bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Thermal plasticity in protective wing pigmentation is modulated by genotype and food availability in an insect model of seasonal polyphenism
Authors: van Bergen E. , Atencio G. , Saastamoinen M. , Beldade P. 
Published: July 2024

Abstract

Phenotypic variation in natural populations results from complex interactions between organisms and their changing environments. The environment shapes both phenotypic frequencies (during adaptation) and organismal phenotypes (through phenotypic plasticity). Developmental plasticity, in particular, refers to the phenomenon whereby an organism's phenotype depends on the environmental conditions during development. It can match phenotype to ecological conditions and help organisms to cope with environmental heterogeneity, including differences between alternating seasons.

Experimental studies of developmental plasticity often focus on the impact of individual environmental cues and do not take explicit account of genetic variation. In contrast, natural environments are complex, comprising multiple variables with combined effects that are poorly understood and may vary among genotypes. We investigated the effects of multifactorial environments on the development of the seasonally plastic eyespots of Bicyclus anynana butterflies. Eyespot size depends on developmental temperature and is involved in alternative seasonal strategies for predator avoidance.

In nature, both temperature and food availability undergo seasonal fluctuations. However, our understanding of how thermal plasticity in eyespot size varies in response to food availability and across genotypes remains limited. To address this, we investigated the combined effects of temperature (T; two levels: 20°C and 27°C) and food availability (N; two levels: control and limited) during development. We examined their impact on wing and eyespot size in adult males and females from multiple genotypes (G; 28 families).

We found evidence of thermal and nutritional plasticity and temperature‐by‐nutrition interactions (significant T × N) on the size of eyespots in both sexes. Food limitation resulted in relatively smaller eyespots and tempered the effects of temperature. Additionally, we found differences among families for thermal plasticity (significant G × T effects), but not for nutritional plasticity (non‐significant G × N effects) nor for the combined effects of temperature and food limitation (non‐significant G × T × N effects).

Our results reveal the context dependence of thermal plasticity, with the slope of thermal reaction norms varying across genotypes and across nutritional environments. We discuss these results in the light of the ecological significance of pigmentation and the value of considering thermal plasticity in studies of the biological impact of climate change.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
Divergent microbial phosphorous acquisition strategies between active layer and permafrost deposits on the Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Wang Lu , Zhang Dianye , Kang Luyao , Li Ziliang , Yang Yuanhe 
Published: July 2024

Abstract

Phosphorous (P) is essential for mediating plant and microbial growth and thus could impact carbon (C) cycle in permafrost ecosystem. However, little is known about soil P availability and its biological acquisition strategies in permafrost environment.

Based on a large‐scale survey along a ~1000 km transect, combining with shotgun metagenomics, we provided the first attempt to explore soil microbial P acquisition strategies across the Tibetan alpine permafrost region.

Our results showed the widespread existence of microbial functional genes associated with inorganic P solubilization, organic P mineralization and transportation, reflecting divergent microbial P acquisition strategies in permafrost regions. Moreover, the higher gene abundance related to solubilization and mineralization as well as an increased ration of metagenomic assembled genomes (MAGs) carrying these genes were detected in the active layer, while the greater abundance of low‐affinity transporter gene (pit) and proportions of MAGs harbouring pit gene were observed in permafrost deposits, illustrating a stronger potential for P activation in active layer but an enhanced P transportation potential in permafrost deposits.

Our results highlight multiple P‐related acquisition strategies and their differences among various soil layers should be considered simultaneously to improve model prediction for the responses of biogeochemical cycles in permafrost ecosystems to climate change.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
Comparison of disease‐modifying anti‐rheumatic drugs and hyperbaric oxygen therapy in the experimental model of rheumatoid arthritis in rats
Authors: Hallak Mohamad , Inal Ahmet , Baktir Mehmet Akif , Atasever Ayhan 
Published: July 2024

AbstractIn this study, we wanted to investigate the effectiveness of combining disease‐modifying anti‐rheumatic drugs (DMARD) with hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in reducing inflammation in a rheumatoid arthritis (RA) model using rats. We divided 56 male Sprague–Dawley rats into seven groups and induced RA using complete Freund's adjuvant. Some groups received HBOT, whereas others were given etanercept or leflunomide. We started the treatment on the 10th day after inducing RA and continued it for 18 days. To evaluate the effectiveness of the treatments, we measured paw swelling and used X‐rays to examine the joints before and after the treatment. We also analysed the levels of two inflammatory markers, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)‐α and interleukin (IL)‐1β, using an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Additionally, we conducted histological analysis and assessed the expressions of anti‐IL‐1β and anti‐TNF‐α antibodies. All the treatment groups showed a significant decrease in arthritis scores, paw swelling and levels of TNF‐α and IL‐1β. The X‐ray images revealed improvements in joint structure, and the histopathological analysis showed reduced inflammation and collagen abnormalities. Combining DMARD with HBOT had similar effects to individual therapies, suggesting a cost‐effective and potentially safer approach for improving outcomes in rats with RA.
Family therapy and the ecology of parallel universes
Authors: Larner Glenn 
Published: July 2024

AbstractAstrophysicists and cosmologists seriously propose that our universe, with its three dimensions and local physical bylaws, is one of an infinite number of parallel universes. This paper discusses the relevance of these ideas for contemporary systemic family therapy, such as thinking about the therapist's positioning in relation to the family. Ideas such as the anthropic principle suggest each meeting of a therapist and family forms a unique systemic entity or singularity with its own universe of by‐laws peculiar to a location in time and space. We are like travellers between parallel family therapy universes where the therapist's epistemology, theory or model is less important than how therapists and clients position themselves towards each other. This ecological positioning encompasses contextual, emotional, cultural, ethical and spiritual belief systems.
The unique contribution of reading motivation to reading comprehension increases from Grades 2 to 4 in Chinese children
Authors: Li Yixun , Jia Kaiyue , Myat Kyaw Hay Mar , Li Hong , Yan Mengge 
Published: July 2024

BackgroundTo better understand the intricate science of reading development, both cognitive and affective factors must be taken into consideration. This developmental study aims to enrich the literature by exploring how reading motivation – an affective factor – contributes to reading comprehension in Chinese elementary schoolers, beyond well‐accepted cognitive‐based reading skills, such as decoding and vocabulary.MethodsWe used a cross‐sectional design with 420 native Mandarin‐Chinese‐speaking students (Grade 2: N = 95; Grade 3: N = 216; Grade 4: N = 109), with age‐appropriate materials to measure their decoding skills, vocabulary knowledge, reading motivation, and reading comprehension. Three sets of hierarchical regression analyses were run for the three grade samples to examine the unique contributions of reading motivation to reading comprehension while controlling children's demographic profiles, such as age and gender, and two cognitive‐based reading skills.ResultsWe replicated previous findings: children's decoding and vocabulary are robust predictors of reading achievement across Grades 2 to 4. Importantly, reading motivation contributed uniquely to reading comprehension in all three grades and explained an increasing amount of the variances in reading comprehension from Grades 2 to 4. Intrinsic reading motivation was critical in Grade 3, while extrinsic reading motivation became important in Grade 4.ConclusionsTaken together, our findings reveal the complexity of reading development and advance the existing cognitive‐based reading theories by including affective dimensions.
Should the CEO be the “face” of crisis response? Examining types of visuals on social media in corporate crisis communication
Authors: Yook Bora , Stacks Don W. 
Published: July 2024

AbstractThis study aims to suggest visual strategies for social media response in corporate crisis communication. Situational Crisis Communication Theory (SCCT) and Associative Network Theory of Memory (ANT) are applied to investigate the types of visuals (photos) that companies may utilize in Facebook messages. A 3 (message: excuse vs. attack accuser vs. apology) × 4 (photo: no‐image vs. product vs. stereotypical CEO vs. CEO reflecting corporate character) between‐subject design online experiment was conducted in the United States (N = 296). The results confirmed the effect of message strategies on crisis communication outcomes such as perceived responsibility, anger, and reputation. Preliminary interaction effects showed that the stereotypical CEO image (e.g., wearing a suit at a podium in a conference setting) was effective on reputation in two message strategies: an excuse in an accidental cluster crisis and an apology in a preventable cluster crisis. Based on these findings, the current study offers theoretical and practical implications for corporate crisis communication. Details are discussed in the study.
Caesarean section and anal incontinence in women after obstetric anal sphincter injury: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Carter Emily , Hall Rebecca , Ajoku Kelechi , Myers Jenny , Kearney Rohna 
Published: July 2024

AbstractBackgroundApproximately 50% women who give birth after obstetric anal sphincter injury (OASI) develop anal incontinence (AI) over their lifetime.ObjectiveTo evaluate current evidence for a protective benefit of planned caesarean section (CS) to prevent AI after OASI.Search StrategyMEDLINE/PubMed, Embase 1974–2024, CINAHL and Cochrane to 7 February 2024 (PROSPERO CRD42022372442).Selection CriteriaAll studies reporting outcomes after OASI and a subsequent birth, by any mode.Data Collection and AnalysisEighty‐six of 2646 screened studies met inclusion criteria, with nine studies suitable to meta‐analyse the primary outcome of ‘adjusted AI’ after OASI and subsequent birth. Subgroups: short‐term AI, long‐term AI, AI in asymptomatic women. Secondary outcomes: total AI, quality of life, satisfaction/regret, solid/liquid/flatal incontinence, faecal urgency, AI in women with and without subsequent birth, change in AI pre‐ to post‐ subsequent birth.Main ResultsThere was no evidence of a difference in adjusted AI after subsequent vaginal birth compared with CS after OASI across all time periods (OR = 0.92, 95% CI 0.72–1.20; 9 studies, 2104 participants, I2 = 0% p = 0.58), for subgroup analyses or secondary outcomes. There was no evidence of a difference in AI in women with or without subsequent birth (OR = 1.00 95% CI 0.65–1.54; 10 studies, 970 participants, I2 = 35% p = 0.99), or pre‐ to post‐ subsequent birth (OR = 0.79 95% CI 0.51–1.25; 13 studies, 5496 participants, I2 = 73% p = 0.31).ConclusionsDue to low evidence quality, we are unable to determine whether planned caesarean is protective against AI after OASI. Higher quality evidence is required to guide personalised decision‐making for asymptomatic women and to determine the effect of subsequent birth mode on long‐term AI outcomes.
Natural resource endowment and urban green total factor productivity: “Resource gospel” or “resource curse”?
Authors: Yang Shubo , Jahanger Atif , Usman Muhammad 
Published: July 2024

AbstractThis study constructs an economic growth model that includes natural resource endowments to theoretically explore the paradox of “resource gospel” and “resource curse.” Based on the theoretical analysis, the influence of natural resources on green total factor productivity is analyzed empirically through an econometric model using Chinese urban panel data from 2010 to 2019. The theoretical analysis shows that the impact of natural resource endowment on green total factor productivity is indecisive. The empirical results show that natural resource endowments significantly lessen urban green total factor efficiency, and the results remain robust after addressing for endogeneity issues and robustness tests. However, this effect is significantly heterogeneous depending on the city level and science and education level; for example, the “resource curse” effect is more pronounced in non‐central cities and cities with average education and science level. Simultaneously, the mechanism analysis shows that natural resource endowment reduces urban total factor productivity by inhibiting innovation and introducing choices in the technological progress approach. Therefore, the research findings bring empirical evidence to promote reforms in natural resource allocation and provide theoretical support for encouraging green total factor productivity in resource‐based cities.
The impacts of thermocouple insulation failure on the accuracy of temperature measurement data in forensic fire‐death scenarios—Part I: Physical disintegration
Authors: Silveira David , Kendell Ashley , Shook Beth 
Published: July 2024

AbstractThermocouples are utilized to monitor a wide range of temperatures in industrial applications. They are also used in both fire and forensic science research to measure temperatures of fires and of materials exposed to fire. Taking accurate temperature measurements during forensic fire‐death scenarios is very difficult due to direct fire exposure to thermocouples, shrinkage and destruction of tissues, and movements from pyre collapse and pugilistic posturing of human donors. This two‐part study investigates the impacts on the accuracy of temperature data if the selected thermocouples are unable to withstand fire exposure. Part I (this article) provides an overview of thermocouple theory along with evidence of the physical deterioration that occurs when glass fiber‐insulated thermocouple wires are overheated by exposure to fire‐level temperatures in a muffle furnace. This study verified that insulation overheating causes embrittlement and disintegration, which can cause the indicated temperature to reflect a new location of measurement located far away from the original measuring junction at the thermocouple tip. Part II will discuss the measurement errors that occurred due to low electrical resistance of insulation when three different thermocouple models were passed through fire‐level temperatures to measure an ice bath at a constant temperature of 0°C.
An update on the endocrine manifestations of antiphospholipid syndrome
Authors: El Hasbani Georges , Uthman Imad 
Published: July 2024

AbstractAntiphospholipid Syndrome (APS), characterized by hypercoagulability and pregnancy morbidity, poses a significant clinical challenge when involving organ systems, such as the endocrine system. APS can directly and indirectly influence the anterior and posterior lobes of the pituitary gland. The thyroid gland exhibits involvement, especially in patients with positive anticardiolipin antibodies, yet the clinical significance of the relationship with APS remains elusive. The pancreas, often overlooked, manifests in diverse ways, from pancreatitis to implications in diabetes. Adrenal insufficiency emerges as a common endocrine manifestation of APS, with adrenal hemorrhage or infarction being a presenting manifestation. Adrenal gland involvement has also been reported in the context of catastrophic APS. Pregnancy complications and infertility might be effects of APS on the female ovaries, while testicular torsion and decreased sperm concentration and total sperm count have been reported as rare effects of APS on male testes.
Systematic review and meta‐analyses of cytisine to support tobacco cessation
Authors: Puljević Cheneal , Stjepanović Daniel , Meciar Isabel , Kang Heewon , Chan Gary , Morphett Kylie , Bendotti Hollie , Kunwar Garry , Gartner Coral 
Published: July 2024

AbstractBackground and AimsCytisine (also known as cytisinicline) is a low‐cost partial agonist of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors used to assist tobacco cessation. We aimed to review the effectiveness of cytisine for tobacco cessation and the effects of dose and co‐use of behavioural or other pharmacological interventions on cessation outcomes.MethodsWe searched seven databases, Google Scholar, and reference lists of included publications for randomised controlled trials investigating use of cytisine as a tobacco cessation aid. Studies were eligible if participants were ≥15 years old and used tobacco upon study enrolment. We conducted four random effects meta‐analyses and sensitivity analyses with fixed effects models. We used the Cochrane risk‐of‐bias tool for randomised trials version 2 to assess risk of bias in included studies, with adjustments recommended by the Cochrane Tobacco Addiction Group.ResultsParticipants using cytisine were significantly more likely to quit tobacco than participants who received placebo/no intervention/usual care (risk ratio [RR] = 2.65, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.50–4.67, 6 trials, 5194 participants) or nicotine replacement therapy (RR = 1.36, 95% CI = 1.06–1.73, p = 0.0152, 2 trials, 1511 participants). The difference in cessation rates among participants receiving cytisine versus varenicline was not statistically significant (RR = 0.96, 95% CI 0.63–1.45, P = 0.8464, 3 trials, 2508 participants). Two trials examined longer versus shorter treatment duration, finding higher abstinence rates with longer treatment (RR = 1.29, 95% CI = 1.02–1.63, 2 trials, 1009 participants). The differences in the number of adverse events reported by participants who received cytisine versus placebo (RR = 1.19, 95% CI = 0.99–1.41, P = 0.0624; 6 trials; 4578 participants) or cytisine versus varenicline (RR = 1.37, 95% CI = 0.57–3.33, P = 0.4835; 2 trials; 1345 participants) were not statistically significant. Most adverse events were mild (e.g. abnormal dreams, nausea, headaches).ConclusionsCytisine is an effective aid for tobacco cessation and appears to be more effective for tobacco cessation than placebo, no intervention, usual care and nicotine replacement therapy.
Tracking ecosystem decline in an uncertain and changing alpine landscape
Authors: Tierney D. A. 
Published: July 2024

AbstractThis study investigated regional and site level diversity for alpine and subalpine systems. The aim was to assess whether differing analytical methods could track diversity through time. The study was undertaken within Kosciusko National Park in south‐eastern Australia (6900 km2) which encompasses most of the alpine zone (~2500 km2 or 48% of its occurrence on mainland Australia). Multivariate ordination, species richness and the relationship of diversity to landscape patterns were assessed and considered in relation to changes predicted to impinge upon these systems over coming decades. Species richness had limited capacity to detect predicted changes; however, ordination based on floristic patterns may have more capacity to detect change if adequate replication is applied. Complex patterns across landscapes and at the site level contributed to these analytical challenges. Species richness is commonly used to assess ecosystem status and to provide benchmark values, but it had very limited capacity to do so in the assessed alpine and subalpine ecosystems, including the most threatened. Government agencies often rely heavily on species richness to assess ecosystem change and this urgently needs re‐evaluation.
Anatomical description of a new ligamentous supporting structure of the canine cranial cervical spinal cord
Authors: Nagendran Aran , Pumarola Marti , Aige‐Gil Vicente 
Published: July 2024

AbstractThe cranial cervical vertebral column carries a unique range of mobility with the addition of dorsal and ventral flexion and rotation. The denticulate ligaments provides support and protection of the spinal cord, but little is known of the adaption of this apparatus at the cranial cervical portion of the spinal cord. We present in this publication a new pair of ligaments in dogs that supports the spinal cord inside the vertebral canal at the level of the C1‐C2 spinal segments.
Scale‐based landmark for internal organs assessments of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) during digital radiography and ultrasonography imaging
Authors: Anfara Fathan Rahmadya , Rahmiati Dwi Utari , Ulum Mokhamad Fakhrul 
Published: July 2024

AbstractMedical imaging techniques such as digital radiography and ultrasonography are non‐invasive and provide precise results for examining internal organs and structures within fish. Their effectiveness can be further enhanced by using body parts like scales as markers for the organs beneath them. This study utilized the number of scales as landmarks in digital radiography and ultrasonography to non‐invasively evaluate the muscles, bones, and images of internal and reproductive organs of common carp (Cyprinus carpio). Digital radiography was performed in the dorsoventral and lateral views of the fish, whereas ultrasonography was conducted in longitudinal and transverse views on sequence scale numbers with brightness and colour Doppler‐modes. Digital radiography of the common carp revealed the whole‐body morphology, including the bony parts from the head, pectoral fins, dorsal fins, pelvic fins, anal fins, and vertebrae to the tail that appeared radiopaque. Internal organs were also observed, with the swim bladder and heart appeared radiolucent, while the intestines, liver, testes, and ovaries appeared radiopaque. Ultrasonography in brightness mode displayed the digestive organs, reproductive organs, and muscle thickness. Additionally, colour Doppler mode demonstrated blood flow within the heart's ventricle.