions was correlated with the kinetics of treatment processes in the activated sludge systems. This study provides insights into ecological niches of microbes in engineered systems and succession patterns of their functions and traits, which will aid microbial community management to improve treatment performance.
Journeys to and among the Margins: Transnational Religio-Racial Identity on American Christian Palestinian Solidarity Tours
Authors: Baumann Roger , Williams Sara A
Published: March 2024

This article examines the intersection of racial and religious identity among progressive US Christians in the context of transnational travel. We approach our analysis through a comparative ethnographic study of two majority-Black and two majority-white Christian Palestinian solidarity tours, representing mainline, evangelical, and historically Black Protestant progressive theological traditions. We conceptualize majority-white tours as “journeys to the margins” and majority-Black tours as “journeys among the margins,” considering how the racial makeup and theological orientation of trips offer a range of affordances for meaning-making, identity construction, and solidarity-building. Using Judith Weisenfeld’s religio-racial framework, we focus on how participants’ progressive Christian values are embedded in divergent racial schemas. Attending to how the logics of these schemas are reinforced or interrogated in transnational encounters, we extend Weisenfeld’s concept from the nation-state to the transnational as we examine how participants reproduce, revise, and re-envision religio-racial frameworks.
A span-based model for extracting overlapping PICO entities from randomized controlled trial publications
Authors: Zhang Gongbo , Zhou Yiliang , Hu Yan , Xu Hua , Weng Chunhua , Peng Yifan
Published: March 2024

Objectives

Extracting PICO (Populations, Interventions, Comparison, and Outcomes) entities is fundamental to evidence retrieval. We present a novel method, PICOX, to extract overlapping PICO entities.

Materials and Methods

PICOX first identifies entities by assessing whether a word marks the beginning or conclusion of an entity. Then, it uses a multi-label classifier to assign one or more PICO labels to a span candidate. PICOX was evaluated using 1 of the best-performing baselines, EBM-NLP, and 3 more datasets, ie, PICO-Corpus and randomized controlled trial publications on Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) or COVID-19, using entity-level precision, recall, and F1 scores.

Results

PICOX achieved superior precision, recall, and F1 scores across the board, with the micro F1 score improving from 45.05 to 50.87 (P ≪.01). On the PICO-Corpus, PICOX obtained higher recall and F1 scores than the baseline and improved the micro recall score from 56.66 to 67.33. On the COVID-19 dataset, PICOX also outperformed the baseline and improved the micro F1 score from 77.10 to 80.32. On the AD dataset, PICOX demonstrated comparable F1 scores with higher precision when compared to the baseline.

Conclusion

PICOX excels in identifying overlapping entities and consistently surpasses a leading baseline across multiple datasets. Ablation studies reveal that its data augmentation strategy effectively minimizes false positives and improves precision.
Population structure and abundance of the amphidromous prawn Macrobrachium tenellum (Smith, 1871) (Decapoda: Caridea: Palaemonidae) in the lower basin of Ameca River, western Mexico, before anthropogenic modifications
Authors: Vargas-Ceballos Manuel A , Wehrtmann Ingo S , López-Uriarte Ernesto , Vega-Villasante Fernando , Peña-Almaraz Omar A , Espinosa-Magaña Alí F , García-Guerrero Marcelo U
Published: March 2024

The population of the freshwater prawn Macrobrachium tenellum (Smith, 1871) in four sites in the lower part of the coastal plain of the Ameca River, Mexico is analyzed before drastic anthropogenic modifications of the riverbed occurred. Of the 7,100 individuals of M. tenellum collected between February 2015 and January 2016, 45.7% of which were females (3,250), 4.3% ovigerous females (309), 39.3% males (2,79), and 10.6% undifferentiated (750). Males were significantly larger and heavier than females. In general, the largest individuals were collected at the most distant sites from the coastline (Colomo and San Juan), whereas the smallest ones were captured near the river mouth. The sex ratio (males:females 1:1.3) deviated from the expected 1:1. The length-weight relationship of females, males, and the population in general indicated a negative allometric growth for all three groups. The results of our research may serve as a reference point for future investigations assessing the impact of anthropogenic changes on M. tenellum populations.
‘Lying with numbers’ in international arbitration against states
Authors: Boué Juan Carlos
Published: March 2024

Recent international arbitration cases, especially P&ID v Nigeria, have highlighted how easy it is for claimants—whether in treaty-based Investor–State Dispute Settlement or commercial arbitration—to advance immense claims grounded on essentially no evidence against state respondents. This largely reflects the readiness of many quantum experts to engage in the practice which Martin Wachs called ‘lying with numbers’ in order to misrepresent the execution risks of speculative unbuilt projects in a manner that is radically at odds with empirical data regarding such execution risks, which is exacerbated by the ignorance of many arbitrators about business economics and discounted cash flow valuation. This situation is unlikely to improve, and overall standards of candour in valuation in international arbitration will keep going down as the system will keep rewarding the act of cloaking advocacy in the guise of scientific or technical rationality in order to ‘lie with numbers’.
Hydatid cyst in the gluteal muscle—an unusual location
Authors: Quadros Flores Maria Ana , Vasques Hugo , Mendes Pedro Diogo
Published: March 2024

Echinococcus sp. is an intestinal parasite of canids and felids that can infect humans after contaminated ingestion. Through the portal circulation, the eggs can metastasize to the liver, lungs and, more infrequently, other organs. We present a hydatid cyst located on the gluteus muscles, a very unusual location.
Anthocyanins act as a sugar-buffer and an alternative electron sink in response to starch depletion during leaf senescence: a case study on a typical anthocyanic tree species, Acer japonicum
Authors: Kitao Mitsutoshi , Yazaki Kenichi , Tobita Hiroyuki , Agathokleous Evgenios , Kishimoto Junko , Takabayashi Atsushi , Tanaka Ryouichi
Published: March 2024

We hypothesized that anthocyanins act as a sugar-buffer and an alternative electron sink during leaf senescence to prevent sugar-mediated early senescence and photoinhibition. To elucidate the role of anthocyanin, we monitored seasonal changes in photosynthetic traits, sugar, starch and N contents, pigment composition, and gene expression profiles in leaves exposed to substantially different light conditions within a canopy of an adult fullmoon maple (Acer japonicum) tree. Enhancement of starch amylolysis accompanied by cessation of starch synthesis occurred in the same manner independent of light conditions. Leaf sugar contents increased, but reached upper limits in the late stage of leaf senescence, even though leaf anthocyanins further increased after complete depletion of starch. Sun-exposed leaves maintained higher energy consumption via electron flow than shade-grown leaves during leaf N resorption. Thus, anthocyanins accumulated in sun-exposed leaves might have a regulative role as a sugar-buffer, retarding leaf senescence, and an indirect photoprotective role as an alternative sink for electron consumption to compensate declines in other metabolic processes such as starch and protein synthesis. In this context, anthocyanins may be key substrates protecting both outer-canopy leaves (against photoinhibition) and inner-canopy leaves (via shading by outer-canopy leaves) from high light stress during N resorption.
Moral considerability of brain organoids from the perspective of computational architecture
Authors: Boyd J Lomax
Published: March 2024

Human brain organoids equipped with complex cytoarchitecture and closed-loop feedback from virtual environments could provide insights into neural mechanisms underlying cognition. Yet organoids with certain cognitive capacities might also merit moral consideration. A precautionary approach has been proposed to address these ethical concerns by focusing on the epistemological question of whether organoids possess neural structures for morally-relevant capacities that bear resemblance to those found in human brains. Critics challenge this similarity approach on philosophical, scientific, and practical grounds but do so without a suitable alternative. Here, I introduce an architectural approach that infers the potential for cognitive-like processing in brain organoids based on the pattern of information flow through the system. The kind of computational architecture acquired by an organoid then informs the kind of cognitive capacities that could, theoretically, be supported and empirically investigated. The implications of this approach for the moral considerability of brain organoids are discussed.
Pediatric inflammatory bowel disease: What’s new and what has changed?
Authors: Hudson Alexandra S , Huynh Hien Q
Published: March 2024

The incidence and prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is on the rise in North America and worldwide, with young children being the fastest growing patient population. It is therefore essential for pediatricians and pediatric sub-specialists to be able to recognize signs and symptoms suspicious for a new diagnosis of IBD, as well as potential complications associated with IBD or its treatment. This article reviews the most recent literature regarding clinical presentation, helpful diagnostic clues, newer monitoring tools being used by pediatric gastroenterologists, and emerging new biologic and small molecule treatments.
Redefining the scientific method: As the use of sophisticated scientific methods that extend our mind
Authors: Krauss Alexander
Published: March 2024

Scientific, medical, and technological knowledge has transformed our world, but we still poorly understand the nature of scientific methodology. Science textbooks, science dictionaries, and science institutions often state that scientists follow, and should follow, the universal scientific method of testing hypotheses using observation and experimentation. Yet, scientific methodology has not been systematically analyzed using large-scale data and scientific methods themselves as it is viewed as not easily amenable to scientific study. Using data on all major discoveries across science including all Nobel Prize and major non-Nobel Prize discoveries, we can address the question of the extent to which “the scientific method” is actually applied in making science's groundbreaking research and whether we need to expand this central concept of science. This study reveals that 25% of all discoveries since 1900 did not apply the common scientific method (all three features)—with 6% of discoveries using no observation, 23% using no experimentation, and 17% not testing a hypothesis. Empirical evidence thus challenges the common view of the scientific method. Adhering to it as a guiding principle would constrain us in developing many new scientific ideas and breakthroughs. Instead, assessing all major discoveries, we identify here a general, common feature that the method of science can be reduced to: making all major discoveries has required using sophisticated methods and instruments of science. These include statistical methods, particle accelerators, and X-ray methods. Such methods extend our mind and generally make observing, experimenting, and testing hypotheses in science possible, doing so in new ways and ensure their replicability. This provides a new perspective to the scientific method—embedded in our sophisticated methods and instruments—and suggests that we need to reform and extend the way we view the scientific method and discovery process.
Arginine with leucine drives reactive oxygen species-mediated integrin α5β1 expression and promotes implantation in mouse blastocysts
Authors: Nakazato Momoka , Matsuzaki Mumuka , Okai Daiki , Takeuchi Eisaku , Seki Misato , Takeuchi Miki , Fukui Emiko , Matsumoto Hiromichi
Published: March 2024

The implantation rate of in vitro fertilization (IVF)-derived blastocysts after embryo transfer remains low, suggesting that the inadequate expression of specific proteins in culture-induced IVF-derived blastocysts contributes to low implantation rates. Therefore, treatment with appropriate regulation may improve the blastocyst implantation ability. This study demonstrated that the combination of l-arginine (Arg) and l-leucine (Leu) exerts distinct effects on IVF-derived mouse blastocysts. Arg with Leu promotes blastocyst implantation, whereas Arg alone decreases the blastocyst ability. Integrin α5β1 expression was increased in blastocysts treated with Arg and Leu. Arg with Leu also increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and showed a positive correlation with integrin α5β1. Ascorbic acid, an antioxidant, decreased ROS and integrin α5β1 levels, which were elevated by Arg with Leu. Meanwhile, the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) in blastocysts did not differ between treatments. Glutathione peroxidase (GPx) is involved in ROS scavenging using glutathione (GSH) as a reductant. Arg with Leu decreased GPx4 and GSH levels in blastocysts, and blastocysts with higher ROS levels had lower GPx4 and GSH levels. In contrast, Arg alone increased the percentage of caspase-positive cells, indicating that Arg alone, which attenuated implantation ability, was associated with apoptosis. This study revealed that elevated ROS levels induced by Arg with Leu stimulated integrin α5β1 expression, thereby enhancing implantation capacity. Our results also suggest that ROS were not due to increased production by oxidative phosphorylation, but rather to a reduction in ROS degradation due to diminished GPx4 and GSH levels.
The Myth of the “Triple Win”: Questioning the Impact of Immigration on Immigrants, Origin, and Destination Countries
Authors: Money Jeannette
Published: March 2024

David Leblang and Benjamin Helm's 2023 book, The Ties That Bind. Immigration and the Global Political Economy, provides evidence that state governance affects the levels of emigration as well as international migrants' choice of destination. States that provide higher levels of public goods generate fewer emigrants while states that provide access to citizenship and non-discrimination attract more immigrants. Leblang and Helms then show that migrants, having moved across borders, facilitate international capital flows, including remittances, foreign direct investment, and portfolio investment. These flows, in turn, reduce the number of future emigrants. Their presentation falls short by failing to acknowledge the adjustment costs that may arise because of the temporal and geographic imbalances in generating revenues to expand public goods in the host state to accommodate the new arrivals. Moreover, their policy recommendation for enlarging temporary labor migration programs fails to acknowledge longstanding criticisms of these plans because of their potential for worker exploitation and the tendency of temporary migrants to remain in the destination country.
Experiences of systemic sclerosis patients with home monitoring of their pulmonary function: a qualitative study
Authors: Velauthapillai Arthiha , Schepers Gwyn M M , Vonk Madelon C , van den Ende Cornelia H M
Published: March 2024

Objective

To evaluate the experiences, perceived benefits and disadvantages of home monitoring of pulmonary function in SSc patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD).

Methods

Semistructured interviews were conducted among SSc-ILD patients who used the home monitoring application of pulmonary function for at least 3 months. In our program, patients are instructed to perform home spirometry weekly at fixed time points using a mobile application with results being directly visible for patients and physicians. Audiotapes of the interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using inductive thematic analysis after performing a member check.

Results

A total of 13 patients were interviewed, with a median age of 58 years (range 36–75) and a median experience with home monitoring of 12 months (range 3–12). We identified four major themes, including routine of telemonitoring, impact of telemonitoring, trust in telemonitoring and implementation in regular healthcare. Overall, patients found performing home spirometry to be feasible. Major perceived benefits of performing home spirometry are an increase in patient empowerment, better understanding of the disease course and a reduction in hospital visits, whereas identified disadvantages are an emotional burden of telemonitoring, heightened awareness of illness, doubts about its validity and the need for digital competencies. All patients expressed their willingness to continue, although some patients emphasized the need for face-to-face visits.

Conclusion

Telemonitoring of pulmonary function is accepted by SSc-ILD patients with the perceived benefits outweighing the disadvantages. Adopting a patient-centred strategy that considers individual factors and addresses concerns proactively is warranted to successfully implement home spirometry.
Transhumant Pastoralism, Climate Change, and Conflict in Africa
Authors: McGuirk Eoin F , Nunn Nathan
Published: March 2024

We consider the effects of climate change on seasonally migrant populations that herd livestock—i.e. transhumant pastoralists—in Africa. Traditionally, transhumant pastoralists benefit from a cooperative relationship with sedentary agriculturalists whereby arable land is used for crop farming in the wet season and animal grazing in the dry season. Rainfall scarcity can disrupt this arrangement by inducing pastoral groups to migrate to agricultural lands before the harvest, causing conflict to emerge. We examine this hypothesis by combining ethnographic information on the traditional locations of transhumant pastoralists and sedentary agriculturalists with high-resolution data on the location and timing of rainfall and violent conflict events in Africa from 1989 to 2018. We find that reduced rainfall in the territory of transhumant pastoralists leads to conflict in neighbouring areas. Consistent with the proposed mechanism, the conflicts are concentrated in agricultural areas; they occur during the wet season and not the dry season; and they are due to rainfall’s impact on plant biomass growth. Since pastoralists tend to be Muslim and agriculturalists Christian, this mechanism accounts for a sizable proportion of the rapid rise in religious conflict observed in recent decades. Regarding policy responses, we find that development aid projects tend not to mitigate the effects that we document. By contrast, the effects are reduced when transhumant pastoralists have greater power in national government, suggesting that more equal political representation is conducive to peace.
Steering at a distance: research centre funding schemes as instruments for university change
Authors: Pereira-Puga Manuel , Sanz-Menéndez Luis
Published: March 2024

In addition to promoting reforms, governments foster change in university systems through funding, competition, and new policy instruments. Little research has been conducted on how research centre funding schemes support organizational changes in universities and on their institutional and policy barriers. This article addresses the research centre funding schemes implemented by the regional government of Galicia (Spain) in 2016. The approach is observational and based on documentary analysis and semi-structured interviews with key actors. The regional government sought to encourage organizational differentiation by increasing the autonomy of centres inside the universities and to enhance strategic research agendas, reinforcing the scientific authority of the centres’ directors. We found that the design and operation of the instrument in the context of the existing university governance system, and the interaction with other funding instruments within the policy mix, may create barriers that hinder the effectiveness of the funding scheme.
How Political Dynasties Concentrate Advantage within Cities: Evidence from Crime and City Services in Chicago
Authors: Ternullo Stephanie , Zorro-Medina Ángela , Vargas Robert
Published: March 2024

Classic models of urban inequality acknowledge the importance of politics for resource distribution and service provision. Yet, contemporary studies of spatial inequality rarely measure politics directly. In this paper, we introduce political dynasties as a way of integrating political economy approaches with ecological theory to better understand the political construction of urban spatial inequality. To do so, we examine the case of political dynasties within the Chicago city council. We show that, from 2011 to 2018, blocks in dynastic wards saw fewer homicides, assaults, robberies, and thefts relative to those in non-dynastic wards. We then leverage the 2015 ward redistricting to provide evidence that dynastic effects play some role in producing these outcomes: blocks annexed into dynastic wards experienced a decline in assaults and robberies and an increase in pothole coverings. While dynastic politicians improve outcomes for blocks they annex, they also withdraw power from those they displace; and displaced blocks had relatively higher levels of crime than annexed blocks in 2015. Taken together, our findings provide evidence that dynastic politicians are contributing to spatial inequalities within Chicago.
Group Incentives for the Public Good: A Field Experiment on Improving the Urban Environment
Authors: Newman Carol , Mitchell Tara , Holmlund Marcus , Fernandez Chloë
Published: March 2024

What strategies can help communities to overcome the public goods problem in the maintenance of communal spaces and infrastructure in urban environments? This paper investigates whether an intervention targeted at Community-Based Organizations can motivate them to make increased contributions to the public good, thereby improving outcomes for the community as a whole. Using a randomized controlled trial conducted in Dakar, Senegal, the analysis tests the effectiveness of a program that provides incentives to community groups to encourage them to keep their neighborhoods clean, with the ultimate goal of reducing flooding. After one year, the intervention proved to be effective in engaging communities, improving cleanliness, and reducing flooding.
Geometric morphometrics of silky pocket mice (Perognathus: Perognathinae: Rodentia) crania reveals new insights into their variation, evolution, and taxonomy
Authors: Alhajeri Bader H , Alaqeely Randa , Alhaddad Hasan
Published: March 2024

We used cranial geometric morphometric methods (GMM) to explore interspecific variation in Perognathus (silky pocket mice). We digitized 67 cranial landmarks on photographs of 305 adult voucher specimens (10 species and 33 subspecies, 121 localities). After summarizing variation patterns, we explored their association with biological, ecological, and climatic factors, and how (and why) shape evolved through time. Phenotypic clusters did not accord with phylogenetic clades, and we found instances of convergence, divergence, and increased rates of shape change. These are discussed in terms of shared selective pressures (e.g. habitat substrate and burrowing plus historic shifts in habitat/climate and desert adaptation). We also used variation patterns and phenetics to address ongoing taxonomic issues. While pocket mice are difficult to distinguish externally, GMM allowed us to precisely characterize interspecific cranial variation. Species significantly differed and could be classified based on their shape. We find P. alticola to be the most cranially distinct species and suggest raising the P. alticola + P. parvus (including P. mollipilosus) cluster/clade to subgenus status (=Cricetodipus). Cranial GMM found differences among taxa that seemed similar (i.e. cryptic) when previously explored using linear measurements (e.g. P. parvus vs. P. mollipilosus).
The Skills Olympics
Authors: Gaffney Mary Kathryn
Published: March 2024

The fundamental skills lab provides students with a safe place to learn new skills and develop knowledge and attitudes necessary for professional nursing. However, learning skills without situational challenges like those encountered in the clinical setting does not adequately prepare students for future challenges. The Skills Olympics, a competitive team event, can be used to foster teamwork, communication, and problem-solving abilities, thereby introducing students to the realities of patient care challenges and promoting transfer of learning.