bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
From strain to synergy: investigating the positive
aspects of work–family interface among Indian doctors
Authors: Khateeb Fatima Riyaz
Published: October 2023

Purpose

This research aims to investigate the symbiotic relationship between work and
family life among doctors in India, with a focus on work–family
enrichment (WFE) as a positive interplay. The study seeks to examine the
impact of two aspects of WFE, namely, work-to-family enrichment (WTFE) and
family-to-work enrichment (FTWE) on job satisfaction (JS) and life
satisfaction (LS), while exploring the mediating role of self-efficacy
(SE).

Design/methodology/approach

The research employs a comprehensive survey to gather data from Indian
doctors. The survey includes measures of WTFE, FTWE, JS, LS and SE.
Structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to examine the proposed
connections among the research constructs, using IBM AMOS v.23.

Findings

The findings reveal that WTFE significantly impacts both JS and LS. However,
FTWE does not show a direct influence on JS, though it does positively
impact LS. SE plays a noteworthy role, having a strong direct influence on
both job and life satisfaction. In terms of indirect influence, WTFE impacts
job and life satisfaction through the mechanism of SE. Nevertheless, no
significant indirect effect was found between FTWE and both types of
satisfaction through SE.

Originality/value

This research presents several original contributions to the study of
work–life balance among healthcare professionals. Firstly, its unique
geographic focus on North India distinguishes it from existing literature,
offering fresh insights into the experiences of doctors in this region.
Moreover, the study's multifaceted examination of WFE, SE, JS, and LS
introduces a comprehensive perspective seldom seen in current research.
The impact of hurricanes on a property portfolio: an empirical study based on loss data in Portugal
Authors: Hauser Andrea , Rosa Carlos , Esteves Rui , Bugalho Lourdes , Moura Alexandra , Oliveira Carlos
Published: October 2023

Purpose

The simulated scenarios can be used to compute risk premiums per risk class in the portfolio. These can then be used to adjust the policy premiums by accounting for storm risk.

Design/methodology/approach

A complete model to analyse and characterise future losses of the property portfolio of an insurance company due to hurricanes is proposed. The model is calibrated by using the loss data of the Fidelidade insurance company property portfolio resulting from Hurricane Leslie, which hit the centre of continental Portugal in October, 2018.

Findings

Several scenarios are simulated and risk maps are constructed. The risk map of the company depends on its portfolio, especially its exposure, and provides a Hurricane risk management tool for the insurance company.

Originality/value

A statistical model is considered, in which weather data is not required. The authors reconstruct the behaviour of storms through the registered claims and respective losses.
Remote control concept for automated trains as a fallback system: needs and preferences of future operators
Authors: Cogan Baris , Milius Birgit
Published: October 2023

Purpose

Increasing demand on rail transport speeds up the introduction of new technical systems to optimize the rail traffic and increase competitiveness. Remote control of trains is seen as a potential layer of resilience in railway operations. It allows for operating and controlling automated trains and communicating and coordinating with other stakeholders of the railway system. This paper aims to present the first results of a multi-phased simulator study on the development and optimization of remote train driving concepts from the operators’ point of view.

Design/methodology/approach

The presented concept was developed by benchmarking good practices. Two phases of iterative user tests were conducted to evaluate the user experience and preferences of the developed human-machine-interface concept. Basic training requirements were identified and evaluated.

Findings

Results indicate positive feedback on the overall system as a fallback solution. HMI elicited positive emotions regarding pleasure and dominance, but low arousal levels. Train drivers had more conservative views on the system compared to signalers and students. The training activities achieved increased awareness and understanding of the system for future operators. Inclusion of potential users in the development of future systems has the potential to improve user acceptance. The iterative user experiments were useful in obtaining some of the needs and preferences of different user groups.

Originality/value

Multi-phase user tests were conducted to identify and to evaluate the requirements and preferences of remote operators using a simplified HMI. Training analysis provides important aspects to consider for the training of future users.
A range‐expanding butterfly is susceptible to cold and long winters but shows no signs of local adaptation to winter conditions
Authors: Ittonen Mats , Roberts Kevin T. , Lehmann Philipp , Gotthard Karl
Published: October 2023

Numerous species shift or expand their ranges poleward in response to climate change. Even when expanding species follow their climatic niches, expanding range margin populations are likely to face unfamiliar environmental conditions and thus natural selection for local adaptation.

The wall brown butterfly (Lasiommata megera) has expanded northward in Sweden in the years 2000–2020, most likely as a result of climate change, and has previously been shown to have evolved local adaptations to northern daylength conditions. This evolution has occurred despite hypothesised genetic constraints to adaptation at range margins.

We studied local adaptation to winter conditions in four of the previously‐studied L. megera populations, using a common garden laboratory experiment with a warm and short, an intermediate, and a cold and long winter treatment. We compared the winter and post‐winter survival of caterpillars from two southern core range and two northern range margin populations in Sweden.

During the experiment, we measured metabolic rates of a subset of diapausing caterpillars to test whether populations differ in metabolic suppression during diapause. Further, we measured supercooling points, which reflect lower lethal temperature in L. megera, of the same subset of caterpillars. We also compared supercooling points between L. megera and three closely related species with more northern distributions.

Few individuals survived the coldest treatment all the way to successful adult emergence, so L. megera seems susceptible to cold winters. Individuals of northern descent did not survive cold winters any better than individuals from southern populations. Similarly, there were no signs of local adaptation in metabolic rates or supercooling points. The comparison among species did not reveal any clear relationship between geographical distribution and supercooling point.

Although northern winters probably exert strong selection on L. megera, we provide comprehensive evidence for the lack of local adaptation to winter conditions. This contrasts with the previous finding of quickly evolved local adaptation in diapause timing, highlighting the need to consider how traits associated with different seasons differ in how they may evolve and facilitate climate change‐induced range expansions.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
Predator home range size mediates indirect interactions between prey species in an arctic vertebrate community
Authors: Dulude‐de Broin Frédéric , Clermont Jeanne , Beardsell Andréanne , Ouellet Louis‐Pierre , Legagneux Pierre , Bêty Joël , Berteaux Dominique
Published: October 2023

Indirect interactions are widespread among prey species that share a common predator, but the underlying mechanisms driving these interactions are often unclear, and our ability to predict their outcome is limited.

Changes in behavioural traits that impact predator space use could be a key proximal mechanism mediating indirect interactions, but there is little empirical evidence of the causes and consequences of such behavioural‐numerical response in multispecies systems.

Here, we investigate the complex ecological relationships between seven prey species sharing a common predator. We used a path analysis approach on a comprehensive 9‐year data set simultaneously tracking predator space use, prey densities and prey mortality rate on key species of a simplified Arctic food web.

We show that high availability of a clumped and spatially predictable prey (goose eggs) leads to a twofold reduction in predator (arctic fox) home range size, which increases local predator density and strongly decreases nest survival of an incidental prey (American golden plover). On the contrary, a scattered cyclic prey with potentially lower spatial predictability (lemming) had a weaker effect on fox space use and an overall positive impact on the survival of incidental prey.

These contrasting effects underline the importance of studying behavioural responses of predators in multiprey systems and to explicitly integrate behavioural‐numerical responses in multispecies predator–prey models.
The low mutational flexibility of the EPSP synthase in Bacillus subtilis is due to a higher demand for shikimate pathway intermediates
Authors: Schwedt Inge , Schöne Kerstin , Eckert Maike , Pizzinato Manon , Winkler Laura , Knotkova Barbora , Richts Björn , Hau Jann‐Louis , Steuber Julia , Mireles Raul , Noda‐Garcia Lianet , Fritz Günter , Mittelstädt Carolin , Hertel Robert , Commichau Fabian M.
Published: October 2023

Glyphosate (GS) inhibits the 5‐enolpyruvyl‐shikimate‐3‐phosphate (EPSP) synthase that is required for aromatic amino acid, folate and quinone biosynthesis in Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli. The inhibition of the EPSP synthase by GS depletes the cell of these metabolites, resulting in cell death. Here, we show that like the laboratory B. subtilis strains also environmental and undomesticated isolates adapt to GS by reducing herbicide uptake. Although B. subtilis possesses a GS‐insensitive EPSP synthase, the enzyme is strongly inhibited by GS in the native environment. Moreover, the B. subtilis EPSP synthase mutant was only viable in rich medium containing menaquinone, indicating that the bacteria require a catalytically efficient EPSP synthase under nutrient‐poor conditions. The dependency of B. subtilis on the EPSP synthase probably limits its evolvability. In contrast, E. coli rapidly acquires GS resistance by target modification. However, the evolution of a GS‐resistant EPSP synthase under non‐selective growth conditions indicates that GS resistance causes fitness costs. Therefore, in both model organisms, the proper function of the EPSP synthase is critical for the cellular viability. This study also revealed that the uptake systems for folate precursors, phenylalanine and tyrosine need to be identified and characterized in B. subtilis.
Can network analysis identify market problems in quasi‐markets? A proof‐of‐concept study on the National Disability Insurance Scheme
Authors: Alexander Damon , Carey Gemma , Malbon Eleanor , Dickinson Helen , Gilchrist David , Duff Gordon , Chand Satish , Kavanagh Anne
Published: October 2023

The use of markets has a long history in the delivery of social services. Market‐based arrangements are used worldwide with the goal of increasing choice, efficiency, and cost effectiveness in public service delivery. However, government‐run markets or ‘quasi‐markets’ do not behave as regular markets and therefore require interventions and stewardship in order to function efficiently and meet the social goals they aim to achieve. We assess the usefulness of functional network analysis (FNA) (a form of social network analysis) for identifying market gaps and market failure in quasi‐markets to assist governments in their stewardship roles. We test the utility of this approach within an Australian quasi‐market for disability services, where data were collected via surveys with disability providers in two case study sites. In this proof‐of‐concept study, data were analysed using FNA techniques. We find that FNA techniques can generate insights to identify quasi‐market problems. We find that FNA can be augmented with organisational characteristics such as size, profit margin, and ‘for profit’ status, enabling evaluation of the potential risks occurring within a particular quasi‐market structure.

Points for practitioners

Functional network analysis provides a method for identifying thin markets in quasi‐market systems such as the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

Authorities have not made data available regarding NDIS thin markets, so this research conducts a survey to replace data; however, the survey is incomplete and so must only be used as a proof of concept for the functional network analysis method.

Functional network analysis provides promise for identifying thin markets in the NDIS.
Developing soft (employability) skills and work experience opportunities to prepare students with intellectual disability for open employment
Authors: Young Kirsty , Rooney Donna
Published: October 2023

This research identifies the soft (employability) skills that key stakeholders view as essential for young people with intellectual disability (ID) to gain and maintain open employment. The study subsequently examined the work experience opportunities for young people with ID to develop these soft skills during their school years. Qualitative data from 89 participants (questionnaires and interviews) and a review of the current literature informed the development of a set of soft skills for open employment and a proposed model for work exposure programmes from the commencement to the conclusion of high school.
The diffusion of diagnosis and its implications for the epistemology and ontology of disease
Authors: Barth Yishai , Weinberg Darin
Published: October 2023

Rather than confining the categories health and sickness to a biomedical conception of the biological organism, there is growing recognition of epistemological and ontological multiplicity in the realm of diagnosis and, indeed, in the very realm of disease itself. In short, the empirical manifestations of health and illness as well as the processes thought to cause them are now understood to assume a much wider variety of both biological and other forms. This essay considers the underlying epistemological and ontological opportunities and challenges of taking what we are calling this diffusion of diagnosis seriously. By diffusion we mean the movement from a concentrated understanding of diagnostic authority as confined to scientific biomedicine to a less concentrated appreciation of the diverse approaches to diagnosis throughout the world. We consider the extent to which, and the manner in which, we as sociologists of diagnosis might not only critique these various processes but perhaps also take them seriously in an ethnographic sense as locally produced, evaluated and legitimated forms of health care.
Rethinking ritual: how rituals made our world and how they could save it★
Authors: Whitehouse Harvey
Published: October 2023

In this Henry Myers Lecture, I summarize several decades of collaborative research on the role of ritual in group bonding and co‐operation, ranging from psychology experiments in university laboratories to field research among indigenous groups, and from surveys with armed revolutionaries to extended interviews with religious adherents. This body of work is helping to clarify the mechanisms by which social cohesion and prosocial behaviour are generated in a variety of groups, such as mothers experiencing traumatic births, football fans suffering defeat at crucial matches in Brazil and Australia, and Muslim fundamentalists in Indonesia contemplating insults to Islam in faraway conflicts. These findings also shed light on changes in ritual life from the palaeolithic to the first farmers and from archaic states to the first moralizing religions. In keeping with the forward‐looking theme of the 2022 RAI conference, I consider the implications of these findings for various practical problems facing humanity today, such as how to reduce crime and to prevent violent extremism and how to foster more inclusive forms of leadership and motivate action on environmental issues.
Modeling State Firearm Law Adoption Using Temporal Network Models
Authors: CLARK DUNCAN A. , MACINKO JAMES , PORFIRI MAURIZIO
Published: October 2023

Policy Points

Promoting healthy public policies is a national priority, but state policy adoption is driven by a complex set of internal and external factors.

This study employs new social network methods to identify underlying connections among states and to predict the likelihood of new firearm‐related policy adoption given changes to this interstate network.

This approach could be used to assess the likelihood that a given state will adopt a specific new firearm‐related law and to identify points of influence that could either inhibit or promote wider diffusion of specific laws.

Context

US states are largely responsible for the regulation of firearms within their borders. Each state has developed a different legal environment with regard to firearms based on different values and beliefs of citizens, legislators, governors, and other stakeholders. Predicting the types of firearm laws that states may adopt is therefore challenging.

Methods

We propose a parsimonious model for this complex process and provide credible predictions of state firearm laws by estimating the likelihood they will be passed in the future. We employ a temporal exponential‐family random graph model to capture the bipartite state law–state network data over time, allowing for complex interdependencies and their temporal evolution. Using data on all state firearm laws over the period 1979–2020, we estimate these models’ parameters while controlling for factors associated with firearm law adoption, including internal and external state characteristics. Predictions of future firearm law passage are then calculated based on a number of scenarios to assess the effects of a given type of firearm law being passed in the future by a given state.

Findings

Results show that a set of internal state factors are important predictors of firearm law adoption, but the actions of neighboring states may be just as important. Analysis of scenarios provide insights into the mechanics of how adoption of laws by specific states (or groups of states) may perturb the rest of the network structure and alter the likelihood that new laws would become more (or less) likely to continue to diffuse to other states.

Conclusions

The methods used here outperform standard approaches for policy diffusion studies and afford predictions that are superior to those of an ensemble of machine learning tools. The proposed framework could have applications for the study of policy diffusion in other domains.
Regulatory Transparency and Regulators’ Effort: Evidence from Public Release of the SEC's Review Work
Authors: GUO RUI , Tian Xiaoli (Shaolee)
Published: October 2023

Using the public release of comment letters on EDGAR to capture a regime shift toward regulatory transparency, we examine whether an increase in transparency affects regulators’ effort and work performance. We find that the SEC staff reviews more filings and more documents per filing following the disclosure regime shift. These effects are incrementally stronger for firms with comment letters that are expected to attract greater investor or public monitoring. Furthermore, under the new regime, reviews are more timely. Upon the regime switch, the likelihood of a restatement (receiving a comment letter) decreases (increases) for filings that are reviewed. After receiving a comment letter, a firm with signs of potential fraud is more likely to be investigated, and this effect becomes more pronounced under the new regime. Altogether, our findings suggest that publicly disclosing regulators’ work output can mitigate moral hazard (i.e., increase regulators’ work input), improving their work performance.
Mitigation of microbial nitrogen‐derived metabolic hazards as a driver for safer alcoholic beverage choices: An evidence‐based review and future perspectives
Authors: Liao Hui , Asif Hussain , Huang Xinlei , Luo Yi , Xia Xiaole
Published: October 2023

Alcoholic beverages have been enjoyed worldwide as hedonistic commodities for thousands of years. The unique quality and flavor are attributed to the rich microbiota and nutritional materials involved in fermentation. However, the metabolism of these microbiota can also introduce toxic compounds into foods. Nitrogen‐derived metabolic hazards (NMH) are toxic metabolic hazards produced by microorganisms metabolizing nitrogen sources that can contaminate alcoholic beverages during fermentation and processing. NMH contamination poses a risk to dietary safety and human health without effective preventive strategies. Existing literature has primarily focused on investigating the causes of NMH formation, detection methods, and abatement techniques for NMH in fermentation end‐products. Devising effective process regulation strategies represents a major challenge for the alcoholic beverage industry considering our current lack of understanding regarding the processes whereby NMH are generated, real‐time and online detection, and the high degradation rate after NMH formation. This review summarizes the types and mechanisms of nitrogenous hazard contamination, the potential risk points, and the analytical techniques to detect NMH contamination. We discussed the changing patterns of NMH contamination and effective strategies to prevent contamination at different stages in the production of alcoholic beverages. Moreover, we also discussed the advanced technologies and methods to control NMH contamination in alcoholic beverages based on intelligent monitoring, synthetic ecology, and computational assistance. Overall, this review highlights the risks of NMH contamination during alcoholic beverage production and proposes promising strategies that could be adopted to eliminate the risk of NMH contamination.
A combined molecular approach utilizing microbial DNA and microRNAs in a qPCR multiplex for the classification of five forensically relevant body fluids
Authors: Lewis Carolyn A. , Seashols‐Williams Sarah J.
Published: October 2023

Body fluid identification is an essential step in the forensic biology workflow that can assist DNA analysts in determining where to collect DNA evidence. Current presumptive tests lack the specificity that molecular techniques can achieve; therefore, molecular methods, including microRNA (miRNA) and microbial signature characterization, have been extensively researched in the forensic community. Limitations of each method suggest combining molecular markers to increase the discrimination efficiency of multiple body fluids from a single assay. While microbial signatures have been successful in identifying fluids with high bacterial abundances, microRNAs have shown promise in fluids with low microbial abundance (blood and semen). This project synergized the benefits of microRNAs and microbial DNA to identify multiple body fluids using DNA extracts. A reverse transcription (RT)‐qPCR duplex targeting miR‐891a and let‐7g was validated, and miR‐891a differential expression was significantly different between blood and semen. The miRNA duplex was incorporated into a previously reported qPCR multiplex targeting 16S rRNA genes of Lactobacillus crispatus, Bacteroides uniformis, and Streptococcus salivarius to presumptively identify vaginal/menstrual secretions, feces, and saliva, respectively. The combined classification regression tree model resulted in the presumptive classification of five body fluids with 94.6% overall accuracy, now including blood and semen identification. These results provide proof of concept that microRNAs and microbial DNA can classify multiple body fluids simultaneously at the quantification step of the current forensic DNA workflow.
Cold storage alters the fat–trehalose trade‐off, decreases the flight ability, and maintains the high survival rate and flight speed of Osmia excavata (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae)
Authors: Song Yingying , Liu Li , Ouyang Fang , Cui Hongying , Guo Wenxiu , Lv Suhong , Ye Baohua , Li Lili , Yu Yi , Men Xingyuan
Published: October 2023

Osmia solitary bees are important pollinators of various crops worldwide. Refrigeration has been widely used to synchronize the emergence time of Osmia species from cocoons with the blooming time of different crops, but the fitness of Osmia after refrigeration remains unknown. Here, the effects of long‐term refrigeration at 0 °C on the vitality, flight ability, and metabolism of Osmia excavata, which is known as the “king of pollination” in China, were studied. The survival rate (>90% before 120 d), weight loss rate (<15% after 170 d), and mean flight speed of O. excavata were not greatly affected after long‐term refrigeration. The content of fats, which have antifreeze and energy storage properties, was not significantly altered in O. excavata before 130 d of refrigeration, which might explain why the survival rates and flight speed of O. excavata remained high after long‐term refrigeration. However, the flight duration and distance decreased significantly (P < 0.05), and both were positively correlated with the reduced trehalose levels in O. excavata (r = [+0.69] – [+0.71]; P < 0.05). Overall, these findings indicate that the pollination potential of O. excavata for various crops with different flowering periods is high after long‐term refrigeration; however, long‐term refrigeration may decrease pollination efficiency. Our findings highlight new research directions that could improve the ecological service function of refrigerated O. excavata.
Physiological strategies in wild rodents: immune defenses of commensal rats
Authors: MIRKOV Ivana , TUCOVIC Dina , KULAS Jelena , MALESEVIC Anastasija , KATARANOVSKI Dragan , KATARANOVSKI Milena , POPOV ALEKSANDROV Aleksandra
Published: October 2023

The importance of issues associated with urban/commensal rats and mice (property damage, management costs, and health risks) press upon research on these animals. While the demography of commensal rodents is mostly studied, the need for understanding factors influencing their natural morbidity/mortality is also stressed. In this respect, more attention is expected to be paid to immunity, the physiological mechanism of defense against host survival threats (pathogens, parasites, diseases). Commensal rats and mice carry numerous pathogens that evoke diverse immune responses. The state of immunity in commensal house mice is studied in great detail, owing to the use of laboratory strains in biomedical research. Because commensal rats are, compared to mice, carriers of more zoonotic agents, rats' immunity is studied mainly in that context. Some of these zoonotic agents cause chronic, asymptomatic infections, which justified studies of immunological mechanisms of pathogen tolerance versus clearance regulation in rats. Occurrence of some infections in specific tissues/organs pressed upon analysis of local/regional immune responses and/or immunopathology. A survey of immunological activity/responses in commensal rats is given in this review, with mention of existing data in commensal mice. It should throw some light on the factors relevant to their morbidity and lifespan, supplementing the knowledge of commensal rodent ecology.
Favorable impact of a novel endoscopic auxiliary system (NEAS) on fluoroscopy‐guided lithotripsy for difficult bile duct stones: A pilot study
Authors: Mao Yu Qing , Ni Jian Bo , Yu Yi Neng , Peng Kui , Qu Ying , Xia You Chen , Luo Sheng Zheng , Fu Seng Wang , Xie Ni , Lu Lun Gen , Wan Xin Jian , Li Bai Wen
Published: October 2023

Objectives

Laser lithotripsy under fluoroscopic guidance is difficult to perform and risky due to its invisibility. In this study we aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of a novel endoscopic auxiliary system (NEAS)‐assisted lithotripsy under fluoroscopy for treating difficult common bile duct (CBD) stones.

Methods

Patients with difficult CBD stones who were treated with NEAS‐assisted laser lithotripsy (NEAS group) or conventional mechanical lithotripsy (ML) under fluoroscopy (ML group) were retrospectively evaluated. The primary outcome was the complete stone clearance rate and the secondary outcomes included operation time, complications, and medical cost.

Results

Seventeen patients were treated with NEAS‐assisted laser lithotripsy and 144 patients underwent ML. Using the propensity score matching analysis, 17 pairs of cases treated with NEAS‐assisted lithotripsy and ML were included. Patients in the NEAS group showed a higher stone clearance rate than the ML group (94.1% vs 58.8%, P = 0.039), as well as shorter operation time (41.9 min vs 49.4 min, P < 0.001) and lower medical cost (USD 4607 vs USD 5014, P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in the complication rate between the two groups (5.9% vs 17.6%, P = 0.601).

Conclusion

NEAS‐assisted fluoroscopy‐guided laser lithotripsy is feasible and safe, which may be a promising technique in fluoroscopy‐guided laser lithotripsy for difficult CBD stones.
The role of ethanol oxidation during carboxydotrophic growth of Clostridium autoethanogenum
Authors: Diender Martijn , Dykstra James C. , Parera Olm Ivette , Kengen Servé W. M. , Stams Alfons J. M. , Sousa Diana Z.
Published: October 2023

The Wood–Ljungdahl pathway is an ancient metabolic route used by acetogenic carboxydotrophs to convert CO into acetate, and some cases ethanol. When produced, ethanol is generally seen as an end product of acetogenic metabolism, but here we show that it acts as an important intermediate and co‐substrate during carboxydotrophic growth of Clostridium autoethanogenum. Depending on CO availability, C. autoethanogenum is able to rapidly switch between ethanol production and utilization, hereby optimizing its carboxydotrophic growth. The importance of the aldehyde ferredoxin:oxidoreductase (AOR) route for ethanol production in carboxydotrophic acetogens is known; however, the role of the bifunctional alcohol dehydrogenase AdhE (Ald–Adh) route in ethanol metabolism remains largely unclear. We show that the mutant strain C. autoethanogenum ∆adhE1a, lacking the Ald subunit of the main bifunctional aldehyde/alcohol dehydrogenase (AdhE, CAETHG_3747), has poor ethanol oxidation capabilities, with a negative impact on biomass yield. This indicates that the Adh–Ald route plays a major role in ethanol oxidation during carboxydotrophic growth, enabling subsequent energy conservation via substrate‐level phosphorylation using acetate kinase. Subsequent chemostat experiments with C. autoethanogenum show that the wild type, in contrast to ∆adhE1a, is more resilient to sudden changes in CO supply and utilizes ethanol as a temporary storage for reduction equivalents and energy during CO‐abundant conditions, reserving these ‘stored assets’ for more CO‐limited conditions. This shows that the direction of the ethanol metabolism is very dynamic during carboxydotrophic acetogenesis and opens new insights in the central metabolism of C. autoethanogenum and similar acetogens.
Pseudomonas chlororaphis L5 and Enterobacter asburiae L95 biocontrol Dickeya soft rot diseases by quenching virulence factor modulating quorum sensing signal
Authors: Liu Fan , Hu Ming , Tan Xu , Xue Yang , Li Chuhao , Wang Si , Lv Mingfa , Chen Xiaoyuan , Zhou Xiaofan , Zhang Lian‐hui , Zhou Jianuan
Published: October 2023

Virulence factor modulating (VFM) is a quorum sensing (QS) signal shared by and specific to Dickeya bacteria, regulating the production of plant cell wall degrading enzymes (PCWDEs) and virulence of Dickeya. High polarity and trace of VFM signal increase the difficulty of signal separation and structure identification, and thus limit the development of quorum quenching strategy to biocontrol bacterial soft rot diseases caused by Dickeya. In order to high‐throughput screen VFM quenching bacteria, a vfmE‐gfp biosensor VR2 (VFM Reporter) sensitive to VFM signal was first constructed. Subsequently, two bacterial strains with high quenching efficiency were screened out by fluorescence intensity measurement and identified as Pseudomonas chlororaphis L5 and Enterobacter asburiae L95 using multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA). L5 and L95 supernatants reduced the expression of vfm genes, and both strains also decreased the production of PCWDEs of D. zeae MS2 and significantly reduced the virulence of D. oryzae EC1 on rice seedlings, D. zeae MS2 on banana seedlings, D. dadantii 3937 on potato and D. fangzhongdai CL3 on taro. Findings in this study provide a method to high‐throughput screen VFM quenching bacteria and characterize novel functions of P. chlororaphis and E. asburiae in biocontrolling plant diseases through quenching VFM QS signal.
Effectiveness of traditional Chinese exercise in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized clinical trials
Authors: Du Mengmeng , Hou Xiujuan , Lu Siyi , Kang Tianlun , Li Yuan , Wang Ruoyi
Published: October 2023

Background and Objective

Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a common disorder characterized by heterogeneous symptoms that leads to decreased functioning, work productivity, and quality of life. Exercise has been recommended for fibromyalgia treatment. Traditional Chinese exercise (TCE), including Taichi, Qigong, Badunjin, Wuqinxi, etc., as a kind of mind–body exercise, plays an important role in alleviating symptoms of FMS. The objective of this study is to summarize the available evidence, through meta‐analysis, on the pain relief, quality of life, sleep improvement, and emotion regulation of FMS in TCE.

Methods

Databases of PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane library, Google scholar, CNKI, WANFANG DATA, VIP, etc. were used to search eligible studies that were published from the time of their inception to February 11, 2022, in English and Chinese. The included studies were divided into two groups: TCE group (experimental group) and control group. The Cochrane collaboration's tool was used to assess the risk of bias, and Revman5.4.1 software was used to synthesize and analyze the data.

Results

A total of 12 literatures were included in this study, which contained 781 patients, and 448 of them were included in the treatment group, 333 of others in control group. TCE significantly alleviated pain [SMD = −0.83, 95% CI (−1.15, −0.51), p < .00001], improved quality of life [SMD = −0.53, 95% CI (−0.86, −0.19), p = .002] and improved qualities of sleep [SMD = −0.41, 95% CI (−0.57, −0.24), p < .00001] and relieved depression [SMD = −0.40, 95% CI (−0.69, −0.10), p < .008].

Conclusion

TCE may be a way to reduce pain, improve the quality of life and sleep, and relieve depression for FMS, and it could be part of the FMS treatment.
Calorie restriction modulates the transcription of genes related to stress response and longevity in human muscle: The CALERIE study
Authors: Das Jayanta Kumar , Banskota Nirad , Candia Julián , Griswold Michael E. , Orenduff Melissa , de Cabo Rafael , Corcoran David L. , Das Sai Krupa , De Supriyo , Huffman Kim Marie , Kraus Virginia B. , Kraus William E. , Martin Corby K. , Racette Susan B. , Redman Leanne M. , Schilling Birgit , Belsky Daniel W. , Ferrucci Luigi
Published: October 2023

The lifespan extension induced by 40% caloric restriction (CR) in rodents is accompanied by postponement of disease, preservation of function, and increased stress resistance. Whether CR elicits the same physiological and molecular responses in humans remains mostly unexplored. In the CALERIE study, 12% CR for 2 years in healthy humans induced minor losses of muscle mass (leg lean mass) without changes of muscle strength, but mechanisms for muscle quality preservation remained unclear. We performed high‐depth RNA‐Seq (387–618 million paired reads) on human vastus lateralis muscle biopsies collected from the CALERIE participants at baseline, 12‐ and 24‐month follow‐up from the 90 CALERIE participants randomized to CR and “ad libitum” control. Using linear mixed effect model, we identified protein‐coding genes and splicing variants whose expression was significantly changed in the CR group compared to controls, including genes related to proteostasis, circadian rhythm regulation, DNA repair, mitochondrial biogenesis, mRNA processing/splicing, FOXO3 metabolism, apoptosis, and inflammation. Changes in some of these biological pathways mediated part of the positive effect of CR on muscle quality. Differentially expressed splicing variants were associated with change in pathways shown to be affected by CR in model organisms. Two years of sustained CR in humans positively affected skeletal muscle quality, and impacted gene expression and splicing profiles of biological pathways affected by CR in model organisms, suggesting that attainable levels of CR in a lifestyle intervention can benefit muscle health in humans.
Cannabidiol does not attenuate acute delta‐9‐tetrahydrocannabinol‐induced attentional bias in healthy volunteers: A randomised, double‐blind, cross‐over study
Authors: Oliver Dominic , Englund Amir , Chesney Edward , Chester Lucy , Wilson Jack , Sovi Simina , Wigroth Stina , Hodsoll John , Strang John , Murray Robin M. , Freeman Tom P. , Fusar‐Poli Paolo , McGuire Philip
Published: October 2023

Aims

To test how attentional bias and explicit liking are influenced by delta‐9‐tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and whether these effects are moderated by cannabidiol (CBD).

Design

Double‐blind, randomised, within‐subjects cross‐over study.

Setting

NIHR Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility at King's College Hospital, London, United Kingdom.

Participants/Cases

Forty‐six infrequent cannabis users (cannabis use <1 per week).

Intervention(s)

Across four sessions, participants inhaled vaporised cannabis containing 10 mg of THC and either 0 mg (0:1 CBD:THC), 10 mg (1:1), 20 mg (2:1) or 30 mg (3:1) of CBD, administered in a randomised order and counter‐balanced across participants (a total of 24 order groups).

Measurements

Participants completed two tasks: (1) Attentional Bias (AB), comparing reaction times toward visual probes presented behind 28 target stimuli (cannabis/food) compared with probes behind corresponding non‐target (neutral) stimuli. Participants responding more quickly to probes behind target than non‐target stimuli would indicate greater attentional bias to cannabis/food; (2) Picture Rating (PR), where all AB stimuli were rated on a 7‐point pleasantness scale, measuring explicit liking.

Findings

During the AB task, participants were more biased toward cannabis stimuli in the 0:1 condition compared with baseline (mean difference = 12.2, 95% confidence intervals [CIs] = 1.20–23.3, d = 0.41, P = 0.03). No other significant AB or PR differences were found between cannabis and food stimuli between baseline and 0:1 condition (P > 0.05). No significant CBD effect was found on AB or PR task performance at any dose (P > 0.05). There was additionally no cumulative effect of THC exposure on AB or PR outcomes (P > 0.05).

Conclusions

A double‐blind, randomised, cross‐over study among infrequent cannabis users found that inhaled delta‐9‐tetrahydrocannabinol increased attentional bias toward cannabis in the absence of explicit liking, a marker of liability toward cannabis use disorder. At the concentrations normally found in legal and illegal cannabis, cannabidiol had no influence on this effect.
A comparison of the effects of incremental and snowplow techniques on the mechanical properties of composite restorations
Authors: Ölçer Us Y , Aydınoğlu A , Erşahan Ş , Erdem Hepşenoğlu Y , Sağır K , Üşümez A
Published: October 2023

Background

Glass fibre‐reinforced composite (GFRC) has the potential to enhance the mechanical properties of resin‐based restorations. Nevertheless, the application technique can influence the cervical margin porosity, potentially reducing the mechanical strength of restorations.

Methods

In an in vitro setup, mould specimens underwent six different treatments to assess the effects of snowplow and incremental curing techniques on the properties of GFRC (EverX) and universal resin composite (Filtek). Mechanical properties, namely flexural strength (FS), compressive strength (CS) and Vickers hardness (VH), were evaluated following ISO 4049 standards. Data interpretation utilized the Kruskal–Wallis tests.

Results

No significant difference emerged across groups for FS. CS in the snowplow method with lesser EverX thickness (SnPl_1) was comparable with only EverX and Filtek (P > 0.05). The CS was reduced in the snowplow technique with greater EverX thickness (SnPl_2) (P < 0.05) and further decreased with the incremental method (P < 0.001). VH results showed that EverX Posterior was consistently softer than Filtek, with specific patterns of hardness variations among different application methods.

Conclusions

Applying EverX and Filtek using the snowplow technique delivers superior CS and VH for restorations in contrast to the incremental method. Utilizing the snowplow approach in high‐stress areas can make restorations more fracture‐resistant.
Ecosystem stability of temperate grasslands in response to variability of hydrological conditions
Authors: Lara Bruno , Vercelli Natalia , Entraigas Ilda , Scaramuzzino Rosa , Gandini Marcelo , Salese Sofía , Goyenetche Juan Manuel
Published: October 2023

The relationship between biodiversity and the stability of ecosystem functioning over time has been widely studied. The current global context has refloated this topic for biodiversity's role in buffering the effects of different disturbances. In general, the results of these studies show that ecosystem functioning is more stable over time in more diverse systems. However, these results are derived from empirical research on small‐scale studies, where species and disturbances conditions are manipulated. In this work, we used climate and floristic information data obtained from surveys over an extended period on Flooding Pampa grasslands (Argentina) with a remotely sensed indicator of the stability of net primary productivity at a regional scale over a broad temporal range to evaluate the relationship between species diversity and the stability of ecosystem functioning under different water conditions. We found a close correlation between Normalized Difference Vegetation Index responses of natural grasslands and climate variability in the study area. Besides, grasslands with higher species richness and diversity showed greater stability in ecosystem functioning at different water conditions. The results obtained could be relevant in natural resource management for the close relationship between diversity–stability in a local and regional productive context characterized by a simplified landscape of space and time.
Low‐pass whole genome sequencing is a reliable and cost‐effective approach for copy number variant analysis in the clinical setting
Authors: Mazzonetto Patricia C. , Villela Darine , da Costa Silvia Souza , Krepischi Ana C. V. , Milanezi Fernanda , Migliavacca Michele P. , Pierry Paulo M. , Bonaldi Adriano , Almeida Luiz Gustavo D. , De Souza Camila Alves , Kroll José Eduardo , Paula Marcelo G. , Guarischi‐Sousa Rodrigo , Scapulatempo‐Neto Cristovam , Rosenberg Carla
Published: October 2023

Introduction

Next generation sequencing technology has greatly reduced the cost and time required for sequencing a genome. An approach that is rapidly being adopted as an alternative method for CNV analysis is the low‐pass whole genome sequencing (LP‐WGS). Here, we evaluated the performance of LP‐WGS to detect copy number variants (CNVs) in clinical cytogenetics.

Materials and Methods

DNA samples with known CNVs detected by chromosomal microarray analyses (CMA) were selected for comparison and used as positive controls; our panel included 44 DNA samples (12 prenatal and 32 postnatal), comprising a total of 55 chromosome imbalances. The selected cases were chosen to provide a wide range of clinically relevant CNVs, the vast majority being associated with intellectual disability or recognizable syndromes. The chromosome imbalances ranged in size from 75 kb to 90.3 Mb, including aneuploidies and two cases of mosaicism.

Results

All CNVs were successfully detected by LP‐WGS, showing a high level of consistency and robust performance of the sequencing method. Notably, the size of chromosome imbalances detected by CMA and LP‐WGS were compatible between the two different platforms, which indicates that the resolution and sensitivity of the LP‐WGS approach are at least similar to those provided by CMA.

Discussion

Our data show the potential use of LP‐WGS to detect CNVs in clinical diagnosis and confirm the method as an alternative for chromosome imbalances detection. The diagnostic effectiveness and feasibility of LP‐WGS, in this technical validation study, were evidenced by a clinically representative dataset of CNVs that allowed a systematic assessment of the detection power and the accuracy of the sequencing approach. Further, since the software used in this study is commercially available, the method can easily be tested and implemented in a routine diagnostic setting.
Nomenclature of allergic diseases and hypersensitivity reactions: Adapted to modern needs: An EAACI position paper
Authors: Jutel Marek , Agache Ioana , Zemelka‐Wiacek Magdalena , Akdis Mübeccel , Chivato Tomás , del Giacco Stefano , Gajdanowicz Pawel , Gracia Ibon Eguiluz , Klimek Ludger , Lauerma Antti , Ollert Markus , O'Mahony Liam , Schwarze Jürgen , Shamji Mohamed H. , Skypala Isabel , Palomares Oscar , Pfaar Oliver , Torres Maria Jose , Bernstein Jonathan A. , Cruz Alvaro A. , Durham Stephen R. , Galli Stephen J. , Gómez R. Maximiliano , Guttman‐Yassky Emma , Haahtela Tari , Holgate Stephen T. , Izuhara Kenji , Kabashima Kenji , Larenas‐Linnemann Désirée E. , von Mutius Erica , Nadeau Kari C. , Pawankar Ruby , Platts‐Mills Tomas A. E. , Sicherer Scott H. , Park Hae‐Sim , Vieths Stefan , Wong Gary , Zhang Luo , Bilò M. Beatrice , Akdis Cezmi A.
Published: October 2023

The exponential growth of precision diagnostic tools, including omic technologies, molecular diagnostics, sophisticated genetic and epigenetic editing, imaging and nano‐technologies and patient access to extensive health care, has resulted in vast amounts of unbiased data enabling in‐depth disease characterization. New disease endotypes have been identified for various allergic diseases and triggered the gradual transition from a disease description focused on symptoms to identifying biomarkers and intricate pathogenetic and metabolic pathways. Consequently, the current disease taxonomy has to be revised for better categorization. This European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology Position Paper responds to this challenge and provides a modern nomenclature for allergic diseases, which respects the earlier classifications back to the early 20th century. Hypersensitivity reactions originally described by Gell and Coombs have been extended into nine different types comprising antibody‐ (I‐III), cell‐mediated (IVa‐c), tissue‐driven mechanisms (V‐VI) and direct response to chemicals (VII). Types I‐III are linked to classical and newly described clinical conditions. Type IVa‐c are specified and detailed according to the current understanding of T1, T2 and T3 responses. Types V‐VI involve epithelial barrier defects and metabolic‐induced immune dysregulation, while direct cellular and inflammatory responses to chemicals are covered in type VII. It is notable that several combinations of mixed types may appear in the clinical setting. The clinical relevance of the current approach for allergy practice will be conferred in another article that will follow this year, aiming at showing the relevance in clinical practice where various endotypes can overlap and evolve over the lifetime.