bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Motivation and Ability: Unpacking Underperforming Firms’ Risk Taking
Authors: Ref Ohad , Hu Songcui , Milyavsky Maxim , Feldman Naomi E. , Shapira Zur
Published: February 2024

Do firms take more or less risk in response to performance shortfalls? Although the behavioral theory of the firm (BTOF) has been a guiding framework in this area, empirical evidence remains inconclusive. Moreover, empirical work has largely failed to distinguish between firms’ motivation to take risks and their ability to do so. In this study, recognizing the distinct roles played by these two components, we specifically focus on risk-taking motivation. Drawing on March and Shapira’s shifting-focus-of-attention model, we highlight that firms’ motivation to take risks is contingent on their chosen reference points and the shifts between them. We propose that, on average, risk-taking motivation exhibits a positive monotonic relationship with performance shortfalls, a sequence involving an initial increase, subsequent leveling off, and then a renewed increase. To advance the theory of risk-taking motivation, we extend our inquiry to consider the moderating effect of concern for firm survival and subsequently explore factors influencing this concern. Furthermore, we investigate a critical implication of differentiating risk-taking motivation and ability. Because of the mismatch between motivation and ability, underperforming firms take the greatest risks when their performance is moderately below aspirations, with motivation and ability being at moderate levels, leading to an inverted U-shaped relationship between performance shortfalls and risk taking. Empirical evidence derived from experiments and archival data supports our theoretical predictions. This study contributes to the BTOF literature by demonstrating that underperforming firms’ risk-taking behavior is jointly determined by their motivation, ability, focus of attention, and concern for survival.

Funding: This work was supported by the Israel Science Foundation [Grant 677/20].

Supplemental Material: The online appendices are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/orsc.2020.13953 .
Unexpected Hyperkalemia During Kawasaki Disease
Authors: BAYHAN Gülsüm İclal , GÖKDÖL Muhammed Yasin , ÖCAL Abdullah Talha , PAMUK Utku , GÜNGÖRER Vildan , ERAT Tuğba , ÖZKAYA PARLAKAY Aslınur
Published: February 2024

Pseudohyperkalemia is defined as a markedly elevated serum potassium level with a normal plasma potassium concentration. It is mainly caused by leucocytosis and thrombocytosis. Here we report an infant treated with aspirin for Kawasaki disease who developed hyperkalemia during follow-up. He was finally diagnosed with pseudohyperkalemia based on a normal whole blood potassium level measured with a blood gas analyser.
Economic Security and Qualitative Characteristics of the National Economy in the Conditions of War
Authors:   Vasyl’ Stus Donetsk National University, Sуtnуk L.
Published: February 2024

Threats to the economic security of Ukraine before and during the war are summarized. In addition to the threats to economic security identified by scientists, it is proposed to use the state of crisis and bankruptcy of enterprises, which are formed under the influence of a violation of the unity of the simple moments of the labor process and the circulation of industrial capital in its functional forms. It has been proven that the deterioration of economic security is a consequence of the ineffective economic policy of the state. A comparison of threats before and during the war showed that the war intensified and exacerbated their impact on the economy. The formation of threats began even before the declaration of independence of the country. The assessment of the internal environment of the national economy for 2000–2020 showed the lack of fulfillment of the priority tasks of the country's development, as well as the fact that among the key factors of increasing the level of financial stability there is almost none with a positive trend. Changes in the national economy, based on the evaluation of the results, are classified as a consistent purposeful destruction of the base of productive forces and the transformation of Ukraine's economy into a small raw material open economy with low-tech products and dependence on global commodity cycles.
Creation of an Effective System of Corporate Management of Jointly Owned Residential Real Estate Objects: Problems and Ways to Solve them
Authors:   State Tax University, Lazarenko D.
Published: February 2024

The article deals with the management of jointly owned residential real estate objects. The authors identify the main problems faced by the co-owners of such objects, and also offer ways to solve them. One of the main problems is the difference in the needs and standards of maintenance of buildings built in different periods of time. This can lead to conflicts of interests of co-owners, as well as to ineffective management. To overcome this problem, the authors of the article suggest implementing an effective system of corporate governance. The article also considers the issue of choosing a method of conducting work and providing professional services. For this, a comparative analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of the economic and contracting methods was made. Measures are proposed to stimulate the renewal of fixed assets of joint ownership. They believe that this will help to increase the efficiency of management and the comfort of living for the co-owners.
Health inequalities for people with learning disabilities: why it matters and what emergency physicians need to know
Authors: Lee Andrew CK , Herrieven Elizabeth , Harrower Neil A
Published: February 2024

People with learning disabilities die on average 16 years earlier than the general population in England. They are a vulnerable group and may have unhealthy lifestyles and multimorbidity that lead to poor health outcomes. Worryingly, premature deaths are also more common and these often have contributory healthcare causes. This may be a result of staff lacking awareness, expertise and experience managing people with learning disabilities, the lack of reasonable adjustments, or discriminatory attitudes. Other issues include polypharmacy and inappropriate prescribing of sedatives, inappropriate use of do not resuscitate orders, and diagnostic overshadowing leading to delayed or misdiagnoses. Emergency physicians need to be aware of subtle or atypical presentations of illnesses such as sepsis. Carers and family can be vital informants, helping clinicians to interpret subtle signs and aid communication with people with learning disabilities. One simple approach to reasonable adjustments, as required by law, is the TEACH mnemonic: people with learning disabilities need more time (T), in a conducive environment (E), with clinicians approaching them with the right attitude (A) and an open mind. Good communication (C) is essential and clinicians must make every attempt to understand their patients and to be understood by their patients. Finally clinicians need to consider what ‘help’ (H) the patient and their carers or family needs. With the right approach, time and environment, emergency physicians can optimise the care delivered to people with learning disabilities to address their needs.
Periprosthetic femoral fractures
Authors: Williams Jevan AT , Khawar Haseeb , Middleton Rory
Published: February 2024

The incidence of periprosthetic femoral fractures is rising in the UK, because of an ageing population and an increasing number of hip arthroplasty operations being performed. They can occur intra- or postoperatively, and usually follow low energy trauma. They present with pain, swelling over the thigh, and an inability to weight bear. Periprosthetic femoral fractures are usually classified as per the unified classification system. Their management usually is dependent on their classification, with type A (fracture at level of greater or lesser trochanter) managed non-operatively with protected weight bearing, type B (fracture adjacent to implant) managed with either open reduction internal fixation or revision surgery, and type C (fracture distal to implant) managed with open reduction internal fixation. Owing to their complexity, these patients must be adequately optimised before surgery and appropriately rehabilitated.
Organising the labour of teaching and learning during the COVID-19 pandemic in Canadian universities
Authors: De Giusti Bordignon Mara , Viczko Melody , Matsumoto Renata
Published: February 2024

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Canadian university responses reflected governing practices related to teaching and learning in university systems. This study aims to interrogate responses from three Canadian universities related to discourses formed around the labour of teaching and learning. Using a post-structural approach to policy analysis that assumes that realities emerge in practices, our research question asks: how do the policy responses about teaching and learning represent academic labour during the pandemic? In this article, we argue that labour became constituted through two main discourses of ‘safety/security’ and ‘the return to normal’. We conclude that the importance of these two different representations lies in how they influence the constitutions of faculty and students as different policy subjects.
$1 Billion Donation Eliminates Tuition at Albert Einstein Medical School
Authors:   Phoenix Pulmonary and Critical Care Research and Education Foundation, Gilbert, AZ USA, Robbins Richard
Published: February 2024

No abstract available. Article truncated after 150 words. Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx joins NYU Grossman School of Medicine in becoming tuition free. Einstein’s tuition was eliminated by a $1 billion donor gift from Ruth Gottesman EdD (1). Dr. Gottesman, a retired clinical Professor Emeritus of Pediatrics (Developmental Medicine) at Einstein, has been a specialist in learning disabilities at the school since 1968 and is currently Chair of the Einstein Board of Trustees and also serves on the Montefiore Health System board. Announced to the cheers of the assembled student body, Dr. Gottesman announced that beginning in August, tuition will be free "in perpetuity". Tuition at the school is nearly $59,000 per year, leaving nearly 50% of the students owing more than $200,000 after graduating. Dr. Gottesman’s fortune came from her husband, David "Sandy" Gottesman an early investor in Omaha, Nebraska-based Berkshire Hathaway, Warren Buffet's multinational conglomerate. Mr. Gottesman died in September 2022 at the …
Retail Ruins
Authors: Miller Jacob C.
Published: February 2024

The book is about a new kind of urban ruin, one deeply troubling for consumer society, that is, the retail ruin, manifest today in distressed spaces like ‘dead malls’ or struggling high streets. While there have been many exciting research studies on ruins and ruination in recent years, few have turned their attention to the retail landscape and the possibility that these vacant spaces, or voids, form a particular kind of post-industrial ruin. These voids in what was once a sacred space for consumer society – the display windows and retail environments where the powers of spectacle meet everyday life – are potentially highly disruptive. This book generates an engagement between critical urban studies, archaeology, human geography and other fields to offer a starting point for thinking through the challenge and promise of these ruinous spaces. This book crafts a hauntological approach that spans from Walter Benjamin and Jacques Derrida to more recent theories of affect, assemblage, spectacle and urban space. There are three ideas that hold it together: first, ruins have hauntological capacities; second, hauntings are affective, and, third, this affective hauntology of the retail ruin reveals a void that troubles the spectacle of retail capital everywhere it goes. Based on documented observations of vacant spaces in central Newcastle upon Tyne, this project includes original findings in the form of a photo essay that provide an opportunity to think through the challenges of post-industrial spectacle, ruination and the void-like spaces that haunt the city.
Lernen, die Orientierung zu verlieren: Von der Arbeit am kolonialen Nachleben in Theater, Forschung und Lehre
Authors: Schade Julia , Gabriel Leon
Published: February 2024

Abstract: Wie etwas verlernen, in das wir selbst verstrickt sind? Der Beitrag geht anhand unserer eigenen Praxis als zwei weiße Lehrende in der Theater-und Medienwissenschaft an deutschen Institutionen der Frage nach, wie in der Seminarsituation, theoretischen Diskussionen und szenischen Künsten ein über Jahrhunderte entstandenes koloniales Darstellungs-und Blickregime verlernt bzw. verändert werden kann. Denn diesem Regime stehen wir nicht distanziert als unserem vermeintlich objektiv gegebenen Untersuchungsbereich gegenüber, sondern sind darin mitsamt unseren Disziplinen verstrickt. Um mit dem kolonialen Nachleben unserer Disziplin wie unserer Gegenstände umzugehen, greifen wir insbesondere dekonstruktive Positionen europäischen Denkens auf und bringen diese mit dekolonialen Ansätzen bzw. solchen aus den Black und Critical Race Studies zusammen. Dabei suchen wir nach den Möglichkeiten für unsere Lehre und Forschung, Dekolonisierung als eine Praxis des Orientierungsverlusts zu verstehen, um die bisherigen, am sogenannten ‚Globalen Norden‘ ausgerichteten Denkmuster und Episteme zu hinterfragen. Der Beitrag hebt abschließend einige Schwierigkeiten eines solchen Ansatzes hervor.
Queering Time's Arrow: Temporal Drag in Priya Sarukkai Chabria's Clone
Authors: Ma Carissa
Published: February 2024

ABSTRACT: In Priya Sarukkai Chabria's science-fiction novel Clone (2019), the central character Clone 14/54/G is a cyborg replica of her Original, named Aa-Aa, an incarcerated dissident writer who met a violent death just before delivering a potentially incendiary public address. Against her programming, the mutant Clone experiences flashbacks (or "visitations") of her Original's past life and fictional oeuvre, which makes it possible for her to revisit disparate temporalities of Indian history. While many existing interventions attempt to extend or apply the familiar conventions of postcolonial analysis to works of postcolonial science fiction, this essay sets out to ask rather how the emergence of the latter serves to both reconfigure and reclaim the affective stakes of an anti-imperialist politics that avoids a straightforward historical determinism. By reading Chabria's sf novel through affective articulations of spectrality and queer temporality, I present the novel as a form of narrative crypt that provides a phantasmal space for the spectral return of those who have been silenced or erased from history, not only as a consequence of their gender, race, and class, but also because of their inability or refusal to comply with the normative temporal rhythms of the society in which they live.
William Stokoe—A Man for His Time
Authors: Battison Robbin M.
Published: February 2024

Abstract: Contributors to this fiftieth anniversary volume of SLS were asked to describe our early involvement at the beginning stages of sign language linguistics. I'll briefly summarize my engagement from 1970 to 1980 before probing a much more interesting question: What lay behind William Stokoe's own leap into this new territory? Remarkably for an outsider to the Deaf community, he later had profound effects on it. This article reexamines Stokoe's own personal development—and the value of a curious and determined man who asks the right questions rather than just accepting assumptions about how Deaf people communicate.
The Accidental Sign Linguist
Authors: Woodward James
Published: February 2024

Abstract: My involvement in sign linguistics began in 1969 and is still ongoing, with affiliations and collegial relationships at a number of institutions. Interestingly, all of these affiliations began with chance meetings or serendipity. Along the way, my research focus and emphasis has shifted, depending on funding, institutional priorities, or my own choices.
Analysis and implementation of volume reflection gratings in photorefractive lithium niobate for edge enhancement
Authors: Scott Austin M. , Banerjee Partha P.
Published: February 2024

Diffraction from volume reflection gratings written in bulk photorefractive lithium niobate is modeled for the case of longitudinally varying index modulation depths. Numerical solutions to the Helmholtz equation are found in the spatial frequency domain, leading to transfer functions for the volume reflection grating. These transfer functions are then used to show the spatial frequency filtering effect of the volume reflection grating on input light fields containing 2D spatial information. It is shown, first through simulations and then by experiment, that the 0th order transmitted beam undergoes a 2D edge enhancement.
Three-dimensional image authentication from multi-view images
Authors: Leng Zhen , Chen Jing , Liu Bo
Published: February 2024

Three-dimensional (3D) optical authentication is important for modern information security. Existing 3D optical authentication methods rely on integral imaging devices, necessitating meticulous calibration and incurring high transmission overhead. To streamline the acquisition of 3D information, this paper introduces a novel 3D optical authentication approach, to the best of our knowledge, based on the construction of 3D data from multi-view images. The proposed method simplifies 3D projection by generating fixed-viewpoint elemental images, eliminating the need for additional viewpoint information during transmission and authentication. Compressed sensing is used for compression during transmission, and a deep learning network is designed for 3D reconstruction, enhancing the recovery. Experimental outcomes confirm the efficiency of our proposed approach for 3D authentication across diverse datasets.
Estimation of daylight spectral power distribution from uncalibrated hyperspectral radiance images
Authors: Czech Maximilian , Le Moan Steven , Hernández-Andrés Javier , Müller Ben
Published: February 2024

This paper introduces a novel framework for estimating the spectral power distribution of daylight illuminants in uncalibrated hyperspectral images, particularly beneficial for drone-based applications in agriculture and forestry. The proposed method uniquely combines image-dependent plausible spectra with a database of physically possible spectra, utilizing an image-independent principal component space (PCS) for estimations. This approach effectively narrows the search space in the spectral domain and employs a random walk methodology to generate spectral candidates, which are then intersected with a pre-trained PCS to predict the illuminant. We demonstrate superior performance compared to existing statistics-based methods across various metrics, validating the framework’s efficacy in accurately estimating illuminants and recovering reflectance values from radiance data. The method is validated within the spectral range of 382–1002 nm and shows potential for extension to broader spectral ranges.
Single-shot inline holography using a physics-aware diffusion model
Authors: Zhang Yunping , Liu Xihui , Lam Edmund Y.
Published: February 2024

Among holographic imaging configurations, inline holography excels in its compact design and portability, making it the preferred choice for on-site or field applications with unique imaging requirements. However, effectively holographic reconstruction from a single-shot measurement remains a challenge. While several approaches have been proposed, our novel unsupervised algorithm, the physics-aware diffusion model for digital holographic reconstruction (PadDH), offers distinct advantages. By seamlessly integrating physical information with a pre-trained diffusion model, PadDH overcomes the need for a holographic training dataset and significantly reduces the number of parameters involved. Through comprehensive experiments using both synthetic and experimental data, we validate the capabilities of PadDH in reducing twin-image contamination and generating high-quality reconstructions. Our work represents significant advancements in unsupervised holographic imaging by harnessing the full potential of the pre-trained diffusion prior.
Analysis of the impact of temperature on the spectral shift in ultraviolet hyperspectral imaging spectrometers
Authors: Pan Guotao , Li Bo , Gu Guochao , Yu Xiangyang , Li Hanshuang , Wang Xiaoxu , Li Zhanfeng , Yang Xiaohu , Zhu Junqing , Cao Diansheng , Li Bingqiang , Ma Qingjun , Wu Heng , He Limin , Lin Guanyu
Published: February 2024

The imaging spectrometer's high performance in practical applications may be compromised by environmental factors, particularly temperature variations, posing a challenge to its stability. Temperature fluctuations can induce spectral shift, directly impacting the accuracy of spectral measurements, subsequently influencing the precision of radiometric measurements. To address this issue, this study investigates a dual-channel UV imaging spectrometer. This instrument boasts a wavelength calibration accuracy of 0.01 nm. This paper conducts an in-depth analysis of the various mechanisms through which temperature changes influence the spectral line offset in the imaging spectrometer, integrating actual orbital temperature data to discuss the instrument's temperature load settings. The impact of temperature on spectral shift is examined using finite element analysis and optical design software. Estimations of spectral shift were made based on temperature variations. Simulation results indicated that the maximum deviation of spectral shift is estimated at 0.018 nm under a temperature condition of 16 ± 1°C. Under a more controlled orbital temperature condition (16 ± 0.3°C), the maximum deviation of spectral shift decreased to 0.01 nm. Experimental data revealed that at 16 ± 1°C, the maximum deviation of spectral shift did not exceed 0.01 nm. This effectively corroborates our theoretical analysis. The relationship between temperature and spectral shift offers a crucial theoretical foundation for calibrating spectral measurements and managing the thermal conditions of the instrument.
Fresnel incoherent compressive holography toward 3D videography via dual-channel simultaneous phase-shifting interferometry
Authors: Wang Huiyang , Han Xianxin , Wen Tianzhi , Wang Yuheng , Liu Hongzhan , Lu Xiaoxu , Rosen Joseph , Zhong Liyun
Published: February 2024

Fresnel incoherent correlation holography (FINCH) enables high-resolution 3D imaging of objects from several 2D holograms under incoherent light and has many attractive applications in motionless 3D fluorescence imaging. However, FINCH has difficulty implementing 3D imaging of dynamic scenes since multiple phase-shifting holograms need to be recorded for removing the bias term and twin image in the reconstructed scene, which requires the object to remain static during this progress. Here, we propose a dual-channel Fresnel noncoherent compressive holography method. First, a pair of holograms with π phase shifts obtained in a single shot are used for removing the bias term noise. Then, a physic-driven compressive sensing (CS) algorithm is used to achieve twin-image-free reconstruction. In addition, we analyze the reconstruction effect and suitability of the CS algorithm and two-step phase-shift filtering algorithm for objects with different complexities. The experimental results show that the proposed method can record hologram videos of 3D dynamic objects and scenes without sacrificing the imaging field of view or resolution. Moreover, the system refocuses images at arbitrary depth positions via computation, hence providing a new method for fast high-throughput incoherent 3D imaging.
Random laser emission from dye-doped gain media with optically trapped scattering particles
Authors: Okamoto Takashi , Yokoi Naomichi , Kaku Takashi
Published: February 2024

In this study, an optical trapping technique is employed to manipulate
the scatterer distribution within a random laser medium. By focusing
the trapping beams into small regions within the three-dimensional
scattering medium, the scattering particles around them are
concentrated in those regions, resulting in an inhomogeneous scatterer
distribution. The experimental results show that optical trapping
increases the maximum spike intensity in the emission spectrum.
Furthermore, the spectral spike intensity depends on the power of the
trap spots. The relationship between the maximum and average spike
intensities in the emission spectra exhibits a characteristic observed
in other random lasers with inhomogeneous scatterer distributions.
All-optical 2-bit decoder based on a silicon waveguide device for BPSK-modulated signals
Authors: Aikawa Yohei , Uenohara Hiroyuki
Published: February 2024

Optical computing technology has gained attention as a solution to address the computational latency caused by the resistance-capacitance (RC) delay in processors based on complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS). However, many optical computing technologies tend to rely on nonlinear effects, resulting in an increase in the device length and input light intensity to enhance nonlinear efficiency. This study proposed what we believe is a new optical decoder device based on linear effects. The device was composed of two cascaded delay-line interferometers (DLIs) made of a silicon waveguide. Targeting 2-bit binary phase-shift keying (BPSK) signals, it outputs ON state for a specific bit pattern by setting different phase conditions. The experimental results confirmed the functionality of the device, including measurements of the impulse response, evaluation of the phase-shift conditions, and successful decoding operations for a signal at 10 Gbps. The proposed decoder, which does not rely on nonlinear effects, offers advantages in terms of low latency and power consumption.
A Novel Mode-Division Multiplexer/Demultiplexer with Ultra-Large Bandwidth and Ultra-Low Insertion Loss Based on Five-Core Photonic Crystal Fiber
Authors: Hui Zhanqiang , Li Zelin , Han Dongdong , Li Tiantian
Published: February 2024

A novel mode-division multiplexer/demultiplexer (MUX/DMUX) based on a five-core photonic crystal fiber (PCF) is proposed in this study. The structural parameters of MUX/DMUX were optimized using finite-difference eigenmode (FDE) and eigenmode expansion methods. The numerical simulation results show that the device can simultaneously multiplex five modes of LP01, LP11, LP21, LP31, and LP12 in the main core with an ultra-low insertion loss. At 1.55 μm, the mode conversion efficiency and insertion loss of the five modes were greater than 93.5% and less than 0.29 dB, respectively. The proposed MUX/DMUX is compact, with a length of only 1.84 mm. In addition, the device can operate efficiently with crosstalk of less than -11.34 dB over an ultra-wide bandwidth of 620 nm (from 1.33–1.95 μm, covering E-, S-, C-, L-, U-bands), offering great potential in future mode-division multiplexing systems.
The quality of medicines for the prevention and management of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy: A systematic review
Authors: Maharjan Pooja , Ponganam Meghna Prasannan , Lambert Pete , Vogel Joshua P. , McIntosh Michelle , McDougall Annie
Published: February 2024

The quality of medicines for the prevention and management of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy globally is a critical challenge in the reduction of maternal mortality rate. We aimed to conduct a systematic review of available studies on the quality of the eight medicines recommended globally for the prevention and management of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. We searched five electronic databases- Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, ProQuest and Cochrane Library, and also grey literature, without year or language limitations. Any study assessing the quality parameters (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients, pH, sterility, solubility, impurities) of medicines by using any valid laboratory methods was eligible. Two reviewers independently screened the studies, extracted data and applied Medicine Quality Assessment Reporting Guidelines tool for quality assessment. Results were narratively reported and stratified by the drug types. Of 5669 citations screened, 33 studies from 27 countries were included. Five studies reported on the quality of magnesium sulphate—two (Nigeria and USA) found substandard medicine due to failing API specification and contaminants, respectively. Another study from Nigeria and a multi-country study (10 lower-middle- and low-income countries) found poor-quality due to failing the pH criteria. Seven of eight studies evaluating aspirin found quality issues, including degraded medicines in five studies (Brazil, USA, Yugoslavia and Pakistan). Five studies of calcium supplements found quality issues, particularly heavy metal contamination. Of 15 antihypertensives quality studies, 12 found substandard medicines and one study identified counterfeit medicines. This systematic review identified pervasive issues of poor-quality medicines across all recommended medicines used to prevent or treat hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, raising concerns regarding their safety and effectiveness.
Isolation, whole-genome sequencing, and annotation of two antibiotic-producing and antibiotic-resistant bacteria, Pantoea rodasii RIT 836 and Pseudomonas endophytica RIT 838, collected from the environment
Authors: Tuytschaevers Serena , Aden Leila , Greene Zacchaeus , Nixon Chanei , Shaw Wade , Hatch Dillan , Kumar Girish , Miranda Renata Rezende , Hudson André O.
Published: February 2024

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global threat to human health since infections caused by antimicrobial-resistant bacteria are life-threatening conditions with minimal treatment options. Bacteria become resistant when they develop the ability to overcome the compounds that are meant to kill them, i.e., antibiotics. The increasing number of resistant pathogens worldwide is contrasted by the slow progress in the discovery and production of new antibiotics. About 700,000 global deaths per year are estimated as a result of drug-resistant infections, which could escalate to nearly 10 million by 2050 if we fail to address the AMR challenge. In this study, we collected and isolated bacteria from the environment to screen for antibiotic resistance. We identified several bacteria that showed resistance to multiple clinically relevant antibiotics when tested in antibiotic susceptibility disk assays. We also found that two strains, identified as Pantoea rodasii RIT 836 and Pseudomonas endophytica RIT 838 via whole genome sequencing and annotation, produce bactericidal compounds against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria in disc-diffusion inhibitory assays. We mined the two strains’ whole-genome sequences to gain more information and insights into the antibiotic resistance and production by these bacteria. Subsequently, we aim to isolate, identify, and further characterize the novel antibiotic compounds detected in our assays and bioinformatics analysis.
A survey on the knowledge and attitudes of pharmacists towards the application of antimicrobial therapeutic drug monitoring and its challenges in Qatar
Authors: Alkhiyami Dania Ihsan , Higazy Alya Salah , Saad Mohamed Omar
Published: February 2024

Introduction

Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is an integral part of pharmaceutical care. Antimicrobials are amongst the most commonly monitored medications. Therefore, identifying the gaps in antimicrobial pharmacokinetics and TDM knowledge and skills among pharmacists is crucial to optimize TDM application.

Research question

What is the current knowledge, attitudes and perceived barriers of pharmacists in Qatar towards the application of antimicrobial TDM?

Study design

Cross-sectional survey.

Methods

The psychometric validation of the survey underwent 3 stages: domain identification and item generation, content validation, and pilot test. The survey was divided into 4 domains (participant characteristics, knowledge, attitudes, and perceived barriers). It was developed in Survey Monkey and distributed to all pharmacists in Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) hospitals via email. Data was analyzed using IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Categorical and quantitative variables were expressed as frequencies with percentages and medians with interquartile ranges, respectively. Mann–Whitney U-test was used to test the effect of demographic and professional parameters on the knowledge scores. P values less than 0.05 were considered significant.

Results

Forty-nine responses were collected. The median age of respondents was 34 years and 51% of them were males. Most respondents were clinical pharmacists (47%). On average, 44% of knowledge questions were correct, whereas 32% were incorrect and 23% were not sure of the answer. The median knowledge score was 5 out of 10 (interquartile range 2.5–6). Participants with post-graduate degrees or prior pharmacokinetic training showed trends towards higher knowledge scores. Online pharmacokinetics calculators were the most frequently used dose adjustment method. The top perceived barriers for the implementation of antimicrobial TDM were lack of knowledge and lack of educational sessions.

Conclusions

Albeit pharmacists in Qatar had modest level of knowledge about antimicrobial TDM, they had positive attitudes towards TDM and its implications in the clinical practice. Future plans should include providing TDM-related education activities.
Mixed trends in heavy metal-enriched fugitive dust on National Park Service lands along the Red Dog Mine haul road, Alaska, 2006–2017
Authors: Neitlich Peter N. , Wright Wilson , Di Meglio Elisa , Shiel Alyssa E. , Hampton-Miller Celia J. , Hooten Mevin B.
Published: February 2024

This study presents the status and trends of long-term monitoring of the elemental concentrations of zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), and cadmium (Cd) in Hylocomium splendens moss tissue in Cape Krusenstern National Monument (CAKR), Alaska, adjacent to the Red Dog Mine haul road. Spatial patterns of the deposition of these metals were re-assessed for the period from 2006–2017 following an identical study that assessed trends between 2001–2006. In contrast to the widespread and steep declines in Zn and Pb levels throughout most of the study area between 2001–2006, this study showed more mixed results for 2006–2017. At distances within 100 m of the haul road, only Pb decreased between 2006–2017. At distances between 100–5,000 m, however, both Zn and Cd decreased between 2006–2017, with high probabilities of decrease and percent decreases of 11–20% and 46–52% respectively. Lead did not decrease in any of the more distant areas. Following earlier work on lichen species richness in the study area, it appears that 2017 Zn levels are approaching those associated with “background” lichen species richness throughout a relatively large proportion of the study area at least 2,000 m from the haul road and several km from the port site. The findings in this study may be used to plan additional mitigation measures to reduce Zn deposition related to impacts on lichen communities.
The impact of radiofrequency exposure on Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) development
Authors: Nik Abdull Halim Nik Muhammad Hanif , Mohd Jamili Alya Farzana , Che Dom Nazri , Abd Rahman Nurul Huda , Jamal Kareem Zana , Dapari Rahmat
Published: February 2024

Introduction

Wireless communication connects billions of people worldwide, relying on radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF). Generally, fifth-generation (5G) networks shift RF carriers to higher frequencies. Although radio, cell phones, and television have benefitted humans for decades, higher carrier frequencies can present potential health risks. Insects closely associated with humans (such as mosquitoes) can undergo increased RF absorption and dielectric heating. This process inadvertently impacts the insects’ behaviour, morphology, and physiology, which can influence their spread. Therefore, this study examined the impact of RF exposure on Ae. aegypti mosquitoes, which are prevalent in indoor environments with higher RF exposure risk. The morphologies of Ae. aegypti eggs and their developments into Ae. aegypti mosquitoes were investigated.

Methods

A total of 30 eggs were exposed to RF radiation at three frequencies: baseline, 900 MHz, and 18 GHz. Each frequency was tested in triplicate. Several parameters were assessed through daily observations in an insectarium, including hatching responses, development times, larval numbers, and pupation periods until the emergence of adult insects.

Results

This study revealed that the hatching rate for the 900 MHz group was the highest (79 ± 10.54%) compared to other exposures (p = 0.87). The adult emergence rate for the 900 MHz group was also the lowest at 33 ± 2.77%. A significant difference between the groups was demonstrated in the statistical analysis (p = 0.03).

Conclusion

This work highlighted the morphology sensitivity of Ae. aegypti eggs and their developments in the aquatic phase to RF radiation, potentially altering their life cycle.
Immunoinformatics-guided recombinant polypeptide-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for seromonitoring of laboratory animals for minute virus of mice and Kilham rat virus
Authors: Kaur Charanpreet , Asrith Kandala Pavan , Ramachandra S. G. , Hegde Nagendra R.
Published: February 2024

Subclinical infection of laboratory animals with one or more of several pathogens affects the results of experiments on animals. Monitoring the health of laboratory animals encompasses routine surveillance for pathogens, including several viruses. This study aimed to explore the development of an alternative assay to the existing ones for detecting infection of mice and rats with the parvoviruses minute virus of mice (MVM) and Kilham rat virus (KRV), respectively. Full-length VP2 and NS1 proteins of these parvoviruses, besides fragments containing multiple predicted epitopes stitched together, were studied for serological detection. The optimal dilution of full-length proteins and antigenic regions containing predicted epitopes for coating, test sera, and conjugate was determined using a checkerboard titration at each step. The assays were evaluated vis-à-vis commercially available ELISA kits. The results showed that an engineered fusion of fragments containing multiple predicted MVM VP2 and NS1 epitopes was better than either of the full-length proteins for detecting antibodies in 90% of the tested sera samples. For KRV ELISA, full-length VP2 was better compared to other individual recombinant protein fragments or combinations thereof for the detection of antibodies in sera. This report is the first description of an ELISA for KRV and an improved assay for MVM. Importantly, our assays could be exploited with small volumes of sera. The results also demonstrate the utility of immunoinformatics-driven polypeptide engineering in the development of diagnostic assays and the potential to develop better tests for monitoring the health status of laboratory animals.
Hybridization and introgression events in cooccurring populations of closely related grasses (Poaceae: Stipa) in high mountain steppes of Central Asia
Authors: Sinaga Patar , Klichowska Ewelina , Nowak Arkadiusz , Nobis Marcin
Published: February 2024

Stipa is a genus comprising ca. 150 species found in warm temperate regions of the Old World and around 30% of its representatives are of hybrid origin. In this study, using integrative taxonomy approach, we tested the hypothesis that hybridization and introgression are the explanations of the morphological intermediacy in species belonging to Stipa sect. Smirnovia, one of the species-rich sections in the mountains of Central Asia. Two novel nothospecies, S. magnifica × S. caucasica subsp. nikolai and S. lingua × S. caucasica subsp. nikolai, were identified based on a combination of morphological characters and SNPs markers. SNPs marker revealed that all S. lingua × S. caucasica samples were F1 hybrids, whereas most of S. magnifica × S. caucasica samples were backcross hybrids. Furthermore, the above mentioned hybrids exhibit transgressive morphological characters to each of their parental species. These findings have implications for understanding the process of hybridization in the genus Stipa, particularly in the sect. Smirnovia. As a taxonomic conclusion, we describe the two new nothospecies S. × muksuensis (from Tajikistan) and S. × ochyrae (from Kyrgyzstan) and present an identification key to species morphologically similar to the taxa mentioned above.
Effect of 3-D depth structure, element size, and area containing elements on total-element overestimation phenomenon
Authors: Matsuda Yusuke , Aida Saori , Shimono Koichi
Published: February 2024

The number of elements distributed in a three-dimensional stimulus is overestimated compared to a two-dimensional stimulus when both stimuli have the same number of elements. We examined the effect of the properties of a three-dimensional stimulus (the number of overlapping stereo surfaces, size of the elements, and size of the area containing elements, on the overestimation phenomenon in four experiments. The two stimuli were presented side-by-side with the same diameters. Observers judged which of the three-dimensional standard and two-dimensional comparison had more elements. The results showed that (a) the overestimation phenomenon occurred for the three-dimensional standard stimuli, (b) the size of the areas affected the amount of overestimation, while the number of overlapping stereo surfaces and size of elements did not, and (c) the amount of overestimation increased when the stimuli included more than 100 elements. Implications of these findings were discussed in the framework of back-surface bias, occlusion, and disparity-processing interference models.
A comparative study of apoptosis, pyroptosis, necroptosis, and PANoptosis components in mouse and human cells
Authors: Choudhury Sk Mohiuddin , Sarkar Roman , Karki Rajendra , Kanneganti Thirumala-Devi
Published: February 2024

Regulated cell death is a key component of the innate immune response, which provides the first line of defense against infection and homeostatic perturbations. However, cell death can also drive pathogenesis. The most well-defined cell death pathways can be categorized as nonlytic (apoptosis) and lytic (pyroptosis, necroptosis, and PANoptosis). While specific triggers are known to induce each of these cell death pathways, it is unclear whether all cell types express the cell death proteins required to activate these pathways. Here, we assessed the protein expression and compared the responses of immune and non-immune cells of human and mouse origin to canonical pyroptotic (LPS plus ATP), apoptotic (staurosporine), necroptotic (TNF-α plus z-VAD), and PANoptotic (influenza A virus infection) stimuli. When compared to fibroblasts, both mouse and human innate immune cells, macrophages, expressed higher levels of cell death proteins and activated cell death effectors more robustly, including caspase-1, gasdermins, caspase-8, and RIPKs, in response to specific stimuli. Our findings highlight the importance of considering the cell type when examining the mechanisms regulating inflammation and cell death. Improved understanding of the cell types that contain the machinery to execute different forms of cell death and their link to innate immune responses is critical to identify new strategies to target these pathways in specific cellular populations for the treatment of infectious diseases, inflammatory disorders, and cancer.
Leishmania highjack host lipid body for its proliferation in macrophages by overexpressing host Rab18 and TRAPPC9 by downregulating miR-1914-3p expression
Authors: Sood Chandni , Verma Jitender Kumar , Basak Rituparna , Kapoor Anjali , Gupta Swarnima , Mukhopadhyay Amitabha
Published: February 2024

Lipids stored in lipid-bodies (LBs) in host cells are potential sources of fatty acids for pathogens. However, the mechanism of recruitment of LBs from the host cells by pathogens to acquire fatty acids is not known. Here, we have found that Leishmania specifically upregulates the expression of host Rab18 and its GEF, TRAPPC9 by downregulating the expression of miR-1914-3p by reducing the level of Dicer in macrophages via their metalloprotease gp63. Our results also show that miR-1914-3p negatively regulates the expression of Rab18 and its GEF in cells. Subsequently, Leishmania containing parasitophorous vacuoles (Ld-PVs) recruit and retain host Rab18 and TRAPPC9. Leishmania infection also induces LB biogenesis in host cells and recruits LBs on Ld-PVs and acquires FLC12-labeled fatty acids from LBs. Moreover, overexpression of miR-1914-3p in macrophages significantly inhibits the recruitment of LBs and thereby suppresses the multiplication of parasites in macrophages as parasites are unable to acquire fatty acids. These results demonstrate a novel mechanism how Leishmania acquire fatty acids from LBs for their growth in macrophages.
Extreme infectious titer variability in individual Aedes aegypti mosquitoes infected with Sindbis virus is associated with both differences in virus population structure and dramatic disparities in specific infectivity
Authors: Hodoameda Peter , Ebel Gregory D. , Mukhopadhyay Suchetana , Clem Rollie J.
Published: February 2024

Variability in how individuals respond to pathogens is a hallmark of infectious disease, yet the basis for individual variation in host response is often poorly understood. The titer of infectious virus among individual mosquitoes infected with arboviruses is frequently observed to vary by several orders of magnitude in a single experiment, even when the mosquitoes are highly inbred. To better understand the basis for this titer variation, we sequenced populations of Sindbis virus (SINV) obtained from individual infected Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that, despite being from a highly inbred laboratory colony, differed in their titers of infectious virus by approximately 10,000-fold. We observed genetic differences between these virus populations that indicated the virus present in the midguts of low titer mosquitoes was less fit than that of high titer mosquitoes, possibly due to founder effects that occurred during midgut infection. Furthermore, we found dramatic differences in the specific infectivity or SI (the ratio of infectious units/viral genome equivalents) between these virus populations, with the SI of low titer mosquitoes being up to 10,000-fold lower than that of high titer mosquitoes. Despite having similar amounts of viral genomes, low titer mosquitoes appeared to contain less viral particles, suggesting that viral genomes were packaged into virions less efficiently than in high titer mosquitoes. Finally, antibiotic treatment, which has been shown to suppress mosquito antiviral immunity, caused an increase in SI. Our results indicate that the extreme variation that is observed in SINV infectious titer between individual Ae. aegypti mosquitoes is due to both genetic differences between virus populations and to differences in the proportion of genomes that are packaged into infectious particles.