bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Operation mercury: Impacts of national‐level armed forces intervention and anticorruption strategy on artisanal gold mining and water quality in the Peruvian Amazon
Authors: Dethier Evan N. , Silman Miles R. , Fernandez Luis E. , Espejo Jorge Caballero , Alqahtani Sarra , Pauca Paúl , Lutz David A. 
Published: September 2023

AbstractArtisanal and small‐scale gold mining (ASGM), a wealth‐generating industry in many regions, is nonetheless a global challenge for governance and a threat to biodiversity, public health, and ecosystem integrity. In 2019, the Peruvian government mobilized a targeted, large‐scale armed intervention against illegal ASGM, which has caused deforestation and water resource degradation in this Tropical Biodiversity Hotspot. Before the intervention, the extent of waterbodies created by mining (mining ponds) was increasing by 33%–90%/year; after, they decreased by 4%–5%/year in targeted zones. Mining activity indicators showed 70%–90% abandonment. New mining activity accelerated in nearby areas outside the targeted area (pond area increases: 42%–83%; deforestation increases +3–5 km2/year). Far from intervention zones, mining remained stable during the study period. Our analysis demonstrates that targeted, large‐scale government intervention can have positive effects on conservation by stopping illegal mining activity and shifting it to permitted areas, thereby setting the stage for governance. Continued conservation efforts must further address the impacts of informal mining while (1) limiting environmental degradation by legal mining; (2) remediating former mining areas to reduce erosion and enable reforestation or alternative uses of the landscape; and (3) sustaining such efforts, as some miners began to return to intervention areas when enforcement relaxed in 2022.
The stress clot: Mid‐cavitary variant takotsubo cardiomyopathy with left ventricular thrombus
Authors: Vukomanovic Damir , Hajek Kyle , Unzek Samuel , Gopalan Radha , Mookadam Farouk 
Published: September 2023

AbstractPregnancy and the post‐partum period are known hypercoagulable states. Mid‐cavitary variant Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM) is uncommon and seen in only about 14% of all Takotsubo cases. Left ventricular thrombus (LVT) in the setting of mid‐cavitary TCM is extremely rare, occurring in approximately 1% of cases. We describe a case of a young female, 1‐week post‐partum, with an acute LVT in the setting of mid‐ventricular TCM, and we discuss the striking images and clinical management of this uncommon presentation.
Are democratic regime and the magnitude of the informal economy robust determinants of human impacts on the environment? An extreme bounds analysis
Authors: Vourvoulia Michaela , Kampas Athanasios 
Published: September 2023

AbstractThere is a vast body of literature dedicated to identifying the major drivers that explain human impacts on the environment. In this study, we utilize the STIRPAT framework to assess whether two controversial factors should be considered when examining how humans affect the environment. Specifically, we investigate whether the quality of the democratic regime and the size of the informal economy play significant roles in determining human impacts on the environment. To address this question, we employ the extreme bounds analysis (EBA) to characterize these drivers as either robust or fragile. Based on the findings of this paper, both variables are classified as fragile, suggesting that they may not fully explain human impacts on the environment. We have taken great care in interpreting the results.
Three cases of late‐onset post CAR‐T therapy isolated CNS relapse in R/R large B‐cell lymphoma
Authors: Zhu Huiying , Zhuang Zhe , Wang Wei , Zhao Danqing , Zhang Wei , Zhou Daobin , Zhang Yan 
Published: September 2023

AbstractCD19‐chimeric antigen receptor T‐cell (CAR T‐cell) therapy has improved the outcomes of relapsed/refractory large B cell lymphoma significantly. However, about 50% of patients relapsed post‐CAR‐T therapy. Late relapse composed of 1/3 to 1/2 of CAR‐T cell therapy failure, with no previous reports of isolated relapse in immune‐privileged sites. Here, we report the first case series of late‐onset post CAR‐T cell therapy isolated central nervous system (CNS) relapses, in systemic relapsed/refractory large B cell lymphoma patients. With these cases, we suggest that additional CNS prophylaxis should be administrated for primary refractory patients on CAR‐T cell therapy with previous neurological involvements, multiple extra‐nodular lesions, and high CNS‐IPI score pre‐CAR, as well as early disappearance of circulating CAR‐T cells post infusion.
Hippocampal damage causes retrograde amnesia for objects' visual, but not odour, properties in male rats
Authors: Lacoursiere Sean G. , McAllister Brendan B. , Hadikin Crystal , Tschetter Wayne W. , Lehmann Hugo , Sutherland Robert J. 
Published: September 2023

AbstractDamage to the hippocampus produces profound retrograde amnesia, but odour and object discrimination memories can be spared in the retrograde direction. Prior lesion studies testing retrograde amnesia for object/odour discriminations are problematic due to sparing of large parts of the hippocampus, which may support memory recall, and/or the presence of uncontrolled, distinctive odours that may support object discrimination. To address these issues, we used a simple object discrimination test to assess memory in male rats. Two visually distinct objects, paired with distinct odour cues, were presented. One object was associated with a reward. Following training, neurotoxic hippocampal lesions were made using N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate (NMDA). The rats were then tested on the preoperatively learned object discrimination problem, with and without the availability of odour or visual cues during testing. The rats were also postoperatively trained on a new object discrimination problem. Lesion sizes ranged from 67% to 97% of the hippocampus (average of 87%). On the preoperatively learned discrimination problem, the rats with hippocampal lesions showed preserved object discrimination memory when tested in the dark (i.e., without visual cues) but not when the explicit odour cues were removed from the objects. Hippocampal lesions increased the number of trials required to reach criterion but did not prevent rats from solving the postoperatively learned discrimination problem. Our results support the idea that long‐term memories for odours, unlike recall of visual properties of objects, do not depend on the hippocampus in rats, consistent with previous observations that hippocampal damage does not cause retrograde amnesia for odour memories.
Digital innovation and transformation capabilities in a large company
Authors: Gupta Shivam , Modgil Sachin , Bhushan Bharat , Kamble Sachin , Mishra Juhi 
Published: September 2023

AbstractIn a dynamic and quickly changing world, digital innovation and transformation can help enhancing organizational efficiency and have competitive advantage. In addition, the digital innovation and transformation can facilitate the development of a growth‐oriented culture of workforce. Therefore, this study aims at developing the digital innovation and transformation capabilities at large organization. The study uses a four‐layered process for driving the digital innovation and transformation in the case organization. The study positions the digital innovation and transformation mechanism through the lens of the dynamic capability view and institutional theories. The findings indicate the emergence of digital champions as change agents, a digital council as a monitoring channel, a digital core team as technological enablers and reverse mentoring as an innovative cultural dimension of change facilitating dynamic capabilities of the organization. In terms of institutional pressures, coercive and mimetic pressures emerged as major contributors to the advancement of the digital skill set and digital mindset of the experienced workforce especially, supported by Hofstede's cultural dimensions. Study further delineates the insights for practice, theory and policy. To this end, the study showcases the future scope of work at the case company, since it is an ongoing project on digital innovation and transformation to make organization and related infrastructure resilient, digital and innovative.
Spatial separation of larval sprat (Sprattus sprattus) and sardine (Sardina pilchardus) related to hydrographical characteristics in the North Sea
Authors: Munk Peter , Huwer Bastian , van Deurs Mikael , Kloppmann Matthias , Sell Anne 
Published: September 2023

AbstractClupeid fish species are widely distributed and of highly variable stock sizes. In the North Sea, the common clupeid species are herring (Clupea harengus) and sprat (Sprattus sprattus), but during recent decades, the generally more southerly distributed sardine (Sardina pilchardus) have been more frequently observed. Comparative studies of early life stages of small pelagic clupeids are scarce, and their abilities to co‐exist and relations to environmental characteristics are vastly understudied. We here investigated and compared distributional patterns of co‐occurring larval sprat and sardine in the North Sea, hypothesizing that they are separated into spatial niches linked to specific hydrographical characteristics. Sampling was carried out by a large ring‐net during standard fish surveys (IBTS Q3) in August 2018, 2019, and 2020. Sprat larvae were found widespread across the area of investigation, with the highest concentration in the central North Sea off the eastern and northern flanks of Dogger Bank, where abundances could reach 20 larvae/m2. Sardine larvae, on the other hand, showed their highest abundances in the Southern and German Bights. Distributions of the two species appeared complementary, and statistical correlations were indicative of separate hydrographical niches, where sardine larvae resided in relatively warmer and fresher water. The relative abundances of sardine versus sprat varied between years. Sardine larvae were especially abundant in 2020, twice as abundant as sprat, and observations indicate increasing importance of sardines in the North Sea.
Pilot studies of vonoprazan‐containing Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy suggest Thailand may be more similar to the US than Japan
Authors: Ratana‐Amornpin Sarita , Sanglutong Likasith , Eiamsitrakoon Thanee , Siramolpiwat Sith , Graham David Y. , Mahachai Varocha 
Published: September 2023

AbstractBackgroundVonoprazan‐containing Helicobacter pylori eradication is reliably effective in Japan. Its effectiveness in other countries remains unclear. Here, we examined vonoprazan‐H. pylori therapies in Thailand.Materials and MethodsThis was pilot study of four different vonoprazan containing therapies. Subjects were randomized to: 14‐day dual therapy (500 mg amoxicillin q.i.d. plus 20 mg vonoprazan b.i.d.), 14‐day triple therapy (amoxicillin 1 g b.i.d., slow release clarithromycin‐MR, 1 g daily plus vonoprazan 20 mg b.i.d.), 7‐day high‐dose vonoprazan triple therapy (amoxicillin 1 g b.i.d., clarithromycin‐MR 1 g daily and 60 mg vonoprazan once daily), and 14‐day vonoprazan triple therapy plus bismuth (amoxicillin 1 g b.i.d., clarithromycin‐MR 1 g daily, vonoprazan 20 mg b.i.d., and bismuth subsalicylate 1048 mg b.i.d.). Eradication was confirmed 4 weeks after therapy. Antimicrobial susceptibility and CYP3A4/5 genotyping were performed.ResultsOne hundred H. pylori‐infected patients (mean age 54.3 ± 13 years, 51% men) were randomized. All were CYP3A4 extensive metabolizers. Cure rates with both 14‐day vonoprazan dual therapy and 14‐day triple therapy were low: 66.7%; 95% CI = 43–85% (14/21), and 59.3%; 95% CI = 39–78%) (16/27), respectively. In contrast, 7‐day high‐dose vonoprazan triple therapy and 14‐day vonoprazan triple plus bismuth proved effective 92.3%; 95% CI = 75%–99% (24/26) and 96.2%; 95% CI = 80%–100% (25/26), respectively.ConclusionBoth 14‐day vonoprazan dual and triple therapy were ineffective for H. pylori eradication in Thailand. Higher dosage of vonoprazan, and/or the addition of bismuth may be required to achieve high H. pylori eradication rates. High‐dose vonoprazan triple therapy and vonoprazan triple therapy adding bismuth might be used as first‐line treatments in some regions with high efficacy irrespective of CYP3A4/5 genotype and clarithromycin resistance.
Say on Pay: Is It Needed? Does It Work?
Authors: O'Byrne Stephen F. 
Published: September 2023

A leading compensation practitioner reviews “Say on Pay” rules, those corporate practices giving shareholders the right to vote on executive compensation. The assumption behind “Say on Pay” is that managers may be overpaid because directors fail to provide adequate oversight. O'Byrne questions this underlying assumption.He provides substantial evidence that directors do a poor job overseeing executive pay and that directors have weak incentives to pursue shareholder interests in executive pay. He also finds that “Say on Pay voting is sensitive to differences in pay for performance, but so forgiving that extraordinary pay premiums are required to elicit a majority ‘no’ vote”; and “that three quarters of institutional investors have lower SOP voting quality… than the average investor and almost all have a short‐term focus, with much greater vote sensitivity to current year grant date pay premiums than to long‐term pay alignment and cost.”The common corporate practice of providing competitive target compensation regardless of past performance leads to low alignment of pay and performance. Unfortunately, directors have little incentive to protect shareholder interests “because they are paid labor providers, just like management, not stewards of substantial personal capital.”
Internal Governance Does Matter to Equity Returns but Much More So During “Flights to Quality”
Authors: Brooke Peter G. , Docherty Paul , Psaros Jim , Seamer Michael 
Published: September 2023

Although few doubt that good internal governance helps firms perform better, the statistical evidence is actually mixed because the positive effects of good corporate governance matters much more so at some times than others. The statistical link is strongest during “flights to quality,” when market sentiment turns bearish and pessimistic but weakens for long periods of time during bull markets and low market volatility. Using more than ten years' evidence from Australian firms, the authors show that internal governance is related to both firm value and performance and that firms with stronger governance are less risky, generate higher equity returns and perform significantly better during market downturns. When risk aversion is high, demand for well‐governed firms increases and investors discount the value of firms with potential agency conflicts. This time‐varying relationship between internal governance and returns may explain both the limited explanatory power of governance on firm value and the mixed empirical evidence reported in previous studies.Firms with strong internal governance do earn significantly higher stock returns compared with firms with weak governance; but that also means that the value of governance is not fully incorporated into prices, thereby explaining the limited explanatory power of governance on firm value.
Predator‐induced defences under tropicalisation: A biogeographic approach
Authors: Fenberg Phillip B. , Beas‐Luna Rodrigo , Igić Boris , MacLean Moira A. , Paz‐García David A. , Raimondi Peter T. , Sones Jacqueline L. , Zarzyczny Karolina M. , Sanford Eric 
Published: September 2023

AbstractAimThe biogeography of predator‐induced defences is an understudied area of predator–prey dynamics. Range overlap with predators that induce the response and local demographics (e.g., prey abundances) are likely to be important factors for determining the biogeographic distribution of induced defences within species. However, with climate warming, range‐expanding warm‐water predators are increasingly preying upon temperate species. This is a consequence of a wider phenomenon known as tropicalisation. We aim to determine: (i) if individuals of a temperate barnacle with induced defences (‘bent morphs’) are primarily present where they co‐occur with range‐expanding warm‐water predators (muricid snails) and, (ii) if bent morphs are size‐structured within populations.LocationNorth‐eastern Pacific rocky intertidal zone (~26–40° N).TaxonTetraclita rubescens (Nilsson‐Cantell, 1931), Balanomorpha.MethodsWe use photoquadrats from sites across the range of T. rubescens to determine the biogeographic distribution of populations with bent morphs and to assess size‐structure. We use a combination of field surveys, literature, and museum occurrences to assess range overlap between cool and warm‐water predators of T. rubescens and their association with populations with bent morphs and abundance patterns of T. rubescens.ResultsBent morphs are commonly found within the equatorward portion of the species' range (where abundances are highest), in populations overlapping with range‐expanding warm‐water predators. Bent morphs primarily occur within the smaller size classes.Main conclusionsTo be partly resilient to the effects of tropicalisation, temperate prey must acclimatise/adapt to altered predator–prey dynamics. Predator‐induced defences are one way to do this. We show that bent morphs within a temperate prey species (T. rubescens) are largely restricted to populations that overlap with large‐bodied and range‐expanding warm‐water predators. This is evidence for the partial resilience of T. rubescens to tropicalisation and provides the rationale for further exploration of the eco‐evolutionary consequences of tropicalisation in this study system and others.
Climate conditions are primary predictors of the regional‐scale spatial diversity patterns of ectomycorrhizal fungi
Authors: Miyamoto Yumiko , Murata Masao , Koizumi Takahiko , Janowski Daniel , Helbert   , Nara Kazuhide 
Published: September 2023

AbstractAimSpatial models are valuable for revealing biodiversity patterns but are less commonly applied to soil microbes than to aboveground macroorganisms. Ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungi are symbiotic microbes with high taxonomic and functional diversity that are associated with forest trees. We aimed to predict regional‐scale spatial patterns of EM fungal richness and community composition.LocationForests and subalpine ecosystems in Japan, from Hokkaido to Okinawa.TaxonEM fungi (Asco‐ and Basidiomycetes).MethodsWe used EM fungal DNA sequence data from 1507 soil cores at 39 sites covering a wide range of environmental conditions. The random forest machine learning approach was applied to determine the relative importance of environmental variables (i.e. climate, soil and ecosystem productivity) and to make spatial predictions. The spatial patterns of EM fungal richness and community composition were mapped at 1‐km2 grid resolution.ResultsTemperature generally had a strong influence on EM fungal richness and community composition dissimilarity. Our regional spatial analysis revealed that (1) EM fungal richness was higher in northeastern and montane regions than in southwestern regions and low‐elevation plains, (2) different EM fungal lineages exhibited contrasting spatial diversity patterns and (3) community composition dissimilarity shifted sharply from high to low elevations, and gradually from northeastern to southwestern regions, mainly in relation to climate gradients. Areas with low applicability for spatial modelling were identified based on multidimensional environmental spaces, which will help to prioritize data collection for future research.Main ConclusionsOur study provides a baseline of the potential spatial patterns of EM fungal communities, which were explained primarily by climate variables and secondarily by soil factors and ecosystem productivity. The predicted spatial patterns may be valuable for identifying diversity hotspots and advancing the assessment of climate change impacts on ecologically important root‐associated fungi.
Predictors and possible mechanisms of premature ventricular contraction induced cardiomyopathy
Authors: Pundi Krishna , Marcus Gregory M. 
Published: September 2023

AbstractPremature ventricular complexes (PVCs) are encountered frequently in clinical practice. While PVCs may have various causes, a small number of individuals with PVCs develop cardiomyopathy in the absence of other potential etiologies. When correctly identified, patients with PVC‐incuded cardiomyopathy can have dramatic improvement of their cardiomyopathy with treatment of their PVCs. In this focused review, we discuss potential predictors of PVC‐induced cardiomyopathy, including PVC frequency, PVC characteristics, and modifiable patient risk factors. We also review some proposed mechanisms of PVC‐induced cardiomyopathy and conclude with future directions for research and clinical practice.
Antimalarial drug discovery against malaria parasites through haplopine modification: An advanced computational approach
Authors: Akash Shopnil , Abdelkrim Guendouzi , Bayil Imren , Hosen Md. Eram , Mukerjee Nobendu , Shater Abdullah F. , Saleh Fayez M. , Albadrani Ghadeer M. , Al‐Ghadi Muath Q. , Abdel‐Daim Mohamed M. , Tok Tuğba Taşkin 
Published: September 2023

AbstractThe widespread emergence of antimalarial drug resistance has created a major threat to public health. Malaria is a life‐threatening infectious disease caused by Plasmodium spp., which includes Apicoplast DNA polymerase and Plasmodium falciparum cysteine protease falcipain‐2. These components play a critical role in their life cycle and metabolic pathway, and are involved in the breakdown of erythrocyte hemoglobin in the host, making them promising targets for anti‐malarial drug design. Our current study has been designed to explore the potential inhibitors from haplopine derivatives against these two targets using an in silico approach. A total of nine haplopine derivatives were used to perform molecular docking, and the results revealed that Ligands 03 and 05 showed strong binding affinity compared to the control compound atovaquone. Furthermore, these ligand‐protein complexes underwent molecular dynamics simulations, and the results demonstrated that the complexes maintained strong stability in terms of RMSD (root mean square deviation), RMSF (root mean square fluctuation), and Rg (radius of gyration) over a 100 ns simulation period. Additionally, PCA (principal component analysis) analysis and the dynamic cross‐correlation matrix showed positive outcomes for the protein‐ligand complexes. Moreover, the compounds exhibited no violations of the Lipinski rule, and ADMET (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity) predictions yielded positive results without indicating any toxicity. Finally, density functional theory (DFT) and molecular electrostatic potential calculations were conducted, revealing that the mentioned derivatives exhibited better stability and outstanding performance. Overall, this computational approach suggests that these haplopine derivatives could serve as a potential source for developing new, effective antimalarial drugs to combat malaria. However, further in vitro or in vivo studies might be conducted to determine their actual effectiveness.