Cautionary Tale Research Articles

Hidden Boron Catalysis: A Cautionary Tale on TMEDA Inhibition.

Hidden boron catalysis plagues catalyzed hydroboration reactions, with the "catalyst" acting to mediate the decomposition of HBpin/HBcat to BH3 which is the actual (hidden) catalyst. N,N,N',N'-Tetramethylethylenediamine (TMEDA) has been used to identify hidden boron catalysis through trapping/inhibition. Kinetic analyses showed that TMEDA inhibition is only applicable below 60 °C and that other amine traps are likewise ineffective. Awareness of this temperature limitation reveals widespread hidden catalysis in previous methods and should limit future false negative tests.

Editorial Comment: Computer-Aided Detection of Lung Nodules on Low-Dose Pediatric Chest CT-A Cautionary Tale.

Editorial Comment: Computer-Aided Detection of Lung Nodules on Low-Dose Pediatric Chest CT-A Cautionary Tale.

Image Archetypal from the Novel “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley

Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” is a crucial work in Gothic literature and science fiction, exploring human ambition, innovation, and isolation. Using Carl Jung's archetypal imagery, this study examines the novel’s key themes and characters. A qualitative content analysis was conducted on the text and secondary literary sources. Prominent archetypes identified include the Overreacher, the Monster, the Promethean Figure, the Wanderer, and the Tragic Hero. Victor Frankenstein is analyzed as both the Overreacher and the Tragic Hero, symbolizing hubris and downfall. The Monster embodies isolation and alienation, while Victor’s act of creation reflects the Promethean Figure, symbolizing innovation and ethical dilemmas. Both characters are portrayed as Wanderers, emphasizing their existential quests for meaning and belonging. These archetypes play a central role in the narrative. Shelley’s use of archetypal imagery enhances the novel’s critique of scientific advancement and ethical responsibility. Victor’s tragic heroism serves as a cautionary tale about unchecked ambition, while the Monster’s plight underscores the societal need for empathy and acceptance.

Hyponatremia, mg vs. mEq Gone Terribly Wrong: A Cautionary Tale

Hyponatremia, mg vs. mEq Gone Terribly Wrong: A Cautionary Tale

ChatGPT: A canary in the coal mine or a parrot in the echo chamber? Detecting fraud with LLM: The case of FTX

Does the paradigm shift brought by Large Language Models (LLMs) hold the promise of revolutionizing financial analysis? Our article tackles this question by exploring fraud detection in cryptocurrency exchanges, with a focus on FTX. We study the abilities of generative artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT to serve as early-warning systems of fraud and identify red flags in the particular and difficult case where no financial information is available. We recognize several challenges to provide insights beyond human knowledge. To achieve a higher degree of scrutiny, we highlight the role of sequential interactions between the AI Chatbot and the researcher as well as the inclusion of external contents, a technique known as Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG). Therefore, this article serves as a cautionary tale on the necessary conditions to achieve augmented intelligence.

A photo-z cautionary tale: Redshift confirmation of COSBO-7 at z = 2.625

Photometric redshifts are widely used in studies of dusty star-forming galaxies (DSFGs), but catastrophic photo-z failure can undermine all redshift-dependent results. Here we report the spectroscopic redshift confirmation of COSBO-7, a strongly lensed DSFG in the COSMOS-PRIMER field. Recently, a photometric redshift solution of z ≳ 7.0 was reported for COSBO-7 based on ten bands of James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) NIRCam and MIRI imaging data. This z value was favored by four independent spectral energy distribution (SED) fitting codes, and the result provided an appealing candidate for the most distant massive DSFG known to date. This photo-z solution was also supported by a single line detection in Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) Band 3 consistent with CO(7–6) at z = 7.46. However, our new ALMA observations robustly detect two lines in Band 6 identified as CO(7–6) and [CI](2–1) at zspec = 2.625, and thus the Band 3 line as CO(3–2). These three robust line detections decidedly place COSBO-7 at z = 2.625, refuting the photo-z solution. We derive physical parameters by fitting near-infrared(NIR)-to-millimeter(mm) photometry and lens modeling, revealing that COSBO-7 is a main sequence galaxy. We examine possible reasons for this photo-z failure and attribute it to (1) the likely underestimation of photometric uncertainties at 0.9 μm and 1.15 μm; and (2) the lack of photometry at wavelengths beyond 20 μm. Notably, we recover a bona fide zphot ∼ 2.3 by including the existing MIPS 24 μm photometry, demonstrating the critical importance of mid-infrared (MIR) data in bolstering photo-z measurements. This work highlights a common challenge in modeling the SEDs of DSFGs, and provides a cautionary tale regarding the reliability of photometric redshifts as well as pseudo-spectroscopic redshifts based on single line detection.

Linear Free Energy Relationships Associated with Hydride Transfer From [(6,6'-R2-bpy)Re(CO)3H]: A Cautionary Tale in Identifying Hydrogen Bonding Effects in the Secondary Coordination Sphere.

Six rhenium hydride complexes, [(6,6'-R2-bpy)Re(CO)3H] (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine, R = OEt, OMe, NHMe, Me, F, Br), were synthesized. These complexes insert CO2 to form rhenium formate complexes of the type [(6,6'-R2-bpy)Re(CO)3{OC(O)H}]. All the rhenium formate species were characterized using X-ray crystallography, which revealed that the bpy ligand is not coplanar with the metal coordination plane containing the two nitrogen donors of the bpy ligand but tilted. A solid-state structure of [(6,6'-Me2-bpy)Re(CO)3H] determined using MicroED also featured a tilted bpy ligand. The kinetics of CO2 insertion into complexes of the type [(6,6'-R2-bpy)Re(CO)3H] were measured experimentally and the thermodynamic hydricities of [(6,6'-R2-bpy)Re(CO)3H] species were determined using theoretical calculations. A Brønsted plot constructed using the experimentally determined rate constants for CO2 insertion and the calculated thermodynamic hydricities for [(6,6'-R2-bpy)Re(CO)3H] revealed a linear free energy relationship (LFER) between thermodynamic and kinetic hydricity. This LFER is different to the previously determined relationship for CO2 insertion into complexes of the type [(4,4'-R2-bpy)Re(CO)3H]. At a given thermodynamic hydricity, CO2 insertion is faster for complexes containing a 6,6'-substituted bpy ligand. This is likely in part due to the tilting observed for systems with 6,6'-substituted bpy ligands. Notably, the 6,6'-(NHMe)2-bpy ligand could in principle stabilize the transition state for CO2 insertion via hydrogen bonding. This work shows that if only the rate of CO2 insertion into [(6,6'-(NHMe)2-bpy)Re(CO)3H] is compared to [(4,4'-R2-bpy)Re(CO)3H] systems, the increase in rate could be easily attributed to hydrogen bonding, but in fact all 6,6'-substituted systems lead to faster than expected rates.

A Cautionary Tale of Dwindling Medicare Reimbursement for Endocrine Surgery: Implications and a Call to Action.

A Cautionary Tale of Dwindling Medicare Reimbursement for Endocrine Surgery: Implications and a Call to Action.

Marriage entry, divorce and reconciliation: The unintended consequence of the home purchase restriction policy in China

This study investigates the unintended socioeconomic consequences of housing market regulations, focusing on the home purchase restriction (HPR) policy implemented in cities across China. While the primary aim of the HPR policy is to curb property prices by limiting the number of properties a household can purchase, its broader impact on family formation, particularly marriage and divorce patterns, remains underexplored. Applying Becker’s economic theory of marriage, which views marital decisions as rational choices influenced by socioeconomic factors, this study examines how the HPR policy affects family formation and dissolution across different city tiers and age groups in China. Our analysis reveals several key findings. First, the HPR policy effectively contributed to a decrease in house prices, aligning with its primary objective. However, it also led to delayed marriages among younger age groups, especially in first-tier cities, where housing affordability is a significant concern. Second, the policy inadvertently encouraged strategic divorces, allowing couples to circumvent purchase restrictions and acquire additional properties. This loophole undermines the policy’s effectiveness in reducing housing demand and stabilizing prices. These results highlight the complex interplay between housing market regulations and family demographics, emphasizing the need for policymakers to consider the broader societal impacts of non-family-oriented policies. As China, like many other societies, faces challenges related to the second demographic transition—such as declining marriage and fertility rates—the findings of this study serve as a cautionary tale. Housing policies, while effective in addressing market concerns, can have significant and sometimes counterproductive effects on family stability and formation, potentially exacerbating the demographic trends a society aims to mitigate.

Uneventful days? A cautionary tale about the underestimated role of triggering events in employee silence research

AbstractEmployee silence research stipulates that silence requires input to share, which we posit stems from encountering workplace events. We argue that the validity of relationships between employee silence and outcomes is limited without taking preceding events into account: Employees might not encounter relevant events and therefore cannot show silence. Further, workplace events can have independent effects on the outcomes attributed to silence, potentially confounding the effects of silence and preceding events. Drawing on an existing cross‐cultural dataset (N = 8222 in 35 samples), we show that some samples include up to 60% of participants who did not encounter relevant events. Using data from a German utility company (N = 572 in 129 teams), we demonstrate that the associations between employee silence and outcomes like burnout are overestimated if effects of events are left unaccounted. Lastly, a simulation study shows that biased silence–outcome relations are generalizable whenever events have independent effects on the outcome of interest.

Can waterfowl buffer the mortality risk induced by GPS tags? A cautionary tale for applied inference across species

GPS tags have become a common tool in ecological studies of animal behaviour and demography despite previous research indicating negative impacts on vital rates across a variety of taxa. Many researchers face tradeoffs when deciding whether they are an appropriate tool because GPS tags may impact vital rates, but they provide detailed data on movements and behaviour that often cannot be obtained in other ways. Using band recovery data, we evaluated the strength of effects induced by GPS tags on annual mortality of adult females across 13 waterfowl taxa, and examined whether taxa with a slower life-history strategy and larger body size were more resilient to GPS tag effects than their fast-lived counterparts with small body size. All species were exposed to hunting, which may interact with underlying processes affecting the impact of GPS tags on mortality, but also allowed for robust analysis of overall annual mortality. Hazard ratios, indicating the risk of death for individuals wearing GPS tags compared to those wearing only metal bands, ranged from 1.13 to 3.25 and the mean proportional difference in survival between marker types across species was 0.33. The magnitude of tag effects was surprisingly consistent across life-history tempo and body size, indicating that slower-lived species did not buffer the effect of wearing GPS tags. Our results highlight that even large, long-lived species, which are generally better at buffering their mortality against environmental adversity, are not immune to the effects GPS tags can have on survival and mortality. The results of our study emphasize the importance of testing for such effects across taxa in future research as technology advances.

Explaining the spread in measurement of PDMS elastic properties: influence of test method and curing protocol.

Accuracy in the measurement of mechanical properties is essential for precision engineering and for the interrogation of composition-property relationships. Conventional methods of mechanical testing, such as uniaxial tension, compression, and nanoindentation, provide highly repeatable and reliable results for stiff materials, for which they were originally developed. However, when applied to the characterization of soft and biological materials, the same cannot be said, and the spread of reported properties of similar materials is vast. Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), commonly obtained from Dow as SYLGARD 184, is a ubiquitous such material, which has been integral to the rapid development of biocompatible microfluidic devices and flexible electronics in recent decades. However, reported shear moduli of this material range over 2 orders of magnitude for similar chemical compositions. Taking advantage of the increased mechanical scrutiny afforded to SYLGARD 184 in recent years, we combine both published and new experimental data obtained using 9 mechanical test methods. A statistical analysis then elucidates the significant bias induced by the test method itself, and distinguishes this bias from the influence of curing protocols on the mechanical properties. The goal of this work is thus two-fold: (i) it provides a quantitative understanding of the different factors that influence reported properties of this particular material, and (ii) it serves as a cautionary tale. As researchers in the field of mechanics strive to quantify the properties of increasingly complex soft and biological materials, converging on a standardized measurement of PDMS is a necessary first step.

Rapid phenotypic and genotypic change in a laboratory schistosome population.

Genomic analysis has revealed extensive contamination among laboratory-maintained microbes including malaria parasites, Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Salmonella spp. Here, we provide direct evidence for recent contamination of a laboratory schistosome parasite population, and we investigate its genomic consequences. The Brazilian Schistosoma mansoni population SmBRE has several distinctive phenotypes, showing poor infectivity, reduced sporocysts number, low levels of cercarial shedding and low virulence in the intermediate snail host, and low worm burden and low fecundity in the vertebrate rodent host. In 2021 we observed a rapid change in SmBRE parasite phenotypes, with a~10x increase in cercarial production and ~ 4x increase in worm burden. To determine the underlying genomic cause of these changes, we sequenced pools of SmBRE adults collected during parasite maintenance between 2015 and 2023. We also sequenced another parasite population (SmLE) maintained alongside SmBRE without phenotypic changes. While SmLE allele frequencies remained stable over the eight-year period, we observed sudden changes in allele frequency across the genome in SmBRE between July 2021 and February 2023, consistent with expectations of laboratory contamination. (i) SmLE-specific alleles rose in the SmBRE population from 0 to 41-46% across the genome between September and October 2021, documenting the timing and magnitude of the contamination event. (ii) After contamination, strong selection (s=~ 0.23) drove replacement of low fitness SmBRE with high fitness SmLE alleles. (iii) Allele frequency changed rapidly across the whole genome, except for a region on chromosome 4 where SmBRE alleles remained at high frequency. We were able to detect contamination in this case because SmBRE shows distinctive phenotypes. However, this would likely have been missed with phenotypically similar parasites. These results provide a cautionary tale about the importance of tracking the identity of parasite populations, but also showcase a simple approach to monitor changes within populations using molecular profiling of pooled population samples to characterize fixed single nucleotide polymorphisms. We also show that genetic drift results in continuous change even in the absence of contamination, causing parasites maintained in different labs (or sampled from the same lab at different times) to diverge.

Amino acid – Squaramide conjugates as anion binding receptors

Squaramides have garnered significant attention as anion binding motifs and have become a popular supramolecular synthon owing to their unique structural features and propensity to form strong hydrogen bond interactions particularly with anionic species. However, their conjugation to biomaterials to form biomimetic receptors remains underexplored even though such species would combine the biocompatibility of amino acids with the strong hydrogen bonding propensity of squaramides and may prove useful across broad applications in the chemical and biological sciences. In this study, we present the design and synthesis of a series of amino acid – squaramide conjugates (AASqs) 1 – 5, as well as studying their anion recognition properties. 1–5 were prepared using facile synthetic methods and their anion binding properties were investigated via 1H NMR titrations with a range of anions in 0.5 % H2O in DMSO‑d6. Our findings constitute a cautionary tale, where it was shown that the presence of the C-terminal carboxylic acid of the amino acids complicate the binding behaviour of the receptors towards anions. We show that the C-terminal carboxylates compete with other anionic species for the squaramide binding site leading to complex binding equilibria in solution. However, upon esterification of the C-termini to afford compound 5, a simplification of the binding profile was observed and was easily fitted to a 1:1 (Receptor:Anion) binding stoichiometry. This work sheds light on the potential of AASqs as anion binding receptors whilst underlining the influence of the C-terminus on anion recognition. It also provides a direct solution to mitigate the complex binding behaviour of 1–4 through esterification and will prove useful in the design of more complex squaramide bioconjugates.

A Cautionary Tale: Digital Clinical Trial Implementation of a Couples-Based HIV Prevention Study among Transgender Women and Their Partners in the United States.

This study investigates baseline differences in couples enrolled in the "It Takes Two" HIV prevention intervention for transgender women and their partners, comparing in-person participation pre-COVID-19 and digital participation during the pandemic. Among 52 couples (40% in-person, 60% digital), bivariate analyses revealed that in-person participants were more likely to be African American, have cisgender male partners, report higher unemployment, incarceration histories, greater relationship stigma, and lower relationship quality. The findings highlight the limitations of digital modalities in engaging transgender women of color and those with structural vulnerabilities. The study emphasizes that reliance on digital methods in HIV research jeopardizes the inclusion of those lacking technological access and literacy, especially communities disproportionately impacted by HIV. Researchers must incorporate hybrid or in-person options and engage communities to ensure equity and inclusion, thus overcoming barriers and ensuring comprehensive population reach in HIV prevention studies.

17β-Trenbolone Exposure Enhances Muscle Activity and Exacerbates Parkinson's Disease Progression in Male Mice.

Parkinson's disease (PD) ranks as the second most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder, and while the neuroprotective effects of estrogen are well-documented, the impact of androgens on neurological disorders remains understudied. The consequences of exposure to 17-trenbolone (17-TB), an environmental endocrine disruptor with androgen-like properties, on the mammalian nervous system have received limited attention. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to investigate the biological effects of 17-TB exposure on PD. In our investigation using the 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced PD mouse model, we discovered that 17-TB exposure elevated testosterone hormone levels prevented androgen receptor (AR) reduction, upregulated the expression of muscular dystrophic factors (Atrogin1, MuRF1, Musa1, and Myostatin), improved muscle strength, and enhanced locomotor activity in the open field test. However, it is noteworthy that exposure to 17-TB also led to an upregulation of neuroinflammatory cytokines (NLRP3, IL-6, IL-1α, and IL-1β) in PD mice. Crucially, 17-TB exposure induced downregulation of nigral apoptotic proteins DJ-1 and Bcl-2 while upregulating Bax and Caspase-3 in PD mice. This exacerbated neuronal apoptosis, ultimately intensifying dopaminergic neuronal degeneration and death in the substantia nigra and striatum of PD mice. In conclusion, our findings indicate that while 17-TB mitigates muscle atrophy and enhances motor activity in PD mice, it concurrently exacerbates neuroinflammation, induces neuronal apoptosis, and worsens dopaminergic neuronal death, thereby aggravating the progression of MPTP-induced Parkinsonism. This underscores the importance of considering potential environmental risks in neurodegeneration associated with Parkinson's disease, providing a cautionary tale for our daily exposure to environmental endocrine chemical disruptors.

Žižek at the Buchmesse: Evil, Cancel Culture, and the Difficulty of Diversity

This article argues that Slavoj Žižek’s provocative speech at the Frankfurt Book Fair was a political event of the first order. Described as a major scandal triggered by Žižek’s remarks on the Israel-Hamas war, the speech was much more than a deliberate provocation. It provides a window into a world that had become unhinged long before the conflict erupted anew. It offers an opportunity to observe the complex relationship between individuals, institutions, and society. It continues to be a cautionary tale that illustrates the thin line between courage and hypocrisy; and how difficult it is to practise diversity in a world gripped by the dangerous logic of evil. Thus, Žižek’s opening address transcends its immediate context because it brings us up against one of today’s defining questions: what does it mean, and what does it take, to practise diversity when facing the most divisive topics of our time?

Rapid phenotypic and genotypic change in a laboratory schistosome population.

Genomic analysis has revealed extensive contamination among laboratory-maintained microbes including malaria parasites, Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Salmonella spp. Here, we provide direct evidence for recent contamination of a laboratory schistosome parasite population, and we investigate its genomic consequences. The Brazilian Schistosoma mansoni population SmBRE has several distinctive phenotypes, showing poor infectivity, reduced sporocysts number, low levels of cercarial shedding and low virulence in the intermediate snail host, and low worm burden and low fecundity in the vertebrate rodent host. In 2021 we observed a rapid change in SmBRE parasite phenotypes, with a ~10x increase in cercarial production and ~4x increase in worm burden. To determine the underlying genomic cause of these changes, we sequenced pools of SmBRE adults collected during parasite maintenance between 2015 and 2023. We also sequenced another parasite population (SmLE) maintained alongside SmBRE without phenotypic changes. While SmLE allele frequencies remained stable over the eight-year period, we observed sudden changes in allele frequency across the genome in SmBRE between July 2021 and February 2023, consistent with expectations of laboratory contamination. (i) SmLE-specific alleles rose in the SmBRE population from 0 to 41-46% across the genome between September and October 2021, documenting the timing and magnitude of the contamination event. (ii) After contamination, strong selection (s = ~0.23) drove replacement of low fitness SmBRE with high fitness SmLE alleles. (iii) Allele frequency changed rapidly across the whole genome, except for a region on chromosome 4 where SmBRE alleles remained at high frequency. We were able to detect contamination in this case because SmBRE shows distinctive phenotypes. However, this would likely have been missed with phenotypically similar parasites. These results provide a cautionary tale about the importance of tracking the identity of parasite populations, but also showcase a simple approach to monitor changes within populations using molecular profiling of pooled population samples to characterize fixed single nucleotide polymorphisms. We also show that genetic drift results in continuous change even in the absence of contamination, causing parasites maintained in different labs (or sampled from the same lab at different times) to diverge.

Dietary therapy of murine primary biliary cholangitis induces hepatocellular steatosis: A cautionary tale.

There is increased interest in utilizing dietary interventions to alter the progression of autoimmune diseases. These efforts are driven by associations of gut microbiota/metabolites with levels of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Propionate is a key SCFA that is commonly used as a food preservative and is endogenously generated by bacterial fermentation of non-digestible carbohydrates in the gut. A thesis has suggested that a diet rich in propionate and other SCFAs can successfully modulate autoimmunity. Herein, we investigated the effect of long-term administration of propionylated high-amylose resistant starches (HAMSP) on the course of murine primary biliary cholangitis. Groups of female ARE-Del mice were fed an HAMSP diet either before or after disease onset. A detailed immunobiological analysis was performed involving autoantibodies and rigorous T-cell phenotyping, including enumeration of T-cell subsets in the spleen, liver, intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes and lamina propria by flow cytometry. Histopathological scores were used to assess the frequency and severity of liver inflammation and damage to hepatocytes and bile ducts. Our results demonstrate that a long-term propionate-yielding diet re-populated the T-cell pool with decreased naïve and central memory T-cell subsets and an increase in the effector memory T cells in mice. Similarly, long-term HAMSP intake reduced CD4+CD8+ double-positive T cells in intraepithelial lymphocytes and the intestinal lamina propria. Critically, HAMSP consumption led to moderate-to-severe hepatocellular steatosis in ARE-Del mice, independent of the stage of autoimmune cholangitis. Our data suggest that administration of HAMSP induces both regulatory and effector T cells. Furthermore, HAMSP administration resulted in hepatocellular steatosis. Given the interest in dietary modulation of autoimmunity and because propionate is widely used as a food preservative, these data have significant implications. This study also provides new insights into the immunological and pathological effects of chronic propionate exposure.

An urban rivers renaissance? Stream restoration and green–blue infrastructure in Latin America – Insights from urban planning in Colombia

AbstractWhile urban river restoration has become mainstream in the Global North, it remains scarce in Latin America, where most literature focuses on water quality, stream habitats, and watershed assessment, but planning and implementation lag behind. Colombia is undergoing a paradigm shift after pioneering the integration of green and blue infrastructure (GBI) into urban planning in the early 2000s (namely Estructura Ecológica Principal). A surge in river renaturalization initiatives is underway, with large and intermediate cities planning and executing projects. We systematically assessed the integration of rivers and GBI into local policies (Planes de Ordenamiento Territorial) and found widespread and strong recognition of streams, wetlands, and ecosystem services in urban planning, higher than previously reported. Most cities emphasize river multifunctionality, ecological connectivity, public space, and recreation, as well as disaster risk reduction, advancing toward sustainable urban water and drainage systems. However, significant gaps persist regarding climate change resilience, participation, and social justice. In a region marked by high inequality, pre-existing spatial exclusion could be amplified by urban renewal, greening, and tourism due to unfair resettlement conditions and gentrification. Such trade-offs can undermine the ecological and social benefits of restoration. We highlight the crucial role of civil society and grassroots activism in protecting and defending urban commons and conclude by recommending a critical examination of GBI and river restoration efforts in Latin America. Colombia’s case can serve as both a reference and a cautionary tale for other cities in the region to achieve outcomes that promote equity and justice amid pressing social and environmental challenges.