bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Specific 3-O-sulfated heparan sulfate domains regulate salivary gland basement membrane metabolism and epithelial differentiation
Authors: Patel Vaishali N. , Aure Marit H. , Choi Sophie H. , Ball James R. , Lane Ethan D. , Wang Zhangjie , Xu Yongmei , Zheng Changyu , Liu Xibao , Martin Daniel , Pailin Jillian Y. , Prochazkova Michaela , Kulkarni Ashok B. , van Kuppevelt Toin H. , Ambudkar Indu S. , Liu Jian , Hoffman Matthew P.
Published: August 2024

Heparan sulfate (HS) regulation of FGFR function, which is essential for salivary gland (SG) development, is determined by the immense structural diversity of sulfated HS domains. 3-O-sulfotransferases generate highly 3-O-sulfated HS domains (3-O-HS), and Hs3st3a1 and Hs3st3b1 are enriched in myoepithelial cells (MECs) that produce basement membrane (BM) and are a growth factor signaling hub. Hs3st3a1;Hs3st3b1 double-knockout (DKO) mice generated to investigate 3-O-HS regulation of MEC function and growth factor signaling show loss of specific highly 3-O-HS and increased FGF/FGFR complex binding to HS. During development, this increases FGFR-, BM- and MEC-related gene expression, while in adult, it reduces MECs, increases BM and disrupts acinar polarity, resulting in salivary hypofunction. Defined 3-O-HS added to FGFR pulldown assays and primary organ cultures modulates FGFR signaling to regulate MEC BM synthesis, which is critical for secretory unit homeostasis and acinar function. Understanding how sulfated HS regulates development will inform the use of HS mimetics in organ regeneration.
Economic viability requires higher recycling rates for imported plastic waste than expected
Authors: Li Kai , Ward Hauke , Lin Hai Xiang , Tukker Arnold
Published: August 2024

The environmental impact of traded plastic waste hinges on how it is treated. Existing studies often use domestic or scenario-based recycling rates for imported plastic waste, which is problematic due to differences in recyclability and the fact that importers pay for it. We estimate the minimum required recycling rate (RRR) needed to break even financially by analysing import prices, recycling costs, and the value of recycled plastics across 22 leading importing countries and four plastic waste types during 2013–2022. Here we show that at least 63% of imported plastic waste must be recycled, surpassing the average domestic recycling rate of 23% by 40 percentage points. This discrepancy suggests that recycled plastics volumes from the global North-to-South trade may be underestimated. The country-specific RRR provided could enhance research and policy efforts to better quantify and mitigate the environmental impact of plastic waste trade.
Fragmented micro-growth habitats present opportunities for alternative competitive outcomes
Authors: Batsch Maxime , Guex Isaline , Todorov Helena , Heiman Clara M. , Vacheron Jordan , Vorholt Julia A. , Keel Christoph , van der Meer Jan Roelof
Published: August 2024

Bacteria in nature often thrive in fragmented environments, like soil pores, plant roots or plant leaves, leading to smaller isolated habitats, shared with fewer species. This spatial fragmentation can significantly influence bacterial interactions, affecting overall community diversity. To investigate this, we contrast paired bacterial growth in tiny picoliter droplets (1–3 cells per 35 pL up to 3–8 cells per species in 268 pL) with larger, uniform liquid cultures (about 2 million cells per 140 µl). We test four interaction scenarios using different bacterial strains: substrate competition, substrate independence, growth inhibition, and cell killing. In fragmented environments, interaction outcomes are more variable and sometimes even reverse compared to larger uniform cultures. Both experiments and simulations show that these differences stem mostly from variation in initial cell population growth phenotypes and their sizes. These effects are most significant with the smallest starting cell populations and lessen as population size increases. Simulations suggest that slower-growing species might survive competition by increasing growth variability. Our findings reveal how microhabitat fragmentation promotes diverse bacterial interaction outcomes, contributing to greater species diversity under competitive conditions.
Repatterning of mammalian backbone regionalization in cetaceans
Authors: Gillet Amandine , Jones Katrina E. , Pierce Stephanie E.
Published: August 2024

Cetacean reinvasion of the aquatic realm is an iconic ecological transition that led to drastic modifications of the mammalian body plan, especially in the axial skeleton. Relative to the vertebral column of other mammals that is subdivided into numerous anatomical regions, regional boundaries of the cetacean backbone appear obscured. Whether the traditional mammalian regions are present in cetaceans but hard to detect due to anatomical homogenization or if regions have been entirely repatterned remains unresolved. Here we combine a segmented linear regression approach with spectral clustering to quantitatively investigate the number, position, and homology of vertebral regions across 62 species from all major cetacean clades. We propose the Nested Regions hypothesis under which the cetacean backbone is composed of six homologous modules subdivided into six to nine post-cervical regions, with the degree of regionalization dependent on vertebral count and ecology. Compared to terrestrial mammals, the cetacean backbone is less regionalized in the precaudal segment but more regionalized in the caudal segment, indicating repatterning of the vertebral column associated with the transition from limb-powered to axial-driven locomotion.
All-magnonic repeater based on bistability
Authors: Wang Qi , Verba Roman , Davídková Kristýna , Heinz Björn , Tian Shixian , Rao Yiheng , Guo Mengying , Guo Xueyu , Dubs Carsten , Pirro Philipp , Chumak Andrii V.
Published: August 2024

Bistability, a universal phenomenon found in diverse fields such as biology, chemistry, and physics, describes a scenario in which a system has two stable equilibrium states and resets to one of the two states. The ability to switch between these two states is the basis for a wide range of applications, particularly in memory and logic operations. Here, we present a universal approach to achieve bistable switching in magnonics, the field processing data using spin waves. A pronounced bistable window is observed in a 1 μm wide magnonic conduit under an external rf drive. The system is characterized by two magnonic stable states defined as low and high spin-wave amplitude states. The switching between these two states is realized by another propagating spin wave sent into the rf driven region. This magnonic bistable switching is used to design a magnonic repeater, which receives the original decayed and distorted spin wave and regenerates a new spin wave with amplified amplitude and normalized phase. Our magnonic repeater can be installed at the inputs of each magnonic logic gate to overcome the spin-wave amplitude degradation and phase distortion during previous propagation and achieve integrated magnonic circuits or magnonic neuromorphic networks.
Reconstructing SARS-CoV-2 lineages from mixed wastewater sequencing data
Authors: Ellmen Isaac , Overton Alyssa K. , Knapp Jennifer J. , Nash Delaney , Ho Hannifer , Hungwe Yemurayi , Prasla Samran , Nissimov Jozef I. , Charles Trevor C.
Published: August 2024

Wastewater surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 has emerged as a critical tool for tracking the spread of COVID-19. In addition to estimating the relative case numbers using quantitative PCR, SARS-CoV-2 genomic RNA can be extracted from wastewater and sequenced. There are many existing techniques for using the sequenced RNA to determine the relative abundance of known lineages in a sample. However, it is very challenging to predict novel lineages from wastewater data due to its mixed composition and unreliable genomic coverage. In this work, we present a novel technique based on non-negative matrix factorization which is able to reconstruct lineage definitions by analyzing data from across different samples. We test the method both on synthetic and real wastewater sequencing data. We show that the technique is able to determine major lineages such as Omicron and Delta as well as sub-lineages such as BA.5.2.1. We provide a method for determining emerging lineages in wastewater without the need for genomic data from clinical samples. This could be used for routine monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 as well as other emerging viral pathogens in wastewater. Additionally, it may be used to determine more full-genome sequences for viruses with fewer available genomes.
Comparison of clustering and phenotyping approaches for subclassification of type 2 diabetes and its association with remission in Indian population
Authors: Tripathi Pramod , Vyawahare Anagha , Kadam Nidhi , Tiwari Diptika , Biswas Mayurika Das , Kathrikolly Thejas , Sharma Baby , Vijayakumar Venugopal , Kuppusamy Maheshkumar
Published: August 2024

Identification of novel subgroups of type 2 diabetes (T2D) has helped improve its management. Most classification techniques focus on clustering or subphenotyping but not on both. This study aimed to compare both these methods and examine the rate of T2D remission in these subgroups in the Indian population. K-means clustering (using age at onset, HbA1C, BMI, HOMA2 IR and HOMA2%B) and subphenotyping (using homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) estimates) analysis was done on the baseline data of 281 patients with recently diagnosed T2D who participated in a 1-year online diabetes management program. Cluster analysis revealed three distinct clusters: severe insulin-deficient diabetes (SIDD), severe insulin-resistant diabetes (SIRD), and mild obesity-related diabetes (MOD) while subphenotyping showed four distinct categories: hyperinsulinemic, insulinopenic, classical, and nascent T2D. Comparison of the two approaches revealed that the clusters aligned with phenotypes based on shared characteristics of insulin sensitivity (IS) and beta cell function (BCF). Clustering correctly identified individuals in nascent group (high IS and BCF) as having mild obesity related diabetes which subphenotyping did not. Post-one-year intervention, higher remission rates were observed in the MOD cluster (p = 0.383) and the nascent phenotype showing high IS and BCF (p = 0.061, Chi-Square test). In conclusion, clustering based on a comprehensive set of parameters appears to be a superior method for classifying T2D compared with pathophysiological subphenotyping. Personalized interventions may be highly effective for newly diagnosed individuals with high IS and BCF and may result in higher remission rates in these individuals. Further large-scale studies are required to validate these findings.
Land-based foraging by polar bears reveals sexual conflict outside mating season
Authors: Prop Jouke , Black Jeffrey M. , Aars Jon , Oudman Thomas , Wolters Eva , Moe Børge
Published: August 2024

According to sexual selection theory, the sexes are faced with opposing evolutionary goals. Male fitness benefits from access to females, whereas female fitness is constrained by food resources and safety for themselves and their offspring. Particularly in large solitary carnivores, such as polar bears (Ursus maritimus), these divergent goals can potentially lead to conflict between the sexes. Outside the mating season, when polar bears are on the move across vast distances, the consequences of such conflict can become apparent when individuals arrive at the same food source. To investigate interrelationships between the sexes, we observed successive polar bears visiting a bird breeding colony to feed on clutches of eggs. We found that males succeeded females more frequently and more closely than expected by chance. Moreover, when males were closer to conspecifics, they walked faster, spent less time in the colony and ingested less food. In contrast, female foraging performance was not associated with proximity to other bears. Irrespective of proximity, females generally spent short periods in the colony and ingested fewer clutches than males. Our results suggest that in polar bears, there is a trade-off between the benefits of food intake and the opportunities (in males) and risks (in females) posed by encountering conspecifics.
Electric light-duty vehicles have decarbonization potential but may not reduce other environmental problems
Authors: Chen Hao , Can Sener Serife Elif , Van Emburg Cole , Jones Miles , Bogucki Taylor , Bonilla Nicolas , Ijeoma Muzan Williams , Wan Heng , Carbajales-Dale Michael
Published: August 2024

Electric vehicles are promoted as ‘clean’ technologies and offer promising reductions in transportation emissions. Nevertheless, their environmental benefits critically depend on the local electricity grid mix and the type of emission being considered. Here, we conduct a comparative life cycle assessment of the four dominant light-duty vehicle categories at both the global scale and in three representative countries: Norway, the US, and China. By analyzing different environmental indicators, particularly global warming potential and respiratory effects, and quantifying related parametric uncertainties, we reveal that the advantages of electric vehicles vary across these regions and across environmental impact types. While electric vehicles offer considerable decarbonization potential as the grid mix becomes cleaner, they might not mitigate other environmental impacts, such as increased respiratory effects on rural, low-income communities. Our results support stakeholders in identifying environmentally friendly vehicle and policy options while considering multiple factors, and emphasize the importance of tailored approaches over one-size-fits-all solutions in sustainable transportation.
Porous nickel sulfide nanorods serve as a multifunctional electrocatalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction, urea electrooxidation reaction, and nitrate reduction reaction
Authors: Zhang Xiaoyu , Wang Jiayi , Zong Kai , Yang Lin , Wang Xin , Chen Zhongwei
Published: August 2024

The proposed hard-template-high-temperature calcination method effectively maintains the morphology of the template, and the prepared NiS electrocatalyst exhibits excellent multifunctional electrocatalytic performance.
Advancements and challenges in bionic joint lubrication biomaterials for sports medicine
Authors: Xiang Lei , Wang Zhen , Cui Wenguo
Published: August 2024

Bionic lubricant materials are a class of materials inspired by natural organisms and offer excellent lubrication properties and biocompatibility. In the field of sports medicine, their application opens up new possibilities for the prevention and treatment of sports‐related diseases. The authors will introduce the existing theoretical models of friction in the locomotor system, the characteristics and advantages of biomimetic lubrication materials and discuss in depth their applications in the field of sports medicine. The development of bionic lubrication materials opens up unprecedented opportunities for sports medicine to provide more effective and long‐lasting treatment options for patients.
The radial modes of stars with suppressed dipole modes
Authors: Coppée Q. , Müller J. , Bazot M. , Hekker S.
Published: August 2024

Context. The Kepler space mission provided high-quality light curves for more than 16 000 red giants. The global stellar oscillations extracted from these light curves carry information about the interior of the stars. Several hundred red giants were found to have low amplitudes in their dipole modes (i.e. they are suppressed dipole-mode stars). A number of hypotheses (involving e.g. a magnetic field, binarity, or resonant mode coupling) have been proposed to explain the suppression of the modes, yet none has been confirmed.

Aims. We aim to gain insight into the mechanism at play in suppressed dipole-mode stars by investigating the mode properties (linewidths, heights, and amplitudes) of the radial oscillation modes of red giants with suppressed dipole modes.

Methods. We selected from the literature suppressed dipole-mode stars and compared the radial-mode properties of these stars to the radial-mode properties of stars in two control samples of stars with typical (i.e. non-suppressed) dipole modes.

Results. We find that the radial-mode properties of the suppressed dipole-mode stars are consistent with the ones in our control samples, and hence not affected by the suppression mechanism.

Conclusions. From this we conclude that (1) the balance between the excitation and damping in radial modes is unaffected by the suppression, and by extrapolation the excitation of the non-radial modes is not affected either; and (2) the damping of the radial modes induced by the suppression mechanism is significantly less than the damping from turbulent convective motion, suggesting that the additional damping originates from the more central non-convective regions of the star, to which the radial modes are least sensitive.
Legislative Frameworks
Authors: Betts Michael J , Eshelby Laura , Whitehouse-Hayes David
Published: August 2024

This chapter provides both civil and criminal routes to counter fraud, recognizing that depending on the circumstances one or both routes may be preferable to follow. There are also references to wider legislative frameworks of use, for example, for those related to data protection and information sharing. The awareness of legislative routes provides insight into counter fraud practitioners and leaders alike, with the aim of them utilizing this to review their current fraud response plans and sanctions policies, ensuring all opportunities to use what is available to them now and in the future. The resources include a guide and narrative on the critical aspects of the legislation relevant to countering fraud, including bribery, the detection, and prevention of wider economic crime. It includes a range of useful checklists and signposting to relevant sources of information and further reading for those that wish to deepen their understanding beyond the knowledge provided here.
The Role of Fraud Risk Assessment
Authors: Betts Michael J , Eshelby Laura , Whitehouse-Hayes David
Published: August 2024

This chapter describes the process of fraud risk assessment, which is a process and product that explores how an organization or entity could be defrauded and to what extent their controls reduce this risk. It helps an organization or entity understand where it is likely to be a victim of fraud, decide whether to take action to reduce this risk, and to effectively target its counter fraud resources. It explains how to identify and evaluate mitigating controls, including understanding their limitations. Dealing effectively with fraud and corruption must start with a good understanding of how an organization or entity is likely to be attacked. This remains true whether it is referring to individuals or the organizations. This will be explored with explanation of how such awareness and analysis give insights to how, when, and the likelihood is of fraud occurring. In looking at risk, the chapter explains the language or risk—inherent risk, mitigations, controls and countermeasures, residual risk, heat maps, and tolerance. For an experienced fraud risk assessor, familiarity and use of this language is as important as their experience and knowledge of fraud and economic crime and how it transpires. The chapter is linked to the Leadership, Management and Strategy Standards and the responsibilities contained therein that relate to counter fraud measures.
Detecting Fraud and Measuring Loss
Authors: Betts Michael J , Eshelby Laura , Whitehouse-Hayes David
Published: August 2024

This chapter explores the importance and methodologies that can be adopted to measure both fraud and error. This draws from insights from the UK and beyond, detailing different approaches to measuring the impact of counter fraud work, ranging from measurement of one off or ongoing interventions. It will introduce the techniques and methodological approaches to measure the impact of fraud prevention, detection, and recovery post-investigation, providing the reader with a range of tools to adopt in their operational environment. The methodologies explored include beyond the financial, and how these can be articulated to have an impact and be understood by a range of different stakeholders results may need to be provided to. The wider impacts are considered from an organizational perspective, including but not limited to reputational, security, and environmental themes.
Using Intelligence to Counter Fraud
Authors: Betts Michael J , Eshelby Laura , Whitehouse-Hayes David
Published: August 2024

This chapter provides the reader with an accessible and detailed overview of maximizing the use of intelligence to counter fraud. It explains the intelligence cycle, explaining the difference between information and intelligence. The National Intelligence Model (NIM) is critically analysed to see how it can be used effectively in a counter fraud environment. It summarizes how the NIM works and explains how it can be used to inform both fraud prevention and detection. The intelligence handling codes and methods of sharing between organizations are detailed, providing the reader with the insight needed to adopt this within their organization as well as use it to review and build on existing good practice. This includes detail on how the NIM can be applied effectively across the public sector and beyond, with utility in a range of sectors. The nature and use of open source intelligence is analysed and the methods available to gather intelligence assessed. This includes the benefits and challenges to be aware of. The chapter incorporates the use of diagrams, checklists, and signposting to aid the learning and consolidate the knowledge of the reader throughout.
Counter Fraud Leadership
Authors: Betts Michael J , Eshelby Laura , Whitehouse-Hayes David
Published: August 2024

This chapter introduces the key aspects of effective leadership and management in a counter fraud environment, for both existing and aspiring future leaders. The chapter explores a range of components required to be effective as leader, including the importance of counter fraud knowledge, setting an effective strategy, understanding risk, the role of ethics and integrity, as well as how to effectively seek investment at an organizational level. It covers the principles of leadership and how to lead an effective team, including the challenges to be aware of and ways to be successful. It explores the theories behind effective decision-making, motivation and how to develop a high-performing team. It references the published Leadership, Management and Strategy published by the Government Counter Fraud Profession, which is used to provide step-by-step guidance and models to draw upon for introduction in organizations post reading.
Black Church in the Black Metropolis
Authors: Alcántara Jared E
Published: August 2024

This chapter charts the rise of the Olivet Baptist Church in Chicago, the church that Joseph H. Jackson served as senior pastor starting in 1941 and concluding in 1990. One year after Jackson’s birth, in 1901, Olivet counted 843 persons in its membership. By Jackson’s twenty-first birthday, in 1921, Olivet counted 10,012 members. In the first two decades of Jackson’s life, Olivet became the largest church in North America. The church had only grown in stature and prominence by his arrival in 1941. The pastor who immediately preceded Jackson, Rev. Dr. L. K. Williams, played a vital role in his ministry. In addition to serving as senior pastor at Olivet, Williams served as president of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc., occupying the same office Jackson would hold in the future.
“His Mantle Will Fall on You”
Authors: Alcántara Jared E
Published: August 2024

This chapter explains how Joseph H. Jackson was recruited to the senior pastorate at Olivet Baptist Church after the death of L. K. Williams, tracing Jackson’s shift from being general secretary of the Foreign Mission Board and stationed in Philadelphia to becoming the senior pastor of a nationally prominent church in Chicago. At first, his supporters wanted him to run for the presidency of the NBC, a strategic move that he decided to refrain from pursuing despite having broad support. Undeterred, his supporters redirected their energy to helping Jackson secure the senior pastorate at Olivet. They worked behind the scenes to ensure that he would be the successor to Williams.
“The Man Who Would Be President”
Authors: Alcántara Jared E
Published: August 2024

This chapter analyzes the National Baptist Convention elections of 1947 and 1953, years when Joseph H. Jackson ran for higher office. In 1947, he ran against Rev. Ezel Willie (E. W.) Perry (1882–1969) for vice president at large. The vice president at large functioned as second in command to the president and served as the constitutional successor in the event of the president’s death or incapacitation. That year Jackson lost to Perry in a controversial and contested election. In 1953, he ran against Perry again, this time for the presidency. On that occasion, he won the election and ascended to the presidency. Overnight he became more powerful than he could have imagined when he was serving as a circuit-riding preacher in the Mississippi Delta. At one and the same time, he pastored the largest church in North America and led one of the largest Black religious organizations in the world.
Cracks in the Foundations
Authors: Alcántara Jared E
Published: August 2024

This chapter describes the fissures and fractures that formed in the National Baptist Convention during the first seven years of the Joseph H. Jackson presidency. In the campaign of 1953, Jackson ran on a platform of term limits, a structure of four consecutive one-year terms. Three years later, in 1956, he proposed changes to the constitution that would allow for lifetime tenure. Then, in 1957, he and his supporters abolished term limits. Black leaders such as Gardner C. Taylor, Marshall Shepard, Martin Luther King Jr., and others opposed his presidency. By the close of the decade, the fissures and fractures of the 1950s had opened so wide that it seemed the NBC was destined for schism.
“Don’t Be Angry, Let Me Stay”
Authors: Alcántara Jared E
Published: August 2024

This chapter examines the National Baptist Convention annual meeting of 1961, a meeting in which a riot broke out; one minister, a senior citizen, died falling from the platform; and the NBC went through a major schism leading to the establishment of the Progressive National Baptist Convention. Many younger generation ministers saw Joseph H. Jackson as the establishment candidate who needed to step aside so that leaders like Gardner C. Taylor and Martin Luther King Jr. could emerge. When they and others tried to unseat Jackson, not only did they lose the battle; they also lost their influence in the NBC. They believed Jackson was a dictatorial autocrat who retaliated against anyone who challenged him. He believed they were betrayers who wanted to bring about schism. The discord revealed itself with surprising force at the prior annual meeting in September 1960. In 1961, it went from bad to worse.
Preparing to Teach
Authors: Hammel Alice M , Hourigan Ryan M
Published: August 2024

There are varying degrees of undergraduate and graduate preparation for teaching students with differences and disabilities. Music educators may have had a general special education class or the opportunity to study topics regarding students with differences and disabilities embedded within a music methods course. The topic of students with differences and disabilities may have been included in an educational psychology course or a course about teaching music to students with differences and disabilities that was part of the curriculum. This chapter is designed as a guide to develop practicum opportunities for preservice music educators. Included in this chapter will be strategies for engagement in self-contained classrooms, resource rooms, inclusive settings, and summer enrichment programs.
Associations Between the Superwoman Schema, Stress, and Cardiovascular Health Among African-American Women
Authors: Kyalwazi Ashley N , Woods-Giscombe Cheryl L , Johnson Matthew P , Jones Clarence , Hayes Sharonne N , Cooper Lisa A , Patten Christi A , Brewer LaPrincess C
Published: August 2024

Background

African-American (AA) women are less likely to achieve ideal cardiovascular (CV) health compared with women of other racial/ethnic subgroups, primarily due to structural and psychosocial barriers. A potential psychosocial construct relevant to ideal CV health is the superwoman schema (SWS).

Purpose

We explored whether the SWS was associated with perceived stress, CV risk factors, and overall CV health among AA women.

Methods

This cross-sectional analysis of the FAITH! Heart Health+ Study was conducted among AA women with high cardiometabolic risk. Pearson correlation evaluated associations between SWS and CV risk factors (e.g., stress, hypertension, diabetes, etc.). The 35-item SWS questionnaire includes five domains. Stress was measured by the 8-item Global Perceived Stress Scale (GPSS). CV health was assessed using the American Heart Association Life’s Simple 7 (LS7) rubric of health behaviors/biometrics. Data acquisition spanned from February to August 2022.

Results

The 38 women included in the analysis (mean age 54.3 [SD 11.5] years) had a high CV risk factor burden (71.1% hypertension, 76.3% overweight/obesity, 28.9% diabetes, 39.5% hyperlipidemia). Mean GPSS level was 7.7 (SD 5.2), CV health score 6.7 (SD 1.8), and SWS score 60.3 (SD 18.0). Feeling an “obligation to help others” and “obligation to present an image of strength” had strongest correlations with GPSS score among all SWS domains (r = 0.51; p = .002 and r = 0.39; p = .02, respectively). Correlation among the SWS domains and traditional CV risk factors was not statistically significant.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that an obligation to help others and to project an image of strength could be contributing to stress among AA women.
Mediating effects of inequitable gender norms on intimate partner violence and contraceptive use in a cluster randomized control trial in Niger
Authors: Boyce Sabrina C , Minnis Alexandra M , Deardorff Julianna , McCoy Sandra I , Goin Dana E , Challa Sneha , Johns Nicole E , Aliou Sani , Brooks Mohamad I , Nouhou Abdoul-Moumouni , Baker Holly , Silverman Jay G
Published: August 2024

Previous research has demonstrated that the Reaching Married Adolescents intervention (RMA) was associated with changes in inequitable gender norms, intimate partner violence (IPV), and modern contraceptive use. This study seeks to understand if changes in inequitable gender norms mediate the RMA intervention’s effects on contraceptive use and intimate partner violence (IPV). A 4-arm cluster randomized control trial was conducted to evaluate effects of the RMA intervention (household visits, small groups, combination, control) on married adolescent girls and their husbands in Dosso, Niger (baseline: 1042 dyads; 24 months follow-up: 737 dyads; 2016-2019). Mediation was assessed using inverse odds ratio weighting. In the small group intervention, of the total effect on IPV prevalence (8% reduction), indirect effects via inequitable gender norms are associated with a 2% decrease (95% CI, −0.07 to 0.12) and direct effects with a 6% decrease (95% CI, −0.20 to −0.02). For household visits, of the total effect on contraceptive use (20% increase), the indirect effect accounts for an 11% decrease (95% CI, −0.18 to −0.01) and direct effect, a 32% increase (95% CI, 0.13-0.44); this is similar to findings for the combination arm. This experimental evidence informs the value of changing underlying social norms to reduce IPV and increase contraception use.
Role of phosphorylation and vanilloid ligand structure in ligand-dependent differential activations of transient receptor potential vanilloid 1
Authors: Moriyama Sakura , Tatematsu Kenji , Hinuma Shuji , Kuroda Shun'ichi
Published: August 2024

Vanilloid analogs, which can activate transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1), have been classified into two types based on susceptibility to forskolin (FSK). Treatment of cells expressing TRPV1 with FSK enhances TRPV1 responses to capsaicin-type ligands while diminishing the responses to eugenol-type ligands. In this study, we determined the effect of FSK on the activation of TRPV1 stimulated with vanilloid ligands, through the influx of Ca2+ in HEK293T cells expressing TRPV1. Our findings suggest that the effects of FSK can be attributed to the phosphorylation of TRPV1, as evidenced by using a protein kinase A inhibitor and TRPV1 mutants at potential phosphorylation sites. Furthermore, we examined the structure-activity relationship of 13 vanilloid analogs. Our results indicated that vanilloid compounds could be classified into three types, that is the previously reported two types and a novel type of 10-shogaol, by which TRPV1 activation was insusceptible to the FSK treatment.
Physiological responses to heat exposure in a general population cohort in Denmark: the Lolland–Falster Health Study
Authors: Nøhr Nikolaj , Jepsen Randi , Jørsboe Hanne , Lophaven Søren , Koch Susanne
Published: August 2024

Background

Rising global temperatures due to climate change pose a health risk. Mortality and morbidity increase during heat events affects various organ systems. While warmer countries face higher risks, even colder regions show elevated mortality during hot periods. This study examines physiological responses to heat exposure using data from the general Danish population cohort Lolland–Falster Health Study (LOFUS) during the summers of 2016–2019.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, we analysed health data from 3804 individuals aged ≥15 years. Data were analysed across organ systems: cardiovascular system, lung function, renal system, inflammation, coagulation, and liver function. Meteorological data from the Danish Meteorological Institute provided information on temperature and humidity. Heat exposure was defined as one day ≥28°C heat index the day prior to examination. Adjusted multiple linear regression was applied to analyse differences between the two groups.

Results

There were 46 of 368 days with temperatures ≥28°C heat index. In total, 396 participants were heat-exposed (exposure group), while 3408 constituted the unexposed group. Heat exposure was associated with lower systolic blood pressure (−3.82 mm Hg [−5.72; −1.93]), higher heart rate (1.71 beats/min [0.45; 2.98]), lower oxygen saturation (−0.28% [−0.45; −0.10]), higher sodium (0.56 mmol/l [0.33; 0.79]), and higher urine albumin (0.14 mg/l [0.02; 0.27]). No significant differences were observed in inflammation, coagulation, or liver function.

Conclusion

This study reveals early physiological responses to heat with one day of heat exposure ≥28°C, particularly in the cardiovascular, pulmonary, and renal systems. These findings underline the need for tailored strategies to mitigate health risks associated with rising temperatures.
Burden of disease studies supporting policymaking in the European Union: a systematic review
Authors: Chen-Xu José , Grad Diana Alecsandra , Varga Orsolya , Viegas Susana
Published: August 2024

Burden of disease (BoD) studies quantify the health impact of diseases and risk factors, which can support policymaking, particularly in the European Union (EU). This study aims to systematically analyse BoD studies, which address EU public policies to contribute to the understanding of its policy uptake. A systematic search of six electronic databases and two grey-literature registries was carried out for articles published between 1990 and 2023. The thematic area, type of legislation and the respective policymaking stage were extracted. A textual analysis of the discussion was conducted to assess the inclusion of specific EU policy implications. Overton was used to detect citations in policy documents. Out of the 2054 records screened, 83 were included. Most studies employed secondary data, with 37 utilizing GBD data. Disability-adjusted life year was present in most of the studies (n = 53). The most common type of the EU legislation mentioned was the directive (n = 47), and the most frequent topic was environment (n = 34). Policy implications for EU laws were discussed in most papers (n = 46, 55.4%), with only 8 conducting evaluation of EU policies. Forty-two articles have been cited at the EU-level, in a total of 86 EU policies. Despite increasing efforts in integrating EU legislation impact within BoD studies, these results denote a low consideration of the legal and policy changes. Greater efforts in directing research towards policy effectiveness evaluation might increase their uptake in EU policies.
Epidemiology of non-communicable diseases among professional drivers in LMICs: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Njiro Belinda J , Ndumwa Harrieth P , Waithera Hannah Wanjiku , Chande Rehema , Julius William , Mashili Fredirick , Mwita Julius C , Swahn Monica H , Staton Catherine , Francis Joel Msafiri
Published: August 2024

This systematic review collected evidence on the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) among professional drivers and reported on the most common factors that increase the risk of NCDs in this specific population in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The protocol for this systematic review was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO). We conducted a thorough search on PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, Global Health, Web of Science and Africa-wide information databases on 11 May 2023. We adapted the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) tool to assess the quality of the studies. We estimated the prevalence of hypertension, prediabetes, diabetes mellitus (DM), overweight and obesity among professional drivers using a random effect model to compute pooled and subgroup analyses. In addition, we conducted a narrative synthesis of the risk factors and recommendations presented in the included studies. Forty-one studies, including 48 414 study participants, met the criteria for inclusion. The pooled prevalence of hypertension, DM and obesity among professional drivers was 36.7% [95% confidence interval (CI): 31.8–41.6%], 15.2% (95% CI: 7.0–23.4%) and 27.2% (95% CI: 18.7–35.8%), respectively. Unsupportive environment, work stress, sedentary lifestyle, consumption of unhealthy foods and shift work were the most common modifiable risk factors reported. Our findings also show a significant burden of hypertension, DM and obesity among professional drivers in LMICs. The prevalence of DM and obesity was two- and three-fold higher than findings in general populations, respectively. Our findings indicate an urgent need for tailored interventions for different occupation-related risk factors for NCDs among professional drivers in LMICs.
Rights in NFTS and the flourishing of NFT marketplaces
Authors: Tan Corinne
Published: August 2024

As non-fungible tokens (NFTs) become more commonly collected, questions arise as to the rights owned by purchasers of NFTs. Do NFTs fall under the following categories: real or personal properties; securities or commodities; or copyright works? Many scholars have gone into great detail in these respects, but not looked at the NFT marketplaces on which NFTs are purchased. They have argued that rights in NFTs are analogous to rights in property, securities and copyright’s exclusive bundle of rights, among other things. In this article, I go further to examine selected marketplaces OpenSea and Rarible’s user policies and interfaces, to garner insight on the rights NFT purchasers have. I also examine the latest developments, including cases decided on NFTs, as well as practical developments on the marketplaces, including the introduction of selected licences for NFT projects. Thereafter, I conclude on the rights NFT purchasers hold, the relevance of the copyright system and ultimately, what could support the flourishing of NFT marketplaces.
Prescription and nonprescription drug misuse and abuse in community pharmacies in Iraq: a cross-sectional survey
Authors: Shammah Jwan B , Scott Jenny , Wazaify Mayyada
Published: August 2024

Background

There is little known regarding prescription and nonprescription medicine nonmedical use (abuse and misuse) in Iraq, with limited treatment. Pharmacists could be a valuable source of information in the absence of any national monitoring system.

Aims

This study aimed to explore Iraqi community pharmacists’ perspectives on prescription and nonprescription medicine abuse/misuse, including motives for use and how often they encounter people whom they think are misusing or abusing medicines.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was undertaken between November 2020 and February 2021. Community pharmacists in Iraq were asked to complete a prepiloted self-administered questionnaire, distributed through online social media platforms.

Results

300 pharmacists completed the questionnaire. The most commonly reported nonprescription drugs suspected of abuse/misuse were cough and cold medications (n = 80, 26.6%), topical corticosteroids (n = 54, 17.9%), and allergy products (n = 33, 11%). The most common reported prescription drugs suspected of abuse/misuse were systemic antibiotics (n = 111, 36.9%), gabapentinoids (n = 56, 18.6%), and moderate-weak opioids (n = 34, 11.3%). The most commonly method used by pharmacists to limit access to such drugs was responding that the requested medication was unavailable (n = 273, 51.7%), followed by advising on risks (n = 152, 33.2%).

Conclusions

Prescription/nonprescription medicine abuse and misuse are suspected in community pharmacies in Iraq. Current methods for controlling the problem are likely to be ineffective in the absence of prescription drug enforcement. Pharmacists could have a more proactive role in managing this issue, networking with other pharmacists, and referring suspected users to support.
Tate Cohomology of Whittaker Lattices and Base Change of Generic Representations of GLn
Authors: Nadimpalli Santosh , Dhar Sabyasachi
Published: August 2024

Let $p$ and $l$ be two distinct odd primes, and let $n\geq 2$ be a positive integer. Let $E$ be a finite Galois extension of degree $l$ of a $p$-adic field $F$. Let $q$ be the cardinality of the residue field of $F$. Let $\pi _{F}$ be an integral $l$-adic generic representation of $\textrm{GL}_{n}(F)$, and let $\pi _{E}$ be the base change of $\pi _{F}$. Let $J_{l}(\pi _{F})$ (resp. $J_{l}(\pi _{E})$) be the unique generic component of the mod-$l$ reduction $r_{l}(\pi _{F})$ (resp. $r_{l}(\pi _{E})$). Assuming that $l$ does not divide $|\textrm{GL}_{n-1}(\mathbb{F}_{q})|$, we prove that the Frobenius twist of $J_{l}(\pi _{F})$ is the unique generic subquotient of the Tate cohomology group $\widehat{H}^{0}(\textrm{Gal}(E/F), J_{l}(\pi _{E}))$—considered as a representation of $\textrm{GL}_{n}(F)$.
Retargeting of heterologous enzymes results in improved β-carotene synthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Arhar Simon , Pfaller Rupert , Athenstaedt Karin , Lins Thomas , Gogg-Fassolter Gabriela , Züllig Thomas , Natter Klaus
Published: August 2024

Aims

Carotenoids are a class of hydrophobic substances that are important as food and feed colorants and as antioxidants. The pathway for β-carotene synthesis has been expressed in various yeast species, albeit with rather low yields and titers. The inefficient conversion of phytoene to lycopene is often regarded as a bottleneck in the pathway. In this study, we aimed at the improvement of β-carotene production in Saccharomyces cerevisiae by specifically engineering the enzymatic reactions producing and converting phytoene.

Methods and results

We show that phytoene is stored in intracellular lipid droplets, whereas the enzyme responsible for its conversion, phytoene dehydrogenase, CrtI, is located at the endoplasmic reticulum, like the bifunctional enzyme CrtYB that catalyses the reaction before and after CrtI. To improve the accessibility of phytoene for CrtI and to delay its storage in lipid droplets, we tested the relocation of CrtI and CrtYB to mitochondria. However, only the retargeting of CrtYB resulted in an improvement of the β-carotene content, whereas the mitochondrial variant of CrtI was not functional. Surprisingly, a cytosolic variant of this enzyme, which we obtained through the elimination of its carboxy-terminal membrane anchor, caused an increase in β-carotene accumulation. Overexpression of this CrtI variant in an optimized medium resulted in a strain with a β-carotene content of 79 mg g−1 cell dry weight, corresponding to a 76-fold improvement over the starting strain.

Conclusions

The retargeting of heterologously expressed pathway enzymes improves β-carotene production in S. cerevisiae, implicating extensive inter-organellar transport phenomena of carotenoid precursors. In addition, strong overexpression of carotenoid biosynthetic enzymes and the optimization of cultivation conditions are required for high contents.
Short-term feed restriction induces inflammation and an antioxidant response via cystathionine-β-synthase and glutathione peroxidases in ruminal epithelium from Angus steers
Authors: Jiang Qianming , Galvão Matheus C , Thanh Lam Phuoc , Aboragah Ahmad A , Mauck John , Gionbelli Mateus Pies , Alhidary Ibrahim A , McCann Joshua C , Loor Juan J
Published: August 2024

Decreased intake is induced by stressors such as parturition, transportation, dietary transitions, and disease. An important function of one-carbon metabolism (OCM) is to produce the antioxidant glutathione to help reduce oxidative stress. Although various components of OCM are expressed in the bovine rumen and small intestine, the relationship between reduced feed intake, OCM, and antioxidant mechanisms in gut tissues is unknown. This study aimed to assess alterations in immune and antioxidant pathways in ruminal epithelium due to acute feed restriction (FR). Seven group-housed ruminally cannulated Angus steers (663 ± 73 kg body weight, 2 yr old) had ad libitum access to a finishing diet (dry-rolled corn, corn silage, modified wet distiller’s grains) during 15 d of a pre-FR period (PRE). Subsequently, steers were moved to a metabolism barn with tie stalls and individually fed at 25% of estimated intake in PRE for 3 d (FR period, FRP). This was followed by 15 d of recovery (POST) during which steers had ad libitum access to the same diet as in PRE and FRP. Plasma and ruminal tissue biopsies were collected during each period. Plasma free fatty acid and IL1-β concentrations were higher (P ≤ 0.03) in FRP than PRE or POST. The mRNA abundance of the proinflammatory genes tumor necrosis factor, toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2), and TLR4 in the ruminal epithelium peaked (P < 0.05) at FRP and remained higher at POST. These responses agreed with the higher (P < 0.05) abundance of phosphorylated (p)-MAPK (an inflammation activator) and p-EEF2 (translational repressor) in FRP than PRE and POST. Although ruminal glutathione peroxidase (GPX) enzyme activity did not increase at FRP compared with PRE and POST, protein abundance of GPX1 and GPX3 along with the antioxidant response regulator NFE2L2 were highest (P < 0.01), and the activity of cystathionine-beta synthase tended (P = 0.06) to be highest during FR. Although FR had minimal negative effects on tissue integrity-related genes (only filamin A was downregulated), it led to a systemic inflammatory response and triggered inflammation and antioxidant mechanisms within the ruminal epithelium. Thus, deploying anti-inflammatory and antioxidant mechanisms via molecules that feed into OCM (e.g., dietary methyl donors such as methionine, choline, betaine, and folate) could potentially counteract the stressors associated with FR.