bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Basal association of a transcription factor favors early gene expression
Authors: Pinheiro Sandrine , Nadal-Ribelles Mariona , Solé Carme , Vincenzetti Vincent , Dusserre Yves , Posas Francesc , Pelet Serge
Published: March 2024

Responses to extracellular signals via Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) pathways control complex transcriptional programs where hundreds of genes are induced at a desired level with a specific timing. Gene expression regulation is largely encoded in the promoter of the gene, which harbors numerous transcription factor binding sites. In the mating MAPK pathway ofSaccharomyces cerevisiae, one major transcription factor, Ste12, controls the chronology of gene expression necessary for the fusion of two haploid cells. Because endogenous promoters encode a large diversity of Ste12 binding sites (PRE), we engineered synthetic promoters to decipher the rules that dictate mating gene induction. Conformations of PRE dimers that allow efficient gene expression were identified. The strength of binding of Ste12 to the PRE and the distance of the binding sites to the core promoter modulate the level of induction. The speed of activation is ensured by favoring a basal association of Ste12 by using a strong dimer of PRE located in a nucleosome depleted region.

Author Summary

During development, cell fate decisions allow pluripotent cells to differentiate into various cell types. This process requires cells to integrate signals from their surroundings to initiate a complex transcriptional program. Budding yeasts can also undergo cell fate decisions. In presence of mating pheromones, haploid yeasts can activate a signaling pathway which can ultimately lead to the fusion of two haploid cells to form a diploid.

One transcription factor, Ste12, controls this mating transcriptional program. The promoters of these 200 upregulated genes display a large diversity in the organization of Ste12 binding sites. Therefore, it is challenging to decipher how Ste12 regulates the level and the timing of gene expression. To simplify this problem, we have generated synthetic promoters, where the configuration of Ste12 binding sites on the DNA can be controlled. We have identified which conformations of binding site dimers allow a functional association of the transcription factor. In addition, we have also shown that the basal association of Ste12 to the promoter is important for the fast gene induction. An unfavorable configuration of Ste12 binding sites or the presence of nucleosomes restrict the access of the transcription factor to the DNA and results in a slower expression.
The hypervirulent Group BStreptococcusHvgA adhesin promotes brain invasion through transcellular crossing of the choroid plexus
Authors: Aznar Eva , Strazielle Nathalie , Costa Lionel , Poyart Claire , Tazi Asmaa , Ghersi-Egea Jean-François , Guignot Julie
Published: March 2024

Background

Group BStreptococcus(GBS) is the leading cause of neonatal meningitis responsible for a substantial cause of death and disability worldwide. The vast majority of GBS neonatal meningitis cases are due to the CC17 hypervirulent clone. However, the cellular and molecular pathways involved in brain invasion by GBS CC17 isolates remain largely elusive. Here, we studied the specific interaction of the CC17 clone with the choroid plexus, the main component of the blood-cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) barrier.

Methods

The interaction of GBS CC17 or non-CC17 strains with choroid plexus cells was studied using anin vivomouse model of meningitis andin vitromodels of primary and transformed rodent choroid plexus epithelial cells (CPEC and Z310).In vivointeraction of GBS with the choroid plexus was assessed by microscopy. Bacterial invasion and cell barrier penetration were examinedin vitro, as well as chemokines and cytokines in response to infection.

Results

GBS CC17 was found associated with the choroid plexus of the lateral, 3rdand 4thventricles. Infection of choroid plexus epithelial cells revealed an efficient internalization of the bacteria into the cells with GBS CC17 displaying a greater ability to invade these cells than a non-CC17 strain. Internalization of the GBS CC17 strain involved the CC17-specific HvgA adhesin and occurredviaa clathrin-dependent mechanism leading to transcellular transcytosis across the choroid plexus epithelial monolayer. CPEC infection resulted in the secretion of several chemokines, including CCL2, CCL3, CCL20, CX3CL1, and the matrix metalloproteinase MMP3, as well as immune cell infiltration.

Conclusion

Our findings reveal a GBS strain-specific ability to infect the blood-CSF barrier, which appears to be an important site of bacterial entry and an active site of immune cell trafficking in response to infection.
Gravitational bremsstrahlung in plasmas and clusters
Authors: Steane Andrew M.
Published: March 2024

We study the gravitational bremsstrahlung owing to collisions mediated by a 1/r potential. We combine classical and first order Born approximation results in order to construct an approximate gravitational “Gaunt factor” for the total emitted energy. We also obtain the cross section with an angular momentum cutoff and hence the cross section for emission via close hyperbolic encounters in a gravitating cluster. These effects are the dominant source of very high frequency gravitational noise in the Solar System. The total gravitational wave power of the Sun is 76±20  MW.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Signatures of solar chameleons in the Earth’s magnetic field
Authors: Kumar Tanmoy , Roy Sourov
Published: March 2024

Chameleon dark energy models are a popular alternative to the standard cosmological constant model. These models consist of a new light degree of freedom, called chameleon, with a density dependent mass and a nontrivial coupling to both matter and photons. Owing to these couplings, chameleons can be produced inside the sun. However due to their density dependent mass, the chameleons produced in the solar core are screened and cannot escape whereas those produced outside the solar core, such as in the region with energies of the order of few a keV, can escape from the sun and travel all the way toward Earth. Hence the Earth is expected to receive a flux of . In this work we propose a (LSW) type of experiment in which the Earth itself acts as a wall. Both photons and chameleons are incident on the light side of the Earth. While all the photons are stopped by the Earth, only a fraction of the chameleons are stopped by the earth due to screening. Those chameleons which are not screened by the earth pass directly through the Earth and exit the night side. Here these chameleons interact with the geomagnetic field and convert into x-ray photons. A space-based x-ray telescope orbiting the Earth can detect these x-ray photons, while passing through the night side, thereby acting as a detector in this LSW type experiment. We show that such a kind of setup can be complementary to other terrestrial experiments looking for chameleons.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Circle fit optimization for resonator quality factor measurements: Point redistribution for maximal accuracy
Authors: Baity Paul G. , Maclean Connor , Seferai Valentino , Bronstein Joe , Shu Yi , Hemakumara Tania , Weides Martin
Published: March 2024

The control of material loss mechanisms is playing an increasingly important role for improving coherence times of superconducting quantum devices. Such material losses can be characterized through the measurement of planar superconducting resonators, which reflect losses through the resonance's quality factor Ql. The resonance quality factor consists of both internal (material) losses as well as coupling losses when resonance photons escape back into the measurement circuit. The combined losses are then described as Ql−1=Re{Qc−1}+Qi−1, where Qc and Qi reflect the coupling and internal quality factors of the resonator, respectively. To separate the relative contributions of Qi and Qc to Ql, diameter-correcting circle fits use algebraic or geometric means to fit the resonance signal on the complex plane. However, such circle fits can produce varied results, so to address this issue, we use a combination of simulation and experiment to determine the reliability of a fitting algorithm across a wide range of quality factor values from Qi≪Qc to Qc≪Qi. In addition, we develop a measurement protocol that can not only reduce fitting errors by factors ≳2 but also mitigates the influence of the measurement background on the fit results. This technique can be generalized for other resonance systems beyond superconducting resonators.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Extracting GHZ states from linear cluster states
Authors: de Jong J. , Hahn F. , Tcholtchev N. , Hauswirth M. , Pappa A.
Published: March 2024

Quantum information processing architectures typically only allow for nearest-neighbor entanglement creation. In many cases, this prevents the direct generation of GHZ states, which are commonly used for many communication and computation tasks. Here, we show how to obtain GHZ states between nodes in a network that are connected in a straight line, naturally allowing them to initially share linear cluster states. We prove a strict upper bound of ⌊(n+3)/2⌋ on the size of the set of nodes sharing a GHZ state that can be obtained from a linear cluster state of n qubits, using local Clifford unitaries, local Pauli measurements, and classical communication. Furthermore, we completely characterize all selections of nodes below this threshold that can share a GHZ state obtained within this setting. Finally, we demonstrate these transformations on the IBMQ Montreal quantum device for linear cluster states of up to n=19 qubits.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Defect-populated configurations in nematic solid tori and cylinders
Authors: Rojo-González Javier , Carenza Livio Nicola , de la Cotte Alexis , Hoffmann Ludwig A. , Giomi Luca , Fernandez-Nieves Alberto
Published: March 2024

We make toroidal droplets of nematic liquid crystal and explore the defect-populated stable configurations that appear after heating to the isotropic phase and cooling back to the nematic phase. These configurations, as confirmed by simulations, are made of defect pairs where the positive/negative defect is located in the region of maximum positive/negative Gaussian curvature. Moreover, we demonstrate through experiments and simulations that these defect pairs also appear and are stable in cylinders, which have zero Gaussian curvature, highlighting the crucial role of bulk nematic elasticity in stabilizing these structures.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
A high-performance multilevel power supply for versatile induction heating processes
Authors: Álvarez Gariburo Ignacio Jesús , Sarnago Hector , Lucia Oscar
Published: March 2024

Purpose

Induction heating processes need to adapt to complex geometries or variable processes that require a high degree of flexibility in the induction heating setup. This is usually done using complex inductors or adaptable resonant tanks, which leads to costly and constrained implementations. This paper aims to propose a multi-level, versatile power supply able to adapt the output to the required induction heating process.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper proposes a versatile multilevel topology able to generate versatile output waveforms. The methodology followed includes simulation of the proposed architecture, design of the power electronics, control and magnetic elements and laboratory tests after building a 10-level prototype.

Findings

The proposed converter has been designed and tested using an experimental prototype. The designed generator is able to operate at 1 kVpp and 100 A at 250 kHz, proving the feasibility of the proposed approach.

Originality/value

The proposed converter enables versatile waveform generation, enabling advanced tests and processes on induction heating system. The proposed system allows for multifrequency generation using a single inductor and converter, or advanced tests for inductive and capacitive components used on induction heating systems. Unlike previous multifrequency proposals, the proposed generator enables a significantly improved versatility in terms of operational frequency and amplitude in a single converter.
The double-edged effects of visualizing wine style: sweetness scale on wine label
Authors: Luo Anqi (Angie) , Quadri-Felitti Donna L. , Mattila Anna S.
Published: March 2024

Purpose

A visual sweetness scale with an arrow pointing to a specific sweetness level is now required on all labels of AOC Alsace. The sweetness scale makes it easier for consumers to understand what is in the bottle. What is less clear, however, is whether such labeling is always effective. To fill this gap, the current research paper aims to examine the positive and negative effects (double-edged effects) of a visual sweetness scale and identify the boundary condition.

Design/methodology/approach

Two studies were conducted using a 2 (cue type: scale vs text) by 2 (consumer type: novices vs experienced wine consumers) between-subjects, quasi-experimental design.

Findings

The double-edged effects are only significant among wine novices. Specifically, though wine novices are more likely to purchase wine with a sweetness scale (vs text) due to perceived diagnosticity (Study 1), they are unwilling to pay more due to low perceived quality (Study 2).

Practical implications

The study findings provide practical implications for wine producers, marketers and restaurants regarding when and how to use the sweetness scale on wine labels and wine service.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this research is the first to reveal the impact of visualizing wine style on wine labels. More importantly, while most previous research demonstrates the positive effects of using visual cues, this research sheds light on its drawbacks and examines the underlying mechanisms.
Challenges of scaling agile in large enterprises and implications for project management
Authors: Sońta-Drączkowska Ewa , Krogulec Agnieszka
Published: March 2024

Purpose

This study seeks to illuminate the managerial tensions inherent in implementing scaled agile (on the organizational, top management, middle management and team levels) and to frame these challenges within the broader context of project management.

Design/methodology/approach

The study adopts a grounded theory approach and delves into a qualitative dataset sourced from 34 interviews with subject matter experts actively engaged in scaling agile initiatives within large organizations spanning various industries. Additionally, the data have been enriched through a comprehensive literature review of the existing body of knowledge on scaling agile.

Findings

As a result of our investigation, we propose a framework of managerial tensions in scaling agile in large corporate settings and a series of research propositions and questions that may contribute significantly to the body of knowledge surrounding the phenomenon of “deprojectification” and propose agenda for the future studies in the field of project management.

Research limitations/implications

The study also carries significant managerial implications. Firstly, based on the insights from the practice of scaling agile in large corporate setting, management can build awareness of the challenges inherent of transitioning to agile practices. This may help to anticipate the possible problems and proactively develop strategies how to address them. Secondly, management can be instructed about contingencies inherent in scaling agile, along with the potential disfunctions and side effects (unintended outcomes) that may emerge during the transition process. Thirdly, project management practitioners can gain insights on how scaling agile may cause shifts in the approach to managing projects, project team management and competencies that need to be developed to cope with environments where various approaches to managing projects coexist.

Practical implications

These insights can aid in the agile transition process, beginning with directing managerial attention toward contextual factors and progressing through potential challenges at the organizational, top management, middle management and team levels. Furthermore, the study highlights possible dysfunctionalities and side effects of scaling agile, shedding light on the “dark side” of agile.

Originality/value

The study contributes to the expansion of the empirical database on the implementation of agile practices in large organizational settings. It plays a role in defining and delineating the phenomenon of scaling agile within the context of project management and outlines a research agenda for future project management studies. Additionally, our study adds to the ongoing discourse surrounding the “deprojectification” effect that can occur during the scaling of agile. Lastly, it establishes connections between project management and software development literature regarding the implementation of agile at scale.
Gender diversity and injustice among supply chain executives: exploring outcomes that advance social justice
Authors: Kroes James , Land Anna , Manikas Andrew Steven , Klein Felice
Published: March 2024

Purpose

This study investigates whether the underrepresentation of women in executive-level roles within the supply chain management (SCM) field is justified or the result of gender injustices. The analysis examines if there is a gender compensation gap within executive-level SCM roles and whether performance differences or other observable factors explain disparities.

Design/methodology/approach

Publicly reported executive compensation and financial data are merged to empirically test if gender differences exist and investigate whether the underrepresentation of women in executive-level SCM roles is unjust.

Findings

Women occupy only 6.29% of the positions in the sample of 447 SCM executives. Unlike prior studies, we find that women executives receive higher compensation. The analysis does not identify observable factors explaining the limited inclusion of women in top-level roles, suggesting that gender injustices are prevalent in SCM.

Research limitations/implications

This study only considers observable factors and cannot conclusively determine if discrimination is occurring. The low level of inclusion of women in executive roles suggests that gender injustice is intrinsic within the SCM profession. These findings will hopefully motivate firms to undertake transformative actions that result in outcomes that advance gender equity, ultimately leading to social justice for female SCM executives.

Originality/value

The use of social justice and feminist theories, a focus on SCM roles, and an empirical methodology utilizing objective measures represents a novel approach to investigating gender discrimination in SCM organizations, complementing prior survey-based studies.
Investigating consumers’ adoption of AI chatbots for apparel shopping
Authors: Myin Mon Thu , Watchravesringkan Kittichai
Published: March 2024

Purpose

Driven by Davis’s (1989) technology acceptance model (TAM) and Westaby’s (2005) behavioral reasoning theory (BRT), the purpose of this study is to develop and test a conceptual model and examine consumers’ acceptance of artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots for apparel shopping.

Design/methodology/approach

Data from 353 eligible US respondents was collected through a self-administered questionnaire distributed on Amazon Mechanical Turk, an online panel. Confirmatory factor analysis and path analysis were used to test all hypothesized relationships using the structural equation model.

Findings

The results show that optimism and relative advantage of “reasons for” dimensions have a positive and significant influence on perceived ease of use (PEU), while innovativeness and relative advantage have a positive and significant influence on perceived usefulness (PUF). Discomfort and insecurity have no significant impact on PEU and PUF. However, complexity has a negative and significant impact on PEU but not on PUF. Additionally, PEU has a positive influence on PUF. Both PEU and PUF have a positive and significant influence on consumers’ attitudes toward using AI chatbots, which, in turn, affects the intention to use AI chatbots for apparel shopping. Overall, this study identifies that optimism, innovativeness and relative advantage are enablers and good reasons to adopt AI chatbots. Complexity is a prohibitor, making it the only reason against adopting AI chatbots for apparel shopping.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the literature by integrating TAM and BRT to develop a research model to understand what “reasons for” and “reasons against” factors are enablers or prohibitors that significantly impact consumers’ attitude and intention to use AI chatbots for apparel shopping through PEU and PUF.
Unveiling the dynamics of social distancing intentions in India: a comprehensive analysis integrating health belief and planned behavior models
Authors: Kumar Anup
Published: March 2024

Purpose

The COVID-19 outbreak reached a critical stage when it became imperative for public health systems to act decisively and design potential behavioral operational strategies aimed at containing the pandemic. Isolation through social distancing played a key role in achieving this objective. This research study examines the factors affecting the intention of individuals toward social distancing in India.

Design/methodology/approach

A correlation study was conducted on residents from across Indian states (N = 499). Online questionnaires were floated, consisting of health belief model and theory of planned behavior model, with respect to social distancing behavior initially. Finally, structural equation modeling was used to test the hypotheses.

Findings

The results show that perceived susceptibility (PS), facilitating conditions (FC) and subjective norms are the major predictors of attitude toward social distancing, with the effect size of 0.277, 0.132 and 0.551, respectively. The result also confirms that the attitude toward social distancing, perceived usefulness of social distancing and subjective norms significantly predict the Intention of individuals to use social distancing with the effect size of 0.355, 0.197 and 0.385, respectively. The nonsignificant association of PS with social distancing intention (IN) (H1b) is rendering the fact that attitude (AT) mediates the relationship between PS and IN; similarly, the nonsignificant association of FC with IN (H5) renders the fact that AT mediates the relationship between FC and IN.

Practical implications

The results of the study are helpful to policymakers to handle operations management of nudges like social distancing.

Originality/value

The research is one of its kind that explores the behavioral aspects of handling social nudges through FC.
Evaluating the effect of Chinese universities’ public opinion governance strategies through online user comments on the Weibo platform
Authors: Jiang Jing
Published: March 2024

Purpose

This study argues that online user comments on social media platforms provide feedback and evaluation functions. These functions can provide services for the relevant departments of organizations or institutions to formulate corresponding public opinion response strategies.

Design/methodology/approach

This study considers Chinese universities’ public opinion events on the Weibo platform as the research object. It collects online comments on Chinese universities’ network public opinion governance strategy texts on Weibo, constructs the sentiment index based on sentiment analysis and evaluates the effectiveness of the network public opinion governance strategy adopted by university officials.

Findings

This study found the following: First, a complete information release process can effectively improve the effect of public opinion governance strategies. Second, the effect of network public opinion governance strategies was significantly influenced by the type of public opinion event. Finally, the effect of public opinion governance strategies is closely related to the severity of punishment for the subjects involved.

Research limitations/implications

The theoretical contribution of this study lies in the application of image repair theory and strategies in the field of network public opinion governance, which further broadens the scope of the application of image repair theory and strategies.

Originality/value

This study expands online user comment research to network public opinion governance and provides a quantitative method for evaluating the effect of governance strategies.

Peer review

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/OIR-05-2022-0269
“But our worlds are different!”: reflexivity as a tool to negotiate insider–outsider dilemmas
Authors: Sharma Deepika
Published: March 2024

Purpose

In ethnographic research, negotiating insider–outsider perspectives is essential in order to get closer to the participants’ lives. By highlighting the importance of empathy and reflexivity, the paper attempts to trace my reflexive navigation as a novice researcher as I enter the field as an outsider. The process of co-creation between the researcher and the participant is mediated by the nuances of the researcher’s identity, thereby shaping the researcher–participant relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

The current study elaborates my journey as a Ph.D. scholar in an ethnographic study of persons with spinal cord injury or amputation. The different themes organised around my personal reflections discuss the various challenges I faced and how I navigated through them.

Findings

The paper reflects on how different aspects of my identity, such as being non-disabled, a female and differences in socioeconomic status shaped the researcher–participant relationship. Additionally, it highlights how I traverse through the blurred worlds of insider–outsider and explore the role of reflexivity and empathy in creating a horizontal researcher–participant relationship.

Originality/value

This reflexive journey offers potential insights into budding researchers who often face dilemmas whether or not it is necessary for qualitative researchers to be members of the population they are studying. The paper also contributes to an understanding around practising reflexivity while working with a sensitive population. It argues researchers to look beyond the insider–outsider debate and utilise reflexivity as a tool for a nonhierarchical researcher–participant relationship.
The emergence of the “information have-less” class of labor in the information age and its presence in Egypt
Authors: Khalil Elgazzar Iman Mahmoud
Published: March 2024

Purpose

At the beginning of the 21st century, a new class of information workers, the “information have-less” has risen. This class of workers alleviates the influence of information and communication technologies (ICTs) revolution on poverty and unemployment. The purpose of this study is to investigate the presence of this class of workers in Egypt and assess the size and potential growth of this category of workers.

Design/methodology/approach

The study clarifies the conceptual framework of the new division of labor, in the information age. The Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics, American Chamber of Commerce in Egypt, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and Information and Decision Support Center websites provided secondary data for this study. These data are used to assess the size of “the information have less” in Egypt.

Findings

The division of work and class, in the 21st century, depends on the level of skills possessed to work with ICTs. So, class and labor nowadays could be divided into self-programmable labor (Innovators). Information have-less labor class, adding value to the economy by learning skills and presenting repetitive work. Generic labor class, who cannot work with ICTs, and work in jobs, that do not need computers or other ICTs. The study has shown that the “information have-less” labor class is present in Egypt since the beginning of the 21st century, in all its categories; entrepreneurism, the service sector and the manufacturing sector. There are approximately 50% of this labor class in the service sector and only 13% of the information have-less works in manufacturing sector despite the great opportunities that Egypt has to expand manufacturing to absorb more employment. The inclusion of information technology (IT), in all domains, has not decreased employment in Western countries but has reallocated information have-less employment toward the service sector, and there would probably be the same effect in Egypt.

Practical implications

The study highlights the need for Egyptian policymakers to encourage the manufacturing and service sectors to provide huge working opportunities. The Egyptian government has to change the educational policies, at all stages, to include digital learning skills so IT can be incorporated in a wide range of economic activities. Further research includes: conducting a survey to measure the contribution of the entrepreneurial part of the information have-less employment in Egypt. In addition, a model may be developed, by the researcher to examine the reallocation of employees in Egypt.

Originality/value

Studying employment, in Egypt, using the conceptual framework of the information age is rarely being done.
Study on the factors affecting the performance of oil-filled pressure sensitive core
Authors: Jin Zhong , Li Xiang , He Feng , Liu Fangting , Li Jinyu , Li Junhui
Published: March 2024

Purpose

The performance of oil-filled pressure cores is very much affected by the corrugated diaphragm and the oil filling volume. The purpose of this paper is to show the effects of different corrugated diaphragms, different oil filling volumes and different treatments of the corrugated diaphragms on the performance of pressure sensors.

Design/methodology/approach

Pressure-sensitive cores with different diaphragm diameters, different diaphragm ripple numbers and different oil filling volumes are produced, and thermal cycling is introduced to improve the diaphragm performance, and finally the performance of each pressure-sensitive core is tested and the test data are analyzed and compared.

Findings

The experimental results show that the larger the diameter of the corrugated diaphragm used for encapsulation, the better the performance. For pressure-sensitive cores using smaller diameter corrugated diaphragms, the performance of one corrugation is better than that of two corrugations. When the number of corrugations and the diameter are the same size, the performance of the outer ring of the diaphragm with concave corrugations is better than that with convex corrugations. At the same time, the diaphragm after thermal cycling treatment and appropriate reduction of encapsulated oil filling can improve the performance of the pressure-sensitive core.

Originality/value

By exploring the effects of corrugated diaphragm and oil filling volume on the performance of oil-filled pressure cores, the design of oil-filled pressure sensors can be guided to improve sensor performance.
120‐years of ecological monitoring data shows that the risk of overhunting is increased by environmental degradation for an isolated marine mammal population: The Baltic grey seal
Authors: Carroll Daire , Ahola Markus P. , Carlsson Anja M. , Sköld Martin , Harding Karin C.
Published: March 2024

The Baltic Sea is home to a genetically isolated and morphologically distinct grey seal population. This population has been the subject of 120‐years of careful documentation, from detailed records of bounty statistics to annual monitoring of health and abundance. It has also been exposed to a range of well‐documented stressors, including hunting, pollution and climate change.

To investigate the vulnerability of marine mammal populations to multiple stressors, data series relating to the Baltic grey seal population size, hunt and health were compiled, vital demographic rates were estimated, and a detailed population model was constructed.

The Baltic grey seal population fell from approximately 90,000 to as few as 3000 individuals during the 1900s as the result of hunting and pollution. Subsequently, the population has recovered to approximately 55,000 individuals. Fertility levels for mature females have increased from 9% in the 1970s to 86% at present.

The recovery of the population has led to demands for increased hunting, resulting in a sudden increase in annual quotas from a few hundred to 3550 in 2020. Simultaneously, environmental changes, such as warmer winters and reduced prey availability due to overfishing, are likely impacting fecundity and health.

Future population development is projected for a range of hunting and environmental stress scenarios, illustrating how hunting, in combination with environmental degradation, can lead to population collapse.

The current combined hunting quotas of all Baltic Nations caused a 10% population decline within three generations in 100% of simulations. To enable continued recovery of the population, combined annual quotas of less than 1900 are needed, although this quota should be re‐evaluated annually as monitoring of population size and seal health continues.

Sustainable management of long‐lived slowly growing species requires an understanding of the drivers of population growth and the repercussions of management decisions over many decades. The case of the Baltic grey seal illustrates how long‐term ecological time series are pivotal in establishing historical baselines in population abundance and demography to inform sustainable management.
School staff delivery of a solution focused intervention to support pupils' behaviour
Authors: Watson Emma , Hayes Ben
Published: March 2024

A single case experimental design with multiple baselines was employed to explore the relationship between a solution focused intervention delivered by school staff and the externalising behaviour of four primary school pupils. The intervention took place over four to five sessions, which were delivered by non‐specialist school staff with the use of training, supervision, and a manual. Observations of a specific positive behaviour were carried out both before and during the intervention, which were then analysed through visual and statistical analysis. A pre and post intervention questionnaire measure of pupils’ externalising behaviour was collected. For each participant, one videoed session was used to explore the fidelity of the intervention to the manual. Analysis of observations of behaviour showed a significant increase in a specific positive behaviour for three of four participants. A measure of pupils’ externalising behaviour showed a significant reduction for two of the eight questionnaires collected. Video analysis suggested variation of fidelity across participants. This research provides tentative support for specific outcomes from a solution focused intervention, when delivered by non‐psychologists who are provided with appropriate support. It has also been found that non‐specialist school staff practitioners were able to deliver the intervention through applying elements from a manual to have a positive impact on a specific behaviour for three of four participants. There is a need for further high quality research to establish the effectiveness of solution focused interventions when delivered by non‐specialists with the use of consistent intervention and outcome measures.
Comprehensive toxicity assessment of nanodiamond on Blaps polychresta: implications and novel findings
Authors: Saad Marwa , Selim Nabila , El‐Samad Lamia M.
Published: March 2024

With the increasing development of nanomaterials, the use of nanodiamonds (NDs) has been broadly manifested in many applications. However, their high penetration into the ecosystem indubitably poses remarkable toxicological risks. This paper investigates the toxic effects of NDs on the darkling beetle, Blaps polychresta Forskal, 1775 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). Survival analysis was carried out by monitoring the beetles for 30 d after the injection of four different doses of NDs. A dose of 10.0 mg NDs/g body weight, causing less than 50% mortality effect, was assigned in the analysis of the different organs of studied beetles, including testis, ovary, and midgut. Structural and ultrastructural analyses were followed using light, TEM, and SEM microscopes. In addition, a variety of stress markers and enzyme activities were assessed using spectrophotometric methods. Furthermore, cell viability and DNA damage were evaluated using cytometry and comet assay, respectively. Compared to the control group, the NDs‐treated group was exposed to various abnormalities within all the studied organs as follows. Significant disturbances in enzyme activities were accompanied by an apparent dysregulation in the antioxidant system. The flow cytometry results indicated a substantial decrease of viable cells along with a rise of apoptotic and necrotic cells. The comet assay demonstrated a highly increased level of DNA damage. Likewise, histological analyses accentuated the same findings showing remarkable deformities in the studied organs. Prominently, the research findings substantially contribute for the first time to evaluating the critical effects of NDs on B. polychresta, adopted as the bioindicator in this paper.
Comparative assessment of Riesling wine fault development by the electronic tongue and a sensory panel
Authors: Potter Rachel I. , Warren Claire A. , Lee Jungmin , Ross Carolyn F.
Published: March 2024

Wine faults threaten brand recognition and consumer brand loyalty. The objective of this study was to compare the acuteness of e‐tongue and human sensory evaluation of wine fault development in Riesling wine over 42 days of storage. Riesling wines uninoculated (control) or inoculated with 104 CFU/mL cultures of Wickerhamomyces anomalus, Acetobacter aceti, Lactobacillus brevis, or Pediococcus parvulus were assessed every 7 days with the e‐tongue and a rate‐all‐that‐apply (RATA) sensory panel. After 7 days of storage, the e‐tongue detected differences in all four wine spoilage microorganism treatments, compared to control wine, with discrimination indices over 86%. The RATA sensory panel detected significant differences beginning on day 35 of storage, 28 days after the e‐tongue detected differences. This study showed that the e‐tongue was more sensitive than the human panel as a detection tool, without sensory fatigue.

Practical Application

This research is useful for winemakers seeking additional instrumental methods in the early detection of wine faults. Given the results of this study, the e‐tongue can be a useful tool for detecting early chemical changes in white wines that have undergone microbial spoilage, providing winemakers with time to mitigate faults before they surpass sensory thresholds.
Antimicrobial efficacy of a citric acid/hydrochloric acid blend, peroxyacetic acid, and sulfuric acid against Salmonella and background microbiota on chicken hearts and livers
Authors: Nakimera Emma , Cancio Leslie Pearl M. , Sullivan Gary A. , Sadat Raziya , Chaves Byron D.
Published: March 2024

This study aimed at evaluating the efficacy of a blend of citric acid and hydrochloric acid (CP), peroxyacetic acid (PAA), and sulfuric acid (SA) against Salmonella and mesophilic aerobic plate counts (APC) on chicken hearts and livers. Samples were inoculated with a five‐serovar cocktail of Salmonella at ca. 4.8 log CFU/g and treated by immersion with a water control (90 s), CP (5% v/v, 30 s), PAA (0.05% v/v or 500 ppm, 90 s), or SA (2% v/v, 30 s), all at 4°C and with mechanical agitation. Samples were vacuum packed and stored for up to 3 days at 4°C. Three independent replications were performed for each product, treatment, and time combination. The average Salmonella reductions in chicken hearts after 3 days were 1.33 ± 0.25, 1.40 ± 0.04, and 1.32 ± 0.12 log CFU/g for PAA, SA, and CP, respectively. For chicken livers, the values were 1.10 ± 0.12, 1.09 ± 0.19, and 0.96 ± 0.27 for PAA, SA, and CP, respectively. All antimicrobials reduced Salmonella counts in both chicken hearts and livers by more than one log, in contrast to the water control. All treatments effectively minimized the growth of APC for up to 3 days of refrigerated storage, and no differences in objective color values (L, a, or b) were observed. The poultry industry may use these antimicrobials as components of a multifaceted approach to mitigate Salmonella in nonconventional chicken parts.
Development and characterization of cranberry pomace extract incorporated and vitamin E fortified edible films as an edible separation sheet for fruit leather
Authors: Jung Jooyeoun , Loe Caroline Christandi , Zhao Yanyun
Published: March 2024

The separation sheets for fruit leather are traditionally made of plastic film or wax paper, which not only leads to environmental issues but also is inconvenience to consumers. This study evaluated edible fruit leather separation sheets using food polymers, including hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) and incorporation of cranberry pomace water extract (CPE) for providing natural fruit pigment, flavor, and phenolics. HPMCCPE film was then further improved by incorporating hydrophobic compound (oleic acid, OA) and vitamin E (VE) via cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) Pickering emulsion (CNCP) for enhancing film hydrophobicity and nutritional benefit, respectively. The CNCP–HPMCCPE film exhibited reduced water vapor permeability (∼0.033 g mm/m2 d Pa) compared to HPMCCPE film (∼0.59 g mm/m2 d Pa) and had the least change in mass and moisture content when wrapping fruit leather for up to 2 weeks of ambient storage. The fruit leather wrapped by CNCP–HPMCCPE film showed lower weight change than those by films without CNCP due to low mass transfer between film and fruit leather. CNCP resulted in controlled release of VE into a food simulating solvent (ethanol). The developed colorful and edible fruit leather separation sheet satisfied the increased market demands on sustainable food packaging.

Practical Application

Colorful and flavorful edible films made of edible polymers, fruit pomace water extract, and emulsified hydrophobic compounds with vitamin E were created. The films have the satisfactory performance to replace the conventional fruit leather separation sheet made of plastic or wax paper. The edible films can be eaten with packaged fruit leather for not only reducing packaging waste but also providing convenience and nutritional benefit to consumers. These functional edible films may also be utilized to package other food products for promoting packaging sustainability and nutritional benefit.
Potential of the quorum‐quenching and plant‐growth promoting halotolerant Bacillus toyonensisAA1EC1 as biocontrol agent
Authors: Roca Amalia , Cabeo Mónica , Enguidanos Carlos , Martínez‐Checa Fernando , Sampedro Inmaculada , Llamas Inmaculada
Published: March 2024

The use of fertilizers and pesticides to control plant diseases is widespread in intensive farming causing adverse effects together with the development of antimicrobial resistance pathogens. As the virulence of many Gram‐negative phytopathogens is controlled by N‐acyl‐homoserine lactones (AHLs), the enzymatic disruption of this type of quorum‐sensing (QS) signal molecules, mechanism known as quorum quenching (QQ), has been proposed as a promising alternative antivirulence therapy. In this study, a novel strain of Bacillus toyonensis isolated from the halophyte plant Arthrocaulon sp. exhibited numerous traits associated with plant growth promotion (PGP) and degraded a broad range of AHLs. Three lactonases and an acylase enzymes were identified in the bacterial genome and verified in vitro. The AHL‐degrading activity of strain AA1EC1 significantly attenuated the virulence of relevant phytopathogens causing reduction of soft rot symptoms on potato and carrots. In vivo assays showed that strain AA1EC1 significantly increased plant length, stem width, root and aerial dry weights and total weight of tomato and protected plants against Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato. To our knowledge, this is the first report to demonstrate PGP and QQ activities in the species B. toyonensis that make this strain as a promising phytostimulant and biocontrol agent.
Risk stratification‐based thromboprophylaxis does not affect mortality after fast‐track hip and knee arthroplasty
Authors: Moisander Annette M. , Pamilo Konsta , Huopio Jukka , Kautiainen Hannu , Kuitunen Anne , Paloneva Juha
Published: March 2024

Background and Purpose

Use of thromboprophylaxis effectively prevents pulmonary embolism (PE) and deaths after total hip and knee arthroplasty (THA and TKA). The optimum length of thromboprophylaxis is not known and has traditionally been based on the type of operation. Nowadays, a more individualized approach is preferred. This study analyzed if risk stratification‐based planning of thromboprophylaxis has an association with the all‐cause mortality after fast‐track THA and TKA.

Patients and Methods

We compared fast‐track THAs and TKAs operated between 2015–2016 and 2020–2021. Between 2015 and 2016, all patients received a routine length of thromboprophylaxis. From 2020 onwards, thromboprophylaxis was planned by risk stratification, and patients at low risk for venous thromboembolism received thromboprophylaxis only during hospitalization. All causes of death within 90 days of surgery were identified and the incidence of mortality was calculated. Mortality rates between the two periods were then compared.

Results

Between 2015 and 2016, 3192 arthroplasties were performed. A total of eight deaths occurred within 90 days of surgery, yielding an incidence of all‐cause mortality of 0.3% (95% CI 0.1–0.5). Between 2020 and 2021, a total of 3713 arthroplasties were performed to patients who received risk stratification‐based thromboprophylaxis. Thirteen of these patients died within 90 days of surgery, yielding an all‐cause mortality incidence of 0.4% (95% CI 0.2–0.6). Cardiovascular diseases were the main cause of death during both study periods. None of the deaths were caused by PEs.

Interpretation

Risk stratification‐based thromboprophylaxis was not associated with increased all‐cause mortality within 90 days of fast‐track THA and TKA.