bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Helicity of a tardigrade disordered protein promotes desiccation tolerance
Authors: Biswas Sourav , Gollub Edith , Yu Feng , Ginell Garrett , Holehouse Alex , Sukenik Shahar , Boothby Thomas C.
Published: July 2023

In order to survive extreme drying (anhydrobiosis), many organisms, spanning every kingdom of life, accumulate intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs). For decades, the ability of anhydrobiosis-related IDPs to form transient amphipathic helices has been suggested to be important for promoting desiccation tolerance. However, evidence empirically supporting the necessity and/or sufficiency of helicity in mediating anhydrobiosis is lacking. Here we demonstrate that the linker region of CAHS D, a desiccation-related IDP from tardigrades that contains significant helical structure, is the protective portion of this protein. Perturbing the sequence composition and grammar of the linker region of CAHS D, through the insertion of helix-breaking prolines, modulating the identity of charged residues, sequence scrambling, or replacement of hydrophobic amino acids with serine or glycine residues results in variants with different degrees of helical structure. Importantly, the resulting helicity of these variants generated through similar helix breaking modalities correlates strongly with their ability to promote desiccation tolerance, providing direct evidence that helical structure is necessary for robust protection conferred by this desiccation-related IDP. However, correlation of protective capacity and helical content in variants generated through different helix perturbing modalities do not show as strong a trend, suggesting that while helicity is important it is not the only property that makes a protein protective during desiccation. These results provide direct evidence for the decades old theory that helicity of desiccation-related IDPs is linked to their anhydrobiotic capacity.
Allelic variation in the wheat homolog of topoisomeraseIIis associated with crossover rate
Authors: Jordan Katherine W. , Fernandez-de Soto Monica , Korol Abraham , Akhunova Alina , Akhunov Eduard
Published: July 2023

Meiotic recombination is a fundamental biological process that impacts genetic diversity and response of variants to selection. The increase in crossover (CO) frequency by modulating the activity of meiotic genes has been suggested as potential means to improve the efficiency of selection and mitigate the negative impact of linkage drag in crop improvement programs. In this study, we used the wheat nested association mapping (NAM) population to map QTL associated with CO rate and harboringTaTOPII-A1, a gene encoding topoisomerase II that is involved in the regulation of meiosis. An amino acid changing SNP (T/C) located in exon 19 ofTaTOPII-A1with a predicted functional effect showed an association with CO rate. The T-allele ofTaTOPII-A1was associated with a statistically significant 5.9 % increase in COs across several NAM families. The involvement ofTaTOPII-A1in processes affecting CO rate in wheat was confirmed using aTaTOPII-A1mutant. A strong-effect missense mutation in theTaTOPII-A1coding region resulted in 1.4-fold increase in the genetic map length and 53% increase in CO rate compared to the wild-type allele. These results demonstrate that functional mutations inTaTOPII-A1can lead to increased CO frequency. The mutant and natural alleles ofTaTOPII-A1identified in our study could serve as new sources of recombination-promoting genes to manipulate CO rate in wheat and possibly other crops.
Functional Protein Dynamics in a Crystal
Authors: Klyshko Eugene , Kim Justin Sung-Ho , McGough Lauren , Valeeva Victoria , Lee Ethan , Ranganathan Rama , Rauscher Sarah
Published: July 2023

Proteins are molecular machines and to understand how they work, we need to understand how they move. New pump-probe time-resolved X-ray diffraction methods open up ways to initiate and observe protein motions with atomistic detail in crystals on biologically relevant timescales. However, practical limitations of these experiments demands parallel development of effective molecular dynamics approaches to accelerate progress and extract meaning. Here, we establish robust and accurate methods for simulating dynamics in protein crystals, a nontrivial process requiring careful attention to equilibration, environmental composition, and choice of force fields. With more than seven milliseconds of sampling of a single chain, we identify critical factors controlling agreement between simulation and experiments and show that simulated motions recapitulate ligand-induced conformational changes. This work enables a virtuous cycle between simulation and experiments for visualizing and understanding the basic functional motions of proteins.
Massive RNA editing in ascetosporean mitochondria
Authors: Yabuki Akinori , Fujii Chihaya , Yazaki Euki , Tame Akihiro , Mizuno Keiko , Obayashi Yumiko , Takao Yoshitake
Published: July 2023

Ascetosporeans are parasitic protists of invertebrates. As only two species of Mikrocytida, an ascetosporean subgroup, have ever been sequenced deeply and analyzed using cells isolated from infected organisms, it was shown that their mitochondria are functionally reduced and the organellar genome is lacking. However, molecular studies on other ascetosporeans have not been conducted, and whether reduced mitochondria is common in ascetosporeans remains unclear. In the present study, we established two cultures of Paradinida, another ascetosporean subgroup, and reconstructed their mitochondrial genomes. As they were compared with their RNA-seq data, massive A-to-I and C-to-U types of RNA editing were detected. Many editing sites are shared between two paradinids, but strain-unique sites also exist. As the mitochondrial genes are involved in the electron transfer system, their mitochondria are not functionally reduced, unlike that in Mikrocytida. Furthermore, we detected adenosine deaminase acting on RNA (ADAR), which is a key enzyme of A-to-I substitution, in paradinids as well as several other protists. Immunostaining showed that this ADAR is specifically localized in the mitochondria of paradinids, suggesting that A-to-I substitution in paradinid mitochondria is mediated by ADAR. These findings elucidated the functional diversity and evolutionary process of ascetosporean mitochondria as well as ADAR.
Neuropathic pain has sex-specific effects on oxycodone seeking and drug-seeking ensembles in the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex
Authors: Sarka Bailey C. , Liu Shuai , Banerjee Anjishnu , Stucky Cheryl L. , Liu Qing-song , Olsen Christopher M.
Published: July 2023

Approximately 50 million Americans suffer from chronic pain, and opioids are commonly prescribed for such individuals. Unfortunately, nearly a quarter of chronic pain patients have reported misusing their prescription. We are investigating the effect of chronic pain on drug-seeking behavior at the neuronal level. Repeated drug-seeking is associated with reactivation of an ensemble of neurons sparsely scattered throughout the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC). Prior research has demonstrated that chronic pain increases intrinsic excitability of dmPFC neurons, which may increase the likelihood of reactivation during drug seeking. We tested the hypothesis that chronic pain would increase oxycodone seeking behavior, and that the pain state would differentially increase intrinsic excitability in dmPFC drug seeking ensemble neurons. TetTag mice self-administered intravenous oxycodone. After 7 days of forced abstinence, a drug seeking session (extinction conditions) was performed and the ensemble was tagged. Mice received spared nerve injury (SNI) to induce chronic pain during the period between a first and second seeking session, and we measured persistence of seeking between the two sessions to determine if the SNI exacerbated seeking. Following the second seeking session we performed electrophysiology on individual neurons within the dmPFC to assess intrinsic excitability of the drug-seeking ensemble and non-ensemble neurons. We found significant sex differences in the effect of SNI on oxycodone seeking and electrophysiology, such that the induction of chronic pain could modulate seeking behavior in mice that have previously self-administered oxycodone prior to injury.

Highlights

Oxycodone seeking was higher in females following SNI that cameafterthe 10-day SA timeline.

An increase in intrinsic excitability was detected among non-ensemble neurons from female mice that received SNI, and this correlated with an increase in seeking behavior.
Calcimycin mediates apoptosis in Breast and Cervical cancer cells by inducing intracellular calcium levels in a P2RX4-dependent manner
Authors: Neha  , Ranjan Prashant , Das Parimal
Published: July 2023

Calcimycin (A23187) is a polyether antibiotic and divalent cation ionophore, extracted fromStreptomyces chartrecensis. With wide variety of antimicrobial activities, it also exhibits cytotoxicity of tumor cells. Calcimycin exhibit therapeutic potential against tumor cell growth; however, the molecular mechanism remains to be fully elucidated. Present study explores the mechanism of calcimycin-induced apoptosis cancer cell lines. Calcimycin induces apoptosis accompanied by increased intracellular calcium-level and increased expression of purinergic receptor-P2RX4, a ligand-gated ion channel. The percentage of apoptotic cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner quickly rose as recorded with MTT assays, Phase contrast imaging, wound healing assay, fluorescence imaging by DAPI and AO/EB staining and FACS. Mitochondrial potential was analyzed by TMRM assay as Ca2+signaling is well known to be influenced and synchronized by mitochondria also. Calcimycin treatment tends to increase the intracellular calcium level, mRNA expression of ATP receptor P2RX4, and phosphorylation of p38. Blocking of either intracellular calcium by BAPTA-AM, P2RX4 expression by antagonist 5-BDBD, and phospho-p38 by SB203580, abrogated the apoptotic activity of calcimycin. Taken together, these results show that calcimycin induces apoptosis in P2RX4 dependent ATP mediated intracellular Ca2+and p38 MAPK mediated pathway in both the cancer cell lines.
The magnitude and time course of pre-saccadic foveal prediction depend on the conspicuity of the saccade target
Authors: Kroell Lisa M. , Rolfs Martin
Published: July 2023

We previously demonstrated that during the preparation of a large-scale saccadic eye movement, defining features of the eye movement target (i.e., its orientation) are anticipated in pre-saccadic foveal vision (Kroell & Rolfs, 2022). In this Research Advance, we show that the conspicuity of orientation information at the saccade target location influences the magnitude and time course of foveal enhancement. As in our previous study, observers prepared a saccade to a peripheral orientation signal (the target) while monitoring the appearance of a second orientation signal (the probe) in their pre-saccadic center of gaze. The probe appeared in 50% of trials and either had the same orientation as the target (congruent) or a different orientation (incongruent). In the current study, we manipulated the opacity of the target against the 1/f background noise in four logarithmic steps from 25% to 90%. An increase in opacity translated to an increase in luminance contrast and the signal-to-noise ratio of orientation information within the target region. We made three main observations: First, foveal Hit Rates for target-congruentandincongruent probes decreased as target opacity increased, presumably since attention was increasingly drawn to the target the more salient it became. Crucially, foveal enhancement defined as the difference between congruent and incongruent Hit Rates increased with opacity. Second, the time course of foveal enhancement showed an oscillatory pattern that was particularly pronounced at higher target opacities. Third, unlike the difference in Hit Rates, the difference in False Alarm Rates did not vary with opacity. Instead, reverse correlations suggest that at higher target opacities, False Alarms were increasingly triggered by signal, that is, by incidental orientation information in the foveal noise. Beyond providing new mechanistic insights into active foveal processing, these findings are relevant for researchers planning to adapt our paradigm to study related questions. Presenting the saccade target at a high signal-to-noise ratio appears beneficial as congruency effects, especially when time-resolved, are most robustly detectable.
Spontaneous breaking of symmetry in overlapping cell instance segmentation using diffusion models
Authors: Kirkegaard Julius B.
Published: July 2023

Instance segmentation is the task of assigning unique identifiers to individual objects in images. Solving this task requires breaking the inherent symmetry that semantically similar objects must result in distinct outputs. Deep learning algorithms bypass this break-of-symmetry by training specialized predictors or by utilizing intermediate label representations. However, many of these approaches break down when faced with overlapping labels that can appear, e.g., in biological cell layers. Here, we discuss the reason for this failure and offer a novel approach for instance segmentation based on diffusion models that breaks this symmetry spontaneously. Our method outputs pixel-level instance segmentations matching the performance of models such as cellpose on the cellpose fluorescent cell dataset while also permitting overlapping labels.
Non-decameric NLRP3 forms an MTOC-independent inflammasome
Authors: Mateo-Tórtola María , Hochheiser Inga V. , Grga Jelena , Mueller Jana S. , Geyer Matthias , Weber Alexander N.R. , Tapia-Abellán Ana
Published: July 2023

NLRP3 is an inflammasome-forming protein that plays a key role in conditions ranging from infections to Alzheimer’s disease. NLRP3 is activated by many potassium (K+)-dependent or - independent stimuli related to pathogens or sterile insults. Molecularly, human NLRP3 assembles into a decameric ‘cage’ and its interaction with both the trans-Golgi network (TGN) and the microtubule organization centre (MTOC) has been proposed as critical for NLRP3 activation. However, the relative mechanistic requirement for K+-dependent versus - independent stimuli is unclear. Using spatially and dynamically high-resolution microscopy in human macrophages, we found that K+-dependent NLRP3 stimulation triggers two distinct activation pathways: (i) the decameric cage-dependent pathway, which was also exclusively required for the K+-independent stimulus, imiquimod; and (ii) a cage- and TGN/MTOC-independent pathway that was fully functional in an NLRP3 protein engineered to form monomers and unable to interact with membrane lipids. Collectively, our results delineate two parallel yet biologically distinct NLRP3 activation pathways.
GENETIC SCREENING OF HALOTHANE GENE ON SELECTED PHILIPPINE NATIVE PIG HERDS
Authors: Matias Sherwin , Gajeton Maureen , Flores Ester
Published: July 2023

Establishment of nucleus herds (NHs) of Native Pigs (NPs) at various R&D stations in the Philippines is currently being undertaken for food security and genetic conservation. Marker-assisted selection (MAS) is being utilized to identify individuals carrying favorable alleles of genes associated with production traits and screen-out genetic defects (GD) for breeding purposes. Porcine Stress Syndrome (PSS) caused by a mutation in Halothane (HAL) gene is a GD frequently found in commercial breeds that when expressed, causes pale, soft, exudative (PSE) meat. PSE is inferior quality meat undesirable in the market causing economic loss to the swine industry. Thus, this study was conducted to screen HAL gene using mutagenically separated-polymerase chain reaction (MS-PCR) in selected NP herds and assessed its repeatability in local breeds. Results showed that out of 577 screened individuals, 543 (94.11%) were normal (NN), 0 (0%) were homozygous mutant (nn) and 34 (5.89%) were heterozygous carriers (Nn). Therefore, the optimized PSS screening protocol using MSPCR is also applicable to local breed as described in the previous study. As such the availability of genetic test for PSS could be useful in improving the breeding selection and elimination of PSS mutant in the nucleus herd of Philippine Native Pig.
TNF and type I IFN induction of the IRG1-itaconate pathway restrictsCoxiella burnetiireplication within mouse macrophages
Authors: Boyer Mark A. , Lopes Fischer Natasha , Shin Sunny
Published: July 2023

The intracellular Gram-negative bacteriumCoxiella burnetiireplicates within macrophages and causes a zoonotic disease known as Q fever. In murine macrophages, the cytokine tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is critical for restriction of intracellularC. burnetiireplication. Here, we show that TNF collaborates with type I interferon (IFN) signaling for maximal control ofC. burnetii. We found that TNF and type I IFN upregulate the expression of the metabolic enzyme immune responsive gene 1 (IRG1), also known as cis-aconitate decarboxylase 1 (ACOD1), and that IRG1 is required to restrictC. burnetiiT4SS translocation and replication within macrophages. Further, we show that itaconic acid, the metabolic product of IRG1, restrictsC. burnetiireplication both intracellularly and in axenic culture. These data reveal that TNF and type I IFN upregulate the IRG1-itaconate pathway to restrict intracellularC.burnetiireplication within murine macrophages.
Space use of invertebrates in terrestrial habitats: phylogenetic, functional and environmental drivers of interspecific variations
Authors: Auger Gwenaëlle , Pottier Julien , Mathieu Jérôme , Jabot Franck
Published: July 2023

Aim

We present the first global database of movement patterns of terrestrial invertebrates, focusing on active dispersal and foraging movements. We depict interspecific variations in movement distances among invertebrates, and assess potential drivers of these variations.

Location

Worldwide.

Methods

We conducted a meta-analysis using 174 studies from the scientific literature. They provided 401 movement estimates (163 of foraging and 238 of dispersal) from 216 species, 82 families and 22 orders, complemented by the following co-variables: body mass, diet, locomotion mode, tracking method and environmental variables (gross primary productivity and mean temperature of the warmest quarter of the year). We computed allometric relationships between movement distances and body mass both globally and separately for each taxonomic order with sufficient data. We tested the relative influence of the co-variables on movement distances through model selection.

Results

We reveal a general positive allometric relationship between movement distance and body mass that holds across most taxonomic orders. We evidence a strong phylogenetic signal in movement distances that translates in variable allometries of movement distances with body mass across taxonomic orders. We further find that interspecific variations of movement distances are primarily driven by functional differences rather than by environmental conditions. Locomotion mode appears to be the most important driver of both dispersal and foraging distances, with larger distances among flying individuals followed by walking and crawling ones for a given body mass. Trophic guild also significantly impacted movement distances with carnivores foraging further than herbivores and decomposers for most body sizes. We finally found little effect of the environmental variables tested.

Main conclusions

Our study provides general allometric equations for terrestrial movement distances of invertebrates. It further reveals important functional drivers of their interspecific variation in space use with a dominant role of their evolutionary history.
Manipulation of Bacterial ROS Production Leads to Self-escalating DNA Damage and Resistance-resistant Lethality for Intracellular Mycobacteria
Authors: Song Junfeng , Wang Mengmeng , Tao Huanyu , Yang Anming , Zhu Zhaohong , Bai Silei , Luo Miaomiao , Xu Junpeng , Liu Xueke , Sun Yicheng , Hu Peilei , Wong Wing-Leung , Li Feng , Chen Yongheng , Cai Qingyun , Liu Hongke , Huang Sheng-You , Su Zhi , Feng Xinxin
Published: July 2023

The high prevalence of drug resistance in mycobacteria calls for antimicrobial mechanisms that suppresses the development of resistance. As a structurally conserved multi-site bio-macromolecule, DNA is presumed to be an ideal candidate for such resistance-resistant drug target. However, survey of marketed and investigational DNA interactors indicates that they are not immune to resistance development. Here, we report our strategy to achieve real resistance-resistant DNA targeting by incurring “catastrophic” DNA damage with an organoruthenium-natural product hybrid. The dual-mode DNA damage, in the form of strong tri-valent binding and concomitant oxidative modification, is achieved by manipulating of bacteria’s native endogenous ROS production mechanism upon lethal stress (such as DNA binding). Such self-escalating DNA damage, together with precise targeting of intracellular bacteria via vacuole fusion, thus endows the hybrid’s resistance-resistant lethality against mycobacteria andin vivoefficacy in animal models.
Bifunctional small molecules that induce nuclear localization and targeted transcriptional regulation
Authors: Gibson William J. , Sadagopan Ananthan , Shoba Veronika M. , Choudhary Amit , Meyerson Matthew , Schreiber Stuart L.
Published: July 2023

The aberrant localization of proteins in cells is a key factor in the development of various diseases, including cancer and neurodegenerative disease. To better understand and potentially manipulate protein localization for therapeutic purposes, we engineered bifunctional compounds that bind to proteins in separate cellular compartments. We show these compounds induce nuclear import of cytosolic cargoes, using nuclear-localized BRD4 as a “carrier” for co-import and nuclear trapping of cytosolic proteins. We use this system to calculate kinetic constants for passive diffusion across the nuclear pore and demonstrate single-cell heterogeneity in response to these bifunctional molecules, with cells requiring high carrier to cargo expression for complete import. We also observe incorporation of cargoes into BRD4-containing condensates. Proteins shown to be substrates for nuclear transport include oncogenic mutant nucleophosmin (NPM1c) and mutant PI3K catalytic subunit alpha (PIK3CAE545K), suggesting potential applications to cancer treatment. In addition, we demonstrate that chemical-induced localization of BRD4 to cytosolic-localized DNA-binding proteins, namely, IRF1 with a nuclear export signal, induces target gene expression. These results suggest that induced localization of proteins with bifunctional molecules enables the rewiring of cell circuitry with significant implications for disease therapy.
Assessing the validity of the zero-velocity update method for sprinting speeds
Authors: Aristizábal Pla Gerard , Martini Douglas N. , Potter Michael , Hoogkamer Wouter
Published: July 2023

The zero-velocity update (ZUPT) method has become a popular approach to estimate foot kinematics from foot worn inertial measurement units (IMUs) during walking and running. However, the accuracy of the ZUPT method for stride parameters at sprinting speeds remains unknown, specifically when using sensors with characteristics well suited for sprinting (i.e., high accelerometer and gyroscope ranges and sampling rates). Seventeen participants performed 70-meter track sprints while wearing a Blue Trident IMeasureU IMU. Two cameras, at 20 and 70 meters from the start, were used to validate the ZUPT method on a stride-by-stride and on a cumulative distance basis. In particular, the validity of the ZUPT method was assessed for: (1) estimating a single stride length attained at the end of a 70m sprint (i.e., stride at 70m); (2) estimating cumulative distance from ∼20 to ∼70 m; and (3) estimating total distance traveled for a 70-meter track sprint. Individual stride length errors at the 70-meter mark were within - 6% to 3%, with a bias of -0.27%. Cumulative distance errors were within -4 to 2%, with biases ranging from -0.85 to -1.22%. The results of this study demonstrate the ZUPT method provides accurate estimates of stride length and cumulative distance traveled for sprinting speeds.
SEM2: A computational framework to model multiscale mechanics with subcellular elements
Authors: Chattaraj Sandipan , Torre Michele , Kalcher Constanze , Stukowski Alexander , Morganti Simone , Reali Alessandro , Pasqualini Francesco Silvio
Published: July 2023

Modeling multiscale mechanics in shape-shifting biological tissues in embryos, traditional, or engineered cell culture platforms (organoids, organs-on-chips) is both important and challenging. In fact, it is difficult to model relevant tissue-level structural changes mediated by discrete events at the cellular and subcellular levels, such as migration and proliferation. To accomplish this, we leveraged the subcellular element modeling (SEM) method, where ensembles of coarse-grained particles interacting via empirically defined potentials are used to model individual cells while preserving cell rheology. However, an explicit treatment of multiscale mechanics in SEM was missing. Here, we introduced SEM2, an extended version of the open-source software SEM++ and LAMMPS, enabling new analyses and visualization of particle-level stress and strain. We demonstrated various functionalities of SEM2by simulating cell creep, migration, and proliferation in scenarios that recapitulate classical and engineered cell culture platforms. For every scenario, we highlight key mechanobiology that emerges spontaneously from particle interactions and discuss recent experimental evidence as qualitative validations of our simulations. The code for SEM2 is available on GitHub athttps://github.com/Synthetic-Physiology-Lab/sem2.
Optimizing CRE and PhiC31 mediated recombination inAedes aegypti
Authors: Paladino Leonela Z Carabajal , Wilson Ray , Tng Priscilla YL , Dhokiya Vishaal , Keen Elizabeth , Cuber Piotr , Larner Will , Rooney Sara , Nicholls Melanie , Uglow Anastasia , Williams Luke , Anderson Michelle AE , Basu Sanjay , Leftwich Philip T. , Alphey Luke
Published: July 2023

Genetic manipulation ofAedes aegyptiis key to developing a deeper understanding of this insects’ biology, vector-virus interactions and makes future genetic control strategies possible. Despite some advances, this process remains laborious and requires highly skilled researchers and specialist equipment. Here we present two improved methods for genetic manipulation in this species. Use of transgenic lines which express Cre recombinase allowed, by simple crossing schemes, germline or somatic recombination of transgenes, which could be utilized for numerous genetic manipulations. PhiC31 integrase based methods for site-specific integration of genetic elements was also improved, by developing a plasmid which expresses PhiC31 when injected into early embryos, eliminating the need to use costly and unstable mRNA as is the current standard.
How information affects consumers' attitudes toward and willingness to pay for cultured meat: evidence from Chinese urban consumers
Authors: Chen Juhui , Zhang Meng , Bai Junfei
Published: July 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess the impact of providing information on Chinese consumers' attitudes toward and willingness to pay (WTP) for cultured meat, and to further focus on the heterogeneous effect of prior awareness.

Design/methodology/approach

The data were collected by interviewing 1,004 consumers through a face-to-face survey conducted in 2019. Repeated measures ANOVA, ordinary least squares and maximum likelihood estimation were employed for data analysis.

Findings

Whether consumers have heard of cultured meat before is not an important determinant for their attitude, but whether they know it well is. Consumers' attitudes and WTP all improved after the provision of information, but knowledgeable consumers' attitudes were less influenced by information than those without prior knowledge. Unlike attitude, prior awareness does not affect the effect of information on WTP.

Originality/value

Despite extensive studies on the impact of information on the acceptance of cultured meat, few have analyzed the heterogeneous effect of prior awareness. In the research on prior awareness of cultured meat, firstly, no consistent conclusions about the effect of prior awareness on attitude; secondly, previous studies only considered heterogeneous effects of prior awareness on attitude toward cultured meat, while ignored WTP. This paper provides new insights in these areas. Further, this paper provides the first evidence on the heterogeneous impact of prior awareness in developing countries; most previous research has focused on consumers in developed countries.
Versatile response of a Sutterby nanofluid under activation energy: hyperthermia therapy
Authors: Abdelsalam Sara I. , Magesh A. , Tamizharasi P. , Zaher A.Z.
Published: July 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the behavior of a non-Newtonian nanofluid caused by peristaltic waves along an asymmetric channel. Additionally considered is the production of thermal radiation and activation energy.

Design/methodology/approach

The equations of momentum, mass and temperature of Sutterby nanofluids are obtained for long wavelength. By taking into account the velocity, temperature and concentration, the formulation is further finished.

Findings

Analyses of the physical variables influencing flow features are represented graphically. The present investigation shows that an enhancement in the temperature ratio parameter results in an increase in both the temperature and concentration. The investigation also shows that the dimensionless reaction rate significantly raises the kinetic energy of the reactant, which permits more particle collisions and as a result, raises the temperature field.

Originality/value

Due to their importance in the treatment of cancer, activation energy and thermal radiation as a route of heat transfer are crucial and exciting phenomena for researchers. So, the cancer cells are killed, and tumors are reduced in size with heat and making hyperthermia therapy a cutting-edge cancer treatment.
Predicting non-violent work behaviour among employees using machine learning techniques
Authors: Lata Kusum , Garg Naval
Published: July 2023

Purpose

This study aims to develop a model to predict non-violent work behaviour (NVWB) among employees using machine learning techniques.

Design/methodology/approach

Four machine learning techniques (Naïve Bayes, decision tree, logistic regression and ensemble learning) were used to develop a prediction model for NVWB of employees. Also, 10-fold cross-validation method was used to validate the NVWB prediction models. The confusion matrix is used to derive various performance matrices to express the predictive capability of NVWB models quantitatively.

Findings

The model developed using random forest technique was identified as best NVWB prediction model, as it resulted in highest true positive rate and true negative rate, thereby resulting in the highest geometric mean, balance and area under receiver operator characteristics curve.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is one of the pioneer studies that used machine learning techniques to develop a predictive model of NVBW.
An exploration of drivers of livelihoods of documented but low-skilled return migrant workers in Vietnam during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis
Authors: Nguyen Thi Ngoc Thanh
Published: July 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the determinants of the livelihoods of return migrant workers in Vietnam. The findings will help authorities updating their regulations on migration, thus grasping the economic benefit from documented but low-skilled return migrant workers.

Design/methodology/approach

The sample is collected when the COVID-19 pandemic hit the Vietnamese economy severely. The author considers six issues of income and employment, including total income, stable income, financial pressure experiences, unemployment, stable job and time to find a job. For this purpose, through a pre-structured questionnaire, the primary data is collected from 258 Vietnamese return migrant workers in various foreign countries. Notably, all respondents in the sample are documented but low-skilled return migrant workers. The author uses various empirical regression analyses to conclude that personal traits, family characteristics and their characteristics before and after migration play a critical role in determining the livelihood of migrants returning to Vietnam.

Findings

The author finds that personal traits, family characteristics and their characteristics before and after migration play a critical role in determining the livelihood of migrants returning to Vietnam.

Practical implications

The findings are critical for Vietnamese authorities in finalizing and updating their regulations on migration, thus grasping the economic benefit from documented but low-skilled return migrant workers.

Originality/value

To the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the first study to exploit the drivers of the livelihoods of return migrants in Vietnam, a rich, two-wave panel survey of respondents in Vietnam aimed at characterizing the history of migration of low-skilled and documented migrants back to Vietnam and to use these histories to gain insight into Vietnamese return migrants’ economic status, access to financial, welfare and health insurance benefits and employment prospects.
Laws on regulatory technology (RegTech) in Saudi Arabia: are they adequate?
Authors: Sarabdeen Jawahitha
Published: July 2023

Purpose

The Regulatory Technology (RegTech) is said to be the use of information technology for regulatory monitoring, reporting and compliance. It is used to solve regulatory and compliance issues more effectively and efficiently. Regulators with the digitization of regulation and datafication of processes would get empowered to manage volumes of data. RegTech would assist them in understanding innovative products, transactions, risks, reporting and any market manipulation activities in real time. For successful use of RegTech, the regulatory framework of a country should be comprehensive to address issues that may arise in the use of RegTech. Thus, the purpose of this article is to analyze the adequacy of the Saudi Arabian legal framework to address RegTech adoption.

Design/methodology/approach

The researcher using logical analysis method analyzed the available laws and interpreted the law to see the applicability and the adequacy of laws to regulate the use of RegTech in Saudi Arabia. The content analysis was also used in this research to analyze the literature. This analysis helped to explain the available literature on the research topic and its relevancy and the gap in literature.

Findings

The analysis using the logical and content methodologies shows that Saudi Arabia has general law to address some of the issues that might arise in the adoption of RegTech. Nonetheless, amending some of the existing laws or introducing guidelines could help better uplift of RegTech and similar technologies in Saudi Arabia.

Originality/value

As businesses and regulatory authorities embrace technology for better and efficient delivery of services and products in Saudi Arabia, the research is timely to analyze the adequacy of the laws in Saudi Arabia for adoption of RegTech. In the use of RegTech, issues related to privacy, due diligence, accountability and transparency could arise, however, there is a dearth of literature in these areas relating to technology adoption.
How can value added tax compliance be incentivized? An experimental examination of trust in government and tax compliance costs
Authors: Alshira'h Ahmad
Published: July 2023

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the relationship between trust in government, value added tax (VAT) compliance costs and VAT compliance in the Jordanian retail industry context.

Design/methodology/approach

The study makes use of an online questionnaire survey to collect the required data, and the research model is eventually validated based on 189 responses gathered from the retail industry in Jordan. The obtained data was analyzed using partial least squares-structural equation modeling to examine the effects of trust in government and costs of VAT compliance on VAT compliance.

Findings

The results showed that VAT compliance costs have no significant influence on VAT compliance; while trust in government was found statistically positive significant with VAT compliance.

Practical implications

This study’s results are expected to have implications for VAT authorities and policymakers in Arab countries, like Jordan in their policies formulation to enhance VAT compliance in retail industry. The study’s findings are alerting the policymakers for the positive noneconomic consequences of VAT compliance. It provides evidence that trust in government can increase VAT compliance.

Social implications

The results of the research have a plentiful of social implications. Higher VAT compliance will enable higher levels of government spending on a many of social targets such as health, education, welfare programs and infrastructure.

Originality/value

While the study builds on recent research examining how to incentivize VAT compliance, it simultaneously seeks to make three contributions. First, the study design aims to apply recent advances in behavioral sciences (impact of trust in government and VAT compliance costs) in a policy area that has not seen much use of such interventions in the Jordanian context (i.e. VAT compliance). Second, the study is government procedures pertinent in the sense that it aims to increase the effectiveness of existing government policies by complementing them with behavioral primes. Third, there is nearly no literature found applying this topic in a developing country such as Jordan. To the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the first study that examines the trust in government and VAT compliance costs on VAT compliance among Jordanian retail industry. Thus, this paper contributes to mitigating the literature gap by providing empirical evidence concerning the influence of trust in government and VAT compliance costs on the retail industry VAT compliance in the Jordanian context.
Will code one day run a code? Performance of language models on ACEM primary examinations and implications
Authors: Smith Jesse , Choi Philip MC , Buntine Paul
Published: July 2023

Objective

Large language models (LLMs) have demonstrated mixed results in their ability to pass various specialist medical examination and their performance within the field of emergency medicine remains unknown.

Methods

We explored the performance of three prevalent LLMs (OpenAI's GPT series, Google's Bard, and Microsoft's Bing Chat) on a practice ACEM primary examination.

Results

All LLMs achieved a passing score, with scores with GPT 4.0 outperforming the average candidate.

Conclusion

Large language models, by passing the ACEM primary examination, show potential as tools for medical education and practice. However, limitations exist and are discussed.
Time‐varying effect modeling with intensive longitudinal data: Examining dynamic links among craving, affect, self‐efficacy and substance use during addiction recovery
Authors: Stull Samuel W. , Linden‐Carmichael Ashley N. , Scott Christy K. , Dennis Michael L. , Lanza Stephanie T.
Published: July 2023

Time‐varying effect modeling (TVEM), a statistical technique for modeling dynamic patterns of change, presents new opportunities to study biobehavioral health processes. TVEM is particularly useful when applied to intensive longitudinal data (ILD) because it permits highly flexible modeling of outcomes over continuous time, as well as of associations between variables and moderation effects. TVEM coupled with ILD is ideal for the study of addiction. This article provides a general overview of using TVEM, particularly when applied to ILD, to better enable addiction scientists to conduct novel analyses that are important to realizing the dynamics of addiction‐related processes. It presents an empirical example using ecological momentary assessment data from participants throughout their first 90 days of addiction recovery to estimate the (1) associations between morning craving and same‐day recovery outcomes, (2) association between morning positive and negative affect and same‐day recovery outcomes and (3) time‐varying moderation effects of affect on the association between morning craving and recovery outcomes. We provide a didactic overview in implementing and interpreting the aims and results, including equations, computer syntax and reference resources. Our results highlight how affect operates as both a time‐varying risk and protective factor on recovery outcomes, particularly when considered in combination with experiences of craving (i.e. dynamic moderation). We conclude by discussing our results, recent innovations and future directions of TVEM for advancing addiction science, including how ‘time’ can be operationalized to probe new research questions.
Altered expression of endosomal Toll‐like receptors and HBeAg seropositivity may act synergistically towards the vertical transmission of HBV
Authors: Kalita Simanta , Kalita Manash Jyoti , Hazarika Gautam , Das Partha Pratim , Dutta Kalpajit , Rudola Tanya , Das Panchanan , Talukdar Anjan Jyoti , Dutta Sangitanjan , Idris Md. Ghaznavi , Kar Premashis , Medhi Subhash
Published: July 2023

Problem

Hepatitis B is one of the leading causes of mortality in India. Despite the mass vaccination programme, the burden of the infection is still increasing due to its vertical transmission. Asymptomatic nature of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection owing to immune tolerance among pregnant women is a major issue in this regard.

Method of study

As such, this study aims to investigate the potential role of altered Toll‐like receptor (TLR) expression (TLR‐3, 7 and 9) along with peripheral blood HBeAg status in attaining differential cord blood (CB) HBV DNA status.

Result

Expression analysis reveals an overall downregulation of expression with mean ± SD value 1.14 ± 1.05, 0.86 ± 0.5 and 0.71 ± 0.4 (TLR 3, 7 and 9, respectively) upon comparison with healthy women. Further stratification based on CB HBV DNA status; the downregulation of expression was found to be significantly (p < .05) associated with positive CB HBV DNA status apart from peripheral HBeAg status. One hundred percent HBeAg positive parturiting women exhibit positive CB HBV DNA. Pearson's correlation analysis reveals a positive correlation between CB HBV DNA status and altered TLR expression, HBeAg status and mother HBV DNA status and as such can be associated with the potential risk of HBV vertical transmission.

Conclusion

This study suggests that the downregulation of TLR 3, 7 and 9 may be a risk factor for potential vertical transmission of HBV.
Double‐vs single‐balloon catheter for induction of labor: Systematic review and individual participant data meta‐analysis
Authors: Peel Morgan D. , Croll Doortje M. R. , Kessler Jørg , Haugland Birte , Pennell Craig E. , Dickinson Jan E. , Salim Raed , Zafran Noah , Palmer Kirsten R. , Mol Ben W. , Li Wentao
Published: July 2023

Introduction

Evidence comparing double‐balloon vs single‐balloon catheter for induction of labor is divided. We aim to compare the efficacy and safety of double‐vs single‐balloon catheters using individual participant data.

Material and methods

A search of Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, Ovid Emcare, CINAHL Plus, Scopus, and clinicaltrials.gov was conducted for randomized controlled trials published from March 2019 until April 13, 2021. Earlier trials were identified from the Cochrane Review on Mechanical Methods for Induction of Labour. Randomized controlled trials that compared double‐balloon with single‐balloon catheters for induction of labor in singleton gestations were eligible. Participant‐level data were sought from trial investigators and an individual participant data meta‐analysis was performed. The primary outcomes were rates of vaginal birth achieved, a composite measure of adverse maternal outcomes and a composite measure of adverse perinatal outcomes. We used a two‐stage random‐effects model. Data were analyzed from the intention‐to‐treat perspective.

Results

Of the eight eligible randomized controlled trials, three shared individual‐level data with a total of 689 participants, 344 women in the double‐balloon catheter group and 345 women in the single‐balloon catheter group. The difference in the rate of vaginal birth between double‐balloon catheter and single‐balloon catheter was not statistically significant (relative risk [RR] 0.93, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.86–1.00, p = 0.050; I2 0%; moderate‐certainty evidence). Both perinatal outcomes (RR 0.81, 95% CI 0.54–1.21, p = 0.691; I2 0%; moderate‐certainty evidence) and maternal composite outcomes (RR 0.65, 95% CI 0.15–2.87, p = 0.571; I2 55.46%; low‐certainty evidence) were not significantly different between the two groups.

Conclusions

Single‐balloon catheter is at least comparable to double‐balloon catheter in terms of vaginal birth rate and maternal and perinatal safety outcomes.
Effects of emotion‐rule dissonance on emotional exhaustion and physiological health: A two‐wave study
Authors: Winkler Anna D. , Zapf Dieter , Kern Marcel
Published: July 2023

Emotion‐rule dissonance is regarded as one of the most stressful aspects in the context of emotion work. However, there are few longitudinal studies examining its effects on psychological strain and, more importantly, physiological health. This study investigated synchronous and lagged effects of emotion‐rule dissonance on emotional exhaustion, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and body fat, while explicitly considering the reverse direction as well. Two‐wave data from 5,073 employees at Time 1 and 525 at Time 2 three years later showed that emotion‐rule dissonance and emotional exhaustion have reciprocal synchronous effects on each other. Concerning systolic and diastolic blood pressure, both lagged and synchronous effects were found, but the synchronous effects were twice as large as the lagged effects. No reverse effects of blood pressure on emotion‐rule dissonance were observed. For body fat, neither synchronous, nor lagged, nor reverse (lagged/synchronous) effects were found. The results provide strong evidence for the health‐impairing consequences of high emotion‐rule dissonance, particularly with respect to emotional exhaustion and the risk of hypertension.
Directed vertebrate‐mediated seed dispersal of a fleshy‐fruited amaryllid in a heterogenous habitat
Authors: Butler Hannah C. , Johnson Steven D.
Published: July 2023

Most plants with fleshy fruits have seeds that are ingested by animals, but a less well‐understood mode of seed dispersal involves fleshy fruits containing seeds that are discarded by frugivorous animals because they are too large or toxic to be ingested. We studied the seed dispersal biology of Haemanthus deformis, an amaryllid lily species found in a mosaic of bush clumps in a grassland matrix in South Africa. We asked whether seed dispersal is directed in and among bush clumps and whether germination and survival are greater for seeds dispersed to bush clumps than for those dispersed into grassland. Using camera trapping, we found that fruits are consumed mainly by birds and rodents. The pulp was removed from the seeds which were then discarded without ingestion. While many seeds were dispersed close to the parent plant, most (c. 78.5%) were dispersed further than 1 m away from the parent plant. Longer distance dispersal resulted mainly from birds flying off with fruits in their bill or from rodents engaging in scatter‐hoarding behavior. Seedling survival was most successful within bush clumps as compared to grasslands and shade was identified as a primary requirement for seedling survival. Seeds from which the fruit pulp had been removed germinated faster than those in intact fruits. Haemanthus deformis deploys a system of directed seed dispersal, whereby both birds and rodents contribute to the dispersal of seeds within patchy bush clumps that are favorable for seedling survival.