bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Interactions between environmental sensitivity and gut microbiota are associated with biomarkers of stress-related psychiatric symptoms
Authors: Iimura Shuhei , Takasugi Satoshi , Yasuda Miyabi , Saito Yoshie , Morifuji Masashi
Published: April 2023

Background

Humans vary in their sensitivity to stressful and supportive environments and experiences. Such individual differences in environmental sensitivity are associated with mechanisms of stress-related psychiatric symptoms. In recent years, researchers have focused on bidirectional interactions in the brain-gut-microbiota axis as a neurophysiological pathway contributing to the mechanisms of stress-related psychiatric symptoms, and evidence is rapidly accumulating.

Methods

Data on environmental sensitivity, gut microbiota, gut permeability (lipopolysaccharide-binding protein; LBP) and inflammation (C-reactive protein; CRP) were collected from 90 adults (50% female;Mage= 42.1;SDage= 10.0). Environmental sensitivity was measured using a self-report questionnaire. Study participants’ feces were analyzed, and observed operational taxonomic units for richness, Shannon’s index for evenness, and phylogenetic diversity for biodiversity were evaluated as indicators of gut microbiota. In addition, participants’ serum was analyzed for CRP and LBP. We investigated whether the interaction between environmental sensitivity and gut microbiota is associated with biomarkers of inflammation and gut permeability.

Results

The interaction between environmental sensitivity and gut microbiota (excluding the Shannon’s index) explained the levels of these biomarkers. Individuals with high environmental sensitivity displayed higher levels of CRP and LBP, when the richness and diversity of the gut microbiota was low. However, even highly susceptible individuals had lower levels of CRP and LBP, when the richness and diversity of the gut microbiota was high.

Conclusions

Our study indicates that high environmental sensitivity can be a risk factor for inflammation and gut permeability, when the gut microbiota diversity is low, suggesting a brain-gut-microbiota axis interaction.
Cue Disparity and Visual Selective Attention in Praying Mantises
Authors: Robert Théo , Ting Tan Yi , Ganot Dune , Loh Yi Jie , Nityananda Vivek
Published: April 2023

Research on insect selective attention has typically investigated it using stimuli in a single plane. The importance of cues to depth, such as stereoscopic disparity, is less well understood. Recent findings on the neurobiology of mantis stereopsis demonstrated centrifugal neuronal connections from the central brain to peripheral optic areas, suggesting the possibility of attentional modulation. To test this, we investigated whether the disparity of a prior cue influences mantis tracking of 3D targets. We fitted mantises with 3D glasses and presented them with a cue, followed by two 3D stimuli – a high contrast target and a distractor with different contrasts. The cue appeared either on the side of the target or the distractor. We varied the disparity of the cue and measured the influence of the cue on the probability of head saccades to the target. Our results show that, compared to the uncued condition, cues with a crossed or an uncrossed disparity reduced head saccades to a single target when presented on the opposite side of the screen. These effects were not seen for cues with zero disparity. The effects of cues of different disparities did not themselves differ significantly, but crossed and uncrossed disparity cues had a stronger effect than zero disparity cues. Our results show that mantis selective attention is influenced by the presence and position of prior cues with a potential influence of cue disparity. This adds further evidence for the complexity of attention-like processes in insects.
Spectrally and temporally resolved estimation of neural signal diversity
Authors: Mediano Pedro A.M. , Rosas Fernando E. , Luppi Andrea I. , Noreika Valdas , Seth Anil K. , Carhart-Harris Robin L. , Barnett Lionel , Bor Daniel
Published: April 2023

Quantifying the complexity of neural activity has provided fundamental insights into cognition, consciousness, and clinical conditions. However, the most widely used approach to estimate the complexity of neural dynamics, Lempel-Ziv complexity (LZ), has fundamental limitations that substantially restrict its domain of applicability. In this article we leverage the information-theoretic foundations of LZ to overcome these limitations by introducing a complexity estimator based on state-space models —which we dubComplexity via State-space Entropy Rate(CSER). While having a performance equivalent to LZ in discriminating states of consciousness, CSER boasts two crucial advantages: 1) CSER offers a principled decomposition into spectral components, which allows us to rigorously investigate the relationship between complexity and spectral power; and 2) CSER provides a temporal resolution two orders of magnitude better than LZ, which allows complexity analyses of e.g. event-locked neural signals. As a proof of principle, we use MEG, EEG and ECoG datasets of humans and monkeys to show that CSER identifies the gamma band as the main driver of complexity changes across states of consciousness; and reveals early entropy increases thatprecedethe standard ERP in an auditory mismatch negativity paradigm by approximately 20ms. Overall, by overcoming the main limitations of LZ and substantially extending its range of applicability, CSER opens the door to novel investigations on the fine-grained spectral and temporal structure of the signal complexity associated with cognitive processes and conscious states.
Identification and Characterisation of Proteins Binding to a G-Quadruplex Origin G-rich Repeated Element in Mammalian Cells
Authors: Hutchins James R. A. , Peiffer Isabelle , Urbach Serge , Mergny Jean-Louis , Marin Philippe , Maiorano Domenico , Méchali Marcel
Published: April 2023

In metazoan cells, replication of genomic DNA initiates from thousands of discrete chromosomal loci known as origins. Proteins such as the Origin Recognition Complex (ORCs) associate with origins, but this does not show clear sequence specificity for DNA binding. Genome-wide origin mapping studies have shown that the region surrounding the replication initiation site contains motifs such as the Origin G-rich Repeated Element (OGRE), proximal to the majority of origins. Here, using an approach coupling DNA affinity purification to quantitative proteomics, we identified proteins that interact specifically with an OGRE. Three of the top-scoring interactors, Dhx36, Pura and Tial1, were selected for further study. We show that Dhx36 and Tial1 localise to the nucleus and their knockdown decreased cells in S-phase resulting in their accumulation in the G1phase of the cell cycle. Altogether these results indicate that these OGRE-binding factors may play roles in DNA synthesis in mammalian cells.
Optical polarization evolution and transmission in multi-Ranvier-node axonal myelin-sheath waveguides
Authors: Frede Emily , Zadeh-Haghighi Hadi , Simon Christoph
Published: April 2023

In neuroscience, it is of interest to consider all possible modes of information transfer between neurons in order to fully understand processing in the brain. It has been suggested that photonic communication may be possible along axonal connections, especially through the myelin sheath as a waveguide, due to its high refractive index. There is already a good deal of theoretical and experimental evidence for light guidance in the myelin sheath; however, the question of how the polarization of light is transmitted remains largely unexplored. It is presently unclear whether polarization-encoded information could be preserved within the myelin sheath. We simulate guided mode propagation through a myelinated axon structure with multiple Ranvier nodes. This allows both to observe polarization change and to test the assumption of exponentiated transmission loss through multiple Ranvier nodes for guided light in myelin sheath waveguides. We find that the polarization can be well preserved through multiple nodes and that transmission losses through multiple nodes are approximately multiplicative. These results provide an important context for the hypothesis of neural information transmission facilitated by biophotons, strengthening the possibility of both classical and quantum photonic communication within the brain.
Spatiotemporal patterns of cortical microstructural maturation in children and adolescents with diffusion MRI
Authors: Lynch Kirsten M. , Cabeen Ryan P. , Toga Arthur W.
Published: April 2023

Neocortical maturation is a dynamic process that proceeds in a hierarchical manner; however, the spatiotemporal organization of cortical microstructure with diffusion MRI has yet to be fully defined. This study characterized cortical microstructural maturation using diffusion MRI (fwe-DTI and NODDI multi-compartment modeling) in a cohort of 637 children and adolescents between 8 and 21 years of age. We found spatially heterogeneous developmental patterns broadly demarcated into functional domains where NODDI metrics increased and fwe-DTI metrics decreased with age. Using non-negative matrix factorization, we found cortical regions that correspond to lower-order sensory regions mature earlier than higher-order association regions. Our findings corroborate previous histological and neuroimaging studies that show spatially-varying patterns of cortical maturation that may reflect unique developmental processes of cytoarchitectonically-determined regional patterns of change.
RIF1 regulates replication origin activity and early replication timing in B cells
Authors: Malzl Daniel , Peycheva Mihaela , Rahjouei Ali , Gnan Stefano , Klein Kyle N. , Nazarova Mariia , Schoeberl Ursula E. , Gilbert David M. , Buonomo Sara C. B. , Virgilio Michela Di , Neumann Tobias , Pavri Rushad
Published: April 2023

The mammalian DNA replication timing (RT) program is crucial for the proper functioning and integrity of the genome. The best-known mechanism for controlling RT is the suppression of late origins of replication in heterochromatin by RIF1. Here, we report that in antigen-activated B lymphocytes, RIF1 binds predominantly to early-replicating active chromatin, regulates early origin firing and promotes early replication. RIF1 has a minor role in gene expression and genome organization in B cells. Furthermore, we find that RIF1 functions in a complementary and non-epistatic manner with minichromosome maintenance (MCM) proteins to establish early RT signatures genome-wide and, specifically, to ensure the early replication of highly transcribed genes. These findings reveal new layers of regulation within the B cell RT program, driven by the coordinated activity of RIF1 and MCM proteins.
Vasopressin regulates social play behavior in sex-specific ways through glutamate modulation in the lateral septum
Authors: Bredewold Remco , Washington Catherine , Veenema Alexa H.
Published: April 2023

Social play is a highly rewarding behavior that is essential for the development of social skills. Social play is impaired in children diagnosed with autism, a disorder with a strong sex bias in prevalence. We recently showed that the arginine vasopressin (AVP) system in the lateral septum (LS) regulates social play behavior sex-specifically in juvenile rats: Administration of a AVP 1a receptor (V1aR) antagonist increased social play behavior in males and decreased it in females. Here, we demonstrate that glutamate, but not GABA, is involved in the sex-specific regulation of social play by the LS-AVP system. First, males show higher extracellular glutamate concentrations in the LS than females while they show similar extracellular GABA concentrations. This resulted in a baseline sex difference in excitatory/inhibitory balance, which was eliminated by V1aR antagonist administration into the LS: V1aR antagonist increased extracellular glutamate release in females but not in males. Second, administration of the glutamate receptor agonist L-glutamic acid into the LS prevented the V1aR antagonist-induced increase in social play behavior in males while mimicking the V1aR antagonist-induced decrease in social play behavior in females. Third, administration of the glutamate receptor antagonists AP-5 and CNQX into the LS prevented the V1aR antagonist-induced decrease in social play behavior in females. Last, both sexes showed increases in extracellular LS-GABA release upon V1aR antagonist administration into the LS and decreases in social play behavior upon administration of the GABA-A receptor agonist muscimol into the LS, suggesting that GABA is not involved in the sex-specific regulation of social play by the LS-AVP system. Finally, to start identifying the cellular mechanism mediating the sex-specific effects of the LS-AVP system on LS-glutamate, we determined the presence of potential sex differences in the type of LS cells expressing V1aR. However, no sex differences were found in the percentage of Avpr1a+ LS cells expressing markers for either GABAergic neurons, somatostatin-expressing neurons, calbindin 1-expressing neurons, or astrocytes. In conclusion, these findings demonstrate that the LS-AVP system regulates social play sex-specifically via differential local glutamatergic neurotransmission in male and female juvenile rats. Further research is required to uncover the underlying cellular mechanism.
Reward timescale controls the rate of behavioral and dopaminergic learning
Authors: Burke Dennis A , Taylor Annie , Jeong Huijeong , Lee SeulAh , Wu Brenda , Floeder Joseph R , K Namboodiri Vijay Mohan
Published: April 2023

Learning the causes of rewards is necessary for survival. Thus, it is critical to understand the mechanisms of such a vital biological process. Cue-reward learning is controlled by mesolimbic dopamine and improves with spacing of cue-reward pairings. However, whether a mathematical rule governs such improvements in learning rate, and if so, whether a unifying mechanism captures this rule and dopamine dynamics during learning remain unknown. Here, we investigate the behavioral, algorithmic, and dopaminergic mechanisms governing cuereward learning rate. Across a range of conditions in mice, we show a strong, mathematically proportional relationship between both behavioral and dopaminergic learning rates and the duration between rewards. Due to this relationship, removing up to 19 out of 20 cue-reward pairings over a fixed duration has no influence on overall learning. These findings are explained by a dopamine-based model of retrospective learning, thereby providing a unified account of the biological mechanisms of learning.
Machine-learning-assisted automation of single-crystal neutron diffraction
Authors: Hao Yiqing , Feng Erxi , Lu Dan , Zimmer Leah , Morgan Zachary , Chakoumakos Bryan C. , Zhang Guannan , Cao Huibo
Published: April 2023

Neutron scattering is a powerful but expensive technique to study materials and discover new matter. Advanced detector technology has significantly improved the efficiency of neutron experiments, increasing the complexity of neutron data reduction and analysis. Machine learning (ML) brings new directions for neutron diffraction data reduction and experiment operation. This work presents an ML-assisted data reduction and analysis method for precise recognition of Bragg peaks and the corresponding regions of interest; it can then automatically screen and align a measured crystal using the recognized peaks, and subsequently plan and optimize the data collection with user-provided information and uncertainty quantification values of detected peaks. This method shows robust performance in different complex sample environments and enables automated single-crystal neutron diffraction.
Bridging distance through zooming? The use of virtual assignments in multinational corporations
Authors: Wicht Luisa , Holtbrügge Dirk
Published: April 2023

Purpose

Virtual assignments, in which the virtual assignees do not relocate to host locations, but work remotely, have several advantages compared to traditional international assignments, such as enhanced flexibility, cost-efficiency and the possibility that virtual assignees can stay in their home communities. However, it is open to question whether virtual assignments are as effective as traditional assignments. The purpose of this study is to compare the ability of virtual vs traditional assignees to bridge the distance between headquarters and subsidiaries.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on a survey among virtual and traditional assignees, the ability to bridge multiple facets of distance is examined.

Findings

The results indicate that virtual and traditional assignees have similar abilities to bridge geographic, cultural, functional and language distance. However, traditional assignees have a higher ability to bridge emotional and temporal distance.

Originality/value

By applying the distance framework to virtual assignments, a new theoretical perspective is introduced and the importance of clearly disentangling distance-bridging abilities is highlighted. One practical recommendation is that, due to lower costs and reduced coordination efforts required for virtual assignments, this assignment type is preferable if the cultural, language, functional and geographic distances are the most problematic ones during international assignments.
Self-service technology recovery: the importance of psychological need support
Authors: Keating Byron W. , Aslan Marjan
Published: April 2023

Purpose

The service recovery literature provides little guidance to firms on how users of self-service technology (SST) perceive assistance provided by human and non-human service agents following a service obstacle. This research responds by addressing two important research questions about SST recovery: (1) how are perceptions of assistance provided following a service obstacle influenced by a customer's psychological needs? and (2) does supporting the psychological needs of customers positively impact continuance intentions following a service obstacle?

Design/methodology/approach

Data are collected to address the research questions via five experiments that explore how assistance provided by a non-human (vs human vs no assistance) service agent contributes to perceptions of psychological support and continuance intentions following a service obstacle while volitionally using SST.

Findings

The results show that while users of SST would prefer to do so without an obstacle requiring intervention of a service agent, if assistance is required then the psychological need support elicited from a non-human service agent was vital to an effective recovery. Further, the findings highlight some boundary conditions for this relationship, with the impact of customer perceived need support on continuance intentions found to be sensitive to fit between the task and assistance provided and the complexity of the task being completed.

Originality/value

Much of the prior service recovery literature has emphasized the different types of tactics that can be used (e.g. apologizing, monetary compensation and explaining what happened), failing to appreciate the role of different types of service agents or the underlying psychological process that explain the relative merit of such tactics. The present research shows that for these tactics to influence continuance intentions, they must be provided by a relevant service agent and support a customer's psychological need for autonomy, competence and relatedness. The hypothesized impact of psychological need support on continuance intentions was also observed to be contingent upon the fit between the task and the type of assistance provided, where the level of task complexity attenuated this fit.
Evidence, hints and assumptions for late pregnancy in the Ancient Mediterranean and Near East
Authors: Malamitsi‐Puchner Ariadne , Konstantakos Ioannis M.
Published: April 2023

Ancient women, who survived childhood mortality, received good and adequate nutrition, did not work hard and escaped death during childbirth could live fairly long lives. Girls started procreation after marriage, usually at 15 years, had on average seven children, childbearing lasted 14–21 or more years and could happen at the age of 35 or more years. Breastfeeding, usually with contraceptive effect, continued for 2–3 years. Limited actual facts, written evidence and findings, but several hints, assumptions and logical conclusions from secular texts, sacred books, narratives and myths suggest the possibility of late childbearing in the Mediterranean and Near‐Eastern ancient world, particularly for the Jews.
Electroacupuncture alleviated depression‐like behaviors in ventromedial prefrontal cortex of chronic unpredictable mild stress‐induced rats: Increasing synaptic transmission and phosphorylating dopamine transporter
Authors: Cai Xiaowen , Wu Mei , Zhang Zhinan , Liu Huacong , Huang Shengtao , Song Jia , Ren Siqiang , Huang Yong
Published: April 2023

Aims

Electroacupuncture (EA) shows advantages in both clinical practice and depression animal models. Dopaminergic‐related dysfunction in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) may be a hidden antidepressant mechanism of EA, where dopamine transporter (DAT) plays an essential role. This study aimed to investigate the synaptic transmission and DAT‐related changes of EA in depression.

Methods

Male Sprague–Dawley rats were subjected to 3‐week chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS). The successfully modeled rats were then randomly and equally assigned to CUMS, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), and EA or SSRI + EA groups, followed by a 2‐week treatment respectively. After monitoring body weight and behavioral tests of all rats, the ventromedial PFC (vmPFC) tissue was collected for electrophysiology and the expression detection of DAT, phosphorylated DAT (p‐DAT), cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), protein kinase A (PKA), and trace amine‐associated receptor 1 (TAAR1).

Results

Depressive‐like behaviors induced by CUMS were alleviated by EA, SSRI, and SSRI + EA treatments through behavioral tests. Compared with CUMS group, EA improved synaptic transmission in vmPFC by upregulating spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents amplitude. Molecularly, EA reversed the increased total DAT and p‐DAT expression as well as the decreased ratio of p‐DAT/total DAT along with the activation of TAAR1, cAMP, and PKA in vmPFC.

Conclusion

We speculated that the antidepressant effect of EA was associated with enhanced synaptic transmission in vmPFC, and the upregulated phosphorylation of DAT relevant to TAAR1, cAMP, and PKA may be the potential mechanism.
Including genotypic information in genetic evaluations increases the accuracy of sheep breeding values
Authors: Kaseja Karolina , Mucha Sebastian , Smith Ed , Yates John , Banos Georgios , Conington Joanne
Published: April 2023

The impact of inclusion of genome‐wide genotypes into breeding value predictions for UK Texel sheep is addressed in this article. The main aim was to investigate the level of change in the accuracy values for EBVs when information from animal genotypes is incorporated into the genetic evaluations. New genetic parameters for a range of lamb growth, carcass composition and health traits are described and applied in the estimation of conventional breeding values (EBVs) for almost 822,000 animals as well as genomic breeding values (gEBVs) after adding 10,143 genotypes. Principal component analyses showed that there are no major distinct groups; hence, the population is mainly homogenous and genetically well‐linked. Results suggested that the highest change in accuracy was observed for the animals that are not phenotyped but have good links to the reference population. This was seen especially for the lowly heritable health traits thereby proving that the use of genotypes in breeding values estimation may accelerate the genetic gain by producing more accurate values especially for young, un‐phenotyped animals.
Patient satisfaction and oral health‐related quality of life for four implant‐assisted mandibular overdentures fabricated with CAD/CAM milled poly methyl methacrylate, CAD/CAM‐milled poly ether ether ketone, or conventional poly methyl methacrylate: A crossover clinical trial
Authors: Gomaa Amira M. , Mostafa Aisha Z. H. , El‐Shaheed Noha H.
Published: April 2023

Background

New materials for overdenture base construction were evolved. Thus, more clinical trials are needed to validate these materials.

Objective

This study aimed to compare the difference between CAD/CAM‐milled poly methyl methacrylate (PMMA), poly ether ether ketone (PEEK) and conventional mandibular implant‐assisted overdentures regarding patient satisfaction and oral health‐related quality of life (OHRQL).

Methods

This randomised, crossover, clinical study included 18 completely edentulous subjects rehabilitated with three mandibular implant‐assisted overdentures with three different denture base materials opposing a maxillary single denture. These materials were as follows: CAD/CAM‐milled PMMA, CAD/CAM‐milled PEEK and conventional PMMA. Every participant first received each mandibular overdenture in a random manner. After 6 months of each overdenture use, patient satisfaction and oral health‐related quality of life were assessed using visual analogue scale (VAS) and Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP‐EDENT‐19), respectively, and then crossover to other groups was done. The same was repeated to the last group. Comparison of VAS and OHIP‐EDENT‐19 between groups was done using Kruskal–Wallis test followed by Bonferroni test.

Results

Regarding all the VAS items, there were statistically significant higher scores for CAD/CAM‐milled PMMA and PEEK than conventional PMMA base except for speech, aesthetic and smell. Regarding OHIP‐EDENT‐19, many items revealed statistically lower problem scores for CAD/CAM‐milled PMMA, and CAD/CAM‐milled PEEK than conventional PMMA base except psychological discomfort, psychological disability and social disability.

Conclusion

Within the limit of this study, CAD/CAM‐milled PMMA and CAD/CAM‐milled PEEK were recommended as implant‐assisted overdenture bases as it revealed higher patient satisfaction and better oral health‐related quality of life in comparison with conventional PMMA implant‐assisted overdenture.
The catalog of the meteorite collection of the Italian Museum of Planetary Sciences in Prato (Italy)
Authors: Morelli Marco , Franza Annarita , Faggi Daniela , Pratesi Giovanni
Published: April 2023

For the first time, this paper presents to the planetary scientists' community the catalog of the meteorite collection preserved at the Italian Museum of Planetary Sciences (Museo Italiano di Scienze Planetarie, henceforth MISP) in Prato (Italy). Founded in 2005, MISP is a type specimen official repository approved by the Nomenclature Committee of the Meteoritical Society. It represents one of the few museums worldwide entirely devoted to planetary sciences. The catalog of its meteorite collection encompasses 430 meteorites for a total of 1536 specimens, including 291 thin sections, 184 thick sections, and 278 specimens that MISP has classified. Furthermore, MISP is currently classifying 57 other meteorites. Some samples were found during meteorite recovery expeditions in hot deserts, promoted by MISP in collaboration with diverse Italian universities and national research institutions. MISP also keeps an impact rocks collection comprising 257 samples. In a country like Italy, where most of the collected meteorites are housed in museums whose catalogs are not available online, the publication of the MISP meteorite collection catalog, together with the catalog of the impact rocks collection, represents not only a significant scientific primary source but also a remarkable tool for disseminating meteoritics to nonresearch audiences in educational activities and citizen science projects.
Toward a critical social ontology
Authors: Thompson Michael J.
Published: April 2023

I argue in this paper for a critical social ontology, or an approach to theorizing social reality and social institutions that is more than descriptive of social reality, but is also able to provide practical reasoning with an ontological dimension for judgment. At the heart of this idea is a different take on social metaphysics from most standard current accounts in that it begins with empirical, phylogenetic capacities of human beings for social practices (realizing abstract thought in the world) as well as relationality (the need for attachments to others). The combination of these two essential human capacities, what I call thepractical‐relational nexus, is generative of more complex social reality. The ontogeny of any social reality is the result of the ways that this practical‐relational nexus has been organized and shaped by external social structures and systems, themselves the product of certain kinds of social power. I then explore the metaphysics of social power before considering the ways that this approach to social metaphysics can inform practical reasoning with the capacity for social and political criticism.
Investigating the effects of product popularity and time restriction: The moderating role of consumers’ goal specificity
Authors: Yi Cheng , Jiang Zhenhui (Jack) , Zhou Mi
Published: April 2023

Online retailers employ various kinds of social and marketing information cues to influence consumers’ product interest and purchases. This study focuses on the effects of two types of information cues, product popularity and time restriction on product promotions, on consumers’ product approach behavior. It takes a unique perspective by examining how such effects change as consumers’ shopping goals become more concrete. The results of a field experiment and a laboratory experiment show that product popularity and time restriction may not always have a positive influence on consumers’ product approach behavior. In particular, when consumers have not yet formed specific shopping goals, product popularity and time restriction weaken each other's effects on users’ initial product judgment, whereas these two information cues reinforce each other's effects on consumers’ final product evaluation when consumers’ shopping goals have become more specific. This study deepens our understanding of the individual and interaction effects of product popularity and time restriction at different levels of consumer goal specificity. The findings have significant implications for how retailers can leverage different information cues for promoting products.
Capacity planning with limited information
Authors: Anand Vic , Balakrishnan Ramji , Gavirneni Srinagesh
Published: April 2023

Limited information about the demand for some of the resources needed to produce goods and services (e.g., incomplete and imperfect bills of materials) forces firms to use heuristics when planning resource capacity. We examine the performance of five heuristics: two drawn from practice, two that modify observed approaches, and one motivated by theory. We measure performance as the ratio of the expected cost of supply–demand mismatch from using a heuristic to the value in the full‐information solution. Numerical analysis shows that a simple heuristic that is common in practice—plan rigorously for a few “driver” resources with high‐quality information and use ratios (e.g., 0.25 indirect labor hours per machine hour) to project the capacities for the remaining “non‐driver” resources—is robust and efficient. Using more than one driver resource to plan for the same non‐driver resource delivers significant gains. Reducing measurement error with respect to the consumption of driver resources dominates the gain from reducing errors in other aspects. Indeed, with high measurement error, collecting information that reduces other sources of error could decrease overall performance. Finally, a greedy algorithm of choosing the most expensive resources as drivers is optimal.
Acinar Cell Proliferation Promoted by BMP2 in Injured Mouse Parotid Gland: BMP2 Promotes Cell Proliferation in Parotid Gland
Authors: Yokoyama Megumi , Katsumata-Kato Osamu , Fujita-Yoshigaki Junko
Published: April 2023

Objective. To identify factors that affect salivary gland recovery, we investigated the expression and function of bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2) in mice. Materials and Methods. Using a micro clip, mice parotid glands were removed 7 days after the ligation of the unilateral parotid excretory duct. Thereafter, they were weighed and stained with hematoxylin and eosin, and BMP2 expression was examined via real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Primary cultures of parotid glands were prepared, and BMP2 protein was added to the culture medium for 48 hr to examine its effect on cell proliferation. E-cadherin and vimentin expression was examined using western blotting. Finally, immunohistochemical staining using an anti-Ki67 antibody was performed. Results. Duct-ligated parotid glands weighed less than those that were collected after sham surgery and showed acinar cell atrophy. They also showed higher BMP2 expression than control glands. Primary-cultured parotid acinar cells supplemented with BMP2 showed higher proliferative potential than control cells. Furthermore, they showed E-cadherin, but not vimentin, expression, and their percentage of Ki67-positive cells were higher than that corresponding to the controls. Conclusions. Injury to salivary glands by excretory duct ligation increased BMP2 expression, which may be involved in maintaining salivary gland function by inducing acinar cell proliferation.
Comparative Study of Frequency of Alveolar Osteitis, with and without using Platelet-Rich Fibrin in Mandibular Third Molar Surgery
Authors: Asif Maryam , Ullah Ahsan , Mujtaba Hasan , Umer Muhammad Farooq , Khurshid Zohaib
Published: April 2023

Introduction. Alveolar ostitis (AO) is the dissolution of blood clot due to enhanced local fibrinolysis and is caused by trauma to the jaw (direct) or because of bacterial involvement (indirect), which result in the activation of plasminogen pathway. Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) is a platelet concentrate that comprises numerous autologous growth factors, and immune cells hence has the potential to expedite the healing process. The objective of the study was to determine the efficacy of PRF in the surgically extracted third molar in the context of its potential progress to AO. Materials and Methods. A total of 180 patients of 18–65 years with unilateral painful mandibular third molars due to caries, failed endodontics treatment, and pericoronitis were included in the study. Exclusion criteria were patients who were medically compromised, smokers, alcoholic, poor oral hygiene, third molar having associated periapical pathology, and receiving antibiotic regime in the last 2 weeks. Before starting surgical procedure, patients were randomly divided into two groups using lottery method. Group I received PRF in the extraction socket, while in Group II, the extraction site was left for normal healing as practiced in a standard procedure. Pain was assessed in terms of pain score, and it was recorded on a 10 mm visual analog scale on the first and third postoperative days. Results. Mean age of the patients was 41.35 ± 9.87 years. The mean age in Group I was 42.84 ± 10.52 years, and in Group II, it was 40.54 ± 9.52 years. Out of 180 patients, 90 (50.0%) were male and 90 (50.0%) were female, with a male-to-female ratio of 1 : 1. Frequency of AO following mandibular third molar surgery in Group I receiving PRF was 2.22% and in non-PRF group 12.22% (p-value = 0.010). Conclusion. The incidence of AO following mandibular third molar surgery was lower when PRF was used.
Cranial Nerve Affection in Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes Assessed by Corneal Confocal Microscopy, Smell and Taste Tests
Authors: Rasmussen Vinni Faber , Rasmussen Dorthe , Thrysøe Mathilde , Karlsson Páll , Madsen Mette , Kristensen Kurt , Nyengaard Jens Randel , Terkelsen Astrid Juhl , Vestergaard Esben Thyssen , Ovesen Therese
Published: April 2023

Aim. To determine whether adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D) have morphological changes of the corneal nerve fibers and reduced smell and taste function compared to healthy control subjects as a sign of cranial nerve affection and to evaluate possible associated risk factors for cranial nerve affection. Methods. The study was a part of the T1DANES study including 60 adolescents (15–<19 years) and 23 healthy age-matched controls. First, clinical and biochemical data on the participants were obtained, and the second step involved a test day with neurological examinations including corneal confocal microscopy (CCM), olfactory testing with Sniffin’ Sticks, and gustatory assessment with taste-drop test. Results. The adolescents with T1D (mean diabetes duration 9.8 years, mean HbA1c 61 mmol/mol) had lower CCM parameters (corneal nerve fiber density, corneal nerve branch density, corneal nerve fiber length, and corneal nerve fiber fractal dimension) compared to control subjects (all

p
<
0.05

). No differences in total score for smell test (

p
=
0.66

) and taste test (

p
=
0.47

) were found, but adolescents with T1D had reduced ability to taste sweet (

p
<
0.01

). In total, 24% had two or more reduced CCM parameters, 12% had reduced smell test, and 23% had abnormal taste test. Higher waist to height ratio (WHtR) was the only risk factor found for reduced corneal nerve fiber density, and higher BMI-SDS and WHtR were found for impaired taste function. Having abnormal smell test increased the risk for having abnormal taste perception, and vice versa. Conclusion. Up to 29% of adolescents with T1D had abnormal test scores indicating cranial nerve affection. Lower corneal nerve fiber density and reduced ability to taste sweet were found in adolescents with T1D compared to control subjects. Clinical attention to smell and taste function seems important because it requires intervention for advising adolescents with impaired smell and taste function.
Cellulose Nanocrystals (CNCs) and Cellulose Nanofibers (CNFs) as Adsorbents of Heavy Metal Ions
Authors: Kurniawan Tjhang Winny , Sulistyarti Hermin , Rumhayati Barlah , Sabarudin Akhmad
Published: April 2023

The isolation of nanocellulose has been extensively investigated due to the growing demand for sustainable green materials. Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) and cellulose nanofibers (CNFs), which have the same chemical composition but have different morphology, particle size, crystallinity, and other properties depending on the precursor and the synthesis method used. In comparison, CNC particles have a short rod-like shape and have smaller particle dimensions when compared to CNF particles in the form of fibers. CNC synthesis was carried out chemically (hydrolysis method), and CNF synthesis was carried out mechanically (homogenization, ball milling, and grinding), and both can be modified because they have a large surface area and are rich in hydroxyl groups. Modifications were made to increase the adsorption ability of heavy metal ions. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermogravimetric (TG), and dynamic light scattering (DLS) can reveal the characteristics and morphology of CNCs and CNFs. The success and effectiveness of the heavy metal adsorption process are influenced by a few factors. These factors include adsorbent chemical structure changes, adsorbent surface area, the availability of active sites on the adsorbent’s surface, adsorption constants, heavy metal ionic size differences, pH, temperature, adsorbent dosage, and contact time during the adsorption process. In this review, we will discuss the characteristics of CNCs and CNFs synthesized from various precursors and methods, the modification methods, and the application of CNCs and CNFs as heavy metal ion adsorbents, which includes suitable isotherm and kinetics models and the effect of pH on the selectivity of various types of heavy metal ions.
A Review on the High Sound Pressure Level Acoustic Measurement in the Aerospace Field
Authors: Chen Peng , Cai Qin , Xu Jiaen , Chen Qin , Su Xin , Xie Yongliang
Published: April 2023

Noise could occur anywhere in the aerospace and other fields and has a great influence on the operation of the aircraft. The control of the sound emission has attracted a lot of attention from the economic and environmental aspects. Firstly, the noise is annoying for the passengers and pilot and may increase the risk to be exposed for the military applications. Secondly, the sound emission may pose a great damage and threat to the engine equipment due to the strong pressure oscillation. In addition, the combustion noise may also have a great influence on the combustion process in the engine, which may lead to the emission increase and low‐efficiency operation. The noise emission measurement is necessary and very important for the research in aerospace field. The aircraft in aerospace field usually works in the extreme environment, and the noise emission is within a high sound pressure level, which is quite from the acoustic measurement in other fields. Thus, we give a short review to introduce the high sound pressure level acoustic measurement in the aerospace field.
Metformin Contributes to the Therapeutic Effects of Acne Vulgaris by Modifying the Gut Microbiome
Authors: Deng Yongqiong , Jiang Shiyu , Huang Yaxin , Tan Xiaoqi , Huang Yukun , Chen Lingna , Xu Jixiang , Xiong Xia , Zhou Jiaqiang , Xu Yong
Published: April 2023

Background. Considering the increasing side effects of the first‐line treatment for acne vulgaris, metformin was developed to be an effective adjunct therapy, but its mechanism of action is poorly defined. Recent evidence shows that the gut microbiota is a site of metformin action. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects and mechanism of action for metformin in the adjuvant treatment of acne vulgaris by regulating gut microbiota. Methods. First, untreated acne patients were randomly allocated into two treatment groups. Both groups were treated with isotretinoin, but only one was additionally treated with metformin, for three months. Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were used as acne models, and they were also separated into groups that received isotretinoin, metformin, a combination of isotretinoin and metformin, and the vehicle, respectively. Then, the fecal samples from drug‐intervention rats were transferred to germ‐free rats with acne. The severity of the disease was evaluated using the Global Acne Grading System (GAGS) scoring for patients, and the number of comedones and mononuclear cells in pathological sections was used for rats. The composition of the gut microbiota was detected using gene sequencing for 16S rDNA. Results. Metformin had strong effects on the composition and function of the gut microbiota, and this correlated with the reduction in the severity of acne in both humans and rats. The fecal transfer to pseudo‐germ‐free rats improved both the inflammatory phenotype and comedones of acne in recipients of metformin‐altered microbiota. Conclusion. The results suggest that metformin improves the symptoms of acne vulgaris by modulating the gut microbiota.
Adsorption Study and Removal of Basic Fuchsin Dye from Medical Laboratory Wastewater Using Local Natural Clay
Authors: Radha Fuad Hama Sharif , Shwan Dler M. S. , Kaufhold Stephan
Published: April 2023

Local natural clay from Sulaimani zone-Takiya (TKC), Kurdistan Region of Iraq, was characterized and used for the removal of basic fuchsin (BF) dye from laboratory bacterial wastewater. The characterization of the adsorbent was carried out with XRD, XRF, and FT-IR. The clay sample was dominated by vermiculite. Adsorption tests under different conditions of contact time, pH of the solution, temperature, initial dye concentration, and adsorbent amount were performed to analyze the effect of various experimental parameters. Equilibrium time was reached within 180 minutes, and maximum BF adsorption was achieved at pH 6.8 at a temperature ranging from 20 to 50°C. The experimental data fitted the pseudo-second-order kinetic model, with the activation energy of 22.68 kJ·mol-1. Adsorption isotherms could be well-fitted by the Langmuir isotherm model. The thermodynamic parameters such as [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], and [Formula: see text] were determined, and the negative values of [Formula: see text] indicated that adsorption was spontaneous at all temperatures. Furthermore, the values of [Formula: see text] indicated an endothermic reaction. Wastewater contaminated by BF dye from the bacterial laboratory was collected (BF concentration: 160 mg·L-1) and treated by TKC. The resulting concentration of BF after adsorption was 4.76 mg·L-1. The maximum amount of dye adsorbed is about 149.2 mg/g or 0.44 mmol/g, which is close to the range of the cation exchange capacity (CEC) value of the vermiculite which indicated that cation exchange was the dominant adsorption mechanism.
Data from Potential Susceptibility Loci Identified for Renal Cell Carcinoma by Targeting Obesity-Related Genes
Authors: Shu Xiang , Purdue Mark P. , Ye Yuanqing , Tu Huakang , Wood Christopher G. , Tannir Nizar M. , Wang Zhaoming , Albanes Demetrius , Gapstur Susan M. , Stevens Victoria L. , Rothman Nathaniel , Chanock Stephen J. , Wu Xifeng
Published: April 2023

Abstract
Background: Obesity is an established risk factor for renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Although genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of RCC have identified several susceptibility loci, additional variants might be missed due to the highly conservative selection.

Methods: We conducted a multiphase study utilizing three independent genome-wide scans at MD Anderson Cancer Center (MDA RCC GWAS and MDA RCC OncoArray) and National Cancer Institute (NCI RCC GWAS), which consisted of a total of 3,530 cases and 5,714 controls, to investigate genetic variations in obesity-related genes and RCC risk.

Results: In the discovery phase, 32,946 SNPs located at ±10 kb of 2,001 obesity-related genes were extracted from MDA RCC GWAS and analyzed using multivariable logistic regression. Proxies (R2 > 0.8) were searched or imputation was performed if SNPs were not directly genotyped in the validation sets. Twenty-one SNPs with P < 0.05 in both MDA RCC GWAS and NCI RCC GWAS were subsequently evaluated in MDA RCC OncoArray. In the overall meta-analysis, significant (P < 0.05) associations with RCC risk were observed for SNP mapping to IL1RAPL2 [rs10521506-G: ORmeta = 0.87 (0.81–0.93), Pmeta = 2.33 × 10−5], PLIN2 [rs2229536-A: ORmeta = 0.87 (0.81–0.93), Pmeta = 2.33 × 10−5], SMAD3 [rs4601989-A: ORmeta = 0.86 (0.80–0.93), Pmeta = 2.71 × 10−4], MED13L [rs10850596-A: ORmeta = 1.14 (1.07–1.23), Pmeta = 1.50 × 10−4], and TSC1 [rs3761840-G: ORmeta = 0.90 (0.85–0.97), Pmeta = 2.47 × 10−3]. We did not observe any significant cis-expression quantitative trait loci effect for these SNPs in the TCGA KIRC data.

Conclusions: Taken together, we found that genetic variation of obesity-related genes could influence RCC susceptibility.

Impact: The five identified loci may provide new insights into disease etiology that reveal importance of obesity-related genes in RCC development. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 26(9); 1436–42. ©2017 AACR.