bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Treating Rheumatoid Arthritis in Zanzibar: a cost effectiveness study comparing conventional, biologic, and targeted-synthetic disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs
Authors: Said Sanaa S. , Kühl Melf-Jakob , Fevang Bjorg-Tilde Svanes , Nystad Tone Wikene , Johansson Kjell Arne
Published: December 2023

To evaluate the cost effectiveness of six disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) treat-to-target treatment strategies for patients with rheumatoid arthritis in Zanzibar.

A Markov model was used to calculate the cost-effectiveness of various DMARD strategies in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis over a three-year period. A health-provider perspective was used and only outpatient costs were considered. The Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) was utilized for measurement of efficacy and values were obtained from literature. Quality Adjusted Life Years (QALYs) were obtained from 122 patients attending the rheumatology clinic at Mnazi Mmoja Hospital. Data on costs were obtained from the central medical stores and hospital administration. Treatment strategies were given in sequential approach based on treat to target goals of therapy. This included methotrexate monotherapy, methotrexate + sulfasalazine + hydroxychloroquine, methotrexate followed by one or two biologic/targeted-synthetic DMARDs (b/tsDMARDs). Probabilistic and one way sensitivity analysis were performed. Scenario analysis was undertaken comparing drug prices from India and Scandinavia.

Costs of therapy/patient/three years ranged from USD 634 for methotrexate monotherapy and USD 5011 for methotrexate and two consecutive b/tsDMARDs. The highest and lowest effects were 2.209 and 2.079 QALYs gained from methotrexate therapy + two consecutive b/tsDMARDs and methotrexate monotherapy, respectively. From a healthcare perspective methotrexate monotherapy was the cost-effective option at a willingness to pay of USD 282. Pairwise comparison also favored methotrexate monotherapy as the feasible option. We found that increasing the willingness to pay led to a change in the most acceptable option from methotrexate monotherapy to methotrexate followed by b/tsDMARD.

Methotrexate monotherapy is the cost-effective option for the management of rheumatoid arthritis in Zanzibar. Other options may be feasible if the willingness to pay threshold is increased or the drug prices are lowered, particularly for the b/tsDMARDs.
Respiratory rates among rural Gambian children: a community-based cohort study
Authors: Mogeni Polycarp , Amima Sharon , Gunther Jennifer , Pinder Margaret , Tusting Lucy S. , D’Alessandro Umberto , Cousens Simon , Lindsay Steve W. , Bradley John
Published: December 2023

Background

Although ranges of normal respiratory rates (RR) have been described for children under five years old living in the tropics, there are few datasets recording rates in older children. The present study was designed to capture the changes in RR with age and to examine its association with nutritional status and environmental factors.

Methods

A cohort of rural Gambian children aged from six months to 14 years had their RR recorded during home visits twice weekly during two annual rainy seasons. Measurements were made by trained field assistants using an electronic timer during a one-minute period. Age, sex, nutritional status, health status, time of day of data collection were recorded. A generalized additive model for location, scale and shape was used to construct the RR reference curves and a linear mixed effect model used to examine factors associated with RR. We also assessed the agreement between repeat measurements taken from a subset of study subject.

Results

A total of 830 children provided 67,512 RR measurements. The median age was 6.07 years (interquartile range (IQR), 4.21–8.55) and 400 (48.2%) were female. The centile chart showed a marked nonlinear decline in RR measurements with increasing age up to six years old, after which the decline was minimal (predicted median RR of 31 breaths/minute (IQR: 29–34) among one-year-olds, 22 breaths/minute (IQR: 21–23) among six-year-olds and 21 breaths/minute (IQR: 21-22) among 13-year-olds. Age (non-linear effect, p<0.001), stunting (0.84 breaths/minute [95%CI: 0.40-1.28, p<0.001]), ambient temperature (0.38 breaths/minute [95%CI: 0.33-0.42, p<0.001] for every 1°C increase in ambient temperature) and time of day when RR measurements were taken (non-linear effect, p<0.001) were independent predictors of respiratory rate. Strikingly, children with signs of illness were associated with higher intra-observer variability.

Interpretation

We constructed a RR reference chart for children aged one to 13 years and proposed a cutoff of >26 breaths/minute for raised RR among children aged >5 years bridging an important gap in this age group. Although time of data collection, nutritional status and ambient temperature were predictors of RR, the evidence is not clinically significant to warrant a change in the current WHO guidelines owing to the prevailing uncertainty in the measurement of RR. The finding that RR between repeat measurements were more variable among children with signs of illness suggests that a single RR measurements may be inadequate to reliably assess the status of sick children - a population in which accurate diagnosis is essential to enable targeted interventions with lifesaving treatment.
Manual Chest PRESSURE during Direct Current Cardioversion for Atrial Fibrillation: A Randomised Control Trial (PRESSURE-AF)
Authors: Ferreira David , Mikhail Philopatir , Lim Joyce , Ray Max , Dwivedi Jovita , Brienesse Stephen , Butel-Simoes Lloyd , Meere William , Bland Adam , Howden Niklas , Malaty Michael , Kunda Mercy , Kelty Amy , McGee Michael , Boyle Andrew , Sverdlov Aaron L , William Maged , Attia John , Jackson Nicholas , Morris Gwilym , Barlow Malcolm , Leitch James , Collins Nicholas , Ford Thomas , Wilsmore Bradley
Published: December 2023

Background

Direct current cardioversion is frequently used to return patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) to sinus rhythm. Chest pressure during cardioversion may improve the efficacy of cardioversion through decreasing transthoracic impedance and increasing cardiac energy delivery. We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of upfront chest pressure during direct current cardioversion for atrial fibrillation with anterior-posterior pad positioning.

Design, Setting and Participants

This was a multi-center, investigator-initiated, patient and analysis blinded, randomised clinical trial. Recruitment occurred from 2021 to 2023. Follow-up was until hospital discharge. Recruitment occurred across three centers in New South Wales, Australia. Inclusion criteria were age ≥18, referred for cardioversion for AF, and anticoagulation for three weeks or transoesophageal echocardiography excluding left atrial appendage thrombus. Exclusion criteria were other arrhythmias requiring cardioversion, such as atrial flutter and atrial tachycardia.

Intervention and Outcomes

The intervention arm received chest pressure during cardioversion from the first shock. The primary efficacy outcome was total joules required per patient encounter. Secondary efficacy outcomes included first shock success, transthoracic impedance, cardioversion success and sinus rhythm at 30 minutes post cardioversion.

Results

311 patients were randomised, 153 to control and 158 to intervention. There was no difference in total joules applied per encounter in the control arm versus intervention arm (356.4 ± 301 vs 413.8 ± 347, P=0.25). There was no difference in first shock success, total shocks provided, average impedance and cardioversion success.

Conclusions and Relevance

This study does not support the routine application of chest pressure for direct current cardioversion in atrial fibrillation. Reducing the complexity of cardioversion will improve the efficiency of the procedure for patients and healthcare systems.

Funding

None to disclose

Trial Registration

ACTRN12620001028998
Cerebral microhemorrhages in children with congenital heart disease: Prevalence, risk factors, and impact on neurodevelopmental outcomes
Authors: Andersen Kristen N. , Yao Sicong , White Brian R. , Jacobwitz Marin , Breimann Jake , Jahnavi Jharna , Schmidt Alexander , Baker Wesley B. , Ko Tiffany S. , Gaynor J. William , Vossough Arastoo , Xiao Rui , Licht Daniel J. , Shih Evelyn K.
Published: December 2023

Background

Infants with complex congenital heart disease (CHD) require life-saving corrective/palliative heart surgery in the first weeks of life. These infants are at risk for brain injury and poor neurodevelopmental outcomes. Cerebral microhemorrhages (CMH) are frequently seen after neonatal bypass heart surgery, but it remains unknown if CMH are a benign finding or constitute injury. Herein, we investigate the risk factors for developing CMH and their clinical significance.

Methods

192 infants with CHD undergoing corrective cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) at a single institution were prospectively evaluated with pre-(n = 183) and/or postoperative (n = 162) brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). CMH severity was scored based on total number of microhemorrhages. Antenatal, perioperative, and postoperative candidate risk factors for CMH and neurodevelopmental (ND) outcomes were analyzed. Eighteen-month neurodevelopmental outcomes were assessed using the Bayley-III Scales of Infants and Toddler Development in a subset of patients (n = 82). Linear regression was used to analyze associations between risk factors or ND outcomes and presence/number of CMH.

Results

The most common CHD subtypes were hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) (37%) and transposition of the great arteries (TGA) (33%). Forty-two infants (23%) had CMH present on MRI before surgery and 137 infants (85%) post-surgery. No parameters evaluated were significant risk factors for preoperative CMH. In multivariate analysis, cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) duration (p < 0.0001), use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support (p < 0.0005), postoperative seizure(s) (p < 0.03), and lower birth weight (p < 0.03) were associated with new or worsened CMH postoperatively. Higher CMH number was associated with lower scores on motor (p < 0.03) testing at 18 months.

Conclusion

CMH is a common imaging finding in infants with CHD with increased prevalence and severity after CPB and adverse impact on neurodevelopmental outcomes starting at a young age. Longer duration of CPB and need for postoperative ECMO were the most significant risk factors for developing CMH. However, presence of CMH on preoperative scans indicates non-surgical risk factors that are yet to be identified. Neuroprotective strategies to mitigate risk factors for CMH may improve neurodevelopmental outcomes in this vulnerable population.
Association between frailty assessed by the Clinical Frailty Scale 2.0 and outcomes of acute stroke in older patients
Authors: Forti Paola , Ciani Marianna , Maioli Fabiola
Published: December 2023

Background

Frailty is a geriatric syndrome characterized by an increased vulnerability to stressors and increased risk of adverse clinical outcomes. While older patients with acute stroke are routinely screened for prestroke disability using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS), because of its known association with stroke outcomes, prestroke frailty is still rarely assessed. The Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) is a popoular tool for retrospective frailty assessment in the acute setting. The study hypothesis was that prestroke frailty measured with CFS was associated with stroke outcome of older patients independent of prestroke disability assessed with mRS.

Methods

We recruited 4086 individuals aged ≥65 years consecutively admitted with acute stroke to an Italian hospital. Prestroke disability (mRS ≥3) was assessed at admission. Prestroke CFS was retrospectively assessed using information from the medical records. Logistic models determined the association of CFS with poor functional outcome, prolonged discharge, unfavorable discharge setting, and poor rehabilitation potential. Cox models determined the association of CFS with 30-day and 1-month mortality. All models were adjusted for prestroke disability and other major confounders.

Results

Participants were median age 81 years (25th-75th percentile, 75-87 years), 55.0% female, 82.6% with ischemic stroke, and 26.3% with prestroke disability. Overall prevalence of prestroke frailty (CFS ≥4) was 41.6%. Multivariable-adjusted logistic models showed that CFS was associated with increasing risk of all outcomes except prologed discharge. In severe frailty (CFS 7-8), OR (95%CI) was 3.44 (2.33-5.07) for poor functional outcome, 0.53 (0.38-0.75) for prolonged discharge, 1.89 (0.36-263) for unfavourable discharge, and 6.24 (3.80-10.26) for poor rehabilitation potential (reference CFS 1-3). In multivariable adjusted-Cox models, CFS was unrelated to 30-day mortality but HR (95%CI) of 1-year mortality was significant for both CFS 4-6 (1.70, 1.36-2.11) and CFS 7-8 (1.69, 1.25-2.30).

Conclusions

Prestroke frailty measured with CFS was associated with higher risk of several adverse outcomes even after adjustment for prestroke disability and other major confounders.
Four dimensional-flow magnetic resonance imaging analysis of carotid-cavernous fistula, dural arteriovenous fistula and spinal arteriovenous fistula: Detecting shunt point and diagnosing based on flow dynamics analysis
Authors: Kawano Hiroto , Yamada Shigeki , Tsuji Atsushi , Kubo Takaaki , Teshigahara Akira , Ishida Shohei , Ninomiya Futa , Fujimoto Yuki , Kitamura Tomoaki , Shitara Satoshi , Yoshimura Yayoi , Takagi Kenji , Watanabe Yoshiyuki , Nozaki Kazuhiko , Yoshida Kazumichi
Published: December 2023

Background and purpose

Carotid-cavernous fistulas (CCF), dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF) and spinal arteriovenous fistula (SAVF) are rare vascular malformations that cause arteriovenous shunting. Detecting the shunt point and flow direction is necessary for shunt disease diagnosis and treatment. Hence, we propose a new shunt disease diagnostic way with four dimensional-flow magnetic resonance imaging (4D-flow MRI).

Material and methods

The 4D-flow MRI and the DSA (digital subtraction angiography) were performed on 23 patients, including 2 with CCF, 20 with intracranial DAVF, and 1 with SAVF. Catheter embolization was performed in 19 patients. The 4D-flow MRI assessment was conducted for pre- and post-treatment (n = 9), pretreatment only (n = 12) and post-treatment only (n = 2). We use two functions of 4D-flow imaging application, one is a two-dimensional (2D)-colormap, which indicates velocity distribution with color scale for detecting shunt point, and another one is a 2D-flow vector for diagnosing flow direction.

Results

Shunt points are detected as red-colored lesions, with higher velocity compared with the surrounded area on 2D-colormap, with corresponding results to DSA findings. A 2D-flow vector indicates flow vectors of the main feeder, drainer, and influenced dural venous sinuses that could complement information obtained from other standard examinations. The post-therapeutic residual shunt flow analysis was consistent with DSA results except for one DAVF case.

Conclusion

2D-colormap helps detect the shunt point of vascular malformations. A 2D-flow vector makes it possible to diagnose CCF, DAVF and SAVF based on flow dynamic analysis. A 4D-flow MRI would be an additional measurement for shunt disease diagnoses.
Disturbances can facilitate prior invasions more than subsequent invasions in microbial communities
Authors: Lear Luke , Hesse Elze , Buckling Angus
Published: December 2023

Invasions by microorganisms are commonly found to benefit from disturbance events. However, the importance of the relative timing and order of the invasion and disturbance for invader success remains uncertain. Here, by invading a stably coexisting community of five bacterial species at four different propagule pressures on eight separate occasions – four pre-disturbance and four post-disturbance – we experimentally tested the importance of timing and order for the invader’s success. Furthermore, we quantified the impact of the invader on the composition of the resident community. Across a range of invader densities, both pre- and post-disturbance invader success was greatest the closer in time to the disturbance. While the greatest invasion success occurred when the invasion immediately followed the disturbance, invasion resistance rapidly recovered, such that the three subsequent invasions had negligible success. As a consequence, overall invader success was greatest pre-than post-disturbance. We found that invasion day as well as success significantly affected resident diversity, such that it was lowest in communities invaded immediately after the disturbance, but was overall lower in communities invaded pre-disturbance. Overall, these results demonstrate that invading immediately after a disturbance is highly beneficial for invader success and results in the biggest change to community composition. Importantly however, they also show that this window of opportunity is very brief, and that, on average, an invader will have a greater success and effect on community composition if it invades before a disturbance.
A high-quality genome assembly of the ghost mothDruceiella hillmaniprovides new evidence of genome size augmentation in Hepialidae
Authors: Weng Yi-Ming , Lopez-Cacacho Isabel , Foquet Bert , Martinez Jose I. , Plotkin David , Sourakov Andrei , Kawahara Akito Y.
Published: December 2023

Ghost moths are an unusual family of primitive moths (Lepidoptera: Hepialidae) known for their large body size and crepuscular adult activity. These moths represent an ancient lineage, frequently have soil dwelling larvae, and are adapted to high elevations, deserts, and other extreme environments. Despite being rather speciose with more than 700 species, there is a dearth of genomic resources for the family. Here, we present the first high quality, publicly available hepialid genome, generated from an Andean species of ghost moth,Druceiella hillmani. Our genome assembly has a length of 2,586 Mbp with contig N50 of 28.1 Mb and N50 of 29, and BUSCO completeness of 97.1%, making it one of the largest genomes in the order Lepidoptera. Our assembly is a vital resource for future research on ghost moth genomics.
Activation of Protein Kinase R (PKR) Plays a Pro-Viral Role in Mammarenavirus Infected Cells
Authors: Witwit Haydar , Khafaji Roaa , Salaniwal Arul , Kim Arthur S. , Cubitt Beatrice , Jackson Nathaniel , Ye Chengjin , Weiss Susan R , Martinez-Sobrido Luis , de la Torre Juan Carlos
Published: December 2023

Many viruses, including mammarenaviruses, have evolved mechanisms to counteract different components of the host cell innate immunity, which is required to facilitate robust virus multiplication. The double strand (ds)RNA sensor protein kinase receptor (PKR) pathway plays a critical role in the cell antiviral response. Whether PKR can restrict the multiplication of the Old World mammarenavirus lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) and the mechanisms by which LCMV may counteract the antiviral functions of PKR have not yet been investigated. Here we present evidence that LCMV infection results in very limited levels of PKR activation, but LCMV multiplication is enhanced in the absence of PKR. In contrast, infection with a recombinant LCMV with a mutation affecting the 3’-5’ exonuclease (ExoN) activity of the viral nucleoprotein (NP) resulted in robust PKR activation in the absence of detectable levels of dsRNA, which was associated with severely restricted virus multiplication that was alleviated in the absence of PKR. However, pharmacological inhibition of PKR activation resulted in reduced levels of LCMV multiplication. These findings uncovered a complex role of the PKR pathway in LCMV-infected cells involving both pro-and anti- viral activities.

IMPORTANCE

As with many other viruses, the prototypic Old World mammarenavirus lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) can interfere with the host cell innate immune response to infection, which includes the double strand (ds)RNA sensor protein kinase receptor (PKR) pathway. A detailed understanding of LCMV-PKR interactions can provide novel insights about mammarenavirus-host cell interactions and facilitate the development of effective antiviral strategies against human pathogenic mammarenaviruses. In the present work, we present evidence that LCMV multiplication is enhanced in PKR- deficient cells, but pharmacological inhibition of PKR activation unexpectedly resulted in severely restricted propagation of LCMV. Likewise, we document a robust PKR activation in LCMV-infected cells in the absence of detectable levels of dsRNA. Our findings have revealed a complex role of the PKR pathway during LCMV infection and uncovered the activation of PKR as a druggable target for the development of antiviral drugs against human pathogenic mammarenaviruses.
Heteroplasmy and tandem repeats reveal adaptation to elevation in the New World Jays (Aves: Corvidae)
Authors: Termignoni-Garcia Flavia , Bougiouri Katia , Edwards Scott V.
Published: December 2023

Advances in high-throughput sequencing (HTS) and bioinformatic tools have enabled the quick and cost-efficient assembly of complete mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) in non-model organisms. Consequently, new evidence of heteroplasmy, recombination and paternal leakage in mitogenomes has increased. In this study, we utilized HTS data from whole-genome sequencing to assemble the first complete mitogenomes of nine species of New World Jays (NWJs), covering all genera. We further investigated the evolution of heteroplasmy, tandem repeats (TRs) and signatures of natural selection. Our results showed a molecular shift in the adaptation to low elevation in the NWJs. Among the species studied, we found 10 heteroplasmic sites either containing TRs in the same site or 1 to 300 nucleotides adjacent; one species-specific TR in a transfer RNA (tRNA-P) potentially associated with low elevation; one phylogenetic branch with evidence of episodic positive selection also associated with low elevation; and 5 codon sites with strong support for positive selection. We referred to the heteroplasmy-TR interaction and its possible role with regulation, recombination and paternal leakage in the mitogenomes. Finally, phylogenetic relationships were in agreement with previous studies and we discussed how selective pressure on genes from the oxidative phosphorylation pathway (OXPHOS) may benefit species from low-elevation habitats. Although these findings in the NWJs require further investigation, this study offers promising insights about the evolution of mitogenomes in birds.
Alignment Free Phylogeny Construction Using Maximum Likelihood Usingk-mer Counts
Authors: Rahman A.T.M Mizanur , Habib Siam , Islam Md. Mohaiminul , Rahman Khandaker Mushfiqur , Rahman Atif
Published: December 2023

Estimating phylogenetic trees from molecular data often involves first performing a multiple sequence alignment of the sequences and then identifying the tree that maximizes likelihood computed under a model of nucleotide substitution. However, sequence alignment is computationally challenging for long sequences, especially in the presence of genomic rearrangements. To address this, methods for constructing phylogenetic trees without aligning the sequences i.e. alignment-free methods have been proposed. They are generally fast and can be used to construct phylogenetic trees of a large number of species but they primarily estimate phylogenies by computing pairwise distances and are not based on statistical models of molecular evolution. In this paper, we introduce a model fork-mer frequency change based on a birth-death-migration process which can be used to estimate maximum likelihood phylogenies fromk-mer frequencies in an alignment-free approach. Experiments on real and simulated data demonstrate the efficacy of the model for likelihood based alignment-free phylogeny construction.
The presenilin 1 mutation P436S causes familial Alzheimer’s disease with elevated Aβ43 and atypical clinical manifestations
Authors: Arber Charles , Belder Christopher R.S. , Tomczuk Filip , Gabriele Rebecca , Buhidma Yazead , O’Connor Antoinette , Rice Helen , Lashley Tammaryn , Fox Nick C. , Ryan Natalie S. , Wray Selina
Published: December 2023

Structured Abstract

BACKGROUND

Familial Alzheimer’s disease (fAD) is heterogeneous in terms of age at onset and clinical presentation. A greater understanding of the pathogenicity of fAD variants and how these contribute to heterogeneity will enhance our understanding of the mechanisms of Alzheimer’s disease more widely. The pathogenicity of the P436S mutation inPSEN1remains unclassified.

METHODS

To determine the pathogenicity of thePSEN1P436S mutation, we studied an expanded kindred of 8 affected individuals, with MRI (2 individuals), patient-derived iPSC models (2 donors) and post-mortem histology (1 donor).

RESULTS

An autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance of fAD was seen with an average age at symptom onset of 46 years and atypical features including late spastic paraparesis and non-memory led cognitive impairment in some individuals. iPSC models and post- mortem tissue supported high production of Aβ43. PSEN1 peptide maturation was unimpaired, unlike previously reported atypical mutations R278I and E280G. CONCLUSIONS: We confirm that the P436S mutation inPSEN1causes atypical fAD. The location of the mutation in the critical PSEN1 PALP motif may explain the early age of onset despite appropriate protein maturation.
Not only practicing but suffering bullying is correlated with alcohol, tobacco and drugs use results of the Brazilian National School Health Survey (PeNSE 2019)
Authors: Perrotte Giuliana , Baruzzi Marjorie Mastellaro , Castaldelli-Maia João Maurício
Published: December 2023

Background

Bullying and the use of psychoactive substances are prevalent conditions among adolescents that appear to have some connection. However, there is no consensus in the literature regarding the association between being a victim of bullying and using psychoactive substances. Moreover, most analyses of this correlation have taken place in developed countries, possibly not reflecting the reality in Latin America.

Objective

This cross-sectional study investigated the association between the use of psychoactive substances and involvement in bullying situations in a representative sample of Brazilian adolescents.

Methods

We used data from the 2019 National School Health Survey (Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde do Escolar), analyzing 123,261 questionnaires from youths aged 13 to 17. Questions about experiencing or engaging in bullying, lifetime use, and recent use (in the last 30 days) of tobacco, hookah, e-cigarettes, other tobacco products, alcohol, and illicit drugs were considered. Responses on the recent use (in the last 30 days) of the following substances were also analyzed: clove cigarettes, straw cigarettes, marijuana, and crack. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to determine correlations, and odds ratios (OR) were calculated.

Results

Participation in bullying situations, whether as a victim or perpetrator, increases the likelihood of using tobacco cigarette, hookah, e-cigarettes, clove cigarettes, straw cigarettes, alcohol, illicit drugs, marijuana, and crack. The non-involved-in-bullying group has a lower chance of using any analyzed substance, followed by the group that is only a victim. Those with the highest likelihood of use are individuals who engage in bullying exclusively, followed by those who experience both situations.

Conclusion

In Brazil, being a victim of bullying is associated with the use of various psychoactive substances. Our results align with findings from Latin America, partially differing from studies in developed countries, highlighting the influence of location in understanding these risk associations.
Non-autonomous cell redox-pairs dictate niche homeostasis in multi-lineage stem populations
Authors: Majhi Olivia , Chhatre Aishwarya , Chaudhary Tanvi , Sinha Devanjan
Published: December 2023

Reactive oxygen species (ROS), predominantly derived from mitochondrial respiratory complexes, have evolved as key molecules influencing cell fate decisions like maintenance and differentiation. These redox-dependent events are mainly considered to be cell intrinsic in nature, on contrary our observations indicate involvement of these oxygen-derived entities as intercellular communicating agents. In multi-lineageDrosophilagermline, neighbouring Germline Stem Cells (GSCs) and Cystic Stem Cells (CySCs) maintain differential redox thresholds where CySCs by virtue of their higher redox-state regulate physiological ROS levels of germline. Disruption of the intercellular redox equilibrium between the two adjoining stem cell populations results in deregulated niche architecture and loss of GSCs, which was mainly attributed to loss of contact-based receptions and uncontrolled CySC proliferation due to ROS-mediated activation of self-renewing signals. Our observations hint towards the crucial role of intercellular redox gradients originating from somatic progenitors, CySCs in niche stability where they function not only as a source of their own maintenance cues but also serve as non-autonomous redox moderators of germline immortality. Our findings underscore the complexity of niche homeostasis and predicate the importance of intercellular redox communication in understanding stem cell microenvironments.
The black honey bee genome: insights on specific structural elements and a first step towards pan-genomes
Authors: Eynard Sonia E. , Klopp Christophe , Canale-Tabet Kamila , Marande William , Vandecasteele Céline , Roques Céline , Donnadieu Cécile , Boone Quentin , Servin Bertrand , Vignal Alain
Published: December 2023

Background

The actual honey bee reference genome, HAv3.1, was produced from a commercial line sample, thought to have a largely dominantApis mellifera ligusticagenetic background.Apis mellifera mellifera, often referred to as the black bee, has a separate evolutionary history and is the original type in western and northern Europe. Growing interest in this subspecies for conservation and non-professional apicultural practices, together with the necessity of deciphering genome backgrounds in hybrids, triggered the necessity for a specific genome assembly. Moreover, having several high-quality genomes is becoming key for taking structural variations into account in pan-genome analyses.

Results

Pacific Bioscience technology long reads were produced from a single haploid black bee drone. Scaffolding contigs into chromosomes was done using a high-density genetic map. This allowed for a re-estimation of the honey recombination rate, over-estimated in some previous studies, due to mis-assemblies resulting in spurious inversions in the older reference genomes. The sequence continuity obtained is very high and the only limit towards continuous chromosome-wide sequences seem to be due to tandem repeat arrays usually longer than 10 kb and belonging to two main families, the 371 and 91 bp repeats, causing problems in the assembly process due to high internal sequence similarity. Our assembly was used together with the reference genome, for genotyping two structural variants by a pan-genome graph approach with Graphtyper2. Genotypes obtained were either correct or missing, when compared to an approach based on sequencing depth analysis, and genotyping rates were 89 and 76 % for the two variants respectively.

Conclusions

Our new assembly for theApis mellifera melliferahoney bee subspecies demonstrates the utility of multiple high-quality genomes for the genotyping of structural variants, with a test case on two insertions and deletions. It will therefore be an invaluable resource for future studies, for instance including structural variants in GWAS. Having used a single haploid drone for sequencing allowed a refined analysis of very large tandem repeat arrays, raising the question of their function in the genome. High quality genome assemblies for multiple subspecies such as presented here, are crucial for emerging projects using pan-genomes.
MOBFinder: a tool for MOB typing for plasmid metagenomic fragments based on language model
Authors: Feng Tao , Wu Shufang , Zhou Hongwei , Fang Zhencheng
Published: December 2023

Background

MOB typing is a classification scheme that classifies plasmid genomes based on their relaxase gene. The host range of plasmids of different MOB categories are diverse and MOB typing is crucial for investigating the mobilization of plasmid, especially the transmission of resistance genes and virulence factors. However, MOB typing of plasmid metagenomic data is challenging due to the highly fragmented characteristic of metagenomic contigs.

Results

We developed MOBFinder, an 11-class classifier to classify the plasmid fragments into 10 MOB categories and a non-mobilizable category. We first performed the MOB typing for classifying complete plasmid genomes using the relaxes information, and constructed the artificial benchmark plasmid metagenomic fragments from these complete plasmid genomes whose MOB types are well annotated. Based on natural language models, we used the word vector to characterize the plasmid fragments. Several random forest classification models were trained and integrated for predicting plasmid fragments with different lengths. Evaluating the tool over the benchmark dataset, MOBFinder demonstrates higher performance compared to the existing tool, with an overallaccuracyof approximately 59% higher than the MOB-suite. Moreover, thebalanced accuracy, harmonic meanandF1-scorecould reach 99% in some MOB types. In an application focused on a T2D cohort, MOBFinder offered insights suggesting that the MOBF type might accelerate the antibiotic resistance transmission in patients suffering from T2D.

Conclusions

To the best of our knowledge, MOBFinder is the first tool for MOB tying for plasmid metagenomic fragments. MOBFinder is freely available athttps://github.com/FengTaoSMU/MOBFinder.
Microsomal triglyceride transfer protein is necessary to maintain lipid homeostasis and retinal function
Authors: Grubaugh Catharina R. , Dhingra Anuradha , Prakash Binu , Montenegro Diego , Sparrow Janet R. , Daniele Lauren L. , Curcio Christine A. , Bell Brent A. , Hussain M. Mahmood , Boesze-Battaglia Kathleen
Published: December 2023

Lipid processing by the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is necessary to maintain retinal health and function. Dysregulation of retinal lipid homeostasis due to normal aging or to age-related disease triggers lipid accumulation within the RPE, on Bruch’s membrane (BrM), and in the subretinal space. In its role as a hub for lipid trafficking into and out of the neural retina, the RPE packages a significant amount of lipid into lipid droplets for storage and into apolipoprotein B (apoB)-containing lipoproteins (Blps) for export. Microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP), encoded by theMTTPgene, is essential for Blp assembly. Herein we test the hypothesis that MTP expression in the RPE is essential to maintain lipid balance and retinal function using the newly generatedRPEΔMttpmouse model. Using non-invasive ocular imaging, electroretinography, and histochemical and biochemical analyses we show that genetic deletion ofMttpfrom the RPE results in intracellular lipid accumulation, increased photoreceptor –associated cholesterol deposits and photoreceptor cell death, and loss of rod but not cone function. RPE-specific ablation of Mttp had no significant effect on plasma lipids and lipoproteins. While, apoB was decreased in the RPE, ocular retinoid concentrations remained unchanged. Thus suggesting that RPE MTP is critical for Blp synthesis and assembly but not directly involved in ocular retinoid and plasma lipoprotein metabolism. These studies demonstrate that RPE-specific MTP expression is necessary to establish and maintain retinal lipid homeostasis and visual function.
Research on aerodynamic characteristics of vehicle platoon under crosswind conditions based on Ahmed body
Authors: Luo Jianbin , Li Mingsen , Mi Ke , Liang Zhida , Chen Xiaofeng , Ye Lei , Tie Yuanhao , Xu Song , Zhang Haiguo , Chen Guiguang , Jiang Chunmei
Published: December 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the aerodynamic characteristics of Ahmed body in longitudinal and lateral platoons under crosswind by computational fluid dynamics simulation. It helps to improve the aerodynamic characteristics of vehicles by providing theoretical basis and engineering direction for the development and progress of intelligent transportation.

Design/methodology/approach

A two-car platoon model is used to compare with the experiment to prove the accuracy of the simulation method. The simplified Ahmed body model and the Reynolds Averaged N-S equation method are used to study the aerodynamic characteristics of vehicles at different distances under cross-winds.

Findings

When the longitudinal distance x/L = 0.25, the drag coefficients of the middle and trailing cars at β = 30° are improved by about 272% and 160% compared with β = 10°. The side force coefficients of the middle and trailing cars are increased by 50% and 62%. When the lateral distance y/W = 0.25, the side force coefficients of left and middle cars at β = 30° are reduced by 38% and 37.5% compared with β = 10°. However, the side force coefficient of the right car are increased by about 84.3%.

Originality/value

Most of the researches focus on the overtaking process, and there are few researches on the neat lateral platoon. The innovation of this paper is that in addition to studying the aerodynamic characteristics of longitudinal driving, the aerodynamic characteristics of neat lateral driving are also studied, and crosswind conditions are added. The authors hope to contribute to the development of intelligent transportation.
Usability testing of a website through different devices: a task-based approach in a public university setting in Bangladesh
Authors: Yesmin Shamima , Atikuzzaman Md.
Published: December 2023

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the usability of a public university website for measuring its efficiency, users’ satisfaction or anxiety while searching for and retrieving information through different devices.

Design/methodology/approach

A task-based approach was adopted for the study. Twenty-eight participants were asked to complete 11 information-searching tasks on the website. The participants were divided into two groups. The tasks were carried out by members of each group, using desktop and mobile devices in a rotating fashion. Volunteers observed the participants' actions and recorded information regarding their productivity, time usage (using a timer), satisfaction or annoyance while performing each task. Finally, based on the use of the devices, a comparison was established between the participants' performance accuracy, efficiency and anxiety.

Findings

The study provides an overview of a task-based user experience carried out on the university website using a combination of qualitative and quantitative research methods. According to the results, participants' satisfaction levels were generally high, and their anxiety levels were low while completing the tasks on a mobile device. In comparison to the desktop, it took less time overall to complete all tasks. On the other hand, using a desktop computer (97.1%) resulted in better task completion success rates for participants than using a mobile device (85.7%).

Originality/value

No previous task-based evaluation study of this kind has been conducted to assess the usability of any university website in Bangladesh.
Corporate power purchase agreements and the value of decarbonization
Authors: Hundt Steffen
Published: December 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine if the announcement of corporate power purchase agreements (PPAs) induce significant effects on the electricity buyers' stock returns.

Design/methodology/approach

This is an event study based on the Fama French Five Factor Model which uses several significance tests and robust regression approaches.

Findings

The announced closing of corporate PPAs induces significant positive abnormal stock returns. This announcement effect is even more pronounced in case of virtual PPAs.

Originality/value

To the best of the author‘s knowledge, this study is the first which explictly investigates the announcement effects of corporate PPAs, which are closed between the owner of the renewable energy asset and the institutional end consumer. In addition, this study extends the event study approach by robust regression methods.
Assessing subjective career success: the role of career commitment, career resilience and self-efficacy: a evidence from hospitality industry
Authors: Bhawna Bhawna , Sharma Sanjeev Kumar , Akram Umair
Published: December 2023

Purpose

This study aims to examine how career commitment (CC) affects hospitality employees perceived subjective career success (SCS) using a serial mediation system that uses career resilience (CR) behaviour and self-efficacy (SE) as serial mediators.

Design/methodology/approach

To examine the proposed relationships, a comprehensive theoretical serial mediation model was constructed. The proposed hypotheses were tested on a sample of 316 hospitality employees from India using regression analysis (Process Macro Model 6) with 5,000 bootstrapping at 95% confidence interval.

Findings

The regression analysis confirmed a strong, positive relationship between CC and SCS. It also highlighted a significant indirect effect, involving a serial mediation through CR and SE, demonstrating how CC influences SCS.

Research limitations/implications

Drawing from three prominent theories – career self-determination theory (CSDT), career construction theory (CCT) and the contextual action theory of career development (CATCD), this research underscores the importance of fostering career-committed behaviour among employees and advocating for strategic career development initiatives. Understanding CC elements may help firms retain and encourage individuals, which can boost job satisfaction and performance. Importantly, the results advocate for the implementation of targeted career development strategies and the promotion of career-committed behaviour within hospitality organisations. This, in turn, fosters resilience and competence, ultimately contributing to individual career success and organisational excellence.

Originality/value

A serial mediation model with CR and SE introduces a fresh perspective that, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, has not been extensively explored in previous research examining the relationship between CC and SCS.
The impact of directors' attributes on IFRS fair value disclosure: an institutional perspective
Authors: Arafat Imam , Fifield Suzanne , Dunne Theresa
Published: December 2023

Purpose

The current study investigates the impact of directors' attributes on the extent of compliance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) fair value disclosure requirements. The attributes investigated include directors' human capital (accounting qualification) and social capital (political association), directors' share ownership and the power distance between the chief executive officer (CEO) and the rest of the board members.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses disclosure analysis to measure the extent of compliance with the fair value disclosure requirements of IFRS. Ordinary least squares (OLS) regression is used to test the relationship between the disclosure score and directors' attributes. Data were collected from the annual reports and websites of the sample companies.

Findings

Contrary to conventional belief, this study's findings suggest that directors' social capital and the power distance between the CEO and the rest of the board act as more powerful factors than directors' human capital in explaining corporate mandatory disclosure. Specifically, the results indicate that powerful actors form a dominant coalition and co-opt influential constituents from the institutional domain to neutralize the effect of legal coercion and the accounting expertise of board members and Big Four audit firms on the extent of compliance with institutional (fair value) rules.

Research limitations/implications

This study utilizes Oliver's (1991) framework of strategic response to institutional processes in the Bangladeshi context. Although the study provides new insights into corporate disclosure practices, findings are not generalizable due to different institutional settings in different countries. Therefore, future studies could replicate the approach in different institutional settings.

Practical implications

The findings of this study will be of interest to the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) as it focuses on a developing country that has adopted IFRS 13 and other fair value-related standards relatively recently.

Originality/value

The disclosure analysis contained in this study represents the first comprehensive analysis of the extent of compliance with the fair value disclosure requirements of IFRS. Furthermore, this study considers the impact of directors' social capital and finds that it is a more powerful determinant of the extent of compliance with IFRS as compared to human capital.
Novel comparative methodology of hybrid support vector machine with meta-heuristic algorithms to develop an integrated candlestick technical analysis model
Authors: Mahmoodi Armin , Hashemi Leila , Mahmoodi Amin , Mahmoodi Benyamin , Jasemi Milad
Published: December 2023

Purpose

The proposed model has been aimed to predict stock market signals by designing an accurate model. In this sense, the stock market is analysed by the technical analysis of Japanese Candlestick, which is combined by the following meta heuristic algorithms: support vector machine (SVM), meta-heuristic algorithms, particle swarm optimization (PSO), imperialist competition algorithm (ICA) and genetic algorithm (GA).

Design/methodology/approach

In addition, among the developed algorithms, the most effective one is chosen to determine probable sell and buy signals. Moreover, the authors have proposed comparative results to validate the designed model in this study with the same basic models of three articles in the past. Hence, PSO is used as a classification method to search the solution space absolutelyand with the high speed of running. In terms of the second model, SVM and ICA are examined by the time. Where the ICA is an improver for the SVM parameters. Finally, in the third model, SVM and GA are studied, where GA acts as optimizer and feature selection agent.

Findings

Results have been indicated that, the prediction accuracy of all new models are high for only six days, however, with respect to the confusion matrixes results, it is understood that the SVM-GA and SVM-ICA models have correctly predicted more sell signals, and the SCM-PSO model has correctly predicted more buy signals. However, SVM-ICA has shown better performance than other models considering executing the implemented models.

Research limitations/implications

In this study, the authors to analyze the data the long length of time between the years 2013–2021, makes the input data analysis challenging. They must be changed with respect to the conditions.

Originality/value

In this study, two methods have been developed in a candlestick model, they are raw based and signal-based approaches which the hit rate is determined by the percentage of correct evaluations of the stock market for a 16-day period.