bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
PbbHLH137 interacts with PbGIF1 to regulate pear fruit development by promoting cell expansion to increase fruit size
Authors: Sha Guangya , Cheng Jingjing , Wang Xue , Xue Qiyang , Zhang Haiqi , Zhai Rui , Yang Chengquan , Wang Zhigang , Xu Lingfei
Published: July 2024

The regulation of fruit development is a complex process and a core issue in the fruit tree industry. To investigate the role of PbGIF1 in pear fruit development, we identified a transcription factor PbbHLH137 that regulates pear (Pyrus bretschneideri) fruit development by screening a yeast library constructed from fruit cDNA. Yeast two‐hybrid (Y2H), bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC), and split luciferase complementation (split‐LUC) assays were performed to confirm the PbbHLH137–PbGIF1 interaction. By tracing the complete fruit development process, we found that PbbHLH137 expression was closely related to fruit size and highly involved at the late pear fruit development stage. Transgenic experiments showed that heterologous expression of PbbHLH137 or PbGIF1 promoted fruit enlargement. PbbHLH137 promoted mainly the expansion of fruit cell volume, whereas PbGIF1 mainly increased the number of cells. Further LUC experiments demonstrated that PbGIF1 promoted the transcriptional activation ability of PbbHLH137. Our work identified PbbHLH137 as a transcription factor that regulates fruit development, and showed that PbGIF1 played an ongoing role during fruit development, making it a candidate gene for genetic improvement of pear fruit development.
The impact of state Medicaid coverage of abortion on people accessing care in three states
Authors: Heil Susan K. R. , Caglayan Koray , Castillo Graciela , Valenzuela‐Mendez Cristian , Lankford Coretta Mallery , Sgro Gina , Yang Manxi , Downing Lori , Bhalla Meera , Davis Stephanie McNally
Published: July 2024

Context

Medicaid is a major funder of reproductive health services, including family planning and pregnancy‐related care, especially for people with limited income and people of color. Federal Medicaid funds cannot be used for abortion however 16 states allow state Medicaid funds to pay for abortion. In recent years, Illinois and Maine implemented, and West Virginia discontinued, state Medicaid coverage of abortion.

Methodology

With retrospective procedure‐ and patient‐level data obtained from clinics in these three states, we used an interrupted time series design, multivariable regression models, and descriptive statistics to assess changes in procedure volume and patients' share of total procedure price (patient price).

Results

In Maine and Illinois, implementing state Medicaid coverage of abortion contributed to an immediate overall increase in abortion access (as seen by a rise in monthly procedure volume at the time of the policy's implementation), a decrease in patient price (by 36% in Maine and 44% in Illinois) after policy implementation as compared to pre‐implementation, and overall improved access among people of color. Conversely, when West Virginia discontinued coverage, access to care decreased, patient price increased by 130%, and the share of abortion procedures among people of color decreased.

Conclusions

In the fragmented abortion access landscape of the post‐Roe era, our study provides new evidence that financial assistance offered through state Medicaid policies that cover abortion may be most helpful to those facing traditional structural inequities to access, while discontinuation of Medicaid coverage of abortion further burdens those already economically marginalized.
Amicus brief of over 300 reproductive health researchers supports mifepristone's safety and effectiveness
Authors: Barrow Amanda , Cohen Cathren , Serpico Jaclyn , Goodman Melissa , Grossman Daniel , Raifman Sarah , Upadhyay Ushma
Published: July 2024

On January 30, 2024, over 300 researchers filed an amicus brief in FDA v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine, a United States (US) Supreme Court case concerning the regulatory status of mifepristone, one of two drugs used in medication abortion. In this Comment we summarize the legal challenge, responses from the FDA and drug manufacturer to these challenges, oral arguments presented before the Court, and the implications of the Court's decision on access to mifepristone in the US. We also summarize the content of the accompanying amicus brief.
Anxiety is related to slower RSA oscillation during stress response and regulation
Authors: Zhang Chen , Lu Junshi , Gao Guosong , Cui Jinshi , Li Man , Zang Yinyin , Yang Jiongjiong , Wang Li
Published: July 2024

Respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), an index of the parasympathetic nervous system activity, has been considered indicative of stress response and emotion regulation. However, the relationship between RSA and anxiety remains inconclusive, partly because previous research has primarily focused on static RSA levels. In this nonclinical sample (N = 75, Mage = 20.89 ± 1.72 SD, 48 males), we used a damped oscillator model to characterize RSA dynamics across 30‐s epochs while participants completed the Trier social stress test. Results showed that RSA constantly oscillated during the three periods of TSST (namely Rest, Stress, and Recovery). Importantly, slower RSA oscillation in the Stress period was related to elevated state anxiety, whereas in the Recovery period, it was related to higher trait anxiety. These findings demonstrated the dynamic nature of RSA during the whole course of stress response. Slower RSA oscillation may indicate inflexible and tardy physiological regulation which may give rise to anxiety issues.
Catalysts for change: A qualitative study of middle managers' perception of nursing professional competence in primary healthcare
Authors: Wiik Choi Kristian , Vifladt Anne , Høye Sevald
Published: July 2024

Aim

This study aims to explore middle managers' perception of nursing professional competence within the Norwegian primary healthcare service, a sector vital for managing complex patient needs.

Design/Methods

Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with four middle managers across different municipalities in Norway. Qualitative content analyses, following Graneheim and Lundman, were used for analysing the transcription of the interviews and the data collected.

Findings

The qualitative content analysis revealed three main themes: the significance of advanced competence, challenges related to competence development and the necessity for defining advanced competence. The findings indicate that middle managers recognise the importance of advanced nursing competence in providing comprehensive patient care, notwithstanding challenges in manpower and competence enhancement.

Conclusion

This research underlines the significance of investing in increased competence and improved management in primary healthcare and offers valuable insights for healthcare policy and practice to enhance patient care.
Resolution of Peritoneal Dialysis‐Associated Peritonitis From Weissella confusa Combined Gastric Hookworm Disease: A Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Wu Xiujuan , Wu Shaorui , Shan Juanping , Shen Shuijuan , Deng Xuan
Published: July 2024

We reported a rare case of peritoneal dialysis‐associated peritonitis caused by Weissella confusa. In this case, the symptoms of peritonitis were insidious and atypical, with only turbid peritoneal dialysis effluent and no fever or abdominal pain. The peritoneal dialysis effluent showed slightly elevated leukocytes (predominantly lymphocytes). Weissella confusa was confirmed through repeated peritoneal dialysis effluent cultures. Gastroscopy revealed erosive gastritis with a hookworm infection. The patient recovered after antibiotic and deworming treatments. Our report highlights the unusual and atypical symptoms, characterized by insidious onset, turbid peritoneal dialysis fluid, and an absence of typical signs such as fever or abdominal pain.
Optimal redistributive charity
Authors: Aronsson Thomas , Johansson‐Stenman Olof , Wendner Ronald
Published: July 2024

This paper analyzes optimal redistributive charitable giving in a Mirrleesian framework. The status motive behind charity, the stigma from receiving donations, and transaction costs all work to decrease the optimal marginal subsidies on redistributive charity. Because the existing empirical evidence of these effects (when available) is highly uncertain and context‐dependent, the range of possible outcomes is large, and even includes the possibility that charitable giving should be taxed rather than subsidized. In a natural benchmark case, the optimal tax treatment of charitable giving is consistent with a simple tax credit, whereas pure tax deductions are never part of the optimal policy.
Interactions between relationship support from mothers, fathers, and best friends as related to adolescent adjustment during the transition to high school
Authors: Ghosh Rachel A. , Bowker Julie C. , Rubin Kenneth H.
Published: July 2024

Supportive parent‐adolescent relationships are known to promote adolescent adjustment, but less is known about the interactive roles of supportive relationships with mothers, fathers, and best friends. The current study examined the interactive relations between mother‐adolescent, father‐adolescent, and best friend relationship support on adolescent internalizing and externalizing problems across the high school transition. Participants (N = 368, Mage = 13.60, 47% male, 58% White) reported on their perceived support from mothers, fathers, and best friends (at Time 1 [Grade 8]) and their depressive symptoms and externalizing behaviors (at Times 1 and 2 [Grade 9]). Path models revealed no interaction effects involving support from mothers, fathers, and best friends when predicting externalizing symptoms. However, when predicting T2 depressive symptoms, several compensatory interaction effects were found. Father supportiveness moderated the association between maternal supportiveness and later depressive symptoms, and maternal supportiveness similarly moderated the relation between father supportiveness and depressive symptoms. In both instances, more support from one parent was related to fewer depressive symptoms when youth experienced an unsupportive relationship with the other parent. Best friend support also moderated the associations between both maternal support and paternal support and later depressive symptoms, such that maternal and paternal support were related to fewer subsequent depressive symptoms when youth experienced low and average (but not high) levels of friend support. The findings highlight the importance of considering networks of close relationships in the study of depressive symptoms during adolescence.
Reaching across social divides deliberately: Theoretical, political, and practical implications of intergroup contact volition for intergroup relations
Authors: Paolini Stefania , Harwood Jake , Rubin Mark , Huck Jonathan , Dunn Kevin , Dixon John
Published: July 2024

The benefits of positive intergroup contact for intergroup attitudes are well‐established. Yet individual and group self‐segregation practices demonstrate that opportunities for intergroup contact are not sufficient for contact uptake; and persistent institutionalized segregation reinforces and compounds this problem. Hence, we need to understand what drives people towards and away from intergroup contact and what consequences the capacity to deliberately engage or avoid contact has for individuals, groups, and communities. This paper formally introduces the concept of intergroup contact volition: our perceived personal control over intergroup contact engagement and avoidance. We demonstrate this concept's theoretical, political, and practical significance by highlighting its embeddedness in both old and recent literature. We document debates around volition in early intergroup contact research and note a prolonged neglect since. After discussing reasons for that neglect, we present a detailed analysis of the concept, outlining how the idea of volition itself is contested and political, as well as the ways it intersects with broader societal power and status dynamics. We then outline pathways for future research, including investigations of when taking volition away (making contact mandated) might be helpful, intersections between psychological and human geography perspectives on volition, and connections between volition and system justification. We argue that contact volition is intimately and ultimately linked to issues of social change: support of, versus resistance to, policies promoting intergroup integration. As a result, an enhanced understanding of volition is critical to developing intergroup contact research and practice into outcomes that maximize social justice.
Who handles the tough talk? Supervisor sense of power and confronting difficult issues
Authors: Figueroa Alexandra , Goodwin Rachael Dailey , Wakslak Cheryl J.
Published: July 2024

Addressing difficult, controversial, or sensitive issues with employees is a critical component of effective leadership, but discussing uncomfortable topics with subordinates can be daunting, even for those with structural power. Distinguishing between the structural power that supervisors hold, and their situationally felt personal sense of power, we consider here how a supervisor's personal sense of power relates to his or her inclination to confront, or to avoid, difficult conversations, as well as to offer social support in such contexts. Integrating a social role theory perspective, we further consider the role of gender. Across an initial study (N = 588), and a follow‐up replication study (N = 567), we show that personal sense of power predicts supervisor's inclination to confront (and not to avoid) difficult issues in the workplace, as well as to offer social support to the target of conversation. We also consider whether such effects vary across male and female supervisors, finding inconsistent results across studies. In Study 1a, we found that power had less of an effect on the avoidance and support intentions of women than men, such that women (but not men) were more likely to constructively confront the difficult issue head on as well as to offer support, even when they felt low in personal power. These effects did not emerge in Study 1b. However, in both studies, we find a main effect of gender on social support such that women were more likely to provide social support when confronting difficult issues. We speculate about reasons for this inconsistency, and further theorize about the role of personal sense of power and gender in explaining supervisor's engagement in difficult conversations.
Cooperation, domination: Twin functions of third‐party punishment
Authors: Wylie Jordan , Gantman Ana
Published: July 2024

Rules serve many important functions in society. One such function is to codify, and make public and enforceable, a society's desired prescriptions and proscriptions. This codification means that rules come with predefined punishments administered by third parties. We argue that when we look at how third parties punish rule violations, we see that rules and their punishments often serve dual functions. They support and help to maintain cooperation as it is usually theorized, but they also facilitate the domination of marginalized others. We begin by reviewing literature on rules and third‐party punishment, arguing that a great deal of punishment research has neglected to consider the unique power of codified rules. We also argue that by focusing on codified rules, it becomes clear that the enforcement of such rules via third‐party punishment is often used to exert control, punish retributively, and oppress outgroup members. By challenging idealized theory of rules as facilitators of social harmony, we highlight their role in satisfying personal punishment motives, and facilitating discrimination in a way that is uniquely justifiable to those who enforce them.
Enhanced calendar support for temporal datacube queries
Authors: Baumann Peter , Pham Huu Bang , Misev Dimitar , Merticariu Vlad
Published: July 2024

A significant share of our data are timeseries. Time can occur as the single dimension, or further (such as spatial) dimensions can be present as well, leading to multidimensional data such as 3D x/y/t satellite image timeseries or 4D x/y/z/t atmospheric simulations like weather forecasts. However, no user would like to count “seconds since epoch,” rather we all prefer calendar notation. Libraries, SQL, etc. support calendar arithmetics, yet more advanced functionality is needed. Instead of demoting advanced calendar functionality to low‐level coding, it seems desirable to have semantic support for calendars at high‐level, declarative query level. We present a conceptual framework for temporal modeling which allows the expression of a wide range of temporal queries. It smoothly enhances existing calendar handling by adding two new data and query description parameters, period of validity, and granularity. While our work is embedded in spatio‐temporal geo services, it can be incorporated in a non‐breaking manner in any environment needing calendar addressing. The concepts are implemented in an Array DBMS operational on several Petabytes of Earth datacubes.
Impact of machine perfusion on transplant infectious diseases: New challenges and opportunities
Authors: Purssell Andrew , Kumar Deepali
Published: July 2024

Preservation techniques that maintain the viability of an organ graft between retrieval from the donor and implantation into the recipient remain a critical aspect of solid organ transplantation. While traditionally preservation is accomplished with static cold storage, advances in ex vivo dynamic machine perfusion, both hypothermic and normothermic, have allowed for prolongation of organ viability and recovery of marginal organs effectively increasing the usable donor pool.

However, the use of these novel machine perfusion technologies likely exposes the recipient to additional infectious risk either through clonal expansion of pathogens derived during organ recovery or de novo exogenous acquisition of pathogens while the organ remains on the machine perfusion circuit. There is a paucity of high‐quality studies that have attempted to quantify infection risk, although it appears that prolonging the time on the machine perfusion circuit and normothermic parameters increases the risk of infection. Conversely, the use of ex vivo machine perfusion unlocks new opportunities to detect and treat donor‐derived infections before implantation into the recipient.

This review seeks to reveal how the use of ex vivo machine perfusion strategies may augment the risk of infection in the organ recipient as well as outline ways that this technology could be leveraged to enhance our ability to manage donor‐derived infections.
Comparison of cytological findings between direct impression smears and adhesive slides in canine superficial bacterial folliculitis
Authors: Tully M. , Milley C. , Bourgeois A. , Bidot W.
Published: July 2024

Background

Cutaneous cytological investigation is a valuable tool for the diagnosis of superficial bacterial folliculitis (SBF). Studies comparing tape strips and direct impression (DI) smears have demonstrated that DI may recover more inflammatory cells and nuclear streaming (NS). Adhesive slides (AS) have not been evaluated in cutaneous cytological investigation.

Objective

To compare cytological findings between AS and DI for the same lesion in SBF.

Animals

Fifteen client‐owned dogs with clinical signs suggestive of SBF were enrolled.

Materials and Methods

Fifty lesions consistent with SBF comprising collarettes, papules and crusts were included. Half of each lesion was sampled using DI and the other half sampled using AS. Papules were sampled sequentially in a randomised order between techniques. Three investigators blinded to the sample pairings read the slides in duplicate. Ten adjacent oil immersion fields were examined. Bacteria were recorded on a quantitative scale, polymorphonuclear cells (PMN), NS and ‘miscellaneous’ on a qualitative scale, and keratinocytes (KC) on a semiquantitative scale.

Results

Significant differences were identified for KC (DI mean 2.5, SD ±0.08; AS mean 3.3, SD ±0.06, p < 0.0001), ‘miscellaneous’ (DI mean 0.72, SD ±0.03; AS mean 0.83, SD ±0.02 p < 0.0001), NS (DI mean 0.69, SD ±0.03; AS mean 0.56; SD ±0.03, p < 0.0001) and extracellular cocci (DI mean 5.03, ±SD 7.2; AS mean 3.91, ±SD 4.3, p = 0.01).

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance

DI identified more EC cocci and NS, while AS detected more KC and debris. Intra‐ and interobserver agreement varied, with AS having poorer agreement for several parameters. These results can be used to inform the clinician of the best methodology to use in confirming a diagnosis of SBF.
Ecology and molecular analysis of sand flies in Bambuí, Minas Gerais, Brazil: Implications for leishmaniasis surveillance
Authors: Carvalho Gustavo Mayr de Lima , Dutra‐Rêgo Felipe , Andrade‐Filho José Dilermando
Published: July 2024

Introduction

Leishmaniasis stands out as a public health problem in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, especially in the Midwest region. However, the entomological aspects in several municipalities remain unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the sand fly fauna in Bambuí, encompassing ecological dynamics and molecular detection of Leishmania.

Methods

Monthly collections were conducted using CDC light traps from September 2018 to August 2020 across 16 selected points with urban and rural characteristics, chosen based on the coverage area of the Municipal Health Department and the occurrence of canine and human visceral leishmaniasis (VL) cases. Ecological indices of the sand fly population (Chao1, Shannon, Simpson and Pielou) were assessed, and sand fly abundance was correlated to climatic variables (humidity, temperature and rainfall).

Results

A total of 8838 specimens representing 17 species within nine genera were collected (estimated species richness by Chao 1 estimator = 17; SE ± 1.8). Predominantly, Lutzomyia longipalpis, Nyssomyia whitmani and Evandromyia cortelezzii constituted approximately 98% of all captured sand flies. While species richness and diversity displayed variations throughout the study, a positive correlation emerged between temperature (p < 0.0001; r = 0.7767), monthly rainfall (p < 0.0001; r = 0.7810) and sand fly abundance. Molecular analysis revealed Leishmania DNA in 2.05% of female sand flies, with the presence of Leishmania infantum in Lu. longipalpis and both Le. infantum and Leishmania braziliensis in Ev. cortelezzii.

Conclusions

The entomological data, coupled with the occurrence of autochthonous cases of canine visceral leishmaniasis, offer valuable insights for evidence‐based strategies to prevent leishmaniasis in Bambuí.
The inertia bound is far from tight
Authors: Kwan Matthew , Wigderson Yuval
Published: July 2024

The inertia bound and ratio bound (also known as the Cvetković bound and Hoffman bound) are two fundamental inequalities in spectral graph theory, giving upper bounds on the independence number of a graph in terms of spectral information about a weighted adjacency matrix of . For both inequalities, given a graph , one needs to make a judicious choice of weighted adjacency matrix to obtain as strong a bound as possible. While there is a well‐established theory surrounding the ratio bound, the inertia bound is much more mysterious, and its limits are rather unclear. In fact, only recently did Sinkovic find the first example of a graph for which the inertia bound is not tight (for any weighted adjacency matrix), answering a longstanding question of Godsil. We show that the inertia bound can be extremely far from tight, and in fact can significantly underperform the ratio bound: for example, one of our results is that for infinitely many , there is an ‐vertex graph for which even the unweighted ratio bound can prove , but the inertia bound is always at least . In particular, these results address questions of Rooney, Sinkovic, and Wocjan–Elphick–Abiad.
The Stress State in an Elastic Disk Due to a Temperature Variation in One Sector
Authors: Zandekarimi Salman , Royer-Carfagni Gianni
Published: July 2024

Consider a linear elastic infinite disk, a sector of which, of arbitrary opening angle 2β, is subjected to a uniform temperature increase ΔT with respect to the complementary portion. An analytical solution is sought, imagining that the disk is first cut along the interface with the heated sector, now free to expand; then the two parts are re-joined and the thermal mismatch is annihilated by arrays of glide dislocations, distributed along the interfaces. A sequence of approximate solutions is found as the length of the arrays of reconciling dislocations is increased, characterized by a logarithmic stress singularity at the sector tip. However, modulo the particular case 2β=π, the stress grows unboundedly when the length of the dislocation arrays tends to infinity. This is in agreement with the predictions from dimensional analysis, because for the infinite disk problem there is no internal length scale. If the disk is finite in size, its radius R represents an additional length scale enriching the class of solutions, but the analytical treatment results much more complicated. Therefore, we propose to correlate the solution of this problem with that of an infinite disk for which the length of the arrays of reconciling dislocations is finite and depends upon R. An excellent agreement with numerical experiments in abaqus is thus found. An approach of this type can be useful in many engineering problems for which the limit condition of infinite body, though leading to analytic simplifications, could imply spurious results.
A Comprehensive Model to Compute Roll Gap Profile for a Rolling Mill Including Bearing and Mill Housing Deflections
Authors: Previati Giorgio , Stabile Pietro , Ballo Federico , Sghirlanzoni Davide , Frascino Leonardo
Published: July 2024

Obtaining the desired strip profile is of paramount importance in cold rolling. The final strip profile depends on several parameters of the plants including crown and taper profiles and segmented backup roll positions. This paper aims to present a newly developed combined finite element–analytical model of the rolling mill able to model not only the roll cluster but also the mill housing and backup bearings deformations. This makes the proposed model especially suitable to simulate cluster-type rolling mills. The model exploits a modified elastic foundation formulation for a precise computation of the contact forces between rolls, taking into account rolls’ crown and taper. A reduced stiffness matrix approach is implemented for accurate mill housing modeling. A full 3D finite element model of the rolling mill and experimental data are used for the validation of the presented model. By exploiting the validated model, the paper shows that the deformation of supporting bearings and mill housing plays a crucial role in the strip profile calculation and should be included in any cluster-type roll mill model.
Pharmacogenetic determinants of tenofovir diphosphate and lamivudine triphosphate concentrations in people with HIV/HBV coinfection
Authors: Bae Jihyun , Tantawy Marwa , Gong Yan , Langaee Taimour , Lartey Margaret , Ganu Vincent , Tachi Kenneth , Ojewale Oluwayemisi , Obo-Akwa Adjoa , Boamah Isaac , Bushman Lane R. , Ellison Lucas , Yang Hongmei , Anderson Peter L. , Kwara Awewura
Published: July 2024

The nucleos(t)ide analogs require phosphorylation to the pharmacologically active anabolites in cells. We investigated the hypothesis that single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes that encode transporters and phosphodiesterase (PDE) enzymes involved in tenofovir (TFV), disoproxil fumarate (TDF), and lamivudine (3TC) disposition will be associated with concentrations of their phosphate anabolites and virologic response. Individuals with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) coinfection receiving TDF/3TC-containing antiretroviral therapy were enrolled. Steady-state TFV diphosphate (TFV-DP) and 3TC triphosphate (3TC-TP) concentrations in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and dried blood spot samples were quantified. The relationship between genetic variants and TFV-DP and 3TC-TP concentrations as well as with virologic response were examined using multivariable linear regression. Of the 136 participants (median age 43 years; 63% females), 6.6% had HBV non-suppression, and 7.4% had HIV non-suppression. The multidrug resistance protein 2 (encoded by
ABCC2
rs2273697) SNP was associated with 3TC-TP concentrations in PBMCs. The human organic anion transporter-1 (encoded by
SLC28A2
) rs11854484 SNP was associated with HIV non-suppression, and when evaluated together with SNPs with marginal associations (
ABCC2
rs717620 and
PDE1C
rs30561), participants with two or three variants compared to those with none of these variants had an adjusted odds ratio of 48.3 (confidence interval, 4.3–547.8) for HIV non-suppression. None of the SNPs were associated with HBV non-suppression. Our study identified
ABCC2
SNP to be associated with 3TC-TP concentrations in PBMCs. Also, a combination of genetic variants of drug transporters and PDE was associated with HIV non-suppression.
Effective inhibition of PDCoV infection in chimeric APN gene-edited neonatal pigs
Authors: Li Jizong , Zhou Jian , Zhang Tianyi , Wu Heyong , Li Feng , Qi Chunyun , Fan Liyuan , Yuan Xuesong , Wang Wei , Guo Rongli , Fan Baochao , Tang Xiaochun , Pang Daxin , Ouyang Hongsheng , Xie Zicong , Li Bin
Published: July 2024

Porcine deltacoronavirus (PDCoV), an emerging enteropathogenic coronavirus, is a serious threat to piglets and has zoonotic potential. Here, we aimed to further explore the role of aminopeptidase N (APN) as a receptor for PDCoV and test the inhibitory effect of a chimeric APN protein strategy on PDCoV infection. PK-15 cells and LLC-PK1 cells expressing chimeric APN were selected and infected with PDCoV. Viral replication was significantly decreased in these chimeric APN cells compared with that in control group cells. To further characterize the effect of the chimeric APN strategy on PDCoV infection
in vitro
, primary intestinal epithelial cells isolated from chimeric APN pigs were inoculated with PDCoV. Viral challenge of these cells led to decreased PDCoV infection. More importantly, virally challenged chimeric APN neonatal piglets displayed reduced viral load, significantly fewer microscopic lesions in the intestinal tissue, and no diarrhea. Taken together, these findings deepen our understanding of the mechanism of PDCoV infection and provide a valuable model for the production of disease-resistant animals.

IMPORTANCE

Porcine deltacoronavirus (PDCoV), an emerging enteropathogenic coronavirus, causes diarrhea in piglets and possesses the potential to infect humans. However, there are currently no effective measures for the prevention or control of PDCoV infection. Here, we have developed PK-15 cells, LLC-PK1 cells, and primary intestinal epithelial cells expressing chimeric APN, and viral challenge of these cells led to decreased PDCoV infection. Furthermore, virally challenged chimeric APN neonatal piglets displayed reduced viral load, significantly fewer microscopic lesions in the intestinal tissue, and no diarrhea. These data show that chimeric APN is a promising strategy to combat PDCoV infection.
cAMP signaling of
Bordetella
adenylate cyclase toxin blocks M-CSF triggered upregulation of iron acquisition receptors on differentiating CD14
+
monocytes
Authors: Ahmad Jawid Nazir , Sebo Peter
Published: July 2024

Bordetella pertussis
infects the upper airways of humans and disarms host defense by the potent immuno-subversive activities of its pertussis (PT) and adenylate cyclase (CyaA) toxins. CyaA action near-instantly ablates the bactericidal activities of sentinel CR3-expressing myeloid phagocytes by hijacking cellular signaling pathways through the unregulated production of cAMP. Moreover, CyaA-elicited cAMP signaling also inhibits the macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF)-induced differentiation of incoming inflammatory monocytes into bactericidal macrophages. We show that CyaA/cAMP signaling via protein kinase A (PKA) downregulates the M-CSF-elicited expression of monocyte receptors for transferrin (CD71) and hemoglobin-haptoglobin (CD163), as well as the expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) involved in iron liberation from internalized heme. The impact of CyaA action on CD71 and CD163 levels in differentiating monocytes is largely alleviated by the histone deacetylase inhibitor trichostatin A (TSA), indicating that CyaA/cAMP signaling triggers epigenetic silencing of genes for micronutrient acquisition receptors. These results suggest a new mechanism by which
B. pertussis
evades host sentinel phagocytes to achieve proliferation on airway mucosa.

IMPORTANCE

To establish a productive infection of the nasopharyngeal mucosa and proliferate to sufficiently high numbers that trigger rhinitis and aerosol-mediated transmission, the pertussis agent
Bordetella pertussis
deploys several immunosuppressive protein toxins that compromise the sentinel functions of mucosa patrolling phagocytes. We show that cAMP signaling elicited by very low concentrations (22 pM) of
Bordetella
adenylate cyclase toxin downregulates the iron acquisition systems of CD14
+
monocytes. The resulting iron deprivation of iron, a key micronutrient, then represents an additional aspect of CyaA toxin action involved in the inhibition of differentiation of monocytes into the enlarged bactericidal macrophage cells. This corroborates the newly discovered paradigm of host defense evasion mechanisms employed by bacterial pathogens, where manipulation of cellular cAMP levels blocks monocyte to macrophage transition and replenishment of exhausted phagocytes, thereby contributing to the formation of a safe niche for pathogen proliferation and dissemination.
Marburg virus exploits the Rab11-mediated endocytic pathway in viral-particle production
Authors: Furuyama Wakako , Yamada Kento , Sakaguchi Miako , Marzi Andrea , Nanbo Asuka
Published: July 2024

Filoviruses produce viral particles with characteristic filamentous morphology. The major viral matrix protein, VP40, is trafficked to the plasma membrane and promotes viral particle formation and subsequent viral egress. In the present study, we assessed the role of the small GTPase Rab11-mediated endocytic pathway in Marburg virus (MARV) particle formation and budding. Although Rab11 was predominantly localized in the perinuclear region, it exhibited a more diffuse distribution in the cytoplasm of cells transiently expressing MARV VP40. Rab11 was incorporated into MARV-like particles. Expression of the dominant-negative form of Rab11 and knockdown of Rab11 decreased the amount of VP40 fractions in the cell periphery. Moreover, downregulation of Rab11 moderately reduced the release of MARV-like particles and authentic MARV. We further demonstrated that VP40 induces the distribution of the microtubule network toward the cell periphery, which was partly associated with Rab11. Depolymerization of microtubules reduced the accumulation of VP40 in the cell periphery along with viral particle formation. VP40 physically interacted with α-tubulin, a major component of microtubules, but not with Rab11. Taken together, these results suggested that VP40 partly interacts with microtubules and facilitates their distribution toward the cell periphery, leading to the trafficking of transiently tethering Rab11-positive vesicles toward the cell surface. As we previously demonstrated the role of Rab11 in the formation of Ebola virus particles, the results here suggest that filoviruses in general exploit the vesicle-trafficking machinery for proper virus-particle formation and subsequent egress. These pathways may be a potential target for the development of pan-filovirus therapeutics.

IMPORTANCE

Filoviruses, including Marburg and Ebola viruses, produce distinct filamentous viral particles. Although it is well known that the major viral matrix protein of these viruses, VP40, is trafficked to the cell surface and promotes viral particle production, details regarding the associated molecular mechanisms remain unclear. To address this knowledge gap, we investigated the role of the small GTPase Rab11-mediated endocytic pathway in this process. Our findings revealed that Marburg virus exploits the Rab11-mediated vesicle-trafficking pathway for the release of virus-like particles and authentic virions in a microtubule network-dependent manner. Previous findings demonstrated that Rab11 is also involved in Ebola virus-particle production. Taken together, these data suggest that filoviruses, in general, may hijack the microtubule-dependent vesicle-trafficking machinery for productive replication. Therefore, this pathway presents as a potential target for the development of pan-filovirus therapeutics.
Determinants of microbial community structure in supraglacial pool sediments of monsoonal Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Fair Heather , Hamilton Trinity L. , Smiley Peter C. , Liu Qiao
Published: July 2024

Supraglacial pools are prevalent on debris-covered mountain glaciers, yet only limited information is available on the microbial communities within these habitats. Our research questions for this preliminary study were: (1) What microbes occur in supraglacial pool sediments of monsoonal Tibet?; (2) Which abiotic and biotic habitat variables have the most influence on the microbial community structure?; and (3) Does microbial composition of supraglacial pool sediments differ from that of glacial-melt stream pool sediments? We collected microbial samples for 16S rRNA sequencing and invertebrates for enumeration and identification and measured 14 abiotic variables from 46 supraglacial pools and nine glacial-melt stream pools in 2018 and 2019. Generalized linear model analyses, small sample Akaike information criterion, and variable importance scores were used to identify the best predictor variables of microbial community structure. Multi-response permutation procedure (MRPP) was used to compare taxa composition between supraglacial pools and stream pools. The most abundant phyla in supraglacial pool sediments were Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidota, Chloroflexi, and Cyanobacteria. Genera richness, indicator genera richness, and
Polaromonas
relative abundance were best predicted by Chironomidae larvae abundance.
Angustibacter
and
Oryzihumus
relative abundance were best predicted by pH,
Acidiphilium
relative abundance was best predicted by turbidity, and
Sphingomonas
relative abundance was best predicted by glacier zone. Taxa composition was similar between supraglacial and stream pools at the class, genus, and ASV taxonomic levels. Our results indicate that Chironomidae larvae may play a keystone species role in shaping bacterial communities of supraglacial pools on debris-covered glaciers.

IMPORTANCE

Glacier meltwater habitats (cryoconite holes, supraglacial pools, supraglacial ponds and lakes, glacial streams) and their biota have not been well-studied, especially on debris-covered glaciers in temperate monsoonal regions. Our study is the first to document the microbial community-habitat relationships in supraglacial pools on a debris-covered glacier in Tibet. Microbial genera richness, indicator genera richness, and
Polaromonas
relative abundance declined with increasing larval Chironomidae abundance, which is a novel finding that highlights the importance of larval insects in structuring microbial communities in supraglacial pools.
Balancing the oceanic Zn isotope budget: The key role of deep-sea pelagic sediments
Authors: Zhang Ganglan , Zhu Yangtao , Deng Yinan , Cao Jun , Wang Pengcong , Yang Ao , He Gaowen , Zhao Bin , Zhao Mingyu
Published: July 2024

Oxygenated deep-sea pelagic sediments with Fe-Mn–oxide particles represent a key oceanic oxic sink for transition metals in the modern ocean. However, the isotopic composition of authigenic Zn in the pelagic zone remains poorly constrained, which hampers our understanding of the global budget of Zn isotopes. Here, we analyzed the Zn isotopic compositions of two deep-sea pelagic sediment columns collected from the Pacific Ocean. The results show that authigenic Zn in deep-sea sediments is primarily hosted by the Fe-Mn (oxyhydr)oxides. The light Zn isotopic signatures (δ66Zn: −0.02‰ to 0.34‰, n = 42; computed as the per mille deviation of the 66Zn/64Zn ratio from the JMC-Lyon standard) observed in deep-sea sediments are completely different from the previously assumed values of ~1.0‰ based on the Zn isotopic compositions of Fe-Mn crusts and nodules. Based on this observation (Zn flux of deep-sea sediments = 5.3 × 108 mol yr–1), we propose a new, balanced global budget for Zn isotopes.
СО2 and СН4 Fluxes in Wetland Ecosystems of the Mezquital Valley, Central Mexico
Authors: García-Calderón N. E. , Fuentes-Romero E. , Ikkonen E. , Sidorova V.
Published: July 2024

We measured dark CO2 fluxes and CH4 emissions from two naturally vegetated ecosystems of the Mezquital Valley irrigated with wastewater from Mexico City. The ecosystems were characterized by high groundwater levels; the vegetation was represented mainly by saltgrass in the first plot and chairmaker’s bulrush in the second. A dark chamber technique was used for the study from August 2008 to June 2009. For the two studied plots, mean values (mean ± SE) for dark ecosystem CO2 fluxes (Rtot), soil CO2 emission (Rsoil), and heterotrophic respiration (Rhet) were 26 ± 5, 14 ± 3 and 12 ± 3 mg C m–2 h–1, respectively, The annual cumulative fluxes Rtot, Rsoil and Rhet equal to 234, 127 and 103 g C m–2 y–1, respectively. The contribution of Rsoil to Rtot, and Rhet to Rsoil varied significantly over the study period, with no clear relationship to seasonal dynamics. The observed low CO2 fluxes may be due to soil salinization resulting from wastewater flooding. The fluxes of CH4 were observed in the flooded plot, with peaks up to 370 µg C m–2 h–1. The fluxes of CH4 were significantly higher when plants were present in the measurement chamber than when there were no plants, confirming the important role of plant cover in CH4 transport. Unlike CH4 fluxes, CO2 fluxes show seasonal dynamics, mainly due to their strong dependence on temperature. The observed results may be useful for properly estimating the global C budget and the contribution of saline soils to C fluxes.
Nettle-induced Urticaria Treatment Study (NUTS): demonstrating the joy of research through a randomised, blinded, placebo-controlled trial
Authors: Raman Rajendra , Beddis Tom , Bonhomme Paul , Currer Maggie , Day Daniel , Haigh Chloe , Pitt Elspeth , Robertson Alexander , Robertson Heather , Roy Bappa , Wood Jennifer
Published: July 2024

The use of dock leaves to ease the discomfort of nettle stings is a well-known folk remedy in the British Isles, yet has never been tested in a clinical trial. A group of Emergency Department doctors designed and conducted the Nettle-induced Urticaria Treatment Study (NUTS) as a research training and team-building exercise to address this gap in the Emergency Medicine evidence base.
Landslide life-loss risk quantification based on historical fatalities
Authors: Strouth Alex , McDougall Scott , Mark Emily , LeSueur Philip , Holm Kris
Published: July 2024

Life-loss risk estimates inform decisions that have dramatic impacts on individuals and communities in landslide hazard zones. Literature provides methods for making these estimates through multiplication of site-specific parameters. However, there is no method in the literature for calibrating those estimates, and regional context is needed to make efficient, fair, and affordable decisions. Therefore, we developed methods to quantify risk to individuals and groups based on regional historical fatality and hazard zone population data. The methods can be used to evaluate the accuracy of large sets of site-specific risk estimates, to assign quantitative risk values to buildings and hazard zones at a regional scale, to develop a long-term regional budget for landslide risk management, or to inform selection of a risk tolerance threshold that can inform where limited resources are invested in landslide mitigation. An example of the methods is provided for a case study of residential landslide risk in British Columbia, Canada. It estimates that there are between a few hundred and a few thousand people living with individual risk exceeding 100 micromorts (1 in 10 000) per year, and between 70 and 370 landslide hazard zones with annual probable life loss greater than 1E–3 (1 death in 1000 years), based on a historical fatality rate of 0.4 to 1.4 deaths per year across the entire province.
Surfactant-assisted hydrothermal synthesis of FeVO4 nanoparticles for supercapacitor applications
Authors: George Amal , Rahul S. , Dhayal Raj A. , Yang Q. , Sridevi C. , Madona J.
Published: July 2024

Due to their high capacitance, stability, and conductivity, binary transition metal oxides, such as iron vanadate, have the potential to be ideal electrode materials for supercapacitors. The effect of surfactants such as polyethylene glycol, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, and thioglycolic acid (TGA) on the formation and properties (structural, morphological, optical, and vibrational) of iron vanadate nanoparticles has been investigated using various analytical techniques. The results show that the surfactants significantly influence the morphology of the prepared FeVO4 nanoparticles. The nanoparticles prepared using TGA show a nanomat-like structure with the smallest particle size, and they were subjected to Cyclic Voltammetry analysis, showing a specific capacitance of 48 Fg−1 and demonstrating potential to be used for supercapacitors.
Impact of International Food Standards on Firms’ Export Behavior: A Case of Indian Marine Industry
Authors: Gupta Aishwary Kant , Sangita Seema , Kallummal Murali
Published: July 2024

Exporters of food products face stringent standards due to the possibility of contaminations and diseases. Standards are complex, varying across countries, time and stage of production. The cost of compliance is, typically, borne by the exporting firm. This paper examines the impact of international food standards on the export behavior of Indian marine firms. Standards negatively affect the value of exports and participation in trade. Further, there is a heterogeneous impact of standards. Relatively larger, profitable and productive firms are able to comply with the standards and gain from them. The long-term implication could be the concentration of market power in this industry.
A comprehensive analysis of LSTM techniques for predicting financial market
Authors: Kumar Harish , Taluja Anuradha , Kumar Parsanjeet
Published: July 2024

The “Financial Engineering” has revolutionized the financial industry by integrating mathematics, finance, economics, statistics, and computational tools to solve complex problems like risk management and portfolio optimization. This interdisciplinary approach has given rise to “AI in Finance”, merging the quantitative techniques of financial engineering with AI’s data-driven capabilities. In this survey, we explore concrete examples of their real-world impact. One such example involves a leading investment firm using machine learning algorithms to analyze market sentiments for informed trading decisions, resulting in significant returns. Additionally, AI-driven credit scoring models are expanding financial access by accurately assessing creditworthiness, especially for underserved populations. Natural language processing algorithms are also employed to parse financial news and social media data, providing investors with timely insights to navigate volatile markets effectively. These advancements highlight the transformative potential of financial engineering and AI in finance. By optimizing investment strategies and mitigating risks, they drive innovation and resilience in today’s dynamic financial landscape. From algorithmic trading to credit risk assessment and market sentiment analysis, the fusion of these disciplines is reshaping traditional paradigms and shaping the future of finance.