bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of internal and external corporate social responsibility on internationalization speed: Evidence from Chinese multinational enterprises
Authors: Guo Zhuang , Xie Yi
Published: September 2024

We investigate the association between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and the internationalization speed of Chinese multinational enterprises (CMNEs) through the lenses of a resource‐constraint framework and a legitimacy perspective. By considering the tension between legitimacy and efficiency, and utilizing the 2206 firm‐year data from 473 publicly listed CMNEs from 2011 to 2019, we illustrate the distinct effects between two types of CSR (e.g., internal CSR and external CSR) and internationalization speed. While external CSR focuses on commitments to external stakeholders, such as customers, communities, and the environment, internal CSR prioritizes internal practices and rules that fulfill the organization's duties to the employees. Specifically, the costs associated with engaging in internal CSR surpass the legitimacy gains, resulting in a negative impact on internationalization speed; conversely, the efficiency benefits of engaging in external CSR outweigh the legitimacy losses, thereby positively influencing internationalization speed. What is more, institutional distance, which captures the difference in institutional profiles between two countries, weakens the positive impact of external CSR on internationalization speed but intensifies the negative effect of internal CSR on internationalization speed. This research contributes to the international business literature by considering a balanced perspective on the trade‐off between legitimacy and efficiency. Our study further enriches the CSR literature by shedding light on the distinct influences that diverse CSR initiatives exert within the context of internationalization.
Comparative assessment and performance analysis of interference mitigation techniques for co‐existent non‐geostationary and geostationary satellites
Authors: Öztürk Faik , Aydın Elif , Kara Ali
Published: September 2024

In recent years, technological developments with user demands, reduced production, and launch costs have rapidly increased the number of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites in space. Since LEO satellites use the same frequency band as existing Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) satellites, the interference coordination between the two satellite networks is vital. In order to minimize the co‐existent interference between these satellite networks, studies perform on different interference mitigation strategies. In this paper, analysis and comparative assessment of these interference mitigation techniques are presented for the co‐existent Non‐Geostationary Earth (NGEO) and GEO systems. More specifically, power control (PC) and spatial isolation‐based link adaptation (SILA) techniques are studied comparatively for the performance evaluation. It is shown that the communication link bandwidth is more efficiently utilized in the SILA technique when compared with the PC technique. Moreover, the multi‐objective optimization problem (MOP) approach in the SILA technique is demonstrated to be more effective when compared with the single‐objective optimization problem (SOP) approach used in the PC technique as the simultaneous prioritizing objective functions outperforms single prioritization. Finally, it is shown that when the PC technique is applied together with the SILA technique, the exclusive angle (EA) can be reduced up to 8% for 100 Mbps, and 8.5% for 200 Mbps transmission bit rates in different operational scenarios. The presented performance evaluation in this paper may help the satellite operator or decision‐maker gain insights on which mitigation technique can be used in the case of a co‐existent interference.
Ecological success of no‐take marine protected areas: Using population dynamics theory to inform a global meta‐analysis
Authors: Hopf Jess K. , Quennessen Victoria , Ridgway Jacob , Barceló Caren , Caltabellotta Fabio Prior , Farnsworth Hayroyan Sarah , Garcia Derek , McLeod Montana , Lester Sarah E. , Nickols Kerry , Yeager Mallarie , White J. Wilson
Published: September 2024

Adaptively managing marine protected areas (MPAs) requires accurately assessing whether established MPAs are achieving their goals of protecting and conserving biomass, especially for harvested populations. Ecological MPA assessments commonly compare inside of the MPA to a reference point outside of and/or before implementation (i.e., calculating “response ratios”). Yet, MPAs are not simple ecological experiments; by design, protected populations interact with those outside, and population dynamic responses can be nonlinear. This complicates assessment interpretations. Here, we used a two‐patch population model to explore how MPA response ratios (outside–inside, before–after, and before–after‐control‐impact [BACI]) for fished populations behave under different conditions, like whether the population is receiving a sustainable larval supply or if it is declining despite protection from harvest. We then conducted a Bayesian evaluation of MPA effects on fish and invertebrate populations based on data collected from 82 published studies on 264 no‐take MPAs worldwide, using the results of an earlier global meta‐analysis as priors. We considered the effects of calculating different summary metrics on these results, drawing on the theoretical insights from our population model as a comparative framework. We demonstrate that not all response ratio comparison types provide the same information: For example, outside–inside and BACI comparisons can fail to detect population decline within MPAs, whereas before–after comparisons likely detect that pattern. Considering these limitations, we nonetheless found that MPAs globally are producing positive outcomes, with on average greater biomass, density, and organism size within their boundaries than reference sites. However, only a small portion of studies (18 of 82) provided the temporal data necessary to determine that protection, on average, has led to increased abundance of populations within MPAs over time. These findings demonstrate the importance of considering the underlying system dynamics when assessing MPA effects. Assuming that large outside–inside or BACI response ratios always reflect large and net positive conservation effects may lead to misleading conclusions, we recommend that: (1) when assessing specific MPA effects, empirical findings be considered alongside theoretical knowledge relevant to that MPA system, and (2) management should respond to the local conditions and outcomes, rather than a blanket expectation for positive MPA effects.
Fertility and tillage intensity affect weed community diversity and functional structure in long‐term organic systems
Authors: Allen Jake , Menalled Uriel D. , Adeux Guillaume , Pelzer Christopher J. , Wayman Sandra , Jernigan Ashley B. , Cordeau Stéphane , DiTommaso Antonio , Ryan Matthew R.
Published: September 2024

Knowledge of how agricultural management interacts with weed seed banks and emergent weed communities is crucial for proactive weed management. Though studies have detailed how differences in disturbance and nutrient applications between organic and conventional herbicide‐based systems affect weed communities, few have focused on these same factors in contrasting organic systems. This study assessed the seed banks and emergent weed communities from the most recent crop rotation cycle (2017–2022) of a long‐term experiment, which compared four organic grain and forage cropping systems differing in nutrient inputs and soil disturbance. The high fertility (HF) system received high‐rate nutrient applications, low fertility (LF) received low‐rate applications, enhanced weed management (EWM) focused on weed control through frequent soil disturbance, and reduced tillage (RT) prioritized soil health with less intense or frequent soil disturbance. Soil samples for greenhouse germination assays were collected at the beginning (2017) and end (2022) of the rotation to explore how these four systems influenced seed bank dynamics over time. Weed community biomass was also sampled in each crop during this time. Treatment effects on weed abundance, taxonomic diversity, and community‐weighted means and functional dispersion of weed traits were analyzed with generalized mixed‐effect models. The RT system had the highest weed seed bank taxonomic diversity, and EWM had the lowest. RT and LF had higher functional dispersion of traits than HF in the seed bank. Weed seed bank communities in HF and RT were characterized by short, small‐seeded, and early germinating weed species. However, seed banks were also labile: Differences between systems in seed density and all other mean trait values were dependent on the crop, which preceded seed bank sampling. Likewise, differences among emergent weed communities in the four systems depended on an interaction between crop species and their planting year. Results suggest that resource availability and intensity of disturbance act as weed community assembly filters in organic cropping systems. Organic growers seeking to design systems that balance weed management and production goals can use relatively low soil disturbance and nutrient application to increase weed community taxonomic or functional diversity without necessarily increasing weed biomass or seed bank density.
Why animals construct helical burrows: Construction vs. post‐construction benefits
Authors: Doody J. Sean , Shukla Shivam , Hasiotis Stephen T.
Published: September 2024

The extended phenotype of helical burrowing behavior in animals has evolved independently many times since the Cambrian explosion (~540 million years ago [MYA]). A number of hypotheses have been proposed to explain the evolution of helical burrowing in certain taxa, but no study has searched for a general explanation encompassing all taxa. We reviewed helical burrowing in both extant and extinct animals and from the trace fossil record and compiled 10 hypotheses for why animals construct helical burrows, including our own ideas. Of these, six are post‐construction hypotheses—benefits to the creator or offspring, realized after burrow construction—and four are construction hypotheses reflecting direct benefits to the creator during construction. We examine the fit of these hypotheses to a total of 21 extant taxa and ichnotaxa representing 59–184 possible species. Only two hypotheses, antipredator and biomechanical advantage, cannot be rejected for any species (possible in 100% of taxa), but six of the hypotheses cannot be rejected for most species (possible in 86%–100% of taxa): microclimate buffer, reduced falling sediment (soil), anticrowding, and vertical patch. Four of these six are construction hypotheses, raising the possibility that helical burrowing may have evolved without providing post‐construction benefits. Our analysis shows that increased drainage, deposit feeding, microbial farming, and offspring escape cannot explain helical burrowing behavior in the majority of taxa (5%–48%). Overall, the evidence does not support a general explanation for the evolution of helical burrowing in animals. The function and evolution of the helix as an extended phenotype seems to provide different advantages for different taxa in different environments under different physicochemical controls (some traces/tracemakers are discussed in more detail due to their association with body fossils and well‐constrained physicochemical parameters). Although direct tests of many of the hypotheses would be difficult, we nevertheless offer ways to test some of the hypotheses for selected taxa.
Productive foraging grounds enhance maternal condition and offspring quality in a capital breeding species
Authors: Fouda Leila , Negus Stuart R. B. , Lockley Emma C. , Fairweather Kirsten , Lopes Artur , Lopes Anice , Correia Sandra M. , Taxonera Albert , Schofield Gail , Eizaguirre Christophe
Published: September 2024

Feeding ecology is an essential component of an organism's life, but foraging comes with risks and energetic costs. Species in which populations exhibit more than one feeding strategy, such as sea turtles, are good systems for investigating how feeding ecology impacts life‐history traits, reproduction and carried over effects across generations. Here, we investigated how the feeding ecology of loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) nesting at the Cabo Verde archipelago correlates with reproductive outputs and offspring quality. We determined the feeding ecology of female turtles before and during the breeding season from stable isotope analysis of carbon and nitrogen and correlated isotopic ratio with female and offspring traits. We found that female turtles feeding at higher trophic positions produced larger clutches. We also found that females with higher δ13C values, typical of productive foraging areas, had greater fat reserves, were less likely to be infected by leech parasites and produced heavier offspring. The offspring of infected mothers with higher δ13C values performed best in crawling and self‐righting trials than those of non‐infected mothers with higher δ13C values. This study shows adult female loggerheads that exploit productive areas build capital reserves that impact their reproductive success and multiple proxies for offspring quality. Overall, our findings provide valuable insights into the complex interplay between feeding ecology and reproductive success, and reveal the transgenerational carry‐over effects of both feeding ecology and health on offspring quality in sea turtles.
Body condition of stranded Razorbills and Atlantic Puffins in the Western Mediterranean
Authors: Trapletti‐Lanti Yada , Expósito‐Granados Mónica , López‐Martínez Sergio , Torres Miguel , Rivas Marga L.
Published: September 2024

Annual mass migrations of seabirds between their breeding and wintering grounds are critical for ensuring their survival and reproductive success. It is essential to comprehend their physical condition in order to identify the causes of death and to facilitate conservation efforts. This study focuses on evaluating the age, body condition index, and metabolites in liver and muscle (triglycerides, glycerol, glycogen, cholesterol, lactate, and glucose) of stranded Razorbills (n = 84) and Atlantic puffins (n = 11). The study was conducted along the Andalusian coast of Spain during the winter season of 2022–2023. The study examined the body condition of stranded individuals and their metabolic state to determine potential factors that may have caused their deaths. The study found that the majority of stranded individuals were juveniles. Both species exhibited low levels of carbohydrate (glucose and glycogen) in their tissues and high levels of lactate in their muscles. These findings could suggest that the individuals had undergone prolonged, strenuous exercise, demanding energy on anaerobic pathways, which may have been associated with migration. The study highlights the significance of adhering to standardized protocols when assessing the body condition of stranded seabirds. Doing so can help to identify causes of death and facilitate conservation efforts. A proposed index for body condition, which incorporates biometric measurements and individual physical condition, provides a comprehensive means of understanding the health of these unique species. This study underscores the importance of further research into the conservation measures and recommendations for protecting seabird populations. It is critical to comprehend the contributing factors of mass mortality incidents to work towards safeguarding these species and preserving their vital migration patterns.
Mitochondrial genomes of Macropsini (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Eurymelinae): Structural features, codon usage patterns, and phylogenetic implications
Authors: Guo Meishu , Wang JiaJia , Li Hu , Yu Kai , Yang Yanqiong , Li Min , Smagghe Guy , Dai RenHuai
Published: September 2024

Macropsini is a tribe of Eurymelinae in the family Cicadellidae that is widely distributed worldwide. Still, its taxonomic status has been unstable, and the classification of certain clades at the genus level has been controversial. The aim of this study is to address the patterns and processes that explain the structure and the evolution of the mitogenomes of Macropsini, while contributing to the resolution of systematic issues involving five of their genera. To this task, the mitogenomes of 26 species of the tribe were sequenced and characterized, and their phylogenetic relationships were reconstructed. The results revealed that the nucleotide composition of mitochondrial genes in these 26 species was significantly skewed toward A and T. Codons ending with T or A in relative synonymous codon usage were significantly more prevalent than those ending with C or G. The parity plot, neutrality plot, and correspondence analysis revealed that mutation and selective pressure affect codon usage patterns. In the phylogenetic relationships of the Macropsini, the monophyly of Pedionis and Macropsis was well‐supported. Meanwhile, Oncopsis revealed paraphyletic regarding Pediopsoides. In conclusion, this research not only contributes the valuable data to the understanding of the mitogenome of the Macropsini but also provides a reference for future investigations on codon usage patterns, potential adaptive evolution, and the phylogeny of the mitogenome within the subfamily Eurymelinae.
Synergistic effects of climate and urbanisation on the diet of a globally near threatened subtropical falcon
Authors: Foysal Mohammod , Panter Connor T.
Published: September 2024

Understanding how human activities affect wildlife is fundamental for global biodiversity conservation. Ongoing land use change and human‐induced climate change, compel species to adapt their behaviour in response to shifts in their natural environments. Such responses include changes to a species' diet or trophic ecology, with implications for the wider ecosystem. This is particularly the case for predatory species or those that occupy high positions within trophic webs, such as raptors. Between 2002 and 2019, we observed 1578 feeding events of the globally near threatened and understudied, Red‐necked Falcon (Falco chicquera) in Bangladesh. We explored the effects of mean monthly temperature, precipitation, temperature differences, and urban land cover on (a) mean prey weights and (b) dietary composition of 15 falcon pairs. Falcons hunted smaller prey items during months with increased temperatures and precipitation, and in more urban areas. However, during months with increased temperature differences, falcons tended to prey on larger prey items. Being specialist aerial hunters, these dietary patterns were largely driven by the probabilities of bats and birds in the diet. Falcons were more likely to prey on bats during warmer and wetter months. Furthermore, urban pairs tended to prey on bats, whereas more rural pairs tended to prey on birds. Mean monthly temperature difference, i.e., a proxy for climate change, was better at explaining the probability of bats in the falcon diet than mean monthly temperature alone. Anthropogenic dietary shifts can have deleterious effects on species with declining populations or those of conservation concern. The effects of urbanisation and human‐induced climate change are expected to continue into the foreseeable future. Therefore, our findings represent a cornerstone in our understanding of how falcons respond to an increasingly human‐dominated world.
Friend of the dead: Zoanthids enhance the persistence of dead coral reef framework under high consumer pressure
Authors: Saldaña Patrick H. , Lang Natalie L. , Altieri Andrew H.
Published: September 2024

Consumers can play critical roles in ecosystem resilience by modifying community resistance and recovery rates. In coral reefs, grazers can increase reef resilience by controlling algae and maintaining open space for coral recruitment, but can also erode the reef framework critical for coral recovery. Here we examine the context‐dependent effects of herbivores on reef persistence in Caribbean Panamá. Using a series of lab and field experiments, we found that the erosional effects of the herbivorous reef urchin (Echinometra viridis) were 2 orders of magnitude greater on dead corals than live corals, and surveys across multiple similarly overfished reefs revealed a positive relationship between urchin densities and percent cover of bare dead coral with urchin densities exceeding 150 m−2 in some reefs. However, we observed that a mat‐forming zoanthid (Zoanthus pulchellus), found exclusively on dead corals, had an inverse spatial relationship with urchins. Through a series of field experiments, we found that zoanthid overgrowth repelled urchins, increased dead coral persistence, and decreased erosion of dead corals making up the reef framework by more than 50% over a 22‐month period. Our findings reveal that zoanthids can provide associational refuge to dead corals by enhancing their persistence under high urchin grazing pressure. We suggest that secondary space‐holders, such as zoanthids, may play increasingly important functional roles in degraded reef systems by shielding coral skeletons from external bioeroders. Moreover, the Stress Gradient Hypothesis, which predicts that the importance of positive interactions such as associational refuges increases with consumer pressure, extends to dead foundation species such as coral skeletons crucial for ecosystem recovery.
A model‐based instructional approach in a socio‐ecological course‐based undergraduate research experience (CURE)
Authors: Sorensen Amanda E. , Alred Ashley , Fontaine Joseph J. , Dauer Jenny M.
Published: September 2024

Course‐based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) are an instructional strategy to help students learn the content and process of science by engaging students in authentic science research. The ESA‐endorsed 4‐Dimensional Ecology Education framework emphasizes engaging students in authentic ecology scientific practices, and uniquely foregrounds human dimensions as a core tenant of ecological literacy. Model‐based CURE instruction may help ecology instructors by giving students a scaffold to better orient their line of inquiry and develop more accurate conceptions of the broader socio‐ecological system through the integration of the CURE experimental data to known concepts within the system. We explored how student model accuracy changes throughout the course, what modeling practices students engaged in during collaborative modeling, and how students used CURE data along with social and ecological sciences in their models. We found that students created more accurate models as the course progressed, and all student groups exhibited expert‐like modeling practices during the summative collaborative modeling process. Importantly, we also found that students were able to integrate experimental data they generated through the CURE within their broader understanding of the study system. A major benefit of model‐based CUREs is to cultivate scientific thinking by helping students connect how individual pieces of research inform larger phenomenon.
Montane springs provide regeneration refugia after high‐severity wildfire
Authors: Peven Grace , Engels Mary , Eitel Jan U. H. , Andrus Robert A.
Published: September 2024

In the mountainous regions of the Western United States, increasing wildfire activity and climate change are putting forests at risk of regeneration failure and conversion to non‐forests. During periods with unfavorable climatic conditions, locations that are suitable for post‐fire tree regeneration (regeneration refugia) may be essential for forest recovery. These refugia could provide scattered islands of recovering forest from which broader forest recovery may be facilitated. Spring ecosystems provide cool and wet microsites relative to the surrounding landscape and may act as regeneration refugia, though few studies have investigated their influence on post‐fire regeneration. To address this knowledge gap, we quantified coniferous tree regeneration adjacent to and away from springs in mixed‐conifer forests in a mountainous region of central Idaho, USA. Our research objectives were to (1) quantify post‐fire conifer density near and away from springs, (2) assess the relative importance of distance to a spring compared with other biophysical factors important to post‐fire regeneration, and (3) examine the temporal trends of post‐fire seedling establishment near and away from springs. In areas burned at high severity from fires in 1988, 2000, and 2006, we sampled transects at 27 springs for the count, age, and height of extant conifer seedlings, as well as topographic factors and distance to surviving seed source. We modeled the relative effects of distance to a spring, topographic variables (slope, heat load index, elevation), post‐fire climate, and distance to surviving seed source for the two dominant species, Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) and lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta), using a generalized linear mixed‐effects model. Our study revealed that proximity to springs resulted in higher conifer density and earlier establishment after high‐severity wildfire when conditions for available seeds and topography were also met. Our results demonstrate that springs are important and previously undescribed regeneration refugia with landscape‐scale implications for post‐fire forest recovery in increasingly water‐limited environments. Springs are relatively abundant features of montane landscapes and may offer continued regeneration refugia for post‐fire recovery into the future, but additional springs mapping and hydroclimatic considerations are needed.
Optimal scheduling of integrated energy system for hydrogen production with electricity
Authors: Wang Xinmei , Zhao Yi , Sun Wenyao , Yu Ming , Du Jiyu , Qian Xiaoyi
Published: September 2024

Under the background of “dual carbon,” we must develop clean energy, build integrated energy systems (IES), and optimize their operation to achieve carbon neutrality. This study presents a strategy for the IES, whose goal is to reduce the carbon content of the power system, which aims to constrain the carbon emission of IES further, improve energy conversion efficiency, and reduce the carbon content of IES. First, we focus on the current situation and the improvement of the economic efficiency of the carbon trading market and introduce a tiered and hierarchical electricity carbon trading mechanism to promote IES to control carbon emissions more effectively. Then, we refine the two‐stage operation process of power to gas (P2G) and propose a P2G process. This novel approach can significantly enhance the efficiency of hydrogen energy utilization and save operational expenses. In addition, this paper proposes a flexible supply and demand dual response mechanism. On the supply side, energy efficiency is improved through cogeneration with adjustable heat and power ratio. On the demand side, the efficiency of the cogeneration system in terms of energy should be improved through a flexible supply and demand side dual response mechanism. With this mechanism, the environmental protection and economic viability of IES can be further enhanced.
Developmental and epileptic encephalopathies after successful treatment of pediatric ALL: A case series and review of literature
Authors: Shukla Vanita , Cheng Sylvia , Hukin Juliette , Huh Linda , Datta Anita N.
Published: September 2024

Successful treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) requires multiagent chemotherapy regimens and central nervous system prophylaxis, including intrathecal methotrexate. Although acute symptomatic seizures can occur during ALL treatment, epilepsy is less common. Furthermore, drug resistant epilepsy (DRE) is rare, presenting with two phenotypes: focal epilepsy, such as temporal lobe, or epileptic encephalopathies (EE), such as Lennox–Gastaut syndrome (LGS). For ALL survivors, the development of DRE has significant impact on morbidity, mortality, and quality of life. We describe four patients with ALL remission, who developed EEs, of which 3 had LGS. Mean age at ALL diagnosis was 1.9 years; range 1.1–2.5 years. All, but one, had normal development prior to ALL. No patient had CNS leukemic involvement. All patients received CNS prophylaxis with intrathecal methotrexate, without cranial radiotherapy. Three had symptomatic methotrexate neurotoxicity during treatment. The mean age at first seizure was 5.6 years; range 3.9–7.5 years, with a mean latency of 3.7 years from ALL diagnosis. All patients developed drug resistant EEs, moderate intellectual disability, and neuropsychiatric co‐morbidities. Two patients had a minimal response to corpus callosotomy (CC), and one did not respond the ketogenic diet. Successful treatment of childhood ALL is rarely associated with the development of DRE and EEs. Young age at ALL diagnosis (<3 years) may be a predisposing factor. Palliative treatments, including ketogenic diet and CC have limited benefit in these patients. Individual genetic susceptibility to MTX toxicity is likely related to epileptogenesis, and further research is required for epilepsy biomarkers.
Isoxanthohumol improves hepatic lipid metabolism via regulating the AMPK/PPARα and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways in hyperlipidemic mice
Authors: Gao Yu , Zhou Qilong , Wang Huiqing , Xin Guang , Wang Tao , Zhang Kun , Yu Xiuxian , Wen Ao , Wu Qiuling , Li Xiaojuan , Liu Yijiang , Huang Wen
Published: September 2024

Hyperlipidemia presents a significant global healthcare challenge, necessitating innovative therapeutic strategies for more effective outcomes. Recent studies have highlighted the beneficial impact of moderate beer intake on metabolic diseases. The purpose of this research is to explore the possible molecular mechanisms of isoxanthohumol (IXN), the major hop flavonoid in beer, in the treatment of hyperlipidemia. The mice model of acute hyperlipidemia was constructed by intraperitoneal injection of Triton WR‐1339. The therapeutic effect of IXN was assessed by biochemical and histological analyses. Furthermore, comprehensive data mining across various public databases was conducted to identify underlying therapeutic targets of IXN on hyperlipidemia. A protein–protein interaction network was constructed to pinpoint hub targets, and subsequent GO and KEGG enrichment analyses were used to elucidate underlying biological functions. Molecular docking was utilized to validate the binding affinity between hub targets and IXN. Western blotting analysis further verified the protein expression of potential IXN targets. IXN administration significantly improved blood lipid and hepatic lipid levels, alongside increased SOD activity and decreased MDA content in hyperlipidemia mice. Histological analyses, including H&E and Oil Red O staining, showed the improvement of hepatic steatosis with IXN treatment. At the molecular level, IXN significantly increased protein levels of p‐AMPK, PPARα, p‐PI3K, and p‐AKT. IXN activates AMPK/PPARα and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways, leading to reduction in lipid accumulation and oxidative stress, and ultimately ameliorating hyperlipidemia.
Curved multiplanar reformatting allows the accurate histological delineation of hippocampal subfields
Authors: Hupka Devon James , Abey Andrew , Misaghi Ehsan , Gargula Justine , Steve Trevor Adam
Published: September 2024

Background

Hippocampal subfields perform specific roles in normal cognitive functioning and have distinct vulnerabilities in neurological disorders. However, measurement of subfields with MRI is technically difficult in the head and tail of the hippocampus. Recent studies have utilized curved multiplanar reconstruction (CMPR) to improve subfield visualization in the head and tail, but this method has not yet been applied to histological data.

Methods

We utilized BigBrain data, an open‐source database of serially sectioned histological data for our analyses. The left hippocampus was segmented according to histological criteria by two raters in order to evaluate intra‐ and inter‐rater reliability of histology‐based segmentation throughout the long axis. Segmentation according to our previous protocol for the hippocampal body was then compared to these histological measurements to evaluate for histological validity. Agreement between segmentations was evaluated using Dice similarity coefficients (DSCs).

Results

Intra‐rater reliability (DSCs) of histological segmentation was excellent for all subfields: CA1 (0.8599), CA2 (0.7586), CA3/CA4/DG (0.8907), SLM (0.9123), subiculum (0.8149). Similarly, inter‐rater reliability analysis demonstrated excellent agreement (DSCs) for all subfield locations: CA1 (0.8203), CA2 (0.7253), CA3/CA4/DG (0.8439), SLM (0.8700), subiculum (0.7794). Finally, histological accuracy (DSCs) for our previous protocol was excellent for all subfields: CA1 (0.8821), CA2 (0.8810), CA3/CA4/DG (0.9802), SLM (0.9879), subiculum (0.8774). When subfields in the hippocampus head, body, and tail were analyzed independently, DSCs also showed excellent agreement.

Conclusions

CMPR allows reliable subfield segmentation based on histological criteria throughout the hippocampal head, body, and tail. Our previous protocol for the hippocampal body can be applied to provide histologically valid subfield measurements throughout the entire hippocampal long axis.
Recent Development on the Heterocycles Derived From In Situ Formation of Aryl Glyoxals by Iodine/DMSO Mediated Oxidation of Methyl Ketones
Authors: Jalani Hitesh B.
Published: September 2024

Controlled oxidation of methyl‐ketones to aryl glyoxals using Selenium dioxide and iodine is one of the useful transformation. Regardless the availability of many oxidation reagents, Iodine/DMSO system is very efficient and flexible. This system efficiently allows in situ formation of α‐halo ketones and subsequently transforming them directly to useful products. The Iodine/DMSO system allows the selective CI and CO bond formation, substantially useful for converting them to other bond forming reactions and heterocycles useful in the synthetic and medicinal chemistry. Iodine/DMSO system could be an important alternative strategy due to sustainability, metal‐free conditions, allowing multiple/linear domino reactions. This review will focus on heterocyclic systems smartly developed/manipulated by Wu group from methyl‐ketones. The scope and limitations of this method and selected examples of applications for the synthesis of interesting molecules are discussed herein.
Association of international remittance with satisfaction and utilization of maternal healthcare services in Nepal: A secondary analysis of two cohort studies
Authors: Kilpi Kasperi , Puthoopparambil Soorej , Gurung Rejina , Malla Honey , Basnet Omkar , KC Ashish
Published: September 2024

This study aimed to explore the association of international remittance with satisfaction and utilization of maternal health services in Nepal. This is a secondary analysis based on two prospective cohort studies. Regression analyses were carried out to assess the association. Women from remittance‐receiving households had 1.27 higher odds of receiving timely initiation of first ANC visit (aOR = 1.27; 95% CI: 1.19, 1.35). The association between remittance‐receiving household income and overall satisfaction with maternal health services (aOR = 0.97; 95% CI: 0.91, 1.02) and receiving four or more ANC visits (aOR = 0.92; 95% CI: 0.85, 1.00) was not significant.
The cooperative effects of November Arctic sea ice and Eurasian snow cover on the Eurasian surface air temperature in January–February
Authors: Lyu Zhuozhuo , Gao Hui , Li Huixin
Published: September 2024

Due to their significant influence on large‐scale atmospheric circulation and climate anomalies, the variability of Arctic sea ice and Eurasian snow cover during late autumn and their combined effects have garnered increasing attention. This study aims to investigate the physical mechanism underlying the covariation among the Barents‐Kara Seas (BKS) sea ice concentration (SIC), Eurasian snow cover extent (SCE) and the ensuing winter Eurasian surface air temperature (SAT). The statistics results of singular value decomposition suggest a significant linkage between the decreased BKS SIC, zonal “negative–positive” dipole SCE anomalies over Eurasia in November and cold Eurasian SAT in January–February (JF). Observational diagnosis analyses about the meridional moisture, heat transport and surface heat flux demonstrate that subpolar Eurasian anticyclonic circulation plays a crucial role in connecting the predominant modes of SIC and SCE. Furthermore, the BKS SIC and Eurasian SCE anomalies can jointly excite upward‐propagating planetary waves into the stratosphere, while simultaneously reducing the subpolar meridional temperature gradient. This results in westerly wind deceleration and favours the continuous planetary wave propagation. Consequently, the stratospheric polar vortex is significantly weakened, along with negative Northern Annular Mode anomalies propagating downward from the stratosphere to troposphere. Negative‐phase Arctic Oscillation anomalies correspondingly develop during JF, resulting in widespread cold anomalies over the Eurasian continent. These results are further confirmed by numerical sensitivity experiments from the Community Atmosphere Model forced by the above mentioned SIC and SCE anomalies. The empirical hindcast model analyses further suggest that the prediction skill of JF Eurasian SAT is enhanced when both the November BKS SIC and Eurasian SCE signals are considered.
Intravenous tigecycline with selected multichamber bag parenteral nutrition: A compatibility study
Authors: Dettlaff Katarzyna , Guzińska Julia , Klimaszewska Marta , Dominiak Katarzyna , Jelińska Anna
Published: September 2024

Background

Tigecycline is widely used to treat infections in intensive care units. Drugs often need to be delivered to critically ill patients feeding by parenteral nutrition (PN). Before two preparations are administered in the same infusion line, the safety of this combination should be established. The objective of this study was to determine the compatibility of tigecycline with selected multichamber bag PN (MCB‐PN).

Methods

Tigecycline was diluted in 0.9% sodium chloride solution and 5% glucose solution to obtain two 0.5 mg/ml solutions. Then the solutions were combined with selected MCB‐PN in appropriate proportions. The samples were visually assessed, and pH, osmolality, turbidity, particle size, and zeta potential were measured. These measurements were made immediately after combining the solutions and after 4 h of storage at 23°C ± 1°C.

Results

It was determined that the pH values of the mixtures after combining with tigecycline changed by ≤0.1 unit. An increase in zeta potential was recorded, excluding one combination of tigecycline with the mixture. For all samples tested, the particle size distribution was within the acceptable range immediately after combination and after 4 h of storage. The difference in osmolality did not exceed ±3%, whereas the zeta potential decreased for only one combination. The turbidity of none of the samples exceeded a critical value.

Conclusion

The physical compatibility of the tigecycline with five MCB‐PN was proved. They can therefore be administered to patients in one infusion line using the Y‐site.
Laparoscopic Cytoreductive Surgery and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy, an Update From the International PSOGI Registry
Authors: Duran‐Martínez M. , Bergillos‐Giménez M. , Rodríguez‐Ortíz L. , Arjona‐Sánchez A. ,   Laparoscopic PSOGI Registry
Published: September 2024

Introduction

Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) are established treatments for peritoneal surface malignancies, traditionally performed via laparotomy. Recent advancements in laparoscopic approaches (L‐CRS + HIPEC) have shown promising results in selected patients.

Methods

The PSOGI registry, established in November 2019, collects data from specialized centers performing L‐CRS + HIPEC. Data were collected prospectively and analyzed retrospectively, excluding risk‐reducing procedures without peritoneal disease. The learning curve was assessed using a 14‐cases cutoff.

Results

Today, 323 patients have been registered, 193 were included finally. Perioperative outcomes improved after 14 cases: Length of hospital stay was 7.78 ± 3.64 days (consolidation) versus 8.8 ± 8.79 days (learning) and major morbidity was 0% (consolidation) versus 5% (learning), (p = n.s.). Estimated blood loss was lower in the consolidation phase. Oncological outcomes also improved: Recurrence rate was 8.7% (consolidation) versus 17.8% (learning). Disease‐free survival 5 years, 65% (learning) versus 88% (consolidation) (p = 0.012).

Conclusion

The L‐CRS + HIPEC is a safe procedure with non‐inferior oncologic outcomes which it is evaluating in an IDEAL setting by an international group. The validation of the learning curve, gives us the knowledge that a mentoring program must be setup to reduce the learning curve impact in oncologic failure.
Evaluation of Sonographic Muscle Measurement Using Established Muscle Markers
Authors: Kremer Wolfgang Maximilian , Schwarz Alexander , Schepers Markus , Labenz Christian , Hahn Felix , Sivanathan Visvakanth , Düber Christoph , Galle Peter Robert , Sprinzl Martin Franz
Published: September 2024

Objectives

Loss of muscle quantity and function is associated with frailty and reduced quality of life. Sonography is a simple option to quantify muscle mass, which could be included into routine diagnostic workup. This study was designed to prospectively evaluate sonographic measurement and to compare it with established measurements of muscle quantity and function.

Methods

Between March 2020 and May 2022, 723 patients were enrolled in the study. Psoas muscle area index (PMAI) and psoas muscle thickness height index (PMTI) were quantified. Thigh muscle thickness indices (TMTI) were either measured without compression (fTMTI) or under compression (cTMTI). Variation coefficient (VC) as well as intra‐ and inter‐observer reliability were analyzed. The reliability and reproducibility of the sonographic morphometry were assessed using two examiners. Sonographic morphometry was compared with established measurements of muscle using computed tomography and hand grip strength, respectively.

Results

In 156 patients, sonographic indices were compared with corresponding CT indices. Of the 723 patients included, sonographic indices were compared with hand strength in 429 patients. Interobserver and intraobserver variability showed better results for the femur indices than for the psoas indices (correlation coefficient: 0.8697/0.9118 vs 0.7502/0.7319). Psoas muscle indices correlated best with the reference standard of the SMI. The optimal cut‐off for each muscle index for determining muscle loss according to the SMI and hand grip strength was calculated.

Conclusion

Sonography can simplify muscle measurement and should be used in the future. Sonographic muscle indices have the potential to simplify evaluation, especially in risk groups such as patients with liver cirrhosis or other wasting disorders.
Color‐Tunable Emission via Site‐Selective Occupation of Eu2+ Activators in Silicate Phosphors
Authors: Yang Yuzhu , Zhang Peng , Miao Xuan , Lin Zenggang , Li Sixia , Liu Weisheng
Published: September 2024

Site‐selective occupation generated by ion doping into crystal lattices is an effective way to explore new matter and regulate luminescent properties. Herein, equiv. M2+ (Ca, Sr, Ba) is partially replaced each other to formulate multiple doped sites in Li2MSiO4: Eu2+ (LMSO: Eu2+). As the luminescence center, Eu2+ selectively occupies different sites to regulate luminescent color in the visible spectrum ranging from blue to orange, and ultimately functionality improvement. The Huang‐Rhys factor is quite small and the resulting phosphors display an ultrahigh thermal stability for optical thermometry. Besides, utilizing synthesized phosphors combined with the InGaN chip generates high‐quality full‐spectrum white light. Under X‐ray irradiation, LMSO: Eu2+ (M = Ca, Sr, Ba) exhibits great X‐ray imaging ability, the detection limit of X‐ray reaches 0.18, 0.075, and 0.12 µGy s−1. This work presents great potentiality of synthesized phosphors in the fields of solid‐state lighting and X‐ray imaging.
The Implication of Photodynamic Therapy Applied to the Level of Tumor Resection on Postoperative Cerebral Edema and Intracranial Pressure Changes in Gliomas
Authors: Li Jingxuan , Sun Weijun , Hu Shaoshan , Yan Xiuwei
Published: September 2024

Aim

The aim of our study was to explore the factors influencing cerebral edema and intracranial pressure in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) patients who undergo photodynamic therapy (PDT) after resection.

Approach

This was a retrospective controlled study of GBM patients treated with PDT‐assisted resections of varying scope from May 2021 to August 2023. The baseline clinical data, cerebral edema volumes, intracranial pressure values, and imaging data of the GBM patients were collected for statistical analysis.

Results

A total of 56 GBM patients were included. Thirty of the patients underwent gross total resection (GTR), and the other 26 patients underwent subtotal resection (STR). We found that the cerebral edema volume and the mean intracranial pressure in patients who underwent GTR were lower than those in patients who underwent STR. Moreover, univariate analysis showed that the scope of tumor resection was an independent factor affecting cerebral edema and intracranial pressure after PDT.

Conclusions

Compared with STR, PDT combined with GTR significantly reduced postoperative brain edema volume and intracranial pressure in GBM patients.
Knockdown of PAIP1 Inhibits Breast Cancer Cell Proliferation by Regulating Cyclin E2 mRNA Stability
Authors: Yang Wenqing , Wang Qingkun , Li Qi , Han Yue , Zhang Yu , Zhu Lu , Zhu Lianhua , Piao Junjie
Published: September 2024

Polyadenylate‐binding protein‐interacting protein 1 (PAIP1) is a protein that modulates translation initiation in eukaryotic cells. Studies have shown that PAIP1 was overexpressed in various type of cancers, and drives cancer progression by promoting cancer cell proliferation, invasion, and migration. In our previous study, we identified that PAIP1 was overexpressed in breast cancer, and the expression was correlated with poor prognosis. However, the biological function of PAIP1 in breast cancer has not been clearly understood. In this study, we constructed PAIP1 specifically silenced breast cancer cells. Then, cell proliferation, cell cycle distribution, and apoptosis were detected in PAIP1 knockdown cells. RNA‐seq analysis was performed to predict the downstream target of PAIP1, and the molecular mechanism was explored. As a results, we found that knockdown of PAIP1 repressed cell proliferation, induced cell cycle arrest, and triggers apoptosis. Xenograft mouse model showed that knockdown of PAIP1 inhibits cell growth in vivo. RNA‐seq predicted that CCNE2 mRNA was one of the downstream targets of PAIP1. In addition, we identified that knockdown of PAIP1‐inhibited cell proliferation through modulating cyclin E2 expression. Mechanically, knockdown of PAIP1 reduces the expression of cyclin E2 by regulating the mRNA stability of cyclin E2. Moreover, in breast cancer tissues, we found that the expression of PAIP1 was positively correlated with cyclin E2. Taken together, our findings establish the role and mechanism of PAIP1 in breast cancer progression, indicating that PAIP1 would be a new therapeutic target for breast cancer treatment.