bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dissecting the Contribution of Transposable Elements to Interphase Chromosome Structure
Authors: Shi Liyang , Xiao Zhen , Babarinde Isaac A. , Xiuling Fu , Ma Gang , Huang Zhouqi , Sun Li , Zhou Xuemeng , He Jiangping , Strunnikov Alexander , Hutchins Andrew P.
Published: October 2024

Transposable elements (TEs) occupy nearly half of the human genome and play diverse biological roles. Despite their abundance, the extent to which TEs contribute to three-dimensional (3D) genome structure remains unclear.

To investigate this, we developed te_hic, a computational pipeline that integrates genomic data with chromatin interactions. Our analysis reveals that TE sequences are responsible for 3D genome structure in interphase nuclei. This phenomenon is mediated by the recruitment of specific transcription factors to TEs, which enables both the formation and disruption of chromatin contacts. We computationally identified known contact-forming proteins (CTCF, RAD21, SMC3) and breaking proteins (RNF2), as well as novel candidate contact-formers (SMARCA4, MAFK). Knockdown of the predicted contact-formersSMARCA4andMAFKdecreased contacts and loops at and between TEs. Notably,SMARCA4knockdown selectively reduced short-range contacts, highlighting its role in maintaining 3D genome structure mediated by TE binding.

Overall, our findings demonstrate that TEs are crucial determinants of 3D genome organization in mammalian cells.

Key findings

TEs determine 48% of the 3D genome structure alone, and 70% of heterotypic contacts.

A/B compartments, TADs, and loop signatures can be retrieved using TE-mapped reads only.

TFs can be divided into contact formers and breakers at TEs.

SMARCA4 and MAFK build chromatin contacts between TE sequences.
Study Protocol: LIAM Mc Trial (Linking In with Advice and supports for Men impacted by Metastatic cancer)
Authors: Noonan Brendan , Bredin Philip , Cahill Anita M. , Corkery Stephanie , Johnston Katie E. , Medved Katarina , Cusack Anne Marie , Hegarty Josephine , Saab Mohamad M , Cushen Samantha J. , Connolly Roisin , Palmer Brendan , Dahly Darren , Murphy Mike , Bambury Richard M. , Gleeson Jack P.
Published: October 2024

Background

The improved survival rate for many cancers in high-income countries demands a coordinated multidisciplinary approach to survivorship care and service provision to ensure optimal patient outcomes and quality of life. This study assesses the feasibility of introducing a Men’s Health Initiative supportive care intervention programme in Ireland.

Methods

This is a single-arm feasibility study involving a 12-week men’s cancer survivorship programme alongside routine follow-up care in patients with advanced genitourinary malignancies. Men with advanced/metastatic genitourinary cancer (including prostate, kidney, urothelial tract, testicular or penile cancer), are eligible to enrol, with a target of 72 participants over a 2-year period.

The intervention programme entails a twice-weekly physiotherapy-led exercise programme, along with dietetics, nursing, and psychosocial components, and regular signposting to additional available services. A Pilot Phase involving analysis of data from the first group of 6 participants to complete the programme is planned, before an Expansion Phase. Assessments will occur at baseline, on completion of the 12-week intervention, and 6 months post-intervention, and will include analyses of exercise/activity levels, body composition, muscle strength, psychological wellbeing, quality of life and resources utilised.

The primary endpoints are to determine the feasibility and acceptability of introducing a men’s cancer survivorship intervention programme into routine follow-up care in patients with advanced genitourinary malignancies. Secondary endpoints include impact of the intervention programme on quality of life, cancer-related fatigue, maintenance of weight, changes in body composition and changes in dietary intake and diet quality over the study period, as well as self-care agency and its relationship to quality of life and symptoms experienced. A process evaluation will capture the experiences of participation in the study, and the healthcare costs will be examined as part of the economic analysis.

Ethical approval was granted in November 2022, with recruitment commencing in May 2023.

Discussion

The programme described in this protocol provides a supportive and safe environment for the introduction of self-care interventions using a small group-based format supported by individualised counselling according to the participant’s identified needs. Findings will provide direction for the implementation of future supportive care programmes for men’s cancer survivorship care.

ClinicalTrials.govIdentifier:NCT05946993; Cancer Trials Ireland #: CTRIAL-IE 23-18; Irish Cancer Society (ICS) Study reference: MHI22BAM, UCC Sponsor Study Code: 22052.
Assessment of the impact of the new blister packaging of Biktarvy®(B/F/TAF) on treatment satisfaction of people living with HIV
Authors: Cruz JP , Santos O , Rodrigues M , Morais R , Borralho T , Ferreira F , Ferreira A , Albuquerque J , Nogueira P , Silva MP , Antunes F
Published: October 2024

Background

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is highly effective in people living with HIV (PLHIV), but its success depends on treatment satisfaction and adherence. A determinant of satisfaction regards how the medication is delivered to the patient, namely how it is contained (e.g., bottles, blisters, etc). A new packaging of Biktarvy®has been introduced as a monthly blister, aiming to improve satisfaction, facilitate traceability of daily medication, portability, and discretion (reducing stigma associated with ART), and, ultimately, enhance adherence.

Goals

The study’s objective was to assess the impact of changing the packaging of Biktarvy® (B/F/TAF) from a standard pill bottle to a monthly blister with a weekly calendar on therapy satisfaction. Additionally, the association between treatment satisfaction and selected patients’ characteristics (e.g., ART duration) was evaluated. A secondary goal was to characterize the association between the change of packaging on patient’s adherence.

Methods

This is an observational longitudinal (retrospective and prospective) study with patients following ART for at least six months (ambulatory clinical management) recruited according to a non-probabilistic sequential sampling. Satisfaction was measured at two different moments: at baseline, HIVTSQs were used to assess satisfaction within the previous six months’ use of medication containers (bottles). Six months later, patients filled in the HIVTSQc to assess their perception of satisfaction change with the new packaging (blister). Adherence was assessed by pharmacy medication dispensing at the hospital.

Results

The study enrolled 105 patients in two selected centers (102 patients completed the study). Patients were significantly more satisfied (HIVTSQc scores) with ART when using the new Biktarvy® blister pack package. Importantly, gains of ART satisfaction were higher among those less satisfied with the bottle packaging. No significant associations were found between HIVTSQc scores and sociodemographic or ART-related variables.
Post-translational modifications orchestrate the intrinsic signaling bias of orphan receptor GPR52
Authors: Zhang Bingjie , Ma Mengna , Ge Wei , Li Shanshan , Yang Guang , Wang Huilan , Lu Boxun , Shui Wenqing
Published: October 2024

Despite recent advances in GPCR structure and pharmacology, the regulation of GPCR activation, signaling, and functioning by diverse post-translational modifications (PTMs) has been largely unexplored. Furthermore, for a special category of self-activating orphan GPCRs, it is completely unknown whether and how specific PTMs control their unique signaling profiles and cellular functions. In this study of GPR52, an orphan GPCR with exceedingly high constitutive G protein signaling activity and emerging as a neurotherapeutic target, we discovered its disproportionately low arrestin recruitment activity. Through profiling the N-glycosylation and phosphorylation patterns of the receptor and clarifying their roles in G proteinversusarrestin coupling, we found these two types of PTMs in specific motifs differentially shape the intrinsic signaling bias of GPR52. While N-terminal N-glycosylation promotes constitutive Gs signaling possibly through favoring the self-activating conformation, phosphorylation in helix 8, to our great surprise, suppresses arrestin recruitment and thus attenuates receptor internalization. In addition, we uncovered the counteracting roles of N-glycosylation and phosphorylation in modulating GPR52-dependent accumulation of the huntingtin protein (HTT) in brain striatal cells. Thus, our study provides novel insights into the regulation of intrinsic signaling bias and cellular function of an orphan GPCRviadistinct PTMs in different motifs.
Mitophagy modulation rescues single large-scale mitochondrial DNA deletion (SLSMD) disease symptoms in theC. elegans uaDf5animal model
Authors: Mendel Ryan M. , Matsuno Sofie , Lu Alex , Falk Marni J. , Haroon Suraiya
Published: October 2024

Single largescalemitochondrial DNA (mtDNA)deletions (SLSMD) underlie a range of sporadic or maternally inherited primary mitochondrial diseases having significant morbidity and mortality, including Pearson syndrome, Kearns-Sayre Syndrome, or Chronic Progressive External Ophthalmoplegia. Therapeutic development has been hindered by limited existing knowledge on mtDNA quality control and a lack of SLSMD animal models. To address this challenge, we utilized theC. elegansheteroplasmic SLSMD strain,uaDf5,to objectively screen for potential therapies. As mitophagy modulation has been implicated in mtDNA homeostasis, we screened a library of mitophagy modulating compounds to determine their comparative effects to rescue mitochondrial unfolded protein (UPRmt) stress induction in inuaDf5SLSMD worms. Interestingly, Thiamine was discovered to be an effective positive control, significantly reducing mitochondrial stress in this model. Two lead therapeutic candidates from the mitophagy library screen were Hemin and Celastrol (Tripterin). Celastrol is a mitophagy activating anti-inflammatory and metabolic modifying natural product derived compound, that rescued multiple fitness outcomes (thrashing, development, survival) and reduced the mitochondrial stress inuaDf5animals in a mitophagy-dependent fashion. This study highlights the utility of theuaDf5worm model to enable preclinical identification of therapeutic candidate leads for SLSMD-based heteroplasmic mtDNA diseases and identifies possible therapeutic candidates that serve as mitophagy modulators to improve health and specifically reduce heteroplasmy levels in SLSMD diseases.
Motor compensation, not sensory error, regulates sensorimotor adaptation in human vocal pitch production in continuous speech
Authors: Lu Yuhan , Tang Xiaowei , Xiao Zhenyan , Xu Anqi , Chen Junxi , Tian Xing
Published: October 2024

Motor control is essential for organisms to efficiently interact with the external world by maintaining accuracy and precision of actions and adapting to changes in the future. For example, speaking, one of the most complicated scenarios of motor control, utilizes sensory errors and resultant motor compensation to precisely control articulation. However, how sensory errors and compensations regulate subsequent production remains in debate. Here, we implemented a serial-dependence paradigm by randomly perturbing the pitch of auditory feedback in a sequence of trials to dissociate the effects of sensory errors and motor compensation in controlling continuous speech. We found that motor compensation in preceding trials, rather than sensory errors, affected the compensatory responses in the current trial. Critically, this compensation-driven adaptation remained across speaking of different vowels but only when adjacent vowels were embedded within the word boundary. The study provides ecologically valid evidence supporting that error-based motor compensation, incorporating cognitive constraints, regulates adaptive changes in successive actions.

Graph abstract
Discovering neutrino tridents at the Large Hadron Collider
Authors: Altmannshofer Wolfgang , Mäkelä Toni , Sarkar Subir , Trojanowski Sebastian , Xie Keping , Zhou Bei
Published: October 2024

Neutrino trident production of dilepton pairs is well recognized as a sensitive probe of both electroweak physics and physics beyond the Standard Model. Although a rare process, it could be significantly boosted by such new physics, and it also allows the electroweak theory to be tested in a new regime. We demonstrate that the forward neutrino physics program at the Large Hadron Collider offers a promising opportunity to measure for the first time, dimuon neutrino tridents with a statistical significance exceeding 5σ, improving on the previous claims at the ∼3σ level by the CHARM-II and CCFR collaborations while accounting for additional backgrounds later identified by the NuTeV collaboration. We present predictions for various proposed experiments and outline a specific experimental strategy to identify the signal and mitigate backgrounds, based on “reverse tracking” dimuon pairs in the FASERν2 detector. We also discuss prospects for constraining beyond Standard Model contributions to neutrino trident rates at high energies.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Tau polarization effects in
ντ/ν¯τ
-tungsten interactions at the LHC energies
Authors: Francener Reinaldo , Gonçalves Victor P. , Gratieri Diego R.
Published: October 2024

Recent studies have demonstrated that the tau produced in charged current neutrino deeply inelastic interactions at the GeV-TeV neutrino energy range is not fully polarized. In this paper we investigate the impact of the tau polarization on the pions generated in its decay. In particular, we consider tau neutrino-tungsten interactions at the LHC energies and estimate the associated pion momentum, energy, and angular distributions. The contribution of the F5 is also investigated. Our results indicate that the pion properties are sensitive to the tau polarization state as well as to the magnitude of F5.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Entanglement in (
1+1
)-dimensional free scalar field theory: Tiptoeing between continuum and discrete formulations
Authors: Katsinis D. , Pastras G.
Published: October 2024

We review some classic works on ground state entanglement entropy in (1+1)-dimensional free scalar field theory. We point out identifications between the methods for the calculation of entanglement entropy and we show how the formalism developed for the discretized theory can be utilized in order to obtain results in the continuous theory. We specify the entanglement spectrum and we calculate the entanglement entropy for the theory defined on an interval of finite length L. Finally, we derive the modular Hamiltonian directly, without using the modular flow, via the continuum limit of the expressions obtained in the discretized theory. In a specific coordinate system, the modular Hamiltonian assumes the form of a free field Hamiltonian on the Rindler wedge.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Analysis of fracton-gravity stability
Authors: Afxonidis Evangelos , Caddeo Alessio , Hoyos Carlos , Musso Daniele
Published: October 2024

We study the stability of fracton gravity, a variant of linearized gravity where the gauge symmetry is restricted to longitudinal diffeomorphisms. These transformations can be connected to a spacetime generalization of dipole symmetry, hence the tag fracton. We find that fracton gravity features an instability in the spin-1 sector corresponding to solutions with growing amplitude. This dynamical instability can be removed by tuning the couplings of the theory. Nonetheless, the Hamiltonian for the spin-1 modes remains always unbounded from below when evaluated on the classical solutions. We find no other sources of instability in the spin-2 or spin-0 sectors. We analyze in detail the canonical formulation and the constraints arguing that neither auxiliary fields nor gauge-fixing conditions can be employed to remove the problematic vector modes or stabilize them.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Student reasoning about quantum mechanics while working with physical experiments
Authors: Borish Victoria , Lewandowski H. J.
Published: October 2024

Instruction in quantum mechanics is becoming increasingly important as the field is not only a key part of modern physics research but is also important for emerging technologies. However, many students regard quantum mechanics as a particularly challenging subject, in part because it is considered very mathematical and abstract. One potential way to help students understand and contextualize unintuitive quantum ideas is to provide them opportunities to work with physical apparatus demonstrating these phenomena. In order to understand how working with quantum experiments affects students’ reasoning, we performed think-aloud lab sessions with two pairs of students as they worked through a sequence of quantum optics experiments that demonstrated particle-wave duality of photons. Analyzing the in-the-moment student thinking allowed us to identify the resources students activated while reasoning through the experimental evidence of single-photon interference, as well as student ideas about what parts of the experiments were quantum versus classical. This work will aid instructors in helping their students construct an understanding of these topics from their own ideas and motivate future investigations into the use of hands-on opportunities to facilitate student learning about quantum mechanics.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Multicolor wavefront sensing using Talbot effect for high-order harmonic generation
Authors: Du Yang , Li Kui , Niu Jin , Lin Angyi , Li Jie , Fan Zhongwei , Wu Guorong , Zhang Xiaoshi , Zhang Fucai
Published: October 2024

High-order harmonic generation (HHG) using femtosecond lasers is an efficient and cost-effective method for producing attosecond and femtosecond light in the extreme ultraviolet and soft x-ray regions. This technique generates high-brightness harmonic beams with stable spectra, intensity, and wavefronts, making it a valuable tool for applications such as nanoimaging, material metrology, and studies of ultrafast dynamics. Accurate wavefront measurement of HHG beams is essential for analyzing complex incident fields, understanding atomic responses, and enhancing applications such as attosecond-driven ultrafast processes. However, quantifying the wavefronts of each harmonic component remains a challenge. Here, we present a multicolor wavefront sensing for HHG beams using the Talbot effect, validated theoretically and experimentally. Our method reconstructs individual high-order harmonic wavefronts with a spectral resolution of 4.8 eV, capturing multiple harmonic wavelengths in a single scan along the propagation direction, without the need for additional spectrometers or complex calibrations. This approach surpasses conventional Talbot effect wavefront sensing, which typically relies on quasimonochromatic waves or wavelength-averaging. Additionally, we introduce a high-accuracy centroid detection strategy that reduces tracking errors to the thousandths of a pixel while maintaining high computational efficiency, paving the way for broader applications in imaging and metrology.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Stable-to-unstable transition in quantum friction
Authors: Oue Daigo , Pendry J. B. , Silveirinha Mário G.
Published: October 2024

We investigate the frictional force arising from quantum fluctuations when two dissipative metallic plates are set in a shear motion. While early studies showed that the electromagnetic fields in the quantum friction setup reach nonequilibrium steady states, yielding a time-independent force, other works have demonstrated the failure to attain steady states, leading to instability and time-varying friction under sufficiently low-loss conditions. Here, we develop a fully quantum-mechanical theory without perturbative approximations, and we unveil the transition from stable to unstable regimes of the quantum friction setup. Due to the relative motion of the plates, their electromagnetic response may be active in some conditions, resulting in optical gain. We prove that the standard fluctuation-dissipation leads to inconsistent results when applied to our system, and, in particular, it predicts a vanishing frictional force. Using a modified fluctuation-dissipation relation tailored for gain media, we calculate the frictional force in terms of the system Green's function, thereby recovering early works on quantum friction. Remarkably, we also find that the frictional force diverges to infinity as the relative velocity of the plates approaches a threshold. This threshold is determined by the damping strength and the distance between the metal surfaces. Beyond this critical velocity, the system exhibits instability, akin to the behavior of a laser cavity, where no steady state exists. In such a scenario, the frictional force escalates exponentially. Our findings pave the way for experimental exploration of the frictional force in proximity to this critical regime.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Single-qubit rotation algorithm with logarithmic Toffoli count and gate depth
Authors: Hindlycke Christoffer , Larsson Jan-Åke
Published: October 2024

Building generic gates from a restricted gate set is a difficult but important problem, especially in the noisy regime where only a limited set of noise-resistant gates are available, e.g., fault-tolerant Clifford gates (generated by Hadamard, phase, and gates) and fault-tolerant Toffoli gates. The Toffoli is also often used as a building block of many algorithms and will need to be constructed if not directly available. This makes Clifford+Toffoli an attractive gate set for building generic gates. In this Letter we give a simple and efficient algorithm for building an approximate single-qubit rotation using only Clifford+Toffoli, which in turn enables any generic single-qubit unitary. An important difference compared to earlier attempts is that the use of the Toffoli allows us to use simple rounding as opposed to a complicated approximation algorithm. The resulting gate array does not rely on repeatedly applying a fixed rotation, but immediately applies a rotation Rθ* that is ε-close to the desired rotation Rθ, with a success probability strictly greater than 1/2. It can be rerun upon failure, giving an expected number of repetitions strictly less than 2, an expected Toffoli count strictly less than 4⌈log1ε⌉, an expected gate depth strictly less than 4⌈log1ε⌉+6, and uses 2⌈log1ε⌉ ancillas. The small circuit depth of our construction enables low-noise gates on existing quantum computational devices, and allows for arbitrary precision using a very modest number of ancillas.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
A general Bayesian algorithm for the autonomous alignment of beamlines
Authors: Morris Thomas W. , Rakitin Max , Du Yonghua , Fedurin Mikhail , Giles Abigail C. , Leshchev Denis , Li William H. , Romasky Brianna , Stavitski Eli , Walter Andrew L. , Moeller Paul , Nash Boaz , Islegen-Wojdyla Antoine
Published: October 2024

Autonomous methods to align beamlines can decrease the amount of time spent on diagnostics, and also uncover better global optima leading to better beam quality. The alignment of these beamlines is a high-dimensional expensive-to-sample optimization problem involving the simultaneous treatment of many optical elements with correlated and nonlinear dynamics. Bayesian optimization is a strategy of efficient global optimization that has proved successful in similar regimes in a wide variety of beamline alignment applications, though it has typically been implemented for particular beamlines and optimization tasks. In this paper, we present a basic formulation of Bayesian inference and Gaussian process models as they relate to multi-objective Bayesian optimization, as well as the practical challenges presented by beamline alignment. We show that the same general implementation of Bayesian optimization with special consideration for beamline alignment can quickly learn the dynamics of particular beamlines in an online fashion through hyperparameter fitting with no prior information. We present the implementation of a concise software framework for beamline alignment and test it on four different optimization problems for experiments on X-ray beamlines at the National Synchrotron Light Source II and the Advanced Light Source, and an electron beam at the Accelerator Test Facility, along with benchmarking on a simulated digital twin. We discuss new applications of the framework, and the potential for a unified approach to beamline alignment at synchrotron facilities.
Waterless structures in the Protein Data Bank
Authors: Wlodawer Alexander , Dauter Zbigniew , Rubach Pawel , Minor Wladek , Loch Joanna I. , Brzezinski Dariusz , Gilski Miroslaw , Jaskolski Mariusz
Published: October 2024

The absence of solvent molecules in high-resolution protein crystal structure models deposited in the Protein Data Bank (PDB) contradicts the fact that, for proteins crystallized from aqueous media, water molecules are always expected to bind to the protein surface, as well as to some sites in the protein interior. An analysis of the contents of the PDB indicated that the expected ratio of the number of water molecules to the number of amino-acid residues exceeds 1.5 in atomic resolution structures, decreasing to 0.25 at around 2.5 Å resolution. Nevertheless, almost 800 protein crystal structures determined at a resolution of 2.5 Å or higher are found in the current release of the PDB without any water molecules, whereas some other depositions have unusually low or high occupancies of modeled solvent. Detailed analysis of these depositions revealed that the lack of solvent molecules might be an indication of problems with either the diffraction data, the refinement protocol, the deposition process or a combination of these factors. It is postulated that problems with solvent structure should be flagged by the PDB and addressed by the depositors.
Navigating remote work: the role of corporate social responsibility in boosting employee engagement
Authors: Núñez-Sánchez José M. , Molina-Gómez Jesús , Mercadé-Melé Pere , Fernández-Miguélez Sergio
Published: October 2024

Purpose

This paper investigates the relationship between teleworkers' perceptions of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and employee engagement (EE) in remote work.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative research approach was used, involving a questionnaire distributed via convenience sampling. Data from 205 valid responses from teleworking employees in Spain were analysed using structural equation modelling to test the hypothesis regarding the association between CSR and EE.

Findings

The study found that CSR’s social and environmental dimensions positively impact EE among teleworkers. However, the economic dimension of CSR only partially influences EE in a telework setting.

Practical implications

The findings suggest organisations can enhance EE during telework periods by focusing on social and environmental CSR initiatives. This approach can mitigate the reduced EE associated with remote work, improving organisational performance, productivity, satisfaction and employee well-being.

Originality/value

This study provides empirical evidence on the positive effects of CSR’s social and environmental dimensions on EE in a telework context, offering valuable insights for organisations navigating the post-pandemic landscape. Also, specific CSR strategies can establish a competitive advantage by fostering a motivated and engaged remote workforce.
Understanding the consumer purchase behaviour towards green electronic products: using insight from the theory of planned behaviour
Authors: Rukhsar  , Yameen Mohd , Khanam Zeba
Published: October 2024

Purpose

This research investigation aims to explore the factors that affect purchasing behaviour among consumers in India in the context of green electronic products with the aid of the extended theory of planned behaviour (TPB) by incorporating two additional constructs, namely environmental concern and ethical obligation.

Design/methodology/approach

The current research adopted a quantitative methodology, utilising a survey (questionnaire) to gather data from respondents residing in Delhi-NCR, India. A convenience sampling technique was used to select these respondents. Both online and offline modes were used to collect the data. Moreover, to evaluate the theoretical foundation of the investigation, the researchers employed PLS-SEM (partial least square structural equation modelling) on 346 useable samples.

Findings

The outcome reveals that attitude, subjective norm and perceived behaviour control (PBC) are significant predictors, supplementary constructs such as environmental concern are not significant predictors, whereas ethical obligation is a substantial predictor of purchase intention. Consumer purchase behaviour, in turn, is influenced by consumer purchase intention.

Practical implications

The outcome of this research could help the country’s legislators formulate policies and programs related to current environmental problems faced by our planet. Marketers could understand the factors that drive consumers' purchasing behaviour towards green electronic products and design effective marketing strategies accordingly. Thus, by enhancing the company’s green image, marketers of green products may potentially increase future purchases, all of which contribute to solving worldwide environmental problems.

Originality/value

This research confirms the usefulness of TPB in understanding Indian consumers' purchasing intention and behaviour towards green electronic products. It further extends the TPB by showing that new components, environmental concerns and ethical obligations influence Indian consumers' purchasing intentions and behaviour. Moreover, prior studies mostly used both additional constructs for green products. Current research used specific types of green products, i.e. green electronic products, as very few studies are available on these products that apply TPB, which makes this study novel. In contrast to previous research that primarily examined purchase intention, this study takes a further step by investigating the connection between intentions and consumers' purchase behaviour. It establishes intention as a precursor to behaviour, specifically towards green electronic products. Additionally, this study introduces new constructs and explores the Indian context, significantly contributing to the existing literature.
Redefining global entrepreneurship: shifting focus from China to Central and Eastern Europe
Authors: Vaduva Sebastian , Brouthers Lance , Benchis Melisa , Nedelcut Amalia Cristina
Published: October 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the viability of shifting foreign direct investment (FDI) from China to Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries in light of recent geopolitical and economic challenges. By analyzing case studies, it argues that CEE nations offer a compelling alternative for Western European businesses, with stronger intellectual property protection, political stability and alignment with European Union (EU) sustainability goals. The paper provides insights for firms and policymakers on mitigating risks and enhancing business operations by pivoting toward the CEE region, offering practical recommendations for adapting to shifting global trade dynamics.

Design/methodology/approach

The design methodology uses the case study approach to analyze the shift of FDI from China to CEE. This method examines the geopolitical, economic and legal contexts influencing business decisions, using real-world examples of Western European companies that have made this transition. The case studies highlight key factors in decision-making and the benefits of relocating investments to the CEE region.

Findings

The study identifies several advantages of the CEE region over China for Western European firms. These include geographic proximity, similarities in business values and purposes, environmental accountability, trustworthiness in business, enforceable noncompetition rules, lower risks of counterfeiting, reduced political and administrative risks, lower risks of intellectual property theft and reduced risks of negative publicity.

Practical implications

The findings suggest that Western European firms should consider redirecting their FDI to the CEE region to mitigate risks associated with investing in China. This move could offer long-term benefits despite short-term complications.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the FDI theoretical framework by enhancing the cultural, administrative, geographic and economic (CAGE) distance framework. It provides a unique perspective on the shifting dynamics between Europe and China and highlights the potential of the CEE region as a viable alternative for FDI.
Structure‐based virtual screening and drug repurposing studies indicate potential inhibitors of bovine papillomavirus E6 oncoprotein
Authors: de Oliveira Santos Lucas Alexandre Barbosa , Batista Marcus Vinicius de Aragão
Published: October 2024

Bovine papillomavirus type 1 (BPV1) is an oncogenic virus that causes lesions and cancer in infected cattle. Despite being one of the most studied genotypes in the family and occurring in herds worldwide, there are currently no vaccines or drugs for its control. The viral E6 oncoprotein plays a crucial role in infection by this virus, making it a promising target for the development of new therapies. In this regard, we integrated structure‐based virtual screening approaches, drug repositioning, and molecular dynamics to identify approved drugs with the potential to inhibit BPV1 E6. Our results reveal that Lumacaftor and MK‐3207 are promising candidates for controlling BPV1 infection. The findings of this study may contribute to the development of E6 oncoprotein blockers in an accelerated and cost‐effective manner.
Mangrove freeze resistance and resilience across a tropical‐temperate transitional zone
Authors: Kang Yiyang , Kaplan David A. , Osland Michael J.
Published: October 2024

Freeze events govern the distribution and structure of mangrove ecosystems, especially in tropical‐temperate transitional zones. Understanding mangrove responses to freezing is crucial for predicting their poleward expansion under climate change. However, there is a need for field‐based measurements of mangrove freeze resistance and resilience.

After an extreme winter storm in December 2022, we measured mangrove post‐freeze damage and recovery (January and November 2023), building on a pre‐freeze baseline assessment conducted in July 2022 across 12 sites along the temperature gradient of Florida's Gulf of Mexico coast (USA).

Low‐temperature thresholds for leaf damage to Avicennia germinans, Rhizophora mangle and Laguncularia racemosa were quantified near −6, −4 and − 4°C, respectively. Thresholds for mortality were found to be near −6 to −7°C for A. germinans and −4 to −5°C for R. mangle. A threshold for loss of reproductivity in A. germinans was identified near −6 to −7°C. Resprouting was observed in all three species but limited to just one individual for R. mangle. Surviving A. germinans resprouted vigorously and had the greatest number of resprout branches, which was proportional to leaf damage. Tall A. germinans had a higher resprout percentage than short trees.

Strata‐specific differences in freeze damage were most pronounced for R. mangle, with higher damage in tall versus short trees, while no difference was found between A. germinans strata. These results suggest that R. mangle population recovery may depend on the growth of short trees, while A. germinans can recover from all strata.

Minimum air temperature was strongly correlated with mangrove height and above‐ground biomass. Projections of future minimum temperature and species‐specific freeze degree days predict warming winters, suggesting further mangrove development and range expansion under climate change.

Synthesis: Collectively, our study advances understanding of mangrove responses to freezing and identifies low‐temperature thresholds for each species, aiding predictions of mangrove range expansion.
Linking individualistic growth stability of trees to the complexity of understorey layers
Authors: Zheng Jiacheng , Lyu Lixin , Zhong Yuan , Yang Jing , Qiu Hongyan , Zhang Qi‐Bin
Published: October 2024

Tree‐growth stability is crucial in upholding forest ecosystem services. Despite extensive research on the correlation between tree growth and climate, the influence of forest understorey on tree‐growth stability remains understudied.

We surveyed forest plots and collected tree‐ring samples along two elevational gradients, ranging from 3600 to 4400 m a.s.l., in the southeastern Tibetan Plateau. An index was developed to quantify individualistic growth stability of trees, and its linkage with the complexity of forest understorey structure was examined.

We found that tree‐growth stability is more pronounced in complex forest communities. In forests with higher understorey complexity, the proportion of trees experiencing growth release increased during wet years, while those with growth suppression augmented during dry years. Interestingly, a subset of trees exhibits abnormal growth increases even during the driest years, whereas another subset shows abnormal growth reductions during the wettest years. Furthermore, forests with more complex understorey structures exhibited a higher proportion of trees showcasing these two types of ‘anti‐phase’ growth statuses.

Synthesis. Our study underscores the linkage between individualistic growth stability of trees and the complexity of understorey structures. The growth stability of the overstorey layer is conveyed at the expense of individual‐level growth stability and synchrony in forests with complex understorey structures. These findings emphasize the necessity for attention to the interplay between tree growth and understorey community structures when assessing the impacts of future climate change on forest dynamics.
The recent progress of γδ T cells and its targeted therapies in rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Feng Xue , Xu Yan
Published: October 2024

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune condition that mostly impacts the joints. During the advanced phases of the disorder, it may be accompanied by other problems. While the precise cause of RA is uncertain, various research has been conducted to gain a better understanding of the immunological processes involved in the development of RA. T cells are acknowledged as significant contributors to the progression of RA because of their roles in cytokine secretion, antigen presentation, and facilitating B cells in the manufacture of antibodies. γδ T cells are a small subset of T cells that have significant functions in the context of infection and diseases linked with tumors. γδ T cells have been the subject of investigation in autoimmune disorders in recent years. This review focused on the involvement of γδ T lymphocytes in the development of RA. In this article, we provide an analysis of the immunological capabilities of γδ T cells, intending to comprehend their significance in RA, which could be pivotal in the creation of innovative clinical treatments.
Nutrient limitation shortly before harvest promotes high accumulation of antioxidants in lettuce
Authors: Holzgreve Hannah , Weiß Alena , Scholz Caterina , Stöhr Christine
Published: October 2024

Plants exposed to drought not only have to cope with a shortage of water, but also with a simultaneous decrease in nutrient availability. In this greenhouse experiment, the responses of antioxidants and key metabolites to 2 or 4 days of water limitation immediately prior to harvest were compared to the effect of nutrient limitation with continued water supply in lettuce leaves. Water limitation led to a faster increase in stress intensity than nutrient limitation. While moderate drought stress led to a slight increase in the antioxidant compounds studied, there was a concomitant sharp decrease in starch content. Under nutrient limitation, an increase in the content of ascorbic acid, the proportion of reduced ascorbic acid and the content of phenolic compounds, flavonoids, soluble sugars and starch was observed in the mild phase of stress. These results suggest that reducing nutrient availability shortly before harvest could be a suitable means of improving the nutritional value of crops through cultivation practices as opposed to breeding.
Differential production of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species between mouse (Mus musculus) and crucian carp (Carassius carassius)
Authors: Gerber Lucie , Torp May‐Kristin , Nilsson Göran E. , Lefevre Sjannie , Stensløkken Kåre‐Olav
Published: October 2024

Aim

In most vertebrates, oxygen deprivation and subsequent re‐oxygenation are associated with mitochondrial impairment and excess production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) like hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). This in turn triggers a cascade of cell‐damaging events in a temperature‐dependent manner. The crucian carp (Carassius carassius) is one of few vertebrates that survives months without oxygen at cold temperatures and overcomes oxidative damage during re‐oxygenation periods. Mitochondria of this anoxia‐tolerant species therefore serve as an excellent model in translational research to study adaptation and resilience to low oxygen conditions and thermal variability.

Methods

Here, we used high‐resolution respirometry on isolated mitochondria from hearts of crucian carp and the anoxia‐intolerant mouse (Mus musculus), at 37 and 8°C; two temperatures relevant for transplantation medicine (i.e., graft preservation and subsequent rewarming).

Results

We find: (1) a striking difference in H2O2 release between the two species at 37°C despite comparable mitochondrial efficiency and capacity, (2) a massive H2O2 release after inhibition of complex V in mouse at 37°C that is absent in crucian carp, and prevented in mouse by incubation at 8°C or uncoupling with a protonophore at 37°C, and (3) indications that differences in mitochondrial complex I and II capacity and thermal sensitivity influence the release of mitochondrial H2O2 relative to respiration.

Conclusion

Our findings provide comparative insights into a spectrum of mitochondrial adaptations in vertebrates and the importance of thermal variability. Furthermore, the species‐ and temperature‐related changes associated with mitochondria highlighted in this study may help identify mitochondria‐based targets for translational medicine.
Localized blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm associated with progressive clonal hematopoiesis and myelodysplastic syndrome
Authors: Julin Clara , Nielsen Signe Ledou , Grantzau Trine Lønbo , Ahmad Syed Azhar , Cowland Jack Bernard , Bonde Jesper , Nørgaard Peter
Published: October 2024

Clonal hematopoiesis is highly prevalent in elderly patients with blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN), and around 20% of BPDCN patients have an associated myeloid malignancy. We present a patient with localized BPDCN and concomitant myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), previously followed for several years due to clonal cytopenia of unknown significance. Compared targeted next‐generation sequencing (NGS) of the skin tumor and sequential bone marrow samples showed shared variants in ASXL1 and TET2 with a de novo NRAS variant in both BPDCN and MDS compared to preceding bone marrow samples. These findings illustrate a shared clonal origin of BPDCN and MDS resulting from progressive clonal hematopoiesis.
From colonial time to decolonial temporalities
Authors: Maphosa Thabolwethu Tema , Makama Refiloe
Published: October 2024

In this paper, we critique the colonial conception of time and present alternative decolonial temporalities. We propose that the colonial conception of time, which is linear and scarcity centred, is limiting when it comes to the possibility of contextually theorizing trauma and healing. We offer two main arguments. The first argument explores the discourse around the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) in South Africa. Focusing specifically on Winnie Madikizela and F. W De Klerk, we show that in their engagement with the TRC, the linear, scarcity‐centred and gendered nature of colonial time was animated. The second argument extends the first argument by considering how temporality is ‘captured’ by colonialism to foreground and universalize Western subjectivities and sensibilities. We use what Derek Hook calls a psycho‐societal‐diagnostic framework in conjunction with Fanon to show how subjectivities are structured in post‐apartheid South Africa. We then consider how this time–subjectivity relationship is enacted at a geopolitical level. The paper ends by considering decolonial temporalities as a way to ‘re‐cognize’ at a collective level. While the paper engages with a series of concepts and ideas, namely capitalism, politics of justice, gender and race, these are threaded by the concept of time.
Preclinical Investigation on the Effect of Collagen Matrix With Polydeoxyribonucleotide at Buccally Positioned Implants
Authors: Kim Chang‐Hoon , Hong Ji‐Youn , Shin SeungIl , Shin Seung‐Yun , Chung Jong‐Hyuk , Thoma Daniel S. , Lim Hyun‐Chang
Published: October 2024

Objectives

The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of collagen matrix with polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN) at two concentrations on keratinized tissue (KT) regeneration for buccally positioned implants in canines.

Methods

Four implants were placed in the edentulous mandible of five dogs simultaneously with KT removal. The implants were positioned buccally with respect to the ridge crest. After 2 months, KT augmentation was performed applying the following treatment modalities:(1) free gingival graft (FGG), (2) xenogeneic collagen matrix (XCM), (3) XCM loaded with 2 mg/mL PDRN (PDRN2), and (4) XCM loaded with 4 mg/mL PDRN (PDRN4). All animals were sacrificed 3 months later. Outcomes included clinical (KT height) and histomorphometric measurements (KT height/length, level of the mucosa, mucosal thickness, supracrestal soft tissue height).

Results

Clinical and histomorphometric KT formation at 3 months was greatest in groups with FGG (4.70 ± 1.00/3.94 ± 0.93 mm) and PDRN2 (4.85 ± 1.43/3.95 ± 0.87 mm). Group PDRN2 (1.87 ± 1.50 mm) showed a higher marginal mucosal level with respect to the implant platform compared to other groups (range: 0.57 ± 0.97–0.69 ± 1.14 mm). All groups presented a soft tissue thickness of < 2 mm on the buccal aspect of the implants.

Conclusions

Based on the limitations of this pilot preclinical study, XCM with 2 mg/mL of PDRN demonstrated a potential for KT augmentation.