bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells ameliorate perioperative neurocognitive disorder by inhibiting inflammatory responses and activating BDNF/TrkB/CREB signaling pathway in aged mice
Authors: Wei Penghui , Jia Min , Kong Xiangyi , Lyu Wenyuan , Feng Hao , Sun Xinyi , Li Jianjun , Yang Jian-jun
Published: September 2023

Background

Perioperative neurocognitive disorder (PND) is a key complication affecting older individuals after anesthesia and surgery. Failure to translate multiple pharmacological therapies for PND from preclinical studies to clinical settings has necessitated the exploration of novel therapeutic strategies. Human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) treatment has emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy for treating neurodegenerative diseases and has the potential to translate basic science into clinical practice. In this study, we investigated the effects and underlying mechanism of hUC-MSCs on PND in aged mice.

Methods

hUC-MSCs were isolated from an infant umbilical cord and identified using flow cytometry and differentiation assays. We established PND model by undergoing aseptic laparotomy under isoflurane anesthesia maintaining spontaneous ventilation in eighteen-month-old male C57BL/6 mice. hUC-MSCs were slowly injected into mice by coccygeal vein before anesthesia. Cognitive function, systemic and neuroinflammatory responses, neuroplasticity, endogenous neurogenesis, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were assessed. To determine the brain mechanisms underlying by which hUC-MSCs mediate their neuroprotective effects in PND, K252a, an antagonist of BDNF receptor, was administered intraperitoneally before surgery. Hippocampal BDNF/TrkB/CREB signaling pathway and metabolomic signatures were evaluated.

Results

hUC-MSC treatment ameliorated the learning and memory impairment in aged mice with PND. The downstream effects were the suppression of systemic and hippocampal inflammation and restoration of neurogenesis and neuroplasticity dysregulation. Interestingly, the level of mature BDNF, but not that of proBDNF, was increased in the hippocampus after hUC-MSC treatment. Further analysis revealed that the improved cognitive recovery and the restoration of neurogenesis and neuroplasticity dysregulation elicited by exposure to hUC-MSCs were, at least partially, mediated by the activation of the BDNF/TrkB/CREB signaling pathway. Untargeted metabolomic further identified lipid metabolism dysfunction as potential downstream of the BDNF/TrkB/CREB signaling pathway in hUC-MSC-mediated neuroprotection for PND.

Conclusions

Our study highlights the beneficial effects of hUC-MSC treatment on PND and provides a justification to consider the potential use of hUC-MSCs in the perioperative period.
Effects of Larrea nitida nanodispersions on the growth inhibition of phytopathogens
Authors: Rocha Felipe , Nunes Calumby Rodrigo José , Svetaz Laura , Sortino Maximiliano , Teixeira Ribeiro Vidigal Márcia Cristina , Campos-Bermudez Valeria Alina , Rius Sebastián Pablo
Published: September 2023

Larrea nitida Cav. (Zygophyllaceae) is a plant endemic to Argentina and Chile, and its extract has been studied over the last years due to the presence of antimicrobial agents that can be used to control the growth of some pathogens in agriculture. However, the extract is highly hydrophobic, which strongly affects its fungicidal activity in aqueous media. In this sense, the solid dispersion technique was used to produce L. nitida extract nanodispersions with polyethylene glycol (PLE) and with polyethylene glycol and zinc acetate (PZLE). In order to further evaluate the activity of the extract in PLE and PZLE, blank nanodispersions containing only polyethylene glycol (PEG) and zinc acetate (PZ) without the addition of the extract were also produced. The fungicidal activity of the water-soluble nanoparticles was evaluated at different concentrations (0.037–0.110 g.mL−1). In general, the nanoparticles were successfully produced on a nanometric size and presented a significant inhibitory activity on the growth of the pathogens Fusarium oxysporum and Fusarium verticillioides in aqueous media. Compared to PLE, PZLE presented increased fungistatic activity, possibly due to their increased solubility in water. Even though their application in agriculture should be further investigated, the nanodispersions present great potential to be applied as a green biotechnological tool.
I want to break free: how a design approach guides nascent intrapreneurs in a global public service organisation
Authors: van den Broek Antonius , Koria Mikko , Saarelainen Emilia
Published: September 2023

In this paper, we expand our understanding of how a design approach can enable and guide employees to break free from their incumbent mindset and ways of working and become intrapreneurs in public organisations. While previous studies have identified desired behaviour for intrapreneurs, there is a lack of understanding how new intrapreneurs adapt such behaviours, especially in public organisations. This paper shows how the readily available approaches of design practice can guide new intrapreneurs to break free from their routines, adopt entrepreneurial behaviours and provide the practical tools to help them to persuade others to collaborate with them on their innovative ideas. We draw from 19 interviews with nascent intrapreneurs, and documentation collected at the UN Refugee Agency to inductively develop a model for how design supports employees in their journey to become an intrapreneur. Our findings illustrate how adopting a design approach provided aspiring intrapreneurs to become ambidextrous in navigating between the creative and the calculative logics and heuristics in highly structured organisations. Both the design attitude and the tools associated with design practice helped new intrapreneurs to adopt an entrepreneurial mindset, position their new ideas and align them to the needs, priorities and constraints of colleagues and stakeholders.
Global trends and hotspots in research on acupuncture for stroke: a bibliometric and visualization analysis
Authors: Zhang Jiale , Ji Chenyang , Zhai Xu , Ren Shuo , Tong Hongxuan
Published: September 2023

Acupuncture has been widely used in stroke and post-stroke rehabilitation (PSR), but there is no literature on the bibliometric analysis of acupuncture for stroke. This study aimed to characterize the global publications and analyze the trends of acupuncture for stroke in the past 40 years. We identified 1157 publications from the Web of Science Core Collection. The number of publications grew slowly in the first three decades from 1980 until it started to grow after 2010, with significant growth in 2011–2012 and 2019–2020. China, the USA, and South Korea are the top three countries in this field, and China has formed good internal cooperative relations. Early studies focused on the clinical efficacy of acupuncture for stroke. In the last five years, more emphasis has been placed on the effectiveness of acupuncture in treating sequelae and complications, combined with neuroimaging studies to explore the mechanisms of brain injury repair and neurological recovery. Acupuncture for stroke has a vast research potential, and researchers from different countries/regions and organizations still need to remove academic barriers to enhance communication and collaboration.
The global prevalence of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts among men who have sex with men: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Nouri Elham , Moradi Yousef , Moradi Ghobad
Published: September 2023

Background

This study aimed to determine the global prevalence of suicidal ideation and attempts among men who have sex with men (MSM) as a systematic review, and meta-analysis.

Methods

For this meta-analysis, a search in four international databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and EMBASE) was designed, and performed. In the next step, the information extraction checklist was prepared based on the study authors’ opinions, and the quality of the articles was evaluated using the Newcastle–Ottawa scale (NOS) checklist. Data meta-analysis was performed using STATA16 software with a significance level below 0.05.

Results

The results showed the prevalence of suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts among MSM was 21% (95% CI 17%-26%), and 12% (95% CI 8%-17%), respectively. The results of the subgroup analysis showed that the prevalence of suicidal ideation in the population of MSM living with Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was 40% (95% CI 35%–45%), and the prevalence of suicide attempts among MSM with HIV was 10% (95% CI 1%–27%). The prevalence of suicidal ideation in European MSM, and the prevalence of suicide attempts among American MSM were higher than other MSM in other geographical areas.

Conclusion

Considering that the prevalence of suicidal ideation and attempts among these people is many times higher than that among men in the general population, developing programs for the prevention of mental disorders with special attention to suicide is necessary for these people. Screening programs are also recommended for early diagnosis and prevention of suicide among these people.
Supporting agriculture in developing countries: new insights on the impact of official development assistance using a climate perspective
Authors: Trentinaglia Maria Teresa , Baldi Lucia , Peri Massimo
Published: September 2023

Agriculture is a major source of food and income for poor and rural households living in developing countries; yet, agricultural systems are increasingly threatened by changing climate conditions that compromise their productivity and resilience. Over time, international aid has provided support to the agricultural systems of recipient countries, though the literature is not unanimous in confirming their effectiveness.

To shed light on this issue, the purpose of this work is to assess the efficacy of these aid in increasing the agricultural productivity of recipient nations, employing original approaches.

First, to adopt a climate change perspective, we conduct our analysis using a recent classification adopted by the Official Development Assistance—the Rio Markers—which distinguishes aid between adaptation and mitigation to climate change.

Second, taking into account that the starting conditions of recipient countries can significantly impact aid effectiveness, we classify 115 developing countries into four subgroups according to their vulnerability and readiness to climate change, as evaluated by the ND-Gain indicators.

We perform a two-stage instrumental variable approach within the context of panel models to investigate the potential growth-enhancing impact that different types of agricultural aid may exert on the agriculture Total Factor Productivity in recipient countries.

Our findings show that aid to agriculture, especially adaptation aid, has a positive impact on agricultural productivity growth. We also observe that countries with a higher climate readiness benefit the most from aid, whereas countries highly vulnerable and heavily dependent on the agricultural sector are less able to leverage the aid received to the same extent.

Overall, our analysis confirms the importance of international aid to the agricultural sector and suggests that accurate impact assessment analyses should also consider a climate perspective to distinguish adaptation from mitigation aid.
ANXA1 is identified as a key gene associated with high risk and T cell infiltration in primary sclerosing cholangitis
Authors: Zhang Jian , Wang Huiwen , Liu Jinqing , Fu Lei , Peng Shifang
Published: September 2023

Background

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a chronic cholestatic liver disease, with unclear pathogenesis. Although immune disorders, especially T cell infiltration, are thought to play a vital role in PSC, the specific pathogenesis mechanisms remain incompletely understood. This study evaluated the potential key gene associated with the PSC pathogenesis and analyzed the associations of the key gene with prognosis and immune cell infiltration by combining bioinformatics analysis and experimental verification.

Methods

Transcriptome data of PSC and normal human liver tissues (GSE159676) were obtained from the gene expression omnibus database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, and differences in biological states were analyzed. A protein–protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed. Hub genes were identified, and their expression was verified using transcriptome data of mice fed 0.1% 3,5-diethoxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydrocollidine (DDC) and Mdr2−/− mice (GSE179993, GSE80776), as well as by immunohistochemistry staining on clinical samples. The correlations between the key gene and other factors were evaluated by Pearson’s correlation coefficient. Immune cell infiltration into human liver (GSE159676) was analyzed by xCell and verified by immunofluorescence staining on PSC liver samples.

Results

Of the 185 DEGs identified, 113 were upregulated and 72 were downregulated genes in PSC. Genes associated with immune cell infiltration and fibrosis were significantly enriched in PSC. PPI network showed close interactions among DEGs. A module strongly associated with immune infiltration was identified, with annexin A1 (ANXA1) being the core gene. High expression of ANXA1 in PSC was confirmed in two public datasets and by immunohistochemistry staining on clinical samples. High ANXA1 expression was strongly associated with high-risk score for PSC. Also, ANXA1 expression was positively associated with chemokines and chemokine receptors and with the infiltration of immune cells, especially T cells, into liver with PSC. Immune infiltration, fibrosis, and cancer-related processes were markedly enriched in PSC with high expression of ANXA1.

Conclusion

ANXA1 is a key gene associated with high risk and infiltration of immune cells, especially T cells, in PSC. These findings provide new insight into the key biomarker of PSC and suggest that targeting ANXA1 may be a valuable strategy for the treatment of PSC.
Diurnal migration patterns in willow warblers differ between the western and eastern flyways
Authors: Sokolovskis Kristaps , Caballero-Lopez Violeta , Åkesson Susanne , Lundberg Max , Willemoes Mikkel , Zhao Tianhao , Bensch Staffan
Published: September 2023

It is a long-standing view that the main mechanism maintaining narrow migratory divides in passerines is the selection against intermediate and suboptimal migratory direction, but empirical proof of this is still lacking. We present novel results from a willow warbler migratory divide in central Sweden from where birds take the typical SW and SE as well as intermediate routes to winter quarters in Africa. We hypothesized that individuals that take the intermediate route are forced to migrate in daytime more often when crossing wide ecological barriers than birds that follow the typical western or eastern flyways. Analyses of geolocator tracks of willow warblers breeding across the entire Sweden, including the migratory divide, provided no support for our hypothesis. Instead, birds that migrated along the western flyway were the most likely to undertake full day flights. The probability of migrating for a full day when crossing major barriers declined linearly from west to east. We speculate that this difference is possibly caused by more challenging conditions in the western part of the Sahara Desert, such as the lack of suitable day-time roost sites. However, it may equally likely be that willow warblers benefit from migrating in daytime if favorable tailwinds offer assistance.
From South Asia to Southern Europe: a comparative analysis of Sri Lankans’ residential segregation in the main Italian cities using high-resolution data on regular lattice geographies
Authors: Bitonti Francesca , Benassi Federico , Mazza Angelo , Strozza Salvatore
Published: September 2023

The present work proposes a spatial analysis of the residential segregation and settlement models of Sri Lankans in the eight main Italian municipalities. Hosting more than half of the total Sri Lankan population residing in Italy, the selected urban areas allow Sri Lankans’ residential model to be globally framed across the country. The purpose of this work is threefold. First, it provides a general assessment of the allocation pattern of a foreign community that has seldom been studied and yet is characterized by peculiar settlement choices. Second, it attempts to compare the settlement patterns of Sri Lankans across different urban contexts. Third, it aims to detect the possible spatial polarization of Sri Lankans in specific neighbourhoods and to verify its spatial correlation with other key variables that constitute proxies of urban neighbourhoods’ socioeconomic inequalities. The study runs multiple aspatial linear models to assess the global variation in concentrations of Sri Lankans related to several socioeconomic predictors. Furthermore, it implements geographically weighted regressions to explicitly model the spatial dependence between Sri Lankans’ location quotients and several predictors. It refers all the considered variables to a single geographic reference grid, enabling the homogenization of different areal unit arrangements and comparisons across space. Except for Milan and Rome, the findings suggest that Sri Lankans tend to reside in central neighbourhoods characterized by a high foreign presence and a decreased trend of Italian population. Conversely, the impact of the cost of living and the state of the built environment is heterogeneous across space, with a sort of centre-periphery duality in Southern cities and more fragmented situations in the other urban contexts. This evidence proves the relevance of local scale analysis and the need to build up urban observatories on spatial inequalities and segregation processes.
Elicitation of native bio protective microbial agents associated systemic defense responses and plant growth promotion against bacterial stalk rot pathogen in sorghum (Sorghum bicolor)
Authors: Yadav Sujata Singh , Arya Anshul , Singh Vishal , Singh Yogendra
Published: September 2023

Dickeya dadantii is the causal agent of bacterial stalk rot and one of the most destructive and widespread diseases of the sorghum in the world. Here, we explored microbe-based approaches for managing this destructive pathogen, intending to provide alternatives for integrated disease management. The objective of the research was to decipher the effect of antagonistic microbes on systemic defense enzymes, histochemical changes, plant growth attributes, reduction in disease severity, and interaction of these antagonistic microbes with host. Trichoderma, Pseudomonas, and Bacillus isolates were collected from rhizospheric soil and characterized using morphological and molecular tools. ITS and 16S rRNA sequences were analyzed to determine the molecular characterization of all antagonist microbes, and they were identified as T. asperellum, T. viride, T. harzianum, B. subtilis, and P. flourescens. These isolates were evaluated for antibacterial properties against D. dadantii under in vitro conditions and showed the higher inhibition in a dual culture method. Further, the effects of seed bio-priming and soil application of these isolates were tested under glasshouse and field conditions. T. viride outperformed the other isolates, significantly enhancing the plant growth parameters and induced resistance to Dickeya dadantii (BSR). T. viride showed a significantly higher accumulation of defensive enzymes, viz. PAL (1.02), PO (1.70), PPO (1.25), CAT (1.11), and TPC (0.91) at 48 h after pathogen challenge, as compared to the control. Histochemical tests confirmed lignification and callose deposition in the cell walls of the treated plants. Antagonist microbes were further evaluated under field conditions against D. dadantii infection. Compared to the control, there is a significant enhancement of plant growth parameters and yield with a simultaneous decrease in disease severity in T. viride treated plants. Results showed that the potential benefits of T. viride could not only effectively induce resistance in plants, enhance plant growth, increase yield, and suppress pathogen infection but also reduce the use of hazardous pesticides. As a result of correlation, PCA and heat map analyses indicated that T. viride is interconnected to determine the crop ability to sustain its growth under pathogen stress.
Utilizing deliberative engagement for identifying implementation strategy priorities: lessons learned from an online deliberative forum with dental professionals
Authors: Gruß Inga , Dawson Tim , Kaplan Charles D. , Pihlstrom Daniel J. , Fellows Jeffrey L. , Polk Deborah E.
Published: September 2023

Background

Selecting effective implementation strategies to support guideline-concordant dental care is a complex process. We are drawing on data collected during the DISGO study to reflect on barriers we encountered in implementing a deliberative engagement process for discussing implementation strategies relevant to the evidence-based guideline targeted in this intervention. The goal is to identify factors that may influence the success of deliberative engagement as a technique to involve healthcare staff in identifying priorities for implementation strategies.

Methods

We drew on online chat transcripts from the deliberative engagement forums collected during the DISGO study. The chat transcripts were automatically generated for each discussion and captured the written exchanges between participants and moderators in all participating dental clinics. Chat transcripts were analyzed following a content analysis approach.

Results

Our findings revealed barriers to the successful implementation of deliberative engagement in the context of the DISGO study. Participants were not familiar with the materials that had been prepared for the forum and lacked familiarity with the topic of deliberation. Participants also did not share divergent viewpoints and reinforced existing ideas rather than introducing new ideas.

Conclusions

In order to ensure that obstacles that were encountered in this study are not repeated, it is important to carefully consider how staff can effectively be prepared for the deliberations. Participants must be familiar with the content of the guideline, and most questions about the content and evidence should be answered before the deliberative engagement sessions. If perspectives among staff on a guideline are homogenous, briefing materials should introduce perspectives that complement existing views among staff. It is also necessary to create an environment in which staff are comfortable introducing opinions that may not be held by the majority of colleagues.

Trial registration

This project is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov with ID NCT04682730. The trial was first registered on 12/18/2020.
https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04682730.
Profiling bacterial communities of irrigation water and leafy green vegetables produced by small-scale farms and sold in informal settlements in South Africa
Authors: Kgoale D. M. , Gokul J. K. , Duvenage S. , Du Plessis E. M. , Korsten L.
Published: September 2023

Morogo is an African indigenous term used for leafy green vegetables harvested in the wild or cultivated in small-scale farms and consumed by the local populations of the region. Small-scale farmers have gained recognition as important suppliers of morogo to informal settlements. In commercial production systems, leafy green vegetables have increasingly been reported as associated with foodborne pathogens and disease outbreaks. Little is known of the presence of these organisms on leafy green vegetables in the informal unregulated food systems. This study aimed to profile bacterial communities in irrigation water (flooding and overhead irrigation water) and leafy green vegetables (Brassica rapa L. chinensis and Brassica rapa varieties of morogo) to establish the natural bacterial flora at the water-fresh produce interface from five small-scale farms in two provinces in South Africa. Illumina MiSeq high-throughput sequencing showed that each farm exhibited a unique bacterial community composition, with an overall high relative abundance of Proteobacteria, Firmicutes and Actinobacteria, including prominent families such as Burkholderiaceae (48%), Enterobacteriaceae (34%), Bacillales Family XII (8%), Rhodobacteraceae (3%), Micrococcaceae (1.98%) and Pseudomonadaceae (1.79%). Specific Enterobacteriaceae Serratia, Enterobacter, Salmonella, Shigella, Escherichia coli, Buchnera, Citrobacter, Klebsiella and Proteus were identified, in addition to unique communities associated with plant or irrigation water source. These findings suggest that the edible plant microbiome can play an important role as transient contributor to the human gut and has the potential to affect overall health.
Economic analysis of early intervention for autistic children: findings from four case studies in England, Ireland, Italy, and Spain
Authors: Tinelli Michela , Roddy Aine , Knapp Martin , Arango Celso , Mendez Maria Andreina , Cusack James , Murphy Declan , Canitano Roberto , Oakley Bethany , Quoidbach Vinciane
Published: September 2023

Background

Many autistic children experience difficulties in their communication and language skills development, with consequences for social development into adulthood, often resulting in challenges over the life-course and high economic impacts for individuals, families, and society. The Preschool Autism Communication Trial (PACT) intervention is effective in terms of improved social communication and some secondary outcomes. A previously published within-trial economic analysis found that results at 13 months did not support its cost-effectiveness. We modeled cost-effectiveness over 6 years and across four European countries.

Methods

Using simulation modeling, we built on economic analyses in the original trial, exploring longer-term cost-effectiveness at 6 years (in England). We adapted our model to undertake an economic analysis of PACT in Ireland, Italy, and Spain. Data on resource use were taken from the original trial and a more recent Irish observational study.

Results

PACT is cost-saving over time from a societal perspective, even though we confirmed that, at 13 months post-delivery, PACT is more expensive than usual treatment (across all countries) when given to preschool autistic children. After 6 years, we found that PACT has lower costs than usual treatment in terms of unpaid care provided by parents (in all countries). Also, if we consider only out-of-pocket expenses from an Irish study, PACT costs less than usual treatment.

Discussion

PACT may be recommended as a cost-saving early intervention for families with an autistic child.
Association of DIO2 and MCT10 Polymorphisms With Persistent Symptoms in LT4-Treated Patients in the UK Biobank
Authors: Jensen Christian Zinck , Isaksen Jonas Lynggaard , Ahlberg Gustav , Olesen Morten Salling , Nygaard Birte , Ellervik Christina , Kanters Jørgen Kim
Published: September 2023

Context

Some evidence suggests gene-treatment interactions might cause persistent symptoms in individuals receiving levothyroxine (LT4) treatment.

Objective

We investigated, as previously hypothesized, if single-nucleotide variations (SNVs; formerly single-nucleotide polymorphisms) in rs225014 (Thr92Ala), rs225015, or rs12885300 (ORFa-Gly3Asp) in the deiodinase 2 gene (DIO2), or rs17606253 in the monocarboxylate transporter 10 gene (MCT10) were associated with outcomes indicative of local tissue hypothyroidism in LT4-treated patients and controls.

Methods

We included 18 761 LT4-treated patients and 360 534 controls in a population-based cross-sectional study in the UK Biobank. LT4 treatment was defined as a diagnosis of hypothyroidism and self-reported use of LT4 without use of 3,5,3′-triiodothyronine. Outcomes were psychological well-being, cognitive function, and cardiovascular risk factors. Associations were evaluated by linear, logistic, or ordinal logistic multiple regression. Adjustments included sex, age, sex-age interaction, and genetic principal components 1 to 10.

Results

Compared to controls, LT4 treatment was adversely associated with almost all outcomes, most noteworthy: Increased frequency of tiredness (P < .001), decreased well-being factor score (P < .001), increased reaction-time (P < .001), and increased body mass index (P < .001). Except for a significant association between the minor rs225015 A allele and financial dissatisfaction, there was no association of rs225014, rs225015, rs12885300, or rs17606253 with any outcomes in LT4-treated patients. For all outcomes, carrying the risk allele at these 4 SNVs did not amplify symptoms associated with LT4 treatment compared to controls.

Conclusion

rs225014, rs225015, rs12885300, and rs17606253 could not explain changed psychological well-being, cognitive function, or cardiovascular risk factors in LT4-treated patients. Our findings do not support a gene-treatment interaction between these SNVs and LT4 treatment.
Fertility and Labor Supply Responses to Child Allowances: The Introduction of Means-Tested Benefits in France
Authors: Elmallakh Nelly
Published: September 2023

This article examines fertility and labor supply responses to a 2014 French policy reform that consisted of conditioning the amount of child allowances on household income. Employing regression discontinuity design and French administrative income data, I find that restricting family allowance eligibility criteria decreases fertility among the richest households. The results also highlight that receiving half the amount of the allowances or none leads to an increase in both male and female labor supply through an increase in overtime work. The implied change in earned income, due to an increase in weekly working hours, is found to be comparable to the euro value reduction in benefits. Auxiliary regression analyses show that the fertility decline reflects a decrease in the probability of having an additional child for parents rather than in the probability of becoming parents for households without children.
Does Early Childhood BCG Vaccination Improve Survival to Midlife in a Population With a Low Tuberculosis Prevalence? Quasi-experimental Evidence on Nonspecific Effects From 32 Swedish Birth Cohorts
Authors: Theilmann Michaela , Geldsetzer Pascal , Bärnighausen Till , Sudharsanan Nikkil
Published: September 2023

The Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) vaccine for tuberculosis (TB) is widely used globally. Many high-income countries discontinued nationwide vaccination policies starting in the 1980s as the TB prevalence decreased. However, there is continued scientific interest in whether the general childhood immunity boost conferred by the BCG vaccination impacts adult health and mortality in low-TB contexts (known as nonspecific effects). While recent studies have found evidence of an association between BCG vaccination and survival to ages 34–45, it is unclear whether these associations are causal or driven by the unobserved characteristics of those who chose to voluntarily vaccinate. We use the abrupt discontinuation of mandatory BCG vaccination in Sweden in 1975 as a natural experiment to estimate the causal nonspecific effect of the BCG vaccine on cohort survival to midlife. Applying two complementary study designs, we find no evidence that survival to age 40 was affected by the discontinuation of childhood BCG vaccination. The results are consistent among both males and females and are robust to several sensitivity tests. Overall, despite prior correlational studies suggesting large nonspecific effects, we do not find any population-level evidence for a nonspecific effect of the BCG vaccine discontinuation on survival to age 40 in Sweden.
Ecophysiology of neotropical amphibians and reptiles: lessons learned from Colombia
Authors: Agudelo-Cantero Gustavo A. , Cruz-Rodríguez Erika X. , Lamadrid-Feris Faride , Ortega-Chinchilla Jesús E.
Published: September 2023

Ecophysiology and herpetology share a close historical relationship, but earlier work at the interface of these disciplines was carried out in temperate regions. Tropical regions like the Neotropics exhibit the highest species richness for amphibians and reptiles, but the pace for ecophysiological research on tropical herpetofauna has been slower relative to temperate counterparts. We are a group of early-career, Latin American researchers interested in the physiological diversity exhibited by neotropical herpetofauna. As such, we have engaged in the organization of the Symposium on the Ecophysiology of Neotropical Amphibians and Reptiles (ECOPHYSHERP) to integrate the scientific community interested on these topics. ECOPHYSHERP has been held three times already within the Colombian Congress of Herpetology, and collectively it has hosted >60 contributions from researchers at 26 institutions and eight countries. Participation has been diverse in terms of gender, age, and career stage, but most participants have been young undergraduate biology students. This generation of early-career researchers is producing excellent research in a broad range of topics, but difficulties to convert this research into scientific publications may exist. Identifying and contributing in order to solve such problems are priorities for this organizing committee, and also our endeavours towards ECOPHYSHERP 4.0 in Santa Marta in 2025.
The SARS-CoV-2 protein NSP2 enhances microRNA-mediated translational repression
Authors: Naeli Parisa , Zhang Xu , Snell Patric Harris , Chatterjee Susanta , Kamran Muhammad , Ladak Reese Jalal , Orr Nick , Duchaine Thomas , Sonenberg Nahum , Jafarnejad Seyed Mehdi
Published: September 2023

Viruses use microRNAs (miRNAs) to impair the host antiviral response and facilitate viral infection by expressing their own miRNAs or co-opting cellular miRNAs. miRNAs inhibit translation initiation of their target mRNAs by recruiting the GIGYF2–4EHP (or EIF4E2) translation repressor complex to the mRNA 5′-cap structure. We recently reported that the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-encoded non-structural protein 2 (NSP2) interacts with GIGYF2. This interaction is critical for blocking translation of the Ifnb1 mRNA that encodes the cytokine interferon β, and thereby impairs the host antiviral response. However, it is not known whether NSP2 also affects miRNA-mediated silencing. Here, we demonstrate the pervasive augmentation of miRNA-mediated translational repression of cellular mRNAs by NSP2. We show that NSP2 interacts with argonaute 2 (AGO2), the core component of the miRNA-induced silencing complex (miRISC), via GIGYF2 and enhances the translational repression mediated by natural miRNA-binding sites in the 3′ untranslated region of cellular mRNAs. Our data reveal an additional layer of the complex mechanism by which SARS-CoV-2 and likely other coronaviruses manipulate the host gene expression program by co-opting the host miRNA-mediated silencing machinery.
Pin-point Surgery of Proton-deuterium Substitution to Enhance Polybenzimidazole Thermoresistances
Authors: Zhong Xianzhu , Nag Aniruddha , Zhou Jiabei , Takada Kenji , Kusano Motoyuki , Kaneko Tatsuo
Published: September 2023

Thermal stability plays a crucial role in determining polymer suitability as high-performance thermoresistant materials, which are highly desirable as lightweight substitutes for metal or ceramic materials in a sustainable society. We here present an innovative approach involving the in-situ substitution of imidazole protons of polybenzimidazole (PBI) derivatives with deuterium using deuterated solvents to enhance thermal stability. The resulting substituted polymers exhibited significantly higher thermal decomposition temperatures compared to their original counterparts. This notable improvement can be attributed to the N-D bond, which possesses a low stretching frequency, demanding a greater amount of activating energy compared to the N-H bond, enabling the polymer to withstand higher temperatures. This discovery presents a novel and promising avenue for enhancing polymer thermoresistance, providing valuable insights for the development of advanced materials with enhanced thermal stability.
Rethinking GLAMs as commons: a conceptual framework
Authors: Avdikos Vasilis , Dragouni Mina , Michailidou Martha , Pettas Dimitris
Published: September 2023

In this paper, we reflect on ‘new commons’ theory and elaborate on the ontology of memory institutions with the aim to develop a comprehensive conceptual framework for ‘commons-oriented’ GLAMs (Galleries, Libraries, Archives and Museums). In doing so, we propose an alternative for governing and managing cultural heritage against a backdrop of limited public funding and pressures for developing memory institutions into more inclusive, participatory and ‘entrepreneurial’ organisations. Our theoretical analysis is grounded in the review of the extant literature, including both the ‘Ostromian’ and ‘Autonomist’ schools of thought, drawing particularly on the new commons (urban, digital, cultural/heritage commons) to inform our framework. The conceptual schema we present here is adapted to fit with the idiosyncrasies of the sector, describing the functioning of commoning practices in GLAMs. Such a framework is critical for navigating future research and devising workable solutions to address current challenges for memory institutions in Europe.
Go West Young Firm: The Impact of Startup Migration on the Performance of Migrants
Authors: Guzman Jorge
Published: September 2023

This paper studies how regional migration to tech clusters impacts the performance of startups within the United States. Startups that move to Silicon Valley experience a significant improvement in performance. This improvement is higher than migrations to other regions in the United States, many of which report null treatment effects. The startups that benefit the most from migration are those leaving low performing entrepreneurial ecosystems and moving to high performing ecosystems, consistent with an agglomeration mechanism. Within different measures of the ecosystem, the level of local patenting predicts startup improvements more than venture capital or the quality-adjusted number of startups, suggesting the local innovation environment is more important to migrant performance than financing or the presence of other startup peers.

This paper was accepted by Toby Suart, entrepreneurship and innovation.

Funding: This work was supported by Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, the Jean Hammond (1986) and Michael Krasner (1974) Entrepreneurship Fund at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and the Edward B. Roberts (1957) Entrepreneurship Fund at MIT.

Supplemental Material: The data files and online appendix are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2023.4924 .
Diseases of the digestive system as the cause of disability certificates
Authors: Pawłowska Paulina , Skorupa Aleksandra , Nowińska Aleksandra , Iwanicki Janusz , Nieradko-Iwanicka Barbara
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Introduction. The incidence of gastrointestinal system neoplasms increases. Colon cancer is one of the most prevalent neoplasms in men and women. Cardiovascular diseases and cancers are among leading causes of death in Poland. Colon cancer and other gastrointestinal diseases (inflammatory, autoimmune, neoplastic), can be causes of disability too.
Aim. The aim of the study was to investigate the characteristics of 16+ population obtaining disability certificates due to gas­trointestinal diseases in Lublin within the last 16 years.
Material and methods. The data from the years 2006-2021 were obtained from the Municipal Disability Adjudication Council in Lublin.
Results. In the years 2006-2021 Municipal Disability Adjudication Council in Lublin issued 76,581 disability certificates. Out of that number 2861 (3.7%) certificates were issued due to gastrointestinal diseases. In the years 2006-2012 mainly moderate degree disability was diagnosed. Since 2013 most of the 16+ patients have been diagnosed with severe disability. Majority of patients were unemployed men with vocational education.
Conclusions. Gastrointestinal tract diseases are in eighth the place among the causes of disability certificates in Lublin. The main cause of disability are musculoskeletal diseases.
More effective screening programs are necessary to prevent avoidable disability due to gastrointestinal diseases.

Keywords: gastrointestinal tract diseases, disability, disability certificate.
Air pollution – a factor of the cardiovascular system diseases
Authors: Witkowska Edyta Karolina , Ciechański Marcin , Ostańska Agnieszka , Szafrar Adrianna , Terelak Wiktor , Wiśniewska Klaudia , Piasek Laura , Godek Grzegorz , Więcław Kacper , Stańko Katarzyna
Published: September 2023

Introduction. Air pollution is any chemical, physical or biological agent that alters the natural composition of the atmosphere. It is the cause of many respiratory, circulatory and nervous system diseases, as well as the occurrence of allergies, cancer and fertility problems.
Aim. The purpose of this study was to summarize the effects of polluted air on the cardiovascular system. This impact is associated with the whole spectrum of negative effects from additional hospitalizations to premature deaths.
Materials and methods. A review of the literature available in the PubMed database was conducted published by the World Health Organization (WHO) and European Environment Agency (EEA).
Basic results. Air pollution is a real threat to the cardiovascular system. The human population is constantly exposed to the toxins in the air we breathe from tobacco smoke and fireplace smoking to industrial emissions and volcanic eruptions. It is not just a problem for large metropolitan areas, but a huge global problem. It is worth noting that polluted air is not only outside, but also indoors where we live despite our supposed sense of security.
Conclusions. This is a huge problem that cannot be ignored, and a public health challenge. It is important to constantly raise awareness of the magnitude of the problem, take action on many levels and promote prevention to minimize exposure as much as possible and continue to improve air quality.

Keywords: air pollution, cardiovascular disease, particulate matter, myocardial infarction, arrhythmia
Digitalization and diversification of the process of development of foreign language communicative competence of future officers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
Authors:   Military Academy, Yarmolovych Oksana , Kovalchuk Tetiana ,   Military Academy, Bakatova Karina ,   National Technical University "Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute"
Published: September 2023

This article highlights the place of digitalization of professional training in Ukrainian higher military educational institutions. In addition, the phenomenon of diversification of the educational sector is considered as the basis for the trend of development of the educational system by means of information digital technologies. In the context of pedagogical analysis, the process of developing foreign language communicative competence in an educational institution focused on training future officers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is studied. The study draws attention to a number of the most important components of the modern process of developing the foreign language skills of future officers. Attention is paid to one of these components – the foreign language learning environment and its formation. This paper examines the characteristics and analysis of the impact of the formed foreign language environment on cadets, students, all those who are in the center of the process of developing the foreign language communicative competence of military education. The efficiency of using digital technologies for the development of a foreign language environment is analyzed. The following concepts are highlighted in the article: “digitalization”, “digital technologies”, “diversification”, “virtual environment”, “digital technologies”, “video medium”, “foreign language communicative competence”, “linguistic immersion”, “socio-cultural approach”, “psychological aspects”, “socio-cultural adaptation”, “language barrier”. We present the interpretation of the concepts based on the accepted international sources, our own understanding of these concepts and the processes in which they occur. The article presents the results of interviews with cadets (students) who agreed to participate in an experiment on the development of foreign language communication by the method of immersion in a foreign language environment using digital technologies. The cadets answered questions about their life experience, inner feelings, and psychological state that they encountered during the experiment. In the practical part of this study, we paid attention to the cadets' personal assessment of the quality of their communicative foreign language abilities before and after the training immersion. The paper emphasizes the position and impressions of cadets regarding the use of digital technologies to achieve the effect of immersion in a foreign language environment and, as a result, the development of their foreign language communicative competencies. Based on the analysis of the survey results, the authors of the study have identified the most important points that they consider it necessary to recommend paying attention to in order to achieve a qualitative result of foreign language communicative competence development.
Development of valuable social ideas of future managers of scientific projects
Authors:   MIHE ", Kostenko Rostyslav ,   Odesa Academy of Continuing Education of the Odesa Regional Council"
Published: September 2023

The article examines the theoretical and methodological aspects of the problem of the development of valuable social ideas of future managers of scientific projects. A theoretical analysis of the scientific works of domestic and foreign scientists dedicated to the study of social perceptions is provided. Social representations are one of the forms of knowledge of social reality. The development of valuable social ideas of the individual takes place in the process of complex application of the most effective methods and means of education, informal education, self-education under the influence of the social environment. Highly developed value social representations of an individual determine its effective self-determination and social activity useful for society. Emphasis is placed on the importance of the development of valuable social ideas of future managers of scientific projects, which is due to the specifics of their future work associated with constant social interaction. Examples of methods and forms of work for the development of valuable social ideas of future managers of scientific projects are presented. The effectiveness of using a training form of work for the purpose of developing valuable social ideas of future managers of scientific projects is determined by their active participation, in the process of which they acquire new knowledge, skills, social skills and values, new experience of social interaction, and other personal qualities that fully correspond to the principles competence approach and partnership pedagogy. Prospects for further research are outlined, which consist in the study of the factors of development of valuable social perceptions of the individual, which will allow to determine the conditions of pedagogical influence on the individual within the framework of partnership pedagogy in order to improve its further social development and effective self-realization.