bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Analysis of the genetic loci of pigment pattern evolution in vertebrates
Authors: Elkin Joel , Martin Arnaud , Courtier‐Orgogozo Virginie , Santos M. Emília 
Published: April 2023

ABSTRACTVertebrate pigmentation patterns are amongst the best characterised model systems for studying the genetic basis of adaptive evolution. The wealth of available data on the genetic basis for pigmentation evolution allows for analysis of trends and quantitative testing of evolutionary hypotheses. We employed Gephebase, a database of genetic variants associated with natural and domesticated trait variation, to examine trends in how cis‐regulatory and coding mutations contribute to vertebrate pigmentation phenotypes, as well as factors that favour one mutation type over the other. We found that studies with lower ascertainment bias identified higher proportions of cis‐regulatory mutations, and that cis‐regulatory mutations were more common amongst animals harbouring a higher number of pigment cell classes. We classified pigmentation traits firstly according to their physiological basis and secondly according to whether they affect colour or pattern, and identified that carotenoid‐based pigmentation and variation in pattern boundaries are preferentially associated with cis‐regulatory change. We also classified genes according to their developmental, cellular, and molecular functions. We found a greater proportion of cis‐regulatory mutations in genes implicated in upstream developmental processes compared to those involved in downstream cellular functions, and that ligands were associated with a higher proportion of cis‐regulatory mutations than their respective receptors. Based on these trends, we discuss future directions for research in vertebrate pigmentation evolution.
Becoming good ancestors: A decolonial, childist approach to global intergenerational sustainability
Authors: Biswas Tanu 
Published: April 2023

AbstractThere are two key questions consistently raised by children and youth since the onset of the school strikes for climate in 2018 in the Global North: Why study for a future, which may not be there? Why spend a lot of effort to become educated, when our governments are not listening to the educated? (conf. fridaysforfuture.org, n.d). While the same questions are shared by young climate activists from the Global South, there are other interrelated economic realities that echo the disappointment, anger, disillusionment, desperation, and frustration driving those utterances in their socio‐political contexts. Comparative insights from so‐called ‘developing’ countries disclose that institutionalized schooling, commonly confused with education, manipulates the aspirations of younger generations and their wider societies. Contemporary global schooling is one of the key propellers of global economic agendas geared towards producing human capital that is ‘employable’ in the future job market. The paradox of a global education agenda geared towards generating human capital employable on a job market is that most of those jobs (if at all they will be there) continue serving the very economic system that is threatening the right to life, health, culture (especially for indigenous communities) and the best interests of future generations on this planet. As young climate activists from various countries collectively argue within the framework of the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child, major economies are failing to protect the basic human rights of children and future generations. I suggest that the various interrelated crises evident through the key questions raised by young climate activists must be considered as part of a North–South continuum. In this paper, I reflect upon these interrelated crises by developing a decolonial childist approach to education—understood as an intergenerational relationship, implying an effort on part of present adults becoming good ancestors of the future, in the present. Such efforts require larger structural shifts which I consider by means of the four strategies I discuss building upon previous co‐reflections.
Deep brain stimulation suppresses epileptic seizures in rats via inhibition of adenosine kinase and activation of adenosine A1 receptors
Authors: Xie Pandeng , Liu Siqi , Huang Qi , Xiong Zhonghua , Deng Jiahui , Tang Chongyang , Xu Ke , Zhang Bo , He Baijian , Wang Xiongfei , Liu Zhao , Wang Jing , Zhou Jian , Guan Yugang , Luan Guoming , Li Tianfu , Zhai Feng 
Published: April 2023

AbstractAimsDeep brain stimulation (DBS) of the anterior nucleus of the thalamus, is an effective therapy for patients with drug‐resistant epilepsy, yet, its mechanism of action remains elusive. Adenosine kinase (ADK), a key negative regulator of adenosine, is a potential modulator of epileptogenesis. DBS has been shown to increase adenosine levels, which may suppress seizures via A1 receptors (A1Rs). We investigated whether DBS could halt disease progression and the potential involvement of adenosine mechanisms.MethodsControl group, SE (status epilepticus) group, SE‐DBS group, and SE‐sham‐DBS group were included in this study. One week after a pilocarpine‐induced status epilepticus, rats in the SE‐DBS group were treated with DBS for 4 weeks. The rats were monitored by video‐EEG. ADK and A1Rs were tested with histochemistry and western blot, respectively.ResultsCompared with the SE group and SE‐sham‐DBS group, DBS could reduce the frequency of spontaneous recurrent seizures (SRS) and the number of interictal epileptic discharges. The DPCPX, an A1R antagonist, reversed the effect of DBS on interictal epileptic discharges. In addition, DBS inhibited the overexpression of ADK and the downregulation of A1Rs.ConclusionThe findings indicate that DBS can reduce SRS in epileptic rats via inhibition of ADK and activation of A1Rs. A1Rs might be a potential target of DBS for the treatment of epilepsy.
Efficacy and safety of monotherapy with enavogliflozin in Korean patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: Results of a 12‐week, multicentre, randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, phase 2 trial
Authors: Yang Ye Seul , Min Kyung Wan , Park Seok‐O , Kim Kyung‐Soo , Yu Jae Myung , Hong Eun‐Gyoung , Cho Sung Rae , Won Kyu Chang , Kim Yong Hyun , Oh Seungjoon , Choi Sung Hee , Koh Gwanpyo , Huh Wan , Kim Su Young , Park Kyong Soo 
Published: April 2023

AbstractAimsThe study aimed to evaluate and compare the efficacy and safety of enavogliflozin, a newly developed sodium‐glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor, with placebo in Korean patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.Materials and MethodsPatients with glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) of 7.0‐10.0%, entered a 2‐week placebo run‐in period, and were randomized to receive once‐daily enavogliflozin (0.1, 0.3 or 0.5 mg) or placebo for 12 weeks. The primary efficacy endpoint was the change in HbA1c from baseline at week 12.ResultsOverall, 194 patients were included in the full analysis set [placebo, n = 46; enavogliflozin (0.1 mg, n = 49; 0.3 mg, n = 50; 0.5 mg, n = 49)]. Patients receiving 0.1, 0.3 and 0.5 mg enavogliflozin showed significantly reduced HbA1c compared with those receiving placebo at week 12 (−0.79%, −0.89%, −0.92% and −0.08%, respectively; p < .001 vs. placebo). Mean changes in fasting plasma glucose from baseline at week 12 were −30.5, −31.1, −35.0 and 4.9 mg/dl in patients receiving enavogliflozin doses and placebo, respectively. The proportion of patients achieving HbA1c <7.0% at week 12 was significantly higher in the three enavogliflozin groups than in the placebo group (42.9%, 44.0%, 61.2% and 17.4%, respectively). A higher proportion of patients showed HbA1c reduction by >0.5% after receiving enavogliflozin doses than those receiving placebo (61.2%, 72.0%, 65.3% and 26.1%, respectively). There were no significant differences in incidences of adverse events of hypoglycaemia and genital infection between the groups.ConclusionsOnce‐daily enavogliflozin monotherapy for 12 weeks is an effective, safe, and well‐tolerated treatment for Korean patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Microbial communities of the antFormica exsectaand its nest material
Authors: Lindström Stafva , Timonen Sari S. , Sundström Liselotte 
Published: April 2023

AbstractIn this study, we investigated the bacterial and fungal microbiomes of the antFormica exsecta(Hymenoptera, Formicidae), and assessed whether the microbial communities inside the ants differ from those in their nest material. Furthermore, we investigated whether the microbial communities inside the ants are conserved across time. To achieve this, we sequenced the bacterial 16S rRNA, and the fungal ITS region in entire adult worker ants and their nest material by Illumina MiSeq. We found that both the bacterial, and the fungal microbiomes form communities discrete from those in the surrounding nest material. In addition to the differences in species composition, we also found that bacterial species diversity, species richness, ζ diversity, and evenness were lower in ants than in the nest material. For fungi, only species richness was lower in the ants than in the nest material. The rate of within‐colony species turnover across sampling events was not statistically significant for bacteria, but highly significant for fungi. This suggests that the fungal communities in the ants are less stable than the bacterial ones. Four bacterial taxa (Alphaproteobacteria,Proteobacteria,Staphylococcus, andStreptococcus), and two fungal taxa (DavidiellaandCryptococcus) formed a core microbiome, being consistently present and more abundant in the ants, but absent in the nest material. In all other cases differences in community composition and structure were due to taxa that were more consistently present and more abundant in the nest material, and frequently absent in the ants. Furthermore, we found 36 unique OTUs identified as Proteobacteria, and 82 unique OTUs identified as Alphaproteobacteria in the ants, representing 2.5% and 5.8% of all bacterial OTUs and 24.6% and 41% of the total number of bacterial sequences. This suggests thatF. exsectaharbours a considerable bacterial diversity that so far remains unexplored.
‘He is the customer, I will say yes’: Notions of power, precarity and consent to sexual harassment by customers in the gay tourism industry
Authors: Hadjisolomou Anastasios , Nickson Dennis , Baum Tom 
Published: April 2023

AbstractThis article explores the sexualized nature of the gay tourism industry and examines how ‘pink dollar’ organizations tacitly encourage incidences of sexual harassment from customers. Drawing on qualitative data from two popular gay tourism destinations, the article shows the embeddedness of sex, as a selling point, in the industry which creates blurred lines between service, sexuality, and sex. This consequently leads to sexual harassment by customers which is accepted and to which workers consent. Consent is driven by the hyper‐sexualization of the workplace and the power imbalance within the service triangle and the interaction with the customer and the precarious nature of the sector. Mirroring Burawoy’s (1979) idea of employees consenting (giving in) to organizational norms, we contribute to theory by suggesting that the power imbalance constructed within the service triangle gives high interactive power to the customer to harass workers without evident consequences for their misbehavior, whilst the latter consent and accept this as part of the job, due to the limited support from management.
Efficacy and safety of dolutegravir/rilpivirine in real‐world clinical practice. GeSIDA study 1119
Authors: Palacios R. , Gómez‐Ayerbe C. , Casado J. L. , Tejerina F. , Montes M. L. , Castaño M. , Ocampo A. , Rial D. , Ribera E. , Galindo M. J. , Hidalgo C. , Fariñas C. , Montero M. , Payeras T. , Fanjul F. , de la Torre J. , Santos J. 
Published: April 2023

AbstractIntroductionDolutegravir/rilpivirine (DTG/RPV) is an effective antiretroviral (ART) regimen endorsed by clinical trials as a switch therapy. The aim of our study was to analyse the efficacy and safety of DTG/RPV in real‐world clinical practice.MethodsObservational, multicentre study of patients who started DTG/RPV. Efficacy, adverse events and metabolic changes at 48 weeks were analysed.ResultsA total of 348 patients were included; median time of HIV infection was 21.1 years, 33.7% were AIDS cases; median nadir CD4 was 160 cells/μL; 90.5% had received ≥3 lines of ART and 179 (53.8%) had prior virological failure. Convenience (43.5%), toxicity/intolerance (28.4%) and interactions (17.0%) were the main reasons for starting DTG/RPV. Previous regimens were protease inhibitors (PI) (31.6%), non‐nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTI) (20.4%) and integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTI) (14.9%). Efficacy (HIV‐RNA <50 copies/mL) at 48 weeks was 89.7% (95% CI 86.1–92.6) by intention‐to‐treat (ITT) and 94.2% (95% CI 91.3–96.4) by on treatment (OT); 10 patients (3.1%) were not suppressed (3 had abandoned ART). There was a mean decrease in triglycerides, total cholesterol, low‐density lipoprotein‐cholesterol, glutamic–pyruvic transaminase (GPT), gamma‐glutamyl transferase (GGT) and alkaline phosphatase; creatinine increased with a decrease in glomerular filtration rate.ConclusionsThis study confirms the effectiveness, tolerability and safety of DTG/RPV in real‐world clinical practice in a different population from clinical trials, with many years of infection, low CD4 nadir, several previous treatment lines, more than half with virological failures, and one‐third diagnosed with AIDS. The switch to DTG/RPV was safe with few discontinuations due to adverse effects. Modifications of the lipid and liver profiles were favourable. There were no relevant changes in kidney function.
Gut mycobiome dysbiosis and its impact on intestinal permeability in attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder
Authors: Wang Liang‐Jen , Li Sung‐Chou , Yeh Yuan‐Ming , Lee Sheng‐Yu , Kuo Ho‐Chang , Yang Chia‐Yu 
Published: April 2023

BackgroundDysbiosis in the gut microbial community might be involved in the pathophysiology of attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The fungal component of the gut microbiome, namely the mycobiota, is a hyperdiverse group of multicellular eukaryotes that can influence host intestinal permeability. This study therefore aimed to investigate the impact of fungal mycobiome dysbiosis and intestinal permeability on ADHD.MethodsFaecal samples were collected from 35 children with ADHD and from 35 healthy controls. Total DNA was extracted from the faecal samples and the internal transcribed spacer regions were sequenced using high‐throughput next‐generation sequencing (NGS). The fungal taxonomic classification was analysed using bioinformatics tools and the differentially expressed fungal species between the ADHD and healthy control groups were identified. An in vitro permeability assay (Caco‐2 cell layer) was used to evaluate the biological effects of fungal dysbiosis on intestinal epithelial barrier function.ResultsThe β‐diversity (the species diversity between two communities), but not α‐diversity (the species diversity within a community), reflected the differences in fungal community composition between ADHD and control groups. At the phylum level, the ADHD group displayed a significantly higher abundance of Ascomycota and a significantly lower abundance of Basidiomycota than the healthy control group. At the genus level, the abundance of Candida (especially Candida albicans) was significantly increased in ADHD patients compared to the healthy controls. In addition, the in vitro cell assay revealed that C. albicans secretions significantly enhanced the permeability of Caco‐2 cells.ConclusionsThe current study is the first to explore altered gut mycobiome dysbiosis using the NGS platform in ADHD. The findings from this study indicated that dysbiosis of the fungal mycobiome and intestinal permeability might be associated with susceptibility to ADHD.
Behavioral change stage might moderate the impact of multifaceted interventions on non‐attendance from medical care among patients with type 2 diabetes: The Japan Diabetes Outcome Intervention Trial‐2 Large‐Scale Trial 007 (J‐DOIT2‐LT007)
Authors: Bouchi Ryotaro , Noda Mitsuhiko , Hayashino Yasuaki , Goto Atsushi , Yamazaki Katsuya , Suzuki Hikari , Furukawa Toshiaki A , Izumi Kazuo , Kobayashi Masashi ,   J‐DOIT2 Study Group
Published: April 2023

AbstractAims/IntroductionNon‐attendance from regular medical care is a major problem in diabetes patients. This study aimed to examine the impact of a multifaceted lifestyle intervention by face‐to‐face approach (FFA) on non‐attendance from regular medical care in comparison with that by telephone from the technical support center (TSC).Materials and MethodsThis was secondary analysis from a 1‐year, prospective, cluster randomized, intervention study. Patients with type 2 diabetes, who were regularly visiting primary care physicians cluster‐randomized into the control or intervention (TSC or FFA according to resource availability of the district medical associations) groups, were consecutively recruited. The primary end‐point was non‐attendance from regular medical care. The interaction between the type of intervention (TSC vs FFA) and behavioral change stage (pre‐ vs post‐action stage) in diet and exercise for the dropout rate was assessed.ResultsAmong the 1,915 participants (mean age 56 ± 6 years; 36% women) enrolled, 828, 564 and 264 patients belonged to the control, TSC and FFA groups, respectively. We found evidence suggestive of an interaction between the intervention type and behavioral change stage in diet (P = 0.042) and exercise (P = 0.038) after adjusting for covariates. The hazard ratios (95% confidence interval) of FFA to TSC were 0.21 (0.05–0.93) and 7.69 (0.50–117.78) in the pre‐action and post‐action stages for diet, respectively, whereas they were 0.20 (0.05–0.92) and 4.75 (0.29–73.70) in the pre‐action and post‐action stages for exercise.ConclusionsAmong diabetes patients, the impact of multifaceted intervention on non‐attendance from medical care might differ by the behavioral change stage.
13‐year population survey of the critically endangered European eel in the southern Mediterranean region (Algeria)
Authors: Tahri Mardja , Panfili Jacques 
Published: April 2023

AbstractA 13‐year biomonitoring survey was carried out on the European eel, Anguilla anguilla for the first time in North Africa (Algeria) where there is a serious lack of information on the species. The study targeted specimens populating the only four sites where the species is both potentially present and legally exploited (Lake Oubeira, Lake Tonga, Mellah lagoon and Mafragh estuary). A total of 1370 individuals were sampled ranging from 17 to 113 cm in length, 19 to 2642 g in weight and 0.7 months to 6.6 years old, age being estimated from otolith growth marks. Otolith interpretation and age estimation were generally unambiguous at all four sites. According to the EELREP silvering index, the highest proportion of silver females was captured in fresh water (46% in Lake Oubeira and 25% in Lake Tonga), whereas a third were present in brackish water (Mafragh and Mellah). The sex ratio was in favour of females, and silver males were found to mature early (mean length 40 ± 1 cm, mean weight 123 ± 28 g and mean age 2 ± 0.6 years). Growth differed at the four sites, and the growth rate was highest in Lake Oubeira and asymptotic length highest in Mellah lagoon. Metamorphosis from the yellow resident stage to the silver migrating stage occurred very early in the eels' continental life (between 3 and 4 years of age). Results highlight rapid growth in these Algerian sites, and earlier silvering than in eels living in European waters, suggesting different life‐history traits of A. anguilla in North African waters, influenced by environmental conditions.
Error analysis of Raven's Coloured Progressive Matrices in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy
Authors: Asano D. , Takeda M. , Nobusako S. , Morioka S. 
Published: April 2023

AbstractBackgroundAnalysis of the errors in the Raven's Coloured Progressive Matrices (RCPM) has been previously performed for children with intellectual disabilities but has not been investigated for those with cerebral palsy (CP). This study aimed to investigate whether the types and positions of errors made by individuals with CP differed from those made by typically developing (TD) controls.MethodsForty‐five participants with CP aged 4–18 years and 30 TD children aged 3–9 years underwent RCPM testing. We first compared the RCPM performance and error characteristics between the groups and then examined the association between RCPM and the severity of CP and receptive vocabulary in the CP group.ResultsThe results showed that while mean total scores in the two groups were comparable, the types and positions of errors made by individuals with CP differed from those of TD controls. The development of non‐verbal intelligence in children with CP increased with age; when controlling for age, non‐verbal intelligence was significantly correlated with all three functional levels of CP severity and receptive vocabulary.ConclusionsThis study provides valuable insights into the problem‐solving strategies employed by children with CP.
Effect of laboratory and sample storage factors on urinary protein:creatinine ratios and clinical decision making in cats
Authors: Mortier Femke , Daminet Sylvie , Duchateau Luc , Demeyere Kristel , Meyer Evelyne , Paepe Dominique 
Published: April 2023

AbstractBackgroundUrinary protein:creatinine ratio (UPC) results affect the diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy of chronic kidney disease in cats.ObjectivesTo investigate the interlaboratory and intralaboratory variability and the effect of storage on UPC and International Renal Interest Society (IRIS) proteinuria substaging in cats.AnimalsHealthy and diseased client‐owned cats.MethodsProspective study. Urine of 60 cats was randomly sent to 4 (of 9) participating laboratories (to assess interlaboratory variability) and per cat, 2 laboratories each received 2 aliquots (to determine intralaboratory variability). Samples of 23 cats were analyzed in the same laboratory the day of collection, after preservation at 22°C for 1 day and at 4°C during 1‐7 days (short‐term storage) and at −24°C and −80°C for 6‐12 months (long‐term storage). Storage conditions were compared by equivalence testing.ResultsUPCs showed good interclass correlation (ICC‐inter, 0.90) and excellent intraclass correlation (ICC‐intra, 0.99). However, in 30/60 (50%) cats at least 1 of 4 laboratories assigned a different IRIS proteinuria substage. Urinary protein:creatinine ratio remained stable with short‐term storage, but not after 6 months storage at −24°C and after 12 months storage at −24°C or −80°C. Long‐term storage caused a change in IRIS proteinuria substage in 27% of cats, whereas a shift occurred only in 4% of cats during short‐term storage.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceLaboratory choice for UPC measurement can result in different IRIS substaging for the same cat, whereas urine storage at room temperature for 1 day or in the refrigerator for up to 7 days does not clinically affect UPC.
Bicameralism Hinges on Legislative Professionalism
Authors: Brown Adam R. , Garlick Alex 
Published: April 2023

AbstractBicameralism is a nearly universal feature of American legislatures, yet its functional impact on legislative outcomes is uncertain. Proponents have claimed that bicameralism would produce better outcomes than unicameralism, as adding a deliberative element prevents the passage of faulty legislation. For bicameralism to work in this fashion, we argue lawmakers must have enough time and resources to meaningfully evaluate legislation produced by the other chamber. We find such behavior is most likely to take place in professionalized state legislatures, evidenced by a lower concurrence rate in the second chamber for bills passed by the first chamber. In state legislatures with less policy capacity, by contrast, the chambers act in a more parallel fashion, dividing the agenda and largely endorsing the other chamber's legislation.