bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pseudovibriamides fromPseudovibriomarine sponge bacteria promote swarming motility via transcriptional modulation
Authors: Dai Yitao , Lourenzon Vitor , Ióca Laura P. , Al-Smadi Dua , Arnold Lydia , McIntire Ian , Berlinck Roberto G. S. , Eustáquio Alessandra S.
Published: April 2024

Pseudovibrioα-Proteobacteria have been repeatedly isolated from marine sponges and proposed to be beneficial to the host. Bacterial motility is known to contribute to host colonization. We have previously identified pseudovibriamides A and B, produced in culture byPseudovibrio brasiliensisAb134, and shown that pseudovibriamide A promotes flagellar motility. Pseudovibriamides are encoded in a hybrid nonribosomal peptide synthetase-polyketide synthase gene cluster that also includes several accessory genes. Pseudovibriamide A is a linear heptapeptide and pseudovibriamide B is a nonadepsipeptide derived from pseudovibriamide A. Here we define the borders of the pseudovibriamides gene cluster, assign function to biosynthetic genes using reverse genetics and test the hypothesis that pseudovibriamides impact motility by modulating gene transcription. RNA-seq transcriptomic analyses of strains having different compositions of pseudovibriamides suggested that both pseudovibriamides A and B affect genes potentially involved in motility, and that a compensatory mechanism is at play in mutants that produce only pseudovibriamide A, resulting in comparable swarming motility as the wild type. The data gathered suggest that pseudovibriamides A and B have opposite roles in modulating a subset of genes, with pseudovibriamide B having a primary effect in gene activation, and pseudovibriamide A on inhibition. Finally, we observed many differentially expressed genes (up to 29% of the total gene number) indicating that pseudovibriamides have a global effect on transcription that goes beyond motility.

Importance

Marine sponges are found throughout the oceans from tropical coral reefs to polar sea floors, playing crucial roles in marine ecosystems.Pseudovibriobacteria have been proposed to contribute to sponge health. We have previously shown that pseudovibriamides produced byPseudovibrio brasiliensispromote bacterial motility, a behavior that is beneficial to bacterial survival and to host colonization. The gene cluster that encodes pseudovibriamide biosynthesis is found in two thirds ofPseudovibriogenomes. This gene cluster is also present inPseudomonasbacteria that interact with terrestrial plants and animals. Here we first assign function to pseudovibriamide biosynthetic genes using reverse genetics. We then show that pseudovibriamides play a major role in transcriptional regulation, affecting up to 29% ofP. brasiliensisgenes, including motility genes. Thus, this work gives insights into pseudovibriamide biosynthesis and provides evidence that they are signaling molecules relevant to bacterial motility and to other yet to be identified phenotypes.
PDGFRα signaling regulates Srsf3 transcript binding to affect PI3K signaling and endosomal trafficking
Authors: Forman Thomas E. , Sajek Marcin P. , Larson Eric D. , Mukherjee Neelanjan , Fantauzzo Katherine A.
Published: April 2024

Signaling through the platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRα) plays a critical role in craniofacial development, as mutations inPDGFRAare associated with cleft lip/palate in humans andPdgframutant mouse models display varying degrees of facial clefting. Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt is the primary effector of PDGFRα signaling during skeletal development in the mouse. We previously demonstrated that Akt phosphorylates the RNA-binding protein serine/arginine-rich splicing factor 3 (Srsf3) downstream of PI3K-mediated PDGFRα signaling in mouse embryonic palatal mesenchyme (MEPM) cells, leading to its nuclear translocation. We further showed that ablation ofSrsf3in the murine neural crest lineage results in severe midline facial clefting, due to defects in proliferation and survival of cranial neural crest cells, and widespread alternative RNA splicing (AS) changes. Here, we sought to determine the molecular mechanisms by which Srsf3 activity is regulated downstream of PDGFRα signaling to control AS of transcripts necessary for craniofacial development. We demonstrated via enhanced UV-crosslinking and immunoprecipitation (eCLIP) of MEPM cells that PDGF-AA stimulation leads to preferential binding of Srsf3 to exons and loss of binding to canonical Srsf3 CA-rich motifs. Through the analysis of complementary RNA-seq data, we showed that Srsf3 activity results in the preferential inclusion of exons with increased GC content and lower intron to exon length ratio. Moreover, we found that the subset of transcripts that are bound by Srsf3 and undergo AS upon PDGFRα signaling commonly encode regulators of PI3K signaling and early endosomal trafficking. Functional validation studies further confirmed that Srsf3 activity downstream of PDGFRα signaling leads to retention of the receptor in early endosomes and increases in downstream PI3K-mediated Akt signaling. Taken together, our findings reveal that growth factor-mediated phosphorylation of an RNA-binding protein underlies gene expression regulation necessary for mammalian craniofacial development.
RNA-binding proteins identified by R-DeeP/TripepSVM are involved in heterocyst differentiation
Authors: Brenes-Álvarez Manuel , Ropp Halie R. , Papagiannidis Dimitrios , Potel Clement , Stein Frank , Savitski Mikhail M , Vioque Agustín , Muro-Pastor Alicia M. , Hess Wolfgang R.
Published: April 2024

RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) are central components of gene regulatory networks. The differentiation of heterocysts in filamentous cyanobacteria is an example of cell differentiation in prokaryotes. Although multiple non-coding transcripts are involved in this process, no RBPs have been implicated thus far. Here we used quantitative mass spectrometry to analyze the differential fractionation of RNA-protein complexes after RNase treatment in density gradients yielding 333 RNA-associated proteins, while a bioinformatic prediction yielded 311 RBP candidates inNostocsp. PCC 7120. We validatedin vivothe RNA-binding capacity of 6 RBP candidates. Some participate in essential physiological aspects, such as photosynthesis (Alr2890), thylakoid biogenesis (Vipp1) or heterocyst differentiation (PrpA, PatU3), but their association with RNA was unknown. Validated RBPs Asl3888 and Alr1700 were not previously characterized. Alr1700 is an RBP with two OB-fold domains that is differentially expressed in heterocysts. Deletion ofalr1700led to complete deregulation of the cell differentiation process, a striking increase in the number of heterocyst-like cells, and was ultimately lethal in the absence of combined nitrogen. These observations characterize this RBP as a master regulator of the heterocyst patterning and differentiation process, leading us to rename Alr1700 to PatR. The data can be accessed athttps://sunshine.biologie.uni-freiburg.de/R-DeeP-Nostoc/.
Intracellular pocket conformations determine signaling efficacy through the μ opioid receptor
Authors: Cooper David A. , DePaolo-Boisvert Joseph , Nicholson Stanley A. , Gad Barien , Minh David D. L.
Published: April 2024

It has been challenging to determine how a ligand that binds to a receptor activates downstream signaling pathways and to predict the strength of signaling. The challenge is compounded by functional selectivity, in which a single ligand binding to a single receptor can activate multiple signaling pathways at different levels. Spectroscopic studies show that in the largest class of cell surface receptors, 7 transmembrane receptors (7TMRs), activation is associated with ligand-induced shifts in the equilibria of intracellular pocket conformations in the absence of transducer proteins. We hypothesized that signaling through the μ opioid receptor, a prototypical 7TMR, is linearly proportional to the equilibrium probability of observing intracellular pocket conformations in the receptor-ligand complex. Here we show that a machine learning model based on this hypothesis accurately calculates the efficacy of both G protein and β-arrestin-2 signaling. Structural features that the model associates with activation are intracellular pocket expansion, toggle switch rotation, and sodium binding pocket collapse. Distinct pathways are activated by different arrangements of the ligand and sodium binding pockets and the intracellular pocket. While recent work has categorized ligands as active or inactive (or partially active) based on binding affinities to two conformations, our approach accurately computes signaling efficacy along multiple pathways.
Modeling collective behaviors from optic flow and retinal cues
Authors: Castro Diego , Ruffier Franck , Eloy Christophe
Published: April 2024

Animal collective behavior is often modeled with self-propelled particles, assuming each individual has “omniscient” knowledge of its neighbors. Yet, neighbors may be hidden from view and we do not know the effect of this information loss. To address this question, we propose a visual model of collective behavior where each particle moves according to bioplausible visual cues, in particular the optic flow. This visual model successfully reproduces three classical collective behaviors: swarming, schooling, and milling. This model offers a potential solution for controlling artificial swarms visually.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
From asynchronous states to Griffiths phases and back: Structural heterogeneity and homeostasis in excitatory-inhibitory networks
Authors: Pretel Jorge , Buendía Victor , Torres Joaquín J. , Muñoz Miguel A.
Published: April 2024

Balanced neural networks, in which excitatory and inhibitory inputs compensate each other on average, give rise to a dynamical phase dominated by fluctuations called an asynchronous state, crucial for brain functioning. However, structural disorder, which is inherent to random networks, can hinder such an excitation-inhibition balance. Indeed, structural and synaptic heterogeneities can generate extended regions in phase space akin to critical points, called Griffiths phases, with dynamical features very different from those of asynchronous states. Here we study a simple neural-network model with tunable levels of heterogeneity able to display these two types of dynamical regimes, i.e., asynchronous states and Griffiths phases, putting them together within a single phase diagram. Using this simple model, we are able to emphasize the crucial role played by synaptic plasticity and homeostasis to reestablish balance in intrinsically heterogeneous networks. Overall, we shed light onto how diverse dynamical regimes, each with different functional advantages, can emerge from a given network as a result of self-organizing homeostatic mechanisms.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Hybrid ground-state quantum algorithms based on neural Schrödinger forging
Authors: de Schoulepnikoff Paulin , Kiss Oriel , Vallecorsa Sofia , Carleo Giuseppe , Grossi Michele
Published: April 2024

Entanglement forging based variational algorithms leverage the bipartition of quantum systems for addressing ground-state problems. The primary limitation of these approaches lies in the exponential summation required over the numerous potential basis states, or bitstrings, when performing the Schmidt decomposition of the whole system. To overcome this challenge, we propose a method for entanglement forging employing generative neural networks to identify the most pertinent bitstrings, eliminating the need for the exponential sum. Through empirical demonstrations on systems of increasing complexity, we show that the proposed algorithm achieves comparable or superior performance compared to the existing standard implementation of entanglement forging. Moreover, by controlling the amount of required resources, this scheme can be applied to larger as well as non-permutation-invariant systems, where the latter constraint is associated with the Heisenberg forging procedure. We substantiate our findings through numerical simulations conducted on spin models exhibiting one-dimensional rings, two-dimensional triangular lattice topologies, and nuclear shell model configurations.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Clustering and ordering in cell assemblies with generic asymmetric aligning interactions
Authors: Bertrand Thibault , d'Alessandro Joseph , Maitra Ananyo , Jain Shreyansh , Mercier Barbara , Mège René-Marc , Ladoux Benoit , Voituriez Raphaël
Published: April 2024

Collective cell migration plays an essential role in various biological processes, such as development or cancer proliferation. While cell-cell interactions are clearly key determinants of collective cell migration, the physical mechanisms that control the emergence of cell clustering and collective cell migration are still poorly understood. In particular, observations have shown that binary cell-cell collisions generally lead to antialignment of cell polarities and separation of pairs—a process called contact inhibition of locomotion (CIL), which is expected to disfavor the formation of large-scale cell clusters with coherent motion even though the latter is often observed in tissues. To solve this puzzle, we adopt a joint experimental and theoretical approach to determine the large-scale dynamics of cell assemblies from elementary pairwise cell-cell interaction rules. We quantify experimentally binary cell-cell interactions and show that they can be captured by a minimal equilibriumlike pairwise asymmetric aligning interaction potential that reproduces the CIL phenomenology. We identify its symmetry class, build the corresponding active hydrodynamic theory, and show on general grounds that such asymmetric aligning interaction destroys large-scale clustering and ordering, leading instead to a liquidlike microphase of cell clusters of finite size and short lived polarity or to a fully dispersed isotropic phase. Finally, this shows that CIL-like asymmetric interactions in cellular systems—or general active systems—control cluster sizes and polarity, and can prevent large-scale coarsening and long-range polarity, except in the singular regime of dense confluent systems.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Probing Purcell enhancement and photon collection efficiency of InAs quantum dots at nodes of the cavity electric field
Authors: Jordan Matthew , Androvitsaneas Petros , Clark Rachel N. , Trapalis Aristotelis , Farrer Ian , Langbein Wolfgang , Bennett Anthony J.
Published: April 2024

The interaction of excitonic transitions with confined photonic modes enables tests of quantum physics and design of efficient optoelectronic devices. Here we study how key metrics such as Purcell factor, factor, and collection efficiency are determined by the non-cavity modes that exist in real devices, taking the well-studied micropillar cavity as an example. Samples with dots at different positions in the cavity field allow us to quantify the effect of the non-cavity modes and show that the zero-phonon line and the phonon-assisted emission into the cavity mode HE11 is suppressed by positioning dots at the field node.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
The link between socially responsible human resource management and eco-helping behavior in aviation industry – a moderated mediation model
Authors: Nguyen Thi Lan Phuong , Nguyen Thi Thu Huong
Published: April 2024

Purpose

This study aims to propose a research model that emphasizes the moderating influence of ethical leadership (ELS) and the link between socially responsible human resource management (SRHRM) and leaders’ eco-helping behavior (LEH) in the aviation industry.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used a time-lag research design. Data were gathered from 397 respondents working for aviation companies in Vietnam and analyzed using SmartPLS 4.0.

Findings

The findings show that SRHRM has a beneficial effect on LEH through employees’ voluntary workplace green behavior (EVB). Based on social cognitive theory, this study developed a theoretical model of how SRHRM influences LEH through EVB. The authors discovered that SRHRM increased LEH and that EVB mediated this favorable relationship. Furthermore, the results demonstrate that ELS mitigates the indirect impact of SRHRM on LEH via EVB.

Research limitations/implications

Future studies should assess constructs with numerous observations across time, with a larger sample size and in different industrial settings.

Practical implications

Volunteerism is one of the most important values in the aviation industry given that it is vulnerable to practices such as overbooking, delaying, postponing flights and pressure weather.

Originality/value

This study emphasized the impact of SRHRM and ELS on LEH while fulfilling their professional obligations. EVB may be best positioned to mediate the relationship between SRHRM and LEH.
Unveil the benefit of independent leadership structure on employee welfare
Authors: Nguyen Thanh Dung , Harvison Thuong , Ashraf Ali
Published: April 2024

Purpose

Employees play a vital role in the success of a corporation. While boards of directors are created to protect shareholders’ interests, it is unclear if these directors also ensure employee welfare. In this vein, our paper examines the relationship between board leadership structure and employee well-being.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors employ several analysis techniques, including univariate analysis, ordinary least squares (OLS) regressions, two-stage least squares (2SLS) regressions, propensity score matching methodology, the Heckman Selection model and difference-in-differences analysis. The sample comprises USA public firms for the period 1998–2018.

Findings

Our findings indicate that having an independent chairperson can significantly benefit the welfare of employees, especially for firms with overly powerful chief executive officers (CEOs) and during times of financial distress.

Originality/value

Independent leadership structure is one of the crucial board characteristics that have not been examined to explain employee welfare at firms. We find that an independent chairperson can mitigate the negative effect of overly powerful CEOs on employee benefits. Importantly, independent chairpersons are beneficial for employees in difficult times and when CEOs are busy with daily activities.
Does my school teach me entrepreneurship? School entrepreneurship curriculum and students’ entrepreneurial intention: a serial mediation-moderation analysis
Authors: Patel Jayesh , Vannai Sanjay , Dasani Vikrant , Sharma Mahendra
Published: April 2024

Purpose

In order to achieve a sustained level of entrepreneurship in India, it is very important that the spirit and culture of entrepreneurship are ingrained in students, right at the “school” level. Specifically, in this study we examine how student entrepreneurial behavior is influenced by entrepreneurial activities at school.

Design/methodology/approach

We chose schools in India to recruit the students’ samples; 520 higher secondary school students were approached in-person to understand their entrepreneurial intentions (EI). We applied PLS-SEM to test the relationships of serial mediation.

Findings

Our findings imply that the students' entrepreneurial intentions are largely influenced by the school’s entrepreneurship program (e.g. labs, lectures and exercises). Further, we noted that school career guidance and students’ entrepreneurship attitude effectively mediate the relationship between school entrepreneurship curriculum and EI.

Practical implications

Entrepreneurship education beginning in schools does foster stronger entrepreneurial intent over the short-term. It also helps in fostering entrepreneurs, who create jobs and support in achieving the country’s desired SDGs.

Originality/value

The study contributes new dimensions to entrepreneurship research focusing on school children hence anchoring at early stages.

Peer review

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-05-2023-0350
Why moving there? Spanish SIEs: factors and motivations involved in the choice of the host destination
Authors: Blanco Maria Rita , Golik Mariela
Published: April 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the Spanish Self-Initiated Expats’ (SIEs) motivations and factors involved in the choice of the host destination.

Design/methodology/approach

Through an exploratory and qualitative study, drawing upon SIE literature on motivations and careers, 22 Spanish SIEs were interviewed in a semi-structured way.

Findings

Most SIEs clearly detailed the line of reasoning behind the host destination choice (specific destination); a second group considered a limited number of potential countries to relocate to (alternative destinations), and the smallest one did not choose a specific location. Career motivations were the most mentioned ones and different degrees of career planning were found: those with a very defined career planning process relied upon one potential destination, while those with a less defined one considered several alternative host destinations. The European Region Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students experience was one of the most mentioned factors influencing the choice of the host destination, which may be common to other European Union (EU) nationals. As to the limiting ones, the visa requirements outside the EU were identified. Other factors were particular to Spain, such as the perceived need for English proficiency for a successful global career and the degrees of career planning.

Practical implications

These findings may assist Talent Management Managers to align organizational strategies with SIEs motivations. They may also help future Spanish and European SIEs in their individual career management process.

Originality/value

This study contributes to a better understanding of the expatriation motivations and factors influencing the destination location of Spanish SIEs, adding to the SIE and global career literature.
Mercury Systems: Debt? Equity? Cash on hand?
Authors: White Susan V. , Hallows Karen
Published: April 2024

Research methodology

This case was researched using publicly available sources, including Mercury Systems financial filings and press releases, news stories about the seasoned equity offering, financial information from Bloomberg and industry information from IBISWorld Industry Reports and articles related to seasoned/secondary equity offerings, intangible asset valuation and the use of revolving lines of credit. Quotes are taken from Mercury financial reports and press releases and express the (optimistic) opinions of company executives.

Case overview/synopsis

Mercury Systems, a technology company in the aerospace and defense industry, announced a six million share seasoned stock offering in June 2019. This resulted in a 6% stock price decrease. A stock price decrease is a typical event when a firm announces the issuance of new common shares, but with Mercury Systems, there were concerns about how much money the firm needed to fund its strategy of growth through acquisitions. If internally generated funds were not sufficient, should the firm issue debt or have another seasoned equity issue? Students will look at the objectives and success of the most recent seasoned equity issue, determine future funds needs and how the firm should finance these needs.

Complexity academic level

This case is appropriate for undergraduate and graduate students in corporate finance electives. Typically, topics such as seasoned equity offerings are not covered in introductory courses, so this is recommended for finance electives. Even in advanced finance courses, sometimes there is insufficient time to cover seasoned equity offerings.
Precipitation seasonality and soil texture interact to shape dryland recovery from severe disturbance
Authors: Terry Tyson J. , Adler Peter B.
Published: April 2024

Disturbances drive large changes in plant composition and ecosystem functioning in drylands, but current understanding of how recovery following disturbance depends on the environment is limited due to challenges in analysing effects of disparate disturbances across abiotic gradients.

We combined remote sensing and field observations across 5600+ km of natural gas pipeline corridors and adjacent undisturbed vegetation to investigate how recovery from a uniform, severe disturbance varied with factors that influence water availability in drylands.

We found that recovery of net primary production (NPP) often remains incomplete, with only 42% of our sites projected to fully recover within 100 years. NPP recovery was quicker and more complete in regions that receive most of their annual precipitation at low temperatures and have fine‐textured soil; recovery of total shrub cover (median timing of 81 years) was faster on fine‐textured soils in locations that receive most of their annual precipitation at high temperatures. Locations with quick recovery of shrub cover were linked with a shift in dominant shrub species and incomplete NPP recovery.

Synthesis. Recovery of NPP and shrub cover in drylands were driven by different environmental factors. For both NPP and shrub cover, locations with high pre‐disturbance values required more time to recover to adjacent undisturbed levels than locations with low pre‐disturbance values. Quick recovery of shrub cover or productivity was generally linked with a shift in dominant plant species or functional group.
Considerations for multidisciplinary management of synchronous primary breast cancer and primary lung cancer – Analysis of thirty‐one patients
Authors: Chen Xue , Fang Yi‐fan , Yan Wan‐Pu
Published: April 2024

Background

The simultaneous (synchronous) presence of primary breast cancer and primary lung cancer diagnosed in a single individual is not an uncommon phenomenon. However, reference data for treatment strategy is scarce and “chaotic”. In the present study we discuss the management strategy for this group of patients.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed patients in the primary breast cancer database of the Breast Center and the primary lung cancer database of the Thoracic Surgery Department I of Peking University Cancer Hospital. Patients with synchronous primary breast cancer and primary lung cancer who underwent surgery between December 2010 and December 2023 were included in the study. The sequence of outpatient visits, recommendations of multidisciplinary teams, perioperative treatment, and surgical procedures were reviewed. Meanwhile, survival analysis based on propensity score matching with 1:1 ratio was performed between the 31 patients and those with lung cancer only during the same period.

Results

A total of 31 patients with synchronous primary breast cancer and primary lung cancer were identified; all of the patients were women. The average age was 61 years. A total of 24 of the patients had visited the breast center first, and routine chest computed tomography (CT) showed evidence of primary lung cancer. The other seven patients had visited the thoracic surgery clinic first, and routine positron emission tomography (PET)‐CT revealed the coexistence of primary breast cancer. All the patients had multidisciplinary team consultations, after which 20 patients were recommended to have preoperative treatment for breast cancer, two patients were recommended to have preoperative treatment for lung cancer, and nine patients were recommended to undergo surgery directly. After surgery, 23 patients received postoperative adjuvant treatment for breast cancer, and no patients needed postoperative adjuvant treatment for lung cancer. Survival analysis showed that there was no significant difference between the 31 patients and those with lung cancer only.

Conclusion

Routine chest CT is needed for breast cancer patients before surgery, and PET‐CT is required for the accurate staging of lung cancer patients. A multidisciplinary expert team should manage synchronous primary breast cancer and primary lung cancer. Emphasis should be placed on patients who need preoperative treatment before surgery. Particularly, for patients who need preoperative chemotherapy, a regimen should be chosen that balances the treatment of lung cancer and breast cancer.
Development and validation of a machine learning model for prediction of type 2 diabetes in patients with mental illness
Authors: Bernstorff Martin , Hansen Lasse , Enevoldsen Kenneth , Damgaard Jakob , Hæstrup Frida , Perfalk Erik , Danielsen Andreas Aalkjær , Østergaard Søren Dinesen
Published: April 2024

Background

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is approximately twice as common among individuals with mental illness compared with the background population, but may be prevented by early intervention on lifestyle, diet, or pharmacologically. Such prevention relies on identification of those at elevated risk (prediction). The aim of this study was to develop and validate a machine learning model for prediction of T2D among patients with mental illness.

Methods

The study was based on routine clinical data from electronic health records from the psychiatric services of the Central Denmark Region. A total of 74,880 patients with 1.59 million psychiatric service contacts were included in the analyses. We created 1343 potential predictors from 51 source variables, covering patient‐level information on demographics, diagnoses, pharmacological treatment, and laboratory results. T2D was operationalised as HbA1c ≥48 mmol/mol, fasting plasma glucose ≥7.0 mmol/mol, oral glucose tolerance test ≥11.1 mmol/mol or random plasma glucose ≥11.1 mmol/mol. Two machine learning models (XGBoost and regularised logistic regression) were trained to predict T2D based on 85% of the included contacts. The predictive performance of the best performing model was tested on the remaining 15% of the contacts.

Results

The XGBoost model detected patients at high risk 2.7 years before T2D, achieving an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.84. Of the 996 patients developing T2D in the test set, the model issued at least one positive prediction for 305 (31%).

Conclusion

A machine learning model can accurately predict development of T2D among patients with mental illness based on routine clinical data from electronic health records. A decision support system based on such a model may inform measures to prevent development of T2D in this high‐risk population.
Does exposure to polymethyl methacrylate bone cement increase the risk of surgical glove failure?
Authors: Noye Nicholas , Steadman William , Whittaker Brent , Cacioli Paul , Wall Christopher
Published: April 2024

Introduction

Surgical glove perforation has been linked to a double‐fold increased risk of surgical site infection. Infection in the context of arthroplasty can have devastating consequences. In orthopaedics, use of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) bone cement is commonplace, and the impact on glove strength and perforation risk is not fully understood. This study aimed to examine the resistance to perforation and thickness of gloves following PMMA exposure, in accordance with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standard for glove integrity.

Methods

Pairs of gloves were separated and randomly sorted into exposure and control groups. Twenty pairs of latex and 40 pairs of polyisoprene gloves were used. Exposure group glove cuffs were in contact with cement from a single surface of the glove for 13 min as cement cured. Force to perforation and glove thickness were tested in accordance with ISO guidelines.

Results

Latex gloves were found to have a significantly increased force to perforation following PMMA exposure (10.26 Newtons (N) vs. 9.81 N, P = 0.048). Both polyisoprene under‐ and over‐gloves were shown to have no significant change in strength to perforation post exposure (9.69 N vs. 9.83 N, P = 0.561, and 10.26 N vs. 10.65 N, P = 0.168, respectively). All groups were over the ISO standard minimum strength of 5 N.

Conclusions

Exposure of latex and polyisoprene surgical gloves to PMMA bone cement does not appear to increase glove perforation risk and rather may improve natural rubber latex glove strength. This study supports the use of latex and polyisoprene surgical gloves in procedures that involve the handling of PMMA bone cement.
Value and Valorisation of Space: Notes for a Debate on Critical Geography
Authors: Costa Bruno Moreira Riani
Published: April 2024

This article delves into the concept of valorisation of space, a prominent notion in Marxist geographical literature in Brazil. We critically examine this concept—stemming from a theoretical approach introduced in the 1980s during the critical renewal of Brazilian geography—by juxtaposing it with contributions from the Marxist value‐form tradition. This comparison reveals certain operational limits in the concept of valorisation of space. Nevertheless, these limitations can be overcome by more precisely defining it as a subset of practices within the broader context of space production: it can be conceptualised as a specific type of space production, occurring when space itself becomes the subject of valorisation. Furthermore, we explore the potentialities of the concept, showcasing its operationalisation through concrete examples of dynamics within the Brazilian territory.
Disrupting the social and time vacuum: A systemic and lifespan perspective on job insecurity
Authors: Debus Maike E. , Unger Dana
Published: April 2024

In their lead article, Klug et al. conceptualize job insecurity as a multilevel construct whereby individuals are situated in mesolevel and macrolevel contexts. In our article, we advocate deepening the current conceptual model with two partially intertwined perspectives. First, we suggest adding a systemic perspective at the mesolevel that considers individuals' nestedness in family and relationship systems, thus looking into how individuals' job insecurity affects close others (i.e., [romantic] partners and family members) and how close others affect individuals' experience of and reactions to job insecurity. To illustrate our propositions, we draw on the crossover model and the systemic‐transactional model of stress processes within romantic couples. Second, we suggest adding a lifespan perspective that considers biographic time as a facet of the individual level in addition to historical time on the macrolevel. In doing so, we draw on the notion of path dependence and processes related to social learning. We advocate for future research taking into account the various, intertwined levels on which job insecurity operates to fully understand job insecurity as well as its consequences and remedies.
Quantitative MRCP and metrics of bile duct disease over time in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis: A prospective study
Authors: Trivedi Palak J. , Arndtz Katherine , Abbas Nadir , Telford Alison , Young Liam , Banerjee Rajarshi , Eddowes Peter , Jhaveri Kartik S. , Hirschfield Gideon M.
Published: April 2024

Background

Imaging markers of biliary disease in primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) have potential for use in clinical and trial disease monitoring. Herein, we evaluate how quantitative magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) metrics change over time, as per the natural history of disease.

Methods

Individuals with PSC were prospectively scanned using non‐contrast MRCP. Quantitative metrics were calculated using MRCP+ post‐processing software to assess duct diameters and dilated and strictured regions. Additionally, a hepatopancreatobiliary radiologist (blinded to clinical details, biochemistry and quantitative biliary metrics) reported each scan, including ductal disease assessment according to the modified Amsterdam Cholangiographic Score (MAS).

Results

At baseline, 14 quantitative MRCP+ metrics were found to be significantly different in patients with PSC (N = 55) compared to those with primary biliary cholangitis (N = 55), autoimmune hepatitis (N = 57) and healthy controls (N = 18). In PSC specifically, baseline metrics quantifying the number of strictures and the number and length of bile ducts correlated with the MAS, transient elastography and serum ALP values (p < 0.01 for all correlations). Over a median 371‐day follow‐up (range: 364–462), 29 patients with PSC underwent repeat MRCP, of whom 15 exhibited quantitative changes in MRCP+ metrics. Compared to baseline, quantitative MRCP+ identified an increasing number of strictures over time (p < 0.05). Comparatively, no significant differences in biochemistry, elastography or the MAS were observed between timepoints. Quantitative MRCP+ metrics remained stable in non‐PSC liver disease.

Conclusion

Quantitative MRCP+ identifies changes in ductal disease over time in PSC, despite stability in biochemistry, liver stiffness and radiologist‐derived cholangiographic assessment (trial registration: ISRCTN39463479).
Decadal vegetation changes in a subarctic‐alpine ecosystem: Can effects of Iceland's largest hydropower reservoir, climate change, and herbivory be detected?
Authors: Óskarsdóttir Guðrún , Ágústsdóttir Kristín , Thórisson Skarphéðinn G. , Guðmundsdóttir Gerður , Jónsdóttir Guðrún Áslaug
Published: April 2024

Aims

While plot‐based vegetation surveys provide means to precisely track changes in plant species abundance and distribution, ecosystems are continuously influenced by numerous drivers, confounding interpretation of monitoring results. Following the making of Iceland's largest hydropower reservoir in 2006, a decadal vegetation monitoring was set up. Relating our results to those of different types of environmental monitoring associated with the hydropower project, we aimed to gain insights into the forces driving the spatio‐temporal vegetation pattern.

Location

Subarctic‐alpine area near Hálslón reservoir, East Iceland.

Methods

At the time of its making, we conducted a baseline plant survey in a total of 72 plots, spread around Hálslón reservoir's vicinity (each containing ten 0.25 m2subplots). Plots were located in three different habitat types (heathlands, wetlands, poorly vegetated land), at three different sites regarding direction and distance from the reservoir. A decade later, we resurveyed the plots and reviewed the results of other environmental monitoring projects in the area, mostly presented in the gray literature.

Results

Temporal changes in vegetation were mostly inconsistent between and within habitat types, but some general trends were noticed, that is, decreased lichen and fern cover in heathlands. Distance from the reservoir did not significantly affect changes in vegetation cover. The greatest overall changes were detected where great changes in herbivore land usage had been recorded during the study.

Conclusions

Direct effects of Hálslón reservoir on vegetation in our study plots were not noticed. Most likely, the reservoir indirectly impacted vegetation in our study through loss of grazing area, affecting herbivore land usage, coupled with an unrelated population growth of two of the area's main wild herbivores before and during the study period. Response to climate change was not detected, potentially concealed by substantial land‐use change and a short study period.
Development and validation of the employer anti‐unionism scale based on data from US workers
Authors: Zientara Piotr , Adamska‐Mieruszewska Joanna , Bąk Monika
Published: April 2024

Labour union organizing has experienced a resurgence of interest in the United States. However, a series of unionization drives have spotlighted the hostility of employers toward unionization. Despite numerous studies examining employer anti‐unionism from a qualitative perspective, a significant gap remains as there is currently no available instrument to quantitatively measure this phenomenon. This study, therefore, develops and validates a scale that measures employee perceptions of employer anti‐unionism. Based on data gleaned from US workers (N = 55, N = 200, N = 225, N = 250 and N = 158) at two points in time, it follows a multi‐step scale development procedure. The 10‐item unidimensional scale, which provides a micro‐level snapshot of workplace realities, is characterized by internal consistency and composite reliability, as well as indicates face, content and construct validity. The study also confirmed the instrument's predictive and nomological validity. The results indicate that there was a negative relationship between employer anti‐unionism and organizational identification, and that attitudes toward unions moderated this relationship. We also found that employer anti‐unionism was negatively associated with workers’ job satisfaction, intention to quit and positively with intention to join unions. The study concludes by discussing its theoretical contributions and practical implications.
Development and validation of a radiosensitivity model to evaluate radiotherapy benefits in pan‐cancer
Authors: Yang Qi , Zhou Xinyi , Fang Jianbo , Lin Anqi , Zhang Hongman , Cheng Quan , Liu Zaoqu , Luo Peng , Zhang Jian
Published: April 2024

Radiotherapy, one of the most fundamental cancer treatments, is confronted with the dilemma of treatment failure due to radioresistance. To predict the radiosensitivity and improve tumor treatment efficiency in pan‐cancer, we developed a model called Radiation Intrinsic Sensitivity Evaluation (RISE). The RISE model was built using cell line‐based mRNA sequencing data from five tumor types with varying radiation sensitivity. Through four cell‐derived datasets, two public tissue‐derived cohorts, and one local cohort of 42 nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients, we demonstrated that RISE could effectively predict the level of radiation sensitivity (area under the ROC curve [AUC] from 0.666 to 1 across different datasets). After the verification by the colony formation assay and flow cytometric analysis of apoptosis, our four well‐established radioresistant cell models successfully proved higher RISE values in radioresistant cells by RT‐qPCR experiments. We also explored the prognostic value of RISE in five independent TCGA cohorts consisting of 1137 patients who received radiation therapy and found that RISE was an independent adverse prognostic factor (pooled multivariate Cox regression hazard ratio [HR]: 1.84, 95% CI 1.39–2.42; p < 0.01). RISE showed a promising ability to evaluate the radiotherapy benefit while predicting the prognosis of cancer patients, enabling clinicians to make individualized radiotherapy strategies in the future and improve the success rate of radiotherapy.
Effects of perceptions of forest change and intergroup competition on community‐based conservation behaviors
Authors: Clark Matt , Hamad Haji Masoud , Andrews Jeffrey , Hillis Vicken , Mulder Monique Borgerhoff
Published: April 2024

Approximately one quarter of the earth's population directly harvests natural resources to meet their daily needs. These individuals are disproportionately required to alter their behaviors in response to increasing climatic variability and global biodiversity loss. Much of the ever‐ambitious global conservation agenda relies on the voluntary uptake of conservation behaviors in such populations. Thus, it is critical to understand how such individuals perceive environmental change and use conservation practices as a tool to protect their well‐being. We developed a participatory mapping activity to elicit spatially explicit perceptions of forest change and its drivers across 43 mangrove‐dependent communities in Pemba, Tanzania. We administered this activity along with a questionnaire regarding conservation preferences and behaviors to 423 individuals across those 43 communities. We analyzed these data with a set of Bayesian hierarchical statistical models. Perceived cover loss in 50% of a community's mangrove area drove individuals to decrease proposed limits on fuelwood bundles from 2.74 (forest perceived as intact) to 2.37 if participants believed resultant gains in mangrove cover would not be stolen by outsiders. Conversely, individuals who believed their community mangrove forests were at high risk of theft loosened their proposed harvest limits from 1.26 to 2.75 bundles of fuelwood in response to the same perceived forest decline. High rates of intergroup competition and mangrove loss were thus driving a self‐reinforcing increase in unsustainable harvesting preferences in community forests in this system. This finding demonstrates a mechanism by which increasing environmental decline may cause communities to forgo conservation practices, rather than adopt them, as is often assumed in much community‐based conservation planning. However, we also found that when effective boundaries were present, individuals were willing to limit their own harvests to stem such perceived decline.
Mining threats in high‐level biodiversity conservation policies
Authors: Torres Aurora , zu Ermgassen Sophus O. S. E. , Navarro Laetitia M. , Ferri‐Yanez Francisco , Teixeira Fernanda Z. , Wittkopp Constanze , Rosa Isabel M. D. , Liu Jianguo
Published: April 2024

Amid a global infrastructure boom, there is increasing recognition of the ecological impacts of the extraction and consumption of construction minerals, mainly processed as concrete, including significant and expanding threats to global biodiversity. We investigated how high‐level national and international biodiversity conservation policies address mining threats, with a special focus on construction minerals. We conducted a review and quantified the degree to which threats from mining these minerals are addressed in biodiversity goals and targets under the 2011–2020 and post‐2020 biodiversity strategies, national biodiversity strategies and action plans, and the assessments of the Intergovernmental Science–Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. Mining appeared rarely in national targets but more frequently in national strategies. Yet, in most countries, it was superficially addressed. Coverage of aggregates mining was greater than coverage of limestone mining. We outline 8 key components, tailored for a wide range of actors, to effectively mainstream biodiversity conservation into the extractive, infrastructure, and construction sectors. Actions include improving reporting and monitoring systems, enhancing the evidence base around mining impacts on biodiversity, and modifying the behavior of financial agents and businesses. Implementing these measures could pave the way for a more sustainable approach to construction mineral use and safeguard biodiversity.
Wenn es kein Angioödem ist, was dann? Diagnostisches Vorgehen bei Gesichtsödemen
Authors: Velasco‐Amador Juan Pablo , Prados‐Carmona Álvaro , Navarro‐Triviño Francisco José
Published: April 2024

Gesichtsödeme sind ein relativ häufiges Symptom bei Patienten allergologischer und dermatologischer Kliniken. Die Differentialdiagnose ist breit gefächert und die endgültige Diagnose kann manchmal eine Herausforderung für den Kliniker sein. Das faziale Angioödem selbst umfasst verschiedene Ätiopathologien (histaminerg, bradykinininduziert und weitere), die von anderen Ursachen des Gesichtsödems differenziert werden sollten, etwa allergischer Kontaktdermatitis, granulomatösen Erkrankungen, inflammatorischen Ursachen, Infektionen, Neoplasmen oder paraneoplastischen Syndromen, Autoimmunerkrankungen und anderen Entitäten, die hier als „Sonstige“ bezeichnet werden. Um die richtigen Untersuchungen anzuordnen und eine gezielte Therapie zu verordnen, ist ein angemessener diagnostischer Ansatz ausschlaggebend. Diese Übersicht konzentriert sich auf Entitäten, die mit Gesichtsödem einhergehen, und fasst ihre klinischen Charakteristika zusammen.